The Amazing Adventures of Princess Peridot

  Chapter 6.

  Peridot decided to find out everything she could about spells and enchantments. She began with her older sisters. Pearl and Jade listened impatiently as they sorted through a sheaf of fabric samples for wedding gowns.

  ‘I don’t know anything about it at all,’ said Pearl airily, when Peridot had asked her what she knew about magic spells. ‘No, not that one Jade. It would make your skin look sallow. Why not stick to the deep green you usually wear?’

  ‘But I like it,’ protested Jade. ‘Do go away, Peridot, can’t you see we’re busy?’

  ‘Oh, you’re no help at all,’ fumed Peridot. She turned to leave and almost bumped into Coral, who was carrying a tray piled high with jewelry.

  ‘Watch out, Peridot,’ she cried sharply. ‘I’ve borrowed this from my mother and she won’t be impressed if the chains get tangled up. What are you doing here, anyway?’

  ‘She wants to know about magic,’ muttered Jade, pouncing on the tray with a squeal of glee.

  ‘Magic?’

  ‘Yes. Do you know anyone who can work magic or undo magic spells?’ asked Peridot.

  Coral frowned. ‘Old Nalasid makes up potions for coughs and fevers and I’ve heard that the serving girls go to her for love philters. But I’ve no idea whether she can actually work magic or not.’

  ‘Thanks, Coral. That’s somewhere to begin, anyway.’

  ‘You won’t be able to go and visit her,’ Coral warned. ‘You’ll have to get her to come to you if you can.’

  Peridot smiled and ran back to her own quarters where she scribbled a note to the gardener.

  How is the pig prince? I need to get hold of Old Nalasid. Any ideas? Peridot

  She folded the note and tucked it into her pocket then strolled out to the garden where she looked around quickly before wriggling through the hole in the wall. She ran to the secluded alcove and reached down to put the note under the seat. ‘I hope Ravid thinks to look there,’ she muttered, before making her way back to the Solarium where Sapphire was entertaining the little princesses with songs.

  Peridot checked under the seat the next day and found the note gone but heard nothing more until three days later when one of the serving girls came to find her. Peridot was playing a game of Mancala with Sapphire. They each had a wooden board inset with ivory cups containing heaps of coloured pebbles, the mancala cup being the largest and most intricately decorated. Garnet watched with interest as Sapphire and Peridot vied with each other to be the first to collect the most stones.

  ‘What is it?’ Peridot asked. ‘Bother, Sapphire. You’ve got another one of mine now.’

  ‘You need more practise. There now I’ve won!’

  ‘You always win. Oh, what is it? Hurry up. We’re going to start a new game.’

  The serving girl bowed deeply. ‘Old Nalasid is here to see you, your highness. She is waiting in the Western Courtyard.’

  ‘Great. I’ll come at once.’

  ‘What about our game?’ called Sapphire, as Peridot leapt to her feet.

  ‘Can’t stop,’ flung back Peridot. ‘Find Amber, she’s got nothing to do.’

  ‘She’s no good, she’s even worse than you are,’ grimaced Sapphire, as she watched Peridot walk as fast as she could towards the courtyard.

  ‘I’ll play,’ said Garnet eagerly.

  ‘Oh well, I guess I could teach you,’ sighed Sapphire, sorting out the pebbles evenly between them as Peridot disappeared in the distance.

  Peridot ran up the steps to the archway leading to the Western Courtyard and stopped with a gasp. Old Nalasid was a daunting sight. She had a hawk like face with a large beaky nose and jet-black hair pulled tightly behind her head in a knot decorated with a large silver tassel. She wore a collection of robes and drapes in shades of blue, and she arched an enquiring eyebrow at Peridot.

  ‘You commanded my presence, your highness?’

  ‘Well, I didn’t exactly command,’ began Peridot, feeling flustered. ‘But I’m glad you came.’ She looked sideways at the serving girl who was staring woodenly ahead and pretending not to hear. Peridot was sure that this was only a pose and that her request would be the talk of the woman’s quarters before the evening. With an inward sigh she went on, ‘I need to know how to break a magic spell.’

  This did not faze old Nalasid. She looked calmly at Peridot and asked, ‘What sort of spell?’

  ‘Oh, it’s not for me,’ Peridot said hurriedly. ‘It’s for a sort of friend of mine. He has been enchanted into a different shape and I need to know how to undo it.’

  ‘If he is a frog, then kissing him will do the trick,’ drawled Old Nalasid.

  Peridot gulped. The thought of kissing the pig was revolting.

  ‘He’s not a frog,’ she faltered.

  ‘Then I have no idea how to break the spell,’ said Old Nalasid calmly. ‘Spells are individual, you know. They usually have to be undone by the person who has cast them.’

  ‘I think that was Wizard Saladin.’

  ‘Then that’s who you must ask. Good day.’

  Old Nalasid turned to leave as Peridot frantically caught her arm.

  ‘Please tell me where I can find Wizard Saladin?’

