The Rumpelgeist Read online

  ‘Someone has to,’ Ellin replied, leaping down from Flaxen.

  Pilo strolled over to her. Ellin knew how important this man was to her father, to both her parents, yet she felt her relationship with Pilo went even deeper. Pilo had lost his family many years previous and although he was technically a servant of the palace, her grandfather, King Rodin, had embraced him as one of the royal family and her own father thought of him as nothing less.

  ‘I was closer to Pilo than my own father,’ King Lute had once admitted.

  Pilo had helped save her father’s life when Lute was a youngster. But no one spoke about those turbulent times when the Crown had been challenged by Lute’s uncle, Duke Janko. Men called Stalkers had roamed the land then, doing Duke Janko’s bidding, and the boy-king Lute had been forced to go on the run. Ellin’s frail grandmother, Miralda, had told her some of the family secrets, but she had now passed away. Like King Lute, Miralda had encouraged Ellin to put her trust implicitly in Pilo.

  Pilo was the last of the elders who knew the tales of that time. He was tight-lipped, though. What he couldn’t keep to himself, however, was his love for Ellin. It was there, like a big, warm blanket that reached around her and made her feel safe.

  ‘You know the King has a great deal on his plate,’ Pilo said, as though he could read her mind.

  ‘What makes you say that?’

  Pilo shrugged. ‘I sometimes think you are permanently cross with him.’

  ‘I am!’ Ellin said.

  Pilo laughed, igniting her anger again.

  ‘It’s not easy being King, Ellin,’ he said. ‘Do you really think your father should fill his head with the whims of a fourteen-summers girl when there is a realm to run, people to feed and care for, taxes to be collected and spent wisely, new villages springing up everywhere that need to be provided for, not to mention borders constantly threatened? Your mother is –’

  ‘Pilo, I love my mother but I do believe she’s constantly disappointed that I am more interested in horseriding and swordplay than her beautiful embroidery, her elegant dancing, her exquisite court skills,’ Ellin countered, lifting the reins over Flaxen’s head and letting them hang loose. ‘I’ve let them down, haven’t I?’

  Pilo produced an apple from his pocket. He stroked Flaxen’s ears. ‘What a beautiful girl you are,’ he said, as he offered the horse the fruit. Flaxen nuzzled at his hand greedily; she was used to Pilo and his treats.

  ‘Your parents worship you, child. Don’t slip into self-pity, it’s loathsome,’ he said with mock disgust.

  Ellin grinned.

  ‘Don’t believe for a moment that the Queen is not impressed by your outdoor skills but please also don’t forget that one of her key roles is to teach you those other, important gentlewomanly skills that a future queen needs. If you can’t split, chain and backstitch on a linen blindfolded it’s her failure; if you dance the pavane like an ox rather than a fairy, that’s also her failure.’

  Despite her mood, Ellin chuckled. ‘I know this, Pilo. I’m not a child.’ She ignored his smirk and pressed on. ‘But if they don’t take me seriously how am I supposed to live up to their example? Father should let me shoulder some real royal duties so I feel useful.’

  ‘They want you to enjoy childhood, Ellin. Your father had to grow up far too fast. He had royal duties pushed on his shoulders early. He doesn’t want the same for you. I’ll admit that your father is a little distracted, but he isn’t ignoring you. He just doesn’t think you need him as much as you think you do. I disagree, but that’s another argument. I have every faith that you will walk naturally in his footsteps. You can’t help but learn by their example. Now, when did Queen Tria leave and why didn’t you go with her?’

  ‘Aunt Tess is about to deliver, have you heard?’ He shook his head and she pulled a face of disgust. ‘They’d both have me rocking a baby and changing nappies. No, thank you. I’d rather be riding Flaxen or with Uncle Griff at the borders!’

  Pilo gave her a soft look of admonishment.

  She had the grace to look sheepish at her remark. ‘I don’t think I’m very good with babies, Pilo.’

  ‘All the more reason to accompany your mother and learn. One day you’ll have at least one of your own,’ he said archly.

  ‘Anyway,’ she continued, ‘we don’t know if Uncle Griff will make it back in time for the birth. I’m glad Mother’s there.’

