Fox O' Nine Tales: Larissa Of Foxwood

Chapter Six: The Fox Lord Chamberlain Reynard

A Fox O'Nine Tale

By R.W. Slavin

Book One: Larissa of Foxwood

Chapter Six: The Fox Lord Chamberlain Reynard

The bridge over the fifth and final moat circling Foxwood Castle fed the speeding carriage carrying Larissa, Reggie and Bea into and through a wide-open arched gateway entrance in the high stone wall surrounding ... well, surrounding whatever lies within that we're being fed to, thought Larissa. The gateway opening looked to her like a giant's yawning mouth, the raised section of jail-cell gate flashing overhead, with its long row of gleaming spiked tips, being the giant's fearsome teeth.

Larissa assumed they were entering the "garage" of the Castle. But no! They had passed through yet another surrounding protective wall and were still about a football field or so away from the front entrance of the Castle. What lay between was a beautifully landscaped courtyard, like a perfectly sculpted green lawn but with statues, little fountains, sitting benches and garland-covered gazebos. The lawn radiated out over a hundred yards all the way around the Castle (as Reggie explained). There were dozens, maybe hundreds, of fox folk in their finest velveteen outfits milling about on the great lawn or gathered in groups looking to be in deep discussion. As the carriage proceeded up the main driveway to the Castle's front entrance, she could see that there were many pedestrian-sized gateways in the courtyard wall, and that there was not just the one wide carriage road entering the grounds, but many walkways extending across the five moats in all directions from the Castle, like rays extending from the sun.

"It's called the Public Green," said Bea. "Anyone and everyone from Foxwood - or even the Wolfen folk from the outland Steppes beyond Foxwood - are invited to come here with suggestions and questions for the Council Princesses."

"Or grievances," interjected Reggie.

Bea scowled. "Oh, now, who could have a grievance, living here in Foxwood?" she almost snorted.

"The people of the Northern Forest - the sprites, the faeries, the Hermit Foxes, not to mention the Cat Queen," answered Reggie.

"Oh, I've never seen those people here, ever, in Athena," said Bea. "And I could little care what that conniver Morgana has to complain about! She's a troublemaker, I say!"

Larissa thought she detected, for the first time, an actual hint of anger in sweet Bea's voice at the mention of "the Cat Queen." Bea almost hissed out the name "Morgana." But it was the "faerie" reference that most powerfully piqued Larissa's interest.

"There are real live faeries in Foxwood?!"

Reggie smiled his toothy smile. "Oh we'll have to make sure you see some of the faerie folk on your visit! They're quite lovely; like little winged dolls. But they mainly stick to the Northern Forest. I suppose we should organize a "field trip" into the edges of the Forest."

Bea was again agitated by Reggie's words.

"There's plenty going on right here in Foxwood for Larissa to enjoy without her falling down some crazy savant fox's foxhole in The Great Forest! She may well still be here to witness the return of the King! Anton himself will be retaking his seat on the Gemmed Throne and you'll have Larissa off in the haunted woods - being chased into the barbed blackberry bramble bushes by the sprites, no doubt!"

"Now, now, Bea," said Reggie in his best soothing tone, "you know I would never take Larissa into the Northern Forest without a Wolfen Guard escort, two or maybe even three of them."