11. A No-Holds-Barred Game of Tag!

“Who could have guessed that Rohtas would turn the floor plans of the royal palace into a puzzle?”

“No one, I’m sure.”

“Right?!”

I was telling Mr. Fisalis all about how I’d spent the afternoon solving mazes, only for Rohtas to drop the bomb that they’d been the floor plans for the manor and the royal palace all along. I mean, using the super-duper top secret palace blueprint for a game? The Fisalis servants were something else!

“He just, like, handed me this sheet of paper! At a glance, it looked like your regular maze—just a bunch of boxes (or rooms, I guess) and the paths connecting them. I’d never really visualized the palace as anything but a three-dimensional space, so I didn’t make the connection.”

“That’s a fair point. A 2D model can give a completely different impression from the 3D version.”

“Exactly!”

Even the manor, which I’d been so sure I knew inside and out, had been unrecognizable in blueprint form. There was no chance I’d identify the royal palace, where I was only familiar with a few select areas.

“So how’d it go? Did you memorize the layout of the royal palace?”

“You better believe I did! I know its every nook and cranny, from the corridors down to the hidden passages!”

After how many puzzles I’d done with the map, it was only natural.

I threw out my non-existent chest, beaming with pride, only for Mr. Fisalis to turn around and compliment his butler. “Perfect. Nice work, Rohtas.”

“Thank you, Master Fisalis.”

“Wait...don’t tell me this whole game was your idea, Cercis?”

“No, I had nothing to do with it. Rohtas came up with the idea on his own.”

“I thought it might come in handy down the line.”

“And I must say I approve.”

“I’m honored to hear that.”

Now I see—it was all another part of Rohtas’s etiquette curriculum. That’s about what I expected.

“Now that you know the floor plan forwards and backwards, I can rest easy no matter what happens at the royal palace,” said Mr. Fisalis.

“Things don’t tend to happen at—hold on a second, Cercis! That was a pretty traumatic experience for me, I’ll have you know!”

“Sorry!” he rushed to apologize. And darn right he should’ve—I never wanted to play another game of tag in the royal palace again!

“Don’t remind me of that!”

“Look, I said I was sorry! Still, there’s no telling when you might get caught in some emergency situation there, right?”

“I guess you have a point. But memorizing the blueprint doesn’t mean I’ll know what to do when I’m there in person.”

2D and 3D were two different kettles of fish. I could find my way around a map, sure, but all the new factors in play when you were actually there (like the walls, pillars, etc.) were bound to throw me for a loop. Not to mention that the hidden doors were camouflaged so as not to be immediately apparent.

I envisioned the scenario with a groan.

“Don’t think about it too hard,” said Mr. Fisalis, all matter-of-fact. “Just picture the map in your head and move based on that information.”

He makes it sound so simple... Well, I guess that sort of thing is a part of his job.

“That’s easy for you to say—you’ve got actual training! I’ve never done anything like that before! Don’t assume we’re operating on the same level here.”

“It’s really not that hard... Here, for example: you’ve never gotten lost downtown, have you?”

“Of course not.”

I know my way around! I thought. Not that it was anything worth bragging about, really.

“What do you do when you go somewhere new?”

“I check the route on a map before I leave, and I don’t head out until I have a good idea of where I need to go. Once I’m there, I find my way around using buildings as landmarks.”

“It’s exactly like that. First you memorize the directions, right? And from there, you just have to recall the most distinctive features along the way.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

Explained in those terms, it was easy to visualize. Wow, is that really all there is to it?

“See? Anyway, here’s an idea: why not come take a look around our manor sometime so you can see for yourself?”

“Around the hidden passage and secret chamber, you mean? Am I allowed to see them?”

“Of course.”

“Yay! I can’t wait to see what they look like. Is it all dark and damp down there? Oh man, what if I find the skull of a servant who wandered down there and never found their way out?!”

“We don’t live in an adventure novel.”

“Oops. I was so excited that my imagination got away from me there.”

