Princess Electra Book 2 Out of Barburee Read online

Princess Electra Book 2 Out of Barburee

  by Dory Lee Maske

  Copyright © 2011 by Dory Lee Maske

  All rights reserved

  Copyright ©-2011 by Robert Maske

  All rights reserved

  Cover design by Robert Maske

  Princess Electra Book 2 Out of Barburee

  Chapter 1

  Village of Helsop

  Princess Electra walked along a narrow deer trail, savoring the silence of the ancient forest. She stepped gingerly, as Serafina had taught her, aware of each footfall, aware of the woodland creatures that stilled at her passing. She stopped in a spot of sun, a tiny hole in the green canopy of branches above her, and let the blade of her shovel rest on the trail's covering of pungent pine needles. As she stood motionless, woodland noises slowly took voice around her. A bird call, the sharp chatter of a squirrel, a small body rustling through leaves. Then the quiet crunch of a boot on the trail behind her. She chose to ignore this last noise for now.

  A bright green leafy plant with rods of white blossoms caught her eye. As she drew near, her eyes sparkled with delight. Black cohosh. She had almost depleted her supply of this root over the long winter, using it to treat everything from rheumatism to sore throats at Helsop's clinic. She began to dig around the roots of the tall plant. She carefully sliced through the large root ball, taking half and leaving half to grow. When she stood her unearthed half against the trunk of a maple tree, the bush's height matched her own.

  Electra wiped her damp face with the sleeve of her blouse and turned to look back at the trail.

  "You may as well come forward," she called out. "Actually, I could use your help."

  After a few seconds a blushing young soldier emerged from behind a tree. He lifted his eyes to meet her own as he walked toward her.

  "I'm supposed to follow undetected," he said. "What gave me away?"

  Electra smiled at the young man and decided against saying she had both heard and seen him.

  "Dagon always sends someone to watch over me. Were you not there I would have been surprised. What is your name?"

  "I am called Tandor," he said.

  "Tandor, this is the black cohosh plant," she said, pointing to the bundle of leaves and roots beside her. "Our supply in the clinic is quite low. I would be grateful for your help in transporting it back to Helsop. Indeed, without your help, I would have to bring my hunt to a close."

  "I am at your service M'lady," he said, with a slight bow.

  "Excellent. We will retrieve this on our way back. Have you an interest in plants and herbs?"

  The soldier's face began to flush again. "I've, ah...never really considered the question."

  "I see." Electra hid a smile. "I will forgo any lessons in that case."

  They continued along the deer trail in companionable silence. At one turn the trees thinned and Electra could hear the distant roar of Ice Water Falls. Her mind turned to the memory of her brief stay in the cave hidden behind the falls. Dagon had stashed her there to keep her from being found by her father on the one hand and Prince Blackwell on the other. So much had happened since that day last autumn.

  Electra had met her true parents, King Geoffrey and Queen Delphinia of Fernland after sixteen years of believing that Serafina, the sorceress was her only parent. Serafina had finally admitted kidnapping Electra but still insisted she had done it for Electra's own good. To save the starving people of Helsop and to protect her own freedom, Electra had forged a plan that ended in her engagement to Dagon and her taking up residence in the village of Helsop. And yet, for all the intrigue, war and destruction her return to her family had caused, she was at peace, finally. No, more than that, she felt needed and happy.

  Electra stopped to gather some spikenard root. She pulled a canvas bag from the pocket of her tunic and placed the root in the bag. Tandor reached for the bag but Electra shook her head. "You have enough to carry," she said. She flung the bag over her shoulder and looked up into the green canopy of the forest. The slant of the sun's rays through the branches of the trees told her they must start back now if they were to reach the village by dusk.

  Tandor kept pace with her easily, even with his tall leafy burden. He insisted on carrying the shovel as well. He seemed relieved that Electra was content to walk along without conversing. He stopped now and then to examine animal tracks and droppings along the trail. They slowed and held their breath at a turn in the trail. A deer with a large rack of antlers stood beside a giant fir tree. Tandor reached tentatively for his bow and arrows but the buck's ears went up, his head swiveled and he leapt off into the underbrush.

