“I might as well go to my room,” Luca eventually said, feeling a little sleepy. Afterall, it had thus far been a hectic kind of day, and with him being needed to oversee the arrival of Eli and his friends he felt quite exhausted by it all.
“You spend too much time in there,” Edward commented, perhaps suggesting that he didn’t fancy going back indoors. Luca grinned, knowing that if he went in, Edward would be duty bound to follow. Yet despite the urge to do just that, if only because it wasn’t what Edward wanted, Luca felt strangely obliged to be more thoughtful.
“Would you care to go for a bit of a walk then?” Luca found himself asking.
“Sure, bit off fresh air never did anybody any harm,” Edward replied apparently much happier with that suggestion.
While Luca wasn’t sure why he had bothered to consider Edward’s own needs, the fact that he had gave him a good feeling. Typically Luca did what he wanted and didn’t bother with what other people thought or desired. He was the crown prince, and soon to be king, of the entire kingdom after all, and therefore people should do as he wished. Yet for believing all that Luca realised he had just done something he had never done before, putting someone else’s needs before his own.
As the pair walked out of the safety of the keep yard, two of Lord Oakley’s soldiers took it upon themselves to follow behind. While this was something Luca was quite used to, Edward appeared to take it personally, as if they didn’t trust him to be capable enough to protect the prince, should trouble arise. In truth, it was something that Luca had never really thought about before now. Before the incident on the wedding day where Lord Oakley and Samuel had saved his life, he had never really considered how effective his guards were. After all, up until that time, he had never been in any real danger, and the fact that soldiers appeared intent on following him around was just something that happened. Edward was his personal guard, apparently because he was much younger and therefore considered someone who Luca would prefer to have around him. While the two had initially not got off on the best of terms, it was true that Luca was warming to Edward, if only a little. Just to how good he was as a guard, rather than just someone who followed him around all day, Luca hoped they never had to find out.
With the sun against his skin and the fresh sea breeze blowing into his face, Luca looked out over the water below him. Having found a position just outside the main walls that overlooked the dockyard below, he savoured the moment. Aside from the sound of the sea and a few gulls crying out somewhere in the distance it was calm and quiet. Luca closed his eyes for a few seconds and inhaled deeply. His life may have been in turmoil, but for that short moment, he felt calm and peaceful, as if the surroundings were washing away all his troubles.
Chapter 11. A Prince in Danger.
Luca fidgeted slightly still finding it difficult to settle in the bed he had been given. While all very clean, the mattress was somewhat lumpy and not as soft as he was used to, meaning that a good night’s slumber was sometimes hard to find. Having to share his room with Edward, who Luca could tell was asleep across the other side of the room on a bed nearer the door, was a new experience. Having lived in what many would consider his own set of rooms in the palace, sharing a room barely a fraction the size was something he was still getting used to. The fact someone else was there was one thing, but hearing the soft breathing and occasional snoring was something else.
With darkness still very prominent, Luca guessed it would be a few hours yet before dawn. While he had tried endlessly to get to sleep, the longer his restlessness went on, the harder finding slumber appeared to become. Hearing Edward snoring, albeit not particularly loudly, did not help matters, and with some reluctance, Luca threw back his covers and kicked his legs over the side of his bed. With his mouth feeling somewhat dry, and him not having a drink at hand, Luca thought he would head downstairs to the kitchens and find himself something nice to quench his thirst. Perhaps even a small snack might be in order, that was if he could find anything worth eating.
Dressed only in his nightgown, another garment that had been passed down to him from Samuel, Luca crept quietly across the room. With no light to speak of he headed in the direction of the door, using the sound of Edward’s breathing to know which route to go. With each step seemingly sounding far louder than it ordinarily would, Luca was sure Edward would wake. The floorboards creaked underfoot, before Luca fumbled around for the door handle, although the sound of Edward’s deep sleep continued uninterrupted. Affording himself a smile at how good he must be at sneaking about, Luca slowly opened the door to his room, but only half-closing it, before heading off across the landing towards the stairs. There were no guards around at this hour, at least not in the main building allowing Luca to move without any further hindrance.
While he had a general idea of which way to go, walking around in the dark, in what was still very much a strange building was going to be tricky. After several creaking floorboards seemed intent on giving him away to the entire household, Luca headed down the first step. With one hand holding tightly onto the bannister, he tentatively took one step at a time. His bare feet felt the chill of the stone floor as he reached the bottom. Here just a single lamp had been left burning, casting off just enough light for him to make out the large plants and the way he needed to go. Wishing he had his slippers, Luca bundled his way along and eventually through the dining room and ultimately into the kitchen area.
Although he had never actually been inside the kitchens before, he had noticed the servants using that particular entrance when carrying food out to the dining room. Such was the hour, the area was completely devoid of any people, although Luca could feel it was perhaps a few degrees warmer in there as opposed to the other rooms, probably due to the ovens still throwing off heat despite not currently being in use. As to what hour the kitchen staff started work, Luca had no idea, but those in the palace apparently got underway before dawn, although in truth he had never actually been around to know that was actually the matter of fact.
