The orange curtains glowed in the heat, giving a fiery tint to the otherwise white-washed bedroom walls. Cassia pushed herself up from the bed. Her knee length pants weren't much help against the heat that soaked the armpits of her red t-shirt with sweat. She turned her black peacock eyes towards the window as her ears tuned in to the happy shouts and young laughter drifting in from the street.
She brushed back her straight black hair in frustration. Cassia hated naps on Saturday afternoons. She wished her mom would let her out to play instead. She decided to do the next best thing, so she tip-toed to the window and peeked through a crack in the curtain with the intent of watching the neighborhood kids play softball. On seeing a little man peering at her from behind the cotton fabric, she stepped back with a yelp. He crept out from where he crouched then stood up straight. The four feet tall man had a head full of greyish blond hair and beard. Tan slacks covered his stubby legs and three white buttons kept his yellow vest in place.
The little man asked, "What's a pretty lass like you doing abed on this bright sunny day?"
"Who are you?" Cassia answered with a question. She was not afraid, for he was smaller than her and they were in her bedroom. The warm sun also made her feel safe.
The little man chuckled and said, "My name's Orwan and I will grant you one wish for your pretty face. Ask for anything lass and I will give it to you."
"Are you sure you can, you don't look like a wizard to me."
"Ooooh yes I can. Come follow me, and I will show you where I come from. And I will show you how wonderful it is."
He opened her cupboard and took off a panel from the back. Cassia gasped when he revealed a small tunnel that glowed and moved in swirls.
"Come now lass. We have a long way to go. If you want to come back by nightfall, we better go now."
Cassia answered sulkily, "Mom and dad say I can't go with strangers or talked with them."
"I am no stranger, I know your name. You are Cassia are you not? And I already told you, I'm Orwan. I will take you somewhere fun I promise. You can always come back if you don't like it."
Cassia hesitated: What if he really was a wizard? What if he really could give her anything she wanted?
He added persuasively, "You don't want to spend the rest of the afternoon moaning for play now do you?"
Orwan winked then gave a little laugh before crawling into the hole. Then he turned back to smirk at her. She stared after him, part of her wanted to heed her parents warning, the other part wanted to follow this little man. Finally, she made up her mind and crawled in on all fours.
Once she was inside, Cassia twisted her head about and wondered how the hole came to be. She couldn't think of any wall in the house that would be wide enough to fit the passageway. Still she did not dwell too much on that riddle. The tunnel was there, so it was there.
Just as Cassia began to feel dizzy from the swirls, she felt fresh breeze blowing into her face. She crawled out of a hole in the ground and found herself standing on top of a gentle slope covered in grass so green they were almost blue. Cassia looked about wide-eyed. In the distance a river flowed lazily, sparkling like glass in the bright cool day. Tentatively at first, she walked about her then as she grew braver she began to scamper and dance around the immediate area. Just wait till she tells her classmates about the secret tunnel.
But who was going to believe her, for though brighter, the flowers, the grass and even the loose stones looked like they do back home. She couldn't bring anything back to prove that she had been to a magical place. They'd call her something else other than beady eyes. The little girl sat down and cupped her chin on her knees. She wanted so much to be special in a good way.
Orwan squatted next to her. "What's wrong lass? The sun is up and is as merry as always. Don't you want to be like that too?"
Cassia giggled but pouted when she said, "I hate the kids in school."
"Oh, what did they do? How could anyone think to be mean such a pretty thing like you, I cannot imagine?"
Cassia gave another girly laugh, for she liked listening to Orwan talk. He had a carefree lilt in his voice and it sounded funny. He gave her a sidelong look, "Why don't you stay here? I will take good care of you."
He took a handful of berries out of his pocket and offered them to her. Cassia popped a few into her mouth and tasted the sweetness even before biting into them. She mulled over his offer, but decided that she would miss her mom and dad too much. A thousand wishes bubbled through her, and tossing both arms out and looking up to the sky she said, "I wish I don't have to go to school. I wish my dad is rich then everyone would treat me like a princess."
Orwan asked, "What else do you want to wish for, lass?"
She wrapped her arms over her knees and asked, "Can you turn me into a butterfly? They are so pretty. It must be so nice flying around with colorful wings. I would love to know what flower petals feel like under my feet."
"See that's the spirit. Wish for something really special."
The little girl jumped up with her face to the river and shouted the first thing that came to her mind. "I wish to stay and never go back."
Orwan got up from where he was sitting. Cassia turned and watched him roll a heavy stone over the opening of the tunnel, sealing it shut.
"Orwan! What are you doing?"
The little man snickered, "Remember lass, I granted you one wish, and Orwan is fulfilling your wish." It was not fair for him to say that, for she had also wished for so many other things.