  As Electra and Tandor neared the edge of the forest, the heavy sounds of hammers pounding and saws cutting assaulted them. With dusk near, the sound intensified. The workmen hurried to finish whatever task employed them before they were robbed of their light.

  Electra looked out over Helsop's two new projects. The framework for a castle loomed high against the backdrop of Ice Mountain to the north. The castle would be fronted by Cold River and bounded on the east by a steep slope. The new fort would sit atop this slope with a barracks for the soldiers attached. With the completion of the castle Electra supposed the village of Helsop would become the Kingdom of Helsop.

  On the western edge of the village the second project was taking shape. This was the addition to Electra's small cottage which had taken on proportions to rival the castle. The renovation of the cottage had been Electra's idea. She had hoped such an undertaking would make a bond between herself and her mother. A bond that would enable them to come to know one another slowly over a common goal. Queen Delphinia's idea of a renovation had gone far beyond Electra's modest expectations. The villagers secretly referred to the renovation as the Queen's Folly. Because Electra had fought to keep her original cottage intact, the new construction began at the rear wall and rose up like a monster threatening to devour the small cottage at its front.

  Electra shook her head and looked at Tandor. "Is your family involved in this building mania?" she asked.

  "No, we are tool makers. My father is Dorian, the sword maker. I am a soldier but I also learn from my father."

  "People speak highly of Dorian, the sword maker," Electra said.

  "He is famous for his swords," Tandor said simply.

  When they reached Electra's cottage Tandor set the black cohosh down just inside the door, saluted, and left as another soldier rushed forward.

  "Dagon asks that you come at once. Your mother has arrived. They wait for you at the command center," the soldier said.

  "My mother Queen Delphinia?" Electra asked before she could stop herself. Of course it would be Queen Delphinia. Electra had not seen Serafina since the day of her engagement many months ago.

  "Yes," the soldier said. "She arrived several hours ago."

  Electra bit back an impish smile at the thought of Dagon and Queen Delphinia in each other's company for several hours. Queen Delphinia had thought Dagon unacceptable as a suitor for Electra. In addition, her father, King Geoffrey had been forced into an unwanted alliance with Helsop as a result of the pair's engagement. Queen Delphinia had insisted on a long engagement, no doubt hoping Electra would change her mind about marrying Dagon. Although both Delphinia and Dagon were polite by nature, the underlying tension must have made for a long afternoon for each of them. No doubt Dagon was desperate for Electra to join them by now.

  "I am on my way," Electra said, walking quickly.

  Chapter 2

  Village of Helsop

  As Electra rounded the side of her cottage she saw a new pile of lumber beside the
framework of the new construction. This would explain her mother's visit. Electra must have decided to accompany the monthly delivery of materials for her cottage renovation. The smell of freshly cut wood drifted past her as she hurried toward the command center. Electra tried to brush off the dirt and leaves from her tunic as she walked. Should she have taken the time to change clothes? She combed her fingers through her hair, dislodging a stray leaf that fell to the ground.

  A weak light shone out through the small window of the command center. Electra opened the door and peeked inside.

  "Electra!" her mother and Dagon said at the same time.

  Delphinia rushed to embrace her daughter. Dagon took a deep breath, relief written across his countenance.

  "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long," Electra began.

  Delphinia waved her apology away with a flick of her hand.

  "I decided at the last minute to accompany the supply wagons," she said. "I told Geoffrey, I simply must see my Electra, it has been too long."

  "And how is my father keeping?" Electra asked.

  "He is well," Delphinia said. "He sends his regards and apologizes for being too overwhelmed with taxes and judgments to accompany me here."

  "And what of Avor?" Electra asked, wondering if her brother had forgiven Dagon for keeping him captive to insure Helsop's alliance with Fernland.

