Part 11 (1/2)
The monster nodded, then slowly sank back into the water. Cube realized that he understood human talk. The wonders of this castle continued.
They entered the castle. The central hall was enormous, with many arched doors along its sides.
”This way to your room,” Rhythm announced, running to a stone stairway.
”But I'm not staying here!”
”Yes you are,” Melody said, running beside her sister.
”But I only--”
”Hurry up,” Harmony said. ”We have a lot of showing to do.”
Cube came to a stop. ”Look, girls, I appreciate your interest, but I'm just a pa.s.sing traveler. I can't--”
The three burst into laughter again. ”No you're not,” Rhythm said.
Every time she told a half truth, they caught her. What was going on here?
”Children!” a woman called, approaching from down the main hall. ”What mischief are you up to?”
”Aes real. Beware when they start making music.”
Melody began to hum. Harmony played a note on her harmonica. Rhythm beat her drum. Cube felt intense magic coalescing around them.
”Girls!” Ivy snapped warningly.
The music cut off in mid note, but the children did not look too abashed.
”They don't know their own power yet,” Ivy confided.
”Yes we do!” Melody said.
”So it's better to humor them,” Ivy continued.
”That's right,” Harmony agreed.
”And hope there isn't serious trouble,” Ivy concluded.
”So there!” Rhythm said.
”I suppose I can do that,” Cube said cautiously.
”So now come on up to your room,” Melody said victoriously.
Ivy made a slight roll of her eyes.
”We saw that!” Harmony said.
”I'll go to my room,” Cube agreed quickly.
”Now!” Rhythm said in peremptory fas.h.i.+on, imitating an adult. The three giggled.
Cube went. If their mother couldn't entirely control them, Cube certainly couldn't.
The room turned out to be quite nice, with a soft bed, a table, chairs, and plenty of closet s.p.a.ce. There was even a comprehensive lavatory. A girl could get to like a room like this. But there was one liability: it had a mirror.
”That's a magic mirror,” Melody said.
Harmony faced it. ”Wira,” she said.
The image of the Good Magician's daughter-in-law appeared. ”Hi, Wira!” Harmony called.
The blind young woman looked toward them. ”Are you spying on me again, you little mischiefs?” she inquired with a smile.
”Sure,” Rhythm said. ”We've got Cube.”
”Leave her alone,” Wira said. ”She has her own life to lead.”
”Maybe,” Melody said as the image faded.
”Come see the Magic Tapestry,” Harmony told Cube.
The triplets led the way to their own room. On its wall was a large picture tapestry showing a scene of Castle Roogna and its orchard.
”Watch,” Rhythm said.
Then the picture changed. Instead it showed a section of the enchanted path, and in a moment Cube herself came walking along it. ”That's me!” she exclaimed. ”Coming here!”
”We can tune it in to anything except the secrets of the Adult Conspiracy,” Melody said.
”We know where you've been,” Harmony agreed.
”We saw you coming,” Rhythm concluded.