Chapter Two: The Games Begin

When Evie quietly walked back around to the front of the house, alone, the strange young man stood beside his carriage, peering into the woods. Evie began to doubt the intelligence of their crazy plan. The boy looked quite regal and intimidating. He had a sword strapped to his belt in a shiny black scabbard. And even if he didn’t stick that silly thing through her the moment she stepped into sight, how in the world did Bridget expect her to get him to follow her into the woods? Why hadn’t she seen the problems with this ridiculous plan while it was being laid out to her? She had to do it now. She could not let Bridget see what a coward she turned into under pressure. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out from behind the side of the house.

The boy turned his eyes on her. They were nearly as black as his clothes. He smiled slightly as he looked her up and down. Evie had the distinct impression he thought he examined a bug he wanted to squish. “So, there you are.” His words were spoken in a slow, arrogant voice with a strange pronunciation that sounded very precise. “I rather thought you would be half way to the end of the world by now. A little jumpy are we?” He paused to stare at her expectantly. The problem was that she had no idea what to say. “Can you not speak? Well, I suppose I ought not be surprised by that. I half expected it from your sort.” He grinned maliciously.

Evie felt anger bubbling up inside of her. Who was this boy? Why was he speaking to her like this? And what did he mean by her sort? Any reservations she’d had about Bridget’s plan flew right out the window. This boy deserved whatever he got. She breathed slowly and tried to sound calm. She liked to think things through. Explosions of anger never turned out well. “I can understand your surprise,” she began, trying to sound casual. “In your pretty coat, I wouldn’t expect you think anyone had the courage to enter the wood. Certainly not you, I suppose?” She let the last hang like a question. Now, if only he took the bait.

His jaw dropped. Clearly he didn’t expect that. He stammered a bit as he began, “Me? Why I have fought creatures you have never even heard of! I am certainly not afraid of your pitiful little forest.”

She smiled; this was working. “Well, I am going to find my friend. You had better stay here by your carriage. We wouldn’t want you to get hurt…or dirty.” The last two words were an afterthought, but they seemed appropriate.

He stepped straight toward her, poking a finger at her chest. “I will go farther than a silly little girl like you would dare.” He laid his hand on his sword and strode between the first trees. Evie scurried after him, passing him to run just a bit ahead so that he would have to follow her or be left behind. There was a small pond not far from the cottage. Evie and Bridget had agreed upon that as the meeting spot. Now, if only Bridget had time to get situated.

By the time Evie could see the trees thinning out she and the strange boy were running. Just as she started to feel that familiar flutter in her stomach that always accompanied one of Bridget’s schemes, her bare feet came to rest in the moss next to the pond. Not exactly sure what was supposed to happen next, Evie flipped around just in time to see a squirrel falling from the tree closest to the pond. The poor animal landed right on the boy’s head and, in his shock, he lost all control.

Hands flailing wildly, he tumbled forward without any real balance. Hurriedly, Evie jumped out of the way just in time to watch the boy and squirrel splash cleanly into the pond. The joke had clearly worked much better than even Bridget had planned on. The tree shook as she tried both to stem the tide of wild laughter and climb down with any amount of control over where she landed.

She had told Evie she planned on scaring some manners into the boy, but Evie suspected that getting him soaked was more a fond wish than a calculated plan. Evie laughed too, doubled over with her hands on her knees supporting a body weakened by hilarity. This had to be the best prank the girls had ever carried out successfully. There were plenty of others that would have compared, had they not turned out all wrong. But this would top the list of the most unforgettable pranks ever.

The boy in black, however, didn’t seem to agree. The squirrel had clearly made its escape because the boy emerged from the pond with a murderous light in his eyes and nothing climbing on him. He looked much more dangerous and regal than a moment before. In fact, he looked much more dangerous than he should have, considering he was soaking wet. His once perfectly molded hair hung in straggled strands down his forehead where they emphasized those blackish eyes. His right hand reached across the front of his chest to grip his sword hilt until his knuckles had turned white. He began to unsheathe a shining blade as he stepped slowly, dangerously toward Evie.

Terror flashed through her mind. Who was this boy? Why was he here? He wouldn’t, he couldn’t use that sword on her. She stumbled backward, falling on her behind while trying desperately to think of what to do. Bridget, crouching down from her recent jump to the ground, stood to face him and even took a small step forward. No one laughed now.

Just as the partially bared sword blade was about to come all the way out, a booming voice cried, “Stop! Do not harm her!” The boy paused, startled, and looked up.

Turning to face whoever had saved her, Evie got another great shock. Standing there, as cool and calm as ever, was Elder Banied. That man never raised his voice. It sounded very odd to hear him give a command like that.

It only threw the boy off for a second. He raised his chin and said in his haughty way, “Who are you to speak to me so? I will make you pay right alongside them.” A jerk of his head indicated Evie and Bridget.

If the Elder’s voice of command was a shock, it was nothing compared to what came next. He hesitated, as if he wasn’t talking to a child who might be the age of a grandson. He bowed his head and in an almost apologetic tone he said, “I am sorry. I speak in defence of your honor. I know that no man of your principle would allow harm to come to a lady.”

The boy immediately threw his left hand toward the girls and spat, “They are not ladies, they are…” He stopped as if a sudden thought had come to him. For a long, silent moment he examined Evie. His eyes barely brushed past Bridget before he relaxed completely. The silence stretched for a few more moments before the boy said, “You are right, sir. I acted in haste and I apologize.” His apology wasn’t meant for her, Evie was sure. At least he was not trying to stick a sword through her anymore. With that, he began stalking back toward the cottage. He brushed right past the girls, without a glance. Elder Banied turned a cold glare on them before walking after the boy.

Evie glanced at her friend. What in the world was going on? Why had the Elder acted that way? Who was this boy? But the more important question came to her lips, “What do we do now?”

Bridget looked down, all the excitement gone, “I suppose we head back and be prepared for punishment.” She smiled, “It really was funny, though. Did you see the way he jumped and waved his arms around?” Both girls giggled as Bridget hopped around in mocking imitation of the snotty boy. As they headed home, their excitement over the marvellous prank slowly gave way to the dread of facing Aunt Abby’s anger and Elder Banied’s lesson.