Satana laughed as well and the foul smell of his breath knocked Flora into the back of her seat.
"You know I ain't stupid...Miss Flora," he said the last word with degradation, his tongue slipping between his teeth as he spoke. "Where are you headed in this lot?"
"Your guess is as good as mine Satana," Flora said.
"Well, maybe I will follow along. Could be lucrative for a poor fella like me," he said, tipping the top of his hat at her before flicking his eyes to where Lord Reynald now stood outside the door. He reached into the carriage and dropped a brown rag that looked stained with more than dirt. "Dry your eyes love. You will see me again soon I am sure. Ain't no need to miss me."
Flora flinched away from the rag while looking at the door, and by the time Flora had looked back at Satana, he had disappeared into the crowd around them. She picked up the filthy cloth, hiding it her skirts as the two men came back in.
It was shortly after that that they reached their destination. Peasant Street, so improperly named with the banks, bookstores, and high-class markets that lined the streets, serving the rich and royal. Their carriage itself parked outside one of the bookstores, marked by the sign outside showing a unicorn running right off the pages of a book, and Flora's foot jittered along the floor as she waited for Oswald and Lord Reynald to leave the carriage so they could go in and she could see what a book store was all about. Her amazement with the dragon book had made her wonder what else she could find lost between the pages of a bound book.
Lord Reynald and Oswald left and it seemed to take forever until Oswald reached his hand in for her, which she took and they made their way around the carriage to see Lady Dells standing at the door of the book store, her cane in one arm and a book tucked under the other. It took her a moment to notice them, but she lifted her cane in acknowledgement before making her way over.
"Miss Faodail, how lovely. Lord Reynald," she said, and then nodded to Oswald. "What a lovely surprise to see friends outside the castle. It does not happen as often anymore as it should."
"We had some errands to run," said Lord Reynald, his voice dripping pleasantries. "As I see you did also."
"Yes, I just have a bank stop to make and then I think I will head back to the castle for a nap," Lady Dells said.
"We are headed there as well," said Lord Reynald. "Let us escort you."
"Do we not have anything to do in the book store?" Flora asked Lord Reynald, praying breathlessly as he looked back that she could just take a glance inside.
"You already have a book to read Flora. After we hit the bank perhaps," Lord Reynald said, impatience slipping into his voice.
Lady Dells nodded the head. "You could not have discovered all the amazing things about dragons in the book I gave you and I would love the company," she said before starting off farther down the street, with them dutifully following.
The bank was throbbing with people waiting in line or exiting. There shoulders either slumped of their steps eager. The building itself was massive, four times the size of any other on the street.
Oswald's grip on her arm drew tighter, as they entered the building, just behind Lady Dells. Cutting in front of dozens of peasant visitors to find themselves near the front. Flora wondered at the massive stone pillars along the sides and the large crystal chandeliers hanging from the roof. She had never had a reason to be in the bank before.
"Lord Reynald!" Came an excited male voice.
Flora turned with Oswald to see who it was, only to see Lord Reynald and the man greet in a tight embrace. The man was dressed in such fine navy clothes with silver embroidered snakes along the trim they would have blended in perfectly at the revel weeks earlier.
"It has been too long, my friend," the man said, releasing Lord Reynald to give him a hard pat on the back, while Lord Reynald beamed at their new guest.
"Duke Cortana, the fault is all mine of course," he said.
"Not at all, I will have to ask my sister Curilane to come to visit more and you can come as her guard as you always do. Then we can escape our Queen and spend time with just ourselves, as we did when we were younger," he said.
Lord Reynald nodded his head with enthusiasm. "What brought you to town? Last I heard you were on a boat sailing stars know where?"
Duke Cortana waved his hand at the question. "Another time my friend. I have business to do, otherwise, I would stay and chat." He stepped back from Lord Reynald taking in the sight of the man, before leaning in to embrace him again. "Soon, Lord Reynald, Soon," he said, giving him one last pat before following a banker into one of the far rooms, without even a glance at the people with Lord Reynald.
