Paper Crowns

By Mirriam Elin Neal

Ginger has lived in seclusion, with only her aunt and her telepathic blue cat to keep her company. Her peaceful, sheltered life is turned upside-down when her home is attacked by messengers from the world of fae. Accompanied by her cat (who may or may not be more than just a cat), an irascible wysling nam

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mirriam Neal
• Release date: Mar 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886273724

Book preview

Chapter One

M al! I ran down the stairs, my bare feet thumping on the wooden steps. I breezed through the kitchen and the sitting room and finally knocked on her bedroom door. Mal? I asked, peeking in.

The quilt was tucked neatly around her bed without so much as a wrinkle, and chattering birdsong came in through the open windows. Malgarel was not there.

Frowning, I walked back out to the kitchen and put my hands on my hips. Halcyon was curled up on the windowsill, his tail swinging lazily back and forth, back and forth, like a pendulum. Hal, have you seen Malgarel?

He opened his eyes just far enough to let me see the slivers of gold. She went out.

What for?

To pick blackberries, I believe.

Why didn’t she wake me up?

Because you were asleep, presumably.

Blast you, cat. Some help you are, I said, although I knew he didn’t care in the slightest what I thought of him. He never had. I’m going to help her, then.

He sighed and stood up, arching his back in a long, satisfying stretch. What are you doing? I asked, as he hopped off the windowsill onto the counter and made another calculated jump from the counter to the floor.

I might as well come along, he responded, trotting to the door. We wouldn’t want you getting lost in the wildwood, now, would we?

I haven’t ever gotten ‘lost in the wildwood,’ I said, miffed.

He turned his head to stare at me over his shoulder. What about the time you decided to go for a walk and were gone half the night? I had to go and find you, and I got a thorn in my paw for my trouble.

That was years ago, I protested. You can really hold a grudge.

I hope you get a thorn in your paw one of these days. You won’t be so flippant then, he retorted. He stretched his face toward the sun on the front step and let out a deep, thrumming purr.

I stepped past him, the grass cool and welcoming beneath my feet. Come on, I called, hurrying out of the small, trim yard and into the trees beyond. Last one to Aunt Mal’s a rotten egg!

How lovely. He raced past me, a blue blur in the shadows, and I caught up the white skirts of my dress and ran after him until my breath was gone and my heart hammered between my ribs. When I finally pulled up, unable to run any farther, Halcyon was nowhere to be seen.

Hal? I called between gasps.

He refused to show himself, even when I added, You won, okay?

There was no response. That cat, I panted, more to myself than him, wherever he was. Why can’t he ever stick around?

Speaking to someone?

Startled, I whirled around to face Malgarel. Her hazel eyes swept the clearing. Did Halcyon go off again?

We were racing, I said, although he won, so I don’t know why he disappeared this time.

Hmm. Well, I’m going back, she said, shifting the basket under her arm. It was full of ripe blackberries the size of thimbles. My stomach remembered it had missed breakfast and gave a quiet growl.

I’m going to pick some myself, I said, wincing as I put my foot down on a sharp twig. The soles of my feet were tough from a lifetime of running through the forest barefoot, but the minute I stood still they noticed every prick and thorn. I’ll be back in a few minutes.

Only if Hal is with you, she said sharply.

Mal, I began, but she cut me off with her I-will-not-argue-with-you-on-this-young-lady tone.

The woods are dangerous, and if you want to remain in them, you must be accompanied by Halcyon.

I had heard that line so many times I wondered why she bothered saying it anymore. Aside from the fact I tried to wriggle around it at least once a week. Yes, ma’am, I sighed, letting go of my skirts so I could curl my hands into fists behind my back. She began to walk away, but the imp in my mouth had to get in one last shot. Out of curiosity, at what age do you think I’ll be old enough to take a walk unaccompanied?

She never even faltered. Maybe when you learn to pay heed to things? She stepped over a log and disappeared behind a thick stand of birch trees.

I let out a suppressed shriek of frustration and kicked the trunk of an oak, but the shriek came out like the whistle of a teakettle and my throbbing foot did nothing to improve my temper.

That’s right, kick a tree. It might help.

I turned around and threw a stick at Halcyon, who lifted a paw and watched the stick sail over his head with vague disinterest. Where were you? I demanded.

Chasing a field mouse.

I snorted. You’ve never chased a mouse in your life, field or otherwise.

There is always, he said, licking his paw with his tiny pink tongue, a first time.