I’m going to explore the manor’s uncharted territory! Now I’m getting pumped. By the way, any chance I can see the hidden passages of the royal palace too?

* * *

It was one of Mr. Fisalis’s days off, sometime after I’d dabbled in the world of mazes. Normally he’d suggest the two of us go somewhere together, but unfortunately, he had such a huge backlog of paperwork that Rohtas had given him strict orders not to leave the house.

“Daddy’s got a lot of work to do, huh, Lettie?”

“Ptoo...”

“Let’s hope he finishes up soon.”

“Ga!”

“If he tries to blow it off, Rohtas’ll have his head.”

“Hee hee!”

“Ooh... She got a kick out of that one.”

While waiting for Mr. Fisalis to finish up his work, I was playing with Violet on the sofa in his study.

“I don’t mind if you two go for a walk while I’m busy,” he suggested, sounding so defeated he toed the line between pitiful and hilarious. I had to stop myself from giggling.

“It’s fine. Lettie wants you to come with us!”

“She does?”

“Yep. So we’ll wait until you’re done.”

“I’ll finish up on the double.”

Leveraging Violet was all it took to give Mr. Fisalis a kick in the pants these days. Unfortunately, he had an extra heavy workload on his hands today, so it wasn’t until after lunch—but still a little too early for afternoon tea—that he had completed the majority of it. Violet had grown fussy, bored of waiting around, so I had handed her off to Mimosa to go play with Daisy some time ago.

“I’ve taken care of what I needed to, but now it’s an awkward time of day. Too bad.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Mr. Fisalis and I were working together to sort the documents he’d just read and signed. It’d make things easier on Rohtas when he came to pick them up.

“It’s too late to go anywhere now, but I can’t say I’m in the mood for an early tea break.”

“Yeah...”

“And Lettie’s already asleep. So much for our walk.”

“She and Daisy were playing pretty hard.”

Tuckered out from all that fun, Violet was currently taking an afternoon nap with her friend.

Mr. Fisalis stood up and did a full-body stretch. “Man... I’m feeling stiff as a board after all those hours spent battling paperwork. I’m in the mood for some sword practice. Or maybe I’ll go running.”

Sword practice made sense, but “running”? What?

“Running where, exactly?”

“I don’t know—anywhere. The garden, perhaps?”

“That’ll get you in trouble with Bellis.”

“Good point.”

Going for a stroll was one thing, but racing through our beautifully manicured lawn was bound to wreck all his hard work. Though, uh...didn’t you sprint through it once before, Mr. Fisalis?

“Around the mansion, then?”

“That’ll get you in trouble with everyone else.”

“But aren’t you always running down the halls?”

“Not by choice! It’s a part of my training.”

Back before I got pregnant, in addition to my drills in swordsmanship and martial arts, I’d been forced to run around dressed to the nines as a part of my rainy day lessons(?). Yeah...that sure was a thing that happened.

“Then how about we play some tag? You know, as another part of your training.”

“The word ‘then’ is doing a lot of work in that sentence! Tag? Seriously?”

“Yeah. An all-out game of tag between me and you. Didn’t you say you wanted to see the secret chamber and such?”

“I did. So?”

“It’ll be a good opportunity for you to do some exploring.”

“What, now?! I thought you were going to show me around normally!”

“I wouldn’t mind doing things that way, but isn’t it more fun to make it into a game?”

“Okay, fair point!”

Adding a game into the mix would make it more exciting... Uh, hold on. I already learned through mazes just the other day! Does everyone think I’m an overgrown kid or what?!

Eh, oh well. Mr. Fisalis looks really into the idea; it couldn’t hurt to indulge him.

“Great, then it’s settled. I’ll be ‘it.’ We’ll play until tea time, and whoever loses has to obey one order from the winner. How’s that sound?” he proposed, a huge grin spread across his face. I was getting an awfully bad feeling about what would happen if I lost.

“Fine by me. No part of the manor is considered off-limits, right?”

