(advent) Day 2 – What will we do?

Friday, December 2

 

When Molly wandered out into the tea room that morning, she was not surprised to see Goldie sitting at one of the tables, a large book in front of him, a small pair of reading glasses perched on his nose. The pirate was one of Pavel’s most trusted lieutenants, and Molly had no doubt she would see a lot of him. He might look studious, and indeed preferred his books and tea to carousing with his comrades, but Molly knew he was also a fierce fighter. Seeing him there made her feel much better.

 

“Morning, Goldie,” she said, moving over to him. “Tea?”

 

“I wouldn’t say no to a nice cup of Earl Grey, and perhaps a sandwich, if you are making them,” he said, looking up from his book.

 

“I think I can do that,” Molly said. “I’ve got some lovely ham, and Lisa dropped off some of her fig jam the other day.’

 

Goldie sighed. “You know, most of us dream about your cooking when we aren’t in the Cove. There are rumors Cap’n wants to kidnap you and Drew for a voyage.” He winked at her. “But we wouldn’t do that, would we?”

 

Molly laughed and went back into the kitchen. Corrine had called and said she’d be dropping Lily, Kaylee, and Jack off later that day, after they went to the dentist. Kiaya was already writing in the tea room, not far from Goldie, and Gideon and Schrodinger were napping.

 

She had bread to bake, and vanilla shortbread, since she wanted to see if they were popular enough to sell at the bake sale. But bread first.

 

The simple tasks of mixing and kneading soothed her, keeping her from worrying about Caliban and whatever he might be planning. Perhaps he wasn’t planning anything at all. That would be the best.

 

By the time Lily, Kaylee, and Jack came in to the bookstore, she had three loaves of bread rising, and several trays of shortbread cooling on the counters. Molly heard them wake up Gideon and Schrodinger and smiled, going into the pantry for the castle.

 

“What do you think we’ll do today?” Gideon asked, as she came back out with the shining structure.

 

“Something amazing,” Lily said. “The last calendar was always amazing.” She looked at Kaylee. “Remember, you opened it yesterday, so someone else gets to today.”

 

Kaylee nodded absently, already looking for the “2”. The rest of them clustered around the castle, eagerly searching as well.

 

It’s not a window! Schrodinger said finally. Well, not really. Look, it’s part of the tower!

 

He pointed with his nose, and Molly saw he was right. The little gold “2” floated above a narrow slit in the western tower. Lily, after looking to Schrodinger for permission, reached out and touched the bars on the slit. They shimmered, and then the room expanded, showing them what was inside.

 

Inside the tower room were four soldiers, dressed in the white of the Snow Queen. They looked out windows, holding long bows in one hand, and they had quivers of white leather slung over a shoulder, with white-fletched arrows sticking up out of them. In the center of the room was a cauldron, and standing over it was a man in a long white robe, waving his hands. The children watched in awe as the cauldron began to bubble and froth, belching up white smoke that swirled through the room and then out the windows. As it wrapped around the tower, the room faded, but the smoke didn’t.

 

“It’s not smoke, it’s SNOW!” Kaylee said excitedly, as the flakes began to fall all around them, melting into nothingness as they touched surfaces. “But what does it mean?”

 

“Just watch,” Molly said, as a single snowflake, instead of vanishing, danced around them.

 

Follow the snowflake! Jack said, letting loose a howl of joy as the snowflake zipped out of the kitchen. Molly reached out and steadied the castle as the rest of them followed him, eager to see what the next adventure would be.

 

<><>

 

“Don’t lose it, Jack!” Lily said, as they ran through the tea room. The hound bayed again, following the glittering snowflake that danced on the warm air, zipping up the staircase to the second floor of CrossWinds Books.

 

The upper floor of the bookstore was mostly an open room, crammed with bookshelves that marched in seemingly endless rows, broken up by little areas of armchairs and side tables, perfect for reading, or quiet talking, or knitting. Aunt Margie had an office in the back, and Schrodinger knew there were other rooms back there (like the storeroom), but most of the floor was books.

 

A long wide center aisle separated the room, and normally there were more chairs and tables. Those had been moved back to make room for the two Christmas trees that flanked the fireplace at one end. Schrodinger loved the fact that there were red velvet stockings there, one for every member of the Carter’s Cove staff. Including himself. The other end of the aisle was the resting point for the mailbox that would come out very soon.

 

As they tumbled into the main area of the second floor, the snowflake burst into long streamers that rained down around them in silver and gold. Lily reached for one, but it dissolved into her hands. “What does it mean?” she asked, turning to the others.

 

“Look here!” Gideon said, pointing to one of the tables that was now positioned in front of an end of a bookshelf. “What’s this?”

 

They all went over and discovered several piles of brightly colored wrapping paper and scissors. Lily looked around and said, “I know! Snowflakes!”

 

“What?” Gideon said, tilting his head. “What do you mean?”

 

“We’re going to make snowflakes!” Lily said. “I’ll bet Aunt Margie wants them for the front windows again!”

 

“You’re right,” a voice said, and they all turned as Aunt Margie came around the corner of a bookcase. “You guys think you can do that?”

 

“Absolutely!” Kaylee said, and the others nodded. “How many?”

 

“As many as you can make,” Aunt Margie said. “We’ll need a lot!”

 

“Let’s do this!” Kaylee said, picking up a set of scissors and reaching for a square of paper. Someone (probably Aunt Margie or DC, the head cashier) had cut up various rolls of wrapping paper into all sizes and colors. Soon all three children were cutting bits and pieces, while Jack and Schrodinger busied themselves with choosing new paper and putting the finished stars into a box Aunt Margie had given them. While they did so, Schrodinger filled his friend in on what Molly had told him.

 

Do they really think Caliban will come? Jack asked him.

 

I think Jade is worried, yes, Schrodinger said. And Molly is.

 

He’s a nasty piece of work, the hound agreed. He looked back at the children, who had starting singing along with the Christmas carols playing on the sound system. If he tries to touch any of them, I’ll take his head off.

 

And I’ll help you, Schrodinger said.

 

<><>

 

It was too cold. It was always too bloody cold now – as if the damp chill of the stone cell walls had seeped into his bones and refused to move, even when, as now, he stood nearly within the roaring fire of the hearth. Caliban let the flames dance over his skin, hoping that he could absorb the warmth, stop the shivering, but it was no use. He began to pace, the coals crackling beneath his boots.

 

He had options to consider. He could stay here, of course. His cousin Nadine was hardly likely to insist he leave, after helping him to escape. She’d even hinted that she’d be willing to marry him, to spite both her mother and his father, and it would give him an actual throne. Tempting, really – Nadine was as ambitious as he was, and they had always gotten along well. Caliban could only imagine what his father would do when he heard.

 

Then again, he might just decide to invade, and damn the treaties he signed. Depends on how mad he really is.

 

His skin itched, and he scratched it irritably. It was always itching, now – he couldn’t seem to get the dungeon filth off of him. Not even the fire could wash away that taint.

 

He’s probably written me off anyways. If he really wanted me, he’d try and find me.

 

The door to the room opened, and a silent maid came in with a silver tray. She left it on the table and let herself out without a word, as she’d been trained. Caliban came out of the fire, only mildly interested in whatever she’d brought.

 

It was an envelope, and he frowned. No name, nothing – just a blank envelope.

 

He opened it, and a brown leaf, slightly rimmed with silver frost, fell onto the tray. That was it, nothing more. Caliban’s frown deepened.

 

What did it mean?

 

>Activity: Make snowflakes to decorate your own windows!

Originally published at The words of Valerie Griswold-Ford. You can comment here or there.