Flora wrinkled her nose as he walked away. Any man who was such a good friend of Lord Reynald's could not be good for her.
They waited with Lady Dells until the next banker was available to help them. Lady Dells the picture of patience as Lord Reynald stood beside them, constantly probing Flora to get closer to Lady Dells. Poking her in the ribs every time she was silent.
"Are you hungry Miss Faodail," Lady Dells said as she waved off another of Flora's inquiries. "You are too skinny to fit in with this crowd."
"Um," Flora said looking over at Lord Reynald who was acting as if he was not listening, "famished."
Lady Dells reached into her bag and pulled out a cheese roll. "Here, preoccupy yourself with this while we wait."
Flora took the roll and took a bite while Lady Dells talked to the Noble on her other side. Lord Reynald prodded Flora again and Flora held up the roll, as if to say she was trying.
They were waiting long enough that Duke Cortana had finished whatever he had needed to do. His pockets showing the bulge he had pulled from the vaults and was already making his way out of the bank.
He was going to walk right past them, and as Duke Cortana nodded to Lord Reynald, she could not help herself but to back up into him, accidentally of course. She stumbled her apologies and kept her eyes down, curtsying as the Duke fell into the line of peasants waiting for a banker beside them.
The Duke smiled as Lord Reynald helped him up, pushing the peasants off him. "No harm was done. Any friend of Lord Reynald's is a friend of mine," he said patting his pocket where the bulge was still there. "Thank you Reynald," he finished and walked outside the bank.
Flora held her skirts tight with her hands, looking as meek as ever and avoiding Lord Reynald's discrete glares. She seemed solemn, but in truth, her hands were busy moving over her new find. It was a ring, that much she knew for sure, but her fingers could not make out the pattern along the top, for it was no gem that sat there, she was sure of it.
Lady Dells was soon taken by a banker to do her business, and Lord Reynald soon after with Flora in tow, his eyes hard on the sweaty banker as Lord Reynald pulled a single coin from the bank, to the bankers confusion. As they left the room with the banker a shouting was occurring at the entrance of the bank, and both Lord Reynald and Oswald put their hands on their swords.
It was Duke Cortana, who was running back in with panic on his face as he searched the crowd for Lord Reynald. His fat cheeks pink as he reached out to grasp Lord Reynald's arm. "I've been robbed," Duke Cortana stuttered softly as he looked with wide eyes to his friend for help.
Lord Reynald's back snapped straight and he grabbed Flora's arm, who jumped at his touch while looking to Oswald. "Oswald shut this place down. No one leaves without my say so. Now Cortana, what did they take?" Lord Reynald asked.
Duke Cortana was shaking his head back and forth in a panic. "I cannot say, it is desperately important I get it back, I would be ruined otherwise. My sister—."
Lord Reynald held up his hand stopping him, and Flora thought an understanding passed between the two men. Lord Reynald moved Duke Cortana away from her. Oswald grabbed her arm and dragged her around the room as he ordered the bank's guards to get the place contained, but Flora kept her unblinking eyes on Lord Reynald and watched as the Duke passed him, a stained brown handkerchief.
Sheep's C
lothing
The guards were quick to separate the classes along both sides of the bank, imprisoned between the tall white pillars that held up the roof. Flora was leaning against one, Oswald beside her, with the nobility around them calm. Lady Dells sat in one of the few chairs along the front conversing with the others. So far all the Nobles were playing along, as none outranked Duke Cortana. Or even if they did Oswald said it did not matter since his sister was the Queen of Merridan, and she outranked everyone.
The Nobles lounged casually around their side, laughing and giggling. Setting themselves up to see what would happen to the peasants that were along the other side. She saw bets being placed and coins switching hands while they tried to guess who did it.
Flora pursed her lips and looked at the other side of the room. One by one guards were patting down the peasants, many who were pale in the face and stuttering. Flora watched as even the folds of a baby's swaddle were removed and shook out. The naked baby held tight to a mother's breast as they waited.
