The whole structure looked rather ramshackle and did not fit the neighbourhood, which consisted mainly of large mansions and well-kept grounds. He turned in his seat to look back at the princesses. “Whose house is that?” he asked, indicating the strange looking house.
“Oh,” said Margaret with disdain apparent in her voice, “that belongs to Andronicus, the King’s Mage. The man obviously has no sense of class.”
Anna was immediately interested. “I met him. He was good to me. Is he home? Do you think we can visit him?”
“No,” her sister replied, “Andronicus is the King’s Mage. Wherever the king goes, so goes Andronicus. Besides, he’s peculiar; he gives me nightmares.”
Gerald wondered why she would have such a negative view of the old man, but then again Margaret only seemed to take pleasure in lovely things, and he would not describe Andronicus as ‘pretty’.
He pondered if he would be treated with such disdain when he was old, then remembered his face in the mirror and realized he already was. The cold hard truth was that he had lived many years, and had little to show for it. He was starting to feel sorry for himself, but glanced at Anna in the carriage and realized he was lucky to have her as a friend. Perhaps he had more accomplishments in his life that he thought.
Their sojourn ended, they pulled back into the Palace where Anna was quick to make apologies for she was exceedingly tired. They retired to their rooms for the rest of the day and Anna arranged for food to be brought to her suite so they wouldn’t have to endure her sister’s chatter more than necessary.
The food was carried in on trays and laid out on tables for them; even dining chairs were brought in to make them more comfortable in the room. The food, as usual, was delicious and Gerald wondered if he would have to purchase a larger belt.
Their meal concluded, the servants cleared away the plates, leaving them to snack on small cakes and sip their drinks. He found himself getting used to the pampered life. He could easily spend the rest of his days in such comfort, but he knew it wouldn’t last. Soon they would have to return to their lives at Uxley. He was mulling over this in his mind when Anna spoke up.
“Gerald,” she said slowly, “what’s it like going around town without an escort?”
“Pardon,” he said, not understanding the question.
“I know we were shopping today, but we were accompanied by guards and dressed as royals. Everyone was nice, and all the shopkeepers deferred to us.”
“As well they should,” he said, “you’re both royals!”
“Yes,” she persisted, “but what if I wasn’t important. What would it be like for someone who wasn’t wealthy?”
He thought this over before replying. “Why don’t we find out tomorrow? You can wear the other clothes you brought from Uxley, and you and I will go shopping.” Anna smiled and was about to say something, but he cut her off. “But you can’t take a carriage, and we will only take a small number of coins. If we’re going into town as commoners, you’ll have to act like a commoner.”
“Agreed!” He could already see the gears starting to work in her mind before she spoke again, “So when we go shopping tomorrow I will be a commoner. I shall be Winifred Hart, the daughter of a wealthy merchant.”
“No, I think not,” he corrected. “How about you are Anna, the daughter of a retired soldier.”
She grinned, “Alright, I suppose that’s an easier role to play.”
“You’re not playing a role, just be yourself, minus your title of course. Now, unless you have something else you want to go over, I’d like to get some sleep, I’m rather tired.”
“Alright, goodnight… Father.”
Chapter 27
Commoners
Spring 959 MC
THE next morning, Anna and Gerald left the Palace by the servant’s entrance. They arranged to meet Sophie at a nearby tavern, in case they had trouble convincing the servants to let them back in. They took their time walking, for this was all new to Anna, and she loved taking in the view. Even the mere fact of so many people out and about was exciting to her. They saw young children being walked by their parents, older children running around with no apparent supervision, young couples holding hands and older folks. There were well-dressed nobles along with well-to-do commoners mingling with the middle class; even the odd beggar was visible. These were frequently young children who were often yelled at, then chased off by the town watch. Anna had never seen the town watch before and found them fascinating, but Gerald paid no attention to them. He had to explain that they were here to keep the peace, but were not soldiers. Yes, they had to be able to fight, but no, they would not stand in a line of battle or march to war. Uxley was too small to warrant a town watch and usually the locals who formed the militia dealt with any rowdiness. Here in Wincaster, they seemed to spend their time eyeing strangers and giving them dirty looks. Gerald had never trusted the town watch here. They had a reputation of being corrupt and lazy, but they were a reassuring presence for the locals as they went about their day.
