Unicorn Lost

Presents

F	rom his study Jules went to the door which lead to the hall and opened it.

He called for a guard and a guard approached. "Inform his majesty that K and I have just received information concerning Queen Olivia and to have us meet in a dimly lit room. K has a sensitivity to light."

K got up from his chair, went to the hat rack and put on his grey fedora. With the walking stick in K's left paw, the gentlemen and the butterfly left the study. Closing the door as he left, Jules turned around pulling a key from his pocket. Jules locked the door and the three headed in the direction of the king's court.

Outside the king's court they waited until they were called. A ferret approached, "This way, gentlemen." The guard escorted them to a windowless chamber lit only by lamp stands. K removed his pink tinted prescription sunglasses, with the chrome frames, placed them in his breast pocket and removed his fedora as is the custom.

The king's advisor, Jules, introduced his friend K to a rather anxious King Erroll, who was presently sitting down. "I understand you just received information concerning my wife Olivia?"

"Sir," Jules began, "This jeweled butterfly approached K presenting him a recent memory. It is that of Queen Olivia...and it's authentic."

"My wife's memory?" Then speaking to the butterfly, "Proceed!"

The butterfly flew above King Erroll's head. The king first appeared relieved and then more agitated. Dumfounded by what he just witnessed. "Lady Rebecca has a DRAGON under HER CONTROL?!" the king yelled. "Do you have any idea where my wife is?"

Referring to a map, Jules pointed to a ravine near the ogre's castle. "Our best guess is they are around this ravine; and we feel certain they are headed to the ogre's castle."

"Oh, this is great!" King Erroll said with sarcasm. "Lady Rebecca has a dragon and my wife, and she is taking them to the ogre's castle?!"

"Sir!" The king's advisor spoke, "We don't actually know Lady Rebecca 'has' Olivia."

"Oh, and how else would Olivia be brought back to the ogre's castle, ACCOMPANIED BY A DRAGON? And I'm sure you know Lady Rebecca's oldest daughter was seen in the dungeon around the time the prisoners escape."

"Yes," Jules replied, "but that does not mean Lady Rebecca has Queen Olivia hostage."

"We will see about this. GUARDS!" the king yelled and immediately ferret guards burst into the chamber.

"Assemble the men at once! Lady Rebecca has my wife hostage. She has a dragon under her control and is taking them to the ogre's castle. Oh, and kindly escort these gentlemen out."

"Yes sir!" two guards said in unison.

Shocked by what he just witnessed, K didn't say a word. He put his fedora back on and reached into his breast pocket for his chrome framed sunglasses as he and Jules were escorted out.

At the gates, the two kitsunes did not say a word. K's carriage pulled up and Jules finally broke the silence. "What are you going to do next?" he asked K.

"I'm going to the ogre's castle," K answered.

"You're not going to outrun the king's army in that thing," Jules pointed out.

"I don't plan to."

Jules turned around to head back to the castle, but a guard blocked his way. The older kitsune showed the guard his signet ring with the crest. "I'm the king's advisor, idiot. I'm retiring to my study."

The guard stepped aside, letting Jules by.

As the carriage pulled away, thinking K cannot be serious, the ferret at the reigns asked. "Where are we really going?"

"We will have lunch and pick up some travel bread as we let the team rest," K answered. "Then we'll go to the ogre's castle."

The young ferret thought to himself, "To the ogre's castle? K might as well have said they were going to invade hell armed with nothing more than squirt guns. He did say lunch. At least the condemned will have a final meal."

The ferret pulled up to a corner stable where an attendant addressed the needs of the team. K, with his messenger bag strap over his right shoulder and the walking stick in his left paw, he and his driver walked a short block to Jina's; a Japanese restaurant, with its distinct decor, blended in well with the old world European city of the ferret kingdom. Giving the immediate surroundings an eclectic feel.

Inside the two were greeted by a female kitsune who showed them to their table. K placed his grey fedora on the hat rack behind him and sat down. The waitress asked the ferret what he would like to order. She didn't ask K. She already knew what he wanted.

Later the kitsune waitress came back with the ferret's order and for K, fish, rice, seaweed and green tea.

After lunch, K and his driver walked around the corner to a bakery. Inside, a lamb at the counter, with a name badge which read 'Adam' asked K, "How may I help you, sir?" K asked the lamb for a three-day supply of travel bread for two. The lamb went to the back and came out with a wrapped brown paper package. K payed with six copper coins. The two walked back to the stable. The attendant brought K's carriage out, handed the reigns over to K's driver and opened the door for K. K payed the attendant with a silver coin.

As K and his driver headed out of the city and toward the ogre's castle, King Erroll already had his men on their way to the ogre's castle with an arrest warrant for Lady Rebecca and Jeanette, and to rescue Queen Olivia.

-page oo61-
written by Jeanette

Copyright and Credit:
  · Florence from "Freefall" © Mark Stanley.
  · Magic Gardener © Hortmage.
  · Jeanette © Jeanette Isabelle.
  · Kathy from "Carry On" © Kathy Garrison.
  · Kamida © Guest #1.
  · ToraKiyoshi - Writer.
  · Tiger_T. - Writer.
  · White Pony from "Cross Time Cafe" © S.Kidwell.
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