“Yes, good,” he replied, staring out the window as we began our climb to the castle. A few people we passed shouted names at us. Calling us foul rogues, freebooters, and scurvy scourges. The queen sat stiffly beside Le’ral, her sight darting from me to my bodyguard and back to me. I suspected she was trying to spy any family likeness between me and the king. According to others, it was there, plainly, on my face. Likely the only thing we shared, if we shared anything at all aside from a slight resemblance.
The carriage grew warm quickly even with the slightly cooler temperatures of autumn on the horizon riding on the winds. It would have been far less stifling and far more pleasant if I could have come up with a topic to discuss. I had zero. Other than to remark on how striking the grand advisor was, which would seem tacky with the queen eyeing me like I was a barnacle on the side of one of her new ships, I had nothing in common with either of them. Prescott’s happy horse humming—hum hum horse hum hum—filled the carriage as we clip-clopped up, up, up to an uncertain greeting combined with a highly uncertain future.
Generally, I didn’t mind cramped places.
Sailing on a ship for full moons after full moons was not a career for those who required wide open spaces. My quarters were the only space on the Cloud’s Shame where one could stretch out and not slap another sailor in the face. I’d grown up sleeping with the men in the hold, to toughen me up whilstteaching me what it was like to be with the crew, to quote my father. Small spaces didn’t bother me, but this carriage…
It had my nerves rubbed raw.
Glancing out the window to my side, I saw Avolire coming into view. My gut tightened. Through winding streets we had ridden, the queen and Le’ral politely silent, their sight lowered to the floor or out the windows for the most part. I did catch both staring at me. The queen with a pucker as if she had mouthed a lemon, and the grand advisor with a curious expression. Both would nod when caught. Prescott hum-hum-horse’d all the way. By the time the castle that rested atop a sheer cliff of dark stone wet by the sea spray came into view, even his humming had me chafed. Instead of snapping at the poor sod, I stared at the castle. Vast and impressive, the dark blue roof tiles were edged in gilt. Mighty towers speared the bright blue sky. Blue and white banners bearing the Melowynn coat of arms danced in the wild ocean wind.
“A sight to behold, is it not?” Le’ral enquired as we passed through one of the main gates. Guards lowered their heads, fists to chests, to honor the queen.
“It is larger than even I imagined, and my imagination is vivid,” I commented, thumbing some hair from my sweaty face. The odor of an overheated troll was now tickling my nose.
“It is a testament to Ihdos as well as the monarchy.” Le’ral looked cool as a glass of ice wine, even though his brow was dotted with perspiration. “It has stood here above Celear since the first elven king of Melowynn had its cornerstone laid over ten thousand seasons ago. It was not the grand visage you see now, as many rulers have added to it over their reigns. At present, Avolire holds over forty sleeping chambers, four ballrooms, solariums, music rooms, sleeping quarters for staff and the royal guard. There is a shrine to Ihdos where the royal family may attend morning prayers. There is also themain cathedral at the ocean’s edge. That is where those who have moved to join Ihdos in his eternal glory and search for intelligence are entombed.”
“And to think I thought I was doing good owning a brothel,” I mumbled. The queen raised a thin brow but said nothing. Le’ral fought back a smile. I was desperate to ask about Aelir and the royal twins, but I was also loath to appear too interested. I knew I shouldn’t give a whistle about any of them. Surely this was all some hoax, or a misunderstanding, and within several nights I’d be in the dungeon awaiting trial. So yes, I would not ask.
“Brothels are always a money-making venture,” Le’ral answered with diplomacy. “We have several in town, four that are well known for the delicacy of the professionals who work there and three that have stage shows.”
“Stage shows?” I asked, wiggling free to lean closer, elbows to knees, as Le’ral watched me like a cat watching a mole. “Do they perform high elven operas?”
“Only a few, but they’re dreadfully dull. I have found the singers at the Willow Tree are much more exuberant in their performances.”
“Oh? And how exuberant are they?”
The queen, seemingly bored with being disgusted with me if that was what ailed her and I was sure it was, gave Prescott a quick peek before allowing the merest touch of amusement to pull at her pink lips.
“Quite. They act out the operas while wearing naught but wigs.”
Le’ral coughed discreetly into his hand. “Your Majesty, I am not sure that King Aelir would appreciate us telling an invited guest to the castle about the randy nature of the performers at the Willow Tree.”
“Le’ral, he is apirate. He owns abrothel.I suspect he has slept with enough people to put the bawds to shame. With a facesuch as his, surely he is no innocent. Let us not forget we are not talking with the sisters of the steppes.”
I chuckled. “The queen is most astute. It would take more than a mere mention of a whore’s tats or cock on display to bring a rose to my cheeks.” I winked at the advisor, who seemed to grow slightly ill at ease before gathering himself. “As for the number of partners to grace my sheets, the number is high, yes, but they all leave well pleased.”
“That, good Captain, is commendable,” the queen said as we rattled under another arch into a small bailey. Not the main doors to the palace, though. Understandable. To be fair, if they snuck us into the servant’s entrance, I would not be shocked. The slowing of the carriage brought a sigh of regret from Prescott. He did enjoy riding and seeing new things. “Ah, we are at the western side of the castle. This entrance is smaller. More discreet.”
Discreet. What a lovely term. Much nicer than saying we’re hiding you from the world as best we can. Which would have worked better if I’d not come into port with a red banner and then left with a peacock feather in my hat. Well, it was on Prescott’s large head now…
The door opened. A footman in crisp livery offered the queen a hand down. She exited, as did Le’ral, leaving Prescott and me wedged into our seat.
“If they go for my head while toting an ax, do smash a few of them into mince pudding, will you?” I whispered to Prescott and then fixed his—my—hat for him.
“Pudding. Plums!”
Wonderful. Now he would expect plum pudding for dessert. Prescott pushed out the door, startling a maid passing by carrying laundry so badly she screamed, dropped her bundle of wet sheets, and fainted.
A small melee of chaos took place with me once again assuring the castle staff this time that Prescott was a fine, genteel half troll in search of plum pudding and not femurs.
“Perhaps I should have insisted he stay in town.” I sighed as the big guy hoisted my trunk from the back of the carriage before settling it with care on his shoulder.
“I suspect once the staff all see him and spend time with him, they will realize he’s a gentle giant,” Raewyn said, motioning to a small set of stone stairs leading into the rear of the castle. “Why don’t we get you and Prescott settled into your suites? King Aelir is sitting with a small delegation from Kazakan who arrived without advance warning to discuss a blight that is souring their crops. He wished to be here to greet you, but the envoys were most insistent.”
“No, it’s fine,” I quickly said as Le’ral waited patiently by the stairs, his eyes moving over the hustle and bustle of a busy courtyard like a raptor watching a hay field for mice. I was expecting to sit on my arse for days before Aelir could find time to even talk to me. Knowing he had planned to meet me in person was…humbling in a way. “We’ll get settled into our rooms and freshen up.”
“Lovely. I shall turn you over to Le’ral to show you to your rooms. I would like to speak to the head cleric with all due haste to see if we have enough serum to treat the afflicted in Light’s Keep.”
