ANUNDR: THE EXODUS (18 page)

The lady moved closer to Natalia as though measuring her up and said, ‘What kind of animal goes running around without looking like a little blind dog?’

Natalia gaped at her insolence. She balled her hands into fists, squeezing the part of the parchment she held, and she gritted her teeth.

‘My lady, I’m sure it was only an accident.’ said the guard that was with her. He gave Natalia an apologetic look, then glanced from her to the lady in a way to signal that Natalia should apologize.
Apologize?!
Natalia refrained herself from giving him the dark eye and turned to her.

‘Forgive me.’ she said under her breath. The words were as dry as sand rolling out of her mouth. She made to walk away but the lady dragged the parchment from her hand.

‘Little dog, why were you running? Is it because you’re a thief?’

Natalia’s mouth fell open. ‘No, I’m not.’ It was becoming increasingly difficult to restrain herself from hitting her.

‘Liar. Where did you get this?’ she said, waving the parchment in Natalia’s face.

‘It belongs to me.’

‘Thief! You stole it from the library, didn’t you?’

‘No, I--’

The girl slapped her again. ‘Stop lying.’

The guard placed himself between them before Natalia could throw caution to the wind.

‘Can you read?’ he asked her.
No, you cannot
, the voice said.
Why should she have to lie about it?
she thought.
Yes
was on the tip of her tongue, but then it dawned on her that a commoner who could read was an uncommon sight.

‘No, I cannot,’ she said, ‘but it belongs to me.’

‘Liar and thief.’ said the maiden.

The guard sighed and rubbed his eyes. He held Natalia’s arm and said, ‘If what you say is true, then you wouldn’t object to meeting the Keeper of Knowledge in the library.’

‘What?’ Natalia couldn’t believe her ears.

‘Come along, thief.’

She was taken up the flight of steps, the guard’s hand grasped her arm while the lady walked behind them. When they reached the top, Viden was no longer at the door.
He must have gone in
. As they got closer to the door, Natalia braced herself for what would happen. She thought of the knife strapped to her leg. She planned how she would remove it when the need arose and who she would have to kill first. She took a deep breath as the guard moved to open the door.
She was ready
.

The door opened before the guard touched the knob and Anistral stepped out. Natalia let out a sigh of relief.

‘Lady Anistral.’ said the guard, bowing. Anistral’s eyes took in the sight before her as she closed the door.

‘Zenos, why are you holding my ward in such a manner?’ she said. Her voice was measured and her words were dragged. The guard let go of her.

‘And who might you be?’ the red-haired girl said from behind them.

Anistral ignored the question and said to the guard, ‘Who is she?’

The guard turned in such a way he could introduce them. ‘Lady Anistral, this is my lady, Princess Seraphin of Neyron, betrothed to my lord, Prince Gyron.’

‘I see.’ Anistral said with a taut smile as she moved closer to Seraphin, keeping her eyes on her face. ‘Did you order him to drag her here?’

Seraphin’s eyes fluttered under Anistral’s glare. ‘She stole something. Ask her.’

Anistral extended her hand. ‘May I see it, if you please?’

Seraphin gave it to her. Anistral glanced at it with a disinterested air and gave it back to Natalia. ‘It belongs to me.’ she said. ‘I gave it to her to keep for me or was it wrong for me to do so?’

‘No, but she was running down--’

‘Is it also wrong for me to send my ward on an errand?’

Before Seraphin could reply, Anistral turned to the guard, ‘The queen has sent for me. Will you take me to her if your lady, the princess, would not deem it wrong as well?’ Seraphin opened her mouth but no words came. Anistral smiled and said, ‘While we’re on our way, I would like to talk to the princess about how she sees our kingdom if she wouldn’t deem it wrong indulging an old maid.’

‘Of course not.’ Seraphin said, breaking into a smile. ‘I would be most delighted.’

‘Excellent.’

Natalia trailed behind as the guard led them to the queen’s court. Laughter floated out of the hall as the doors were opened to them. The Queen’s Court was small and filled with women with the exception of the guards. It was a place of mirth and entertainment. A matronly woman with auburn locks sat on the throne set apart from the floor by a dais. She addressed them the moment they entered. ‘Anistral, it’s been too long.’

‘Yes, my lady, it has.’ Anistral said, bowing. Seraphin went up the dais to sit beside the queen.