They walked past a few stores, with Anna examining their windows to see what was inside. The first one she decided to enter was a gown shop. They stepped inside to an ill-lit interior where they saw dresses hanging on hooks and bolts of cloth laid out beneath a worktable. A tall, thin woman was at the table, cutting material with a pair of elegant scissors. The shiny fabric reflected the light and Anna, entranced by the material, made her way over to watch. She reached out, touching the silky material before her eyes looked up at the woman. She was shocked to realize the face looking down at her was not Human. Gerald chuckled as he remembered that Anna had never seen an Elf before. The woman looked down at Anna, with a smile coming to her face as she responded, “Is there something I can help you with, miss?” The woman’s voice sounded as silky as the material she was cutting.
Anna gazed up at her, not seeming to know how to react. Gerald had interacted with Elves before, but he was aware that for Anna, this was a new experience. The woman appeared Human in general shape but was much taller and thinner. Her hair was a dirty blond colour, tied up in an elaborate series of braids. Her most startling feature was her ears, for they were longer than Humans and slightly pointed at the ends. Gerald watched Anna overcome her initial discomfort. “I’m sorry,” she said at last, “I didn’t mean to stare, only I’ve never seen an Elf before. Sorry for being so rude.”
“That’s quite all right,” the Elf responded. “I’m used to it, there aren’t many Elves in Wincaster. You can call me Ellian. Is there something I can help you with?”
“I’m fascinated by this material,” Anna said, fingering the cloth. “Is it expensive?”
“I would think,” the Elf said, looking Anna over, “that it might be a bit beyond your means. May I suggest something a bit more practical?” She led Anna over to another shelf piled with bolts of cloth and withdrew a roll of deep green material, placing it on the table. “This is a very sturdy material that we bring in from the Darkwood. It’s very durable and well-made.”
Anna studied the cloth, feeling its softness. “It’s remarkable. I’ve never felt such a soft material. Would this work as a cloak?”
“Oh yes,” said Ellian. “I use it most often for outer garments. Very popular with some rangers. It can handle the inclement weather, and it’s quite warm.”
“I would like to get it, but I’m not sure how much I’d need.”
“That’s easy enough to figure out,” the Elf said. “We can sew it up for you, or we can take some measurements, and you can do it yourself.”
Anna thought it over before coming to a decision. In the end, she decided to have Ellian make it, and so they spent some time while the Elf took her measurements. Since it would not be finished before they departed the capital, Anna insisted on paying in advance to have it shipped to Uxley.
The visit ended up taking a large portion of their morning, and by the time they left, Gerald was feeling peckish. This turned out to be advantageous; for no so
oner had they left the dressmakers than they happened to come across a bakery. Anna insisted on entering, and for the rest of the morning, they examined the delicious treats that lay inside. They sampled a wide variety of goods and purchased some small meat pies which they took with them with the intention of eating later. So tempting was the delicious aroma, however, that they broke down and ate them right away.
Now fortified by their treats, they proceeded further down the street. They passed by a candle maker and could smell the paraffin as the wicks were dipped to make the candles. They made their way down the street and turned up Wilson Alley to see a cobbler working at a cramped stand. They purchased apples from an apple cart, while a young troop of girls wandered by who seemed to be on their way to church. The alley led to the adjacent street, and they could see they had travelled to a street full of blacksmiths, carpenters and other workmen. Gerald led her to an armoury where they could hear the constant pounding of metal. There was a basket out front full of old swords, and Anna drew one out, examining it. The wooden handle was rather basic, but the elegantly embossed blade appeared to have runes of some type.