“Of course not. Feel free to head behind the scenes or stay in plain sight. The only thing you’re not allowed to do is find a hiding place and run out the clock. The point of the game is to outrun me.”

“Why? Because staying in one place means I wouldn’t be familiarizing myself with the secret passage?”

“Exactly.”

“Hmm... That does sound fun.”

“Doesn’t it?”

This was all set to be a good example of learning-by-doing.

Ha! Now that I’ve learned about the secret chamber (and passage), I know everything there is to know about our mansion!

“You’re on!”

“Let’s get started, then. I’ll give you to the count of ten. One, two...”

“Already?! C’mon!”

Seeing as Mr. Fisalis had already begun his countdown, I rushed out of the study as fast as I could.

* * *

Since I was dressed in my casual wear that day, my shoes were low-heeled and easy to move in. My footwear wasn’t an issue—the problem was how long I was going to be running. Tea time wasn’t too far off, but spending the entire time on my feet was going to take a lot of stamina.

Considering how long it had been since my last rainy day lesson, my physical capabilities weren’t what they used to be. I hadn’t even realized what wonders those dance lessons were doing for my strength and endurance, or those hallway sprints for my agility. All that time I’d spent slacking off had left me rusty.

I’d have to use my head to get out of this one.

My best bet was to avoid taking a straight path. Mr. Fisalis would destroy me in a contest of speed.

The whole point of this game is to give me a look at the secret tunnels. Might as well use that to my advantage to give him the slip!

Just when I was plotting to duck in and out of rooms, making good use of the various turns and stairs along the way...the starting countdown was up.

“Here I come, Vi!” I heard Mr. Fisalis yell.

I’d rather be the one giving out the orders than taking them! Time to win this thing!

* * *

With the second story study now behind me, I flew down the stairs to the first floor. I could hear the footsteps of Mr. Fisalis right on my heels in hot pursuit.

I stormed down the corridor. One servant I passed looked at me in confusion and asked, “What are you doing?”

Yet another laughed and commented, “More running practice?”

“Sorry! In a hurry!” was the only answer I could give them.

In my attempt to deviate from a straight path, I decided to run through the servants’ dining room. This isn’t their break time, so there shouldn’t be anyone around!

Seeing as I was in a bit of a rush, I slammed open the door to the dining room, only to find Dahlia and Cartham in what I’d assumed would be an empty room.

“Eep!”

“Halt, intruder...! Wait, Madame?!”

Jumping to the conclusion that I was some kind of thief, Cartham stepped up to shield Dahlia on reflex. You should have seen the look on his face when he realized it was just me!

Guarding your wife on pure instinct? Awww, now that’s love! Wait, now’s not the time!

“Sorry to disturb you! I’ll be out of your hair in a moment!”

“What?!”

No sooner had I come rudely tramping through than I was heading right back out through the door to the kitchen, the couple left gaping in astonishment. I bet Dahlia’s gonna have my head for this later... I’d better brace myself.

Just as I left the kitchen, it sounded like Mr. Fisalis had come running into the dining room.

“Not you too, Master Fisalis!”

“Sorry! Didn’t mean to interrupt!” I heard him shout from behind me.

I ran up the staff-only staircase, which brought me out into the second floor corridor. I was pretty sure the door to the secret chamber was in one of the rooms just ahead. This seemed like as good an opportunity as any to try it out.

Relying on my mental map to guide me, I fled into the room in question.

“It should be somewhere around... A bookshelf?!”

Based on what I remembered, there was a bookshelf where the secret door ought to have been. C’mon, man, where’s the door?! Wait...this has gotta be a cover.

Think, Viola, think! In the maze, the door opened...inwards. That means I have to pull on it!

I placed my hand against the edge of the bookshelf and pulled. It moved much more easily than I was expecting, revealing a hole that led to the secret passage.

“Whoaaaa! No time to admire it, though!”

Mr. Fisalis’s footsteps were fast approaching.

