she said, turning her attention back to the group. “The sky is so clear tonight and the stars have so much to say.” She sighed and then continued, “However, after rereading the charts, I’ve discovered more that I can tell you. I’m afraid that while I do have a knack for reading them, I do sometimes rush and miss important details. So when Gelasia asked me to take another look, at first I saw no difference. Then Calypso told me to take my time and look deeper.” Maeve rolled her green eyes at the ceiling. “She was right of course. There’s more.”
For a moment it was quiet. “Yes?” Kaelen prompted.
“You will have a quest,” Maeve stated.
“That’s it?”
Maeve raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that what you wanted to know?” she asked. There was an impish innocence to her voice. Kaelen could hardly believe that the blonde, green-eyed witch in front of him was the same dotty old woman who had turned his uniform into a hideous pink dress his first year. This witch wasn’t dotty, but more like a cat playing with a mouse.
“We need you to be more specific, Maeve dear,” Gelasia said, sensing both Kaelen and Calista’s frustration.
“Well I certainly can’t give you all the details, now can I?” she teased. “It would spoil everything. But I do understand that you need a little more information. Yes, Kaelen you will have a quest. The stars have guaranteed that there is a young lady for you to rescue. I can’t explain to you the how and whom, but she is out there. Perhaps, Kaelen, the most important thing for you to know at this time is that your transformation did not actually alter your quest at all.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“There was always going to be a transformation involved in your quest, Kaelen,” she replied. “We couldn’t have known at the time what exactly that transformation would be. But from the very beginning, this has been a part of your quest. You have the same chance of success as any other prince facing any other challenge.”
“So then, this was meant to happen to me?” he said.
“Yes. You were always going to face some challenge. Every prince does; yours just seems bigger and more difficult to overcome. But your chances are just as good as any boy here. Although, Calista, you do know his schedule is going to have to undergo serious overhauls, don’t you?”
Calista looked surprised. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. The classes he has now are nowhere near sufficient,” Maeve repeated coyly. “Although, I think Kaelen has been separated from his friends long enough. I suggest he return to the festivities and we can continue this discussion in private. Have a pleasant evening, Kaelen.”
He looked at Calista for a moment, unsure of whether or not he was actually dismissed. “Yes, Kaelen, you may go. Enjoy yourself,” she said. As soon as he was out of the room and the door closed she said, “What do you mean his classes aren’t sufficient?”
“I don’t think you fully comprehend the nature of his transformation,” Maeve explained. “He is going to go through a complete transformation.”
“He has gone through a transformation. He’s a beast,” Calista replied. “Well, a beast in body.”
“Precisely,” Maeve countered. “His transformation is not complete. The magic of the school is the only thing preventing his full transformation. When the time comes for him to leave the school on a permanent basis, the rest of the transformation will occur; quite rapidly I might add.”
“I’m not following you. What exactly are you saying?”
Maeve sighed impatiently, “I’m saying that he will undergo a transformation of self. He will no longer be a gentleman at all. Right now he looks like a beast, but he’s still very much Kaelen. He’s still human. When he leaves the protection of the school permanently, he will become a beast in body, mind and action. He will hardly be the Kaelen that you are teaching.”
“Then there really isn’t any hope,” Calista said sadly.
“As you so eloquently put it earlier, there is always hope,” Maeve replied. “Where Kaelen lives after school will be the only place he can be. He will be unable to leave. Yes, he has a quest, but the lady will come to him rather than the other way around. He, like every boy here, has a princess.”
“But Esmé abandoned him,” Calista recalled, “and has been altered beyond repair.”
“I don’t believe I said that Esmé was his princess.”
Calista thought for a moment, “But, I seem to remember that every prince has only one princess. Are you saying that Esmé was never Kaelen’s princess?”
“While it is true that every prince has but one princess and vice versa, it doesn’t work quite the way you think,” Maeve explained. “Esmé had the opportunity to be Kaelen’s princess, but she gave that up. She chose to not have a prince and to be a hag for eternity just as Nathan chose not to have a princess last year and will be an ogre for eternity. There is indeed one who will be Kaelen’s princess.”