“I see you have an eye for swords,” said a voice.
Gerald saw her jump, so engrossed was she in examining the blade. “Yes,” she said at last, “it’s very nice. Are all your swords like this?”
There was the sound of something dropping loudly onto a work table, and then the proprietor came out front. The smith, it turned out, was a Dwarf, one of the ancient races that dwelt in the land long before the Humans came. He was very Human-like, but short of stature, perhaps only five feet tall, and broad of girth. The smith smiled at Anna, and his toothy grin was bright against his soot-stained face, for he had been in front of the forge for hours. He was grimy and stained with sweat, giving off a rather unpleasant aroma which Gerald could see had just been detected by Anna.
The Dwarf was about to speak when he noticed Gerald, standing just to the side. “Well I’ll be,” the smith said, “if it isn’t Sergeant Gerald Matheson himself.”
Gerald was pleased the smith remembered him. “Good to see you Herdwin. How’s business?”
“Oh, not so bad,” Herdwin replied. “You know how it is. When the people are unhappy, the army buys more weapons. Good for me, not so good for the people.”
Gerald looked at Anna, “Allow me to introduce Anna. Anna this is Herdwin Steelarm, one of the finer weapon smiths hereabouts.”
“Pleased to meet you,” said Anna. “Did you make all these weapons yourself?”
Herdwin looked at the basket, “What, these? No, those are rubbish. I have those for customers that can’t afford decent weapons.”
“How can you say that?” asked Anna, holding up the blade for his inspection. “Look at the work on this, it’s fascinating.”
“Hold right there,” the Dwarf said gruffly, “and I’ll show you workmanship.” He disappeared for only a moment behind his stall and returned with a short sword, handing it to Anna. “Now that,” he exclaimed proudly, “is the type of work that I do.”
Anna took the blade, and Gerald watched her examine it. It seemed incredibly light, the handle was easy in her grip; a richly polished, dark coloured wood with strips of red leather carefully wrapped around it to make it comfortable. The cross-guard was elaborate and reminded Gerald of vines of ivy, while the blade seemed to catch even the smallest morsel of light and reflect it back tenfold. All along the blade was a series of small runes, forming a column that went from handle to tip. The edge seemed razor sharp, and Anna moved the sword around to look at it from all angles.
“It's incredible,” she said in awe. “How did you get it so sharp?”
Herdwin laughed. “I can’t tell you all my secrets, now can I? Go ahead, wave it around a little, and get a feel for it. Have you ever used a sword before?”
She swung it around, using practice swings to get a feel for the blade. Gerald was pleased; she had proved to be an adept student and did him proud. She would never be a warrior, but she could protect herself when needed, and that was enough in his book. He hoped that she would never have to use it, but was confident in her ability.
The Dwarf seemed surprised to see such a young girl wielding a sword with apparent skill. “My, you’re just full of surprises, little one.” He turned to Gerald. “Is she yours?”
“Er… yes,” Gerald stumbled on his answer, “my daughter.”
“Daughter? Well, I’ll be a blank stone. I never knew you had a family.”
“It’s a long story,” said Gerald, “perhaps you’d like to join us for a drink. I believe the Herald is nearby?”
“A tempting offer, but I’ve work to do.” He looked at Anna who was still swinging the short blade like a pro. “I’ll tell you what we’ll do young Anna. You take that. Consider it a birthday present from one of your dad’s old friends.”
Anna looked up at Gerald and smiled, “Can I Papa? Please?”
He tried to keep a straight face while Anna was hamming it up terribly. “Sure,” he said, “but you must let us buy you a drink. How about I send a jug over from the Herald?”
Herdwin’s teeth made another appearance as he grinned from ear to ear. “Deal!” He extended his hand to grasp Gerald's in a firm grip. “Now you get on over there, oh wait, before I forget,” he started rummaging through another basket. “Here’s a scabbard for you, and a belt. These are just cheap mind you, I don’t make them, but if you’re interested in something nicer, there’s a leather worker just down the street named Strickland who does some excellent decorative stuff.”
