The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus (36 page)

Looking over at the man, Philip smiled and replied, "No, Laram, I am fine. I just wasn't that hungry tonight."

"Are you missing the marquess that much?" the graying steward asked with the hint of a smile. Laram had worked in their household for over two decades. He had been there for the birth of Annalicia and was more than a servant. He was a friend.

"Well, missing her doesn't affect my appetite, but there is just so much going on right now that my mind is too busy to think of food sometimes."

"The princess and earl's deaths have certainly come as a shock."

"Not only their deaths, but the poison could have killed the other two princesses and more as well. I feel sorry for Prince Jeremiah and Deeanne too. They were so excited to be having their first child, but she lost it being so sick."

"At least the rest of the family remained unharmed," the steward replied looking at the practical side.

Nodding, Philip didn't bother clarifying that there had been other deaths thanks to a poison given to the flowers in the castle. He had paid out more money from the king's treasury to cover the funerals of several of the gardeners who had died. Some were quite young and others were parents to young children. The losses affected many more than those in the king's castle and on top of that he had heard that several servants had quit in fear of being too close to the king.

"I just wish that I could be of help to keep them safe. It's like someone has a vendetta against the king and his family. Carland's death seems to be an accident so far, but I worry that someone got creative and found a way to make the horse throw him."

"Perhaps someone placed a burr under the saddle or something?" Laram suggested. "Of course, the animal could simply have seen something that looked like a snake and reared as well. The earl was a good rider though, wasn't he?"

Again Philip nodded. "Now Serafene and Alicia are trying to help keep his mother from collapsing or hurting herself. If Etrine does something rash, the accident might end up causing more death."

"Is that likely, sir?"

"The marquess has always been a bit fragile. Losing Carland has affected her enough to have the marq send word to Serafene because he is worried," he confided in his friend.

"I can see why you worry, though you can only be expected to do so much. You are the king's Master of Coin, not his guardsman or general. Keeping the king safe isn't your job."

"He's family and I feel like I should be doing more for Serafene's sake if for nothing else. Orlaan also trusts in me. If I could just find out who was behind the poison, it would help ease all of our minds."

Giving his words a moment of pause, Laram finally said, "Depending on who is behind it, your worry might actually be just beginning."

Philip sighed and wondered if his steward was right. Figuring out who was behind the poison might just open up a serpent's nest of trouble.

Lightning flashed in the sky to the north and the man counted to three before the thunder rolled across the patio. When the weather reflected how he felt, Philip always wished that it was matched to a clear, cloudless sky. The storm continued as the lord sat in thought.

Four days passed before they spotted the little hamlet sitting along a small river. A small harbor gave enough shelter for fishermen and a few merchant ships to use it as well. They doubted that it was a significant source of trade, but the hamlet was probably a stop for a few ships crossing the northern coast.

"Well, now what?" Xerese asked looking out from the shelter of a copse of trees southeast of the small fishing village. "We don't have any money and I can hardly walk in saying that I am a lady of Malaiy so I will pay them back."

Toman glanced at the woman. Her lightweight tunic looked dirty and had a few tears from the rough nature of the land. Even if she tried putting on the red bodice, Xerese was likely to look more like an escaped slave than a lady; though she still managed to look quite pretty.

The girl had washed herself and the little clothes remaining to her in the streams they found along the way. Her hair was kept in a loose braid dropping just below her shoulder blades. The sun had bronzed her skin as they traveled. His own face and arms had darkened as well, but it would be unusual to see a royal lady in bare feet with such tanned legs.

"I will have to try and find something," he answered coloring slightly. The thought of stealing embarrassed him, but Xerese was right. They had nothing to trade. Perhaps they would find someone willing to let them work for clothing for the girl and maybe a meal, but in such a small village, there might not be anyone willing to invest that much.

Frowning at him, Xerese warned, "If we choose to steal, we run the risk of being hunted."

"Only if they discover that anything was taken," the man countered and started to move.

Xerese's hand caught his forearm stopping him a moment. "Be careful," she added in parting.

The girl had been warm enough by day in her tunic though on occasion he had been forced to carry her over terrain too rough for her feet. Nights cooled, but she had carried the remnant of her dress and used it for more warmth. She also used him as well. His shoulder served as her pillow. His arm was her blanket and his side a source of warmth.

Reddening at the thought of the beautiful woman by his side, Toman turned away quickly heading for the edge of the little hamlet. He couldn't allow any feelings like that for the lady. Not only was she his charge, she was too young for him. Their ages were nearly a decade in difference, but traveling alone together was an intimate experience that made it easy to have those feelings.

Shaking his head, Toman tried not to look like a thief as he walked towards the first house.

Clothing hung on a clothesline would be ideal, even if he would feel bad to be stealing from anyone. He was a guardsman, not a thief. In fact, guarding someone in the royal family meant that they looked for someone with integrity.

There was nothing to work with at the first house. Moving to the next house, Toman was just taking stock when a man's voice called out, "Hello there, son, what brings you to our little village?"

He walked a dusty path that served as a road. His feet weren't even trespassing, Toman realized. Despite his intent, he had yet to do anything to be ashamed of so far.

Putting on a smile, the big man spotted an older man sitting on his porch. It was a surprise to see the added amenity so far from a real town or city.

"I'm afraid that bad luck has brought me here. A storm stranded me on a beach to the east and far from home," Toman replied with the truth. Some might take advantage of a stranger, but perhaps there would be some pity instead.

