The Twelve Days of Christmas (Part Three)
The Twelve Days of Christmas
PART THREE
Day Seven
A high, cheery voice broke Princess Avianna’s slumber.
“Merry Christmas!”
Curled into her sheets and blankets, she twisted away from the sound.
Just a few more minutes…
“Come on, Princess. It’s Christmas. Time to rise.”
Avianna jumped out of bed. “It’s Christmas! What am I wearing today, Mora?”
As Avianna dressed in her same riding outfit, joy bubbled out of her. Last night was perfect!
For the first time, instead of going to bed sad or disappointed, she’d danced until that new clock tower reverberated its midnight tones.
She felt the Christmas magic, and she reveled in it.
She knew they were nowhere near breaking the enchantment.
She knew they had no clues about the mysterious Bargainer who’d tricked Lennon into making his reckless wager.
Even so, she felt more acutely aware of Christmas’ magic than ever before.
Nothing, not even her daily talk with the Queen Mother, could dampen her spirits.
The morning flew by, and soon she found herself in the King’s Chapel, again sitting with an early Prince Lennon.
Now a part of Princess Avianna’s routine, after Christ Mass they stayed back and told Father Gryffan about the last six-and-a-half days.
They stood with the priest near his lectern at the front of the ornate Sanctuary, under the watchful eyes of angel statues.
“Father,” Avianna asked, “why can’t you remember? You’ve led us in the mass every day. Shouldn’t this curse have broken from you?”
“It doesn’t appear to be a proper curse, probably more of an enchantment,” Father Gryffan said. “The sacraments are certainly powerful, and the Christ Mass undoubtedly contributes to the Christmas magic. However, the bargain seems to have included the entire kingdom but you in the memory portion of the agreement.”
“So we can’t break the enchantment with Mass or the sacraments? How then did it work on Prince Lennon?”
“Your prince’s memory was impacted by unauthorized magic enacted on top of the original agreement. Since it wasn’t agreed upon, it didn’t have the same power as the original bargain. For magical bargainers, the power is in the agreement.”
Avianna said, “I still don’t understand how Lennon could have agreed to a bargain that magically affects the whole kingdom. The kingdom didn’t agree to it, so why should it be so powerful?”
Prince Lennon said, “Because of my connection to you, he accepted my authority as a representative of the kingdom.”
“No,” said Father Gryffan. “This explanation doesn’t work. No magic would acknowledge you, Sir Prince, as an authority on the kingdom. If the Bargainer said such, I suspect subterfuge.”
“Well,” Avianna said, “he must’ve gotten the authority somehow, or obtained it through trickery. Maybe he deceived my father into making some sort of agreement?”
“If that’s the case, any authority for an enchantment gained by such means can be removed. If you can find the Bargainer, he can be defied.”
Prince Lennon said, “You mean, Princess Avianna, as a member of the royal family, can revoke his authority?”
Father Gryffan nodded. “Methinks so.”
Avianna said, “But Father Gryffan, how do we find him? Are we even sure he’s within the bounds of the kingdom?”
“For an enchantment this large and complex, even the best-structured magical bargain would need supervision. He wouldn’t be able to cast this enchantment without being nearby.”
Lennon slapped the lectern. “YES! Now, how do we find him?”
Father Gryffan frowned. “I know not. However, I do have some advice.”
“Tell us, please!” said Princess Avianna.
“Even with your royal authority on your side, you’ll need as much help as you can muster. To confront a malicious worker of magic is a fearful thing. You need the magic of Christmas on your side.”
Prince Lennon brought a hand to his chin. “How do we do that?”
“You’re off to a good start with participating in Christ Mass and Holy Communion. More than that, Christmas is a special day of magic, and every tradition holds a latent magic because it bears witness. A tradition is a type of agreement, so it works similarly to the Bargainer’s magic. When you participate in a festivity with all your heart, you are adding to the magic because you are bearing witness to the faith, hope, and love the holiday represents.”
Princess Avianna looked at the hymnal on the lectern. “Father, you told me once about the power of songs. Can we borrow your hymnal? Methinks it will be important, but I’m not sure how yet.”
“Yes, child. Please take it. Songs have magic, and the sacred songs even more so.”
“Thank you, Father.”
After an embrace and a goodbye, they moved on and arrived late to Avianna’s station for greeting nobles during the Arrival of Guests before the feast.
Prince Lennon did not stay with Avianna the whole time; instead, he combed through different areas of the castle complex to see if he could catch sight of the Bargainer.
He’d tried describing the Bargainer to Avianna, but his description matched half the middle-aged noblemen and merchants visiting for Christmas.
She still kept her eyes open and tried to look for anything suspicious. She paid attention to the gossip she usually ignored, but nothing seemed to indicate the presence of the shifty Bargainer.
The feast soon began, and she and Lennon did their best to follow Father Gryffan’s advice to enjoy themselves. After so many days, Avianna didn’t crave any of the feast food, but she still ate, danced, and with a smile shared the lament of the boar hunt: “The boar’s head, as I understand, is the rarest dish in all the land.”
The whole time, she kept the hymnal with her. At calmer moments, she flipped through it to see what magical songs it contained. To her surprise, the “Boar’s Head Carol” was included, though she’d never considered it a spiritual song.
Towards the end of the feast but before the Giving of Gifts, she sat at her father’s table with some figgy pudding.
She wanted to ask, Why can’t you just accept Prince Lennon’s dowry? Why won’t you let your daughter be happy?, but she knew those questions wouldn’t go over well. In the spirit of Christmas, she wanted to be as charitable to her father as possible.
“Merry Christmas,” she started with a smile. “Father, I can’t imagine spending Christmas anywhere else; Nestardon’s Christmas is truly special. Thank you for everything.”
She embraced the king, and he seemed to soften at her touch. Maybe, just maybe, today he’ll listen and change his mind.
At the appointed time, King Caledon commenced the Giving of Gifts. Avianna received her dress, note, and birdseed, and she acted like it was her first time. Her heart must’ve been turned toward her father today, because she cried tears of joy at the gift, even more than she had on the “first” day of Christmas.
At the same time as before, Prince Lennon knocked and made his grand entrance.
The king bid him enter, and he bowed for a minute and stood straight.
“Dear King Caledon, I wish you a Merry Christmas. I’ve brought many gifts for you and your guests, but before the Giving of Gifts ends for this year, I have a public gift to offer.”
The king nodded. “This is the time to offer public gifts. You may do so.”