I sat down in the grass and stared at my feet until Halcyon picked his way over and stood a few inches from my leg, blinking slowly with his large eyes. Pouting doesn’t become you.

I just get so...fed up. I tore up two handfuls of grass and immediately regretted it, though I was not sure why. I let the decapitated stalks fall back to the ground and folded my hands, now stained with green, in my lap. When will she stop treating me like a child? I caught his eye before he could answer. And don’t say ‘when you stop behaving like one.’ I’m eighteen years old and I’ve never even had a friend. How am I supposed to live? Where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do?

The tip of his tail twitched, the only movement he made, and it took me several seconds to realize what I’d said. "I mean—you are my friend, Hal. It’s just...you aren’t..."

I understand.

I stretched out my hand and ran it over the top of his head. He pressed up against it but did not purr. He only watched and let me pet him and said nothing more.

Rain pattered against the window like a thousand tiny fists. I traced my finger in patterns along the glass, feeling a kind of wistful restlessness I hadn’t felt in a long time.

Malgarel knocked softly on my door even though it was open. May I come in?

Sure. I tucked my feet under the hem of my nightgown and scooted back farther on my bed, the wooden slats creaking.

She was tall, my aunt, tall and stern; but now, in her nightgown with her dark hair down around her shoulders, she looked less severe and more like the surrogate mother she really was. She had a ceramic mug of tea in each hand. Mine was white with maroon scrollwork around the letter G, for my name.

Malgarel had told me I was named Ginger for the cinnamon shade of my hair, but the only time she called me anything but Ginny was when she was upset with me.

Hal always called me by my full name except for very rare occasions when he called me Ginny, which had only happened twice.

I thought you might like some tea. She held out the mug, and I took it from her, warming my cold hands. She sat down next to me, staring down into her mug with a thoughtful expression.

I’m sorry for losing my temper earlier, I said, hoping she wouldn’t launch into an apology. For some reason, seeing my stately aunt admit to doing anything wrong made me uncomfortable. She had always been the one who held me while I cried and never cried herself, the one who watched me laugh and never did the same.

Relief washed through me when she said, I was going to ask...would you like to go to the city tomorrow? Without me?

I could tell the last two words had been difficult for her, but I was so astonished that, for a moment, it was all I could do not to spill tea all over my quilt. Really?

She nodded, and then her breath caught and she angled her body toward me just a little. I knew this pose. It was the ‘On One Condition’ pose. You have to take Halcyon with you, she said.

I glanced at the door, where the cat had just appeared and was rubbing his side on the low part of the doorframe. Did somebody say my name?

Taking a blue cat into the city would be a bit strange, but it was much better than not going. Do you want to go out with me tomorrow? I leaned around Mal to look at him.

His eyes went from my face to Malgarel’s and back to me. You’re going alone?

Not if you come with me, silly, I said. You can be my attack cat.

I know what I’m good for, he said, and hiked one of his shoulder blades up higher than the other. I’ll come on one condition.

What was it with people and conditions around here? What is it?

We’ll go get coffee, and you’ll order me a dark chocolate mocha.

I should have seen that one coming. Absolutely.

Very well, then. He yawned, his needle-like claws scratching along the ground. I suppose I can be persuaded.

He says he’ll come, I translated for Mal, who had never been able to hear Halcyon’s thoughts like I could.

She smiled at him. Good. Thank you. She wrapped her free arm around my shoulders and squeezed, whispering into my hair, You’re a good girl, Ginny.

I know, I said playfully, though I meant what I said next. I love you, too.

At the door, Hal sneezed. I just glared at him over Mal’s shoulder as he walked away, tail twitching.

It took me an hour to decide what to wear the next morning, not that I had many options. My entire wardrobe consisted of three skirts, five blouses, three dresses, a pair of jeans, and a warm, caramel-brown leather jacket. I opted for the jeans and a white blouse and pulled on my only pair of sandals. Wearing shoes always felt strange, but today my feet were glad to be placed in confines.

If you’re quite ready, said Hal, eying me from his perch on the windowsill. It’s almost nine o’clock.

I’m coming. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to turn the loopy waves into something manageable.

You look fine.

Just—one second, please? I asked, shooting him a look.

It doesn’t take me this long to get ready, he muttered.

You, I said pointedly, are a cat.

Once you finish stating the obvious and primping yourself, come downstairs. He hopped off the windowsill and padded from the room, his tail swinging low in annoyance.

Nag, I called after him, and smiled at his lack of response.