Moving along the large group she saw the shadow of a man staring at her with his arms crossed confidently along the far back wall. He caught her eye and winked. Satana had come along it seemed.
"What I would not give to find out what you were thinking," came a voice in her ear. Turning she saw Vander leaned up against the pillar beside her.
She smiled broadly at him. "I am harmless," she said quietly, sending a cautious glance over her shoulder to find that Oswald was unaware to her guest, hidden to him by the pillar.
"I doubt that," he said with a similar grin. "What has gone missing?"
"Some of Duke Cortana's jewels apparently," she said.
"Why am I not surprised," Vander said again,"best ready myself for this then."
"No ambassador privileges?" Flora asked with a tilt of her head.
"Maybe in other countries there are, my own certainly, but in this one," Vander said shaking his head. "I won't keep my hopes up." He nodded towards the crowd on the other side being split by Lord Reynald, who was walking quickly towards them. Duke Cortana stopped him with a panicked look and Lord Reynald turned back to him, as if offering solutions to the distant man.
"This is dramatic." Came another voice, this one a woman's from the same side as Oswald. "Hello, Vander," she spoke again, glaring at Oswald till he moved away, peeking behind the pillar to watch the short woman as his cheeks to go pink. The woman raised her eyebrows as she watched him, and Oswald bowed his head, moving farther away.
"Hello, Lolita," he said, leaning around the pillar. "Lolita have you met Miss Flora Faodail, the Lord's cousin."
The corner of Lolita's lip raised an inch. "Well yes, she stepped on my dress at the Revel."
Flora flinched. "I am sorry about that. It was all wonderfully distracting Lady—."
Lolita was raising her hand, shushing Flora.
"I am sorry to have scared you when I turned around. I saw you cringe as I came at you, but it is just Lolita," she said.
Vander laughed but Flora kept her lips clenched. "Are you from here?" She asked. "Apologies if I am rude, but I don't see many with your complexion around here."
Lolita laughed loudly at that, her eyes brightening. "How refreshing, no one ever asks me that, but yes, I have some relations across the ocean, hence my skin. But I promise I am as legitimate as the nobility come."
Flora could feel herself blushing at Lolita's remarks and was about to ask more when Lord Reynald finally made his way over to their group.
"Cousin, I need a word," he said holding out his arm.
"Surely whatever it is can wait till this is solved, Lord Reynald," said Lolita, looking at Duke Cortana across the way who seemed to be on the verge of tears. "I think you have more urgent matters that need handling."
"This is not your area of expertise, your Ladyship. And I currently need to talk with my cousin."
Lolita looked over Flora, her eyes skeptical. "Why?" She asked bluntly.
Lord Reynald seemed to stumble over words. Flora felt as if she might get away with this as she could see he was trying not to blow her cover with whoever the important woman was beside her. Shouting came across the room again as he looked for words, taking his attention away and his face curled in a snarl.
"I will be back in a moment," he said to her before leaning into her ear, so close that there was no way for Vander or Lolita to hear what he faintly said. "If I find out this was you, you are dead and I will find someone else." He backed up his face once again composed under a mask, bowed to the group, turned, and left.
The hair along Flora's arms lifted. She felt like she was tied to the pillar behind her while she watched Lord Reynald stalk away. He meant to search her for the prize as well then.
"Excuse me but I need to—powder my nose," she said, at a loss for words, and hurried into the crowd of Nobles, letting them separate her from Oswald for a moment as she tried to think of what to do. It was tempting to just drop the ring on the ground, but then why would it have been worth stealing in the first place she thought.
She headed for the exterior door, though the moment she saw the ten guards lined up at the entrance, swords dangling from their hands she knew she was not going to be able to escape. One of the guards looked at her with scrutinizing eyes before looking back to the peasants around the other side.
