Golden Braids and Dragon Blades: Steampunk Rapunzel

Chapter 16: The Heart is a Maze

Despite my insistence that I was going to win, Ewan was right. Braiding up my hair took forever. And not only was Ewan ready before me, but he also managed to dress and procure a picnic brunch before I even exited my room. Dressed in a yellow gown the color of marigolds, and my hair braided and coiled into a massive heap, I met him in the foyer. I had found a lovely embroidered and beaded bag in the wardrobe as well. I had shifted the dragon egg into it, cushioning it with the scarf Ewan had lent me. Finally ready, Ewan and I set out with my wicker cat carrier and a basket filled with delicious-smelling goods.

“So,” Ewan said, eyeing my bag, “what’s in your bag?”

“Just supplies.”

“Ahh.” Ewan rubbing his chin as he grinned. “You forget. You lost. The truth, please.”

“No, I didn’t forget. You said that if you won, I would have to tell you what was in my bag. You know, my bag, the one I left upstairs. This bag,”—I patted the pretty satchel I was carrying—“belongs to Master Hunter. As agreed, here is the truth. In my bag upstairs, you will find clothes, some old jewelry pieces, a jar of moonstones, some amethyst crystals, and an old Celtic coin.”

“I see,” Ewan said with a grin. “And in this bag?” he asked, looking at the tote I was wearing.

“Pretty, isn’t it? But it’s not mine, and therefore the contents are none of your business.”

Ewan chuckled. “That is a technicality. You’re cheating.”

“I am not.”

“You most certainly are too. Let’s ask Diana and see what she thinks,” Ewan said, pointing to a fountain that depicted the Roman goddess, situated at the center of the garden. The large fountain had benches placed all around it. Four paths led away from the center fixture in the cardinal directions. One led back to the house, the other to a rose garden, the third to the hedge maze, and the last away from the manicured grounds and into the nearby forest. “Great Virgin Huntress, tell us the truth. Is Rapunzel cheating?”

A strong wind blew through the garden, stirring up the scent of roses from the nearby garden. The sun shimmered brightly. From somewhere nearby, a songbird warbled loudly.

“Interesting,” Ewan said. “Seems so.”

“That’s not proof. That’s just a stray breeze.”

“You can’t tell me that you, with your little dragon family and a faerie guardian, deny the voice of the gods?” Ewan asked with a smile.

“I deny the voice of the Roman gods. This is, after all, Britannia.”

Ewan laughed. “Spoken like a true Pendragon.”

I chuckled then glanced around. “Should we try the maze?”

“On one condition.”

“And that is?”

“If I win, you will tell me what is in that satchel,” he said, pointing to my bag.

“And if I win?”

“Whatever you wish.”

I smiled up at Ewan. Under the warm morning sunlight, his dark hair shimmered with flecks of gold and amber. The freckles on his nose and cheeks gave a youthful appearance to his otherwise masculine square jaw. “All right.” I might have lost the first bet—and wiggled my way out of the truth—but I was not going to lose this time.

Ewan nodded, and we headed toward the entrance of the tall hedge. The finely pruned shrubbery was at least four feet above my head. At the entrance to the hedge, we found ourselves presented with two possible paths.

“I’ll take the left, you the right?” Ewan offered.

“Sure,” I said with a grin.

From inside the case, the dragons clicked and called.

I looked back toward the mansion. There was no way anyone could see them from here. Setting the basket down, I looked inside. “No flying high…yet. If you help me figure out the maze before Ewan—and no cheating—you can eat my scone. No leaving the maze without us. Stay low, but play,” I said then unlatched the cage. Estrid and Wink crept out at once. Both of them flew in small circles, delighted to play in the sunshine. Luna, however, came out more carefully. She flew at once to my shoulder, alighting in my hair. The little dragon winced in the bright sunlight.

“That, Miss Pendragon, is an unfair advantage,” Ewan said.

“No parameters were set. Next time, you have to warn me in advance that dragons are not allowed.”

Ewan laughed. “Fine. On your mark,” he said then looked at Estrid, who was quick to come to attention.

Estrid, Wink, and I—Luna in my braid—lined up at the entrance. Estrid blew a playful smoke ring at Ewan.

“Oh, I am so beating you,” Ewan told her.

Estrid clicked in reply.

“Get set. Go!” Ewan called.

We took off into the maze. Estrid and Luna quickly zipped ahead of me. I turned left then right, looking upward for the trees that lined the garden, but I quickly got turned around. When I came to a fork in the path, I stopped and waited. A moment later, Estrid then Wink appeared, Wink clicking for us to follow her. The tiny dragon sped forward on her rainbow-colored wings. Under the bright sunshine, the colors glimmered with a twinkling light I had never really noticed before. She and Estrid sped ahead. Finally deciding her sisters were having too much fun, Luna left me and joined them.

The maze was far larger inside than it looked. Even the girls got turned around once or twice.

“Rapunzel! Rapunzel, you should have left a trail of hair,” Ewan called from somewhere in the distance.

“Laugh now,” I called playfully.

Giggling, I raced through the maze, all of us enjoying the feel of the sun and the breeze on our skin. In truth, we had all suffered because of our confinement. Maybe the dragon bloods would find me. Maybe I would end up being killed, but at least I’d had a chance to live just a little.

Wink, who had disappeared ahead of the others, hurried back and quickly called to us, guiding us down one narrow path after another. The girls dove and flew, almost swimming with one another in the air. I laughed, my heart filled with joy to see them so happy. A moment later, Wink called to me, encouraging me to hurry. In the distance, I could see the tree line at the back of the garden. I was close. Holding on to my satchel, I ran to the exit. I burst from the maze, expecting to cheer in triumph, only to find Ewan standing on the other side. He stood with his pocket watch in his hand, a smug look on his face.

“Thirty-four seconds. And that’s how long I’ve been waiting,” he said with a grin.

Breathless and giggling, I shook my head. “I admit defeat.”

“Good. So, tell me…”

“Later,” I said with a smile as I paused to catch my breath.

“Promise?”

“Yes. Tell me how you won. How did you figure it out so quickly?”

“Did I cheat? As in, did I slip between the bushes or something? No.”

“That’s a very indirect way of answering. So, how did you know which way to go?”

Taking me gently by the shoulders, Ewan turned me to face south once more. Then, setting his hands on my waist, he lifted me.

“See Diana’s bow?”

I scanned the garden, catching a glimpse of the statue on the other side. “Yes. And?”

“Her arrow points to the exit,” he said then set me down gently.

I turned and batted him on the shoulder. “You did cheat! You forfeit your prize.”

“And if you had won, what would you be claiming?” he asked, his eyes settling on mine. There was a soft look in his glance, and I realized his hands were still resting on my waist.

Oh, Elizabeth Bennet, I am all a-swoon. “I hadn’t decided,” I lied. In truth, my heart had decided. All this talk of knights, prophecies, daring rescues, and protectors was too much like a fairy tale. I’d let it go to my head. I knew what I wanted, but my desire seemed very silly. I had just met Ewan. It was impossible to feel anything like that for him…yet.

Ewan grinned then pulled his hands back and offered me his arm. “The butler tipped me off, I confess. And I also understand that there is a very pretty meadow on the other side of this forest path. Shall we?”

I took his arm. “Cheater,” I said playfully.

“Liar.”

“Liar?”

“You still haven’t told me what’s in that bag.”

“I will. I promised.”

“When?”

“When the time is right.”

“And when will that be?”

I glanced up at him. Could I trust him with the secret? Maybe. “We’ll see.”

At that, Ewan nodded. “As you wish, Princess.”