‘I can see you’ve met Princess Seraphin.’

‘Yes, we met under interesting circumstances.’ she said, glancing at Seraphin who glared back at her.

‘Interesting.’ the queen chuckled. ‘I heard your garments are still the best in the city. You will work for me in the castle. The dress makers I have are worthless.’

‘My lady, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I chiefly make cloth for dressmakers due to the demand and this is the busy season for us.’

‘Anistral, this isn’t a request. I will pay you in gold--not Zira. You will be shown to your new workroom. I cannot imagine having my clothes made in the streets. Work begins in four days. Use that time to plan yourself.’

‘You’re most kind.’ Natalia could hear the restraint in Anistral’s voice. The queen smiled at Anistral then turned her attention to Natalia who stood at the door.

‘You there—what is your name?’

Natalia’s heart skipped. ‘Na—Eyan…my lady.’ she said, bending her head and curtseying. She heard laughter in the court. She dared to look up. The queen had an amused look on her face.

‘Indeed. Even commoners are ladies now. Come closer and take off that dreadful hood.’ Natalia did as she was told but bowed her head.

‘Look at me.’ Natalia raised her head. ‘Turn around.’ the queen said, circling her finger. She turned around, catching a glimpse of Anistral’s bemused face.

‘Hmm…’ said the queen, ‘you have the makings of a lady. Anistral, I’ll make her my maid.’

Natalia held her breath and turned. Anistral smiled and opened her mouth but her reply was interrupted when the doors swung open.

‘Mother.’

‘Gisilfried, welcome from your journey. ’ the queen said.

Natalia turned and their eyes met. He was on the dais holding his mother’s hand. Natalia saw the surprise in his eyes, everyone saw it too.

‘This is Eyan,’ said the queen. ‘my new maidservant or--if you prefer--the first woman in your harem.’

Natalia recoiled and Gisilfried smiled and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, it was said in jest. My mother finds my lack of interest in the fairer sex amusing.’

‘But she is pretty, isn’t she? Dark, but pretty.’ the queen said to him.

‘No, she’s beautiful.’ he said, catching Natalia’s eye. She bowed her head so as not to look at him.

‘And she will be your gift to me as my new lady-in-waiting.’ Seraphin said. Natalia looked up. The girl had a smile on her face and an evil glint in her eyes.

‘Why?’ the queen asked, frowning.

‘I must apologize for my approach but I feel a sense of guilt for how I treated Lady Anistral earlier. I want to pay for my wrong and this is the way I know how.’ she said, making herself comfortable on the chair as she stared at Anistral. ‘It would be terrible to see such a pretty face go to waste if not for a royal cause. I need someone to run my errands and follow me everywhere.’

‘What about the one you have?’ the queen asked.

‘Prasima is getting old. She’ll need someone to take her place when the time comes. I hope, Lady Anistral, that you wouldn’t deem it wrong for her to serve me?’

It was a dangerous question. Anistral smirked and said, ‘Of course not.’

‘And you would also not deem it wrong to make my garments as well? I only use Neyron thread. It’s been said that our thread is the hardest to use. If you do not get it right, you bleed. I’m certain it is only a small matter for you--being the best dress maker in the kingdom--or would you deem it wrong to help me?’

‘I’ll do my best.’

‘Excellent. Work begins in two days for the two of you.’

Natalia and Anistral bowed and were led out of the court by a guard. Natalia placed her hood over her head as she stepped out, stumbling on someone outside the door. The sword in his hand fell to the floor.

‘Pick it up.’ he said. Natalia didn’t need to look to know it was Viden. Her sword on the floor told her.

‘Forgive me.’ she said and bent to pick it. The hairs on the back of her neck stood at the ends. She gave it to him without looking up and hurried to meet up with Anistral who was ahead of her. She couldn’t breathe until she was out of the hallway. It had been too close.

The guard was leading them to Anistral’s work station. They passed a door leading to the court yard. Anistral stopped in front of it and said, ‘Wait for me here.’

‘I want to go with you.’

‘I won’t take long and I know you’ll find the view interesting.’

