The Guide

by Trudie Collins

  Amazing progress had been made while they slept. When they reconvened, the librarian had not only managed to find street maps of Bedden, but also the original plans for the palace. They were out of date and many new rooms had been added over the years, but the main audience chambers and living quarters were still accurate. Bellak was allowed into the library to start his search and Liselle joined him, claiming two sets of eyes were better than one.

  By midday they were fairly sure they knew where Tallon spent his nights, which was probably the best time to grab him. They had also worked out a route through the palace, if they managed to gain access, that bypassed most of the places guards were likely to be stationed. Next they needed a way of getting him out of the palace without alerting anyone. Ellen said she could easily brew a sleeping potion for them, quickly solving another problem.

  After lunch, the group remained at the table, ironing out the last few details. Ria had disappeared with Rupert as soon as the meal had finished, Bellak and Liselle were still in the library, Torrick was in the training yard with Sabastian and Hawk, obviously, was in his coffin, but everyone else was present, including Allias and Hetta.

  “So,” Tor said, standing up. “It looks like we are actually going to go ahead with this madness. None of Allias’s people can join us and if we are caught, it will probably mean immediate execution. Bearing that in mind, nobody here has to go. Everyone has to make their own decision, with two exceptions.” He looked around the table, then spoke to them each in turn. “Ellen, Sam, I am sorry but you know why you cannot come with us. If everything I have heard about Kinfen is true then it is not a safe place for females.” He saw both Ellen and Sam nod then looked to his left. “Seth?”

  “I go where you go, you know that. You never need to ask.”

  “There is no point in asking you Modo, nor Patrick. You have both been eager to go from the start, though god knows why.” Modo grinned, and for some reason this sent a chill down Sam’s spine.

  “I am bored with life Tor,” Patrick replied. “This sounds like fun.”

  Tor shook his head before continuing around the table. “Ban, your help will be invaluable. Are you willing to join us?”

  “I am.”

  “Hurst, I know your skills may come in very useful, but I cannot guarantee your safety. I think we would all be much happier if you stayed here at the palace.”

  “I understand.” Hurst smiled. “Besides,” he added. “I am getting used to sleeping in a bed again.”

  “Oak, River, the same goes for you. We need to be as indistinct as possible and while there are a fair number of taymen travelling the roads these days, sprites are rarely seen and would be remembered. I strongly recommend staying here.”

  Oak shrugged, and Sam could just imagine him saying ‘yeah, whatever’, though he remained silent. River, however, surprised them all. “No.” They all stared at her. She had never spoken with such force before. She stood up and walked toward Tor. “I am going. I am of the water and as such I may be of use. At the very least I will be able to get you across the Midas river.” Tor started to speak, but River interrupted him, raising her hand and placing her fingers gently across his mouth. “This is not up for discussion. Either I go with you or I follow you, the choice is yours.”

  “We can easily hide her in the wagon.” Everyone turned to look at Grimmel.

  “Fair enough.” Tor knew when not to argue. “But she is your responsibility.” Grimmel did not appear too concerned with his assigned task. Sam frowned. Why was River so keen to go along? What was she up to?

  “Ellen, how soon can you have the sleeping potion ready for us?”

  “Provided the kitchen has all of the ingredients, it will only take a few hours. You will be able to leave tonight, if you wish.”

  “Hawk has already agreed to come along, so that just leaves you Dal.” Tor looked straight into his cousin’s eyes. “I would prefer you to remain here, but the choice is yours.”

  Dal was looking pale. He glanced at Seth before quietly saying, “I am coming.”

  What Tor thought of this decision he kept to himself. Addressing everyone in the room, he continued. “So, it is decided. We know who will go and who will stay. Allias will arrange the wagon and see that it is correctly loaded with all of the supplies we need, including Hawk’s coffin. Ellen will have the sleeping potion ready by sundown. We leave at midnight. I suggest everyone gets some sleep.”

  He stopped talking and looked up, hearing the door open. Ria bounced in. Her hair, tied back in a knot at the nape of her neck, was swinging in time with her movements. Rupert followed, looking glum.

  “When do we leave?” Ria asked.

  “We?” Tor raised a questioning eyebrow at Rupert, who sullenly nodded his head.

  “She damn well did it,” he informed the room sulkily. “The best man at unarmed combat that I have ever seen in my life and she had him unconscious on the floor in under five minutes.”

  “And I did not even have to kick him in the balls,” she added, smiling sweetly, with an evil glint in her eye.

  If Tor was surprised, he did not show it. “Midnight,” he said, in answer to her question. “Now you all know what you need to do, so go to it.”

  As everyone was leaving, Ellen grabbed Tor’s arm and pulled him aside. “Please look after Patrick for me. I will not be there to clean up the mess if he gets himself killed again.”

  Tor patted her hand and smiled at her. “I will do my best,” he promised, knowing full well that nothing he could say or do would prevent Patrick throwing his life away again, if the need arose.

  “Bring him home to me.” Tor nodded, not able to bring himself to reply. If Patrick did die in Kinfen, chances were his body would have to be left there.

