by A. J. Medina
Neala kept her composure and stared straight ahead, making sure she didn’t make eye contact with them.
As they passed her, she could hear what they whispered to each other.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” one of them asked the other.
“She is. I suppose that’s why the king fancied her so.”
Even though she felt a chill run up her spine at the thought of the king, and how the servants all new about her and him, Neala didn’t flinch. She just kept her focus aimed straight ahead towards the kitchen.
After pushing open the swinging door, Neala entered the kitchen. The kitchen servants noisily and busily washed dishes and cleaned up everything from the morning meal.
It always bothered Neala that Alora never ate anything in the morning. Only servants seemed to do that and Alora was not a servant. She was a knight, a wizard and a lady, and she was always addressed as such.
But Alora used to be a farmer.
She had told Neala about her home, the village she grew up in, and her lovely meadow where she could run barefoot whenever she chose. It sounded so much better than the garden behind the castle and Neala wished she could visit it one day.
Since Alora had been a farmer, she was no stranger to hard work and that is what probably made her such a good choice to be a knight. It’s also probably why she no longer wanted Neala as a servant. The thought of Alora dismissing her worried Neala. What if Alora changed her mind? What if she decided not to keep Neala as her chamber maiden after all?
Her worrying was interrupted by one of the servants, who was busy washing dishes, noticing Neala pass by. “Neala! Good morn,” he said, waving a wet and suds covered hand at her.
“Good morn,” Neala answered, not stopping or looking up at him.
A soapy, wet hand grabbed her wrist and jolted her body to a stop.
“I heard about you and the king.”
“That was a long time ago. Release me please.”
“Perhaps we can spend an evening or two in each other’s company?”
“Nay! Release me!”
She tried yanking her arm away, but his wet and clammy grip was surprisingly strong.
She struggled against his grip and even tried using her free hand to pry his fingers loose, but he held on firmly. The dishwasher finally let her go when he noticed two male and two female servants watching them. “You think you’re better than me?” He raised and spread his arms, signifying everyone around him. “Better than us?”
“That’s not it at all,” Neala said.
“Everyone knows it. You think you’re better than us, but you’re still just a servant to the king. Just like everyone here. Change your attitude, or someone might change it for you.”
Neala couldn’t find the words. The right words to make them understand that she didn’t think she was better than anyone. She knew as much as, if not more than anyone, that she was a servant to the king. A slave that must do as he commanded.
She bit her tongue, to keep from aggravating the dishwasher further, and left through the rear entrance of the kitchen that led towards the laundry. She would take note not to use that short cut ever again.
— — —
After running back to my room, I threw on my sword and harness, then my cloak, and then went outside into the rain. It wasn’t a light, soft rain either. Nay, it was the heavy, pound on your head and soak you from your hair to your toes type of rain.
I positioned my hood just right so that I could still see where I was going. My destination was one of the things I wanted to do on my list—visit the knightlys.
On my way to the guard’s wing, some city citizens — who I was unfamiliar with — hurried by, waved hello and congratulated me on stopping The Apprentice. I waved back and kept my pace.
When I arrived at the guard’s wing entrance, I saluted the two guards posted at the gate and went in. The dirt floor of the courtyard had turned to a thick mud and each step caused my boots to sink in.
The weather couldn’t stop the knightlys from practicing and keeping their skills sharp as their swords. Aednat was busy challenging the others to a battle axe contest and as soon as she saw me, she raised her hands signaling for Ryanne to stop her attempt at the target.
“Why did you stop me, Aednat? Afraid I was about to beat you?” Ryanne teased.
Aednat placed her hand flat on her chest and shook her head at Ryanne. Holding it out in my direction Aednat said, “Look who’s come to join us. Our leader.”
The knightlys came to attention and saluted me. As usual, Aednat was the last to touch her fist to her chest. After I returned their salute, Aednat made her challenge.
“Alora, we’re seeing who can get the closest to the target. No one has been able to reach it but me. Will you have a try?” she asked.
The others cheered me on. “Show her what you can do!” Thomas roared. “Show her why you’re in charge.”
“Aye. Show us why you’re our commander,” Aednat mocked.
“Fine. Clear the path. I don’t want anyone getting hurt,” I said.
“Hold on,” Ryanne said. “You have to agree to the wager.”
I looked around at the others. They all smiled and nodded.
“What’s the wager?” I asked.
All eyes turned to Aednat and waited.
With her already soaked, short black hair sticking to her face, Aednat’s eyes turned up and to the side.
“Make the same wager you’ve been making with all of us!” Ryanne shouted.
“What wager?” I asked.
Aednat didn’t answer.
“What’s the matter?” Thomas asked. “Are you afraid?”
“I’m not afraid of anything!” Aednat shouted.
A whisper escaped Davina. “Then make the wager,” she said, and then turned around avoiding everyone’s gaze.
“What’s the wager?” I asked again.
Aednat finally answered. “Whoever loses has to take off all their clothes and run around the courtyard three times.”
