The mundane task brushed aside her own uncertainties. Annelise made her way back to the gate, but it was still sealed and there was still no sign of a gatekeeper. She strode through the lush garden and under the broadest archway of the palace. It was impossible not to notice the richness of her surroundings or the complete absence of any otherbeing.
The keep had to be a palace. Once the gates were breached, it had no defenses—though those gates had been a formidableobstacle.
Even so, it was unlike any abode Annelise had ever seen. The walls were white stone and the floors tiled with intricate mosaics of stones in varyingshades.
Annelise called repeatedly for her host or someone in his service, but no one answered. She felt that she should be greeted and not simply enter the palace, but she would not find her host in the garden. She had already ascertained that she was alone there, so she entered the palace, knocking on doors and calling as she continued. Surely, she would find him soonenough.
His abode was a marvel, seemingly containing every luxury. The rooms were large and uncluttered, the size of the windows indicating that the interior would be bright in the daylight. Luxuriously thick rugs in shades of red and ochre were scattered across the floors. Oil lanterns glowed at regular intervals, so many of them that Annelise knew the lord of this palace had to be wealthy,indeed.
She might be trapped inside but, as prisons went, this one wasexceptional.
No one demanded that she keep her silence,either.
Perhaps she might like being wed to her mysterious host. The notion made Annelise shake her head at her own whimsy. He could not wish to wed a stranger any more than shedid.
But she was unlikely to be able to ask him soon. The palace seemed to be deserted. It was odd to find no other person. Who had lit the lanterns? Annelise continued in wonder, certain she would find her host sooner or later. Finally, she stepped into a room flooded with candlelight and halted inawe.
The room faced onto a small tiled courtyard, where a fountain splashed. It was open to the sky and she could see that twilight had fallen and that the first stars shone overhead. The walls of the chamber were hung with rich tapestries resplendent with exotic flowers she could not name. So many carpets were flung on the floor that they overlapped two and three deep. Annelise’s feet sank into their softness when she crossed theroom.
Hundreds of candles covered storage chests and were scattered across the floor right out into the courtyard. The smell of beeswax was inviting and the flickering golden light picked out the mother-of-pearl inlay on thechests.
In the middle of the room was a low table, evidently set for a meal. An embroidered cloth covered it with tassels wound with gold and as thick as Annelise’s wrist hanging from its four comers. Three brass salvers reposed on the table, glinting in thecandlelight.
Annelise glanced over her shoulder, but she already guessed that no one would serve her. She caught a delectable whiff that was enough to make her stomachgrumble.
She could at least see what the mealwas.
Who would know if shelooked?
A waft of steam was released when she lifted the first lid, and Annelise inhaled the rich smell of a savory meat stew. Her stomach growled openly, defying her to believe that the crust of bread she had eaten at Beauvoir that morning was enough to sustainher.
The meat was venison, the gravy thick and crowded with tiny onions, and the serving was the precise amount she might eat. Annelise felt herself salivate as she eyed her favoritedish.
How had her host known she loved venisonstew?
He could nothave.
They must have this taste incommon.
Although, if a man had ever been bent on earning Annelise’s favor, he would be wise to offer food. More than any woman she had met in the convent or Sayerne, Annelise possessed a love of good, heartyfare.
But it was impossible that the lord could have known her taste, let alone that he might have cared to court her approval so soon after her arrival. This was but a coincidence—otherwise, it was sorcery. Annelise knew that she was being presumptuous to think this feast was laid out forher.
It might be hismeal.
Then where was theman?
She had seen no other soul within thewalls.
Just as there had been no one to open thegate.
Annelise discovered a loaf of fine white bread with a perfect golden crust under the next salver. A knife reposed on the wooden plate beside thebread.
It was enough to drive her mad withhunger.
The third sheltered a cheese of sufficient tang to make her lick her lips, as well as a pot of freshly churned butter and a bowl of olives. She had not tasted olives in a long time, though she loved themdearly.
She glanced about herself, then quickly took one, closing her eyes as she savored the taste. She made that one small olive last as long as possible, certain that no one would guess at herindulgence.
