Golden Braids and Dragon Blades: Steampunk Rapunzel

Chapter 9: She’s Got Big Dreams

Two cases and one bag. That was all we could afford to take with us. A lifetime’s worth of blankets, cups, books—I mostly felt bad about the books—and accumulated nothings sat forgotten in the cave.

I scrunched the sand between my toes. Taking a deep breath, I waded into the surf, enjoying the sensation of the foamy bubbles tickling my ankles. Closing my eyes, I looked up at the sky, feeling the sun kiss my cheeks and warm my hair. In a crate sitting on the sand not far from me, the “cats” meowed loudly, wanting to come join the fun.

Turning back, I went to them. I knelt down in the sand and looked inside at the three miserable little dragons who definitely didn’t want to be cats.

“When we get wherever we are going, I promise you, I’ll let you out. I don’t know where we’re going myself. And right now, all of us are in danger. I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Luna meowed nervously.

I cast a glance at Mother. She was standing on the beach with her arms raised. I watched as she worked. Silver sparkles danced from her fingers toward the cliff wall. The ivy and tree roots that used to drape over the opening of the cave grew thick. The roots widened and expanded so much that there was no way to even pass through. Now that it was completely hidden behind the roots and vines, no one would ever even know the cave entrance was there.

When she was done, Mother nodded. Digging in her bag, she handed me some stockings and a pair of boots. I slipped them on. As I did so, Mother tapped her fingers against her body, and a moment later, she shifted into the form of a hulking man. She towered over me in height and appeared to be a wall of muscle. She was tall, bald, and had a mean expression. But she also wore a fine suit and top hat.

Mother gave me an assessing look then reached out and touched the hem of my petticoat. A moment later, my gown shifted into a light purple-colored dress. It was a pretty, feminine thing with silk ribbons on the bodice and lace on the trim. Looking down at the garment, I wrinkled my nose.

“No?” Mother asked.

I giggled to hear her deep, masculine voice.

I shook my head. “Too prissy. I was thinking…maybe trousers and a leather bodice. You know, in the style of some of the more sporting ladies—airship jockeys, steamcar drivers, and the like.”

“I see,” Mother said, an amused expression playing on her—his—lips.

She twitched her fingers, and once more my garments transformed. This time, I found myself clad in trousers, a leather bodice with a soft white shirt underneath, and a mini top hat on my head. I wiggled my fingers, on which I wore fingerless gloves. Perfection. I pinned up my hair into a massive braid. It didn’t look half bad.

“Thank you,” I said then grinned at Mother. “Not planning to sport a moustache?”

She shook her head. “Not the fashion. And itchy. Let’s go,” she said then picked up the two cases, leaving the bag in which I’d packed the egg for me to carry. The little dragon egg was hard as stone, but I had still wrapped it up as best I could. Carrying my precious cargo, Mother hauling the crate with the girls, I followed behind her as we made our way down the beach.

Walking on sand was not as easy and carefree as I’d always thought it would be. About an hour into the walk, my feet started to hurt and sweat trickled down my back, but I would never complain. This was what it felt like to live. This was what it felt like to be free. Who could complain about that?

It took almost another hour before Mother motioned to me that we should turn off the beach. Winding through a narrow passage of rocks, we found our way to the top of the cliff. I was amazed to see the bright green field stretch out before me. My heart thundered in my chest. All this time, I had lived below a field full of purple asters, yellow-eyed daises, and ruby-colored poppies.

We headed out across the field. The smell of the grass, and the flowers effervescing in the bright sunlight, filled my senses. Holding out my hand, I let my palms touch the tips of the grass. It was strange how I could feel them but also so much more. I could feel the land under my hands. I could feel the earth. As I walked, I closed my eyes. When I did so, I heard whispers. A soft voice sang just outside of my hearing. I could only pick out a single line:

I’ve been the shadow in the cave.

I stopped.

Mother looked back at me, her eyes drifting from my face to my outstretched hand. “What is it?”

“Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“That…song. Do you hear someone singing?”

Mother smiled softly then shook her head. “The king and the land are one. That has always been true. You carry the blood of the king. It is the land speaking to you.”

“The land?”

She nodded. “The realm. Britannia.”

“What should I do?”

“Listen,” she said then motioned for me to follow.

I pulled my hand back. I had heard such whispers before, deep within my cave, but I always thought them echoes of the past, echoes of Merlin’s time there, echoes of his magic. But the land? Britannia?

Shifting my bag, I held the parcel against me, the dragon egg pressed against my chest. I followed Mother. It seemed like it took forever before we finally met the road. We turned, following the narrow cart path. Soon, farms appeared on the horizon. As we drew close, I watched men work the fields, children run after geese, and women hang linens out to dry. I stared at them. Their voices carried on the breeze and were sweet to my ears.

I’ve been the farmer in the field, the voice sang once more.

