Princess Electra Book 3 Gypsy Music

by Dory Lee Maske

  Chapter 45

  Castle of Fernland

  Fernland's climate was quite different from that of Taz. It was fairly temperate with four distinct seasons and above average rainfall. As summer drew to a close, morning mists were not uncommon, nor was the chill that quickened Electra's step as she took a much-anticipated walk through the forest surrounding Fernland's castle.

  She hurried back toward her room in the castle to change her mist-dampened clothes. She had awakened early enough to go for her walk before eating breakfast with her family. She enjoyed the solitude and the beauty of the forest after so many days at sea in cramped, crowded quarters. The colors of the forest hinted of autumn and the hard rains to come.

  As she passed outside the royal family's dining room she heard her mother's voice.

  "But what else could he have done, Geoffrey? His people were sick, in need of help."

  Electra continued on to her room. She knew her father was not pleased with the arrival of so many women and children from Taz. She also knew there was little he could do about it now that they had arrived at King's Lake.

  Electra chose a green morning dress from her closet. She tied her hair up with a barrette to hold it and washed her face in a bowl with water from a pitcher. Rabar and the Caliph had arrived late last night at the castle. Perhaps they would be invited to breakfast with the family as well. She was surprised to learn that Dagon had been given a room in the castle and would be joining the family for breakfast. All these guests should make for an interesting conversation at the morning's meal.

  Walking briskly along the corridor to the breakfast room she saw Rabar and the Caliph approaching from the opposite end of the corridor. Electra smiled and slowed her steps.

  "Will you join us for breakfast?"

  "It is our honor to join you." The Caliph bowed, respectful as always.

  Rabar seemed a little more hesitant, as though he was not looking forward to this audience with King Geoffrey.

  Electra knocked once as she opened the door, hoping not to catch her parents in the middle of an argument.

  "My Dear," Delphinia beamed. "And Physician Rabar and Caliph. How good of you to join us. I hope the trip from King's Lake has not been too hard on you," she said, looking at the Caliph.

  The Caliph smiled and bowed. "I am much improved just seeing your lovely family once again. Your invitation to join you in your private dining room..." The Caliph put his hand over his heart. "Words can not express our gratitude."

  Smiling, Delphinia waved away the compliment. "Please, sit down. We are happy to see you as well. Will you have eggs? We have a variety of foods to choose from."

  "And I wish to sample all of them," the Caliph said with enthusiasm.

  King Geoffrey waited patiently for Delphinia and the Caliph to finish their round of compliments. Then he cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him.

  "I am in debt to you, Physician Rabar, for the lives of my children. Prince Avor has convinced me that it was your remarkable skill as a ship's captain that saved you all from a trap carefully laid by pirates."

  Rabar looked surprised and was about to speak when King Geoffrey continued.

  "However, the arrival of so many women and children in Fernland puts me in an awkward position. As you well know, our agreement entailed a two year respite for you and your men while you completed certain tasks and made arrangements for a new permanent settlement for your people."

  Now Delphinia seemed about to speak and Geoffrey held up his hand to stop her.

  "I understand that you had little choice, seeing the condition they were in and I would, of course, have done the same."

  Rabar nodded.

  "I will allow them to stay, but I must insist that no more be brought to Fernland, and that you still plan to keep to our two year agreement."

  Rabar looked at his father. The Caliph smiled broadly.

  "How refreshing it is to find a powerful monarch who speaks so clearly and honestly. And yet a king who does not lack compassion. We are prepared to do whatever you command and yet you overwhelm us with your generous spirit. When we are settled in our new land two years hence, we will still sing songs of your magnificence."

  King Geoffrey was a little stunned by the accolades and almost smiled at the extravagance of the Caliph's speech. He controlled his expression with some effort.

  "As long as we understand one another," he finally murmured.

  Avor came into the breakfast room and was soon followed by Dagon. After the usual inquiries as to how each had slept, the conversation turned to the missing men.

  King Geoffrey took in new details of the missing men's possible whereabouts before he spoke.

  "It seems to me that if the Barburee soldiers blew up the boarding plank from the pirate ship, they must have been trying to help. Therefore, our three men are not in danger from the Great Khan."

  Dagon took a sip of tea as he considered this. "Unless they later discovered the three with quantities of the white powder." He turned to Rabar. "Do you think Barburee might know of the cave? Might they use its as their own source for the powder?"

  Rabar shook his head. "I do not know. It is possible that if they did not know before, they may have found out since taking Taz."

  Avor tapped the table with his knife. "I saw no sign of the exploding arrows at the Nomadic Games. It is possible that they are keeping them secret from some of the people they invited to the games. Of course we know they know that we know the secret through Muller and Hilgard."

  King Geoffrey seemed encouraged to find that his son was thinking in terms of strategy.

  "Thank you, Avor," he said, "that is a helpful observation."

  Avor looked at his father from the corner of his eye to be sure the king was not being sarcastic. He decided it really was a compliment and shrugged as if it were of little importance.

  Dagon caught Rabar's eye. "Do you know what route the three men might take overland? Perhaps we should send out a party to try to intercept them."

  Rabar shook his head. "I know the route the caravans take through the desert, but if they took that route they would be through the worst of the desert by now. As they advance westward, water is more plentiful and many routes are possible. I would not wager a guess on which one they would take. There is also the possibility that they bought passage aboard a ship. Did they have funds available?"

  All eyes turned to King Geoffrey. "I gave Muller some traveling money, but not enough for ship's passage for the three of them." King Geoffrey saw the disappointment in their faces and added, "I was not anticipating a situation like this."

  "Of course not," the Caliph said in a soothing voice. "None of us anticipated what challenges this voyage would bring."

  The group assembled around the table fell to eating silently, each with his own thoughts.