“Princess Avianna. This gift is for you, to be opened in the presence of the entire kingdom.”
She stepped forward.
“On this seventh day of Christmas…”
He winked, and a wave of magic spread through the room.
“…I give to thee, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
The servants entered with the potted tree, the doves, the hens, the blackbirds, and the pillow with the five rings, and geese on leashes, but a new group of servants also entered, each leading a beautiful, pure white swan with a leather cord tied around the neck.
Each swan stared at Avianna.
“My princess, my true love,” Prince Lennon said, “the graceful beauty of swimming swans resembles the graceful beauty of our love’s dance. Like a swan, you are graceful and strong. May the completion of our life together be like that of the song of the seventh swan—final, precious, well-lived, and well-loved.”
He smiled at her, and then he faced the king with a serious look.
The unspoken question hung in the air for what felt like forever.
“Prince Lennon, I thank thee. But my answer this Christmas remains the same as the last. Your gift is not enough for the hand of my daughter. You are denied.”
Avianna met Lennon outside the great hall’s door.
“What’s next? Do we defy custom and join the party, or do we respect custom and say goodnight?”
Prince Lennon said, “Defying custom seems to be the way to not increase the magic, but I think we can increase the magic in other ways if we stay and enjoy the festivities together.”
Avianna smiled. “I agree.”
Once again, they joined the merriment and danced well into the night.
During one slower dance, Lennon drew Avianna close. She hoped for a kiss…
“My dear, I forgot to tell you. I caught a glimpse of the Bargainer.”
“What? When? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was during the Giving of Gifts. My daily proposal is the one daily event that can’t be defied.”
“You should’ve pointed him out, ordered him arrested, or something!”
“Sorry, my love, but the bargain is too strong. Once the proposal is set in motion, I can feel the magic compelling my script. He must know this. He’s taunting us, my dear.”
She pulled close to him. “Still, I need to see this man. I need to know who I’m looking for.”
“I know, my dear. I’m sorry. He was standing over there.” Lennon pointed to the far east corner of the room. “I don’t know if he’ll be there again, but you can look next time, too.”
They danced for a while longer before Avianna spoke again.
“It looks like we’re not going to catch him tonight.”
“I think you’re right, my love.”
“Still, my Prince, I have the hymnal. Let’s see what magic we can stir up.”
They approached the minstrels right when they had started “Greensleeves,” a favorite dance song among the nobility. Avianna opened the hymnal to “What Child is This?” and handed it to the lead singer. He looked over it while the band continued to play the harp, lyre, and drum.
“I’ve never heard this song, Princess, but the words fit perfectly with ‘Greensleeves.’ I can give it a try.”
He raised his timbrel and began to sing.
The rhythm took on a slightly different, syncopated cadence, but the melody was undeniably “Greensleeves.”
The hymnal vibrated with magic and hummed along with the musicians. In Avianna’s mind’s eye, she saw a story play out before her, pictures jumping from the hymnal. These images involved a mundane noble’s dance invaded by the Christmas message.
She didn’t know if anyone else could see it, but a translucent manger with a gleaming, swaddled baby stood in the middle of the dance floor.
She had no concept of how the magic could help them find the Bargainer, but she did know the magic was helping the partygoers remember the true meaning of Christmas, and in the moment, this felt better, a more sacred miracle than breaking some enchantment.
Avianna flipped the hymnal to a different song, and the minstrels played again.
The song told the story of the magi seeking the Newborn King, and lavishing Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Again, magical visions, moving images, appeared around the dance floor, and the merry crowd engaged differently with the music than they had in the previous nights.
At the end of the song, Duke Etan and Duchess Beren approached Prince Lennon and Princess Avianna.
The duchess had a package in her hand. “We have a gift for you, my son. I wanted to give it earlier during the Giving of Gifts, but I knew we needed to give you room for your proposal. After the rejection, we didn’t think you’d be in the mood to receive it.”
She looked over at the minstrels, who’d just started into a new tune.
In his deep basso, Duke Etan said, “The song of the magi reminded me of the importance of giving on Christmas Day. We would love for you to open this now.”
Prince Lennon opened the package, and tears escaped his eyes.
Avianna leaned close to see what lay within the package: two pairs of handmade ice-skates.
She didn’t understand why it touched him the way it did, but she couldn’t wait to ask him about it later.
Before she could say anything, his face changed. Anger covered his features.
“You!”
He pointed at a cloaked figure exiting the hall’s door into the courtyard.
Lennon drew his dagger and sprinted. “The Bargainer!”
Avianna chased as well. Lennon was ahead of her, but the Bargainer was far ahead of them both. They pumped their arms and pushed their bodies, not stopping until the harbor, where the Bargainer jumped into the water.
Avianna finally caught up with bewildered Prince Lennon. Both were out of breath.
After a moment, Avianna said, “Where is he?”
“He disappeared. He jumped in and never reemerged.”
“Is he dead?”
“I don’t think we’re that lucky. Maybe he went under the docks? Climbed aboard a ship? I can search each one.”
Avianna said, “It’s dark. I don’t think we’ll find anything.” She drew her arm around Lennon. “Come, my love. Back to the party. We’ll try again tomorrow.”
They returned to the King’s hall, but many of the merry-makers had moved on. Avianna found the hymnal, but the Duke and Duchess were gone with the ice-skates.
Lennon and Avianna looked around some more, but it seemed that the party was winding down. They sat on the edge of the dais, which King Caledon and the Queen Mother had vacated long before.
“The party lasted longer yesterday,” Prince Lennon said. “Why would it be ending so early today?”
Avianna said, “It probably had something to do with both of us bursting outside, running and screaming.”
“I did have my blade drawn.”
“You did run away from your parents right when they gave you a gift. Can you tell me about the ice-skates?”
“What about them, my dear?”
She smiled. “For starters, what makes them special? The gift obviously meant a lot to you.”
“Back home, for a good month each year, ice-skating is our kingdom’s pastime. I guess it’s not a kingdom anymore, but you know what I mean. Anyway, the gift is important for a couple of reasons. During their courtship, my parents bonded a lot over ice-skating. Also, it’s tradition to make your own skates, and it’s a treasure when parents make them for their kids and pass them down.
“My parents always spoke fondly of learning the leatherwork and cobbling involved in making ice-skates. My father even learned from a blacksmith to forge the blades with the finest metal.