  Old Nalasid gave a frosty smile. ‘You will never find him if he doesn’t want to be found. But you may have a chance if you go to the Hiring Market. Even wizards need apprentices and I believe Saladin goes through his apprentices rather rapidly.’ She swept away regally, as the serving girl hastened to open the large iron gate for her.

  ‘Thanks,’ said Peridot despondently. ‘Now I’ll have to find out about the Hiring Market,’ she muttered as she left the courtyard.’

  She had the bright idea of asking Shiraz about this when she next went for a massage.

  ‘The Hiring Market?’ squeaked Shiraz in horror. ‘Oh, your highness, am I not doing a good enough job. Have I offended you in some way?’

  She cast herself to the ground and kissed Peridot’s foot, much to her acute embarrassment.

  ‘Get up, get up. It’s not for you. I think you do a wonderful job,’ Peridot assured her. ‘No. It’s just that I was wondering how it worked, that was all.’

  ‘Oh,’ cried Shiraz in relief. ‘That’s easy. It’s held every third moon on Hallow Day at the Blue Square by the temple.’

  The Blue Square was named after the blue painted tiles that formed an intricate mosaic courtyard in the town centre. More of these blue tiles adorned the walls of the houses and buildings surrounding the courtyard until even the faces of the townspeople took on a slightly blue tinge with the reflections. The Blue Square was often used as a meeting place for various groups and Peridot had glimpsed it once from her litter on the way to the temple for a ceremony. She counted on her fingers and was delighted to find that the next Hiring Market would be in a few weeks time and she determined to get away alone again.

  Peridot was better prepared for her trip to town the second time. She wore a quantity of gold bangles pushed up her arms, reasoning that she could exchange some for sertisis if need be. It was necessary to do this, as money was something that princesses had no access to and no need for. She also managed to slip some extra bread and olives into a napkin at breakfast time, to sustain her on the long walk to town. Ravid, or more likely his mother, had washed the shirt and replaced it beneath the seat in the garden for her and this time Peridot had brought a pin to secure the turban. She found the climb over the wall a lot easier this time, as she found Ravid waiting to catch her as she climbed over. The pig was nowhere to be seen.

  ‘I left him at home,’ Ravid told her. ‘I figured he would only be in the way wherever you went today.’

  ‘I’m going to the Hiring Market,’ Peridot said firmly. ‘I have to find Wizard Saladin to ask him to take the spell off the pig prince.’

  Ravid looked alarmed. ‘Are you sure that’s wise?’ he asked doubtfully. ‘Wizard Saladin is very powerful and he doesn’t usually do what people ask. Quite the opposite in fact.’

  ?
??It’s the only way,’ Peridot explained. ‘I feel responsible, somehow. Anyway, it will be an adventure.’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Ravid said quickly, thinking that despite her determination, there could be all sorts of perils in store for a young princess such as Peridot.

  They walked companionably towards the town. The journey went far quicker with someone to talk to and Ravid knew a shortcut that followed a small stream and made for much more pleasant travelling. They rested beneath the shade of a crumbling stone wall and Peridot shared her bread and olives with Ravid who ate it gratefully.

  ‘He’s rather thin,’ thought Peridot critically, eyeing his bony hands and feet and noting the speed with which he devoured the food.

  Ravid caught her eye and grinned. ‘Ready to go? The market will be starting soon.’

  Peridot climbed to her feet. ‘How does it work?’ she asked.

  Ravid spent the remainder of the journey explaining the working of the Hiring Market. Anyone wishing for employment would show up carrying the tools of their trade, such as a spade for a gardener, a ladle for a cook or strip of leather for a sandal maker. They would stand on a central dais in the square where employers would walk around inspecting them before approaching one of the scribes with an offer. The scribe would haggle until an agreement was reached that suited both parties, whereon he would quickly fill in a written contract, receiving a fee for his services. Peridot listened to all this carefully.

  ‘If I hang around the square long enough, I’m sure to spot Wizard Saladin,’ she said cheerfully.

  Ravid wasn’t quite as confident but could see nothing wrong with this plan.

  The Blue Square was crowded when they arrived. Men, women and children of all shapes and sizes chattered as they ascended the steps to the dais, while around the edge merchants and landowners strode importantly, making muttered comments to each other about their prospective servants. There was no sign of anyone who looked like a wizard but Ravid assured Peridot that it was still early.

  ‘It goes on all morning so he’ll probably turn up later,’ he said encouragingly. ‘Let’s find a place in the shade to sit and watch.’

  They squeezed onto a step in the corner of the temple, half-hidden behind a large column decorated with carved snakes. From there they had a good view of the proceedings. Peridot watched in fascination as a group of serving girls giggled together while an elderly matron inspected them carefully. After an hour or so the novelty began to pall and Peridot stripped off one of her bracelets and handed it to Ravid.

  ‘Take this and exchange it for some sweetmeats,’ she suggested

  Ravid looked at the bracelet doubtfully.

  ‘It’s okay,’ Peridot said reassuringly. ‘It’s mine. I can do what I want with it. Do you think it will be enough for some sherbet as well? I’m awfully thirsty.’

  ‘This will be plenty,’ nodded Ravid, and threaded his way through the crowd in the direction of the food stalls.