She couldn’t be serious. But now it made sense. Aednat was the strongest, and she was winning. The knightlys wanted someone else to win for once. But Aednat wouldn’t dare strip her clothes off in front of everyone if she lost. Let alone run around the courtyard three times. She would be horrified to be naked in front of all the boys.
“Fine. I accept your wager.”
Aednat’s jaw dropped. She obviously didn’t expect me to accept.
“Who throws first?” I asked.
“Aednat always throws first,” Ryanne said.
“Then go ahead and throw, Aednat,” I ordered.
Aednat stepped to the mark and raised her hand over her brow. With her hand blocking the rain, she judged her distance to the target. Next, she summoned her battle axe and swung it over her shoulder. With a loud grunt, and using both arms, she flung it at the target. I watched in horror as the battle axe rotated through the air and then struck the target in the ring directly underneath the bull’s eye.
The knightlys cheered at her mastery of the throw.
Aednat strutted up to the target and yanked her battle axe out of it. “Your turn. Beat that!”
I stepped up to the mark and dried my hands on the inside of my cloak. The rain started to fall even harder. The droplets seemed to be the size of hail stones, so I blinked over and over trying to clear the water out of my eyes. I copied Aednat by lifting my hand up to my brow and focused on the target. Once I was ready, I summoned my battle axe and lifted it up and over my shoulder. The rain kept falling hard and made it difficult to see. If I lost this throw to Aednat, there would be no living with her. I had to hit the red bull’s eye.
If I did hit the bull’s eye and won, I wouldn’t make Aednat run around in front of all the boys without any clothes on. If I did, Aednat would never forgive me and would hate me even more than she already appeared to. And she would probably never trust me again and wouldn’t follow my orders.
I held my breath and using every
last muscle I had, launched my battle axe at the target.
Silence filled the courtyard, the only sounds were the rain pelting us and the whoosh of the battle axe flipping end over end through the air. With a loud thud, the battle axe reached its target. Gasps and moans came from the knightlys.
“Third ring. I win,” Aednat boasted.
I walked up to the target, pulled my battle axe out, and then dispersed it.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Aednat said. “All of you losers... time to pay.”
All of the knightlys who weren’t dumb enough to challenge Aednat began to hoot and holler. The total amount of losers—three. The list included me, Davina and Thomas. The three of us had lost against Aednat and now it was time to settle our wager.
“Let’s hurry it up. It’s not getting any dryer out here,” Aednat said.
“Might as well get it over with,” I said, and then slid my cloak off and handed it to Aednat. Next, I bent down, untied my boots and pulled them off. Standing there barefoot in the cold wet mud, I said the magic words that caused my second skin to expand so that I could take it off. “Expansionem.”
I couldn’t believe what I was about to do. In front of the other girls it was one thing, but in front of the boys.... My hands were shaking and not just because they were wet and cold. But I had to do it. I made the wager and my honor was at stake. If I said I wouldn’t honor my wager, I would be labeled as a liar and untrustworthy.
I grabbed the neck of my second skin and when I was about to slip my second skin down my body, Aednat grabbed my wrist.
“Today only, you’ll all get a free pass. I changed my wager. Keep your second skin on and run without your boots around the courtyard three times.”
All of the other knightlys who were waiting to see us run around the courtyard with nothing on sighed. They all said, “Awww!” and slapped their thighs in protest.
Aednat didn’t need to tell me again. I said the magic words and my second skin fitted itself back to my body. I took off running and Thomas and Davina caught up.
“Why do you think she let us out of the wager?” Thomas asked.
“I don’t know.” And the truth was, I didn’t. I thought Aednat would’ve loved to see me humiliated in front of everyone. Why would she give up that chance?
After running around the courtyard three times, we came to a stop. I threw on my cloak and tied it. I wasn’t about to slip my boots onto my muddy feet, so I picked them up and was about to walk back to the palace when Aednat walked up to me.
“You can come up to our chambers and Branna can wash and dry your feet if you want.”
Why was she being so nice to me?
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll walk back to the palace. I should be fine.”
“Fine. Do whatever you want,” Aednat said, and then turned back to join the group of girls heading to their chambers.
Was she trying to be my friend? It seemed that way. But having Branna wash my feet would be like having a slave take care of me. I decided to take Aednat up on her offer. After running to catch up with her, I slowed down at her side. “Maybe I will let Branna clean me up. Thank you for caring.”
When she looked at me, I could’ve sworn a smile was trying to creep onto her face. Maybe all the years of not smiling left her lips incapable of doing so. She needed to work out those smiling muscles if she wanted to make it happen.
Reaching the top of the stairs, I followed the girls into the chambers that I once shared with them. My bed was still there. It was freshly made and looked as though it wanted me to sleep in it again. Maybe I would. It was lonely sleeping in my chambers all alone. I forgot how nice it felt to have people around when sleeping. I got so used to Silas being in my room and now that I’m alone, it feels strange.
Tessa’s bed was also freshly made. Branna must still change the sheets as part of her duties. I slid my hand over Tessa’s bed and remembered how she used to lie down in it and whisper over to me at night. I caught Aednat staring and she looked away as soon as I caught her.
