A Tale of Two Castles(65)

He descended. I tossed the key over the battlements and raced away. The rain had become fog. If more guards were on the wall walk, the mist might hide me.

The king’s chambers were in the northwest tower, on the other side of the gatehouse wall walk.

Let them not expect me to go there. And let me not be too late.

I didn’t think His Highness’s trapdoor would be guarded, and it wasn’t. Why guard it without a prisoner inside? I raised it a crack. Guards would certainly be posted inside or outside the king’s chamber, or both.

Luck was with me. No guards on the landing. I lifted the trapdoor just enough to admit me and then gentled it back into place and stole down the ladder. The king’s bed hadn’t been in the room I’d visited or on the story below, so it had to be in the top chamber, as my prison bed had been.

The tower seemed to sway. I put my hand on the doorknob to steady myself. I swallowed repeatedly before I knew I could speak.

“La, Father! Here I am. . . .” I turned the knob and opened the door. “La! I have extraordinary . . .”

I ran in. An impression of startled faces. “Your Majesty . . .” I fell on my knees—and was lifted by two guards the instant my knees touched the floor. They began to drag me out.

“I didn’t poison you, but I know who did. She’ll do it again.”

His Highness held up his hand. “How fortunate I am that prisoners break in to bring me truth.” His voice had diminished to a whisper. “Pray tell, who?”

Goodwife Celeste sat on a stool near the king’s bed. “Elodie!”

Sir Misyur turned away from tending the fire. “Elodie?”

Master Dess sat in the window recess, stroking a small dog in his lap. A third man, likely Sir Maydsin the physician, held the king’s wrist, taking his pulse.

The guards loosened their grips but didn’t let me go.

His Highness leaned forward. “Name the lady you wish to put in your place.”

Say it! I told myself. He may kill me, but say it! “Has . . .” I had to catch my breath. “Has your daughter given you food today?”

“My daughter?” He laughed. Coughed. Laughed again. “You may release her.”

The guards obeyed but remained close.

“Master Dess!” I cried. “Beyond the eastern outer curtain, Masteress Meenore lies wounded. IT may have an arrow in ITs belly.”

“Your Majesty . . .” Master Dess bowed and hurried from the chamber.

“Misyur, will you be so kind as to find my daughter, and don’t tell her what this is about. This girl is always droll. Renn will be amused. We’ll hold the trial here.”

Sir Misyur bowed and left.

“My daughter did share with me a delicious rabbit pie.” He addressed himself to Goodwife Celeste. “She came after you left me for my nap. She is always welcome, but especially when she brings food.”

Goodwife Celeste looked startled.

How much poison in the pie? How soon would it strike?

“Now, while we wait, the girl will mansion the tale with the snake.” He waved the guards away. “Give her space.”

How could I mansion now? I didn’t want to!

Goodwife Celeste nodded at me. I began by turning my cap backward for the bad sister. The imaginary moonsnake oozed slowly from my mouth. How hard it was to concentrate.

When the snake had emerged, I leaped from side to side to get away from it.

The king laughed. The guards laughed. The king coughed. Goodwife Celeste frowned.

After an especially wide leap, I turned my cap to the front to be the kind sister.

“La, Father!” The princess entered with Sir Misyur and two guards, neither of them Master Dure or Master Onnore. “Ehlodie?”

The king patted the bed next to him. “Sit by me. The girl is even more diverting than I thought. She claims you poisoned me.”

“La!”

“It is in her left sleeve! You’ll see. She tried to poison me, too.” Oh no! “She was bringing me—”

“My dear, oblige me by holding out your left arm.”

I was frantic. “If the guards eat my meal, they’ll die!”

“Make her quiet,” King Grenville said.

A guard put his hand across my mouth.

“Father! You mistrust me?”

“I trust you. You are my beloved daughter, but hold out your arm.”

She held it out. He rolled up the long sleeve inch by inch. No poison.





Chapter Thirty-Seven

It had to be there. What had she done with it?

“The other arm,” the king said. “I will be thorough.” He revealed her right arm to us all. No poison.

I bit the guard’s hand. He squawked and let go. “Her purse!”

The guard covered my mouth again.

The king laughed. “She is so funny. Your purse, my love.”

The purse contained only keys.

“That is enough. I am tired of this sport. We cannot keep girls who won’t stay in their guarded towers. Tomorrow—”

Keys! I’d put the tower key in my shoe. I bit the guard again, and he let go again. “Look in her shoes! I’m—”

The guard muffled me again.

“Father!”

“Dear, you needn’t remove your shoes. Tomorrow the girl will die. Poison will be her—” He coughed and put his bedsheet to his mouth. It came away stained with blood, and blood etched a line down his chin.