Chapter 34 Chapter 32
Chapter 34 Chapter 32
”Visions and dreams will fill the void when the hour is nigh and time deployed”
Xanthanius
I placed the letter from Xialara back in its envelope and pushed it into the nearest drawer. Telling myself I would get to reply when I retired for the day.
Adjusting the collar of my dark brown suit, I walked out of the room and locked the door. Slipping one key into my back pocket and handing the second to the guard down the hallway.
The scar on my chest was beginning to sting again but it was very ignorable. For now, Anthonier and I needed to meet with Granj.
We were more desperate for the guard to heal now more than ever. He needed to tell us what had actually happened.
I weaved my way through the halls and arrived at the clinic. Ascending to the second floor above where we usually convened.
Anthonier was yet to arrive but Granj just slipped out of one of the cubicles with a smile.
“Your Highness. A pleasure to have you here once again” he said, he held a clipboard and a pen in one of his hands.
“Good morning and why the excitement?” Last I remembered, we were supposed to be sorrowful.
“I may have some great news to share. Your guard has woken up” his smile, if possible, widened.
Almost doubting what my ears had heard, I rushed past him and into the guard’s cubicle.
Granj was not lying.
The man had opened his eyes and was staring… everywhere. He seemed like someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Or something.
“He is under a haze, which should only last a few days before he gets fully sober. For now, all he can reply to are yes or no questions with a shake or nod of his head”
That was improvement. Great improvement.
“Do you think he would ever be able to make full sentences after recovery?” He had been in a coma for so long. A brain dysfunction was not a strange aftermath.
“In the long run, yes. But for now, we could only hope he gives us enough”
Anthonier walked in just as Granj had finished his statement and he appeared to be very pissed.
I do not want to conclude on what had gotten his underwear in a twist, but I may have a clue.
“Thank you Granj. Also, if I could get some of that pain relief balm”
The two men looked to me with a bit of caution. Knowing it was not something I would ask for on a regular day.
“If the scar is beginning to bother, you could enter a chamber and I would address it immediately” The chief healer said with concern.
“Not yet. I just need a little bit of numbing for the time being”
“Very well. I would get it to you soon. Your highness, good sir” Granj bows to both of us and leaves.
Anthonier watched the drunk looking guard as he stared at the wall to his right. The creases on his forehead indicated he was still angry at something.
“Is it not too early for such anger high adviser?”
“Look who speaks to me about anger and mornings” he scoffed and walked closer to the bed to observe.
“The only person I know that can get you this offended, is Nerida”
“I guess you know your lover pretty well. Can you sense her? Because she is looking for you and refuses to leave”
Was he angry at me as well? “I did not invite her and you know that”
Anthonier released a sigh. “I am not angry at you. I am angry at the amount of audacity she has showing up in this palace after drugging you the last time she was here. She wishes to speak with you anyway”
Maybe it was time to fully indulge her.
“Where is she?”
“At the palace room”
With a final look at the guard who had shifted his focus to Anthonier now, I left the room to find the daughter of Quinestra.
At the same time of my exit, Marina walked out of another cubicle with Granj following directly behind.
It had been four days since I saw her. She simulated a healthier appearance. Was not as pale as the night of the attack even though her eyes still were dull.
“If you experience anything different, you can always come back” Granj said to her and went into another cubicle which I think held a sick maid.
“Your highness” then she added a curtsy. “I had no idea you were also ill. Getting better?”
To say I was surprised was using the least term in my vocabulary “Why the faux respect? I can count on one hand the number of times you have regarded my status in your weeks of being here and I’m sure the hand would have space for three”
“How do I regard whom I barely get to see?” She was not trying to crack a humorous joke. She actually meant what she said because I waited for her laughter. It did not come.
“Have you thought about your request?” I asked, to divert the conversation so my shock would go unnoticed.
“Yes I have”
Then there was no more. I almost doubted that she had heard my question had she not said yes.
“And it is?”
“It…” she started “would be said after I fulfill your request tomorrow”
Tomorrow? She had picked a date and did not inform me?
“Why am I just knowing you would be going tomorrow?”
“Because I am just saying it for the first time. You said I should get better first and I have been cleared by Mr Granj just a minute ago. Hence I would like to fulfill your request tomorrow”
Okay then. “What would you be needing?”
“Two silver coins or a hundred bronze coins should be more than enough. That’s what he makes in a night, so it should shake him out of his information” she almost seemed too sure.
