The Kingdom of Noitcif

Chapter Four - Calling Bluff

   As the minutes began to tick by, Espen was able to think more clearly about the situation while finishing his tea.

  "Now she's a half hour late!" he spoke aloud while pushing down some rising panic.

  His unearthly encounter still didn't make any sense, but he was able to calmly play it back in his mind.

  "What's taking Mom so long to get home?" He soon gave up attempting to sort through all the details and turned his attention to the clock once again.

  Nervous energy propelled him out of his chair. Grabbing a broom from the corner of the kitchen entryway, he began sweeping furiously to burn off excess adrenaline. After he chased the small pile of crumbs and dirt out the back door, he found himself seated at the table once again. Finally, Espen leaped to his feet, slammed his teacup next to the sink, and began scribbling furiously on a sticky note with a ballpoint pen.

  The freshman had never called someone's bluff before, but he had heard of it, and perhaps had a golden opportunity to try it out now. If the messenger was lying, then of course he wouldn't show when the teen called and Espen would appear quite silly. But if he wasn't... well... the teenager's mind froze there.

  Placing the sticky note - which told his mom he was to be out of the house for a little while - in a prominently viewed place in the kitchen, the teenager grabbed his gray hoodie off of the coat rack and went sprinting out of the front door; temporarily resigning not to doubt this disheveled man and his unicorn horse.

  Espen pivoted around in a circle in the gravel driveway, looking in all directions. He realized that Tarquin must be long gone by now. He looked warily towards Rosalind's house, and luckily, he didn't see a soul in the yard, or in a window. With a shrug, the freshman decided that though it was probably useless, he had to try.

  "Tarquin! Tarquin, I've changed my mind! I'll come with you!" he yelled through cupped hands.

  Nothing but silence met him. Feeling foolish, Espen turned his back on the street and put his hand on the door as a heavy sigh escaped him.

  "You called my name, Prince Estevan?"

  Espen nearly fell forward in a dead faint. Quickly repressing his surprise, he slowly turned around to meet the bright blue eyes of the messenger.

  "Yes, I did."

  Tarquin smiled broadly, before inquiring, "You changed you mind? You wish to accompany me to Noitcif?"

  Espen wavered inconspicuously for a moment, but shook it off and answered as resolutely as he could, "Yes. Yes, I would."

  The messenger gave a hearty bow and smile and held out his hand to the teen. "I am so glad, my good prince!" he said cheerfully, escorting him to his steed, which was standing at the end of the driveway.

  As Tarquin linked his hands to provide Espen a step by which to mount his unicorn, the freshman's face clouded over as he cast a glance towards his home.

  "Do not worry, Prince Estevan," the messenger reassured. "You can return whenever you wish. I stake it upon my honor to bring you back safely."

  The teenager smiled at Tarquin, grabbed a hold of his silver saddle, and swung himself onto the equine's back.

  "To Noitcif!" the messenger exclaimed, leaping up right in front of Espen. "Please hold onto me, Prince Estevan. Verbum's canter can be a little jolting at times."

  Espen gritted his teeth as Tarquin emitted something like a battle cry, and then ushered the unicorn into a canter, which quickly turned into a gallop. He clung to the messenger's dingy garb as they sped away down the street, past the many houses and farmlands, and around the bend.