Chapter 31
Fernland Castle
Electra, Magsa, Odval and Althar urged their tired horses on, hoping to reach Fernland's castle before sunset. At sunset the drawbridge across the castle moat would be lifted up and access to the castle denied. After two nights of camping out in the forest, they all looked forward to the comfort of castle beds.
The trip from Helsop to Fernland had been grueling for Electra. Odval had barely spoken during the three day journey. She wore two fertility charms around her neck—one made by Electra and one made by Juanita. Electra had made her three tea fertility drink for Odval each evening on the journey from Helsop, but Odval had only taken a few sips before wrinkling her nose and pouring it on the ground. Electra wondered if Odval feared the tea might be poisoned. Electra asked Magsa a few leading questions, trying to gauge Odval's reaction to watching Esme call the rabbit into her hands, but Magsa remained vague in her answers.
Althar raised his hand to call a halt. He pointed to a faint trail leading down to the river where the horses could drink.
"We are close to the castle," he called out. "We have time to give the horses a drink."
Electra had invited Althar along for form's sake. Her parents would be horrified at the notion of three women making the long trip unescorted. Althar was a stockade guard in Helsop. Since he had no prisoners to guard, it had been easy to convince him to come along as a chaperone.
Electra slid off her horse and stood beside Althar as the horses walked into the shallow stream. "Have you been to Fernland's castle before?" she asked.
Althar laughed. "I suppose you might say so. At least I've been to its dungeon."
Electra blushed. He must have been one of the many prisoners released from the dungeon when her father signed the treaty between Helsop and Fernland.
"I am sorry," she said. "Was it a terrible experience?"
"Let us say only that I hope for better accommodations this time around."
When the horses were thoroughly watered, they mounted up and were soon at the castle drawbridge with time to spare. They passed through the gates to the marketplace and on to the steps of the castle where a page waited. The page looked closely at Althar, expecting to see Dagon. He seemed a bit flustered at the sight of a stranger.
Electra decided orders would be more expedient than explanations. She spoke directly to the page.
"Althar will accompany the horses," she said. "He will stay in quarters with the royal guard. Bataar's wife and her translator will need rooms in the castle and Bataar should be notified that his wife has returned."
The page nodded, spoke to a guard and led the three women up the stairs of the castle. He stopped on the second floor and opened the door of a guest room for Odval and Magsa, then led on to Delphinia's room where he announced Princess Electra.
Queen Delphinia opened the door to the royal bed chamber suite and threw open her arms to hug her daughter. She looked around Electra, no doubt expecting to see Dagon, but saw only the retreating back of the page.
Delphinia stepped back, still holding her daughter's shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"It is so good to see you. So much has happened here since I wrote to you of Avor's birthday celebration. Your father is quite beside himself. But no more of that. You must be exhausted. Come and sit. Are you hungry? Thirsty?"
Electra smiled. "I am fine. What has happened? Why is Father beside himself?" She took a chair in the sitting area beside a writing desk.
Delphinia shook her head. "I am afraid the white powder Muller risked his life to obtain is now ruined."
"No!" Electra realized the gravity of the situation and how upset her father must be. "How did this happen?"
"The wine barrel taps were opened and the white powder soaked through with wine."
"I am so sorry," Electra said. "Was it an accident?"
"Geoffrey does not think so." Delphinia's eyes looked up sorrowfully. "Is Dagon's share of the white powder safe?"
"As far as I know," Electra replied.
"I am sure Geoffrey will want to speak to him about it."
"Umm, I am afraid Dagon was not able to accompany me on this trip."
"What? Surely you did not travel here alone?" Delphinia's face grew pale. "I should have sent the carriage."
Electra held up her hand. "I was not alone. Our guard Althar came with us—Odval, Magsa and me."
"Odval? We heard she had enrolled in your school of medicine. And who is Magsa?"
"Magsa is her translator."
"That is a kindness. I remember when Odval was last a guest here at the castle. We had no way of communicating with her until Bataar returned. But why is Dagon not with you?"
"He is at a critical point in the construction of the castle. He sends his regrets on missing Avor's celebration."
Delphinia seemed a little disappointed but changed the subject without commenting further on his absence. "We were very surprised when we heard Odval enrolled as a student. She has an interest in medicine?"
"She has an interest in having a baby."
Delphinia blushed. "What has that to do with enrolling in your school?"
"It is supposed to be a secret but I mean to tell Father anyway. It seems she has not produced an heir in a timely fashion. Now she is faced with the possibility of Bataar taking a second wife—the daughter of China's emperor."
Delphinia's mouth made a little round 'O' of surprise. "The poor child. Still, what did she suppose you could do to help her?"
Now it was Electra's turn to blush. "She wanted me to make her a fertility charm."
Delphinia pursed her lips. "Is that a thing a physician in Barburee might do?"
"Perhaps," Electra said, hoping to veer away from anything smacking of witchcraft that she might have learned at Serafina's knee. "I think this second wife might be connected to an alliance between Barburee and China."
"You are correct in thinking your father should be told of this. But perhaps later—after Avor's party. Now is not the best time for a visit. He is most unhappy about his white powder. Quite inconsolable."
Electra patted her mother's hand and smiled. "So Avor is to turn sixteen?"
Delphinia's eyes lit up. "He has matured so much of late I hardly recognize him." She lowered her voice as though someone might be attempting to overhear their conversation. "You know Geoffrey assigned him the job of engineering apprentice so he could report on the Taz workers' activities, but it has worked out to be the best thing that could have happened to him. He is at ease now with the Taz language and I believe he could undertake to build a ship all on his own. He has learned leadership in his new role. We are so proud."
"I have never doubted his abilities," Electra replied, sensing that her brother's new skills as a shipbuilder seemed to garner more enthusiasm than her own as a physician.
Delphinia quickly switched back to her daughter's accomplishments.
"Tell me how your new school is progressing. Have you other students besides Odval?"
Electra smiled at her mother's attempts to mollify her. She was embarrassed to have been so easily read. "I do. I have four students still. We made a trip into the forest to identify and gather herbal cures just before I left."
Delphinia seemed delighted with the news. "But not without suitable guards, I trust."
Electra considered Ebony a suitable guard and so replied confidently. "Of course. I have so far concentrated on making tinctures and teas as well as cataloging which curative herbs can be found in our forest."
Delphinia's concentration seemed to be wandering. "Wonderful. Your students are so fortunate to have your guidance."
Electra wondered what her mother was really thinking about. "What have you planned for Avor's birthday celebration?"
Now she had her mother's undivided attention.
"We have been planning for weeks. And now we are doubly challenged, for Prince Oswald is soon to arrive
. He is King Gundar's second son. Gundar's kingdom is one Geoffrey has long wished to cultivate as a possible ally. We hope to impress Prince Oswald thoroughly even though he is not the heir to the kingship—only the younger brother to the heir. Still he will report back to his father regarding his reception here so we must put forth our best efforts."
As Delphinia continued to set out her plans for Avor's celebration, Electra struggled to keep her eyes open. It had been such a long day.
Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine Page 32