Natalia sighed and strolled into the court yard. Unlike Anistral’s yard, this one was covered with white stone. Statues stood everywhere from men to beasts. Natalia stared at one of them. It was the statue of a man raising his hands as if in prayer. It looked so real—so human. There was a large rock in the middle of the yard. She sat down on it and rubbed her face. Her life seemed to be turning upside down. She remembered what she had seen the night before in Anistral’s courtyard. She had kept awake, looking from her window and she had heard voices in the yard. She peered into the darkness but saw nothing. She pulled her hood over her and went downstairs and opened the court yard door just enough to see what was going on. She closed her eyes and asked the talisman to show her. When she opened them, she saw five women all dressed in grey and glowing with a red light as they put Lamia’s body down into the dug up earth. They held hands and chanted, while the grass covered the grave. Ziati broke away from them and went down on her knees, wailing. She turned to Anistral. ‘You and the heir of Anundr are to blame for my sister’s death. You knew this would happen.’

‘I’m sorry, Ziati.’

‘Apologies will not bring her back, Anistral.’ said Ferne, the fifth woman. ‘With only five of us left we are at our weakest.’

‘Let the heir of Anundr replace her.’ Ziati said.

‘That’s not why she came.’ said Anistral.

‘What is your concern with her reason for coming? We’re not called to interfere--see what it has cost us.’ she said, pointing to Lamia’s grave.

‘Lamia chose this path.’

‘A tainted woman cannot choose.’ said Ferne. ‘You made the decision for her and broke one of the codes.’

‘You’re not above our codes, Anistral. It’s either you bring another seer into the fold or the heir joins us.’

Natalia covered her face with her hands and glanced at the statues before her.
She needed to leave Naphdael.
Her mother’s image flashed back in her mind. She had seen her mother in bed--frail and dying. The voice had told her she couldn’t leave yet. She and her mother would die if she left. She sighed.

‘I thought I saw you earlier. It seems my eyes do not deceive me.’

Natalia turned and saw Gisilfried behind her with a grin on his face. She sprang up. ‘My lord.’

‘Did I frighten you?’ he asked, moving closer.

‘No, you didn’t—’

‘Eyan or is it Natalia?’

‘Both are my names, only few call me Natalia.’

‘Is it because you have something to hide?’ he said.

‘No, I don’t.’ she said, folding her hands as he inched towards her.

‘Then why did you tell me you were returning to Ashten?’

Natalia swallowed and said, ‘I-I was but Lady Anistral requested I remain with her.’

He smiled. ‘Then I have the Lady of Flenos to thank for my good fortune.’

‘You’re in luck. She’ll be here soon.’

‘I’m afraid not. I went hunting for you in her work station. She told me you were here and I asked her to leave, though I had to promise that I would take you home.’

‘My lord!’ Natalia wasn’t sure how to react but the thought of Anistral leaving her in the palace sent her into panic.

‘I promised you would be safe with me. She has known me long enough to trust my word.’

‘Gisilfried.’ They turned and saw Seraphin approaching with a scowl on her face as her eyes darted from one face to the next. Natalia moved away from him.

‘It seems my new lady-in-waiting has made herself right at home here. Eyan, return to your home or you may begin your duties today.’

‘Yes, my lady.’ Natalia said, relieved that she could leave. ‘My lord.’ she curtseyed.

‘Wait for me at the gate. I promised to take you home and I will do so.’ he said in finality, frowning at Seraphin. Natalia nodded and walked past Seraphin, making for the exit.

Gisilfried waited for her to leave then said, ‘Why did you tell her to leave?’

Seraphin chuckled and drew closer. ‘It doesn’t speak well of a prince talking so intimately with a commoner.’

‘I’ll do as I please.’

She held his arm before he could leave. ‘Forgive me, I realize I’m in no place to question your judgment. I’m here on another matter.’

He sighed. ‘What is it?’

‘I would like you to show me around the city.’

‘My brother should have done so.’

‘He has no time for me. He delegated
his duty
to his guards. Since we are about to be family, I would like you to accompany me whenever you have time to spare.’

‘It wouldn’t speak well of me to keep company with my brother’s wife. It would breed gossip.’

‘I do not care for gossip.’

‘Forgive me, I thought you did.’ he said and strode back into the castle. He hastened his steps to the gate but Natalia wasn’t there. He asked one of the guards, ‘Did you see a maiden with a grey cloak here?’

‘She left, my lord.’

He grimaced. ‘Get me my horse.’ he said through gritted teeth.