The Wish Rewrite with the Cat

Chapter 4

Magnifico

The star and how it slipped through my grasp pounded in my head all night. How could that hooded figure and that goat steal it from me? No one had challenged my power like that before. Could that thief have been Asha? No, she wouldn't dare do such a thing. She valued being my clerk too much to steal from me. I needed that star. I couldn't leave it in the wrong hands in the woods. I had to find it. I needed a tracking spell.

I pushed myself up, stuck my feet in my slippers, and yanked my robe around me.

The bedroom was dim, but not dark.

The clock's hands were at six o'clock. That was good enough to start the day.

Soon, I entered the wish chamber.

In the wish chamber, Magnifico is throwing another tantrum. "Who could have taken it? Why is there nothing?" I flung the book on the ground with a thunk. 

"Mi rey?" Amaya entered, still in her nightgown with her brown hair undulating down her back. "What happened here?"

"I couldn't find the star!" I gripped my hair. "Someone must have taken it, and they're keeping it from me! I believe I have just been threatened."

"Who would dare threaten you?"

Sabino said he didn't have enough magic to keep a star from me. So, Asha and Tomas couldn't, either. But if not the Montezes, then who? 

"I don't know who we're dealing with, and these books are useless!" I threw a book of poisons into the fire.

"Just breathe."

"Do not tell me to breathe. When you are threatened, you do not breathe; you focus. Who could have taken my star?"

"Please, mi rey, if you want answers about this star thief, I suggest you look to your people," she opened the window.

Distant specks of people were already lining up in the street, preparing their stalls for market day in a few hours. 

"They love you."

"I know."

"They would do anything for you."

"Of course they would."

"You are their most handsome, most beloved king."

"You're right," I examined my reflection in the window. "I am a handsome king. Oh, my love, excellent advice. Rosas is so lucky to have you. As am I," I kissed her hand. "Everything is fine."

But Amaya frowned. "Have you seen Charo? He didn't come to our room."

"He's still out in the woods."

"In the woods? You abandoned my cat?"

"I didn't abandon him; I ordered him to find my star, and he's still looking for it. The last time I saw him, he was heading in the right direction."

"He's in danger of being eaten by wolves or forced to shelter in a barn. You have to go back for him."

"Charo can chase a rat through every inch of the dungeon and find his way back to your room in an hour. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"If he's not back in the castle by tomorrow, we're looking for him."

"Understood, my darling."

"What are you planning?"

"For the star?"

"How you plan to look to your people. But I'm happy to hear your plans for the star, too."

"The people are the easy part." I'd just gather them all in the arena like I did last night. But as I gazed down at them, another idea arose. Or maybe... "I'll take advantage of market day to speak to them in the square." Less fuss for them and the guards. Not to mention bringing everyone to the arena might make them think I had another wish to grant.

"Wonderful idea, mi rey. And the star?"

"That's what's difficult! I know the tracking spell I need, but it requires Asha's wish. What am I supposed to do? Wait until June?" The star thief would burn Rosas to the ground by then.

"Why not ask Asha to give you her wish early?"

"She'll never let me do that. Especially now that she knows I won't grant most of the wishes."

"You told her?"

"She was curious."

"Oh. Well, if she won't give you her wish, maybe she knows about the thief."

"Of course." The Montezes were goatherds. The thief had a goat and knew the woods. They had to know the Montezes. "You have wonderful ideas, too, Amaya."

"All thanks to you, mi rey."

"Now, it's time to get dressed and greet our loyal subjects." My white suit was a torn, dirty mess, so...I'd wear my dark purple suit with a black cape and boots.

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