KRIKKIT’S SHOES : D’ARRAGON PROPHECY
Chapter 20

Syntaba walked out of the Land of Dreams and Fables and returned to D’Arragon Palace. Already on his way to take the documents to Sareltin, King Roger brought Keeper Fie and a large part of the Red Velvet Regiment with him. Syntaba, who had perfected all forms of travel, arrived at the palace almost as soon as the thought of it had entered his mind.

Right away he sensed something was not right, even though all appeared normal. This premonition stayed with Syntaba although he saw the remaining members of the Red Velvet Regiment standing strong, as usual, not moving a muscle.

The old sorcerer entered the palace, moving silently and quickly. A strange whispering drifted out from the games room, luring him closer to investigate. Peering carefully into that room, Syntaba felt more than a little surprised at the presence of Tarcey D’Arquille. That young man poised himself before a large mirror, gazing at his own image with much pleasure. Syntaba detected immediately the cause of Tarcey’s great delight.

Wearing one of King Roger’s crowns upon his head, Tarcey also draped a majestic, purple cloak across his shoulders. Obviously hugely enjoying his fantasy of becoming king, the younger D’Arquille whispered to himself in admiration.

“Hello, your Royal Majesty.” Tarcey spoke in hushed tones, clearly not wanting to attract the attention of the men who guarded the palace. He preened before the mirror and bowed to his own image.

Syntaba observed him for a while before he spoke out in a cold, yet quiet voice. “You had better enjoy yourself now, my friend, while you have the chance. This is as close as you will ever get to the D’Arragon throne.”

Spinning around in utter shock upon the discovery that someone had been watching him, Tarcey hissed loudly at Syntaba. “Who on earth are you? A stranger! You have no right to be in this palace!” Promptly he lowered his voice again to a whisper, not wanting to alert the army posted outside.

“Much more right than you do, Tarcey! I serve King Roger and his family and you do not belong here at all! Your treachery and that of your father, has destroyed any chance that you will ever set foot in D’Arragon Palace again!”

Tarcey’s face twisted with rage, becoming increasingly red as he fumed at the old man who interrupted his enjoyment of the crown. “I will make short work of you, old man! Won’t take me long to be rid of you and your precious King Roger! And then, your precious twins in their little glass ball will be next! I got past that regiment outside by sneaking in during all the commotion when the king left to return to Sareltin, and I can do it again!”

“Don’t worry, Tarcey,” challenged Syntaba. “The Regiment won’t be coming after you today. It’s just you and I.”

Tarcey lunged at Syntaba, his hands stretched toward him. Instantly the sorcerer appeared behind the furious Tarcey, placing his hand on the nape of the other man’s neck. Syntaba wrenched the crown from his head, pulled off the cloak and spun the younger D’Arquille around to face him.

Stunned at the speed of the old man, Tarcey tried desperately to wriggle from his grasp. He could not budge the sorcerer’s hand, cold as iron and just as strong. Finally, Tarcey stopped squirming, staring in amazement and frustration at Syntaba. “I will sit on the D’Arragon throne and my father will help me rule D’Arragon. There is no way you can stop these things from happening with Jara’s powers gone,” Tarcey retorted, seething with fury.

“King Roger will sit on the throne as he always has and, when the time comes, the twins will follow him. That is their destiny, not yours. Your ties to the D’Arragon royal dynasty will be severed forever because of your treason,” Syntaba declared, with total conviction.

Finishing with the son of Hennesy, he mentally

prepared himself to return to Sareltin just as quickly as he had come. He must deal with Tarcey now.

Tarcey began to choke and gasp in a gust of a strong wind that whipped about him, lifting him into a strange, dark place. As everything went black, Syntaba’s voice echoed in his head, cutting through the wind like a cold, steel dagger. “You can talk it all over with your father while you both fall forever! Make sure you tell him that Syntaba sent you!”

Instantaneously, Syntaba arrived at Sareltin Castle, and Jara appeared silently beside him, in her female form.

“Everything went as planned, Syntaba,” she told him. However, Hennesy managed to see into the orb, noticing the lot of us.”

Syntaba laughed out loud, then informed her of the unique plight wherein he placed Hennesy and his son. “I think the D’Arquilles will be quite busy for a time, falling into forever!”

“Forever, maybe,” laughed Jara, amused at the evil D’Arquilles plight and relieved both were out of their way.

“It’s good to have them out of our hair,” nodded Syntaba. “Now we can put the rest of our plan in motion.”