“They always told me they’d make ice-skates for me and my true love at the time I enter a courtship. When we fell in love, they were in the process of surrendering their kingdom to your father, and they were never able to make good on the promise. Until now.”
“And you ran away from them?”
Lennon chuckled. “Thanks for making me feel better.”
“Sorry, but I think it’s a fair point. Something significant happened today, and the Bargainer ruined it. You know what that means?”
“What does it mean?”
“My love, it means we’re on the right track. And I have good news: We’ll have another chance to catch the Bargainer in the morning.”
They said goodnight right as the clock was striking midnight.
Lennon and Avianna kissed at the last note, and the feeling of her true love’s lips on hers lingered as the magic pulled her back to her quarters for the restarting of Christmas.
Day Eight
A high, cheery voice broke Princess Avianna’s slumber.
“Merry Christmas!”
Curled into her sheets and blankets, she twisted away from the sound.
Just a few more minutes…
“Come on, Princess. It’s Christmas. Time to rise.”
Avianna prepared for the Lady’s Ride and considered her options. After yesterday, they succeeded in using the hymnal and spreading more Christmas magic. Still, they were no closer to finding the Bargainer, and they were even further from convincing her father to change his mind.
With the many gifts and the many different ways each Christmas played out, Avianna realized that her father’s reaction to the proposal was always exactly the same. Whether Lennon was there early or late, whether she was warm with the king or distant, whether she did everything expected of her or shirked her duties—every single day, the denial was the same.
Why is he set against Prince Lennon?
How do you change the mind of someone set in their ways?
Dressed for riding, Avianna walked to the stables accompanied by Mora. Soon, the Lady’s Ride was underway, and Avianna tried to soak in the fresh air. For just a few minutes before her Grandmum would call her for their daily talk, Avianna wanted to clear her mind and ignore all else.
She caught a glimpse of the frozen lake off the trail, and she thought about the ice-skates given to Lennon the night before. She felt like they were important, but she couldn’t think how. Yes, they were only given after the magic songs, but how does any song or gift lead them any closer to the Bargainer?
Avianna prayed, hoping for some kind of insight, but her query was cut short by the Queen Mother’s summoning.
Princess Avianna bore through the conversation and continued going through the day’s motions, all the while wondering what she could do to find the Bargainer or convince her father.
Once again, she dressed for Christ Mass. Once again, she sat with Prince Lennon in the Sanctuary. Once again, they talked to Father Gryffan, and his advice was the same.
She left the basilica with the hymnal in hand, but her resolve faltered.
She felt like following Father Gryffan’s counsel meant doing largely the same thing today compared to yesterday, but yesterday yielded few results.
They walked the edge of the courtyard between the harbor and the castle wall’s entrance, ready to greet guests as Avianna was expected to do. Snow crunched beneath their shoes when Prince Lennon spoke.
“I need to hunt for the Bargainer.”
“Now, my dear?”
“Yes. I need to focus all my energy on catching him.”
“My Prince, you know that made for an awkward end to last night.”
“I’ll find him faster today.”
“What about the magic of Christmas? I have the hymnal. We need to celebrate and increase the magic.”
“My dear, singing a few songs won’t help us find the Bargainer. It’s good to sing and dance and engage in all the festivities. It’ll be even better to banish the menace and nullify the whole agreement.”
“I just don’t think it’s a good use of our energy when we have no leads.”
“We’re never going to find leads if we don’t look for any.”
“I think the biggest lead is this hymnal. You saw the magic. I don’t know exactly what it did, but something happened. Something different compared to the other Christmases. I think more of that will take us in the right direction.”
“Here’s what we can do. You take the hymnal and pursue the magical angle, and I’ll hunt the Bargainer my way. Then, we’ll meet again at the Giving of Gifts and share our findings.”
“That’s so long from now. I don’t really want to be apart for that long.”
“I have to try this, my love. I can’t waste any time.”
They embraced and parted ways, but Avianna felt good about none of it.
We should be sticking together, not splitting apart. Christmas is about being together!
She went through the rest of the afternoon greeting of guests without Prince Lennon. She found a couple of musicians to play songs from the hymnal, but so far, the magic wasn’t as potent as it was the night before.
Probably because I’m mad and my heart’s not in it.
She prayed again, asking God for help.
Help to use the hymnal well. Help to engage in every part of Christmas that made it magical. Help to treasure the true meaning of Christmas in her heart, even when lonely or discouraged.
She did her best, but everything felt tedious, all the way through the feast and the beginning of the Giving of Gifts.
Princess Avianna opened the gift from her father, and she thought about the song from yesterday—the song about the magi that prompted the duke and duchess to gift their gift to Lennon. With that thought came a sudden idea.
Hug your father. Thank him for your gift like you mean it because you do.
Avianna climbed onto the dais and approached the king, sitting on his throne. She leaned down to him and held him in a bigger embrace than any she could remember all year. It made yesterday’s hug seem like a pat on the back.
“I love you, Father.”
He wrapped his arms around her in return. “I love you too, my Princess.”
Their embrace was interrupted by sharp knocks on the heavy wooden door separating the banquet hall from the courtyard outside.
King Caledon stood, and his face hardened. Unflinching, he called, “Enter, guest.”
The door creaked open, and there in the cold stood Prince Lennon, handsome as ever.
He entered, followed by an entourage of servants.
He bowed for a minute and stood straight. “Dear King Caledon, I apologize for my tardiness. I wish you a Merry Christmas. I’ve brought many gifts for you and your guests, but before the Giving of Gifts ends for this year, I have a public gift to offer.”
The king nodded. “This is the time to offer public gifts. You may do so.”
“Princess Avianna. This gift is for you, to be opened in the presence of the entire kingdom.”
She stood beside her father.
“On this eighth day of Christmas…”
He winked, magic filling the air.
“…I give to thee, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
The servants entered with the potted tree, the doves, the hens, the blackbirds, the pillow with the five rings, and the geese and swans on leashes, but a new group of servants also entered, each dressed in the white garb of a milkmaid, each holding a glass pitcher of milk.
Outside in the cold, Princess Avianna could see eight dairy cows, one for each maid.
The cows and maids all stared at Avianna.
Prince Lennon continued. “These maids and their cows represent my commitment to keeping our household cared for and fed. The milk will nourish our family and all who work in our estate. All the prosperity we produce together will be used for the betterment of everyone all around, and not a drop will be wasted, not a drop will fall fallow.”
He smiled at her, and then he faced the king with a serious look.
