Page 19 of Entangled

“Nay. They are safe with the Blackseeds, I assure you. They are good men. They are nothing like King Sethor or his nephew. Sebastian is the one you have to worry about, not them.”

“And why is that?” came a deep voice from the door.

Merrow spun around to find Sebastian standing in the open doorway. “Sebastian! How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to know that my maidservant is speaking badly about me behind my back.”

“I’m sorry, my lord.” The iron rod fell from the woman’s hand. “I didn’t mean…I meant…I mean⁠—”

“I think Merrow would be better off with a different maid servant. You are dismissed. Guard,” he called out. “Take this maidservant out of here.”

“Yes, my lord.” The guard took Dee by the arm.

“Nay! I need her. Please, don’t take away my maidservant,” begged Merrow.

“You don’t need her. And guard, you don’t need to stand watch at my door tonight. I’ll be here with the nymph so you are dismissed for now.”

“Yes, my lord. Where shall I take this one?” He nodded at Dee.

“Take her to the dungeon for speaking ill of her king.”

“The dungeon? Nay!” cried Merrow, feeling fear and dread wash through her. “You can’t take her there. She is my m⁠—”

Nay, don’t tell him, daughter, came her mother’s silent warning in her mind. It will only be more dangerous for you if he knows.

But I can’t let him hurt you, Mother. I won’t let him put you in the dungeon, she told her mother with her mind.

It will be fine for now. Focus on finding your sisters.

The guard left with her mother and closed the door. Merrow crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Sebastian.

“You’ve been a very bad girl today, Merrow.” Sebastian sidled over to the door and slid the bar hold across and then used a key to actually lock it as well. He proceeded to drop the key into his pouch. “I don’t like anyone speaking over me the way you did today. You are lucky I’m not locking you up in my dungeon along with that traitorous handmaid.”

“She’s not traitorous. You know nothing at all about her.”

“I know enough.” He unbuckled his weapon belt and took it off. “She and you were conspiring against me and that does not make me happy.”

“All I want to do is to find my sisters. Yet, you will do nothing to help me. You are rotten, just like your uncle. Just like my m—maidservant said.”

“I am not evil, and it hurts me to know that you think of me in that way.” He hung his weapon belt on a hook on the wall.

There was a knock at the door. Sebastian went over and undid the bar and then unlocked the door and opened it slightly. “Thank you, Hitch. That will be all.” He took a tray of food from his squire. There was also a bottle of something on the tray and Merrow figured it was wine. He held the tray in one hand while he bolted and locked the door once more.

“I’m a prisoner, even if you say I’m not. Just look at the way you bar and lock the door. That proves you are evil.”

“Hush. I thought you might be hungry so I had food sent up. I know I am ravenous.” He carried the tray of food over to a small table in the center of the room. Then he kicked off his boots and sat down on one of the two wooden chairs. “Join me,” he said, holding out his hand, motioning to the food. He removed a dome from a plate and a delicious scent wafted through the air.

Merrow’s stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since before they went through the portal, and was really hungry. “What is it?” she asked curiously, stretching her neck to see it.

“I thought you’d be more familiar with seafood, so I ordered a pottage made up of scallops, lobster, oysters and clams. I also had some fresh white bread and some sweetmeats sent up as well.”

“Seafood?” she asked curiously, moving closer ever so slowly.

“Yes. Or are they your friends and you can’t eat them?” he asked with a half-cocked smile.

She let out a sigh. “Of course I eat seafood. That is my home. The fish and crustaceans of the sea gladly give up their lives to give my family sustenance. We just don’t eat dolphins, octopuses, whales, sharks or sea turtles.”

“And neither have I served you any. Now sit. Please.”