The kitchen had a large window at the far end. Although still very much dark outside, a little of the light from the stars and moon somehow made it a little easier to see where he was going. Although only able to see outlines of the ovens and work surfaces, it made navigating around much easier. However, knowing where to find a drink or any food, was somewhat problematic and would require a better solution. Thinking himself a genius, Luca remembered there were several lamps in the dining room, and knowing he would need the use of one of them headed back that direction.
After fumbling around for a vesta to ignite the wick of the oil lamp, Luca smiled as a soft glow emerged casting out a globe of light around him.
“Now that’s better,” he mumbled to himself as he headed back into the kitchen. Holding the lamp slightly out in front of him, grasping at the brass handle on the side, he adjusted the wick just a little to burn a bit brighter. Unseen before, he could now make out the rows of pans that hung above his head and the wooden chopping boards upon the worktops. A row of knives were placed in a block, hiding the sharp blades from view, and he spotted a series of glass jars that ran along a shelf, all labelled with the names of various herbs and spices, some of which he had not heard of before.
After gazing around for a minute or two, Luca then spotted a smaller door and afforded a grin, knowing it was probably the way to the larder or cold store. After clicking open the latch, he held the lamp slightly higher and gazed around inside to see a much larger store than he had expected. Running a good ten paces back and at least the same again wide, the room was filled with shelves and racks, all adorned with various types of food. Luca glanced up a little to see several cuts of meat hanging above him from metal hooks, and just to his right the same hooks contained the corpses of unplucked game birds. A couple of pheasants, a partridge and another he didn’t know, but his attention was drawn to a large wheel of cheese that was on the shelf right in front of him.
After fetching a knife from the block he had sp
otted in the kitchen, Luca thought to cut himself just a small wedge, before casting his gaze further inside for anything else. He caught sight of two large pitchers with lids on and headed that way, hoping it might be some chilled juice. Luck seemed to be with him when he lifted the lid back on the first and sniffed at the opening. Although he couldn’t be certain without tasting it, Luca thought it to be some kind of citrus fruit. With a beaker of juice, a wedge of cheese, Luca headed back out of the store, but not before reaching up and slicing off just a little from a ham that was hanging there. After leaving the knife on the worktop for one of the kitchen staff to clean and put away in the morning, Luca, with his small bounty in one hand and his lamp in the other headed back to the dining room.
Although cooler, and a little chilly, Luca settled down on one of the chairs and broke off a little piece of the cheese before popping it into his mouth. Gazing out around the room he didn’t rush his food but savoured it, slowly allowing his senses to get the full flavour of each item. With the last crumb of cheese gone and the ham all eaten, Luca gulped back the last of his drink before leaning back contently in his chair. Quiet and alone, just like old times, he thought as he let his mind wander. Stifling a yawn, he thought he should probably head back upstairs, and with a lamp to help guide him, he went to stand.
Suddenly, Luca heard a noise from within the kitchen. He froze in place as his sleepy and weary body suddenly became very alert. Perhaps it was just one of the staff making an early start, or even someone else helping themselves to a little snack just as he had done. Yet there was something strange about the situation as he turned the wick on his lamp right down, so it barely gave off any light at all. Another noise sounded as if someone had just banged into some pots and a voice that quickly followed letting out a curse. Quickly, Luca put his lamp out completely, sending him once more into darkness, and leaving him as nothing more than a dark shape upon one of the chairs.
If whoever was in the kitchen were staff as he had first thought, why were they walking around in the dark? If it was somebody helping themselves to a secret snack, then why hadn't they lit a lamp like he had? Something didn’t fit right, and Luca then realised that the initial noise he had heard had sounded like somebody forcing the door that led from the kitchen to the outside yard. Was somebody breaking into the kitchen to steal food? Then the door that linked it with the dining room slowly opened, and Luca momentarily held his breath. Unmoving and remaining as still as he could be, Luca spotted two dark shapes move through the doorway. Nothing more than silhouettes in the blackness, he hoped to remain unseen as he tried to keep his breathing from making any sound.
Thankfully, whoever it was, appeared to know roughly where they were going as he heard a man’s voice saying they needed to head through into the entrance hall. However, it was the next sentence that caused Luca alarm and the realisation that his life was very much in danger.
“Apparently the prince is in the room at the top of the stairs. Let’s move quietly in, slit his throat and then back out this way. Nobody will even know we’ve been here.”
Remaining frozen in place, unseen but very scared, Luca could feel the panic take hold of his body. His hands were shaking, and he thought the pounding of his heart would surely give him away as the two dark shapes moved towards the dining room doors and beyond. If they knew where they were going, it suggested to Luca that they were familiar with the layout of Lord Oakley’s home. However, now the men had passed by him, and they were heading towards the stairs, Luca felt the initial danger at least had gone. Yet, something niggled away at his mind, as if there should be something he could and should do. Raising the alarm was the obvious thing although that might have the intruders in a panic and head back his way.
“Edward!” Luca eventually whispered to himself.
