Forgotten Magic

Chapter 49

Cassandra wrapped Rapunzel in an embrace, and I landed on the basket, watching as the group rejoiced all being human again.

Then, Nickolas entered the scene. From where, I couldn't tell you. He took one glance at the group and then his eyes landed on me. For a long moment, I could see the gears slowly turning in his head as he realized what had happened. I fully expected him to laugh or show some sort of joy. Instead, I quickly realized I was being picked up by the guard.

His eyebrows creased, eyes narrowed as he whipped around to face the group. "You all didn't think to turn her back?" There was some glimmer of disbelief in his voice, like he couldn't comprehend the princess forgetting me. He sure hadn't...

Rapunzel's eyes widened with realization. "What?! Oh nononono, Ann! Ann! I-There isn't another egg, I can't turn her-"

Slow realization. Green eyes widening, breath quickening. "You didn't even think of her when you..."

"Why so glum, chum?"

The two whipped around to find a clearly bird-ified Shorty. The peacock hiccupped, a blue egg dropping to the grass.

The soldier grabbed the egg, dropping to his knees, setting me on the ground and looking to the group for assurance. Though most of the group was still shocked at the idea of Nickolas Chance showing concern for someone, they nodded, and he cracked the egg over my head.

Suddenly eye-level with the guard, I took in a fast breath, quickly realizing that I had control over  my own limbs again. While I wished I'd used this newfound control to punch the guard while I had the opportunity, I instead found myself hugging him. Man, that tea must've really messed up my head.

"That's enough," Nickolas informed me, voice hardening again as he removed my arms from around him. "You don't remember anything from that, do you?"

I wanted to tell him I remembered everything and rub it in his face that I had proof he cared about me, but I could tell I was already in trouble for running off with Raps and Cass, so I shook my head. "None of it."

"Good." He seemed satisfied with this answer. "Let's head back to the caravan before it gets stolen by thieves or something..."

. . .

After some help from Rap's hair, we were back on the road.

I was back in the shackles, which was understandable. Nickolas and I sat in silence, and I couldn't help but feel like he didn't totally believe me.

"You know was only scared for my job, right?" he muttered. "If you'd been turned into a bird, I'd be questioned for clearly not keeping an eye on you."

I stayed quiet, worried I'd spit out some random insult if I even thought about opening my mouth.

He sighed, shaking his head and returning to staring out the window. After a long silence, he inquired "Does everyone treat you like that?"

I didn't answer.

"Well? Answer me."

"I don't even know what you're talking about. You look like you've been straight through about five trees by the way, are you that bad at navigating a-"

"Enough."

And whaddya know, my suspicions were correct.

. . .

"Hey."  Cass leaned on my desk, peering over my work and ignoring the glare Nickolas gave her. "How's the translating going?"

I hesitated, glancing from Cassandra to Nickolas and back.

"Oh, lighten up Chance, you look like you've got a bigger stick up your butt than normal."

The guard scowled, muttering "Of course you'd know a thing or two about that..."

"And what is that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing, nothing. Get outta here so she can do her job." He waved his hand like he was shooing away a fly.

"Give her a break, Caleb. Why don't you go check on Lance and Hookfoot? I'm sure they've managed to adopt some new deadly creature..." Cass grimaced slightly, glancing at the door as if she'd just reminded herself of that risk as well.

"Why do I have to do it?"

"Because they don't listen to me anymore unless I bring out a sword."

"Right, and it's not like they'll respect me any more than they respect you. I'm literally 4 years younger."

"But they're used to me. Now go before I pull the sword out on you."

"Fiiiiine." Nickolas started out the door before turning back and adding, "Don't try anything" to me.

Once she was sure he was gone, the handmaiden sighed in relief and pulled up a chair to sit beside me. "I thought he'd never leave...Don't worry, I told Lance and Hookfoot to keep him busy so we have a while.  How we holding up?"

"A lot better now," I shrugged, setting down the quill I was holding. "When it comes down to it, Chance isn't that bad. He doesn't talk much."

"Hah, yep. That's my cousin for yah. He's never been one for words. Even when we were little, it was always their sibling who kept things lively..."

"Taylor?"

If she was surprised that I knew them, she didn't show it. "Yeah. Sweet kid." After a long pause, she drew a deep breath and announced, "I wanted to talk to you about Varian."

I tried not to show I'd flinched. "Why?" It came out kind of incredulous.

"Because losing people is hard, Ann. None of us came out of that night easy."

"Nah, I'm pretty used to it," I shrugged. "Traveling from kingdom to kingdom, making allies and-"

The lady-in-waiting shook her head. "I don't think so. You seem to make more enemies than friends, Ann, and that makes what you and Varian had, have, even more special." From the look in her eyes, I could tell she was speaking from experience.

"Tch, who cares anyways?" I inquired, throwing my hands in the air. "It's over now."

"While that may be true, you-"

The door slammed shut behind Nickolas, and Cass immediately put on a serious face, leaning back and shifting the gaze to the window. "Find anything interesting out there?"

"Just a rattlesnake," he muttered, picking leaves out of his hair. "Stupid...."

"Yep. Now you know what I've dealt with for the past years."

. . .

Unfortunately for me, news of that rattlesnake was the most interesting thing that'd happen all week. Unless...well, you count the black rock that sank back into the group when I touched it. Yeah, shocker. I dunno what caused it either, and there's not much to explain. I just touched the thing and it disappeared.