Careful not to make any noise, I slipped through and shut the door behind me.

The inside was dimly lit and too narrow to fit more than one person at a time. I’d expected it to be pitch black, but light peeked through here and there—via strategically placed cracks in the wall, if I had to guess. Since it was the middle of the day, I could even make my way around without a lantern. Perhaps it was designed to catch the light from the other rooms at night?

Either way, it wasn’t anywhere near as dingy as I’d been imagining.

“I’d better figure out where I am on my mental map, or I’m going to end up lost. Wow, this place is carpeted?”

The carpet under my feet served to muffle the sound of my footsteps. No doubt it was designed to be soundproof. We wouldn’t want our enemies to discover our secret hiding place, after all!

First the lighting, now the carpet—I was in awe of all these ingenious features.

Whoops! Getting caught up admiring the place sounds like a good way to get caught. I’d better get moving.

As I continued on my way, following the map in my head, I heard Mr. Fisalis’s voice ring out from who-knows-where. “I know you’re in here, Vi!”

Oh no, he’s here! And with the way his voice is echoing, I can’t tell where it’s coming from. Talk about creepy! This means I’d better get out of here, huh? He knows this part of the house way better than I do. It’s a shame I have to leave when I’ve only just gotten in here. I wanted to see the secret chamber!

Nevertheless, I weighed “exploring the hidden passage” and “not losing this game of tag” on the scales, and the latter won out.

Okay. Time to escape through the nearest door! I can check out the secret passage whenever I want!

I opened the closest door and stepped outside.

* * *

Going through the door brought me to one of the guest rooms on the second floor. I had the map laid out in my mind, of course, so I knew exactly where I was.

“One option is to leave, head into our bedroom, and go back to the secret chamber from there.”

While I considered where to hide next, I eased open the door to the guest room and stepped out into the corridor. But then...

“Found you!”

“Uh-oh!”

Mr. Fisalis popped right out of another room!

The two of us resumed our chase down the hallway.

Tea time is so close I can taste it! I don’t want to race him down a straight path, so I’d better turn a corner. Oh, the stairs! Might as well head down.

Being as careful as I could not to trip and fall, I rushed down the steps at top speed. I soon heard Mr. Fisalis thundering down the stairs behind me.

I was hopping down the steps; he was practically flying over them. How was I going to make it out of this one?!

I made it to the bottom, rounded the corner, and... Nooo! It’s just more hallway! I wanted to flee into another room, but I didn’t have the time to open any doors.

Now I was stuck in the exact kind of straight shot track I’d been trying to avoid...but no matter. I summoned up the last of my strength to race down the corridor.

“I win, Vi!” Mr. Fisalis shouted, his voice drawing closer by the second. There was no time to look back and see how close he was, so I just ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

C’mon, someone come call us for tea before I get caught!

No sooner had I thought, O God of Tea (who?!), hear my plea! than there came the heavy click of someone opening the door to a room we’d just passed.

“What, pray tell, are the two of you doing?”

I automatically ground to a stop. So did Mr. Fisalis.

When we turned our heads, frozen in our tracks, it was not the God of Tea (huh?) we found standing there—it was Rohtas. The smile on his face was even scarier than usual.

“Well? Care to explain why you’re running in the halls?”

“We were, uh...”

“Playing a game of tag...”

“I see. Why don’t you tell me all about it in the parlor?”

“Yes, sir,” we responded in unison.

We then spent the time left until afternoon tea (and beyond) subjected to one of Rohtas’s lectures.

I’m sorry! A pair of grown adults playing tag in the house? I don’t know what came over us.

* * *

“I didn’t get to see much of the hidden passage, after all.”

“Another time, maybe.”

“Show me like a normal person next time! Ugh, maybe I should ask Rohtas instead.”

“Look, I’m sorry! I swear I’ll give you a proper tour!”

Unfortunately, our game of tag had ended in a draw.

Or maybe that’s not so unfortunate for me...?