Royal Twins Shalin & Esme ~ Book 4 a Map of the World

By Dory Lee Maske

Something is happening in the small village of Helsop. A trader has gone missing. While Esme waits to hear more from her friend Dag the Scout, her twin Shalin and mother Serafina arrive from Henge with an invitation.
Helsop is invited to a celebration in Henge. But there appears to be an ulterior motive behind the invitation – a plan to devise a new strategy to loosen the Great Khan’s hold over the trade routes of the world.

In this thirteenth year of the Royal Twins Chronicle, they will find themselves on another journey to Timbitu, this time with a caravan of camels trekking over the Atlas Mountains of Tangier and across the Great Sahara desert, buying salt to exchange for gold along the way.
Will Serafina find the volatile secret she seeks?
Will the twins discover the real reason their father has allowed them to go on this voyage?
The answers are here in Book Four: a Map of the World.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dory Lee Maske
• Release date: May 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463318560

Dory Lee Maske

I've always been a reader--loved fairy tales when I was young. I started writing when I had children of my own. My husband, Bob Maske, does all the art work for my stories. He did all the book covers and the animations that accompany each story.I try to keep at least half of my stories and books free and would love to receive feedback from my readers. You can contact me at [e-mail] or at [e-mail] Thanks to all you readers out there for your support.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Kingdom of Henge

Spring was in full bloom at the port city of Henge. With fair weather, ship travel increased and several trading vessels lay at anchor in Henge’s harbor.

Thirteen-year-old Shalin and her mother Serafina were in the library of Henge’s castle translating the markings on an ancient clay tablet, when Shalin’s father Prince Blackwell appeared at the open doorway.

Am I interrupting anything important? he asked.

Shalin was surprised to see him. He usually avoided coming anywhere near the library. She knew her father was proud of Serafina with her vast knowledge of science and sorcery, but she also knew that the secret knowledge found in books concerning the dark arts made him uncomfortable.

Nothing urgent, Serafina assured him. Please join us.

Shalin could read the same surprise she felt at her father’s appearance in her mother’s mind. Her mother knew her husband would not invade a space dedicated to the dark arts without good reason.

Prince Blackwell took a seat at the far end of the library’s only table, close to the door. He tried for a relaxed pose. We have news from Lieutenant Price at Bat Island, he began.

"I saw the Jungle Queen come into port this morning, Serafina said. I hoped she might be carrying a load of guano from Bat Island."

And she was, Prince Blackwell confirmed. A rather larger load then we had expected. I ordered our soldiers to begin construction of a new storage area to hold it all.

Is that the news you bring? Serafina asked.

No, not entirely. Prince Blackwell’s brow wrinkled into a thoughtful expression. There is a reason the load was larger than expected. Lieutenant Price reports that a few small boats from the tribe of one of our indentured servants arrived unexpectedly at Bat Island.

From Okoro’s tribe? Shalin blurted.

Prince Blackwell’s mouth fell open. Yes. How could you know that?

Shalin looked down at the table sheepishly. It is just that most of our indentures are from a common village – the remnant that survived after being conquered by a neighboring tribe. Only Okoro and his wife come from a different tribe, a tribe of fisher folk that we visited on our trip down the Eger River. His father was given permission by Mother to visit his son on Bat Island.

I see, Prince Blackwell said. Yes, I understand now how this situation has come about.

What is the situation? Serafina asked.

It seems the people in the boats wish to stay on the island. They offered to mine the guano along with the indentures already there in hopes that they too would be offered contracts of one sort or another.

Serafina’s expression turned dark. My orders were that no one was to be allowed on the island, other than Okoro’s family.

Yes, Lieutenant Price was aware of that rule. However, he allowed them to stay until a breeze picked up as they could not return without it in the doldrums.

And when the breeze came? Serafina tapped a finger nail on the table, waiting.

He delayed sending them away even then because they increased production. He thought he should ask if we might want to allow them to stay.

Does he foresee problems, should we allow it? Serafina asked.

He did not mention in his message that they are from a different tribe than most of those on the island, but he did say they are excellent fishermen and the entire group has been eating better since the newcomers arrived.

Serafina was silent for a moment, considering this new development, then began speaking slowly as though dredging up thoughts from a place deep within. We have more niter than we need, especially now that we have more hands to mine the caves of Bat Island. We had toyed with the idea of selling our excess exploding arrows and hand balls to ports around the Great Sea.

Serafina stopped speaking for a moment.

Shalin followed her mother’s thinking carefully and knew she was waiting for Prince Blackwell to put the pieces of her argument together in his own mind.

