Chapter 4
King's Lake
Electra checked her apothecary garden as soon as she arrived back at the Lake. All the medicinal herbs native to Fernland flourished—the sage, lavender, comfrey and valerian—but the saffron plants native to the warm dry coastal area of Taz were barely clinging to life. She clipped off some basil for her stew and returned to her cottage.
Electra stared at the flames beneath her stew, considering how she would fill her day with no patients and no mentor to give her assignments. Physician Rabar had stayed at the castle to look after his father. When she left early this morning, Rabar had been arguing with the royal physician, Rothman, over the best course of treatment for the Caliph. She looked up from her stew as a shadow moved past her window. A soft knock at the cottage door quickly followed.
Electra opened the door a crack, saw a face she recognized and swung the door fully open.
"Angelica! What a nice surprise. Come in." Electra looked around outside before closing the door. "Did you come with your husband?"
Angelica was the wife of Muller the Spy, although Electra had known her even before she married Muller. Electra first met Angelica when she lived in Chase bound. Angelica lived at the Traveler's Camp in Chase Bound before Serafina drafted her into a scheme that sent Angelica off on a ship to impersonate Electra and lead Muller on a wild goose chase. This resulted in Angelica's meeting her future husband. Electra wondered if the coincidence of the recently arrived Traveler's caravan had anything to do with Angelica's visit.
"No." Angelica removed her shawl and dropped it on the table. "Muller doesn't know I'm here."
"I'm making a stew. I hope you will have some with me." Electra saw the worry on Angelica's face and decided to wait on asking about why Angelica had come to visit.
Angelica ignored Electra's invitation and seemed preoccupied with her worries. She began speaking in a soft voice. "Muller is arranging a raid on the Traveler's camp on King Geoffrey's edict. He plans to order them to leave. If they refuse, he will bring in the Royal Guard to make them leave." Angelica fingered the fringe on her shawl. She slowly raised her eyes to meet Electra's. "Muller doesn't know these are my people."
"I see." Electra went back to cutting onions and cabbage for her stew.
"I don't want anyone to get hurt." Angelica pulled a loose thread on her shawl and the edge began to unravel. "But my father must not know I am here." A tear formed at the corner of her eye. "Especially now." She dabbed at the tear with a handkerchief. "I am going to have a baby."
Electra put her knife down on the table. She put her arms around Angelica and hugged her. "This is wonderful news. Muller must be so pleased."
"He is." A second tear made its way down Angelica's cheek.
"Tell me what I can do to help." Electra left her hand on Angelica's shoulder.
Angelica took a deep breath and sat down on a stool. "I don't really know. I suppose my father is with them. I'm sure he is still a drunkard if he has not already drunk himself to an early death."
"Would you like me to find out?"
A light flashed in Angelica's eyes. Then she shook her head. "I don't want to involve you in my problems."
"I am already involved. Juanita and Esmeralda paid me a visit yesterday. They will likely return today."
"Those two!" Angelica grimaced. "They attract trouble."
"I could ask them about your father if they come by."
"No," Angelica said quickly. "They will be suspicious and they are very clever. At least Juanita is. They know I disappeared about the same time as you and Serafina. And worse than that—they know Muller."
"How could they possibly know Muller?"
"He came to our camp in Chase Bound. He didn't see me. He spoke to the men. He asked who might sell him a love charm, hoping to find Serafina that way." Angelica smiled, remembering. "When the men told him any of us could make him a love charm, he dropped his love sick subterfuge and asked straight out if we had heard of Serafina."
"So that is how Avor found out about us."
"No, not from us. The men knew Serafina would pay them more to tell her someone was looking for her. They claimed never to have heard of her."
Electra thought for a moment before speaking. "But what if they have seen Muller? Does it matter? They probably guessed he was a spy. They won't be surprised to see him again as King Geoffrey's ambassador."
"My father might guess that Muller had something to do with Serafina and you leaving about the same time as me. Others might as well. My people are clever that way."
"I could go to their camp. I could tell them myself that I left with my brother, thinking Serafina dead. It would be the truth. I knew nothing of your leaving Chase Bound. It might be a kindness if I warned them about the planned raid on their camp."
Angelica stood up abruptly. "I don't really know what I am here for. I don't miss my drunken father, though a part of me always wishes he could change his ways and leave his drink behind. Perhaps be a grandfather to my child." She paused. "But that is only a pipe dream. It will never happen."
"Why not tell Muller you are a Traveler girl? He loves you very much. He would not hold it against you. It might make him more gentle in his approach to them."
Angelica looked hopeful for an instant. Then she shook her head slowly. "He is too good. He would insist on meeting my father. My father would find a way to use Muller and me for his own gain if he found out." She unraveled a bit more of her shawl. "No. My husband must not know. None of my people can know I am here. I should leave at once—before Juanita and Esmeralda come by. I should never have come here to involve you in my troubles." Angelica rushed out the door.
Electra called after her. "I will tell no one. But I will find out what I am able. Trust me, and don't worry."
At lunch time Avor dropped by. "Something smells good," he said as he came through the door.
"You're just in time for stew." Electra ladled up two bowls full and sat them on the table.
Avor seemed always to be hungry of late, and each time she saw him, he looked a little taller. He began eating as soon as he sat down.
"Any word on the Caliph yet?" he asked between bites.
"No word as yet. I'm very worried. He is advanced in years and such a fever as he has will take its toll."
Avor looked up. "Your Traveler friends came by today."
"Juanita and Esmeralda?"
"Yes, they invited me for dinner tonight at their camp."
"You didn't agree to go, did you?"
"Of course. I never turn down an invitation to dinner. Besides, they probably won't be here much longer. I heard father talking to Muller about making them move on."
Electra paused with a spoonful of stew halfway to her mouth. "I'm going with you."
Avor's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why?"
Electra shrugged. "Why not?"
"Then they are your friends?" He emphasized the word 'are'.
"Acquaintances." She blew on her spoonful of stew to cool it.
Avor stared at his sister for a moment, then turned his attention back to his lunch. "I'll stop by for you on my way." He finished his stew quickly and said he had to return to work before Haddad missed him.
Princess Electra Book 3 Gypsy Music Page 4