But Orwan had never meant to be fair, he just waited for her to wish for what he wanted her to wish for. He chortled and danced around the little girl. Then Cassia saw with dismay three others like him coming towards them. She wanted to run, but her feet would not move.
A little man in brown vest said, "It took you long enough to find a girl, Orwan. I would have thought that you had lost your skills."
"Ah! It has been many a long years since I've had to find a bride for sale."
"Aye, but it will be some more years before she can profit us."
Terror gripped Cassia's heart. She may be only nine, but she understood what they were talking about. She thought back over all the books that she had read in her short life. She imagined them selling her to a monster, or an ugly pirate.
"Orwan!" she cried, "I want to go home! Mother will be worried; father will come looking for me. He will find the tunnel and come down."
"Don't worry little one. They will not come. Why even now, your mother be thinking that someone climbed in through the window and stole you from her. Your father will be looking for you everywhere but in your cupboard." Orwan started to laugh again. It was one of those, aren't I clever kind of laugh. And two of the other small men laughed in accord with him.
"This ain't good," a little man who did not laugh said, "You know the rules Orwan. You cannot bring a living thing through the tunnel against their will."
Orwan humph-ed away his observation. "Don't be such a moaner Plend. Aren't you yourself the third witness to prove that she wanted to stay?"
Cassia's feet buckled beneath her. Yes, she did say she didn't want to go back, she recalled as a wave of faintness washed over her. In a daze she saw two of the men walk away to a row of shrubs then return with a hand-cart that they pushed in front of them. They laid her into it, and she fell into a deep sleep.
When Cassia woke, she found herself lying on a sleeping pallet in a ten-by-ten-foot cage. Her pants and t-shirt had been changed for a loose grey cotton nightgown. Through a cleft in the wall, light filtered and fell on a bathtub outside the cage, which appears to be sitting on a rail that runs all the way into one side of Cassia's prison. To the side of the opening for the tub was a chamber pot. A thud preceded the opening of the cell door, and a little woman entered, bearing a tray of food. Cassia stared at the tight bodice encircling her stout waist and the floor length skirt that hid her short legs. She asked the woman where she was, but received no reply.
For the first few days, Cassia kept waiting to wake up and every time she did, she found herself in the same room. After she realized that she was not in a dream, she became desperate and screamed for the little woman to let her out. Not a single word ever came out from her captor's mouth, not even words to rebuke her. Most times, Cassia would become too sick to cry and just lay in her cage like a little rag doll that nobody wanted.
She missed the sun rays. She missed the golden dust dancing in the rays. She could tell if it was day or night outside, but she did not feel the sun for a long time. Over the years, Cassia began to notice the changes in her body. Her flat chest started to fill out. Her hips widen and made her small waist prominent. There were other changes, some of which were frightening but she took them in stride, as any young lady would.
Days passed, each day the same as the last. She played every bit of memory over and over in her mind: Her favorite cartoons, silly rhymes or songs she had learned in school. Then once in a while she would remember the smell of cookies baking in the oven. She missed her mother so much, though the woman's face was slowly being etched away from her mind by the passage of time. Now whenever Cassia thought of her, she could only see the back of her mother's brown head.
Then one day, something different happened. After all those years, the little man Orwan came to visit. He was not alone, for a tall man with dark straight hair and curled beard walked ahead of him into the room. His fitted brown jacket and high boots looked well crafted and an elaborate carved horn, painted in gold and purple, hung on his belt.
The visitor eyed her crouching form through the bars. She bowed her head and instinctively pulled her legs tighter towards her chest but the coarse cotton garment offered little comfort.
Orwan unlocked the cage. The well-oiled hinges made Cassia cringed in her corner as it swung open. Orwan stayed outside while the taller man stepped in and moved with slow strides towards her. He knelt in front of Cassia, put his finger under her chin and lifted her face. He studied it, turning it from side to side. Cassia saw that he was not young, neither was he ugly. His face was harsh, as stern a face as anyone could imagine for a man who used fear to rule those under him.
The man spoke, "She will do. The long wait had not been in vain. Her skin had not been blemished?"
"No, my lord. We have even kept her away from the sun less it taints her fair complexion. But if my lord so wishes, he may take her out in the moonlight and watch her black hair gleam like jewels in candlelight."
The man's fingers tightened under her chin and he leered at her. Cassia began to tremble. Tears flowed unheeded over her cheeks and onto his hand. His not young face cracked a smile, and he kissed her lips lightly, not to comfort her, but to seal the terror in her.
Her unnamed master stood up and walked out of the cage. "Prepare her for the journey to my castle. Make sure she is presentable, and will not bring shame unto my name."