  They seemed to share the same thought at that moment and in recognition kissed the knuckles of their forefingers before tapping them together. ‘Lo grant them luck,’ they chanted absently, as their fingers touched. It was an old habit in Drestonia. She grinned broadly.

  ‘Ah, there’s the happy face I love,’ Pilo said, grinning back at her.

  Ellin let go the reins and hugged him. ‘You always manage to make me calm, even when I want to be angry,’ she complained.

  Pilo gave her a look of bafflement. ‘I haven’t done anything,’ he said, mock innocence lacing his tone.

  ‘How did you find me, anyway?’

  ‘I always know where to find you,’ he answered.

  ‘Even when I don’t blow my Whistle?’ she asked, touching the exquisitely crafted silver instrument that hung on a chain around her neck.

  Pilo nodded. She wondered if he was thinking of his own daughter Ellin, who had died tragically as an infant decades ago and for whom the magical Whistle had originally been designed by a wizard.

  Ellin felt proud that her parents had given her that special name. Pilo had given her father the Whistle when Lute had been a boy and was in need of protection. And now it was hers. She’d never used it. Her father had admitted to using it only once and its magic had worked stunningly fast, summoning Pilo with its silent scream for help. Pilo had warned Ellin never to call on the magic lightly and despite many frustrating moments of wanting to summon him, she’d taken his caution to heart and resisted.

  ‘I’ve missed you,’ she said. ‘How dare you go away without telling me? Mother’s instructions to the tutors would have had me practising my Percherese for hours on end or continuing my botanical studies if I hadn’t escaped today. I was lucky to slip their net.’

  ‘Forgive me, Highness,’ Pilo said. ‘I had no idea that I was the answer to your boredom,’ he added dryly.

  Her gaze narrowed. ‘What, that’s it? No information or explanation?’ she said.

  ‘None at all,’ Pilo replied, irritating her with his knowing grin. ‘I hear there’s been excitement in Floris during my absence. Do you know much about it?’

  Ellin shrugged. ‘With the King for a father? Are you jesting? He wraps me in silks, doesn’t want me to know anything about the big bad world out there. But I have my spies and informers.’ She fixed him with a hard stare. ‘When did you get back?’

  ‘This morning.’

  ‘Well, then you won’t know that some children have gone missing from Floris.’

  ‘What?’ Pilo looked astonished.

  She nodded. ‘I haven’t been able to find out much more.’

  ‘Well, I will!’ Pilo said. ‘I’ll be seeing your father shortly.’

  ‘Oh, and there’s talk that the city has become haunted.’

  Pilo gave her a look of disdain. ‘Rubbish!’

  ‘It’s true,’ she said, laughing at his expression.

  ‘And your father believes this?’

  ‘You’ll have to ask him, Pilo. He doesn’t consult me on matters of State. All he’s done is confine me to the palace, although I can tell he’s worried about the haunting’s effect.’

  ‘The time is fast approaching when he should involve you.’

  ‘Yes, but the moon could fall from the sky before then.’

  Pilo eyed her gravely. ‘He’s concerned that you could be touched with magic, Ellin.’

  ‘Well, if I am I’ve seen no sign of it. Have you?’ she said, chasing down his words with mild anger.

  Pilo did not commit himself. ‘I suspect it’s part of the reason he keeps you isolated.
He’s probably worried that if you have inherited the family trait you may suffer the same way your uncle Griff did with hearing voices. You’re the first of the new generation. My belief is that he’s watching to see if and how the magic is going to erupt within you.’

  ‘Uncle Griff’s magical ability to hear other people’s thoughts struck him from childhood. I’m going to be fifteen next name day and I have no sign of anything like that. He’s worrying unnecessarily. Besides,’ Ellin added, and her tone suggested she was choosing her words carefully, ‘even if I was touched by the family magic, Uncle Griff grew out of it.’

  Pilo nodded sagely but his gaze narrowed and impaled her. ‘You speak as if you know something I don’t. Let me ask you directly, Ellin, are you hearing voices?’

  She could never lie to Pilo. Ellin looked away from his hard stare and into the distance. ‘There’s something on the edge of my consciousness. It’s as though someone is trying to reach me but is hesitating.’

  ‘Why haven’t you mentioned this previously?’ he asked, looking alarmed.

