Dizzying Heights

Either the cloak made Rose invisible to those around her or someone was helping her through the halls. For more than once the princess felt she should have been spotted before she ducked out of the sight of passing guards.

A calming presence surrounded the blonde, and in spite of the situation, Rose smiled. 'Thank you Hanna.'

If Hanna could not directly interfere with what was transpiring, she at least had the kindness to let the young woman know that she was not alone.

For without Caitlyn, Rose suddenly felt adrift. The only other time the princess had been utterly alone in her life was in the mad dash from the collapsed inn. Even then she had had Fireball to accompany her.

Finding a quiet corner, Rose pressed her body up against the wall behind a newly-placed vase. It was funny how many of these gargantuan pots had appeared in all the alcoves overnight.

"What do I do now?" Rose knew that Hanna would likely not answer, so the question was as much to herself as the Fate.

What did she hope to accomplish? She wanted to help the kingdom of Birle. But how? She needed more information. 

The soldiers in the kitchen had mentioned that the king was making an announcement. Either they were lying or her adoptive parent was still alive.

Rose came to a decision. 'I need to know what is going on in the throne room.'

In the serving uniform which she was wearing, Rose could get into the throne room easily enough. Her smudged face meant that no one was likely to recognize her.

Getting out of the throne room would be another matter entirely. That was a difficulty the princess was not sure she could overcome.

Fortunately there was another way to see what was going on without going through the front door. 

There was the royal exit behind the throne. It was used both for security and occasionally to avoid the crowd when court was about to open. Rose could sneak in through that entrance and possibly out again, assuming Borit wasn't monitoring the secret passage.

'But what are the chances of that?'

If the woman was seen entering through the passage, she could be immediately apprehended.

'Should I risk it? I don't see another way.' Rose fiddled with her necklace as she thought. 

"I wish I knew which way to go." she whispered. 

A cold sensation pressed upon her chest--followed by a warming from the cloak--as the tiny fairy disengaged from her chain for the second time that day. Rose wasn't even sure that she had meant to call her, but was very glad for the accidental assistance. 

The Seeker wriggled her tiny fingers, beckoning Rose to follow. But rather than lead her through the front door or even the back entrance to the throne room, the pixie took her upstairs. 

Leading her to an empty hall, The fairy stopped beside a table covered in a thick white cloth and attached back to her chain. 

Rose was confused. 'This isn't the throne room.' Yet her request had been knowing which way to go. 'Hmm, but why would I come this way if not to go to the throne room? I am missing something.'

As she thought, the white cloth of the table brushed against her skin, startling her. It fluttered lightly in the breeze. 

Rose nearly dismissed the scare until she realized, 'There is no wind in this hall.' 

Indeed, there was not even a hint of air movement. So why was the cloth moving? 

'A ghost? Unlikely...' Rose bent down and pulled back both the front and back of the table cloth to reveal the wall behind it. 

Now she knew why the Seeker had brought her here. 'Of course!' 

Among the sprawling rafters of the massive throne room, a small door had been placed into one wall. If Rose had to guess, it was likely so that a servant could sweep up the cobwebs on occasion as well as clear any accumulated dust or wayward ashes.

Rose was now staring at that door. The warm air leaking from the edges and the soft din of conversation wafting through the cracks confirmed this fact. 

There was one problem. The small door was locked. 

The princess jiggled the lock, but it was indeed clamped shut.

'Hm,' Rose pressed her lips together. 'There must be a trick to this.'

Although the lock was in immaculate repair, the door had certainly seen better days. As She had no key for the lock, it would be the door that would need to give.

Rose kicked at the door a couple of times, with no result. The third time, though, it groaned and cracked.

'Got you!' Rose turned around and put her hands against the dry wood. Pressing with all her might, the princess felt the door give in her hand. The latch which attached the lock to the door released and the door swung open. Rose gave a small shout of victory. 

"Yes!" 

The princess could have kicked herself. How had she been so careless! She pulled her body the rest of the way under the small table.

Two sets of feet came running from either end of the hall.

-----

While still looking for any holdouts of Birle in the halls, Tad had heard the yelp just around a corner. He hurried to find the source. On the other end of the passage, Flym stared back at him.

"Did ya hear dat?" The other man asked in a deep voice.

"Yea! Was it you?" Tad suspected his friend of mischief, but Flym shook his head.

"Wasn't me! Was it you?"

"You know it wasn't me, ya fool!"

The two men glared at one another.

Then they heard a rustling from under the table between them. In unison, the two men held fingers to their lips before glaring a second time.

Each man drew their sword and crept toward the small table. Though it was unlikely that a monster was awaiting them under the modest piece of furniture, it was entirely possible. Who knew what ghosts this foreign castle contained?

Shoulder to shoulder the men silently counted to three before snapping up the table's cloth.

"Don't move!" Tad ordered, pointing his blade forward.

To their shock and surprise...

all they found was the other side of the cloth waving against the wall.

"You gonna arrest it for not following orders?" Flym elbowed his friend.

"I should arrest you! You caused dis mess!" Tad turned on the other soldier with a low growl.

"Me?! T'was probably a dog." Flym turned up his nose.

"Ya see any blasted dogs around here?" Tad gave a baleful look.

"Don't go blathering logic at me. Get back to work!" Flym shoved the other man and sheathed his sword.

"You got no logic of yer own. Somebody's got ta help ya out!" Tad yelled after him.

He was about to lower the cloth when he noticed the side toward the wall. It was still waving in the breeze.

Wait, what breeze? They were inside.

He heard a soft click and then the cloth stopped shaking as if it had never moved.

That coupled with the squeal before was enough for Tad. He backed away slowly, held up his sword, and ran.

"Blasted ghosts in this blasted castle. Hang logic. I'm out of here!"

———-

Having pushed herself through the hole as quickly as possible, Rose missed shutting the door before the two soldiers discovered her hiding place.

Fortunately the table cloth was thick enough to hide what was behind. As slowly as possible the princess eased the door shut, cringing at the final tap as it made contact with the frame.

But when no one pushed the door back open, she sighed in relief.

That was until she looked down.

Apparently Rose had never realized just how high the rafters were. She was quickly developing a very healthy fear of heights. Unlike the wide path of the Falls of True Love, she was far above the ground with only beams and cross beams to support her.

If she wasn't careful, she would fall.

And she already felt dizzy.