Now remember, don’t talk to strangers, don’t stop to give money to sad-looking people with cardboard signs, and for heaven’s sake, don’t speak out loud to me.

Are you going to be like this all day? I tried to keep my voice as low as possible. I knew speaking to a cat was less than ordinary, but I also figured, this was the city. People who talked to themselves weren’t all that unusual. I could get away with a little crazy.

Did you hear what I just said?

How do you expect me to communicate with you if I don’t talk? I glanced both ways before crossing the street. Hal trotted alongside, his eyes wide and alert. You’d have more fun if you weren’t so twitchy.

I am not twitchy. I am cautious. There is a difference.

Arguing with Hal was as pointless as running in place, so I gave up. Fine, then. I won’t talk to you. If you want me to do something, say so.

What a splendid plan. I wish I’d thought of it.

I decided not to let his grumpy mood dampen mine. The sky was gray, the air was warm, and Malgarel had given me thirty dollars to spend. That was enough to buy us each a drink and something extra—maybe two things, if I was thrifty.

Where to first? I wondered aloud, standing on the edge of the sidewalk. Both sides of the busy street stretched out on either side of me, open to endless possibilities.

What did we just finish discussing?

I was talking to myself, not you, I said, looking down at the cat as he placed his front paws on my foot. I want to go to Isabelle’s.

The art store?

Mmhmm. I lifted my foot a few inches off the ground, and he stepped off with a sniff. Is that all right with you?

Ginger, he said with affected weariness, I would follow you to the ends of the earth if you’d just stop talking to me.

I ignored his remark. Let’s take the double-decker and we can ride on top.

He glared up at me as I lifted him under my arm. He was sleek but large enough to be heavy. One of these days, he threatened.

I paid and boarded the next bus that stopped and wound my way up the stairs to the roof. I walked to the very back and sat down, Halcyon firmly in my lap. We watched as passengers boarded. Only one other person joined us on the roof, and she sat up near the front.

It’s a perfectly nice day, I mused aloud, playing with one of Hal’s twitching ears. I wonder why we’re the only ones who decided to sit up here.

It smells like rain.

If it starts raining, we’ll duck under cover as soon as possible.

He stiffened and sat as erect as possible, his ears pointing in both directions.

What is it? I asked, twisting in my seat as the bus picked up speed and the wind tugged at my hair.

He relaxed and leaned into me again, though his ears remained alert. Nothing.

We got off at the next stop and had just stepped inside Isabelle’s when rain began to sprinkle down, turning the gray streets an oily black. That was close, I said.

Told you.

I set him down on the thinly carpeted floor. Don’t knock anything over.

Hal did not deem that worthy of a response; he whisked around a bookshelf and was gone. The employees were used to seeing him on Fridays, and he was easy to tell apart from other, more destructive cats. Once a customer had even offered to buy him, saying he’d never seen a cat with blue fur before. I pretended to haggle with him just to prank Halcyon, who had scratched my ankle just hard enough to leave welts.

I wandered down the row of handmade journals, all overpriced but so gorgeous I knew even if I had the money to buy one, I would have trouble marring the pages with ink. They were too beautiful to write in.

Taking a deep breath, I filled my lungs with the scent of leather and paper. I knew I would buy what I always did here—two stacks of plastic-wrapped paper, one white and one in rainbow shades. I left the journals and moved to the more practical side of the store.

The pencils and the package of paper only cost nine dollars, so I set them on the counter and let the reedy blond guy at the counter ring me up, using one finger to type the numbers in on the keyboard. I had never used a computer before. I’d never felt the need to do so.

Here you go! He held out a brown plastic bag. He’d been working here once or twice before when Mal and I came in. His name tag said ‘Bob.‘

Could you double the bags? I asked. I don’t want the paper to break through.

Bob smiled behind his glasses. Sure thing. He pulled another bag over the first and handed it to me again. There you are!

Thank you. I gave him my friendliest smile and walked to the door. Hal, I called quietly, glancing behind the nearest shelf.

The cat wove his way around the heavy bronze bookends lined across the top of a shelf near the door. We stepped back out into the drizzly summer morning, and I said without much thought, Isn’t summer beautiful?

Yes, he said, and I was surprised by the depressed note in his voice.

What’s the matter? I asked, crouching down.

Nothing. Keep moving. He paced a few steps and turned to look at me. Are you coming, Ginger?

Cats were pessimistic creatures by nature, and when they were in one of their moods, impossible to reason with. I’m coming. Wait, I said, once I had caught up with him, you’re the one talking to me now.

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