Prince Blackwell nodded slowly before speaking. With our newly discovered source of rich iron ore and the possibility of increased shipments of niter, perhaps it is time to put into action our strategy to weaken the Great Khan’s influence. If our exploding weapons free the ports of the world from pirate attacks, the Great Khan’s monopoly of overland trade will cease to be the safer alternative to shipping.

Shalin read her father’s mind as he imagined such a plan unfolding successfully over time. The Great Khan’s hold on the world would loosen and his dominions begin to crumble. The idea pleased her father.

It is time to invite King Geoffrey of Fernland and Dagon of Helsop to Henge for a meeting, Blackwell stated.

It would need to be a secret meeting, Serafina warned. If any word of our plan should reach the ear of the Great Khan, he would turn his armies away from China and toward us here in the west.

Yes, we must be very careful to keep that from happening, Blackwell agreed.

You could invite Fernland and Helsop to the hundredth anniversary of the founding of Henge’s army, Shalin suggested.

The what? Prince Blackwell asked.

Remember? Shalin continued. Last year when Queen Delphinia asked why you were going to the Great Sea to get fire flowers, you said you needed them to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Henge’s army. She is likely still waiting for an invitation to that fictitious event.

Serafina laughed. You are correct. She would be waiting for just such a missive. And so might Dagon be, if Delphinia mentioned it to Electra.

Prince Blackwell nodded. Yes, we will send out invitations that read just so. He looked at Serafina. Do you think you could re-create the ingredients of the fire flower canisters? It would add a festive air if we were able to have a few burst into stars above our harbor. He swallowed. Although I do not like to recall that night in Constantinople when our ship was destroyed by our cargo of exploding fire flowers.

Serafina nodded sympathetically. Yes, it was a great setback for us in our plan to thwart King Gundar’s attempt at independence. But that approach failed. This new tactic has a greater chance of success, I believe. It is a long term strategy that will go unnoticed until the damage to the Great Khan’s empire is too vast to combat. Serafina’s eyes gazed out at a future she saw in her mind, before bringing her focus back to her husband. As to your question about making our own fire flowers – yes, I could certainly do that. It is a project that I will undertake with enthusiasm.

Prince Blackwell rubbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger. We will bring Phinn and his acting troupe back to Henge for the celebration. He has been in Fernland long enough. Father mourns his absence from the castle and truth be told, so do I.

I miss him, too, Shalin said. I would have stayed longer with the acting troupe in Fernland, had I not grown homesick for Henge.

Prince Blackwell smiled at his daughter. I know you miss your Uncle Phinn. I shall order him back to Henge forthwith. He turned to his wife. Shall we set the date of our hundred year celebration for a fortnight from now? Will that give you enough time to construct your fire flowers?

Yes, more than enough time. I should like to go to Helsop to invite Electra and Dagon in person. I wish to see how Esme is faring while I am there. Perhaps Shalin and I could leave tomorrow for Helsop?

Blackwell nodded. That should be fine. Shalin could see he was remembering why he had come to the library in the first place. Shall I send word then to Lieutenant Price that the interlopers be allowed to stay on Bat Island?"

Yes, Serafina said. But we will not pay them an indenture price. I imagine they are seeking a place to hide from the ivory merchants. Tell them they may stay on the island and eat our fish for as long as they mine guano alongside our workers. But they are also free to leave at any time.

Chapter 2

Village of Helsop

A single candle glowed in the nighttime darkness of Helsop’s medical clinic. From within came the sound of a softly sung lullaby.

Esme sat on a cot, with the newborn against her chest, warming the infant with her body. The baby girl was small, born a month too soon. Her mother lay sleeping on a neighboring cot.

Esme’s cousin Electra, head of Helsop’s school of medicine, had brought both mother and child to the clinic before dawn after a difficult birth. She had roused Esme from a deep sleep, asking her to stay with them while she rested.

Esme tried to keep the infant girl warm and quiet while the child’s mother got the rest she needed to recover. She knew Electra would take over for her as soon as she caught up on her own sleep.

Hearing horses approaching, Esme walked to the door of the clinic where the rising sun colored the eastern sky. Three horses came to a halt at the door to the clinic. Esme was surprised to see her friend Dag and his mentor, Maki the Scout, atop two of the horses. The third horse held a body draped over the saddle. Dag’s dog Fang panted alongside, tired from keeping up with the horses.

He is not dead, only unconscious, Dag said before Esme could ask the question.

Bring him in quietly, Esme whispered. We have a patient here who needs her sleep.

The two men brought the unconscious man into the clinic quietly and laid him on a cot near the door.

