The Secret of Spring (26 page)

"Oh, do you have guard dogs?" asked Herb.

"Dragon. But thou
needst
not fear him. We shall be together," she said, taking his arm and guiding him down the hall.

Herb knew he should decline and return to his room. What if
Spring
should awake and need him? She might be afraid all alone. It was out of the question.

"Yes, a walk would be pleasant," he said. Wait, was that what he had intended to say? He couldn't seem to recall now, but no matter. There was no reason not to go. None at all.

Such a lovely night. The sky was
a deep
velvet blue with distant stars twinkling like diamonds. A full moon hung suspended just above the tops of the trees. A moon orbiting a moon? How could that happen? He asked Jasmine. She seemed amused and explained that magic indeed had its uses, and could produce beautiful results. Herb couldn't argue with that. The garden reminded him of his own world, fresh and green, filled with the sweet scents of night bloomers.

Herb was glad to answer all of Jasmine's questions about who they all were and the purpose of their journey. He trusted her completely. He could not believe such a beauty would be aligned with Zygote to do them harm.

They drifted past several of the fine statues to a low, rocky fence surrounding a fountain where they paused to rest. Herb put the fingers of one hand down into the trickling water, letting the peace and serenity of the night wash over him as well. How relaxed he felt!

Jasmine's soft hair brushed against his arm as she moved closer, looking deeply into his eyes, capturing them in her spell. Her eyes seemed to glint like the crystal around them. The reflection of the moon, Herb imagined, but beautiful. Something deep inside tugged at him to look away, but he ignored it. Such a vision of loveliness! Why should he not drink it in?

Her full red lips parted slightly as she looked deeper into his eyes. She had said nothing, yet he interpreted the message. She was no stranger to the silent language of love between woman and man.

Meanwhile,
Spring
paced fretfully in her room. She had napped and eaten a bite of the repast, but remained keyed up. Thinking she had heard voices, she'd gone to Herb's room, but gotten no answer to her knock. Possibly he was a sound sleeper. She had returned to her room and tried to do the same, but to no avail. She needed to talk. And the truth was
,
she had grown accustomed to Herb always being there. She missed him.

The soft knock at her door caused her to jump. She hastily opened it, expecting Herb, but it was only a servant inquiring if she needed anything more before retiring.

Spring replied in the negative, but asked if the servant knew whether Herb was asleep. The servant informed her he was not in his room a few moments before as she made the rounds of their guests.

Spring waited until the servant disappeared down the corridor and ran to Herb's room. Still no answer. It occurred to her he might be in with Cling, discussing plans for tomorrow, so she knocked at his door as well. Also no answer. That settled it. They were together.

But where? They wouldn't depart without her, unless-unless there was trouble. She turned and ran along the hall and down the steps to the outside. She paused at the entrance and looked out into the darkness. She began to have second thoughts. They might be only stretching their legs, with nothing amiss. They would think her foolish to come crying after them in that case.

The garden. That was the logical place to look first. She slipped quietly out, and headed for the moonlit garden gates.

It was a bright night, so there was no problem in finding the way. The statues sparkled in the distance like a gathering of fireflies. Herb and Cling might be standing among them. It was difficult to tell which was stone and which flesh from a distance. They were all so lifelike.

At last
Spring
saw Herb, seated near the fountain ahead. He was closely examining a statue. No. That was no statue, it was Jasmine. Why had they come to the garden together? Why were they bending so close?

Oh, why indeed? Spring turned and ran back toward the castle blindly, for unreasoning tears had begun to blur her vision. How could he do it? What about Lily? What about-she didn't want to finish the thought. Oh, Herb!

Something grasped her wrist at the garden gate, halting her flight from the shattering scene. She gasped in fear and surprise, starting to cry out.

A soft leaf clamped across her mouth. "Shh. Mistress Moon, it is I, Cling Ling."

"You frightened me," she whispered, trying to compose
herself
, wiping a stray tear from her cheek.

"I must speak with you and Herb. It is
a matter of some urgency, for you see
, I have discovered the secret of the crystal statues," he stated ominously.

That hardly seemed important to
Spring
at the moment in face of recent events. "Oh?" she said with disinterest.

"Yes. It is sometimes an advantage to possess this form," he said, indicating his leafy visage. "I positioned myself outside the servant's quarters near the potted plants. It was most interesting. Most interesting," he repeated.

Spring sighed inwardly. All she wanted to do was
find
her room and throw herself across the bed and cry. She had thought Herb truly cared about Lily, and maybe even her, as a friend. That they would confront Zygote together. Now she was alone again.

"Very well," she said, since Cling Ling seemed determined to tell her anyway. Let him get it over with, and then she could go. "What did you find out?"

"They are not crystal," he said.

"Of course they are," she said a bit too sharply. "If there's one thing I know about, it's precious stones. So, take my word, they are crystal, and fine works of art as well."

"Yes. Very realistic. Very lifelike."

"Incredibly so," she agreed, wondering why Jasmine's statues had so fascinated him.

"Because they are alive."

"What are you trying to say?" Spring asked. Really. Would this inane conversation never end?

"That is, they were. They are all human victims of our lovely hostess. She is a beautiful version of the legendary Gorgon creature."

"Gorgon? Medusa? I always get my myths mixed up. You mean, the ugly, snake-haired sisters who turned men into stone?"

Cling Ling was nodding in the affirmative. "It is not just her look, for the servants were saying she had the kiss of death. So, it is different, but-"

"You're serious, aren't you?" Suddenly, it all became so clear to her. "Oh, no," she exclaimed. "Herb is out there, in the garden with her. I thought-Oh! What an idiot I am. If she kisses him-We have to stop her!" She turned and ran toward the spot where she had last seen them. Cling Ling rolled after, and passed her by with no time to spare.

