A Charm for a Unicorn (17 page)

The young man looked abashed. “I, um, didn't actually fight a duel. I was hiding, in fact, in a young lady's closet. Her father, who was a rather powerful magician, didn't take kindly to finding me there. But before I could explain,
poof!
I was transformed into a mouse. The house was near a seaport. I suppose I wasn't thinking when I boarded the ship, but I just wanted to get as far away from the wizard as possible. I was hoping the spell would wear off or grow weaker, but it never did."

"Is that how you ended up on with Prince Renaldo? Was he on that ship?” Leonie asked. She hated the glum expression on the man's face. He plucked at the dress and his mouth twisted in a way that made her think he was trying not to cry. “That's all right. I understand.” She nuzzled him gently.

He patted her nose. “I had just finished my magic courses. My own father was a magician, a small town fellow, to be sure, but talented. And I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a wizard too, so he apprenticed me to a great master. But I fell in love with his daughter."

"Perhaps she is waiting for you,” said Leonie. “You'll have to go find out. What's your name, by the way?"

"I'm called Claude. And it's not clod, although that's what I feel like. The girl I fell in love with lives in the far northern part of Querel. It's been twelve months since I was transformed. She's probably forgotten me by now. To tell the truth, I've sort of forgotten about her. What was her name anyway? Well, it's of no matter. I'm here now, and that's what counts."

Leonie said, “I'm sorry you were a mouse for so long."

"That's all right. There were no cats on the ship. What about you? What's your story? Why are you a horse?"

"I have to stay like this for a while. I've got a charm on me, wild magic if you like. It makes it hard for people to see me as I really am,” she explained. She didn't want to tell him that every man who saw her fell madly in love with her. For some reason, she was embarrassed about her charm.

"Wild magic can be dangerous for those around you.” He nodded.

"What will you do now?"

"I'm a great magician, never fear. I'll find a way to make myself useful. Perhaps I'll challenge Sir Wulfe to a duel. If he couldn't break my spell, he mustn't be so powerful. He caused my friend Renaldo heartbreak and harm, and I mean to avenge him."

"No!” If he did that, then Sir Wulfe would know something was up. “I think the best thing for you to do would be to leave this place and go home. Please?"

"I may be wearing a dress, and I may look ridiculous. But I'm no coward. I hid once, and look where it got me. No, I face my troubles head-on now. Renaldo is my friend, and he needs me. If everyone ran off when things got tough, where would we be?"

"Safe at home,” said Leonie.

"You must be from a different kingdom. Here in Querel we fight back."

"And just look where it's gotten you!” Leonie tossed her head. “I'm from Windtide, and I know it's a very small and insignificant kingdom, but it's peaceful and prosperous. At least, I think it is. Truth be told, I haven't been out in the world very much.” She sighed. “From what I saw of Querel, the civil war has been appalling. I hope that soon the princes will sign a peace treaty and stop dragging their people into battle."

Claude rubbed his head. “It seems that the common people always suffer for their leaders’ folly. If the princes really cared about their subjects, they would stop fighting completely. But obviously they care more about themselves."

"King Gustavo, the princes’ father, should put an end to this foolishness. He's the king. Why doesn't he do something?"

"He's very weak. From what I hear, Sir Wulfe has been trying to stop the war and reconcile the two princes, Alonzo and Hidalgo, for months.” Claude shrugged. “They will all be here tomorrow. Perhaps some good will come from this situation after all. I overheard Renaldo's mother saying that the woman Sir Wulfe is to marry is the key to the whole situation, and that she should consider the good of the people instead of herself."

Leonie gave a start. “What do you think Renaldo should do?"

"If I thought that any good would come from sacrificing my own wishes for the good of a whole country, I wouldn't hesitate,” said Claude slowly. “I know it sounds harsh, but what is a simple love story compared to a whole country? If it can bring peace, then perhaps Renaldo should try to forget his lady-love. From what I saw, she is no longer smitten."

"Is that what you're going to go tell him?"

"What would you tell him?” Claude asked.

Leonie dug her hoof in the straw. Now that she knew she could never marry Renaldo, she had to look at everything from a different angle. “I guess it would be selfish for the girl to refuse to help Sir Wulfe. After all, he's doing a noble thing by trying to stop the war. Maybe she doesn't even have to marry him. Maybe now that everyone is getting together, she can call the wedding off and explain that it was a ruse."

