KRIKKIT’S SHOES : D’ARRAGON PROPHECY

“You are wearing shoes that belonged to our old sorcerer, Syntaba? How did they ever get to you?”

It was obvious to Krikkit that the King had not expected such a fantastic tale. “I don’t know either,” said Krikkit. “I think the shoes came to me by themselves.”

When Krikkit related how Ivan and Quinn left the palace determined to find their parents, and how she followed them in their venture, both the king and queen were shocked.

“I knew something was not right, Roger. I could feel that the boys were no longer safe! They are out there all alone and in grave danger from the D’Arquilles!” the queen wept.

“I’m so sorry I left them but I couldn’t help it! The shoes just did it!” cried out Krikkit.

Queen MaryAnne hugged her, saying, “It is not your fault, my dear. We are so glad you were able to escape the boys’ predicament.”

“Do not worry, my dear. I will contact the Red Velvet Regiment to find out exactly what is happening. Jara and Keeper Fie must be close to locating the boys. Jara is still a magnificent sorcerer, even with the loss of some of her powers.”

He turned again to Krikkit who stared solemnly at the royal pair, eyes wide and fearful.

“You are a very brave girl, Krikkit and I thank you for wanting to protect my sons. Do not worry, my child. The Red Velvet Regiment is a formidable force. They will find Quinn and Ivan. Jara and Keeper will also not fail in their search, you can count on that. We will receive news of their success soon.” King Roger smiled at her, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“You know, I heard tales of Syntaba and his trunk almost from my boyhood. I was told that he left D’Arragon in my infancy after serving our kingdom for ages, long before my own father was born. He left because he sought to expand his powers. Jara replaced him as the sorcerer in D’Arragon.” He paused, deep in thought. “In fact, there have been a few searches during my reign for that trunk. Not a trace was ever found. How strange that you should appear from such a distant place with Syntaba’s shoes on your feet. Hard to believe!”

“I guess it is rather strange,” agreed Krikkit. She went on to tell them how she had visited this very house earlier that day with the twins, only to find the king and queen were no longer there.

“That is very strange, Krikkit,” Queen MaryAnne interrupted, looking puzzled. “We have not left this house since we came a few weeks ago. Very strange, indeed!”

“We need to find someone who can explain how the shoes work!” exclaimed King Roger.

“There’s more,” said Krikkit, feeling they would never believe her.

Seeing her nervousness, he calmly told her to go on. Krikkit cleared her throat, trying to gather her thoughts. She told them about being chased by Tarcey and his men, and how the shoes carried the three of them away, landing them safely in the cave.

“Unbelievable!” declared King Roger.

“Thank goodness you got away from that horrible Tarcey!” said the Queen, in relief.

“But now they are trapped again!” Krikkit cried out.

“Where?” asked the king and queen together.

“In the purple orb! I saw them inside of it!” She filled them in on finding the trunk in the cave, its mysterious contents, and how the twins floated out of sight. Krikkit went on to explain how she later saw them within the orb itself. King Roger and his queen gaped at Krikkit in disbelief.

“Syntaba’s trunk? In a cave? We have seen a lot of magic since Jara came to us but nothing like this! We have to find that cave and a way to free our sons,” declared King Roger.

Krikkit bowed her head. She dreaded telling them that she had lost the orb that contained their sons. “But I lost it! It zoomed out of my hands into the sky and disappeared!”

“It’s gone! Disappeared?” King Roger questioned.

“Roger,” cried the Queen, wringing her hands. “We must find that orb!”

“This is a job for Jara! Never fear, Krikkit! Jara will know how to get it back along with the princes,” the king responded confidently.

A feeling of relief washed over Krikkit. Of course Jara could help. She was magic herself.

Krikkit stared at the shoes adorning her feet, a sense of wonder spreading through her that such a thing could happen to her. She had lived a very ordinary life until she put them on. She wondered for the first time what she would tell her parents when she returned home.

“There is no longer any need for us to remain hidden, since the twins are in danger in spite of our plan to protect them,” said the queen, her relief apparent that their absence from the palace was over. “I wish we could go now to search for them.”

“We cannot do it without Jara. We must get to her as soon as we can,” responded King Roger.

The idea came to Krikkit in a flash. Maybe they could all leave the same way as she had arrived. Excited, she spoke up.

“I’ll bet we could use the shoes to get help.”

“The shoes? How?” asked the king. Both king and queen turned to look at the young girl standing before them, hardly able to contain herself.

“Three times I jumped in these shoes and they took me somewhere! First to D’Arragon, then the cave, and now here. If we hold hands, and all jump together, maybe we would find ourselves back where I left Jara!”

The words sprang from her lips almost as if the idea came from a source other than her own mind. The King burst out laughing. “I really don’t think...”

His words faded away when Queen MaryAnne quickly interrupted. Her face was as excited as Krikkit’s.

“We need to try it, Roger! It just may work! Something is going on with those old shoes of Syntaba, for sure. Something magical!”

King Roger, seeing the desperate plea on the queen’s face, reluctantly agreed to give it a try although he was filled with doubt. “We must be careful and stay together,” he warned. “We do not know where we may end up.”

“I got here safely, didn’t I?” Krikkit asked, anxious to find Jara and the princes again. The three left the kitchen, wrapping themselves in warm woolen cloaks for protection from the chill of the night air.

“You should be home in your bed. You are but a young girl,” said Queen MaryAnne with concern, pulling the cloak tightly over Krikkit’s shoulders.

“I don’t feel the least bit tired,” Krikkit assured them.

“The minute we catch up to the others, we will find a safe place for the child,” King Roger assured his wife. “But first, I must send one of my men back to D’Arragon to let the remaining regiment know what has happened and that Krikkit is with us.”

After notifying the guards stationed at the house’s entry of their intentions, they took firm hold of one another’s hands.

“This may not even work,” the King warned them once again.

“Ready?” asked Krikkit, her small face solemn.

The King and Queen nodded with no more hesitation. They had made up their minds.

“We must start by running and then jump as high as we can.” They began running down the narrow path leading away from the house. Krikkit, amazed at how easy it was to keep up with the two adults, realized she was able to do so because of the magical shoes. She called out to the king and queen, “Now get ready to jump!”

And jump they did. Krikkit felt herself sailing through the air, the same purple mist forming about her as before. Witnessing for the first time the crackling light of the purple cloud, the shocked voices of the king and queen rang through the air. They began to descend. As the ground loomed closer and closer, Krikkit shut her eyes.