The unspoken question hung in the air for what felt like forever.
“Prince Lennon, I thank thee. But my answer this Christmas remains the same as the last. Your gift is not enough for the hand of my daughter. You are denied.”
Once more, the crowd gawked, clamored, and returned to their merriment.
Avianna directly left the king’s side and met Prince Lennon just outside the door.
“How was your hunt, my Prince?”
“Lonely. Frustrating. Fruitless. How was your time making merry?”
“Also lonely. Less magical when you’re not around.”
She hugged him, and they waited in silence for a couple of minutes.
Avianna pulled away and said, “Let’s never do that again, my love. Can we stick together?”
“Let’s!”
He linked arms with her, and they reentered the King’s Hall.
Avianna retrieved the hymnal where she had left it, and they went straight to the minstrels.
They played and sang the song of the magi, and just like the night before, the duke and duchess approached with their gift.
Even though it was earlier in the night, everything went exactly as it had previously.
Lennon cried.
Lennon looked up.
Lennon’s face changed.
Avianna immediately put her hand on his chest to hold him back.
“No, love,” she whispered. “Not this time.”
She looked over the room and saw the mysterious cloaked figure sauntering out the door.
Avianna spoke again. “You won’t catch him this time, my dear. He’s distracting you.”
“I’ve been hunting him all day.”
“Let it go. We have to do something different today. Let it be this.”
Lennon clenched his fists.
“Trust me,” she whispered. Avianna looked up at the duke and duchess, each looking puzzled.
Lennon exhaled a deep sigh. “Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. I saw someone far off…it doesn’t matter. This matters. Thank you for this gift. I can’t wait to use the ice-skates with my true love.”
Avianna looked over the beautiful skates, and she felt drawn to them, as if by magic.
The frozen lake!
“My love! Let’s use them tonight. Thank you, Duke and Duchess. Merry Christmas!”
They laughed as Avianna pulled Lennon towards the door.
Duke Etan called, “Have fun, you lovebirds!”
Prince Lennon tried slowing Princess Avianna’s pace. He tried asking where they were going.
She didn’t stop to answer until they were at the stables, and not until she’d already asked the grooms to saddle two horses.
“We’re going ice skating!”
“Now?”
“Yes, right now! There’s a frozen lake just a few minutes’ ride from here. I’ve passed it every day.”
Prince Lennon smiled. “I can think of a million reasons why this would be a bad idea.”
“But it’s Christmas, my love! What’s more romantic?”
He laughed. “It’s Christmas. You got me there.”
The grooms brought out two horses: Avianna’s regal brown horse and one pure white horse for Prince Lennon. Avianna mounted her horse and led the way through the castle gate into the night.
The moon was full; its light shone on the snow and created a path almost as easy to see as it was during the day. The road curved away from the castle and up a hill. They followed the path alongside the forest, and soon the frozen lake was in sight.
The solid ice reflected the moon even more brightly than the snow had. Avianna could feel the magic.
They strapped on their ice-skates, and Lennon helped Avianna to her unsteady feet. She could tell he’d done this before—her prince was steady, graceful, and didn’t show any signs of falling.
Avianna, however, fell onto the ice the moment she’d attempted to stand.
She and Lennon laughed, and she tried to stand again. And again.
And in only a few minutes, she skated. Though not fully surefooted, she held her balance well and grew faster in her circuits over the lake’s solid surface.
Soon, they were weaving all over, spinning and jumping, and Avianna forgot her fear and uncertainty. She forgot how cold she was; instead, she felt alive and invigorated.
Lennon grabbed her hand, and for a long while they skated together.
“Let’s make some magic, my dear,” Lennon said.
“Okay!”
“Here’s a bargain, my princess. Whoever is first to make two laps wins, and the loser must kiss the winner’s skates.”
“Deal!” she yelled, and the moon seemed to gleam even brighter.
Avianna lost the game, slid to her knees and kissed her Prince’s feet with a giggle.
“Here’s a bargain: Who can jump the highest?”
“Who can do the most spins?”
“Who can jump the furthest?”
They went through each challenge, laughing all the way.
Avianna lost all the games, but she enjoyed every moment. During the latest round of kissing her true love’s skates, she marveled again at the moonlight shining on the lake. It reminded her of the Bethlehem Star in the Christmas story.
It gave her an idea.
“I know!” Avianna called. “Let’s sing a Christmas song.”
She skated over to her horse and retrieved the hymnal from its saddlebag.
Lennon skid up next to her, and together in the moonlight they sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
As they sang, more lights and images shone from the book and danced across the ice. The pictures showed Mary and Joseph walking through Bethlehem and finding the stable and the manger within, but it also showed an incredible, vivid duel between light and darkness—hope versus fear.
Avianna and Lennon sang, “…the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
The moon seemed to explode in magical white light.
Avianna blinked a few times as the lunar rays narrowed into a spotlight.
The spotlight flashed unsteadily, but held, as if just for them.
Avianna touched Lennon on the chest. “My love, the magic is giving us a clue! The Christmas magic is cutting through the enchantment.”
He pointed at the spotlight. “It’s leading us somewhere, just like it led the wisemen. Let’s go!”
They skated across the lake and jumped into the snowbank on the other side. The snow was thick enough that they didn’t even remove their skates. They plowed through and hiked toward the spotlight until they found a cave in the side of a hill.
The top of the cave’s mouth had icicle teeth. As they got closer, they could see the remains of old footprints heading toward the castle.
Avianna leaned in and could see the remains of a camp.
“Someone was staying here,” said Lennon.
Hay had been bundled into the shape of a small bed, and clothing and blankets were strewn about.
Several meters behind them, there was a low growl.
They turned to see a giant brown bear, more than five meters tall.
It bared its teeth and charged the cave.
“To the lake!” called Lennon, and they dashed away, holding hands.
The bounding bear slipped and tumbled past them into the cave, but as they hiked over their skate prints back towards the ice, they could hear it pursue them.
They sprawled onto the ice just in time, sliding a few meters before the bear jumped onto the lake after them. It immediately slipped. The bear used its claws to stand and balance on all fours, and it growled again, glowing red eyes on the prince and princess.
“Look!” said Lennon, pointing at the bear. There was an arrow jutting out of its back with a piece of paper tied to it.
“Someone shot it?”
It started towards them again, but once Lennon helped her up, they were faster on skates than the bear was on clawed paws.
“We need to get to the horses!” Avianna said.
