Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 17

Otswana decided to avoid the captain as much as she could over the next five days. The first three days, Otti remained in her room in the mornings and wrote letters to several residents at Traughlin manor. In the afternoons and evenings, she shared meals with her father, whom was still in his room, healing from his poisoned wound. Otswana also allowed Izadora to give her voice lessons. She did this for one hour each day.

At the end of the third day, Izadora insisted once again, on giving Otti piano instructions. The princess again refused. Otti informed Izadora, she has had lessons in the past and would rather train for battle than practice piano.

Izadora stormed off in a fit, leaving Otswana free to visit with her father in his room. This was where Otswana had spent much of her time hiding the fourth day.

The morning of the fifth day, Otswana wrote a second letter to Gracelyn, even with the possibility of seeing her on the morrow at the festival. Otti sealed her letters with a wax stick and snuck down the stairs to have a servant send the missives.

There were several servants and merchants walking the corridors Wednesday morning. The castle seemed quite busy with decorations, chairs, candles, and fabrics being carried about in preparation for the upcoming festivities. Before she ascended the stairs to hide once more, the smell of chicken roast permeated the corridors. Otti's stomach growled.

Finding the dining hall empty, Otti ventured into the kitchen to see how she could assist with the banquet food for the ball. She insisted on helping with the tarts and the mince pies, for they looked as though they needed to be sampled the most.

The princess was in the middle of pulling out a pan of partially-baked tarts from the oven when she noticed someone standing behind her. He had snuck up on her once again. She straightened her shoulders and thought if she ignored his presence, perhaps he would leave her be.

"Why are they not fully baked?" Klav asked.

Otti didn't turn around. "It is because they will all finish baking tomorrow before the festivities begin." Otswana placed the towel, she still held in her hand, on the counter. She then wiped her brow with the back of her hand. She was uncertain if it was the warm kitchen that caused her to perspire or her nerves. "How did you know I was in here?" Otti asked.

"I have been checking on you regularly over the last five days. I've known exactly where you've been."

Otti felt an unfamiliar sensation in her chest. She assumed it was a feeling of elation, discovering that Klav cared for her well-being. However, she had avoided him because of the vision she saw of his very long and happy future, a future in which Otti would play a small role.

"Are you planning on hiding in here for the remainder of the day?" the captain asked when she hadn't responded.

"I was considering it," Otti answered honestly.

"I was thinking we should take a stroll through the markets," Klav said. "We could look at some stones and gems of which you taught me last week."

"You believe it is safe for me? There are no more threats?"

"There will always be threats. However, life is not meant to be lived in fear. To be hiding from your troubles would not be much of a life, wouldn't you agree?"

Otswana shut her eyes at the insinuation. Hiding from her troubles was exactly what she had been doing for the past week and she felt foolish for being found out.

"We will have you disguised, to ensure no one recognizes you," Klav insisted.

"We?" Otti finally turned to look at the captain.