Esme placed the sleeping infant in a cradle beside her mother’s bed and hurried over with blankets for her new patient.

Help me to get him undressed, Esme ordered in a soft voice. We need to check for other injuries.

While Dag and Maki removed the man’s boots and outer clothing, Esme brought a candle closer in the dark clinic to check for bruises or broken bones.

Dag dropped the man’s shirt and britches on the floor by the cot as Maki the Scout lifted the man’s belt over his own shoulder.

Did you find injuries? Maki whispered to Esme.

Only a lump on the back of his head, Esme answered.

Maki gestured toward the door and the three walked outside.

What happened to him? Esme asked, closing the door behind her.

We don’t know, Maki said. But it looks as though he was attacked from behind. He raised the man’s belt from his shoulder with both hands and nudged Dag with his elbow. Have a feel of this.

Dag took the belt from Maki and his eyes opened wide with surprise. A money belt? he asked.

Must be to be that heavy, Maki stated. He began to pick at the seams of the leather belt with a knife and a bright glint of gold showed through the severed threads. Whoever attacked him may have thought he carried money but did not find it.

Where did you find the man? Esme asked.

On the riverbank, close to Ice Water Falls, Maki said, as he headed for his horse. You stay here, Dag, in case the man wakes up. I need to go and report all this to Headman Dagon.

As Maki the Scout rode off, Esme turned to face her friend Dag. Dag was only a year and a bit older than she was, fifteen to her own thirteen and three quarters’ years, but in the last year he had grown tall and broad in the shoulders. He had the body of a man now and his voice had deepened. Tell me everything, Esme demanded.

Dag shrugged. His friends arrived in Helsop late last night. They said they were traders, come all the way from North Africa. They had heard about our new high quality swords and been sent to requisition some for their king’s army.

Esme held up her index finger. Wait right here. I just need to be sure the baby is still asleep.

Esme returned a minute later, swaying with the baby to quiet her. Her mother needs to sleep. Please continue.

This man went missing when he wandered away from their campsite late last night. The others took torches to try to find him but they could not locate him in the dark. When they gave up looking, they decided to continue on to Helsop by torchlight to report his absence to our militia.

How did you locate him? Esme asked.

Fang followed his scent, Dag said proudly.

Esme looked down at the mixed-shepherd dog. She seemed to have recovered from her long run. Good dog, she said. With the baby still tight against her shoulder, she bent down to ruffle the dog’s fur.

Do you think it was one of the man’s own group of traders who attacked him? she asked.

I can’t imagine who else would have been out near the falls late at night, unless it was someone who had been secretly following their group, waiting for a chance to attack.

How do you plan to find the culprit? Esme asked.

We’ll return to where we found him, to look for boot prints and try to match them up with someone, Dag said.

Let us go to see if he is awake yet, Esme said. Mayhap he will know who attacked him.

Esme, the newborn, Dag and Fang returned quietly to the new patient’s bedside.

Can you hold the baby while I check his eyes? Esme asked.

No, Dag said, too loudly. I don’t know anything about babies.

Esme gave an exasperated huff. They are only small people, she chided. Never mind. She is sleeping quite soundly. I will put her back in the cradle.

Esme returned with a cold wet cloth to cover the lump on the new patient’s head. She lifted each eyelid to check for dilation of his pupils. I could give him some smelling salts that might rouse him, but I would like to wait until Electra can check him over before I do that. He may have a concussion or brain swelling.

Do you want me to fetch her? Dag asked.

No, Esme said. She was up most of the night delivering the new baby. She is exhausted.

I could get my mother, Dag offered.

Dag’s mother Isa was one of the head teachers at the school of medicine. She had many more years of experience than Esme.

Yes, that is probably a good idea. Do you think she will be awake?

Yes, she is always up at dawn, Dag said. She knows I went out with Maki very early this morning and likely has been up for a while, anxious for news.

All right then. I will watch over him until you return.

Soon after Dag left, Maki returned with Dagon—Helsop’s headman and husband to Electra. Has he regained consciousness? Dagon asked as he looked down on the silent North African trader.

No, I have asked Dag to fetch Isa. She will know if it is safe to give him smelling salts.

Dagon turned toward the other occupied cot. Who is your other patient?

That is Nelda, Esme said. Her baby came early.

I knew Electra was called out for a birth, he said. Will Nelda recover?

Esme nodded slowly. Yes, I think so. It was a difficult birth.

Dagon walked down beside Nelda’s cot and peered in at the cradle. And the baby?

She is premature, but we are hopeful, Esme said.

