As we pass uhe portcullis of the great city, we are ordered to wait as heavily armoured men verify our identities. A rge u guard with his face hidden under his helmet, es closer to Caspian. Though he obviously knows who Caspian is, he looks curiously towards me.
“Who is the girl?” He snarls towards Caspian just as though he was disgusted by the sight of him. The tone of the man fused me, how dare he act sant against such a beastly man. Ohat seemingly ands an army at that!
“A chambermaid from Dunmed, I'm in need of one for my castle.”
“Yet she rides with a Duke. And not with the filth of your people back there.” He arrogantly gestures with his thumb to the mail cd weary men walking alongside the horses.
“Has a Duke fallen so far that he is smitten by a servant?”
“Watch your tongue guard, or I shall cut you down for your impudeo my rank.” The guard's expression darke the insult of being put in his pce by Caspian. “She is of no sequeo you, allow us to move on.” Caspian stares with a domineering gre, exuding himself with a valiant presence.
Seething in a silent hatred, the guard steps aside, shouting for the gates to be opehe first half of the army enters, the sound of r cps and booming cheers surround us, rows of people lining the paths of the city to watch the army arrive. Strung white flowers decorate the old city of white stone and wood buildings. With Caspian leading the troop into the city, cheers straurn away from him onto the other men italion or pletely halted, with some even frowning at him. I trust Caspian with all the people a him? What has he even doo deserve this?
I tense up on the horse feeling as though I have put my faith into the wrong man sidering the evil eyes given upon his sight. heless, I am at the forefront of it due to riding with the mae seeming as though Caspian wants me hidden. Though in my questioning at Caspian’s as, I notice that though he was getting unpleasantly looked at, it wasn’t by many onlookers, in fact the hated gazes would only st so long. It seemed as if Caspian was both visible and invisible, the wool cdded people didn’t seem to care for him enough to stay looking in his dire. I turn my head and watch as a few women from the city run alongside some of the men on horses, trying to give them their personal items. Husband and wives, children and siblings, reunited, knowing as that by tonight they’d all be home safe.
“You’ve killed my son! Where is my son!” An older woman grapples on the front of Caspian’s horse. “Where is my son, Lavid Curoso! Where! He was in your squadron!” She cries aloud in a desperate screech, gaining the attention of onlookers who are also searg for their loved ones.
Caspian pulls his horse to a halt to save the woman any injury, and from his belt he pulls off a small purse, grabbing the dy's hand and pg it gently within.
“War is cruel. It’s equal to all those who serve. Your son paved the way to victory, that’s an honour you must revere in his absence.” Caspian pulls his horse away from the g woman who is shouting that money won’t bring her son back. These men are all victims of war, especially those ed up in the wagon. There is no God or mer war, but these people expect Caspian to be? As if he could ensure everyone's safety?
I’m not sure hoeople left this city but it seems like a lot returned. Is that why people hate Caspian? Because he was one of the leaders of war? Jobs like this don’t choose people, they’re given. A king requests the need of arms, not a duke. I’m not sure of the world I spawned into, but it seems unjust. Unless I'm…wrong and there’s something else?
The calvary of men make it to the doors of a grand white, ivy castle, hidden behind a wall that separates it from the city. A garden spans itself in front of the castle, the rest of the ween the space of the city’s wall and the pace was w nd of horse keepers, bcksmiths and h professionals seemingly only catering to those in the castle. The men spread out, taking horses to stables, ons to the onsmiths and s out resources to take into the city. Caspian unclips the fur coat holding us together and s an arm around my waist, liftio the side of the horse aing gravity gently guide me out of his arms onto the ground beside the horse. Getting off himself with a thud, Caspian yanks his cloak aaches it to the on his shoulder, recreating his barbaric look from the war tent. Some men walk over and take Caspian's horse and sword away as Ester walks up behind us, anxiously gripping a silvery obje his belt.
“What now Cas- My Lord?” Ester corrects himself in front of the legion of workers from the castle bustling outside to aodate the weary army.
“Send for Mandell. Get her to take this maiden under her charge till our departure.”
“Resourceful. Aaedan won't go he scullery, she'll be well hidden until we leave.” Ester nods with his arms folded over one another, finally rexing.
“Leave? Where are we going?” I pipe in, wanting to know where I'll be unwillingly transported to if my escape p work out.
“To my home, in Arken. Our sole purpose here is to report to the king.” Caspian states looking down to me, as he loosens the string on his leather fingerless gaus.
I really hope that it's not further away from that bsted forest, I o be able to make it back there without getting lost in this freak world.