  Delphinia laughed. "Your little brother has grown quite tall. In fact he is now taller than I. He spends more and more time on the archery field."

  "I would love to see this new tall archer," Electra said with a smile.

  Delphinia clasped her hands under her chin. A look of delight colored her face. "Truly? You will come for a visit? I will send word to Geoffrey tomorrow. You must accompany me when I return to Fernland."

  Electra began to form excuses in her mind, but seeing her mother's happy face, the face that had sorrowed for sixteen years over her missing daughter, she reconsidered. Her mother had made three visits to Helsop since Electra's engagement. It seemed that the alliance was now firmly entrenched and certainly it was Electra's turn to visit Fernland. She stole a glance at Dagon, who looked worried at this turn in the conversation and seemed to be pleading with his eyes that she should refuse to leave Helsop. Electra gave a little shrug with her shoulders. What could she do?

  "I am quite busy just now resupplying the clinic, but I will try to arrange a visit," Electra said.

  "Your father will be so happy," Delphinia said. "I shall help you with your resupplying so that you will be free to return with me." Delphinia held her hands over her heart.

  Electra wished she had kept a a tighter rein on her tongue. She decided to leave the subject for now. Perhaps she would find a reason to delay a visit as the evening wore on. Dagon seemed to sense her strategy and jumped to another subject.

  "Your mother has generously installed her chef at my house and he has prepared supper for us all. Perhaps we should head that way while a little light remains," he said.

  "Such a treat," Electra said. "I'm not really dressed for a special dinner." She looked down at her stained tunic.

  "I've brought a few new clothes for you, if you would like to change," Delphinia said. "I've left the trunk at Dagon's house. You can change when we get there."

  Electra and Dagon exchanged knowing glances. Delphinia never passed up a chance to outfit her daughter in the manner befitting a princess. Her obsession with clothes had been bewildering to Electra since they had first met a few months ago.

  When they reached the house, Electra hurried to grab a frock from the trunk and changed behind the curtain that separated Dagon's cot from the entry way. Delphinia positioned three mismatched wooden chairs around the small plank table. Dagon added logs to the fire in the small rock fireplace. The room was warm and cheery when Electra appeared in a blue silk gown that left Dagon staring and Delphinia nodding approval.

  "You look beautiful, my dear," Delphinia said.

  "Thank you, Mother," Electra said. She kissed her mother's cheek. "It is too lovely."

  "It suits you," Delphinia said. "You must pack it to wear when you return with me to Fernland."

  Electra sighed, realizing that the supposed visit was becoming ever more entrenched in Delphinia's mind.

  They all sat down around the small table while Cristo, the chef, fussed about with undisguised ill temper at having to make do without his accustomed tools. He had built his own campfire and constructed a wooden overhang to hold the meat. For baking he had used a pit covered with hot rocks. None the less the meal was excellent. Venison roasted on a spit, gravies and vegetables with exotic seasonings. A smoky loaf of bread with an earthy aroma.

  "Cristo, we are in your debt," Dagon said as he patted his stomach.

  Cristo may have smiled. It was hard to tell. He looked satisfied as he poured a glass of wine for each of them and left the kitchen.

  "I cannot tell you how happy I am about your visit," Delphinia said to Electra. "Dagon, you must come as well."

  "Would that I could," Dagon said. "It seems with the building of Helsop's castle, my days are full of meetings with tradesmen and discussions hourly on one thing and another."

  Delphinia pursed her lips in irritation. "I believe you and I are in competition for workers at this point. Perhaps the building of the castle could be delayed until the completion of Electra's house."

  "Yes, admittedly there is some strain over limited resources, but Helsop has suffered so long from lack of a defensive position that I dare not delay its construction, now we have the means to build it."

  Delphinia gave a little sniff of disapproval. "I may have to raise the wages of those building Electra's addition to proceed apace."

  Electra knew her mother was already paying the workers on her addition more than Dagon was paying his castle workers. Worse than that, most of Dagon's money came from a tax on the salaries of Delphinia's workers.

