“Why did he give his allegiance then?”
“He says he figured he was worth more alive than dead to King Aric.”
“That is true.”
“What about you?” said a girl, turning to Alexandra. “What made you come to Raven Castle?”
She found herself tongue-tied. “I-I-I didn’t really have a...a choice,” she stuttered out, her mouth feeling dry and hopeless. Her palms began to sweat.
“We all feel that way. What did Archibald do to your family?”
Glancing down at her plate, Alexandra whispered, “I’d rather not talk about it.”
“I am so sorry; I didn’t mean to pry. It must be awful. Of course you don’t want to talk about it. When I first came, I didn’t want to talk about it either. I should have been more thoughtful,” she said, wrapping her arm kindly about Alexandra’s shoulder.
Shock reverberated through her at the familiarity.
“Please excuse me,” she said, standing.
“Oh please stay; we shan’t ask any more questions of you.”
“Really I must be going. Thank you very much.”
“You are welcome back anytime.”
“Thank you,” she whispered and slipped out of the hall into a lonely corridor. Pressing her palms against the wall, she leaned with her back against it. Her hands were sweaty and clammy; strangely, her pulse was racing, and her mind was swimming in circles.
Taleon must have told them to talk like that. They must know who I am; they are all out to get me. That or they are speaking the truth, and if they are speaking the truth, then there has been some horrible mistake on my part. It cannot be. I refuse to be wrong. There is no way I can be. Everything my father has told me is so contrary to what they are saying. How can this be?
“You all right, Cassandra?”
Taleon’s voice made her jump in surprise. “You scared me, Taleon.”
“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to. How was your breakfast?”
“Interesting to say the least. Yours?”
“Delicious.”
Alexandra giggled, “I meant the company.”
“Oh, that was very good as well, but not to be categorized with food. So what did you girls talk about?”
“Everyone up here talks politics and badmouths my father. I wonder how they would feel if I talked about their father in that way.”
“They all admire your father and hate your uncle. When will you ever get that straight?”
“When you finally realize the truth.”
“And the truth would be?”
“King Archibald is suffering from a dreadful misunderstanding by the people.”
“And you understand him? You spend hours every day talking with him. Everything in the country is known by you and him.”
“Not really. He doesn’t spend much time with me.”
“So you really don’t know him, do you?”
“I am tired of this conversation.”
“Have you seen that mouse in your room again?”
Alexandra held back a glare. “What torture do you have planned for me today?”
“I am in charge of the refugees for now. So come with me,” he said with a smile.
Oh great, muttered Alexandra under her breath. I get to be invisible again.
Chapter 12
Upon entering the wide hall where the refugees were staying, Alexandra retreated to her corner to wait out the long morning.
Taleon will ignore me. I will get in people’s way and my whole morning will be wasted. Though how it will be wasted, I am not quite sure since I don’t have anything planned.
Alexandra tried to keep her mind anywhere than in the little hallway glowing with the soft light of the morning, filled with people hurting and needing hope.
Alexandra found her skirt being tugged on by tiny hands. The baby she had held the day before was pulling himself to his feet by clinging to her dress. Soon he was standing, his little fists filled with her dress. His legs bounced, nearly giving way beneath him. He compensated and straightened himself with a delighted coo.
“You did so well,” Alexandra complimented him softly.
He gave her a toothy grin.
“He likes you,” murmured a voice quite near to them.
Alexandra looked up. It was the woman with the transparent hands that had spoken, his mother. She had been moved into better lighting.
“He doesn’t usually take to people,” she said with a wan smile.
Alexandra noted the lines of care about her face; a few strands of white were betrayed by her nut-brown hair; sadness seemed to pour from her grey eyes. Her heart ached for the woman.
“His name is Brendan,” she offered.
“I am Alexandra.”
“And I am Edith.”
Brendan looked up into Alexandra’s face and babbled a full-length sentence of gibberish.
“Is that so?” Alexandra said with a laugh.
Edith smiled faintly. “How old are you?”
“Sixteen. I’ll be seventeen in the fall.”
“Oh, what I wouldn’t give to be sixteen again,” she said with a sigh. “It is hard to believe I was that just six years ago.”
Cassandra looked at her with shock. The woman in front of her could not be that young. She had to be at least middle-aged, not just six years her senior.
Edith looked at Alexandra’s face and laughed—a laugh that ended with a racking cough that left her breathless and tired.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No, I am fine.” There was a long pause as Alexandra felt her mind go blank and Edith recovered her strength.
“You think it is strange that I am only twenty-two? I know I look a lot older. My life has been full of worry and trouble.” A tear glistened in her eye.
“I am so sorry,” whispered Alexandra, not really sure what else to say. “What happened?” she asked, her curiosity overcoming her delicacy.
The woman smiled her wan smile. “Maybe someday I’ll tell you, but I am too tired just now.” She closed her eyes.
Alexandra turned her attention back to Brendan who was “talking” in his own babyish language that only he could understand, but thought the rest of the world could. He sat down and lifted his blanket over his head and left it there.
Alexandra laughed, and he pulled it off with a smile.
