Chapter Twenty: Have Prince, Will Travel Again
Guardians of the Twilight Lands -- The Sixth Book of Unexpected Enlightenment
Spring Equinox Break finally arrived. Rachel packed a small trunk and ran downstairs with Vroomie and her wand in one hand and her cat Mistletoe in his carrying case in the other. Her trunk floated before her, carried by a lifting cantrip from her wand. She was inordinately proud of herself for being able to pull this off all the way down the staircase.
She met her siblings in the foyer, ready to go. However, even using cantrips, it took six strong college boys to move Sigfried’s four trunks into the foyer, large black steamer trunks, each four feet high and five feet long, bound with silver clasps.
“What are these?” asked Peter, as he and Laurel came to meet Siggy and Rachel.
“Treasure,” said Sigfried.
“Siggy’s gold,” Rachel guessed.
She pulled out her wand and tried to lift one of his trunks. She could not even budge it.
“Here, let me.” Peter cast the tiathelu cantrip. He, too, could hardly lift a single trunk. After a few seconds, he lowered it again, panting. “I say, are you sure you need all this?”
“It’s gold, Peter,” Rachel explained. “He can’t leave it here. Who would guard it?”
“It’s a dragon horde,” Siggy said proudly, “plus a few things that came from the ogre.”
“Wait.” Laurel’s jaw dropped. “Siggy actually owns four steamer trunks of treasure?”
“Three and a half,” replied Sigfried. “The rest is my entrenching tool, two shirts, and a few other things.”
Two shirts? He only owned two shirts? And one must be the thing without sleeves Valerie game him. It had not occurred to her, back when she had ordered clothing for him, to buy street clothing. He had not owned shoes then either. So maybe he did only own two shirts. It was no matter; he could borrow some of Peter’s until they could go shopping.
“How are we going to get these home?” asked Laurel.
“Maybe Forrest would lend us her backpack,” suggested Sigfried.
Rachel shook her head. “It wouldn’t help. We couldn’t fit these trunks into the opening of the backpack. Or Nastasia’s house, for that matter. The trunks are just too big.”
“I’m not sure I know anyone with a larger-aperture kenonized bag,” said Peter, “I only have my pouch and a small carry-all. Do you, Laurel?”
“Nope. Just my backpack. My friends have jewelry boxes that hold three times as much as expected. Not cargo space.” Laurel knocked on a trunk and then jumped up on it, one leg crossed over another as if posing. Lucky snaked around her, hanging over her like a furry boa.
Rachel glanced at the trunks. They were not as large as a horse. “I know someone.”
* * *
A few minutes later, a knock came on the heavy oak front door of Dare Hall. Peter opened it and scowled. “You’re not welcome here.”
“Sorry, Griffin,” Gaius sauntered in, smirking at Peter, “we’re here to help you.”
“We?” Peter asked stiffly.
The door opened wider, and Vladimir Von Dread shouldered it aside. Peter took a rapid step back, startled. Laurel snorted with amusement. Dread turned and regarded her, where she was poised like a pin-up girl atop a trunk, her bare calf showing beneath her skirt. Laurel’s own smirk died away. She jumped down and readjusted her garments.
“Dread!” Siggy grinned maniacally, “All hail, Lord Dread!”
“I don’t think you have to go that far,” Gaius replied airily.
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