I stared at the scene. I had been alone for so long. Since I’d never really known the company of anyone save Mother, maybe it had made things easier. But now… What did it mean to be among people? The thought that Mother was taking me somewhere else where I would be secluded, cut off from the rest of the world, filled me with despair.

We walked away from the farm toward a small village on the horizon. We passed through a glade thick with white-barked birch trees. The leaves shivered and whispered as we strolled by. I slowed and bent my ear to the lightest sound of a song in the leaves soft voices: Your knight. Your knight? A princess needs a knight. I’ve been the maiden of the lake.

“Rapunzel,” Mother called, motioning for me to catch up.

I reached out and touched the dancing leaves then raced to Mother.

“We will go to the airship platform,” she said, pointing to a tall tower at the other end of the village. “We’ll take a transport to London.”

I gasped. “To London?”

Mother nodded. “Just keep quiet. Let me do the talking, and try to keep them calm,” she said, looking down at the crate.

“Okay,” I whispered, trying not to stare at everything I saw as we entered the village. But it was hard. Women hurried quickly through the square carrying baskets full of bread. Pretty ladies in fashionable hats stopped and gazed longingly at a gown displayed in the dressmaker’s window. An odd machine sitting outside a blacksmith’s shop whistled and popped. Its large gears turned, the smoke stack hissing out plumes of steam. A moving tray rolled, and brand new horseshoes conveyed from the machine. As we passed the carriage station, I eyed the building with curiosity. Was this where Ewan had been? More, was this where the dragon blood had been? I cast a glance around. No one here looked suspicious. In fact, everyone just looked worn thin.

Once more, the land whispered to me. Weary. Weary. I’ve been the spinner at the wheel.

I clutched my bag against my chest and hurried behind Mother.

We were just leaving the town square when I spotted a man with a cart full of books. I slowed as we passed, tilting my head to read the spines.

“Like something to read, miss? How about a romance? Or would you like something a bit darker, a gothic novel perhaps? Poetry? A Bible?”

“Do you have any books by Miss Austen?” I asked.

Upon hearing my voice, Mother stopped. She smothered an annoyed expression on her face then rejoined me.

“Oh, yes. Popular, of course. Someone just traded me,” he said, his fingers dancing across the spines. “Here it is. Sense and Sensibility. Interested?”

I looked at Mother—still in the guise of a man—who drew a coin from her pocket and pressed it toward the man.

“Very good,” he said, handing the book to me. “All the young ladies love Jane Austen,” the bookseller assured Mother then looked at me. “My, what beautiful eyes this young lady has,” he said, staring at me.

“Good day, sir,” Mother told the man stiffly then motioned for me to follow. Gripping the book and the bag, I smiled at the bookseller then hurried along behind her.

“No more stops. I’m sorry, Rapunzel,” Mother whispered. “We must hurry.”

“Yes. You’re right. Sorry,” I said, feeling both delighted and guilty all at once. I looked around the square. It felt so strange and so wonderful to be amongst the people. I felt their energy, their lifeblood. And from many, their weariness, which saddened me. The delight of passing children, however, lifted my spirits.

At the other end of the square stood a small airship tower. Above, two small ships were docked. I eyed them as they swayed. Mother went to the stationmaster and spoke in a low tone.

I knelt down and looked through the slats into the wicker cage where three very annoyed looking cats looked back at me.

“We’re going to ride an airship,” I said excitedly.

The prospect of the adventure did not seem to improve their mood.

“It will be all right. Mother will take us somewhere new. Just imagine where it might be,” I said, then stuck my hand into the crate. All three dragons rubbed their heads on my hand. “Be good,” I whispered, giving Wink a warning look.

She squinted her eyes then turned away. Even if she did hate the illusion and the cage, at least she realized she needed to stay put.

“Very well, sir. This way. And your daughter, if you please,” the stationmaster said, motioning for us to follow him up the steps to one of the airships hovering overhead.

We wound up the steps and down a platform to a small airship. The stationmaster spoke to the pilot, who eyed over the wicker crate mother carried.

“I don’t transport livestock,” he said with a sneer.

“Livestock? These are the young lady’s cats,” Mother replied sharply.

He grunted then motioned for us to come aboard. Mother and I went to the prow of the ship and took our seats. A few moments later, the crew untied the ship. The burner below the balloon fired, and the airship slowly turned from port.

Inside the wicker case, the cats meowed loudly. They could feel the sense of flight just like I could.

The ship ascended into the clear blue sky, the propeller kicking on in the back as the transport began its gentle ride toward London.

Handing my bag to Mother, I rose and went to the very front of the ship. I held out my arms, feeling the wind whipping all around me. The breeze pulled at my hair, but my long locks stayed in place. I closed my eyes and imagined I was soaring.

And then, I heard the wind. In a sweet and soft voice, it spoke a single word: Pendragon.