The Gewgaws Adventure by C.M. Bacon

Author:C.M. Bacon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Perry and Arvin travel through dimensions.
Publisher: CMB Fiction
Published: 2016-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Tradition Is King

Giant Sir Talos threw us into the castle’s dank dungeons. I looked over at Arvin, who was thrown first onto the straw floor of our cell. He became like a roly-poly in the darkest corner and didn’t say anything. I wondered what Arvin and I had done to deserve this.

Did I call Arvin “Chipmunk” too many times? What had Arvin done? What brought us here?

I looked around the dim cell for any way out, then saw two heavy straw bales in the corner opposite Arvin. I struggled to stack the bales on top of each other and reached my hands, palms together in the light of a tiny window above. It was too small to escape but large enough for the foul smell of overfed horses to waft through. I took in a stench-filled breath and exhaled it in a prayer for help to take us anywhere else.

“Please God, if you get us out of this, I’ll be a better friend to Arvin. I’ll show him how to win at Dragon Sorcerer 1,2, and 3, ask him over for dinner every week, swim with him every Saturday, collect gewgaws every Sunday, and I will never ever throw another water balloon at him. I’ll even help him glue rhinestones and sequins on anything he wants. Please-please-please.”

A girl’s muffled voice came from the next cell. “Who are you talking to?”

“Who’s there?” I asked, stepping off the straw bales and putting my ear to the wall.

“Go to the cell door. We can hear you better there.”

I walked to the heavy iron door. It was bolted from the outside but had a rectangular hole cut at the bottom. I laid on my stomach and put my ear down to listen.

I whispered, “I’m at the door. Where are you?”

“A boy?” she asked, surprised. “I’ve never heard a real boy in these cells before. This very morning, my sister said she heard a young boy whispering to her from inside your cell, but it was only a hissing serpent slithering in the stables.”

“I’m Perry. I’m with my friend, Arvin. Who are you?” I asked. “Did your horrible little King lock you in the dungeon, too?”

“No. It wasn’t Majesty 974th. It was Majesty 973rd,” she said.

“973rd?” I asked. “How long have you been in that cell?”

“It’s hard to tell. We only learn a year has passed when the silver bells ring six times.”

“How many of you are in there?” I asked.

“There are three of us: my sisters and I. They’re with me,” the soft voice said. “I’m Sophia, the eldest sister.”

The second sister said, “I’m in the cell, too. I’m Sonia.”

The third sister said, “I’m ready. I have all my books.”

“That was my youngest sister, Siria. Never mind her,” Sophia said.

I said, “I don’t understand this King of yours. How can a king be so horrid and cruel?”

“To understand that, I must tell you a story. Can I tell you a story, Perry?” Sophia asked.

“I love stories,” Siria said.

“If you think it’ll help,” I said.

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