Putting it over his head once again, he waited for her to laugh. Alexandra bent forward and swept it off his face. He let out a delighted squeal of laughter.
A mischievous thought overcame her, and she put the blanket over her own head. Instantly a small pair of hands leeched onto her dress and proceeded to pull themselves up. A babyish hand grabbed the blanket and pulled it off onto the floor with a gurgle of delight.
They both laughed. Gently she pried the blanket from his hand and covered both of their heads with it. Brendan laughed and batted it off. In a little while, though, not even blanket games could keep him happy, and he fussed loudly.
Edith’s eye opened. “He’s hungry,” she sighed.
“Ma’am,” Alexandra asked a woman who was working nearby, “Can I get a bottle for him?”
“Of course you can; go to the kitchen and ask Cook for a bottle; he’ll give you one.”
The kitchen? That is one place I don’t want to go again. She looked at Brendan. He was so little. His face was distressed with hunger. Her own pangs of hunger had been few and far between, but the expression on his face was unbearable.
“Come on, Brendan; let’s get you something to eat,” she said, gathering him into her arms and wrapping his blanket about him.
Now if I can only find the kitchen. The way Taleon goes around here, I never know where I am going. I think he tries to confuse me. Summoning her best recollection and prompted by Brendan’s need, she found the kitchen.
Standing at the door, she took a deep breath. I am a princess about to enter a kitchen and ask for a baby’s bottle. Not in her wildest dreams had she ever imagined such an occurr
ence.
Brendan didn’t give her much time to think how odd the situation felt as he let out a soft whimper.
Hesitantly she entered. There was no need for her to summon Cook’s attention; Brendan did that for her with a hungry cry.
“Well, hello,” he said, turning around. “I didn’t expect to see you back so soon. What can I do for you? Did Taleon send you for something?”
“He needs a bottle.”
“Ah, I see. You’ll have to give me a few minutes, poor little fellow.”
Brendan let out another wail, and Cook came over to see him.
“Hello there, little man. What is your name?”
Brendan shied away and looked up hesitantly with his blue eyes.
“His name is Brendan.”
“Brendan, Brendan, my dear boy, you look hungry.” He looked at Alexandra. “He has his teeth. Do you know if he can eat solid food? It will be a little while before his bottle is ready.”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, let’s give it a try. I have some bread and fruit fresh from the garden. Sit over there, and I’ll bring you something in a moment.”
Hesitantly Alexandra went and sat where she and Taleon had sat the day before. Setting Brendan carefully on the table; for he was too small and far too short for a chair.
In a moment Cook set a bowl in front of Alexandra with bread spread with butter and then placed an apricot with a knife next to her.
“Make sure you take off the skin and cut it into bite-sized pieces for him.”
Alexandra looked at the knife. I have never peeled fruit in my life, much less used that sharp a knife.
She broke off a piece of bread and offered it to Brendan. He devoured it, then took the slice of bread into his own hands, and began to chew on it.
“Brendan!” she said, taking the bread from him. He let out a squawk until she put another piece in his mouth. Quickly she broke the bread up into Brendan bite-sized pieces and put it in the bowl. He couldn’t eat it fast enough. Taking the apricot, she peeled it. The juice oozed all over her fingers, making the fruit slide about in her hand as she peeled it.
“Brendan, I am making a mess of this,” she confessed in a low tone.
He babbled back a baby reply.
She tried to slice it in half, but it wouldn’t go all the way through. Alexandra cut around the whole thing and at last, made it split open. Taking pieces, she drew the knife towards herself, cutting it into small pieces. He was still eating his bread and completely ignoring the juicy yellow-orange-red fruit.
He let out a loud squeal, Alexandra jumped in surprise, looking up to make sure that he was all right. Pain raced through her hand. His little heels pounded on the tabletop in delight. He had discovered the apricot.
At the sound of his squeal, Alexandra had jerked the knife toward herself. The pain had been instant, but not important. Now that Brendan was fine, she turned her attention to her thumb. Blood was flowing from her thumb and down her hand, and drops were dripping onto her dress. She had cut deep.
She gave a little gasping cry of pain, unsure what to do. This had never happened to her before.
Just at that moment, Taleon came through the door.
“Cassandra, I thought it was clear...” His words stopped dead at sight of her hand.
Quickly he moved into action. Taking a clean cloth from a pile that sat near the door, he tore a strip from it and wrapped it around her thumb. It quickly grew red, and he wrapped more cloths and tighter.
“What is the matter, Taleon?”
“She slit her thumb,” he said.
In a moment he was standing by them. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have given you such a sharp knife.”
Alexandra held her tongue. The pain was consuming her thoughts. Tears were blinding her. She blinked, and they spilled down her cheek. Glancing up, she saw Brendan. His little lip was quivering, and his own eyes were filling with tears.
“It’s okay, Brendan,” she said, putting her hand on his little foot. He had ceased to eat, his blue eyes watching her with concern.
“Here, let me take him,” said Cook. “His bottle is ready anyway.”
“How does it feel?” Taleon asked Alexandra.