Anna took the belt and scabbard, putting the blade carefully away. “Thank you Herdwin,” she curtsied dramatically.
“You’re quite welcome, lass,” the old smith replied, then disappeared with a wave, back behind his stall to his waiting forge.
Gerald and Anna started down toward the Herald to wet their whistle. “You’re quite lucky,” said Gerald as they walked, “it’s not everyone who gets a Dwarven blade.”
“Is it magical?” she asked with wonder.
“No, but very well made. Dwarven smiths know the secret to making their metal light but durable. You’ll find that blade much easier on the arm that the one you have back at Uxley, and the blade will stay sharp longer.”
“A perfect weapon for a warrior princess,” she said proudly.
They took a quick break at the Herald Tavern to fortify themselves, and Gerald made sure to send a jug down to the Dwarf. They left shortly after that and wandered through the maze of side streets, poking their heads into stores, examining carts loaded with goods and generally just observing the townsfolk.
They stopped in at a leather worker where Gerald purchased a belt pouch. He had finished buying the new item and was carefully attaching it to his belt when he noticed Anna. She was hunting for a scabbard for her dagger, and a young lad, only a little older than she, was moving toward her. He felt alarmed and moved quickly to protect her. The young boy sidled up to her, placing his hand on lightly her behind and Anna suddenly squeaked. She turned abruptly and saw the boy, who was grinning from ear to ear. Her face turned red, and just as she was about to speak, Gerald caught the young lad by the ear, dragging him to the doorway. “Out with you,” he said, releasing the boy and assisting him on his way with a boot to the rear end. The boy veritably flew from the establishment but landed on his feet, scampering off down the street with a look of fear on his face. He kept looking behind him to see if he was being followed.
All of this amused the patrons of the leather worker, and Anna rapidly turned an even brighter shade of red. Gerald took her hand and led her from the building, moving away from the direction the boy had taken. They stopped half a block away, and he could see her fighting to regain control. She calmed herself then said, “Well, that was… interesting.”
“I’m afraid that that sort of thing is more common than you might think,” he said. “I hope you didn’t find it too unsettling. Of course, you could have him flayed alive fo
r touching a royal that way.”
She turned swiftly toward him and was surprised to see his face was serious. “No, it’s fine. He didn’t know I’m royal. I must learn to behave as a commoner if I’m to pass as one. No harm was done, but I won’t let it happen a second time.”
They walked on in companionable silence, then Anna’s attention was diverted by a commotion down the street. As they neared, they could see a brightly dressed man standing on a box. He was engaging the crowd with his recitation of a poem. As they drew closer, the crowd broke into applause, and just as they came within earshot, they heard the man speak.
“Be sure to come down to the Grand Theatre this afternoon for the matinee performance of the King’s Mistress. We still have seats available.”
“What’s that man doing?” Anna asked.
“He’s one of the actors down at the Grand. They have a play running, a comedy I think.”
“A comedy?” she asked.
“Yes, you know, a play with humour. Usually, they poke fun at those in positions of authority. It’s all fun and games; no one takes it seriously.”
“Can we go see it, Papa?” she gave him the well-practiced doe-eyed look, holding her hands in a pleading motion.
He grinned as he answered, “Of course, my daughter, but I must warn you that some of the humour can be… adult. They’ll likely poke fun at the king and the other royals.”
“That’s all right,” she said, “I’m just a commoner. It will be interesting to see what other people think about the king.”
They decided they should see the play, giving them a timetable for their afternoon. They were told the play would begin after the bells sounded two, so they made their way haphazardly toward the Grand, looking in stores along the way. They had fun. Gerald found himself relaxing and enjoyed seeing the joy on Anna’s face each time she discovered something new.
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