Femarine by Ian Wood

Author:Ian Wood
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MacRyan
Published: 2016-05-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Castelle observed with interest that Enza slipped away before they approached the palace very closely, where more people were strolling. She wondered why he was so secretive. At this point she had no good idea. He was not a court jester and clearly, it seemed to her, he was no spy – at least no variety of spy she had ever heard of.

She slunk into the palace herself as it happened, and made her way to her chambers by various back corridors and stairwells known far better to the palace staff than ever they were to visitors and guests, but they also served Castelle, and had done so since she was a child venturing out looking for diversion, and obscure routes which might lead to treasure. Not that she ever found any treasure, unless treasure be dust and a variety of dead creatures. Nor had she found any secret passageways, much to her displeasure.

Caught short, she dallied at a privy on the way, pleased to note that it was both clean and not disastrously odourous. She vowed that she must curtail her quaffing of small beer if this was to be the common result, and then found herself pondering if this privy, one obviously used by the palace staff, might in truth be cleaner than the ones in other areas. Not that she was inclined to conduct a survey….

It was evidently a day for revelation, she discovered shortly thereafter. In her chambers, she found Sir Bray waiting for her, lounging in a chair like a young child. This amused her greatly, adding to her store of comfort and easy disposition. "Your Majesty!" he said, all but jumping frantically to his feet.

Sadla, who had been talking with him rather more intimately than would seem good for propriety stepped away hastily, and disappeared into another part of the chambers, busying herself with whatever it was that a maid busied herself when interrupted evidently in flagrante aliquid.

Castelle began a smirk, but recovered with admirable aplomb and said, "Oh please, Sir Bray, do not dance like that. You are too old and I am too young, and we have known each other for too long! What can I do for you?" She eyed the direction in which Sadla had departed but the maid was nowhere to be seen.

"I was concerned as to where you were, Majesty," Sir Bray began guiltily. "You left the meet in such high dander, and no one knew whence. I could not find you, and I was forced to dispatch several heralds in the hope they could uncover your whereabouts. None could, so I must congratulate you on managing to disappear, even as I must chide you for wandering off unescorted. Again."

"Sir Bray, why do you suppose so many people seem to be so concerned about my safety? Is there a threat of which you have failed to apprise me?"

"No, Majesty. I am aware of none, and I pity any who may try to endanger your safety when you are in such a mood as you were earlier, but I do worry about you.

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