“You get to yours. I’m going to try something.”
Lennon spun and gracefully charged the bear. He angled around just out of the beast’s grasp, and it tried to follow him. It growled and slashed at the prince with its claws.
Avianna focused on her escape. “Trust him, Avianna, you need to trust him.”
She didn’t like going to her horse first, but she knew he was a much more experienced skater, and she’d never faced a bear before, let alone one so enormous.
Avianna got to the snow, removed her skates, and mounted her horse. She looked toward Lennon to see if he needed help.
He circled the beast over and over again, and it dropped to its stomach, dizzy.
When it dropped, Lennon swooped in close and grabbed the arrow.
The beast cried in pain, but in a matter of seconds, Lennon closed the distance and crashed into the snow next to his horse.
He took the paper off the arrow and started to read.
“Lennon! Get on your horse! We can read it later!”
The distant chime of the castle’s clock tower rang.
“We don’t have time, my dear. We’re about to be in bed.”
“But the bear!”
“Look at it!”
She looked at the bear, and it was dead. And the corpse was about half the size of the beast that had attacked them.
“The note,” Lennon said. “It’s the Bargainer. He made a deal with the bear to protect his hideout. In return, he magically doubled its size.”
“How does a bear agree to a bargain?”
“The arrow sealed it in blood. The point is this: The Bargainer was here. We know where to find him in the morning. I’ll see you there. Look for me at the Lady’s Ride. I love you.”
As he said it, the twelfth chime echoed from the tower, and Avianna was whisked back to her quarters, Christmas starting new for the ninth time.
“I love you too,” she whispered from her bed before falling asleep.
Day Nine
A high, cheery voice broke Princess Avianna’s slumber.
“Merry Christmas!”
Curled into her sheets and blankets, she twisted away from the sound.
Just a few more minutes…
“Come on, Princess. It’s Christmas. Time to rise.”
Avianna’s eyes shot open.
The Bargainer. We know where to find him!
She jumped out of bed and dressed in her riding clothes faster than normal.
“Someone’s excited for the Lady’s Ride,” Mora said while she helped.
“It’s tradition!”
“Come, let’s get you to the stables. Maybe you’ll arrive before the Queen Mother.”
“Mora, would you be able to send someone for my dagger? It should be locked away in the armory.”
Mora gasped. “Why would you want such a thing?”
“I’m excited for the Lady’s Ride, but I’m nervous there’ll be wild beasts.”
Mora nodded and called the nearest maid to fetch the weapon and meet them at the stables.
Princess Avianna pushed their pace even faster, and she arrived at the stables sooner than half the ladies. She strapped the sheathed dagger to her belt and mounted her horse.
Lennon had said to look for her at the Lady’s Ride, and she knew exactly where to look.
The Lady’s Ride followed the same path it had taken every Christmas, and soon Avianna saw the frozen lake just beyond the path. She pulled on her reins at the edge of the path.
The Queen Mother would be calling her up soon to talk, and if Avianna disappeared, it would surely disrupt the ride. Still, this was a risk she needed to take.
She flicked the reins and led the horse into the snow and trotted about ten meters to the edge of the lake. The horse refused to step on the ice, but Avianna dismounted. She steadied herself and prepared to step onto the lake.
It won’t be that much harder without ice-skates. Just a little slower going.
Just as she lifted her leg to step onto the lake, she heard Lennon’s voice.
“Avianna! Wait!”
She turned to see Prince Lennon on a fast, black horse emerging from the trees and racing through the snow. He pulled up next to her and extended his hand.
“Ride with me, my love!”
Using his arm, she mounted the horse and sat behind the prince. They left her horse behind and skirted around the lake.
Avianna leaned to the prince’s ear. “Did you find the Bargainer yet?”
“No, but I did bring help!”
As they rounded the lake, they came to a rise. They were at least fifty meters west of the cave, and between them and the cave was a group of more than forty horsemen.
Avianna gasped. “How did you…”
Lennon pulled the horse to a slow trot as he approached the men. “Princess Avianna, meet the men of the Boar Hunt.”
“You convinced them to abandon tradition?”
He turned his head towards Avianna. “It wasn’t hard, once they heard they could ride a horse and hunt a villain more important than some pig.” He faced the men. “Our prey is extremely dangerous, but he must be taken alive. If he’s in the cave, we block all paths for escape, and we detain him. If he isn’t, we need to track him. He cannot be lost. The fate of the kingdom may depend on this hunt!”
Avianna leaned around Lennon and shouted, “Also, he might be guarded by a giant bear. Watch out.”
Some of the horsemen had spears, and others had bows and arrows. They rallied together at Lennon’s leading, charging the cave. As they approached, they fanned around the cave in a crescent formation.
Avianna looked for fresh footprints, but couldn’t see anything.
Lennon drew a sword, and Avianna took his cue and drew her dagger.
“Bargainer!” Prince Lennon yelled. “Show yourself.”
The bear emerged from the cave with a roar. It bared its teeth as the horsemen loosed a barrage of arrows. It recoiled for only a moment and charged one of the hunters. Many arrows stuck out of its back, including the one she and Lennon had seen last night.
It slashed its claws at the hunter's horse, and the horse reared back with a frightened neigh.
The hunter pulled the horse back, but the bear continued to advance.
Remembering last night, Avianna yelled, “Don’t shoot! Pull the magic arrow!”
The horsemen adjacent to the attacked hunter pushed their mounts close to the bear’s back. As the bear continued its forward assault, the men behind it reached from their horses and frantically pulled arrows loose from its back.
The bear swung around and backhanded one of the hunters, who flew through the air and landed in a mound of powdered snow. It growled at the other hunter who’d been plucking arrows, surged forward, jaws and claws ready to rip the man to shreds. The first man he’d attacked took the distraction to pull out the arrow with the scroll tied around it.
The bear collapsed and magically shrank to half its size. Dead.
The hunters gathered close to examine the corpse and confirm its fatality.
“Wait,” called Avianna, but it was too late. Just as the hunters surrounded the bear’s body, a white horse with a cloaked rider galloped out of the cave, through the snow, away from the hunters.
Lennon, with Avianna still on his back, was several meters from the bear. He immediately turned their horse and led the chase.
He pressed the horse harder than she’d thought possible through the snowy terrain and started closing the distance as they weaved between trees, ascended hills, and leapt across small, frozen streams.
After several minutes, the chase followed a game trail that led back to the King’s Road.