"I don't think royalty like to be tricked. They are coming to have a good time, they don't know yet that Sir Wulfe has prepared a treaty."

Before Leonie could comment, the door to the stables opened slightly, and a slim shadow squeezed through the narrow opening.

Claude ducked behind the haystack, while Leonie prudently withdrew into the deep shadow of her stall. Evening had fallen, and the stables were dim. The person who'd just come in stubbed their toe and uttered an very unladylike oath in a feminine voice.

"Ouch! Stupid Gorbellied folly-fallen giglet! Where is the light?"

"Who goes there?” Claude cried, jumping out from behind the haystack with a pitchfork.

Leonie gave a whinny as she recognized Sylvain, in her form. He stopped and stared at Claude. “Who are you?” he cried.

Claude dropped the pitchfork. “Begging your pardon, my Lady. I was defending this horse, that's all."

"Oh, that's a good fellow. Yes, defend the horse.” Sylvain started to pet Leonie on the nose, and then seemed to realize Claude hadn't answered his question. “I said, who are you? And what is a man doing dressed in a woman's clothes in the stables?"

Leonie snorted. “One might ask the same of you."

Sylvain jumped and swore again. “By pratsafats gizzardly gumzasats! Will you stop scaring me like that?"

"Where did you pick up all those curses, Lady Leonie?” Claude inquired. “Prince Renaldo said you'd led a very sheltered life in an isolated castle, but I haven't heard language like that since I was in the navy!"

"I happened to serve two years on ... Ouch!” Sylvain rubbed his shoulder where Leonie had nipped it. “I mean, we had a servant for two years who used to be in the navy.” He glared at Leonie. “Satisfied?"

Claude narrowed his eyes. “Something strange is going on. You are not who you appear to be. I told you, I'm a very powerful wizard and I can feel these sort of things.” He patted his pockets and then looked down at the ground. “Where is my wand? I had it when I was transformed."

"And I suppose that Sir Wulfe can't feel those sort of things?” Sylvain gave Claude a withering look. “For your information, I've managed to fool him. Why, he hasn't found out that ... Ouch!"

Leonie nipped him harder this time. “Hush! Why don't you hire a flock of Crow Callers to shout the news? Now be quiet!"

Claude looked up from where he was on his hands and knees, searching in the straw. “I say, did that horse just give you an order?"

"Yes.” Sylvain turned to Leonie and pointed to his shoulder. “Look at this! My new dress is torn! You know, you should have become a donkey. You are even bossier and more stubborn than your sister."

Leonie pinned her ears back and gave Sylvain an equine glare. “If you don't want to spend the rest of your life in that form, I suggest you do as I say."

"Ah ha!” Claude stood up with a small stick in his hand. “Found it! Now, I will show you what I can do! Let's see who you really are!” He pointed it at Sylvain, and before Leonie could do anything, he waved the wand. A shower of blue sparkles covered Sylvain, and to Leonie's horror, her spell disappeared. Prince Sylvain reappeared, still wearing a dress, of course.

"What have you done?” cried Sylvain. He jumped on Claude, trying to wrest his wand away from him. “Give me that!"

"No, it's mine! Get off me, you oaf!” Claude grunted as Sylvain landed on him.

"Oaf? Why, I'll teach you a thing or two!"

"You tricked my friend Renaldo,” snarled Claude and managed to land a glancing punch on Sylvain's chin.

"You idiot, I had to! Do you think I like being a girl?” Sylvain kicked him and they rolled over, hay flying.

Dismayed, Leonie opened her mouth to cry out when the stable door banged open. It was Sir Wulfe. He held a lantern above his head, and his face looked like a thundercloud bursting with hail and lightning. The lamplight fell on Claude and Sylvain in their dresses, wrestling.

Sir Wulfe stopped and gaped. Prince Sylvain and Claude froze. Leonie squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the explosion. Instead, Sir Wulfe gave a sort of strangled cough and said, “Excuse me, I'm looking for Leonie. Someone said she was here looking for her father."

Leonie dared open her eyes again.

Claude pulled out of Sylvain's arms and glared at him. Then he got to his feet, turned to Sir Wulfe and said, “There's no Leonie here, and no father either."

Sir Wulfe blinked, and his frown returned. “Just who are you, and what are you doing in my stables?"

