The Road to Nowhere: Chapter Four

                Chapter Four

            “We must have gone miles and miles and miles,” Kyle said. “Can we stop soon to rest?”

            “Absolutely,” said Claydo. “There is a young princess who lives just a few miles from here. I am sure that she will be hospitable enough to let us stay the night at the castle.”

            They found the princess at a wishing well outside of her father’s castle. She was singing to herself dreamily when she noticed the travelers.

            “Good evening, Princess Cala,” Claydo said cordially. “Would you ask the king if he will allow four weary travelers to spend the night?”

            “Oh, of course,” said the princess. “I’ll only be a moment.” And she hurried into the castle.

            Princess Cala found her father sitting in his throne room, consulting with his advisers. When the king saw his daughter, he smiled and beckoned her to come in.

            “Father,” said Cala, “There are three children outside who are traveling, and they need a place to pass the night. May they stay here?”

            “Yes, of course,” said the king.

            “There is also a unicorn,” said the princess. “I will give her a stall in the stable.” So Cala went outside and told the children to come in, and the royal horsemen gave Claydo a bed in the stable.

            The princess led Kara, Kyle, and Levi up three flights of stairs to a beautifully furnished room in the top of a tower. The room had three beds, each of which bore a blanket woven from the finest silk in the land. The colors of the blankets were very unusual. The one on Kara’s bed shone like the sun, Levi’s glittered like the stars, and Kyle’s glowed like a full moon. That night, the children had the best sleep of their young lives.

            When they awoke the next morning, the princess invited the children downstairs for breakfast before they set out on their way. The children accepted this offer readily, having not eaten since lunch on the previous day. After eating their fill, the children fixed a plate of blueberry pancakes and gave it to Claydo. (For those of you who are not familiar with fairytales, unicorns prefer blueberry pancakes over any other food.)

            After Claydo had finished eating her breakfast, Levi opened the stable door, and the unicorn came out of her stall. The travelers then said thank you and good-bye to Princess Cala, then they continued on their way.

            Some time into the walk, they came upon a large tree which had three red apples on its branches; three, and no more. “Pick these apples and take them with you, but do not eat them,” commanded Claydo. The children did as they were told, but they wondered at the purpose of this. They kept their thoughts to themselves, however, and continued walking.

            Soon the travelers came upon a busy little town called Bellinai. The streets of this town were crowded with all sorts of creatures which one certainly does not find in this world. Some of the creatures were especially interesting, but since it would take too long to describe them, I shall leave them to your imagination. There were several little shops lined up along the streets; shops that sold all sorts of intriguing things.  Toys, candy, clocks, books, and other commonplace things were being sold, but one store was different. The building itself had been painted an odd bluish-purplish color. Real stars had been hung on the outside walls, and the signs in the windows said things like, “PIXIE DUST. FIVE WHATNOTS A GALLON”, and “BUY, SELL, AND TRADE MAGIC BEANS HERE.” Claydo walked into that store and let Kara, Kyle, and Levi off of her back. The children stared with wonder at the objects on the shelves.

            “Look at this!” Kyle exclaimed. “It’s a top hat and magic wand!” He put the hat on his head and said, “Abra-cadabra!” Nothing happened.

            “Child,” Claydo asked, “What are you doing?”

            “I’m trying to make magic!” Kyle said.

            “You don’t make magic,” Claydo said seriously. “Now, put the hat back.”

            The salesperson at the store was really a talking lioness. She smiled at the unicorn and said, “What can I help you with today?”

            “I’d like five pounds of glow-in-the-dark taffy, please,” said Claydo.

            “Glow-in-the-dark taffy?” Levi said. “I’ve never heard of that kind.”

            Claydo smiled. “It is not for us to eat,” she explained. “It will be useful on our journey, like the apples.”

            “Here is something that you can eat,” said the lioness, as she handed a lollipop to each of the children. “And eat, and eat, and eat! These are lifelong lollipops. You can lick them forever, and they are never used up.”

            “Cool!” Kyle said as he unwrapped his lollipop and stuck it in his mouth.

            “Have a nice day!” the lioness said, as she waved her paw at them.