  Chapter 10

  The night was cool but clear. Hawk’s coffin was already loaded onto the back of a wagon and Seth had been given directions to a farm, close to the border, where they were to pick up their merchandise. The white mare that was hitched to it kept stamping her hoof in impatience, as though she was eager to be off. Seth had wanted to take his donkey, but Tor had convinced him that a swift horse would be a better idea, just in case they hit any unforeseen problems. If a situation arose where they had to make a quick getaway, the wagon and coffin would have to be left behind, but Hawk was aware of this risk and just shrugged it off when it was mentioned.

  The men were all packed and ready to leave, as were River and Ria. Ellen handed a large bottle to Tor, whispering instructions into his ear. He nodded and slipped the bottle inside his coat. Herron, Allias’s head stableman, had personally selected the horses they each rode. They were the fastest, though not necessarily the most even tempered mounts currently at the palace, except for the personal horses of the royal family, but the risk was too great that they would be identified. River and Grimmel were in the wagon, seated next to Seth. The ponies that had been selected for them, along with a couple of spare mounts, were hitched to the back of the wagon, though both the dwarf and the water sprite secretly hoped the need to ride them would not arise.

  Sam and Oak had remained awake and were in the courtyard to say goodbye, along with Allias and Rupert. The others had elected to get some sleep, having said their farewells earlier.

  With final words of advice, and a gentle reminder that, should they get captured, they were on their own, Allias shook Tor’s hand and wished him good luck. Just before Patrick mounted his steed, Ellen rushed up to him and hugged him fiercely.

  “Look after yourself.”

  Patrick gently removed her arms and smiled down on her. “I always do.”

  “No you do not,” she replied, almost pouting. He gently kissed her cheek then mounted his horse. “I promise I will come back.”

  With no further ado, the group started their horses moving, exiting by a side gate, which clanged shut behind them.

  “Let us hope they succeed,” Allias said, under his breath.

  “They had better,” Rupert replied before
striding into the palace.

  ——————————-∞——————————-

  The next morning Sam found the dining room empty when she eventually roused herself from her sleep and got dressed. The dirty plates on the table indicated that others had already eaten, but the food in the dishes was still warm, so they could not have left long ago. Shortly after Sam had started to eat, a maid arrived to clear the table. Sam enquired where everyone else was. The maid, who did not give her name and could not have been more than sixteen, looked around quickly before taking a seat next to Sam and telling her all she needed to know. Liselle and Bellak were already in the library, Torrick had arisen early to join Sabastian on a surprise inspection in the barracks, Ellen was in the kitchen garden, inspecting the herbs and taking a few to replenish her stocks, Oak had left at dawn to visit the nearby wood and Hurst was in the kitchen, sharing a mug of coffee with Mrs Hubert. The maid found this last piece of information entertaining, for some reason. How the maid knew so much about the comings and goings in the palace, Sam had no idea, and she was not inclined to ask.

  “Not gossiping again are you Alice?” a voice sounded from behind, making them both jump. As Sam turned her head to see who was speaking, Alice sprang from her seat and immediately fell into a deep curtsey, bowing her head low as if ashamed at being caught out.

  If Sam was ever asked to describe the owner of the voice, the word that would have immediately sprung to mind would have been average. Average height, average build, early twenties, dull mousy brown straight hair that almost reached her shoulders, unremarkable brown eyes. The only thing about her that Sam could really comment on was her skin being paler than normal.

  “Stand up for goodness sake,” the newcomer addressed Alice. “You know better than that. There is no need for ceremony on my account.” Waving Alice back into her seat and taking the one next to it, she turned toward Sam, her hand outstretched.

  “Selene,” she said, introducing herself. “Pleased to meet you. And you are?”

  “Samantha,” Sam replied, taking the offered hand and shaking it. If this really was Selene, she wasn’t acting much like a Princess.

  “I apologise for interrupting your conversation,” Selene continued. “Feel free to continue, if you do not mind me eating while you talk.”

  At this, Alice jumped up again, though this time she still seemed relaxed. She placed food on a plate and laid it in front of Selene with a smile, then, with a ‘nice to have met you’ to Sam, she rushed out of the room.

  Sam and Selene ate their breakfast in silence until Sam could contain her curiosity no longer. “Are you really Princess Selene?” she asked. “It’s just that you don’t seem very, well, royal I suppose.” Sam instantly regretted saying this. Had she just insulted the King’s daughter?

  Much to Sam’s relief, Selene laughed. “I suppose you are right. I hate all the pomp and formality that goes with being a Princess, so I try to just be myself whenever I can, or should I say whenever my father is not around.”

  “Selene,” Sam stated. “I think we are going to get along very well.”

  Conversation flowed. Sam explained to Selene the circumstances of her presence as a guest in the palace, neglecting to mention the mission Tor and the others were undertaking, and Selene told her all about life at the palace. It was refreshing to hear such a frank and open view of things. At some point, Alice appeared to clear away the remains of breakfast and place a jug of chilled fruit juice and clean glasses on the table, but the two women were so preoccupied that they did not notice. It was lunch time before either of them realised how long they had been chatting. Selene dragged Sam down to the kitchen where the cook, after quickly checking that nobody important was about, made them some sandwiches. Selene often ate her lunch in the kitchen with the servants, whenever she had the opportunity, but there had been the odd occasion when the cook had needed to rush her out of the back door just before Halvine walked in. Both would have been in trouble if they had been caught. In the chief steward’s eyes, servants and masters should not mix.

