KRIKKIT’S SHOES : D’ARRAGON PROPHECY
Chapter 12

Krikkit stood where she had landed, realizing the forest and the cave she had been in a short time ago, had vanished completely. Through a haze of utter bewilderment, she found she was standing in what seemed to be a house. Jara was nowhere to be seen. There was no one else around.

Within moments, however, she noticed she was not completely alone. There, at a little table, gazing at the burning candle between them, sat a man and woman. Hands clasped together across the table, they were talking, their voices barely audible. They had not yet seen the child standing shyly in the shadows.

“There must be a way we can check on the boys ourselves, Roger. I miss them terribly.” The woman spoke.

Krikkit heard an intriguing, musical quality in the voice. She stared at the older woman through the dim light cast from the candle, noticing the sadness of her words. The woman’s hair appeared very fair in contrast to the dark hair of the man who sat across from her. “We will leave here just as soon as

it is safe,” the dark haired man spoke comfortingly as he caressed the woman’s hand. “Just a little more time and we will take our leave. A little more patience is all I ask, MaryAnne.”

Krikkit heard a sigh escaping the lips of the

blonde haired woman as she nodded her agreement. “I, too, would never endanger our sons. I will do as you ask, Roger. However, it gets harder with each passing day not to contact them. They must be very worried.”

“Jara and Keeper Fie have the situation under control. The Red Velvet Regiment reported just two days ago and all is still well at the palace. Everyone is safe. The boys are continuing with their lives just as if we were there. They are in very good hands, so try not to worry about them too much.” The couple fell silent, their gazes locked on the flickering flame of the small candle.

Krikkit wondered if she understood them correctly. Could it be that these two, Roger and MaryAnne, were the King and Queen of D’Arragon? What was she doing here? She listened to them mention Jara and Keeper Fie and realized that it must be true. Somehow, she had found their hiding place.

Then it dawned on her in a flash, just watching the couple. It was the magic of the shoes again. Krikkit remembered leaping over the rock and felt certain that somehow, the shoes had brought her here. Their purpose for doing so remained unclear, however.

She knew it was up to her to let the king and queen know what had happened to the princes. They were in real danger, she had lost the orb with the twins stuck inside it, and she had no idea where they were now. Suddenly, Krikkit realized the room

they now occupied seemed quite familiar. But how could that be? She had never been here before this very moment. Yet, the table looked just like the one in the little house she and the twins had visited early that morning. Her eyes focused on the woman’s fair hair as she thought of the comb the twins found at that time. This lady wore the same golden comb in her hair!

How could this be happening? The house was empty when the three children arrived that morning, the king and queen already departed. Then she remembered Jara saying something about the shoes being able to travel through time. Had the shoes actually taken her backwards, to a time when the king and queen still resided at that same house?

Confused and frightened Krikkit continued to stand silently in the shadows. How was she to explain this to the king and queen?

Finally, gathering her courage, Krikkit cleared her throat. Hardly a sound emerged and she knew the king and queen had not heard a thing. They were now staring solemnly into each other’s faces. She spoke again, in what she hoped was a clear, strong voice.

“How do you do, your majesties? I am Krikkit and I can give you news of your sons.”

She stepped out of the shadows. In less than a second, the King of D’Arragon blocked her, imprisoning both of her small hands in his. Terrified, Krikkit tried with all her strength to break free and run. Not expecting his terrible anger, she cringed as he hissed in her face. “And who in the world might you be? What do you know of the princes?”

The Queen appeared at his side in an instant, her eyes wide and dark with fear. “Where are they?”

Her voice was weak and trembling in the sudden silence that followed the king’s outburst.

“Let me go. I am their friend!”

“My goodness, Roger! She’s just a little girl! You have terrified her! Look, she’s shaking like a leaf, poor thing,” the queen responded.

King Roger peered into her face with sheer surprise, realizing that his wife spoke the truth. His anger turned to bewilderment, gaping now at the face of the young girl.

“How did you get in here? There are several guards outside. How did you get by them?”

Relieved that he had finally let go of her, Krikkit stuttered and gushed with emotion. “I got l-lost in your country because of S-Syntaba’s shoes which I found under my bed… and I don’t know how I g-got in here and…and you’re the nastiest k-king I ever met!”

She promptly burst into loud shuddering sobs, her small shoulders shaking as she released all her feelings.

King Roger’s hearty laugh now filled the room. “Is that so? I’m not a bad fellow, you know. You just startled me, appearing like a ghost from the darkness.”

“Roger, stop badgering the poor child and let her tell her story,” Queen MaryAnne urged.

By this time the tears running down Krikkit’s face had ceased and she was quiet, except for an occasional sob that still escaped. She marveled at the large man before her whose face had changed in a second. His eyes twinkled and Krikkit could see the dimples that creased both sides of his face as he chuckled.

Queen MaryAnne, her arm now protectively placed about Krikkit’s shoulders, led her to a seat at the small table. “I will bring you some hot sweet tea. You’ve had just as much of a shock as we have had this night, I think.”

“I’m sorry about the fright I gave you, but I could not see that you were a mere child in the darkness of the room.” King Roger sounded genuinely sorry for the scare he had given her. He sank his large frame onto a chair across from her and remained silent as Krikkit sipped the hot tea that the Queen had placed in front of her.

Feeling much better when the mug was empty, she gathered her thoughts.

Seeing her hesitation in speaking, King Roger patted her hand.

“Just start from the beginning child. What were you saying about your shoes?”

Krikkit took a huge breath then told her story from the time she had found that little carved box until the present moment.