Dagon touched the sleeping infant’s downy hair. Thank you for your service to Helsop, he said, and smiled at Esme.

Esme blushed. It is nothing. I am only a student as yet, with much to learn.

Chapter 3

Village of Helsop

Esme was sitting next to Nelda’s cot, spooning fish broth into her patient’s mouth when Isa came through the door of the clinic and stopped at the cot of the unconscious man.

Has there been any change? Isa asked. Dag said this man was not conscious when they found him.

No change, Esme replied. I decided to do nothing until you or Electra looked him over.

Isa checked the man’s eyes, respiration and heart rate. I see no signs of distress, she said before moving on to greet Nelda.

Looking down at the infant in the cradle beside the bed, Isa said, Nelda, you have a lovely baby daughter. Are you feeling stronger?

Nelda nodded. I was able to sleep, thanks to Esme, Nelda said. And the broth is helping.

Isa lifted the child from the cradle and checked her reflexes and her breathing. We can keep the baby here at the clinic for a few days if you like.

No, I will take her home. My eldest is nine years old. She can help until I have my strength back.

Rest here for the morning, she said. Electra will want to see you and your baby before you leave.

Where is Dag? Esme asked Isa.

He and Maki have gone back to the falls to check the tracks now that the sun is up. They will be able to discover more about what happened there.

Esme held the bowl to Nelda’s lips as the new mother finished off the broth.

Do you want to hold your baby? Esme asked. She is awake now.

Yes, please. I need to see her face to know if the name Elsa will fit. Elsa was my grandmother’s name.

Esme smiled as she handed over the baby. She looks very much like an Elsa to me.

Nelda smiled as she gazed at her daughter and said, "Yes, I agree.

Esme stood and walked with Isa down to the trader’s cot. Do we dare use smelling salts to try to rouse him? she asked.

Better to let him wake when his body is ready, Isa advised. Losing consciousness is a different thing than fainting.

Just then Electra walked through the door of the clinic, appearing rested and happy. How is our new – Her voice cut off as she glimpsed the unconscious trader. Who is this? I was not told we had a new patient. What happened?

Esme brought Electra up to date on the predawn events.

So Maki believes he was assaulted? Electra asked.

Isa took up the story. Dag and Maki have returned to the falls where the man was found. Fang was able to sniff out his location even in the dark. They will know more in the light of day when they can read the tracks.

Does Dagon know about this? Electra asked.

Esme nodded. He came just before dawn to see the man, and pay his respects to Nelda and Elsa.

Elsa, is it? Electra moved on to where Nelda lay, nursing her child. You have already decided on a name?

Yes, she is named for her grandmother, Nelda said. Grandmother Elsa was said to be a beauty in her youth.

Quite appropriate, Electra said. How are you feeling?

As though I should be home and not taking up a cot in your clinic, Nelda said.

Wait until after lunch. We will have something sent over from the mess tent. Electra took the drowsy infant and held it to her shoulder.

The distant sound of a galloping horse grew louder and came to an abrupt stop outside the door of the clinic.

They all looked up as Dag and Fang came through the door of the clinic. Dag was smiling.

What have you found? Electra asked.

There was no assault, Dag said. The tracks told the story. The man merely lost his footing going down a slippery bank to fill his canteen at the river. He fell backwards and hit his head on a rock. There was blood left on the rock.

Does Dagon know? Electra asked.

Maki rode on to make his official report to Dagon. I thought I would stop here and let you know. He looked down at the unconscious man. We learned from his companions that his name is Mahmet. He has come all the way from Tripoli to buy swords here. Do you think he will be all right?

Very likely, Electra said, though he may not remember what happened to him.

He will be happy to know his money belt is safe. Dagon is keeping it at militia headquarters.

Good work Dag, Electra said. You should go and get some sleep now. She looked at Esme. You as well, Esme. Thank you for taking the night shift.

I think I will go over to the school and have some tea first, Esme said. Will you let me know if Mahmet regains consciousness?

Certainly, Electra said.

Esme and Dag walked out together. Would you like to join me? Esme asked as they headed for the school of medicine.

Dag shook his head. I need to catch up to Maki and see if he has any further need of me. Dagon will likely tell us both to grab breakfast at the mess tent and then take a nap.

Esme waved goodbye and continued on to the school’s kitchen where she heated a kettle of water for tea. She was just sitting down to enjoy the hot drink when she heard voices outside the school.

Let us try here first, a familiar voice said.

Esme’s mother and twin sister came through the door of the school of medicine and stopped abruptly when they saw Esme.

Esme! Shalin ran to hug her twin. Her mother was close behind.

After hugs, smiles and more cups