Flora tried to control her panic, but her heart was racing and she was sure her limbs were moving rapidly. She kept walking along the entrance wall though, until she saw a small opening to a hallway which she ducked into, only to turn to run into the chest of another man.
The man grabbed her arms and pulled her into a dark enclave. "Well, aren't you in a panic," he said as she fought at his grip. "Calm down you fool. I ain't going to do anything."
"Satana," Flora said sighing in relief and dropping her arms to look back into the empty hallway, as his hands drifted to her side. "Do you know a way out of here?"
"Nah, but I have nothing to be afraid of do I?" He stated, his cheeks raising the wrinkles around his eyes. "I am just a harmless man about my banking business, ain't even a weapon on me. You on the other hand. Now that is something. What have you gotten yourself into? It looks like trouble. Does a sweet damsel like yourself need me to kill someone. I'll do it for a kiss you know," he said, his breath hitting her cheeks, though this time she held her ground as the stench wafted around her.
"Maybe another time Satana," she said.
"Cousin," came Lord Reynald voice, making both Santana and Flora move back. "Is this man bothering you?"
"Not at all sir, just helping the lost Lady, sir," Satana said bowing and instantly removing his hat, pushing his way past the alcove into the hallway towards the main room. "I saw her run in here and thought she may me need something, and me being a gentleman and all—" he continued to babble on, backing up as Lord Reynald glared at him. He paused just before the door and looked up, to which Lord Reynald jerked his head and Satana scurried away.
Lord Reynald stepped slowly forward with one step, blocking the rest of the alcove. "Do you have something to show me?" He asked.
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Flora said, pressing her back against the far wall.
"Then why are you hiding?" He asked, taking a step closer, coming into the darkness with her.
"I'm not," she said.
"Pardon me if I don't trust you," he said, thrusting his arms against her shoulders, pinning her where she was. "This place has more security than the castle. If you try anything I won't even have to be the one to slit your throat," he finished, turning her around to slam her chest against the wall.
Her shoulder dug into it uncomfortably, but it was nothing compared to the agony of his hand grasping and pulling all along her body as he searched for Duke Cortana's prize.
He was not kind as he searched in places he was never meant to be. While Flora was quiet, raging against the wall, staring over his shoulder as he turned her around. It felt like hours until Lord Reynald finally backed u
p.
"Seems like I am mistaken," he said rearranging her clothes and tying up the front of her dress to make it look like he had never been there, holding his arm out to her again, ready to take her back into the main room/ As any gentleman would.
Flora's hand was shaking as she grasped his arm. "Lead the way," she said.
He was all manners after that, leaving her back beside Oswald along the pillar, whose hair stood up on all ends as he had ran his hand through it in a panic as he searched for her. Their acting was so well, that even Vander and Lolita were unaware of what had happened to her as she quietly watched the rest of the searches as Vander and Lolita talked around her.
Vander was searched soon after. Lord Reynald personally escorted two guards over to him and watched over them as it happened. Vander participated admirably. Holing his arms out from him, his eyes locked on Lord Reynald's glower as the guards searched his pockets, evening rolling down the sleeves of his shirt to check inside them, and found nothing. One of the guards made as if to search Lolita next, but Lord Reynald slapped back his outreached hand with a glare that spoke of murder before he bowed an apology to Lolita. Lolita nodded her head and Vander smiled at Lord Reynald as he left.
The only during all of the searches panic came as a small tremor shook the chandlers above. Everyone straightened and watched them sway. One near the door broke free from its latch as the tremor passed. People screamed as they moved out of the way as it shattered along the ground.
Goodbye Old Friend
The chandelier had not hit anyone and Lord Reynald was slowly organizing the people through the search,, around the glass, so far finding no clues to go on except the Duke's word who Lord Reynald kept close. The Nobles around them started to complain at their day being taken up, while others were quite content to watch the proceedings. Soon Lord Reynald allowed some of the Nobility to leave. The few that were important enough to do so, or the others that would let themselves up to a search.
Flora Page 15
