The Princess, the Witch and the Pirate

The Treachery of Boys

Three days uncontested, Olivia woke in their sunlit room to the sight of Ansa, lying under covers, staring at her with a smirk. "It's really late."

"Did we miss breakfast?" Olivia sat up like a shot.

"I'm afraid so."

Olivia groaned. "Ugh, this is all your fault. You kept me talking all night."

"I'm not the one who decided to narrate the movie Breakfast Club in its entirety."

"You asked what it was about." Olivia gave Ansa a little poke.

"I asked for a summary!" Ansa pulled the girl down, threatening to tickle her with eager little fingers. "I shall punish you for your lack of brevity, and for making us miss breakfast."

"Don't you dare."

Ansa grinned, reaching out slowly, while Olivia curled up into a tiny ball to protect her abdomen.

Their laughter could be heard down to the first floor where Mikael loitered, impatiently waiting for the bride.

That afternoon, Olivia enjoyed the sun on the terrace in perceived solitude. She'd brought her Walkman and was dancing unreservedly, listening to one of her tapes; ripped jeans, sneakers, red suspenders, body jumping and spinning with adolescent intensity. In the middle of an air guitar solo, she looked up to find an amused Katia watching. Olivia removed her headphones and clicked the stop button, then froze like a cornered fox.

Katia uncrossed her arms, pushing off the tower wall she'd been leaning against. "I envy you."

"I can lend you my Walkman so you can make a fool of yourself."

"I'll pass," declined Katia, heading to the south wall.

"I'll even leave, so you can really cut loose."

"Even if no one were watching, I'd still be..." Katia didn't finish the thought. Olivia joined her and they peered down at the garden where Ansa and Mikael chatted on a shaded bench. "Doesn't it bother you?" asked Katia.

"What?"

"Mikey is clearly smitten."

"She seems unbothered and relaxed. Amused, even. To be honest, I thought you would be the one to mind." Katia looked at her with furrowed brows, confused. "...for Mikey's sake?"

Katia's expression relaxed, "Ah, da. He is a sweet boy."

"And?"

"It's harmless..." Katia left the thought unfinished. "Look! Did he just try to kiss her?" she said smiling wide.

Olivia did lean in to get a better look, but the two were just talking at a respectful distance. "You're seeing things," said Olivia dismissively turning her back to the garden, draping her arms on the ledge of the terrace's stonewall. "And you seem awfully interested for someone who isn't interested, if you know what I mean."

Katia turned around as well and they both faced north. Their shadows cast to their left as they regarded the peak of the hill in the distance. "It really doesn't bother you that she is down there being romanced by Mikey?"

Olivia giggled. "I may dress like a boy, but I'm just a normal girl...if you know what I mean."

"Right. Of course," said Katia blushing. "Normal."

"Here. It's the new Duran Duran. Get it to me later." The champion handed over her tape player before leaving Katia. Katia turned to look down at the youthful pair but her mind was on the contents of her locket. I hope winter never comes. 

Four days from her viscous victory, Mikael, Olivia, and Ansa played cards in the parlor, sitting about a little table positioned near the large window facing the garden. Olivia noticed Mikael had grown tense about the shoulders peering at his hand. He kept looking at Ansa and shying his silvery eyes from Olivia's, like there was something he wanted to say, but couldn't in present company. Olivia put down her cards and excused herself for a few minutes to steal a couple of slices of provolone. One she ate on her way from the kitchen to the alcove, the other she left on the desk, but on her return, it seemed the boy's mood had not changed. Mikael remained stoic.