"Um, we're...” Claude stopped, a blank expression on his face.

"We're Prince Alonzo's jesters,” said Sylvain, standing and giving a deep bow. “We came along early to, er, rehearse."

Leonie was relieved to see that he stayed behind Claude and kept his head down, so Sir Wulfe wouldn't see him and recognize him as the horse trainer.

Claude gave a high-pitched laugh. “Oh yes, Prince Alonzo wanted to put on a play for your wedding. He asked us to whip something up so, here we are!"

Sir Wulfe looked taken aback. “I didn't know that Prince Alonzo like comedy. I thought he was more interested in classical drama."

Claude's smile slipped a notch. “Fancy you knowing that. Well, he wanted to try something different I guess. Besides, we're jesters, we don't do drama."

"And this is supposed to be a surprise, so don't say anything to your betrothed,” mumbled Sylvain from behind Claude.

"Oh. All right. I'll be looking forward to your play tomorrow. Um, have you seen my fiancée here? Someone said she'd come to the stables."

"No, we haven't seen her. But if she does come in, we'll tell her you're looking for her."

Sir Wulfe started out the door then hesitated. Looking back over his shoulder, he said in a doubtful voice, “I'll just leave you two alone then."

"Bye-bye,” said Claude, waving.

When the door shut, Leonie let out the air she'd been holding in her lungs. All four of her legs were shaking. She swung around to face Claude. “Put the spell back on right this second!” she hissed, swishing her tail in agitation.

"I don't know. I was starting to feel lonely, being the only man in woman's clothing around here,” said Claude. He rubbed his ribs and looked at Sylvain. “Were you hiding in a closet too when you were transformed into Lady Leonie? And what is your explanation for taking her place?"

"It's a very good one,” said Sylvain. “Now hurry, put me back as I was. If I'm caught here, it will put everyone in danger—Renaldo, the princes, and even the future of Querel!"

"Fine, fine. I'll do it. If it's so important, why didn't you say so before?” Claude waved his wand half-heartedly and Sylvain vanished while Leonie's form reappeared.

Leonie breathed a sigh of relief, then said, “Quick, go back to the castle. Be careful. Don't let anyone see you, your dress is a ruin!"

"Do I look like an idiot? No, don't answer that.” Sylvain tried to straighten out his dress, but the tear was too large. “What, pray tell me, is your plan for tomorrow?"

"I have no idea,” said Leonie. “You'll have to take care of getting the two princes to sign the treaty by yourself. But I've no doubt you can do it. You were raised a prince, and you know how to talk to people."

Sylvain gave her a wide grin. “I think you are doing a good job talking to people too.” Then he left, walking carefully on his high heels. Leonie turned back to the hay net and wished horses weren't so hungry all the time. Claude looked at his magic wand and gave an annoyed cry.

"What is it?” Leonie asked.

"It's cracked. It must have been during the scuffle with ... who was that young man anyway?"

"He's Sylvain, Prince Renaldo's younger brother. Why?"

"Well, don't panic, but my spell might come unraveled."

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Alonzo and Hidalgo were the two most conceited, arrogant, ill-mannered persons Renaldo had ever met. They arrived at the same time, and there was a fight to see who would enter the gate first. It seemed they would simply smash it. Both carriages crammed in side by side, the horses rearing and snorting, and then they got stuck.

Shouting ensued, with each prince sticking his head out the carriage window and shaking his fist at their hapless drivers. Sir Wulfe, standing in the courtyard, frowned mightily. Renaldo, standing to the right of Sir Wulfe, glanced over at his mother, who looked positively scandalized. As a crown prince, Renaldo couldn't conceive of acting in such a manner. But then the king of Querel arrived, thankfully by the back gate. His carriage, pulled by two tired, drooping horses plodded slowly into the courtyard.

The carriage lurched to a stop when both horses walked straight into the hedge. The driver, obviously having fallen asleep, woke up with a start as the horses started to munch the leaves. The carriage door opened, and a very old man poked his head out and said, “Here we are. What's all the fuss?"

It had to be said that the shouting and swearing from the front gate had reached epic proportions.

The old man was the King of Querel, and Sir Wulfe leapt forward to help him out of the carriage as the driver tried to pull the horses away from the hedge. But both horses had buried their heads in it, and couldn't be moved.