Chapter 51
Helsop
Electra was awake at dawn. Today, she decided, she would avoid arguments with her parents by staying busy in places away from the school of medicine. She left the twins to sleep a while longer and went to the kitchen to heat water for their breakfast.
Isa was already in the school's kitchen. She had Timor and Little Dagon with her. Little Dagon scurried out to see if the twins were following behind Electra.
"Shalin and Esme are still sleeping," Electra said, giving Little Dagon a quick hug. She smiled at Isa and Timor. "You are here early."
"I do not sleep well with Olaf gone," Isa said with a yawn. "I thought I would make porridge here so the children can eat together."
"Esme and Shalin will thank you. As do I. We are all happier when the twins are with playmates," Electra observed.
Isa began to dish up bowls of porridge. "I made enough for your guests—though they seem to prefer sending out for food from the mess tent."
Electra sighed. "They are showing no signs of leaving any time soon. I plan to cancel classes today and spend my time away from the school to avoid their 'suggestions' on how Helsop should be managed in Dagon's absence."
Isa smiled. "I have noticed they do not lack for ideas on how best to manage us."
Electra turned on hearing the patter of tiny feet. The twins, followed by their feline protector, came through the open door to the kitchen. Their eyes lit up on seeing Little Dagon holding his bowl of porridge.
"Good morning, Sleepy Heads. We have porridge for you." Electra kissed them both and led them to the dining table where she could spoon a few bites of porridge into their mouths before they demanded to be allowed to play with Little Dagon.
Before long the twins were under the table, playing with spoons and dolls, offering bits of wood and cloth to their playmates.
Electra heard movement coming from the student rooms. Fearing it might be her parents waking up, she turned to Isa. "Would you mind keeping an eye on the twins for a while? I want to spend some time at the castle site and..." she lowered her voice, "I want to avoid arguments with my parents if I am able."
Isa took a bite of her porridge. "I don't mind. Your parents do not deign to express their opinions to me." She laughed in a good-natured way.
"Thank you," Electra whispered as she slipped out the door.
As Electra neared the site of the unfinished castle, her heart gave a lurch. Her father was already there and from the look on the Helsop foreman's face, he was already giving orders.
"It is too soon for arrow slits," her father said in a loud voice. "Those walls need to be a good five feet higher."
The castle workmen looked at Electra with hopeful expressions as she approached.
"Good morning, Father," she said brightly. "What brings you out so early?"
King Geoffrey frowned at his daughter. "This really will not do. I know you have no interest in discussing siege engines or their capabilities, but you must believe me when I say these walls need to be more than twenty feet high. An invader would laugh to see such an easy conquest."
"Yes, of course," she said. "Allow me to speak to the workmen."
King Geoffrey stood aside reluctantly as Electra moved closer to the workmen. "Dagon will soon be back," she said in a low voice. "Could you pretend to make the walls higher and work on some other part of the castle for a few days?"
The foreman in charge frowned and nodded. "How do you know Dagon will be back soon?"
"He estimated a fortnight's journey to reach Hammer Haven. It has been a month now. It is time."
The foreman turned to his men. "We will go higher with the wall," he ordered.
Electra could not see the foreman's face but she assumed the order was followed with a broad wink.
King Geoffrey seemed satisfied with his morning's work.
"You might tell them to follow my orders from now on. It would save you having to approve my commands at every turn," he said in a grumpy voice.
"They are quite emphatic that I do approve any changes since Dagon put me in charge," Electra said with as much humility as she could muster.
King Geoffrey shook his head as though unable to comprehend such strict adherence to senseless instructions.
They passed by Dorian's forge on their way back to the school of medicine. King Geoffrey stopped walking when he heard Prince Oswald's voice.
"Beautiful!" said Prince Oswald in an excited tone of voice. "I do not know how else to describe it."
King Geoffrey stepped into the forge and Electra followed him.
Prince Oswald held a sword on its flat edge with one finger, testing the balance. He saw King Geoffrey and Electra and rewarded them with a beaming smile.
"Dorian has outdone himself. Look at the perfect balance." He tossed the sword in the air with his one finger and grabbed the hilt as it descended. He flipped the sword up to twirl in the air before catching it once again by its hilt. Then he lowered the tip of the blade down to flip a small piece of charcoal into the air. As the charcoal reached its apex he sliced through it with his new sword. The two perfect charcoal halves landed at his feet.
Dorian watched the exhibition with an expression of pride for his creation. King Geoffrey seemed impressed with Prince Oswald's swordsman abilities but made no comment, nor did Electra who felt the Prince was showing off for their benefit.
Prince Oswald sheathed his sword with a grateful nod to Dorian before addressing King Geoffrey. "I am glad you are here, King Geoffrey. I have a matter I would like to discuss with you. It concerns your daughter as well."
The three walked slowly away from Dorian and his forge. King Geoffrey waited for Prince Oswald to begin. Electra looked at Prince Oswald uncertainly. "Perhaps I should leave the two of you to your discussion," she offered.
"No, I believe you should hear this as well," Prince Oswald said in a magnanimous tone.
Electra shrugged and stayed by her father as they walked in the direction of the school of medicine.
Prince Oswald cleared his throat before speaking. "I believe my father might be willing to invest is this village." He addressed his comments directly to King Geoffrey. "With a small influx of gold currency we could speed the production of weapons, perhaps put in another forge or two. The influx of currency would aid in the building of their castle which would safeguard our investment. Of course King Gundar would likely ask me to stay on to oversee the investment and the weapons production."
Electra could hardly believe what she was hearing. Nor could she believe that Prince Oswald was directing his proposition not to her, but to her father. She saw her father nodding as he listened and decided to say something before her father had a chance to agree.
"That is a proposition which will need to be put to Dagon when he returns," she said as politely as she could manage in her angry state.
"Yes, of course," Prince Oswald said, finally acknowledging her presence. "When do you suppose that might be?" He could not keep a small smile from creeping to the corners of his mouth.
King Geoffrey seemed suddenly aware of his daughter's growing rage. "Quite right, My Dear. It is certainly premature to make any agreements as yet. But you must admit, Prince Oswald's proposal would be beneficial to Helsop."
Electra tried to maintain a neutral expression. "Since we do agree we must wait for Dagon's return to consider it, I will excuse myself and make my rounds at the clinic."
Both men knew there were no patients at the clinic save Old Leif, but neither said anything as Electra took off at a brisk pace.
Electra sat in the chart room of the clinic fingering the dried petals of a wild rose. She did not know how much longer she could keep her guests at bay. If Dagon did not return she would be powerless to stop their meddling. It was true Dagon had put her in charge, but how far would that go in a power struggle with her own father—a father who happened to be King of Fernland.
She crushe
d a few more petals between her fingers and remembered the crystal ball Serafina had given her when she had hopes of Electra becoming a sorceress like herself. Tonight she would search out the long forgotten ball and ask the question she feared to ask.
Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine Page 53