“How do you know how much he makes in a night?”
“We used to be friends”
“That sounds like past tense”
“It is”
Knowing that that meant the end of this discussion, I went back to our initial topic “what if we increase it to three or one fifty?”
“I have even asked beyond my capacity. I used to have a part time job at the pub and Segei was my payer. He knows my financial situation. So too much money would obviously look like I was sent. I don’t intend to use up the silver or copper coins but just to have enough bargain” she explained off the top of her head.
If I am not mistaken, it almost felt like she had made her poverty situation an identity.
“It is done. Anything else?”
“Would I be having escorts?”
“Per usual but is there any particular reason you want escorts?”
I noticed her beat of hesitation “No. None. I was just curious”
“Get some rest, we would leave at dusk tomorrow”
With another curtsy, she walked away.
Hilra was already waiting for her by the door and she gloriously glared at me for wasting her time.
I could only offer her an eyeroll and went back to Anthonier.
“I saw you and your mistress having a chat so I did not want to interrupt” stretching out a hand “Granj brought your balm” then he came close enough. “She is getting better?”
“Yes. We would leave for the pub by dusk tomorrow”
His surprise could be seen by even the sick guard who was now fast asleep. His breathing was a bit too shallow for someone who was really asleep though.
“She chose the day, not me” I needed to clarify because it was easy to believe I forced the date on her.
“Fast but okay. If she is fine with it”
I reached out and collected the balm then stuffed it into my trouser pocket. The jar was a little over five milliliters so it fit perfectly well.
Next, was to find Nerida.
On my way to the palace room, I passed by the library and found the door slightly open. Marina must have resumed her classes.
Now in the palace room, was Nerida. Looking a bit tensed. At the sound of my footsteps, she turned.
“I did not think you would come see me” she said as she walked closer. Her velvet red dress flowed behind her.
“Anthonier mentioned that you were waiting and refused to leave”
“Your highness adviser claimed I had poisoned you” there was a sound of confusion in her statement. Almost like she was asking and not saying.
I did not grant her a reply. Either which it was, it was for her to deal with.
“What do you want Nerida? We were clear on what was going on between us initially and we were clear when it ended” I had other things to handle today.
“Yes. I am still clear on that but before I state my purpose, I wanted to make put it out there that I did not poison you. I have not even worked on a charm in two weeks, you can have me tested”
“So the drink you gave to me happened to contain an aphrodisiac by chance?”
“I had no idea it contained that. I only offered you a drink because I wanted us to talk but you were with your sister and I chose to leave you two alone and approach later. After your dance with your mistress, I saw you staggering and wanted to know what was wrong but your Second in charge stopped me from getting close to you. I may do a lot of things Xanthanius but I did not poison your drink”
I could not believe that I was actually considering her story as the truth, but I needed to clarify one thing. “So who gave you the drink? Where did you get the glass?”
“It was…” she held back. She was hiding something “I don’t know”
I knew this meeting was a waste of time. “Since you have no idea who handed the glass to you, I’m sorry but you remain a prime suspect and are no longer welcomed here. You may take your leave now”
“Is this really how it is now? You don’t even want me around?”
“Nerida, you can waltz in here because we did not report you as a political threat. Please do not force us to” it was time to take my leave.
“How good is even she to trigger your loyalty this way? Bedding me did nothing to stop you from looking at other women”
“Nerida leave the premises this instant and you are banned till I say otherwise”
The guards at the edges came to bundle her up but she already walked away.
Smart choice. She was becoming too flippant.
When she was out of the castle, I turned to the men at the entrance “Spread the word that if I as much as see her in the courtyard, some people would lose their jobs”
Marina
“Young lady, could it be homesickness?” Duchin said as I walked closer to her table. She had a new notebook in her grasp. The old one had most likely filled up.
Not a surprise, she was always writing.
“Perhaps” Hilra responded on my behalf and I got to know once again that Duchin and maybe others, were unaware of what really happened to me.
I might understand keeping it a secret, but sometimes I wondered why.
“Don’t you think you should request for your family members to visit or the other way round?” Duchin was obviously worried. Especially since our last encounter ended with me being very distracted.
“Perhaps” mirroring Hilra’s words that earned me a smack on my elbow.
Turns out that being attacked does not guarantee you safety from her sour behavior.
“Let’s go a little retrospective today. Instead of learning something new, why don’t we talk about all we have learned in the past. Just a little revision”
Sounded like a good idea.