She shook her head.“I know him by his kindness only.That alone makes me love him, for never have I met a man like him.”
“Well, Miss Bella Schaus, I would be a terrible friend if I kept you from the man you love.”She smirked, her eyes alight with mischief.“Besides, you gave me a wonderful idea.Come.”She led Bella by the hand into a smelly back room, where a dozen barrels were stacked.
“I have been selling the pond water to my competitors, as suggested.I hope it’s removal will help the prince.”
“Every little bit will help at this point.”
Now Henriette peered at her.“Have you made no other acquaintances in town?None that could help?”
Bella considered her interactions.The guard who said her neck would stretch might assist if she placed more coins in his hands, but that was no guarantee.Then she gasped.“The boy!”
“What boy?”
“The one who was glad I helped get his favorite horse honorably buried.”Bella looked outside.“But I dare not ride Nocturne to the stable—not after what Riven warned.Might you be able to help me?”
Henriette held her eyes for a moment.“It is not like I am making any money on clothes these days.Let us go see what we can accomplish.”
Bella watched as Henriette grabbed her keys and locked the door.Bella untethered Nocturne from the post and walked him.When they approached the crossroad that led out of the castle, Bella pulled the animal’s head to hers and looked into his eyes.“I need you to go to the pond, where your master is.Think you can watch over Riven as you did me?”
Bella thought he might have nodded.
“Good boy.”She kissed him on his bony nose, tied the reins to his saddle horn so he wouldn’t trip, and gave him a swat on the rump to get him going.“Go take care of your prince.”
The horse bobbed his head and moved from a walk to a jaunty trot, then flat out cantered in the direction of the pond.
“Do you think he understood you?”
Bella smiled.“I would be surprised if he did not.”She locked elbows with her friend, and together they headed for the stables.
The young boy she sought was found hauling a cart of manure to a large refuse pile on the edge of a large paddock.Bella raced over to him, waving to get his attention.The boy stopped shoveling and looked at her.
“Hi.Remember me?”
He nodded.
“My name is Bella.What is yours?”
“Victurn.”
“Victurn, your prince needs help.He is trapped in the pond where your ostler was going to sink Dignitè.We need to get people to drain the pond so we can clean it.They will be paid,” she added, feeling that without compensation, the task would never begin.“Think you able to round up strong men like yourself to help?”
He held her eyes and nodded.
“Excellent.Tell them to bring shovels, buckets, nets, ropes—anything to dig and haul.”
He nodded again and raced away from the stable, down the main street into town.
“Well, there is only one other person I can think of who might help.”
“Oui?Who might that be?”
Bella took a fortifying breath.“His mother, the queen.”
Henriette raised a hand to her mouth, likely to capture her laugh.“I shall gladly wait for you outside.”
––––––––
ANEW GUARD GREETEDher, this one much kinder.When she informed him she had news of the prince and wished to speak with the queen, she was quickly ushered inside to a waiting room.A long time passed in which servants delivered her tea, biscuits, and even tiny cucumber sandwiches.The smallness of the sandwiches reminded Bella of slipping meat to Riven in his bucket at the pub.The thought made her sad.
