Chapter 2

“Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.”

(Dylan Thomas)

“Willam!” The princess screamed over the overgrown courtyard. “Luncheon is ready! If you don’t come I’ll feed it to the crows!”

A little boy with a surprising red shock of hair jumped up from the corner of the vegetable garden where he had been watching a snail race. “Noooo! Not the crows!” 

He knew his sister would never feed his food to the crows, it was a game they played. Everyday she thought of a different bird she would feed it to. He didn't know why she always picked birds. It was never a wolf or a cow or one of the other animals she showed him in the picture books in the library.

He ran through a pumpkin patch and a tunnel of bean plants, passed by several corn stalks and nearly stumbled over a cabbage head. 

He loved being in the vegetable garden, there was so much to discover, and he also loved helping his big sister tend to it. She had slowly but surely grown their garden over the last 6 years since he arrived in the castle.

It was not easy, she told him. Most of the seeds she found in the garden shed of the groundskeeper were nearly dead when she tried sowing them. But with the help of the small greenhouse and some “miracles”, as she called them, she managed to bring enough to life so she could stock up their supplies. 

Because the weekly food delivery turned out to be a strenuous and nervewrecking event for the both of them. The groceries were never brought at the same day or the same hour, sometimes there were more than seven days between them, sometimes more. The amount also changed at random. Even though the produce was always fresh and appetising it could happen that they had three pears, a piece of butter and a loaf of bread for the whole week.

More than once, the princess went to bed hungry so Bubbles could have more of their sparse rations. Seeing him now sitting at their tiny table in the kitchen, after he came rushing in out of breath with a smile on his face, eating big spoonfuls of stew made her feel incredibly relieved. But only for a small moment, until the next meal needs to be prepared. And the boy was way too small and thin for his age. Not that she looked any better. She needed to try to get both of them out of this place.

After they finished lunch, William looked at her expectantly: ”What are we doing now, sister?” 

She smiled at him and leaned over with a conspiratorial look on her face. “Now? Now we’re going on a treasure hunt.”

The princess knew that the lower parts of the castle were once connected to the airways. Given that the castle was built so high above, the wind surrounding it gave the ideal conditions for streams where aircraft, gliders and zeppelins could ride on. When she was a child she remembered visiting the small harbour, which was constructed in a cave entrance, a few times. 

It had always been a lively place, not only for the delivery of goods for the castle but also as a stop for travellers who needed a resting spot in their journey. A mechanic was there too, who could help with repairs or refilling helium and gas if needed.

After the church of light took away her parents, they also closed the passageway from the castle to the air harbour. But the princess knew that there must be another path, a secret one from the king and queen’s chamber. She hasn’t been in those rooms for what felt like ages. Too painful were the memories of the past. But the harbour could be their chance, their escape route. Not that she knew if it was still running. She tried to get a glimpse from one of the bridges higher up, which connected one of the watchtowers with the main wall. She couldn't see any ships flying in and out. And she waited quite some time and came back at random on different days to be sure. But it was their best chance. Maybe there was still a hot air balloon around or some other hint as to how to leave.

She packed a sandwich for Willam, a few apples, and a bottle of water in a small backpack she had found in one of the rooms, took her brother's hand and led them to the main hall. As they passed one of the galleries she heard a whisper from a side entry. 

“Why are you trying so hard, you know you can’t leave this place anyway.”

She turned a corner gripping Willam’s hand a bit tighter, her step turned a bit faster, skirt swishing around her legs.

“Even your parents couldn’t, it was only because they were dragged out by force that they managed to escape.”

The main hall was now in front of her, she could see the thin rays of light from the windows above the portal.

“Didn’t you ever wonder why you were left behind? Do you really think it was so they could use you to blackmail your parents?”

She lifted up Willam in her arms, who could now barely keep up with her speed, and made a dash for the staircase. Trying not to listen.

“They left you because…” 

“OH SHUT UP, WILL YOU NOW?” The princess yelled down into darkness below the staircase. Willam, who was used to her weird ticks, just looked at her with big eyes.

“Do the shadows say mean things about you again?” The princess nodded curtly. The little boy leaned over her shoulder to stare down where the steps led into the lower floors. He squinted his eyes at the darkness, “Yeah you better shut up your meanie, or the crows eat your lunch!” The princess snorted at that and started laughing out loud while taking the first steps upstairs. 

“Thank you Bubbles,” she said and hugged the boy a bit closer. Carrying him further. “You’re very welcome!” He chirped back, “but I want to walk on my own now!” Still grinning, she let him down again. “Alright my small knight, then let’s go, we only have like fifty steps ahead.” He looked at her then at the stairs, a bit sceptical. 

“Will you carry me again when I get tired?” He mumbled. The princess nodded encouragingly, “I will, I will even give you a piggyback ride.” The little boy beamed at that and bravely started his journey upstairs on the dark granite steps, followed by his sister, who glowered one last time in the depths underneath them before she followed him, making sure he wouldn't stumble over the steps.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the floor where the king and queen’s quarter used to be. The Princess swallowed dryly as she saw the state of the rooms. Tapestry more or less rotted from the walls because a window was left open and never closed. Curtains eaten away by time and insects, same as the carpet on the floor. The colourful paintings which once decorated the walls were bleached out and broken from the humidity.

She stepped over a fallen candelabra and tried to ignore the pressure of tears behind her eyes.

“Be careful Bubbles, there's glass shards over there,” she helped her brother climb over the candelabra too.

Slowly they made their way through the years of neglect. After they passed the reception room and stood in front of the study, the door broken out of its angles, she let out a shivering sigh. She tried not to show too much of her distress to the boy at her side. 

“The door to the treasure should be hidden in here,” she explained to William. “Maybe there's a hidden button or a lever somewhere to open it.” Willam looked up at her with shining eyes. “Really? Like in the story?” The story meant one of his favourite books called “The little adventurous Cat”. She had to read it to him nearly every night before bedtime. She nodded, “Yes like in the Story, so you know what to look for.” He beamed at that, “Yes!” and crawled through the door into the room. His sister followed a bit slower, trying not to ruin her skirt. 

William was already trying to pull on every lever- like object he could find, while the princess made her way over to the old bookshelves. She did remember that her father mentioned them once or twice, but her memories were too foggy to remember details. As she read the titles her eyes stopped on a book about air-boats, squeezed between the volumes of an accountant report and a finance book. A weird spot to place a book like that, given that everything else was so in order. She gave it a pull and was rewarded with a loud click.

Slowly a hidden door on the opposite wall opened and showed a spiderweb infested dark staircase.

“You found the way to the treasure!” Willam squealed excitedly. 

“Yes, I did,” she smiled back.