Orwan bowed and opened the door for him. Cassia could see other tall men bowing as he passed. Orwan signaled with his finger and the woman who had taken care of Cassia these six years clambered in with stooped shoulders.
"Bergun, had the sewing woman prepared her garment?"
The little woman nodded and grunted a reply.
Orwan said, "Then bring it here, make her ready for the journey to Lord Hastire's castle. He intends to start once the sun sets." With those words still echoing in the air, he walked out of the room.
Bergun closed the door after him and went about to prepare a bath for Cassia. She pumped hot water into the bathtub until it reached a level of her choice. Then she unlocked the side door of the cage and pushed in the whole tub. Some of the water spilled onto the floor, "Don't worry 'bout that dear. You will not be spending the night in here. Now get into the tub, and wash yerself, while I get yer garments ready." The opening was locked back then Bergun waddled out of the room.
That was the first time Cassia had ever heard her spoke. The teenager, who had arrived as a nine year old girl, sobbed as she took off her cotton garment. She had always looked forward to a soak in the warm tub, but not that day. Bergun came back with her arms covered in folded lace and shimmering cloth. She grinned to see Cassia in the tub, but tsk-tsk when she saw the tearful face. Cassia did not enjoy her bath for long.
Bergun ordered, "Best come out now girl, wipe yerself dry. I have to tie up yer hair and dress ye."
Cassia obeyed quietly, afraid of what would happen if she didn't. Bergun stepped into the cage and studied the beautiful young girl before her with pride. From an obstinate little child who had screamed and cried for days, Cassia was now a very quiet little thing. Hardly makes a sound, perfect for the buyer.
The ivory lace garment came on first. It hugged Cassia's young body, blending in with her fair complexion yet allowing the faint pink hue of her skin to show through suggestively. A golden silky gown came on next. It hung loosely over her like a tent with wide sleeves covering her hands. Cassia ran her hand over the thin cloth and felt the lacy imprints of her undergarments.
Bergun told her to sit on the floor and started to tie her hair into a ponytail high above her head. Then she coiled it into a knot. After greasing a few loose strands into place, Bergun stood back to admire her work.
The tall man strode back into the room with Orwan and Cassia was brought out of the cage and placed before him. On seeing the leering look on his face, Cassia turned away with fevered terror.
Hastire circled her slowly, moved his hand over her back and sucked in his breath at the feel of lace. He lowered his face towards her neck and breathed in her scent.
"It grows late, my lord," Orwan said. His coat pockets were so heavy with gold it made him stoop. It was such a pity he had to share some of that with the old mechanic who built Cassia's tunnel. He might need the old fellow again someday, for only a handful of Witterns understood the secret of burrowing between worlds and they guarded their knowledge jealously.
"Yes, it does grow late." Cassia's new master placed her right hand over his left, and led her out of the room then out of the single storey large building. Balmy air greeted Cassia outside. A large maple tree filled with thick leaves and encircled by thorny bushes stood to her right. The leaves glowing under the silver moonlight mesmerized until she became aware of Hastire's smoldering gaze. Then her skin turned cold and a cramp spread in her belly.
A guard led forward a small white pantheon pulled by a dappled mare. Dainty steps were lowered and she climbed aboard, assisted by her new owner. It was a strange vehicle, very pretty and obviously meant only for one person. The seats were quite high, more as a means to exhibit the passenger than it was in thought for her comfort. In fact, Cassia had to sit very straight to keep her balance.
Hastire mounted a big grey horse then nodded to Orwan and Bergun. Sixteen guards accompanied the lord and his new bride. The manes and tails of their animals gleamed, for they had been combed with clear grease. Beneath them, the path wound through a sparse birch forest, with leaves just turning gold for the impending autumn. A mile later the wood faded and they emerged from the east side of the Olin Fields.
Cassia watched the way in front of her with the awe of a young child in a new place. For six years, she had longed to be out in the open, to see the sky, stars, and trees. Today was the day, yet what a wretched day it was, and she lowered her face down to stare at the dapple mare.
Unknowing to the medium sized procession, they were being watched with interest. Dark shadows moved slowly towards the field ahead, from within the woods to the south. Moving ever so slowly. The guards sensed nothing amiss, since the shadows were not moving towards them, but instead were patiently taking their position a mile away.
When the last rider had passed the first line of bushes, they suddenly sprung up from the ground and surrounded the horses. The pantheon rocked and Cassia gripped the side of her seat with a stifled scream. Then with horror she watched the bushes sprouting fire. One of these fires came towards the guard next to her and burnt the tail of his horse. The guard unsheathed his sword and tried to strike, but before he could do any harm, his poor terrified animal ran off as fast as it could. Other tails caught fire and likewise, these dashed away too. The grey horse of the terrible lord sprinted off even before its tail was set alight.
