The Princesses of Gavaldon

Chapter 2

A/N All rights go to Soman Chainani

By the time the sun extinguished, the children were long locked away.
Through bedroom shutters, they peeked at torch-armed fathers, sisters, grand-
mothers lined around the dark forest, daring the School Master to cross their
ring of fire.

The village was covered in a fog of fear, but there was one place the fog cleared. Agatha's cottage. There, Agatha had just baked the last of the gingerbread hearts and dusted her hands. "There, finished." She shouted to the waiting crowds of men that came to protect her. The guards all licked their lips. Agatha's gingerbread hearts were a tasty treat for all. 

A few minutes after ten, Agatha gave out the last gingerbread hearts to the guards and cracked
open the shutters. She could see to the forest edge, where her father, Stefan,
stood with the rest of the perimeter guard. But instead of looking anxious like
the others, he was smiling, even if it was a tad wobbly, hand on the widow Honora's shoulder. Agatha grinned as she saw the two lovebirds. At least her father was happy today. It is the least she could do for him if she was taken tonight. 
Her father whispered mischievously into the widow's ear and Agatha's
lips formed a grin. If it were Honora's two little sons who might be taken, he'd be
serious as death, she thought, a little sarcastically. Agatha knew the truth, even if it was a little painful. She had seen it in his
face every day of her life. Her father didn't love her mother. True, he pretended to be a loving father, but the feelings shined beneath actions. 

But that's okay. She knew even though her father didn't love her mother, he still love her. On her windowsill, Agatha laid out gingerbread hearts for her parents with delicate care.She'd made them with sugar and butter and special sparkling icings. These were special, after all. The day father finally became happy. 

Sinking into her pillow, she closed her eyes on her mother, father, and
beautiful Gavaldon and with a smile recounted the amazing experiences she had here.
As soon as Agatha's head vanished beneath the window,Sophie shoved the
gingerbread hearts in her mouth. Only thing these will invite are rats, she
convinced herself, crumbs dribbling on her glass heels. She yawned and set on her
way as the town clock inched past the quarter hour.

Upon leaving Agatha after their walk, Sophie had started home but she had a frightening notion, that what if Agatha was the one taken for the School for good. So she returned to Agatha's garden and waited behind a tree, convincing herself that she was doing Agatha a favor, listening as Agatha laided out gingerbread hearts, drew pictures, took care of her brothers (How can she cope?! She moaned.), and finally (finally!) tucked herself into bed. Sophie stifled a yawn and trudged towards the cemetery. Agatha was safe and would wake up tomorrow feeling like a fool. Sophie wouldn't rub it in. Tonight, Sophie would head to her paradise. Oh, Agatha might be heart broken, but she don't care. Sophie was destined to be a princess, unfortunately for Agatha. She would go to the School for Good, and nothing would stop her!  

As Sophie tottered up the slope, she noticed an arc of brighter light in the forest's torch-lit border. Apparently the guards responsible for the cemetery had decided what lived inside were more than worth protecting.  Reaper bit at her ankles as she stepped onto her squeaking porch. She heard singing inside— 

"In the forest primeval

A School for Good and Evil . . ."

Sophie rolled her eyes and pushed open the door.
Her mother, back turned, sang cheerily as she packed a trunk with black
capes, broomsticks, and pointy black witch's hats.
"Two towers like twin heads
One for the pure,
One for the wicked.
Try to escape you'll always fail
The only way out is
Through a fairy tale . . ."
"Planning an exotic vacation?" Sophie said. "Last time I checked, there's no
way out of Gavaldon unless you grow wings."
Callis turned. "Do you think three capes is enough?" she asked,with short olive-brown hair, big, beautiful eyes and tan, bright and freckly skin.
Sophie winced at just how much they looked different. "They're exactly the
same," she muttered. "Why do you need three?"
"In case you need to lend one to a friend, dear."
"These are for me?"
"I put two hats in case one gets squashed, a broomstick in case theirs smells,
and a few vials of dog tongues, lizard legs, and frog toes. Who knows how long
theirs have been sitting there!"
Sophie knew the answer but asked anyway. "Mother, what do I need capes,
hats, and frog toes for?"
"For New Witch Welcoming, of course!" Callis trilled. "You don't want to get
to the School for Evil and look like an amateur."
Sophie kicked off her glass heels. "Let's put aside the fact the town doctor be-
lieves all this. Why is it so hard to accept I'm going to the school for good instead of evil?
"Well, you should learn from your friend, dear. At least she is kind to everyone," Callis said, latching the trunk. "Really, Sophie, what could be a greater
destiny than a Fairy Tale Witch? I dreamed of going to the School for Evil! In-
stead, the School Master took that idiot Sven, who ended up outwitted by a prin-
cess in The Useless Ogre and set on fire. I'm not surprised. That boy could barely
lace his own boots. I'm sure if the School Master could have done it over, he'd
have taken me."
Sophie slid under her covers. "Well, everyone in this town still thinks you're
a witch, so you got your wish after all."

Callis whipped around. "My wish is that you get away from here," she hissed,
eyes dark as coal. "This place has made you weak and lazy and vain. At least I
made something of myself here."
Sophie stared at her, stunned.
Callis smiled brightly and resumed packing. "But do take care of your friend,
dear. The School for Good might seem like a festoon of roses, but she's in for a
surprise. Now go to bed. The School Master will be here soon and it's easier for
him if you're asleep."
Sophie pulled the sheets over her head.