At the other side of the garden Herb stood gazing helplessly into the deadly Jasmine's eyes. They swirled with the depths of a maelstrom, drawing him in, deeper and deeper. And why should he fight it?

She was a beautiful woman. He could see she wanted him to kiss her as much as he wanted to do it. As much as he ached to kiss her. His desire burned like a torch in his center, now. It had to end, he had to touch her. Inclining his head toward hers, he saw her moist, red lips tilt upward, awaiting his caress.

Spring reached them first. She grasped Herb by the shoulders and spun him around, intercepting his kiss on her own lips. The spell was momentarily broken.

"
Spring
?" he asked, still dazed.

"You foolish female," screamed Jasmine, advancing on
Spring
. "You dare oppose my will?" Her lovely features were twisted with the rage within her, and
Spring
knew the meaning of fear as the being held up one hand from which a brilliant light glowed. It leaped from her fingertips to
Spring
, and a strange sensation rushed down her body. She stood as if frozen. Try as she would, she could not move so much as an eyelash. She stood in helpless horror, watching as Jasmine turned to Herb once more. He was still beneath her evil spell. Unresisting, his lips sought hers.

Suddenly, Jasmine screamed, and stood unmoving. Spring felt life course back into her body. Something had happened to remove the spell, but what?

Cling Ling stood between Herb and Jasmine, holding a smooth piece of crystal in his vines; it was the shield from the soldier statue. It now caught the full light of the moon which reflected brightly into the face of the evil sorceress.

"I don't understand. What's happening?" Spring cried.

Herb shook his head at the sound of her voice. He was still confused, but unharmed. Jasmine had not budged an inch. Nor was she ever likely to. Spring put out a hand and touched the smooth surface of Jasmine's face. She was a perfect statue of priceless ruby.

"Regrets for the delay," Cling Ling apologized. "I had difficulty removing the shield, but needed it to imitate the myth. The crystal surface acted as our mirror. I thrust it in her line of vision just as she prepared to kiss Herb, so she kissed her own reflection instead. It worked in much the same manner as the legend. That was only a story, while this was reality, but I counted on the same result. Fortunately, Zygote stuck to the basics. She was one of his magical creations, you see."

How like Zygote to create monsters to do his dirty work! But right now,
Spring
was more concerned about Herb. She rubbed his hands in hers. He seemed to be coming out of it at last, and was looking at his surroundings in bewilderment.

"Why are we all in the garden?" he asked.

"Don't you remember?" Spring asked.

"Yes-I think so. Yes. I wanted to see you,
Spring
." He turned to her. "But Jasmine said you were sleeping. She invited me to come with her, but I didn't want to at first, and then she looked and-" He blushed furiously, remembering.

"And she led you down the garden path,"
Spring
quipped.

"Yes. Is that her?" Herb asked, noticing the statue for the first time.

"Yes,"
Spring
said with the satisfaction of a job well done. "And may I say she never looked lovelier."

The three decided to remain at the castle for the night, and though there was no longer anything to fear from their hostess, they took the precaution of sharing one chamber. The night passed uneventfully, but as they prepared to depart the next morning, they heard a commotion taking place in the garden. They had hoped to slip away unnoticed, but as they paused by the gateway, that was not to be. Several of the servants surrounded Jasmine's statue. It was obvious they were in an emotional state. One of them spotted their small group by the gate and alerted the others.

"The strangers," another cried. "This must be their doing."

"Uh-oh,"
Spring
said.

The way out lay through the garden where the servants now gathered, blocking their exit. Spring recognized two of the women who had attended them the evening before. They had been joined by three more strong men. Would they attempt to exact vengeance for their Mistress' demise?

"Good morning. We'll be on our way now. Appreciate your help,"
Spring
said, smiling, trying to bluff their way past. No one moved.

"You did this?" asked the youngest servant girl. "It was your magic which turned her to stone?"

"It was unavoidable," Herb said, putting a protective arm around
Spring
. "Jasmine tried to turn me into one of those things. We had to protect ourselves. Surely, you can understand? We had no choice."

"She's dead," said one of the men, stepping forward. "She is cold and lifeless like the stones of the earth."

Cling Ling moved in, assuming a defensive stance. "I must warn you. I am expert at the art of Julep-so."

The older woman turned to the others. "We
be
free," she cried. "Slaves no longer. Free!"

"Yes! Yes!" the others joined in.

The young girl made a deep curtsey to
Spring
. "We
be
forever in thy debt, Mistress."

"You aren't-angry?" Spring breathed, relieved.

"We
be
glad. Yet, 'tis so hard to believe. We never thought ever to be free."

"We must repay the great magicians," agreed one of the men.

"You owe us nothing," Herb said. He was just happy not to have to force their way out. The memory of his last fight still lingered heavily on his mind, and in his sore limbs.

"If I may ask one favor?" Cling Ling interjected. "Please to tell. Where is the castle of Zygote?"

A hushed silence fell upon the group,
then
the young girl spoke. "Ye
be
friends of the magician?" she asked hesitantly.

Spring wasn't sure what they should say to that. If these people were loyal to Zygote, they would be foolish to trust them. Trust had proven folly the night before. Yet, it went against her grain to
lie
again, especially to feign friendship with that monster, Zygote. She looked to the others, but it was plain they were leaving it up to her.

"He has something," she said, swallowing, "that belongs to us. We've come to take it back." That was no lie, but even though the servants seemed grateful for their new freedom, she was not certain where their allegiance lay.