Caspian splits off from Ester and I to report to the king via the front doors of the castle, whereas Ester takes me to a small wooden door on the side of the building. Loud noises of cttering, women ughing and hurried footsteps echo from within. A maid? They’re making me a maid? In stories most lost women bee princesses or duchesses, or made into a position of power! Not damn scullery maids…
Ester opens the door and guides me through. Now standing in the wooden, herb hanging, fire crag busy kit, I finally feel as if I’d been transported ba time to a simpler era of close es and humble lives. Ester fgs down an imposing rge woman who is hurrying maids holding bedding into the pabsp;
“Oh Ester! My dear! Give meh a great ol’ kiss!” She slobbers a kiss against the head of the visibly unwillier, who forces himself to smile once she releases her tight grasp.
“Mandell, this is…Gen. She is with our pany, so she'll be under your charge till we leave.” Ester flicks his eyebrows up, hinting that she has to ‘keep an eye on me’, causio quickly squint in thought before tinuing.
“Oh…Your pany, eh? Well, we always have’a job need’n to be done.” She gives a quizzical look in my dire, probably questioning why I, a lone woman, am with an army of men to begin with. Nevermind thinking why I’d be important enough to rejoin the pany's march to their final destination after rep to the King.
“I supposed she be need’n a bath and appropriate cloth’n then; e along child.” I look back at Ester who watches me get pushed away by the housekeeper into a room off from the kit.
cxxx{}::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>
“Ah, I figured they’d be of fittin’.” Mandell chuffs, skimming her hands over the simple long blue wool dress. It's clear that the gown was made for a w css woman, with its tight sleeves, ck of decoration and patterns, it is a practical garment fetting work do was humble pared against the long sleeved silk gowns of the women in the upper csses, those of which I caught sight of in the celebration earlier.
“ I ask yer of the reason you be found with them men?” The rge woman curiously asks from behind me, moving to the front of me and g her hands together with a quaint smile at the potential gossip.
“Quite frankly, they found me. I’m not sure why they won’t let me go, but all I want is to go home.” I frown to the now sympathetidell, who reaches out her hand to hold mine.
Oh what could my friends be thinking? Or my students? Or my colleagues? I wonder if they’ve put on a hopeless rge scale manned seare.
“Oh you poor child…Them men be goodens though, whatever reason they be having, be a good one.” Mandell lets go of my hands and wags her head in a pointed ma her knowledge of the goodheartedness of the men.
“But this is kidnapping!” I throw my hands up, mouth agape and brows in a furrow. How are these people justifying a crime! I am an i bystander in this madness!
“helessen’ knowin’ them men they be gettin’ yer home when time be right. It all just be a matter of wait’n my dear.” She smiles in an attempt to calm my righteous a the matter, but I just shake my head in disbelief. If these men were as kind as she thinks they are, they wouldn't have kidnapped or tried to kill me at every opportunity they’re given.
Those mehing but lunatics riding on false righteousness!
Mandell doesn’t stand around long enough for me tue, she hands me a rag and forces me out of the room with her to get to work immediately. This world has magid yet I'm handed a rag to dust manually…
Mandell watches me with an expert eye as we trail through the long corridors dusting statues and at tables. I map the yout in my head as we tio the vast white stone castle, marking possible routes I take within the night when everyone is asleep. Hearing footsteps approag doworch lit corridor I look to identify the noise, a man with brown wavy shoulder length hair, in a bck tunic with gold threading and a bck sleeveless fur trimmed robe makes his way down the corridor. Mandell gasps and pushes me to face the wall as the man walks past, the man pays no mind to the a and tinues his walk. I am baffled at first until I remember that servants used to face the wall when higher social csses walked into a room. It’s like the twelfth tury all ain, but with weird magibsp;
When the coast is clear, Mandell removes her hand from my back holdio the wall and pushes me to tinue ing, encing me by reminding me I’d feel better eating knowing that I've ‘ear’. Soon enough another well dressed, decorated man es walking down the corridor and without Mandell having to guide me in what to do I turn to the wall. As the man passes, I quickly turn around avoiding Mandell’s suspi and pace myself behind the noble man to disguise the sound of my esg footsteps. We turn the er before Maurns around, and I duck myself against the wall as the nobleman keeps walking unaware. Without looking around the er to see what Mandell is doing, I decide the best option is to hide in the room. I quickly close the door behind me, cautious to not make a noise in case I’d be found by Mandell. Stepping bato the room praying my feet don’t cause noise, my gaze began to reveal the blessed sight of a book-filled haven. An old library!