  ‘I could be imagining it.’

  ‘Given the family history, probably not.’

  ‘Well, it’s only just begun, while you were away,’ she appealed. ‘Who could I tell? Mother’s had to go north, Father’s just returned from the borders but hard to get alone or focused on me, and he’s so touchy about the magic thing that I think he’d set the physics on me.’

  Pilo ignored her bleats and eyed her. ‘You’re sure it’s a presence?’

  Ellin nodded with a shrug. ‘I don’t know how I know that but yes, it is.’

  ‘And do you have any inkling who it is?’

  She shook her head. ‘None. I don’t feel threatened, simply spied upon. That’s why I accused you.’ She shrugged, embarrassed.

  ‘Feeling spied upon is all the more reason that you must respect the rules about being guarded. What did you do to poor old Juno? I found him sleeping and I suspect it had nothing to do with him being tired. Promise me you will not slip your watch again.’

  ‘Is it for my own good, though?’ Ellin challenged.

  Pilo looked exasperated. He gazed down the hill to Tarrow’s Landing. ‘This is where your father and I once had to say a terrified farewell to each other,’ he said, changing the subject.

  ‘You mentioned it once before,’ Ellin replied. ‘Was it when he was on the run from Duke Janko?’

  ‘Indeed. This was one of your father’s favourite places. He loved coming up here on a ride,’ Pilo said.

  ‘Was he very scared when the Duke threatened him?’ Ellin asked.

  ‘Yes, I thought he might even need a nappy,’ Pilo said, offhandedly, but cast her a wry glance, knowing she would laugh at his remark.

  And laugh she did; a loud explosion of amusement as she formed a mental picture of her bearded father in a nappy.

  Pilo grew serious again. ‘I lie, of course. Lute was courageous that day and there was much to be frightened about. Janko was responsible for your grandfather’s early death – his heart gave out in shock. Rodin trusted him implicitly, you see. But your grandmother was always suspicious of Janko. She warned me to take special care of your father because it was always her worry that Janko might harm Lute in order to secure the throne for himself.’

  ‘I never knew any of this,’ Ellin admitted.

  ‘It’s not a history the family’s proud of. And the people loved Janko, so Lute generously chose not to make his treachery public. As far as the people of Drestonia are concerned, Janko was a hero and his betrayals remain secret to this day. I’m telling you this now because it’s your history and you’re the heir to the throne. It’s important you learn from it. Janko was a brilliant military man who kept our borders secure. Nobody could fault his patriotism. But he was overly ambitious and firmly believed he, not Rodin, should have worn the crown. I don’t doubt he would have made a strong king and leader for Drestonia, but he was not the eldest. Janko intended to steal the throne and neither your grandmother nor I would permit that.’ Pilo shook his head. ‘Lute was so young. When Janko finally managed to get him alone and threaten his safety, Lute blew Ellin’s Whistle and I got to him just in time. We managed to outwit Janko for long enough that he could escape. I sent Lute riding alone, terrified for his life, unsure whether I would live to see another morning and whether his crown was safe.’

  ‘Is that how my father came to meet Bitter Olof and Calico Grace?’ Ellin asked, trying to fit together all the stories she had heard.

  He nodded.

  ‘I knew my father had been involved at a young age in helping to crush a rebellion against the Crown, but I had no notion it was from within our own family.’

  ‘Even though Bitter Olof and I had our differences, I trusted him more than any other man. I knew he’d keep Lute safe, and he did.’ Pilo shrugged. ‘And then we met Griff, who I thought was Lute because they were identical twins.’

  Ellin didn’t know the whole story but didn’t press for it now. Given that Pilo was telling her more today than anyone had in years, she was prepared to be patient. He would likely tell her everything about the shrouded past if she didn’t push too hard. ‘It was so strange that they were separated at birth, wasn’t it?’

  Pilo nodded, seemingly lost in thoughts at that dangerous adventure that had nearly claimed the lives of two princes of the realm. ‘Yes, that’s another long tale we can share over a picnic up here soon. Suffice to say that your father prevailed against the traitorous acts of Janko with the help of many loyal people. Plus Tess and Griff with their magics were incredibly brave and instrumental in saving the throne too. I don’t know what we’d have done without your aunt’s magical creature friends, for instance. All played their part, Davren and the winged serpent in particular.’