If the intruders knew which room Luca was staying in, then the only person sleeping in that room was Edward. In the dark of night, they wouldn’t know who it was they were killing, and would surely assume that the one asleep in the room would be Luca. Knowing it was the right thing to do, despite all common sense telling him otherwise, Luca slowly and quietly got to his feet. With his eyes now adjusted once more to the darkness, he knew there was no time to waste. If he dallied too long now, then the two figures would sneak into his room, kill Edward and be heading his way again to make good their escape. With no time to spare, Luca moved swiftly through the kitchen door again, towards the area of worktop he had placed the small knife down. Moving his hands across the work surface in the dark, feeling out blindly, he found what he wanted and grabbed the handle, before darting back out into the dining room.
Taking the steps as quietly as he could, Luca was thankful that the two dark figures ahead of him were clearly not the skilled assassins he had originally thought them to be. Making far more noise than he did, he heard one curse again after it sounded like one had walked into something on the landing. Whoever it was seemed familiar with the layout of the keep, yet not so much as to what furniture went where. As Luca sneaked up to the top stair, he spotted the figures standing beside each other as if trying to get their bearings as to which room they needed to go into.
“That one,” he heard a voice saying.
“I thought it was that one,” came a somewhat unsure reply.
Knowing that he was to save Edward, he had to do something entirely out of character, Luca took one last deep breath, before implementing his only plan.
As quickly as he could, he took the opportunity to strike as both intruders had their back to him. With his knife in hand, Luca thundered across the landing shouting and yelling as loud as he could, swinging the sharp blade around in an arc before him with a view to catching both men as they turned to see what was going on. Time appeared to slow, as Luca seemed to lose all control of rational thinking, and though the knife blade hit something in front of him, he couldn’t be certain exactly what. Having made his strike, Luca then proceeded with part two of his master plan and turned about to head for the nearest door and hoping it wasn’t locked.
Discarding the knife, Luca fumbled at the door handle, relieved as it clicked open without too much delay. In one swift movement, he had the door open and was through it as the cries of someone shouting called out on the landing behind him. Feeling somewhat disorientated Luca was unsure as to whose room he had entered, but was somewhat comforted by a familiar voice calling out in the darkness
“Samuel, we have intruders!” he shouted.
Within a few moments, a lamp flickered into life and Luca could already see Samuel clambering from his bed and reaching for the sword he had left hanging on a hook just beside it.
“Two men out on the landing. I think Edward might need help,” Luca said speaking the words so quickly he wasn’t sure they actually made any sense.
“Stay in here, Sire. Lock the door when I go out,” Samuel said drawing the sword from its protective sheath.
Luca for once did not argue or need telling twice. No sooner had Samuel left the room, he fumbled with the lock on the inside fo the door until he heard it click. The muffled sounds of shouting continued outside, and Luca felt utter fear as the first clang of metal chimed out. Blade on blade, he hoped Samuel and Edward were as good with a sword as they made themselves out to be.
Within a few seconds it seemed there were hundreds of feet pounding around outside the door, and as the shouting grew louder and more intense, Luca realised any fighting must have ceased. Unsure as to whether he should remain locked away or just peek to see what was going on he slowly reached his hand down towards the lock. However, as his fingers nervously touched it, a knock sounded at the door making him jump and recoil his arm quickly. Feeling his heart almost missing a beat, Luca breathed in deeply to calm himself as he heard the familiar sound of Lord Oakley calling his name from behind the door.
“Are you okay, Sire?”
Luca went to reply and shout that he was when he thought it probably easier just to open the door and talk face to face.
The landing area was somewhat crowded, as soldiers moved along, seemingly going from room to room and checking for any further intruders. Lamps and candles were lit and illuminated the place as if it were daytime. Luca had never felt so glad to see a friendly face, and with his hands still visibly shaking he noticed they had blood on them. As to whether it was his own or the attackers he wasn’t certain, but Lord Oakley apparently feared the worst when he also noticed it.
“We must get you seen to immediately,” the man said.
“I’m fine, are Edward and Samuel okay?” Luca asked. However, it seemed that his question was falling on deaf ears, as Lord Oakley all but dragged him along the landing into another room further along.
Luca was surprised when he saw Nerina and her mother standing together as if comforting each other, and two soldiers just inside the doorway.
“Stay in here, Sire,” Lord Oakley said, before asking his wife to check Luca for any injury. Despite him reiterating his claims that he felt fine, Lady Oakley took one look at his bloodied hand and immediately went into mothering mode. Treating him as if he were a small child, as opposed to him being the crown prince and future king, she gently took his arm and walked him over to the washstand positioned on the far side of the room. Nerina, in contrast to her mother, seemed more intrigued as to what was going on outside on the landing.
Samuel, who had taken a cut to his upper arm, watched on as the two dead intruders were carried down the stairs. With one taken by his own blade, it had been the first time he had ever fought in anger. Edward, who was standing beside him in his underwear had killed the other, although with much less effort than the man Samuel had faced. Having already suffered an injury, Edward’s foe had struggled to defend himself and had lasted no more than a few seconds against the skilful and practised moves of Luca’s personal guardsman.
The Broken Kingdom Page 12