Branna came out of the washroom and ran over to me when she saw me. “It’s good to see you again in these chambers. I’ve missed you.”
Truth be told, I haven’t missed her, but I didn’t want to seem mean. “It’s good to see you again too,” I said.
“Will you be joining us in the bath?” Branna asked.
“Nay. I just wanted to wash the mud off my feet and then I’ll wash in the palace.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
“Nay. I’ll be fine. Neala will wash me later.”
“Oh, alright.” Branna took my hand. “Let’s go into the washroom so I can wash your feet.”
Chapter 3
After Branna washed my feet, I slid on my boots and went back into the cold rain and returned to the palace.
Back in my chambers I slid off my wet cloak, hung it up, and then sat down on the stool by the door. I was untying my boots and sliding them off when I heard a clang from my washroom. I quickly stood and drew my sword. “Who’s there?”
When Neala emerged, I felt silly. What was I so afraid of? Who would dare sneak into my room?
I sheathed my sword and started to undo the harness when Neala spoke. “Alora, I have a message from Silas.”
A message? With the possibility of having to run around in front of the boys without any clothes, I completely forgot about Neala going in to see Silas and about needing to get the potion ready.
“What message?” I asked hanging my sword up on the hook by my cloak.
“Silas said that he misses seeing your fiery hair and the way your lips would touch.”
Ugh... Why did he have to say that? Now all I could think about was his lips, the way he ran his fingers through his hair, and the way he would look at me as if he could see into my soul with his piercing violet eyes. Would he still look at me that way when I visited him?
Neala continued. “He also told me to tell you these words—tuum manifestes.”
“What do those words do?”
“He said for you to speak them in the wizard’s workshop.”
“Is that all?”
“Nay. In case he never gets the chance to see you again. He wants you to know that he loves you.”
Tears began to swell in my eyes. I raised my forearm and wiped them. Neala dug into her pocket, retrieved a handkerchief, and handed it to me.
“Wait! What does he mean by never seeing me again?”
Neala looked down at her hands.
“Neala, tell me.”
Her eyes met mine. “He has a bad feeling. He feels the king is planning to execute him.”
“Has he heard anyone saying that will happen?”
“Nay. He just has a... a feeling.”
Maybe Silas was overreacting. Maybe he’s just being paranoid. Either way, I have to visit him. And I will.
“Thank you, Neala. I’m going to my workshop if you need me.”
Neala nodded and went to my closet to retrieve my shoes. She walked over to the stool and motioned. “Sit, please,” she said.
“Neala, I told you this must stop. I don’t want a slave.”
The door to my chambers swung open and Princess Evelyn entered.
“Hello Alora,” the princess greeted.
I curtsied, said, “Princess...,” and then sat down on the stool. I wish the princess would stop barging in on me.
I now understood why Neala wanted to continue performing her duties. She needed to in case anyone walked in on us. Anyone at all.
While Neala slid my shoes onto my feet, the princess informed me why she’d come to visit. “I wanted to see if you would like to join me in the garden for a walk.”
“Are you sure you want to walk in the garden?” I asked. “The weather isn’t that nice right now, Princess.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
She was right of course. “My feet are still quite cold from before.”
The princess pouted. “Di
d you go for a walk in the garden barefoot without me?”
“Nay, Princess. I visited the knightlys and lost a wager.”
“Lost! But you’re the best.”
“Maybe at some things, Princess, but not at everything.”
Neala smiled at my words and stood—she was finished putting on my shoes.
“Will you still go with me?” the princess asked, and then waited eagerly for my answer.
“Aye, Princess.”
Princess Evelyn clapped joyfully.
I continued. “But will you give me some time for my feet to warm. I also need to visit my workshop and take care of some things.”
“That’s excellent. I will meet you later at your workshop and we can go from there.”
“Aye, Princess. That sounds like a fine idea.”
The princess curtsied, I stood and curtsied back—our usual greeting and farewell these days. She liked that we had our own special way of greeting each other rather than saluting her, the way all the other knights did.
When she left, I draped my cloak over my arm and knelt down to pick up my boots. “Please meet me here at sundown,” I told Neala.
“Aye, Alora,” Neala answered.
Switching my boots to my other hand, I went over the plan in my head again. With my free arm I waved to Neala, shut the door behind me, and headed to my workshop.
When I arrived at my workshop, I shut the door and scanned the room. What would the magic words do, I wondered.
I looked up at the ceiling. The gloomy sky was high overhead and the water pelted and beaded on top of the glass. I hoped the words wouldn’t cause that clear barrier to disappear. I didn’t think Silas would do that to me without some kind of warning, so as I’d done so many times before, I flicked my wrist and ignited a fire in the wood burner to warm up the room.
I hung my cloak on the hook and set my boots down on the floor underneath the wood burner. I glanced at the closet and then at the desk. While still trying to guess what the magic words did, I sat down in my chair and leaned an elbow on my desk.
Since I had no clue what the words would do, I went for it. At first I whispered them, “Tuum manifestes,” but nothing happened. So I said them a little louder. “Tuum manifestes.”