Chapter 25
Krikkit sat alone in her room, having said her goodbyes the evening before to the wonderful D’Arragons. She hugged each twin prince so hard they squealed.
“We will never forget you Krikkit! We will miss you forever!” declared Quinn.
“We wish you could stay a little longer,” said Ivan, giving her hand a squeeze, “but we know you have to leave. Your parents will be missing you.”
Although she would be glad to get home again, Krikkit knew she would miss her D’Arragon friends terribly. Watching Jara and Syntaba perform their spectacular magic, joining in the many parties, and dancing until bedtime almost every night kept Krikkit busy. The D’Arragons treated her as if she was part of the royal dynasty. She had felt like a true princess. Krikkit was tired, but truly happy.
With the D’Arquilles gone and the king and queen home to stay, the young princes were glad that all the restrictions had been removed from their lives. Peace in the Kingdom of D’Arragon reigned once more.
According to Syntaba, Hennesy and Tarcey had been banished to a small kingdom far away from D’Arragon that had no inhabitants at all. There the pair would rule no one and live alone until they no longer posed a threat.
“King Roger can pardon them, if he sees fit or he can leave it up to the princes when they sit on the throne of D’Arragon, to do so,” said Syntaba.
“They will be sick of the throne by then,” laughed the twins, glad to be finally rid of the pair who had caused such havoc in their lives.
Krikkit heard the light tap at the door. Jara’s voice called her softly and she knew it was time.
“Come in, Jara,” she said, her voice faltering slightly. Soon, she would be in her own house again. Syntaba and Jara were taking her home.
The door opened and the pair of sorcerers entered. Krikkit stood before them, her eyes filled with tears. Jara and Syntaba both hugged her.
“No need for tears, Krikkit. Friends always meet again, sometime, somewhere,” Jara consoled her young friend.
“That would be stupendous!” smiled Krikkit, drying her eyes. “I shall never forget you and Jara.”
“You were destined to use those shoes of mine, Krikkit. Otherwise they never would have found you and you would never have journeyed to D’Arragon,” Syntaba admitted, smiling.”
“You and Jara are so full of magic, Syntaba!” said Krikkit, “it’s awesome!”
“Take my hand, Krikkit.”
She did as he asked. Jara took her free hand, squeezing it gently.“I am glad to be coming with you, Krikkit. I shall be fascinated with your home, I am sure,” Jara declared.
Krikkit felt grateful for this last little bit of time with her friend, knowing she would always remember the ram and the comfort he brought her when she first arrived in D’Arragon. It seemed like a long time ago.
Now ready, Syntaba called out in a loud, clear voice, “Krikkit’s house!” With a flick of his hand a powerful breeze swept in out of nowhere and Krikkit closed her eyes as they whirled together through a purple misty haze.
Would her parents be upset that she had been away for so long? Would they understand about the shoes? How could she explain D’Arragon with its magic and sorcerers and royal family? She had no answers. Looking down she could see nothing but darkness, preparing herself for the moment she would be in her own small house again.
Jara and Syntaba stood over the sleeping child.
“It is better this way, Jara. She will remember nothing and have no explanations to make to her family. They will never know she was gone.”
Jara nodded. “I will miss her terribly, I know.”
“We will see her again, Jara. Sometime. Somewhere.” His eyes twinkled at her, leading Jara to believe he was up to something. To her surprise, he pulled a small wooden box from beneath his cloak and pushed it under her bed. “It is a gift from you and me, Jara,” he said simply.
Running her hand lightly over the sleeping child’s hair, Jara whispered her goodbyes.
As another white mist arose about them, they transformed into the warrior horse and the ram. In a moment, they were gone, leaving Krikkit to slumber on, dreaming her dreams.