The castle loomed over them as they approached the wall’s main gate. As Lennon charged, he stretched his sword as forward as possible, looking for any chance to strike at the Bargainer.
Suddenly, the Bargainer pulled his horse to a stop. Lennon saw movement around them, and he could see soldiers nocking their arrows. He pulled on the reins just in time as the king’s soldiers surrounded both Lennon and Avianna and the Bargainer.
The lead soldier yelled, “Freeze in the name of the king!”
The Bargainer raised his hands. “Please don’t hurt me!”
Avianna thought she recognized the voice, but she wasn’t sure.
He continued, “I was out for a Christmas horseback ride when these vagrants started chasing me with weapons!”
The nearest soldier sheathed his sword and approached the Bargainer, and helped him off his horse.
“Arrest that man!” yelled Lennon.
The man removed his hood, and Avianna recognized him. He had strong, almost square edges, and uneven wrinkles betrayed his young, gentle smile.
“Johnwin the Clockmaker?”
Johnwin looked at Avianna and Lennon and gave them a wink.
“No,” said Lennon, “he’s the Bargainer! This is the man I made the deal with. He’s threatening the kingdom!”
The lead soldier approached Lennon, his sword still drawn. “Sir Johnwin of Sellendo is a distinguished guest. Our orders are to detain anyone who threatens him.”
“Distinguished guest?” Lennon asked.
Avianna said, “I’m afraid the soldiers are right, my dear. The king hired Sir Johnwin to build and maintain the new clocktower. He arrived a few months ago. Anyone who’s been here in that time knows his face.”
“No, no, this is a villain! He’s deceiving you all!”
The soldier stepped even closer. “Prince Lennon, I need you to dismount your horse.”
“This man has put you all in danger. The whole kingdom is under his enchantment.”
The lead soldier shook his head.
Avianna said, “Lennon, please do what he says. We have no choice.”
Lennon dismounted in a huff, and the soldiers escorted him to the castle dungeons.
Left standing with Prince Lennon’s horse in front of the entry gate, Avianna considered her next course of action. How could she get Lennon released from the dungeons? How could they confront Johnwin for his treachery?
First, she took the horse back to the stables. The stableboy was very confused when she returned with a different horse than she’d left with earlier, but nobody argues with a princess…for too long.
After that, she wound her way through the castle hallways towards her father’s quarters.
Though she didn’t want to admit it, she knew she needed the king’s help to sort things out. She hoped she could catch him before he left for Christ Mass.
Princess Avianna found her father’s private sitting room at the entrance to his personal quarters, and she waited there only a few minutes before he emerged, wearing his kingly red-and-purple robes.
“My daughter, what is this?” He looked at her and furrowed his brow. “Are you going to Mass in your riding clothes?”
Avianna smiled. “I might have to go to Mass like this, but that’s not why I’m here. I have something urgent to speak with you about.”
He sat on a chair across from where Avianna stood. “You may proceed.”
She sat on the edge of a velvet-covered chaise and continued. “Father, I have good reason to believe Johnwin the Clockmaker is treacherous. Prince Lennon tried to detain him, but our knights intervened, due to your orders regarding Johnwin’s protected status.”
“Lennon has returned? And his first act upon returning to this castle is to threaten our Clockmaker?”
“Father, there is an enchantment upon the kingdom. Johnwin isn’t who he claims to be. He’s called the Bargainer, and he uses magic to make agreements.”
“That’s a serious accusation. If our kingdom is enchanted, none of us would know, including yourself.”
“My memory was part of the agreement. Everyone else loses their memory every morning, and Christmas Day starts over again. Actually, Lennon remembers now too, but nobody else.”
“What does Prince Lennon have to do with this?”
“Well…he made a deal with the Bargainer…regarding his next proposal attempt. The Bargainer took advantage and now has the kingdom repeating Christmas.”
The king shook his head. “Avianna, my dear, it sounds like you believe every word you’re saying, but none of it makes sense to me. If Johnwin is indeed this so-called Bargainer, it still would give him no right to create an enchantment over the entire kingdom.”
“But Father, it’s true! Father Gryffan believes me, and I’ve had to tell him anew every day.”
I’m sure Father Gryffan has good intentions. I know as well as anyone that he’s a good listener. I still don’t see why a malicious magician would involve himself in something as petty as a proposal.”
“It’s not petty, and you know it. Johnwin convinced Lennon that you’d never agree to his proposal without some magical help. He made the agreement so each new day of Christmas Lennon would have another chance to convince you to change your mind.”
“And the way he chooses to convince me is by getting thrown into the dungeon?”
“Father, please release him. Johnwin is the villain here, not Lennon.”
“Lennon must be keeping the truth from you. I’m further from changing my mind than ever. He cannot be trusted.”
“Father, you’re not hearing me. I’ve been living Christmas, this Christmas Day, over and over again. Today is the ninth day of Christmas. That’s not something Lennon could do by himself.”
“My daughter, any one of us can use magic. It just requires some training and experience. Your Prince Lennon certainly has motivation to sabotage the kingdom, if only to retaliate against me for last year’s embarrassment. He’s probably deceiving you.”
Avianna stood in frustration. “When have I ever proven myself gullible? When did I ever prove to you that you couldn’t trust me?”
“It’s not about you, Avianna. You need to trust me.”
“How can I trust you, when you continue to refuse my true love’s dowry every single day. He loves me, Father, and I love him. You told me you cared about love, but obviously you lie.”
“Don’t speak on things you don’t understand, girl.”
“I know the gift you’re giving me tonight. I know how loving and thoughtful you think it is, but all I want is to marry the man I love. He cares for me, Father. We work well together. We’re just as good together as you and Mom were.”
“Don’t say such things.”
“I allowed myself to fall for Lennon—I let him pursue me when I could’ve pushed him away—all because I was following your advice. And you reject him every single time because you already took all his riches.”
“Christmas has only happened once, and I’ve only rejected him once, but yes, I’ll do it again.”
“Because he’s poor?!”
“Enough!”
The word hung in the air, tension thick. Both stayed silent for a few more moments.
Finally, the king spoke. “You need to trust me, Avianna.”
“I can’t trust you when you won’t listen to me. The kingdom is in danger, and it just so happens my proposal is the only way it can be saved.”
“How convenient for you. Can’t you see his manipulation?”
“Don’t you ever accuse Lennon of such things. You don’t know him.”
