The Secret Prince: Chapter 77 — “I Like This Plan.”

 

A  rooster crowed in the darkness. Rowan sat up quickly and rubbed his eyes.  

“Everyone awake?” called out Rowan. “Time to bake quiche to send back with Ellyn.” 

“I’m up,” said Ronduin. 

“Me too,” said Mirabel. “I’ll gather eggs.”

Ronduin said, “I’ll chop wood for the fire.” He stood up while patting his pockets. Finding all three throwing sacks, Apple, Pear, and Peach,  still sleeping peacefully, he smiled. 

“I’m heading over to the kitchen,” called out Cook Agnes. 

Ronduin looked down from the loft to see the first rays of dawn streaming into the barn as Cook Agnes pushed open the heavy  door. 

***

Ronduin chopped the last branch in half. Now the pile of branches was gone. He walked down the hill. He chopped dead branches off the trees by the path. 

Soon he heard voices. Then he looked down the path. He saw Galen the horse, along with Ellyn and her cousins Peyton and Peter. Peyton wore a bright gold straw hat. Peter’s hat looked the same, but it had a tall white feather in it. 

“Hello! Hello! called Ronduin. 

“Good day!” called Peter and Peyton in unison. 

“We bring milk and good news,” called Ellyn.

Soon Ellyn and Ronduin stood face to face.  “Make yourself ready. You are going back with me.”

Ronduin felt confused. “But, but …” 

“Let’s hurry to the kitchen and take these heavy milk jugs off Galen. Then I’ll tell you the plan the Queen told me,” said Ellyn. 

***

“We have bread and pease porridge,” said Rowan as he set wooden bowls on the table. Ronduin carried the heavy pot of porridge to the table. He was eager to hear Ellyn explain the plan. 

“We are going to sneak you into the hills as Ronduin, the schoolboy,” she said. “Then you can join the other school children in the run that opens the festival.” 

Ronduin felt both happy and confused. “But, how?” He asked. “Everybody saw three people leave with Galen. What will they think when they see four people returning?” 

“Only three people will return,” said Ellyn. She smiled. “Peter will stay here. You will wear his shirt and his hat as we cross the causeway. From a distance you will appear to be Peter.” 

“For the next week Payton will occasionally put the white feather in his hat when he walks across the field. That way people will think both twins are in the hills.”

“At night you will stay with Roland in the little hut by the brook near the cow pasture. That way we can bring you messages from your parents. The barn is full of folks from the village. Roland often has a helper with him so it will be normal for you to stay with him.”

“During the day, you can enjoy being Ronduin the schoolboy. You can help in the fields and play with your friends. Then in six days  you can be part of the running that starts the festival. 

“I like this plan!” said Ronduin smiling. 

“You will run with us after all!” exclaimed Mirabel clapping her hands and smiling happily. 

Ronduin smiled too. Then he looked serious. “My parents said they will have a way to explain that I , who my friends know as a schoolboy, is also the secret prince. I thought I’d be backstage. But now I’ll be in the audience.”

Ellyn continued, “Yes, but the rest of the audience will think you are backstage.  This is the clever part of the plan. The Mountain Kingdom has sent us a lovely covered sedan chair. Whoever rides in this is hidden. It’s by the King and Queen’s tent now. The villagers think this will be used to carry the Prince. 

In the middle of the night before the festival Peter will carefully come down the hill by the light of the full moon. Then, as the sun rises four people will carry the sedan chair up the hill. Cook Agnes will ride down the hill in the chair. She will bring a blanket to cover herself as she steps from the sedan chair into the entrance to the back of the stage. 

     “I am so happy!” said Cook Agnes. “I am unable to walk that distance and I thought I would miss the festival.” 

     “I’m glad Cook Agnes will be with us,” said Ronduin. “But how will my parents introduce me to as the prince? I’m afraid my classmates and the entire village will be mad at me for pretending I am a village boy.” 

     “Your parents have a plan for that. Roland will tell you all about it later today,” said Ellyn. The