  Selene spent the afternoon showing Sam around the palace gardens, until she became tired. Although she was less than three months into her pregnancy, it was already beginning to sap her strength. The midwife had already warned her that it was probably going to be a very difficult pregnancy and that she should be prepared to spend the majority of her time in bed, especially during the last trimester. Selene, however, had other ideas.

  “How can I spend months in bed? No matter how tired a person is, there is a limit to the amount of time they can sleep. What am I supposed to do for the rest of the time?”

  Sam sympathised, but could offer no suggestions. While she would be more than happy to keep Selene company, she would probably be long gone by then.

  Over the next few days, Sam and Selene spent almost every waking hour together, becoming firm friends. Sam loved Selene’s carefree attitude toward life and, in return, Selene appreciated having someone to share her thoughts with who would not criticize or disapprove or tell her she was not acting like a ‘Lady’.

  One day, while in Selene’s room, Sam noticed through the window a strange wall with a gate in it. It was high enough to hide what was behind it, but too close to the palace to be an exit to the town. She asked Selene about it.

  “It is my great grandmother’s garden,” she informed Sam. “From what I have been told, she spent most of her time there. When she died suddenly, my great grandfather was so distressed he ordered it locked and nobody has been in since. The same applies to the maze you have probably seen from your suite.”

  Sam smiled, an idea forming in her mind. “Do you know where the key is?” Selene nodded. “How would your father feel about you reopening and restoring the garden? It will keep you busy and whenever you get tired you can sit and watch me work. And you will be getting plenty of fresh air.”

  Selene loved the idea and agreed to approach her father.

  Later that day, during the evening meal, Bellak and Liselle spoke about their progress in the library. They had found a lot of tales about the so called ‘Healing Fountain’ which was supposed to cure any ailment. Initially they had dismissed this as just a legend, until Bellak found an old scroll, written in a long dead language that only wizards and scholars could now read, which stated that the fountain would be found in the city of Yallend, which can be translated to mean Maiden. Unfortunately it could also mean child, youth or birth, depending on the sentence, but it was the best they had come up with so far, so they were going to spend the next day looking for any clues as to where this mysterious city was located.

  Torrick and Sabastian had also joined the royal family, for the first time since Tor and his party had departed. They planned to take the troops out for a few days training in the forests, springing a surprise mock battle on them, and Torrick wished to spend the evening with his wife. There had been no news of Tor, other than a report back from the farmer who provided the turnips for the wagon, along with an invoice for the goods. They had successfully crossed the border, the patrols on both sides accepting their bribes. Allias was not expecting to hear anything more until news reached him that either a group of men had been caught trying to kidnap Prince Tallon or that the Prince had disappeared. Either way, it would probably be a few months.

  Once the meal was over, Selene approached her father. He had retired alone to his study so she took advantage of having him all to herself for a while. She knocked timidly on the door, opening it upon hearing her father’s summons of, “Enter.” It had been a while since she had been in the study, but it had not changed at all. The large painting of her great grandfather was on the back wall, surrounded by smaller paintings of each of his children, books lined the shelves on the side walls; even the rug was the same blue and red patterned one that she remembered from when she was a child. Nothing seemed to have changed during the year she was in Kinfen, except for her father, who seemed to have aged ten years, not just one.

&nbs
p; Her father was seated behind his large wooden desk, reading reports, and looked up as she entered, a look of surprise crossing his face. Selene was the last person he had expected. Though quite close before her disappearance, they had barely spoken since her return, other than harsh words and accusations. He found it too difficult to listen to her talk of how well she was treated in Kinfen when a quick glance at her belly showed that all she said was lies. He felt he had failed to protect her and that guilt would forever come to the forefront of his mind whenever he saw her.

  “Selene,” he said quietly. “Please sit down.” He indicated the comfortable chairs surrounding a coffee table at the other end of the office, rather than the formal reception chairs, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Selene. Before taking his own seat, he poured himself some brandy; Selene declined the offer due to her ‘condition’. “To what do I owe this honour?”

  “Stop being so formal father. I am not a subject, I am your daughter. I remember when you used to treat me like one.”

  Allias winced.

  “Sorry,” Selene continued. “That was uncalled for.”

  “But true,” Allias reluctantly acknowledged. “Maybe we should both start trying to make an effort to regain our friendship. Now, what did you wish to see me about?”

  Selene went on to explain Sam’s plan about the garden. Surprisingly, Allias thought it was a great idea and instantly called Halvine and instructed him to have someone search for the key in the morning. Allias and his daughter ended up talking for hours, before they both retired to bed. The year’s separation evaporated that night, though Allias did not mention the reason for Tor’s sudden departure and would have lied if Selene had asked. He was beginning to rebuild his relationship with his daughter and did not want to risk it going off the rails again. He did not dare allow himself to think what would happen if Tor succeeded. He would have to cross that bridge when the time came. If it came.