“Well, the only young lady without a prince is Leticia, is she his princess?” Calista asked.
“You are quite mistaken,” Maeve said, “Leticia has a prince.”
“But Nathan was her prince.”
“He had that chance and gave it up.”
“None of the other princesses at Fair Damsels are without a prince,” Calista said, exasperation in her voice.
“I didn’t say that the young lady in question was a princess at Fair Damsels,” Maeve said, rolling her eyes. “You are taking yourself in circles with things you clearly don’t understand. I’ll tell Calypso to come see you tomorrow in order to help you reset Kaelen’s schedule. There are many things you will have to do in order to not lose him entirely to the transformation. If you don’t, then I’m afraid all will be lost. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business elsewhere.” She rose to leave.
“I’m not finished with you,” Calista said.
“Oh, but you are,” Maeve replied with the same impish tone she’d had at the beginning of the meeting. “I cannot neglect my duties and the longer I sit here, the less I can accomplish.”
“I can call Calypso,” Calista warned.
Maeve smirked. “Be my guest. But she would tell you the same thing. I have other business I need to attend to and you are delaying me. Enjoy your evening.” She turned to leave and then turned back to Gelasia, who had been sitting quietly throughout the course of the meeting taking everything in. “Oh, Gelasia, the one you’re concerned about? You needn’t be. There is a happy ending there. Good night.” She smiled before continuing out the door.
“I hate it when they’re young,” Calista sighed as the door shut behind Maeve. “They’re so frustrating. That gave us absolutely nothing to work with.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” Gelasia countered. “We received a great deal of information.”
“All she did was lead us in a circle that doesn’t lead to a happy ending for anyone,” Calista retorted, frustration in her tone.
“No, I think I understand what she’s saying. It is a little complicated, but yes, I think I see. I need to go speak with her about this.”
“You’re not going to explain this to me either, are you?”
“I’m afraid not dear,” Gelasia said. “I believe there may yet be one more task for me to do before I leave.”
“Leave? You’re not leaving are you? We’ve already discussed this; you’ll be here, working.”
“No, I don’t think so. We both know that my time here is limited. I had been planning on one thing, but I think my plans may be about to change.”
“But, you’re staying here until that time, aren’t you?” Calista asked, almost desperately.
Gelasia shrugged. “I’m not sure. I really must speak to Maeve about this. There’s something else for me to do. I’m not meant to finish my days at the academy. Good night, Calista.” With that, Gelasia walked out the door leaving Calista feeling more confused than ever.
Year 4 Chapter 4
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Early the next morning, Adrian and
his family began the trip back to Lictthane. Nana talked nonstop about what a delightful time she’d had the evening before. Nobody minded that she was doing so; they loved to hear Nana talk. As they were coming towards their castle, they noticed a carriage near the front entrance that was being led towards the barn. “I wonder who that could be,” Lavinia said as they neared. “I’m not expecting anyone. Did you have someone coming today, Mother?”
“No, but I’m pretty sure I know whose carriage that is,” Nana replied with a smile.
Adrian and Moira exchanged grins. They had a pretty good guess who it belonged to as well. As their carriage stopped, they ran into the castle. A tall, spindly man was standing in the hall where the family portrait Nana had brought was hanging. “Well, how are my favorite niece and nephew?”
“Uncle Sebastian!” Moira cried as she threw her arms around him.
He laughed heartily. “Well, well, my love, you’ve certainly grown since the last time I saw you. Turn about and let me look at you.” He watched Moira spin about. “Yes, you’re still the loveliest girl there ever was. And you young man,” he said turning to Adrian, “well, you’ve hardly changed at all.” Sebastian looked every bit Nana’s twin. He had the same crinkled blue eyes surrounded by laugh lines. His hair hadn’t grayed as much as hers had; there were still traces of black beneath the frost of silver. But they had the same face and the same cheerful disposition.
“Uncle Sebastian,” Lavinia said with a smile as she