Page 110 of Unrivaled
They were replacing shutters in the castle, rejuvenating tapestries, re-laying paths.The garden, which had been the Duchess’s pride and joy, had been cut back and dug up.The plants going in were edible or medicinal.Last I’d heard, lady Audrey was looking for apiarists and trying to figure out a way to shift waste to the orchard to fertilize it.
A bard danced up, playing his lute and wiggling his brows comically.When he’d first done this routine, I’d been irritated.Now, it was just part of our day.Behind him ran a few laughing children.My eyes roamed further, over rooftops, and I picked out, in the bay, a familiar set of sails.
Isolde caught my gaze, her expression serene.Captain Elnyta wasn’t on the long list of people Isolde disapproved of.
We made our way back to the keep with good speed once the little lady had spotted those sails.We stuck to her like shit to a blanket as she bypassed what she could and redirected what she couldn’t.Back at the tower, she gave Chay and me a brilliant smile.
“I’ll be having a quiet afternoon,” she told us.“If you’ve errands to run, or something else to do, please, feel free.”
“You’ll be at your standing appointment?”Chay asked her.
Lady Audrey hesitated, and I didn’t know if I was glad of that pause.
“I will,” she said with a sigh, coming out from the tower.“In fact, I might go down, see Bernadette, and go across from there.”
“I’ll go see if Kaelson’s free to come early,” Chay offered.
She sent him a grateful look.“Thanking you.”
I fell in behind the lady once more.My young counterpart had spent a lot of time with Kaelson.I hadn’t asked Kaelson about it, of course.I assumed the boy was finding solace and bolstering his determination when it flagged.And it did, regularly.I saw the way he still watched her.I’d seen him swallow his words, the way he’d look down at his boots and suck in a deep breath.I would’ve been worried except the little lady hadn’t once looked back.Her father wasn’t a forgiving man and like it or not, we took after those closest to us.It didn’t surprise me that she wasn’t still crying over whatever puppy love they’d shared.
And Captain Elnyta was keeping her busy.
Bernadette looked up from the pot of potatoes she was peeling and made a noise of delight when she saw Audrey.“My favorite taste-tester!Come, try this new relish.You’re going to love it or hate it.It’s to go with cold meats for the informal luncheon on the first day of the break.It’s not ideal with the cheese, but with some fowl, it might be perfect.”
Mine was a good post, really.I was paid handsomely in blueberries, my family were given excellent opportunities, and all I had to do was sit around and keep my thoughts to myself.
“Those tailors were looking for you,” Bernadette told my lady as she smeared some relish over a slice of roast meat.“Here, try it on the venison, too.”
Audrey hesitated.“Should mayhap Isolde try instead?You know I…”
“You,” Bernadette said, firmly, shoving it forward.“Those two girls, they’re excited to see you.Ness, you run and tell them the lady will be up in her room for dinner.”To Audrey, she said, “I’ll send it up for you all.You’ll want to see what they’ve put together for you, and youcan’tput them off until tomorrow.”
Stand around and keep my thoughts to myself.That was all I had to do.
I shifted my weight from one aching foot to the other, which ached a little less, wishing for a cool breeze and a compliant mistress.
At some point, I wouldn’t be just standing around.Damned if I would get caught with my breeches down.
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
AUDREY
Yours is the first case of an internal information leak.We can’t afford your ego, Luis, not even with access to the King’s coffers.—in a letter from High Magelord, Bearer of All, Gautier the First, to the First Guidelord, Luis
12thDay of Summer’s Son Moon,
Age of the Locways, Year 272
La’Angi Keep
I’d wanted to take my time, to sink into the bath and let it soak out the grime and sweat of the day.To let the water cool around me, and to cool with it.
Instead, I’d scrubbed, got myself presentable, and, with my hair still dripping, opened the door to my bedroom.
Two tailors and a Stitcher mage were there, fabric draped everywhere.Any other day and I’d’ve been excited.But it was Elnyta’s first time back in moons.
I wanted to tell my captain I’d been practicing being a kraken.