  As though to end that conversation, Pilo pulled a small package from his pocket. He offered it to Ellin.

  ‘Stickycakes!’ she said with delight. ‘How did you get them? Lambert told me none were baked yet. I knew I could smell them this morning, though.’

  ‘You don’t get up early enough, Princess. You have to know when to catch the kitchens unawares.’

  Ellin giggled. ‘Did you steal them, Pilo?’

  ‘I misappropriated them.’

  ‘That’s stealing,’ she said, still laughing.

  ‘Not if it’s for the princess for whom they were baked in the first place.’

  ‘They were cooked for my father and you know it.’

  ‘For both of you. You both share the same helplessly sweet tooth. Here, have them, they’re all for you.’

  ‘So you knew you’d find me here?’

  ‘I think the whole palace knew you were cross, Ellin. It doesn’t take a seer to know that you would defy your father and take off on Flaxen. And I know this is your favourite place.’

  Ellin took the cakes, her belly giving a soft grumble in anticipation.

  ‘Do you want to know why I was angry?’ Ellin said, her mouth full of stickycake.

  Pilo shrugged. ‘Does it really matter now?’

  ‘It does to me,’ Ellin snapped. ‘You at least talk to me. He doesn’t listen.’

  ‘I’m an old man,’ he said, with a sad smile, ‘what else have I got to do but listen to a temperamental princess?’

  ‘Pilo, you’re making fun of me and you are not that old. You’re not even five decades yet.’

  ‘Old enough all the same. And I’m not the only friend you have, Ellin. Look down there,’ he said, pointing towards the incline.

  She looked in the direction he had gestured and saw her escort, making his way slowly up the hill.

  ‘Poor Flynn,’ she murmured.

  ‘Indeed. Do you know what will happen to him because of your behaviour?’

  Ellin stopped chewing and swallowed slowly. ‘He shouldn’t be punished, it’s not his fault,’ she said. Her tone was indignant, but she felt the guilt twist in her belly. She tossed the remaining mouthful of stickycake in Flaxen’s direction.


  ‘No, it’s not his fault at all. But your irresponsible behaviour will likely cause him a hiding and cost him his evening’s meal, perhaps even a day’s meagre wages that likely helps to feed his family,’ Pilo reprimanded her.

  ‘Flynn doesn’t have any family,’ Ellin muttered, feeling colour pinch at her cheeks.

  ‘Doesn’t he?’ Pilo asked. There was no accusation in his tone and yet she felt like a villain.

  ‘His mother is ill,’ Pilo said, ‘his father has passed and his brother and sister are too young to work. They all depend on Flynn. You and I both know he is a lord in title only. His lands are gone, his family home lies empty because no one can pay for its upkeep and he is little more than a servant around the palace.’

  For a moment Ellin couldn’t speak.

  ‘He doesn’t talk about his family because he doesn’t want anyone’s pity, Ellin. I’m sure you’ve noticed how proud he is,’ Pilo continued. ‘He behaves as though he doesn’t need anyone else.’

  ‘He’s just like you, then,’ Ellin said.

  Pilo blinked as he paused to answer. ‘Yes, I suppose so,’ he admitted. ‘One day you will be queen,’ he continued. ‘In the meantime you demand to be treated like a grown-up, so it’s time for you to start acting like one and accept the responsibility of your regal status.’

  She glared at him, but didn’t say anything.

  ‘When Flynn arrives you’ll know what to do. And it will be a new beginning. From now on, you are Ellin, Queen-in-Waiting.’

  ‘Then my father has to realise that, too, and stop treating me like a baby.’

  Pilo nodded. ‘He knows.’

  ‘I simply wanted to go to a picnic this afternoon with Orin d’Vorg without the usual trail of bodyguards.’

  Pilo raised his eyes to the heavens. ‘Orin d’Vorg is a strutting, ignorant peacock.’

  Ellin couldn’t help but laugh at the fire in Pilo’s insult.

  ‘Your father is right to forbid you to accompany d’Vorg. I don’t think I’ve ever met a youngster more full of himself but with so little to recommend him. It’s hard to believe he is Fled d’Vorg’s child, although there’s no doubting who his mother is.’