Only Cassia was left with the dapple mare, both trembling in fright. The dark forms gave out low noises. Then one of the bushes shed all its leaves, and lo, a tall teenager of about sixteen stood in its place. She was in grey breeches and shirt, and was laughing till she rolled on the ground with some of her companions. All in all, Cassia counted nine youngsters.
"Merlana, we have to go," said one girl, who had recovered faster than the rest of them. "They will be back soon once they have the sense to put out those fires."
The teenager addressed as Merlana, got up and wiped her eyes, "Hey you, come down from your high perch. Or would you prefer to follow the pot-bellied-self-named-lord back to his lair."
Cassia stared at her golden hair, for it did not wane even under the silver light of the moon. She was tall and athletic and her tanned skin gave her upturned face a friendly color. Cassia had not seen a merry face in six years. "Of course I will not follow him. But where will you take me?"
"Home," said a booming voice behind her. Cassia would have fallen off her seat but the large man reached up to grab her waist and lifted her down, his huge vest flapping on either side of him like giant wings.
"Sheorl, how did you find us," Merlana crossed her arms. The children were so elated to have frightened the procession they forgot to watch their surroundings.
"I am your bodyguard. I am meant to find you, even if you give me the slip, else I would make a poor guard indeed."
"I am no child, I need no baby-sitting."
"I am only doing what I am paid to do. Discuss your lack of need for a bodyguard with your brother."
The big man had one hand on Cassia's shoulder and she looked up. She realized then that she had to look very high up for he was the biggest man she had ever seen in her young life. He was at least seven feet tall with shoulder length straight pale hair tied into a ponytail and a light beard on his face.
Merlana said, "You know very well that he will never agree with me. It's not fair, Bulgarth gets into more trouble than I do."
"That is why he has Hymae and Frad to take care of him. Come we have to go now, before they return."
Sheorl studied the thin silk slippers Cassia was wearing, which was a most impractical item for grass wet with dew and ground peppered with sharp rocks. He signaled for her to ride piggy back. Cassia was so use to obeying instructions she did not give his request a second thought as she climbed onto his back and put her arms around his neck. He scooped up her legs and ran after the other children back towards the woods.
Cassia saw flashes of silver and grey barks all about her as the moon continued to shed light for their trek. Though she could see no trail, ahead of her the children ran fast and sure. From the shadows, Cassia would at times hear exasperated sighs, which made some of the pranksters run faster while trying to cover their faces at the same time. After a tiresome distance they emerged into a clearing. To one side, a wide waterfall rumbled into a valley below while a little further downstream stood a white three storey building.
The clearing stretched on for another twenty yards ahead then sloped lazily down into the valley. Instead of going to this slope, the children went to the edge of the cliff next to the waterfall. Cassia looked stared down the dark precipice and shivered.
Sheorl said, "We have to be quick. After what happened tonight, the first estate Hastire will visit will be Dew Valley. Knowing you for what you are Merlana, he will certainly ask to see you."
Merlana stuck her tongue out at him before letting herself down carefully by the side of the cliff onto a narrow ledge. She lifted up her arms and jumped. Cassia gasped, but the tall golden haired girl did not fall straight down. One after another the other youngsters followed her and glided away towards the forest below them. Cassia looked hard at the rocky side, to see what they were holding on to, and once her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw that it was a taut rope, in the open yet hidden, the color of the rocks itself. She also noticed that each of the youngsters hooked a horse-shoe shape metal with handles to the rope before silently flying down without wings over rocks and trees.
Sheorl could feel Cassia's muscle tensed. He had one handle and the rope would hold both their weight, but he needed both hands on the handle and he did not trust Cassia to hold onto him. Suddenly he had an idea. He put her down and took off his vest.
"Climb back up little one." Cassia did as told. He put the vest back on, this time over her, and pulled the waist straps. A little snug, but it would keep her secure. Sheorl climbed down the side, hooked his handle onto the rope and away they went after the others. Platforms, well hidden in the canopies of the forest, acted as stations along the journey down to the bottom of the hill. Sheorl alighted at each point and transferred his horse shoe handle to the next rope. In this way they moved, so that a journey that would have taken a whole night's walk in the dense woods, took under half an hour in their case.
The feel of freefalling and the rush of air terrified Cassia. She hardly dared open her eyes. She took a guarded peek over Sheorl's shoulder each time he stopped, wishing for the end of the journey. And it was during one of these stops that Cassia saw a shadow five yards away steadily moving up towards the cliff they had left behind. Before she could make out what it was, she felt Sheorl jumped again and instantly closed her eyes.