“It hurts,” she murmured, biting her lower lip.
“Hold it tightly and see if that helps stop the bleeding.”
She did so, her thumb pulsating painfully in rhythm with her heartbeat.
He stood by her for several minutes, annoyingly doing nothing.
“Let me see it now,” he said.
She released her hand from the bandage. Her hand was moist with blood.
Taleon shook his head. “Stay here. I will be right back. Cook, is he done yet?”
Cook nodded.
“I’ll take him back to his mother,” he said, going over to Cook.
“How bad is it?”
Taleon answered in a whisper as he took a contented Brendan from Cook’s arms.
Anxiously, Alexandra watched Taleon leave and pensively waited for him to return. Being the center of attention in a kitchen was not ideal.
Time was taking forever. Cook was talking to her. She turned to him.
“I don’t give this out too often except for special occasions, but I think this should relieve the pain just a little,” he said, holding out a dark stick of something.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” she asked him.
“He said they’ll have to amputate,” said a voice from the background.
Alexandra turned dangerously white.
“Be quiet, Sully!” shouted Cook over his shoulder, then, turning back to Alexandra, he said, “It’s nothing of the sort. Taleon’s gone to get the doctor for a second opinion to see if you just need bandages.”
“Are you sure?”
“Risk my life on it. Now here take this and eat it. I promise it will make you feel better and if it doesn’t, I’ll—” he paused, unsure what he would do, “stand on my head.”
Alexandra laughed, despite the tense feeling in her chest. Reaching out, she took the dark stick from his hand and hesitantly took a bite. A soft, rich, creamy sweet taste melted in her mouth. Her eyes lit up.
Cook smiled. “Everybody likes a little bit of chocolate.”
“Thank you,” she paused hesitantly, “What is your name?”
“Cook.”
“I know that is what everyone calls you, Cook, but what is your name?”
He threw back his head and laughed. “My name is Cook. That is how I got stuck in the kitchen in the first place: a misunderstanding, but by the time they straightened it out, I found I liked it pretty well.”
Alexandra blushed. “Oh, I see. I am sorry.”
“I was given my mother’s maiden name for a first. It’s not your fault.”
The chocolate stick disappeared very quickly, and Alexandra went back to clutching her throbbing thumb.
In a few more minutes, Taleon appeared with the doctor on his heels.
“So you slit your thumb,” he said in a rather dry voice that seemed on the verge of ill humor. “Taleon said that it was a serious cut and that I was required instantly even though I am needed terribly elsewhere. Let’s see it,” he said, holding out his hand.
Slowly Alexandra released her hand from the bandage. The doctor’s mouth twitched at the sight of so much blood. With experienced, gentle hands, he unwrapped the bandage and looked at her thumb. Alexandra looked too, held by the horror of it.
“You were right, Taleon. It needs stitches, and badly.”
“Stitches?” asked Alexandra, slightly panicked.
“You’ll hardly feel them, my dear. Now to make sure you’re in the best light; yes, you are. Now, Taleon, my bag.”
He spent a moment searching for what he would need, then pulled out a needle and thread specific for the job. With terror slowly sweeping over her, Alexandra watched as he prepared everything. Then he took her hand in his and began.
Alexandra looked away and shut her eyes. She couldn�
�t bear the thought of watching.
Unexpectedly she found Taleon whispering in her ear. “If you need something, you can squeeze my hand.” He slipped his hand under her free one.
Alexandra pulled her hand away and tucked it beneath her leg. I do not need his help. It’s his fault I am in this mess in the first place! If he hadn’t made me stay with him, I would be safely in my room.
There was a breathless voice at the door. “Doctor, he has gotten worse; he needs you.”
The needle dropped from the doctor’s hand. “Taleon, take over,” he shouted as he rushed from the room.
Alexandra watched him go with shock. She was a princess! Her needs were always first and foremost in the castle. What horror was this? Her wound was to be left in Taleon’s care! Why he was just a—a what? Alexandra glanced at him, horrified, as he took up the needle that the doctor had left so quickly.
“Have you done this before?” she asked.
“Yes, I have, but I wanted the doctor to do it because it was you and I didn’t think you would have any confidence in me. Hold still now.”
Alexandra looked away and shut her eyes tighter than before. Eternity seemed to pass twice, while her eyes were closed. Finally, Taleon announced that it was done.
Alexandra glanced at her thumb; she couldn’t tell where the doctor’s stitches left off and Taleon’s began. Then she looked away. It wasn’t something she really wanted to see.
“I’ll tie a bandage around it, so you don’t have to look at it. There, all done. At least we know you don’t faint at the sight of blood,” said Taleon, trying to lighten the mood.
Alexandra kicked his shin before thinking twice.
“Ow, what was that for?” Taleon asked in an offended voice.
Unexpectedly Alexandra burst into tears. The day had just been too much to take at once. She hid her face in her hands, wishing the tears would stop but knowing they wouldn’t. Sliding off the chair, she ran from the room. She had wanted to get out of there for so long, and she wasn’t about to take any more of Taleon’s words—not in front of all those people.
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