  "Everyone has planned and saved over the long winter," Electra said. Now spring has come, they are impatient to get on with their castle. I understand how they feel. I have had to bide my time, waiting for the snows to melt before I could resume my trips to the forest."

  "You go into the forest?" Delphinia asked with an expression of shock.

  It seemed that Electra's attempt to appease Delphinia had only succeeded in causing more concern.

  "Never alone," Electra said, glancing at Dagon. "Always with chaperones."

  Their conversation was cut short by someone pounding on Dagon's door.

  Dagon opened the door to find one of Fernland's Royal Guard standing outside, breathing hard. He looked tired, but anxious. He peered around Dagon to find Delphinia in the dim light of the burned down logs.

  "I have a message from King Geoffrey for the Queen," he said.

  Dagon stepped aside as the soldier entered, made a brief bow and handed the sealed message to Delphinia.

  Delphinia read the message quickly. She turned a little pale and her hand trembled slightly as she faced Electra.

  "A contingent of dignitaries is on its way to Fernland from the Kingdom of Barburee," Delphinia said, looking intently at both Dagon and Electra.

  She did not need to say more to emphasize the threat this posed to Fernland. Everyone knew of Barburee's bloodthirsty reputation.

  "We must return to Fernland at once," Delphinia continued, rising from the table. "How glad I am that you will be coming with me," she said, taking Electra's hand.

  Chapter 3

  Kingdom of Henge

  Prince Blackwell looked out his castle window at the bustling port district of Henge City. Beyond the port he watched as a tall two-masted sailing ship tacked starboard, overtaking another vessel to arrive first at the narrow entrance to the harbor. A ship with a square rigged sail pushed out to sea, its cargo loaded, and its sail unfurled. Spring always brought heavy shipping traffic as the mariners took advantage of calmer seas. And more ships meant more p
ort taxes for the royal coffers.

  Prince Blackwell's good mood turned cautious as his attention returned to his father, sitting on the other side of his desk. He heard his father's voice change to a wistful tone.

  "Every general waits for spring," his father said.

  "Are you being poetic?" Prince Blackwell asked. War was his father's favorite subject. Last autumn his father had tricked him and his army into attacking Fernland's army—a battle Prince Blackwell had not intended to fight. Luckily, Henge's army had prevailed, but he still had not forgiven his father's rash attack. Just as he had predicted, the whole fiasco had resulted in Helsop's gaining an advantage. Helsop and its headman Dagon were no longer under Prince Blackwell's thumb. They were now growing wealthy thanks to a new alliance with King Geoffrey of Fernland. The only good thing that had resulted from the battle was his introduction to Serafina, the lovely sorceress who was now his wife. His father's voice drew his attention once again.

  "It's more a fact than a poem. If there's fighting to be done, you'd best wait for spring for its doing," his father said.

  "Speaking of war, there have been rumors of late," Prince Blackwell said.

  His father sat up straighter and thumped his cane on the floor next to his one remaining foot. "Oh? What kind of rumors?" he asked.

  A page interrupted their conversation by opening the door and stepping quickly inside. He stood at attention and said loudly, "Her Highness, the Princess Serafina." He stepped aside and Serafina walked into the room. She wore a loosely cut emerald green gown that matched the emerald ring Prince Blackwell had given her as a wedding gift. She seldom wore her dark sorcerer's cape with its wiccan symbols now, unless she wished to intimidate someone.

  "My Shining Star! How good of you to join us," Prince Blackwell said. He turned to the page and dismissed him with an order to bring tea.

  Blackwell's father looked cross-eyed and made a little gagging noise. "Shining Star?" he echoed.

  "If you wish to stay, Father, be pleasant," Prince Blackwell said with a threatening look.

  "Fine, fine," his father said. "Come in and join us." He waved Serafina in to a chair beside him. "My son is about to entertain us with the latest rumors circulating about the city."