Chapter One (partial)- Needling Problems

Chapter One- Needling Problems

Gulls glided above Piper as she sat on the roof of the Honey Nest Inn. Autumn approached, and the sixteen year old huddled in a red cape against the cool breeze that fluttered her honey-brown hair. Ponies clopped and wheels squeaked as the city of Lord's Dock awoke below her.

Morning sun shimmered on the Royal River, reflecting on the moored ships. Below Piper, a cobbled road followed the edge of the port where four large docks, and several smaller ones, stretched into the water. A high wall stood along this road, separating the docks from the rest of the city. Only three streets led onto the port road, and the Honey Nest Inn sat at the end of the middle one.

Piper watched the dock closest to the inn, as did the small crowd gathered around it. A ship stained black, adorned with gold trim and red sails, docked there. Four guards from the ship stood watch. Piper could tell they wore masks, but could not make out any details. A carriage led by four heavy horses and surrounded by mounted soldiers waited on the road.

The roof of the large inn sloped gently on two sides with a flat strip in the middle. Six large chimneys rose like watch towers from the roof, three on each side, and smoke swirled from several of these. A head poked out from one near Piper.

“Has she come off of the ship yet?” said the boy.

“No. But Prince Pierce has been waiting for her ever since I came up here. I can see her masked magicians. Come over and look, Soot.”

"Come help me first," said Soot.

Piper walked down the wooden shingles to the chimney. She wore a white shirt and loose pants, clothes normally worn under a dress. Soot held a barn owl over the edge.

"Take it gently Pipe, it's still alive."

Her fingers barely reached the owl. They carefully exchanged the creature, and she cradled it in her arms. The owl's dark eyes stared into nothingness from its heart-shape face as it lay limp. A blue needle stuck out from the white feathers on its chest. Soot, small for his age of ten, climbed down a few bricks then jumped, clattering the shingles. The black smudges on his brown shirt and pants matched the ones on his shaved head and face. He took the owl back in his arms.

"How did it get that strange needle in it?" Piper asked.

"Don't know. We heard it flapping around so we waited to light a fire here. We came back latter and it wasn't flapping, just making a sad noise. Summer made us some tea while we waited, and guess what? She broke another stool with her big bottom."

The blue needle glimmered as Soot grinned at his own story. Piper stared at him with unsmiling eyes until he continued.

"Me and Sweep could tell it wasn't going to fly out. I climbed up and I found it wobbling on a brick ledge."

"If I take the needle out, do you think you can save the owl?" asked Piper. Soot often found a way to heal animals, much like Piper's father, the owner of the inn, found a way to heal people.

"I want to. I'll try".

She pulled the thick needle out. Her fingers grew cold. A winter's storm crawled through her hand. With a shiver and a gasp, she tossed the needle next to the chimney. Soot did not see her throw it as is attention remained fixed on the owl, but when he looked up he asked, "What's wrong."

"I don't know, the needle, it... Nothing. I'm fine. Go nurse the owl before Summer calls for you. I'll wait a bit longer up here."

As Soot left for the roof-hatch a boy Pipers age climbed through. His black, ruffled hair matched his long shirt and leggings. He exchanged a few words with Soot, then hurried to Piper, where she stood at the top again.

“Hearth is looking for you and he doesn’t look happy,” said Sweep.

“Did dad tell you what he wants?” asked Piper.

“You were supposed to help Summer with the extra bread for the Royal Guard.”

Piper bit her lip, closed her eyes, and shook her head.

“I am so stupid. I really am. I’m dead.”

She cursed herself while Sweep stood at her side watching the black ship and the crowd. Drifting clouds muted the sun as crows flew above. The aroma of fresh-baked bread rose in the air. They began to go, but she stopped.

"Sweep, I got to show you something." She grabbed Sweep's hand and led him to where the needle should be. Nothing lay there. Hearth's voice calling for Piper sounded up the chimney.

"Look, forget it Piper, whatever it was. Go get a dress on before your dad finds you.
Tell him you had to help Soot or something."

"Sweep, that owl had a strange needle in it. When I pulled it out, it turned cold, like I was going to freeze. It couldn't have just disappeared. Sweep, believe me, something strange is going on."

"Right. Like the time you told me voices were coming from the bee hive and I got stung five times. Forget it before Hearth finds you up here."

She followed Sweep to the hatch, scowling, and climbed the ladder down to the attic. On the port side of the attic, it stretched to the chimneys and to the outside wall where a sparrow built a nest on the window ledge. Shafts of dusty light illuminated stacks of small boxes and piles of linen, as well as four bats hanging from a rafter. A wall made from heavy planks, however, blocked the other end of the attic. According to Piper, her dad refused to tell anyone why this half of the attic remained boarded up and punished her if she ever mentioned it, similar to the way he acted when she asked questions about her mom, who she could not remember. Next to the ladder, a spiral staircase used only by the staff wound down past two stories of rooms to the ground floor, and on each floor an entrance led off into a small linen room. Piper's room sat on the ground level.

"I had to take care of a chilled horse last night. We'll tell your dad that I wanted your help with it while Soot lit the fires and stuff. Rub some dust into your clothes to make it look like you were in the stables," said Sweep, as Hearth's voice grew louder.

"Are you going to wash my clothes then? I don't think so."

"You stupid girl. If Hearth finds us together and you’re dressed like that he'll lock you up and send me away with some ship crew. Listen, it sounds like he's looking for you on the first floor. I'll go to the second floor and call him up near the stone stairs, then you run for it down these. Once you’re dressed properly, tell him you helped me. All right?"

"All right."