“I know where he came from. His parents’ former kingdom was a thorn in Nestardon’s side for decades. The innocent Duke and Duchess come from a long line of traitors and opportunists. What am I supposed to think when right after they finally surrender their kingdom, their son happens to court my daughter? Am I supposed to not be alarmed that this boy wants my throne?”
“Lennon’s not like that. He loves me, Father. Truly, madly, deeply.”
Avianna heard a knock on the door. Both she and the king turned towards the sound.
“Yes,” said King Caledon.
“Your Majesty,” came a servant’s voice. “Christ Mass is about to begin. You are needed in the basilica.”
“Indeed,” said the king. He looked at Avianna. “Walk with me. We will finish this discussion later.”
She obeyed, and they walked in silence all the way to their seats inside the Sanctuary.
Avianna sat through the entire Mass worried for Prince Lennon. As they prayed and sang, she also prayed for him. At the end of Mass, she worried her Father might make her accompany him the rest of the day. She requested leave to speak with Father Gryffan, and the king allowed it.
She shared everything with Father Gryffan, and as usual, he believed her, and their conversation made her feel safe and confident.
After their talk, she took the hymnal again and moved on to greet the arriving guests.
Now that she knew who to look for, Avianna kept a watchful eye, searching for Johnwin.
She thought back to when he’d first arrived in Nestardon in the late summer. King Caledon had commissioned the clock tower’s construction in the spring, but Johnwin arrived by boat from a faraway land to create the mechanical marvel that would propel their kingdom to its next era of advancement and prosperity.
Strong and charming, most nobles and merchants accepted Johnwin as a welcome addition to court life. Had he already made his deal with Prince Lennon before he’d arrived? Did he leave at some point to strike a bargain and then return?
Avianna could not remember either way, but she intended to ask him those things and more if he ever showed his face again.
She listened more to the gossip surrounding the clock tower with different ears this time, but no new clues were manifest in the nobility’s chattering.
As the day continued, she worried even more about Lennon, and she grew even more angry that her father continued to let Lennon be unjustly detained on Christmas.
The feast drew near, and soon a new piece of gossip spread through the merry-makers that Avianna did not expect.
“The Boar Hunt was successful! The kitchens are preparing the boar’s head!”
She didn’t believe it at first. How could the Boar Hunt have been successful when Lennon took all the hunters to the frozen lake this morning?
It turned out, one man had arrived late to the hunt and found nobody there. He hunted the boar on his own, and without a stampede of hunters hunting all at once, he’d been able to actually sneak up on a wild boar and kill it.
The minstrels started on the “Boar’s Head Carol,” and Avianna knew they’d be returning to that song all through the night.
As they sang the first round of the carol, Avianna noticed the hymnal glowing.
She sang with all her might, and joined the others near the food tables, looking for when the boar’s head would actually be served. Avianna didn’t eat any, but she cheered the delicacy with as much fervor as everyone else.
As the feast started to transition into more dancing, Princess Avianna realized there wasn’t much time until the Giving of Gifts. Even if Father refuses, Lennon needs to be there.
She balanced a plate on the hymnal and walked down to the dungeons.
Prince Lennon sat in a cell, locked behind bars. His hands and feet were shackled to the wall with heavy chains.
Two soldiers guarded the cell, and they drew their swords at Avianna’s approach.
“You dare brandish your weapons at the princess?”
The knights blushed, withdrew their swords, and talked over each other, attempting to apologize, but Avianna cut them off.
“What is this? A prince of this kingdom shackled like a criminal?”
One soldier said, “Sorry, Princess, we’re just following orders.”
The other said, “We were told he threatened a protected citizen.”
“It’s Christmas! Can I at least sing him a song?”
They didn’t object, so Avianna passed the food through the bars, opened the hymnal, and started to sing while Lennon ate his food.
She sang “O Holy Night,” and as she did, the hymnal glowed, and the stone walls began to shake.
Avianna began the second verse. The shaking intensified.
“Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall he break—”
At that line, the shackles snapped off Lennon’s wrists and ankles.
She continued,
“—for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease.”
The light from the hymnal shone brighter, and when it dimmed, the prison bars were gone, each dissolved into a pile of course, metallic dust.
The knight’s swords had also dissolved in the light.
They stammered and backed away from the princess and the hymnal.
Avianna smiled. Thank you, God. She said, “Come, Prince. You have some gifts to give.”
They left the confused soldiers in the dungeons and wound their way towards the King’s banquet hall.
Lennon stammered now, and Avianna embraced him.
He said, “The Lord knows, Christmas is the perfect time for miracles.”
She stood on her toes, bringing her face near his. She said, “This is just the beginning, my love. When Christmas finally ends, the magic won’t.” They kissed for a tender moment. Avianna continued,“You, however, need to get your servants and get in position. I want to see what gifts you have for me today.”
They both laughed, and Lennon said, “Thank you for everything, my love. See you soon.”
Within a few minutes, Avianna was back inside, next to the dais, as her father commenced the Giving of Gifts.
The king gave Avianna her gift, but the note and the birdseed were missing from the box. She knew the conversation earlier had gone poorly, but she hadn’t realized how deeply it must’ve affected her father.
She still thanked him for the dress, and just as she gave her father a hug. She worked herself up to apologize, but her plan was interrupted when Lennon’s knock echoed across the room.
“Enter,” said the king.
Lennon and his servants filed in, and Lennon’s eyes were on fire.
He blinked, forced a smile, and bowed.
After bowing for a minute, he stood straight. “Dear King Caledon, I wish you a Merry Christmas. I’ve brought many gifts for you and your guests, but before the Giving of Gifts ends for this year, I have a public gift to offer.”
The king nodded, but Avianna also noticed his fists clenched. He spoke in a sharp staccato,“This is the time to offer public gifts. You may do so.”
“Princess Avianna. This gift is for you, to be opened in the presence of the entire kingdom.”
She stood beside her father.
“On this ninth day of Christmas…”
He winked, magic swirling through the hall.
“…I give to thee, nine ladies dancing, eight maids-a-milking, seven swans-a-swimming, six geese-a-laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three french hens, two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
The servants entered with the potted tree, the doves, the hens, the blackbirds, and the pillow with the five rings, the geese and swans on leashes. The maids also entered, but their cows remained outside. A new group of women also entered, each dressed in form-fitting, dark blue silk.
The minstrels played an upbeat song, and the ladies danced a well-choreographed routine.
During the routine, each lady stared at Avianna.