The man's face looked surprised and he echoed the guardsman's statement, "You were shipwrecked? The waves were pretty big a few days ago and one of the merchantmen said that they had been forced south by a pretty nasty storm. Was that the one?"

He nodded. "I've been walking for days already. Would anyone have food and maybe some clothing for a traveler?"

Appraising Toman's appearance, the old man answered, "Food perhaps, but I'm not sure anyone has anything that would fit you. Of course, if you aren't too picky, I would think what you are wearing would serve you awhile longer. Unless you are asking for another?" he shrewdly guessed as one eye closed making him look skeptical.

Before answering, the guardsman took a deep breath and sighed. "My companion is a young woman. Her dress was torn so she could try to swim in the sea. It weighed her down, but now she could use something more appropriate for society."

The old man laughed. "Society? I'm not sure we exactly resemble that here. We're so small no one even bothered to name this village yet."

He stood up and looked thoughtful. "Is she a plump girl or one of those slips of a woman that can slip through the slats of a fence?"

Unsure that he would dare classify Xerese as either, especially in her presence, Toman answered, "Somewhere in between, if those are my only choices. She is slim, but has some features which are... fuller," he finished reddening again. The girl was his responsibility, yet he was continually finding himself blushing of late. It wasn't a good sign and he doubted that Xerese thought of him as anything more than a guard.

The man still looked amused and gave a large, slow nod as he grinned and said, "Oooh, one of those kinds. We don't get them around here really, but Milly might be able to give her something that would at least cover her up without drowning her. Would hate to drown the girl after surviving the sea after all."

Laughing at his attempt at a joke, the old man stepped off of his porch and motioned for him to follow. "If your need is just for a girl, then we can try there. Are you hungry? A large fellow like you probably needs to eat a lot."

"A bag or a pack would be helpful also," Toman mentioned though he didn't want to be ungrateful. If the people here were generous enough to at least give away some clothes and a little food to strangers, he didn't want to ask for much else.

Screwing up his face in thought, the old man said, "That can probably be arranged. It might not be much, but there's probably something around to carry a little something."

"Milly!" he called out seeing a woman probably fifty pounds heavier than Xerese, Toman thought. She was also shorter than the girl. Thinking that finding a fit for his mistress was unlikely if this was the closest to his description in the village, Toman held his tongue hoping that the charity they desired would be at hand even so.

Xerese waited in the brush impatiently. Looking down at her clothing, she knew that she would be ashamed walking into the middle of a town looking like this. Toman had said little after he realized that the lady was willing to make the best of a bad situation without complaint; but Xerese looked at the tears caused by branches and thorns and realized that the tunic was becoming more like rags clinging to her body. Nothing that was supposed to be concealed was in danger of being revealed yet; but lying with the guardsman each night, the girl wondered if she wasn't being scandalous enough already.

The thought of Toman holding her made the girl blush. It wasn't that she had feelings for him exactly, but they had been alone and he her protector. They were together always and closer at night. He held her because she made him, but Toman had never protested either.

When she saw the big guard walking back past the closest house with a smaller, older man; Xerese shook her head and laughed. For all his talk, he couldn't do it. He couldn't just steal from people, but the man carried a bundle of light blue cloth over his left arm as he spoke with his new companion.

They didn't stop until nearly to the brush and Xerese wondered if Toman no longer worried if she was seen in her current state. She used a bush to conceal her tunic and much of her bare legs, but called out as they closed, "Did you find some help in town?"

The old man looked back and laughed, "I think your female friend is being generous calling this a town, my friend."

Uncertain why the old man was amused, her eyes went to her guardsman. Toman shrugged at her and said, "Edric found someone with a daughter about your size. I hope this fits. I can't say that I am a perfect judge of women's clothing."

That made the old man laugh again. He didn't bother to explain his humor as Toman handed the bundle over to her however.

"Turn around," she ordered the two with a wave of her hand. The idea of stripping behind a bush would have been insane to her, but after surviving the shipwreck, just being alive meant little else really fazed her.

The tunic was tugged over her head. A breeze coming through the trees made her skin prickle and she shivered. Even her panties seemed worn after so many days and the ordeals they had suffered through, she thought before shaking out the bundle.

A simple dress, sometimes called a peasant's dress in her circle, colored light blue had buttons on the top letting Xerese step into it from above. Pulling it up and slipping her arms into the sleeves, Xerese quickly buttoned it before one of the men decided to sneak a peek at her dressing.

She was surprised at the fit. Though not perfect, the hips and waist felt comfortable. Her bust was apparently larger than the previous owner making her leave some of the buttons open so she could breath.

Though still barefoot, at least Xerese felt like she could talk to someone without needing a bush to hide herself.

"It will do, I guess. It is certainly better than I had," the lady stated as she left the brush. Carrying the torn tunic and bodice, she wondered if they should just be left behind as rags.

Edric smiled and pretended to speak only to Toman, though she heard him easily, "She is certainly quite beautiful. A man with a wife like her is certainly a lucky man."

"I'm not..." Xerese began as Toman's eyes went wide before looking at the old man.

Again Edric let out a quick laugh and held up his hand to stall her words. "You two might not want to look shocked anytime someone proposes that you are married. The road can be pretty dangerous, especially for women. Perhaps pretending to be a married couple would be a little safer for you?"

Toman frowned and replied, "If a man lacks the morals to respect a woman with a traveling companion, he is unlikely to respect the bonds of marriage, Edric. In fact, coming across the wrong type of person might simply lead to a dead husband to end the problem."