Page 47 of The Dark Prince
After a breakfast of quail with some poached eggs, I insisted Bessy eat the rest or give it to someone in need. After a lot of hand-wringing, the food was tucked away into a small basket. Bessy told me I could take it into town or offer it to one of the stable boys around the grounds.
Bessy added a thick wool shawl over my shoulders, heavier boots, and a warm, fuzzy outer cloak with matching gloves. My chambers and Tyr’s were in this corridor, but I didn’t see any others. It made me wonder where Aella was being kept.
“Does my husband get many guests?” I asked.
“No,” Bessy replied curtly, and led me downstairs.
A sea of faces passed me as she introduced me to cooks, butlers, maids, knights, squires, washerwomen, and people whose purpose I couldn’t even begin to guess, but I didn’t doubt their importance to keeping life in the castle running smoothly.
Bessy puffed her chest out, proud at being part of it all. “I have only shown you a small portion of the rooms in the castle. We only use half of it. The other half in the west wing contains your unused ballroom, astronomy towers, and it’s rumored that is where the dungeon is. As well as a few more rooms.”
She blinked as if realizing what she’d just said. “It’s been empty for a long time. It is unsafe and dirty. We had to do an emergency clean just to get something prepared for the princess. Promise you won’t go wandering there.”
There was fear in her voice that reminded me of Tyr, but I moved to reassure her.
“Of course,” I promised. “Perhaps we could visit the town next?”
Bessy sighed. “I am busy. But I’m sure I can find someone who can take you.”
Guilt flooded my cheeks, and I bit my lip. It was easy to forget that everyone here actually had jobs while I loafed around. Had I forgotten how hard my days had been at the manor so quickly?
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to bother anyone. I can always wait until Tyr is back.…”
“Nonsense!” Bessy argued, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the kitchen. “Rose is pants at peeling potatoes anyway and hates it. That’s probably why she’s so bad at it. She’ll be pleased as punch to take you into town. And she’ll likely eat your food.”
In short order, they introduced me to a bubbly girl a little younger than I was with strawberry blonde hair and a cute button nose. Her chocolate brown eyes were wide as Bessy introduced us. Her awe quickly gave way to excitement as Bessy explained our task.
“Oh yes! I’d love to go into town! Derrick said it was chowder today, and Rob has been asking about me, and—”
“This trip is for your lady, not for you, missy,” Bessy chastised, one finger poking in the younger girl’s chest.
Rose blushed, and mumbled ‘yes ma’am’ so faintly I barely heard it.
“I’d love to meet your friends,” I assured her, hiding a chuckle.
Rose’s eyes flared a bit in panic at this, and she blushed to the tips of her ears. “Ah, maybe er, maybe.”
I hid an inappropriate grin and waved goodbye to Bessy. The older maid narrowed her eyes at Rose, then sniffed and made her way back through the kitchens.
“Here, take this. Cook will pinch my ear if I went to town and didn’t bring back any sage.”
I smiled at her quirks and comments, all details that told of a deep, tight-knit community of people who lived and worked in Tyr’s castle. It reminded me of better days: the days when my mother was alive, as short as they were.
As we walked down the cobblestone road to descend into the town, I couldn’t help but gaze at the endless horizon in front of me. The waves pounded mercilessly against the sharp rocks below the castle, but the view of the sea stretching out toward the horizon was calm and still.
The town stretched out below, bigger and yet more quaint than the few small houses that surrounded my manor. Pristine streets that were swept and well-maintained greeted us, the roads and alleys clear for travel. The road we walked on led straight into the heart of town, then appeared to continue on down past the town.
The town’s heart looked like it once was a bustling place of market stalls and vendors, but most of the carts were empty, only a few people scurried here and there.
“We get little since—well, never mind. We have little trade, that's all.” Rose managed, obviously holding back. “We got everything we need though: baker, butcher. We farm most of the rest and share milk and eggs. Bartering works best. There are a few hunters who come in with pelts and such.”
“Do they hunt the beast in the woods?” I asked, wondering if I could get more details about it.
Rose stammered and went white. “Well, ah, I mean, we’re not allowed. It’s not that we can’t, we just … How about some stew?”
With a desperation that made me pity her, she dragged me to the largest stone structure in tone with white-washed walls and a thatched roof.
The inside was dark but cozy with candles lit at each table and a fire crackling merrily in the hearth. Only a few people were scattered about.