The crowd clapped at the end of the song, and Prince Lennon continued. “These dancers represent the dance by which we live our lives. Princess, I will dance with you through all the highs and lows that life brings.”
He smiled at her, and then he faced the king with a serious look.
The unspoken question hung in the air for what felt like forever.
“Prince Lennon, I thank thee. But my answer this Christmas remains the same as the last. Your gift is not enough for the hand of my daughter. You are denied.”
Avianna ran to Lennon, and they both exited the banquet hall without looking back.
Avianna said, “My love, we need to avoid the soldiers. Even with the damage the magic did to the dungeons, my father might send you back there. He was very defensive of the Clockmaker.”
“Indeed, but even if we run into soldiers, I know where we need to go.”
“You know where to find the Bargainer?”
“No, but if we go to the clock tower, I’m willing to bet he’ll meet us there.”
The logic didn’t track for Avianna, but she still led Lennon to the clock tower. It was built into the castle wall across the courtyard on the opposite end of the complex.
They ran over the snow and arrived at the clock tower. They found the wooden door ajar, and all the wall torches inside were already lit.
As they entered, Avianna said, “Careful, love. I don’t think we’re alone.”
He nodded and yelled, “Bargainer! Show yourself. I have a new agreement for you.”
His voice echoed. They could hear the wind from outside, but the mechanical ticking at the top of the tower dominated the room’s soundscape.
The room itself had a few tapestries, but was less ornate than the rest of the castle complex. In the middle of the floor was the base of a spiral, stone staircase.
“Bargainer!” he yelled again.
They stepped forward and looked up, but no movement betrayed any hint of anyone on the stairs.
Avianna and Lennon checked the bottom floor multiple times and decided to climb the stairs.
The stone stairs were a marvel—a single carved piece with no safety rails. They took each step intentionally, and as they rose, they continued looking for any sign of the Bargainer.
The ticking continued to grow louder the closer they got to the gears.
Avianna had been there before when the clock tower was new, but it was still a marvel to her. Such mechanical technology was foreign to most of the kingdom.
The groupings of gears got more numerous and more complex the closer they got to the top. The top opened to a large stone platform that they couldn’t see onto from their position.
Avianna touched Lennon’s shoulder. “What’s the plan, my love?”
He drew his sword, which he’d retrieved from one of his servants before the Giving of Gifts. “We just have to get up there. Whatever we find, we take it together.”
Avianna unsheathed her dagger. “Together.”
“I’ll go first, then you watch my back. If I get hurt, you need to run down and get help. Your safety is more important than mine.”
Avianna liked the sentiment, but she didn’t fully agree with Lennon’s attitude. Still, she nodded, knowing an argument would be fruitless. She was just grateful he let her come up with him. Many men would be less generous.
They climbed to the top platform, stood back-to-back, and circled for threats. Both Avianna and Lennon saw the Bargainer at the same time. He faced the clock, staring at the gears behind the clock hands. Tools, extra gears, and other unused clock pieces were scattered at his feet. Firelight from a fireplace at the opposite end of the room backlit the clock face, and that same light danced over the Bargainer.
He faced them and smiled.
“Greetings, Prince and Princess. Welcome to my masterpiece.”
They pointed their weapons at him. Lennon said, “Surrender, Bargainer. You will not escape.”
“This time, I will. Do you not know, good Prince, that the man who controls the time orders the future?”
Avianna said, “You have no authority here, Johnwin. Leave the kingdom, and never come back.”
“Oh Princess, you truly believe that will work. How quaint. I have every right to be here, and you have not the power to revoke it.”
Her stomach dropped.
Lennon yelled, “You will surrender, and you will revoke our deal. You will leave and never come back.”
The Bargainer laughed. “You can’t kill me, Prince. Not really. Do what you want. The day starts anew. Christmas again.”
He looked Avianna in the eye. “Are you tired yet of Mora waking you up the exact same way every morning, or is it entertaining?”
“Why are you doing this?” Avianna asked, trying to keep her voice even.
“You must know, it was more the prince’s idea than mine. He needed help. Twelve chances and some magical gift ideas. I’m a benevolent man with resources. You should be thanking me.”
Lennon said, “Thanking you? For tricking us into an endless Christmas?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I’m disappointed in your lack of faith. It’s only endless if you don’t succeed.”
Avianna said, “What do you gain from this? Why are you doing this to my kingdom?”
“The magic of Christmas, repeating eternally…what could go wrong? Maybe you’re asking the wrong question, Princess. I don’t want a never-ending Christmas. I want the magic of a never-ending Christmas. After day twelve, I won’t even need the bargain anymore. With the magic of the thirteenth Christmases converging on Epiphany, I’ll have all the magic I need to rule half this world.”
“You don’t have the right!” Avianna yelled.
“I assure you, Princess, I have every right. I have bargains you know nothing about.”
Prince Lennon said, “You can’t have any bargain if you’re dead!”
He swung his sword, and the Bargainer pulled a heavy, sword-length minute hand from behind his back, blocking Lennon’s swing. The minute hand wasn’t sharp, but it was strong.
Avianna said, “I thought it didn’t matter if you died. You’ll be alive in the morning.”
“It doesn’t mean I want the experience.”
The Bargainer pushed Lennon back with his hands on both sides of the minute hand, and swung another blow, Lennon jumping back. Lennon stabbed at the Bargainer, but he parried the attack.
The Bargainer said, “It doesn’t matter how this ends. We are all trapped, doomed to repeat the day. Over and over, until I win!”
Lennon pressed into another blow, and the struggle continued, back and forth. He called, “Avianna, get out of here!”
She saw the stairs descending through the floor, but she didn’t leave. Instead, she faced the clock. Johnwin’s specialty wrench was left on the central gear, and the gears in Avianna’s mind moved faster.
As the men fought, she zipped over to the central gear behind the backlit clock and turned it as fast as she could.
Magic rippled through the room and beyond. The men stopped fighting. The Bargainer yelled, “What are you doing?”
He ran at her with his minute hand, but before he could crash into Avianna, Lennon slashed at the Bargainer’s back, causing him to cry out and lose balance.
Avianna kept forcing the gears faster until finally the clock struck midnight.
It chimed the first tone even louder than Avianna expected, and the whole room vibrated.
The Bargainer started to stand, but Avianna used the wrench to force the clock one more minute forward.
When she did, they all vanished, and Avianna realized she was in bed, at the beginning of a new Christmas.
