Berlina's Quest by James Hartley

signal.”
    The two girls continued browsing in various booths, but Berlina kept careful track of what was going on around them. Suddenly, a fight erupted outside a nearby tent, and the three guards swung around to see it.
    Berlina gave Felistia the thumbs up, then cast a glamour over the two of them. Instantly, barmaids with dirty clothing and far too much makeup replaced the two merchant’s daughters. They quickly turned and walked away.
    By the time the guards turned back and realized that they didn’t see their charges, the barmaids were twenty feet away and turning a corner to a narrow path between two tents. The guards stared at each other in dismay and wondered what to do.
    Meanwhile, Berlina and Felistia zigzagged around and between a number of tents until they reached the nearest gate. They were through, outside, and heading down the roadway by the time an alarm sounded and the gates closed. Closed too late, of course.
    â€œBee, that was terrific,” said Felistia. “What do we do, now?”
    â€œFor the moment, we just keep walking like nothing has happened. About a mile down this road is a tavern. I have made magical contact with the innkeeper and arranged for us to work there for a week or two—however long we need. Nobody will expect us to stop so soon, so close to the palace. They’ll be looking for us miles from here, assuming we will go as far and as fast as possible. By the way, for now, your name is Fezzia, I am Bejanna. Still Fee and Bee, in case we slip.”
    Felistia nodded, and the two kept walking, slowly, as if they were tired and had no interest in their surroundings.

Chapter Six
Panic in the Palace
    â€œWhat do you mean, the princess has disappeared?” the Queen Regent asked in a voice just short of a scream. She was sitting in her drawing room when the Head Guardsman entered and gave her the bad news.
    â€œYour Majesty, the princess and her companion should have been returned to their room an hour before the Faire closed, but they are not there,” said the head guardsman. “The Faire is now closing, people are trying to leave, but several men are posted at the only gate left open. They are checking everyone before permitting anyone to leave. There is a massive jam of people. It may be hours before everyone gets out, but we will be sure the princess and her companion are not among them.”
    â€œIs there any chance they are back in the palace somewhere?”
    â€œYour Majesty, I have men searching. They will check everywhere…except Zatarra’s tower laboratory, of course.”
    â€œOf course. There is no way they could get in there. The sorcerer has it protected by unbreakable spells. How did the girls vanish? What about the three men guarding them?”
    â€œI have them here and will let you talk to them yourself.”
    He turned and signaled to a man at the door. The three guards were brought in with chains on their wrists and ankles. They were led to the front of the throne, where they bowed to the Queen Regent—respectfully, albeit clumsily, due to the shackles.
    â€œWhich one of you was the leader?” asked the queen.
    One of the three took one step forward and said, “I was the leader, Your Majesty.”
    â€œTell me what happened. Tell me how you failed in your duty, miserable wretch.”
    â€œI will try, Your Majesty, but I don’t understand it myself. We were with the girls, and everything was normal. A fight broke out not far away, creating considerable noise and commotion. We…all three of us…turned to look, to see if it might pose a danger to the princess and if we needed to take action. It was far enough away that there was no threat, and I doubt we were looking at the fight for more than a few seconds. When we turned back, the princess and her friend were gone.”
    â€œGone? What do you mean gone?”
    â€œThey were nowhere in sight, Your Majesty. There were a lot of people