“Yes, my lady,” he said, pointing to the leather bundles piled against a wall. “We are packing our provisions.”
Maxi counted the bags. The rations seemed meager considering they were for more than sixty robust men bound for a long journey. At her confused look, he kindly explained, “Since our weapons, bedrolls, and essential utensils such as pots and cauldrons already weigh us down, we cannot bring much food with us. We will have to resupply at villages along the way, or find food for ourselves as much as possible.”
“I see.”
Princess Agnes had also told her the same thing a while back. Maxi observed the activity around them for a moment before looking to Elliot again.
“Is there…anything I could h-help you with?”
“You, my lady?” he asked, a sheepish smile briefly tugging at his lips. “I thank you sincerely for your offer, but you need not worry. We will take care of this.”
Maxi had half expected such an answer, so she was not too disappointed. Keeping her expression neutral, Maxi asked him another question.
“Where is R-Rif…his lordship?”
“He is currently at the training grounds, instructing the soldiers with Sir Ursuline. Do you need him urgently, my lady?”
Maxi waved her hands. “N-No. I was just wondering where he was….”
“Sir Elliot! Shall we take the horses to the training grounds once we’re done inspecting them?”
He looked over his shoulder to respond to his comrade, and Maxi realized that she was probably distracting him.
“I apologize…for taking your time,” she said as she quickly retreated. “Please don’t mind me…and get back to what you were doing.”
“My apologies, my lady. If you will excuse me.”
He gave an apologetic nod and went to join the other knights. Maxi turned and walked back into the hall. At the very least, she could help pack the food and clothes that they would take with them.
In the kitchen, she handed the cook the key to the storage room where the spices were kept, telling him to spare no expense for the grand feast he was to prepare. She theninstructed the maidservants to inspect all the knights’ clothing and bedrolls and to mend anything that needed it. And finally, she instructed the servant in charge of overseeing the actual packing to include the sturdier cookware that had been recently purchased.
Maxi was busily moving about the castle when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
“There you are, my lady. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
She turned to see Ruth striding down the corridor with his long, slender legs.
“What is the matter? I thought you’d be busy g-gathering your belongings.”
“Oh, I finished making all the necessary preparations ahead of time. There is something I wish to show you before I leave, my lady.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll know when you see it. Come with me.” Ruth turned on his heel and motioned with his head for Maxi to follow him. She trailed behind him, bewildered, as he descended the stairs and marched out of the great hall.
“Where on earth…are w-we going?”
“To my tower.”
Maxi looked up at him in surprise before glancing around. Riftan had told her not to go anywhere near Ruth’s tower due to the powerful defensive runes he used to protect it. With her husband’s warning echoing in her mind, she stood as close to the sorcerer as she could and remained on high alert for any traps.
“Wh-Why are we going to your tower?”
“Patience, my lady. We are almost there.” He spokelanguidly, as though he found it tiresome to respond at all to her question.
He quickened his steps along the winding path and Maxi peered up at the gray tower enveloped in red ivy. Its moss-covered entrance soon appeared between the lush green leaves of the elm trees. Perhaps it was because the tower hardly had any visitors, but the area surrounding it was overrun with weeds.
Ruth absentmindedly scraped at the moss around the front door with his shoe as he fished a key out of his pocket.
