Battle over Tea
Gunther ran towards the exiting doors as fast as his legs could carry him. He ran past the king, who was regretfully taking a stroll through the snow, past a startled looking Rake, and past the lady in waiting, who smiled and waved happily. Gunther ran as if he was running through a colorless world, the only thing present in his world were those two doors. Past those doors, things would be either ordinary or painful.
Things were still colorless and lifeless until Gunther reached his father, who was standing next to a load of goods. There were two carts piled 12 feet high with barrels of wheat. Another cart stood next to them, piled 20 feet high with boxes. Gunther stopped in front of the merchant and tried to breathe normally.
"Father," he panted.
"Where were you, boy? I strongly suspect that you have not been doing what I told you to do." Magnus Breech said in a frighteningly slow voice.
"Father, Sir Theodore kept me," He said, standing straight.
His father cocked an eyebrow. "Maybe I will have to assign Harry to watch you boy."
Gunther gulped.
"It is most dreadfully sad that he is practicing his skills on a failing scoundrel of a boy." He watched his son for a minute. "Start with the barrels boy." He left Gunther staring after his retreating back and entered his house.
Gunther watched with his mouth slightly open as his father turned around in the door way, gave him a queer look, and then slammed the door shut.
Gunther sighed, shaking his head, and turned to look at the 100+ barrels piled onto the cart. He jumped onto the cart. He lifted barrel after barrel and took them into the storage room next to his house.
***
Jane rushed up the steps of the kitchen, holding the pot of beef and cabbage soup. She kicked the door open with her knee and walked across the slippery ice cautiously. After 15 minutes, Jane arrived at the throne room, where the royal family was sitting. Her mother and father were seated on a bench on a side.
Jane set the stew on a table at the side of the door and began to pour it into three bowls. She carried it onto the platform and handed it to the king, queen, and Lavinia.
"Oh yay! Soup!" The Princess exclaimed, clapping her hands. "I have not had proper soup for so long Jane!"
"Right Princess," Jane said laughing.
"Ah…my little pumpkin you are right! This soup looks perfectly-erm-sensible. Did you make it Jane?" the King asked.
"No your majesty," Jane said handing the last bowl to the queen.
"Then you must taste it before we eat it." The king said looking from his wife to his daughter.
"Certainly, sir." Jane ran back and grabbed a bowl of soup. She tasted it and then said, feeling very foolish, "Umm…tastes fine to me. No poison, tastes good…"
"Excellent," the king said lifting his spoon.
Jane turned back and poured out two bowls of soup for her parents.
"Ah…" the lady in waiting said, taking her bowl. "I see that Gunther followed my recipe exactly!" she said excitedly.
"Heart's dearest," the chamberlain said taking his soup, "As you see daughter, Sir Theodore is not present. He came by earlier requesting me to tell you to entertain the king after his meal and take on his duty as knight until he returns."
Jane nodded skeptically. "Did he mention where he was going?"
"No Jane," the chamberlain said shaking his head.
"Why do you ask Jane?" the lady in waiting asked her daughter suspiciously.
"Oh, nothing really, mother. I just had to ask him when we will have that test…"
"Sit down Jane," the Chamberlain said patting the empty space beside him.
Jane sat down and waited until the King was done eating. The king wiped his mouth and stared at the empty space in front of him expectantly.
Jane jumped as her father patted her shoulder.
"Oh, right." Jane gulped and walked towards the king.
"Where is Jester? I mean Gunther?" the King asked.
"Oh, I do not know, but he should not have gone." Jane said bowing her head.
"I know, I know!" Princess Lavinia cried, clapping her hands, her soup bowl on the floor. She stood on her chair and pointed a finger at Jane, "Jane can be our jester for today!"
"Yes my petal, that is a truly wonderful idea!" The king said, clapping also.
Jane turned to look at the queen, who nodded her head and smiled.
"There once was a cook who was looking for peppers. He walked past the peppers and muttered, 'Peppers! Where are you?' A fool came up and pointed to a bowl of tomatoes. 'There are the peppers!' He exclaimed." Jane looked around with a big, nervous smile on her face.
The king was sitting in his throne, day dreaming.
Lavinia was laughing. "That was not funny Jane! It was so not funny that it is funny!" she laughed.
"Well, there once was a Dragon…who was fierce and red. He jumped into bed and said, oh where is my head?"
Lavinia smiled a small smile and the queen clapped her hands. Jane knew it was not funny at all.
The king looked up from his day dreaming. "Jane,"
"Yes, Sir?" Jane asked hopefully. She was a failure at jesting.
"Jane I had to speak to you." The king said seriously.
"Yes sir, I am present." Jane said, looking down at herself.
"Yes, excellent Jane. I had to speak to you about the-the cure, what do you call it? Yes so I saw the boy, rack, rude, rip, what do you call him?"
"Rake," Jane said rather irritably.
"Yes! Yes Rake, that was at the tip of my tongue. Yes so I saw ra-ri-race-rice—the gardener. I now trust that it is the cure and I want you to get more of it."
"Yes, sir, I shall go as soon as I get the chance." Jane said.
"Seeing as Sir Theodore is not present," the queen began. Jane jumped and the king looked around startled. "I suggest Jane go tomorrow."
" It is also vary, vary cold and the snow is getting vary, vary slippery Daddy-King," Princess Lavinia said urgently. She had her hands on the arm rests of her chair and she was nodding seriously at her father. "I forbid Jane from going today Daddy. It is far too dangerous. Her poor horsey might even slip!"
"Certainly, pumpkin, if that is what you wish then so be it." The king said.
Princess Lavinia relaxed and smiled at Jane.
Jane stood there, nodding. "Thank you so much for your concern Princess,"
"No, no Jane. Anything for you Jane." Lavinia said happily.
Jane smiled.
***
Night had come and the sun had gone to rest.
"Lucky sun," Gunther moaned. His father seemed angry, very angry. Gunther wondered why.
The last box was placed on top of a tilting pile and Gunther slammed the door shut. He walked over to a cart and folded his arms. He sighed with relief and realized how hungry he was. Where did the cows come from? Why was it so cold? Who was shouting so loudly—his father?
Gunther awoke with a start and nearly fell forward. He slipped and slid towards the door of his house. He was curious, but he also had to tell his father that he was done. He put his hand on the door handle and stopped to listen for a moment. He heard three angry voices, one was shouting impatiently, one shouting softly and hissing like a snake, the last one was slightly muffled, angry but calm. Gunther knew that one of them was his father, and the muffled one sounded very, very familiar. Gunther couldn't put his finger on who it was, but he knew he had heard that voice before.
The door creaked open. Gunther tip toed towards the second room in the house, where three people were sitting talking—shouting more like it. The candle was dying out fast and the room was so noisy that no one had heard Gunther enter. He leaned against the door, safely away from the candle's dim light and listened.
Three silhouetted figures sat on the table; one had pushed a stool close to the table. The window in front of them had been closed and curtained. Gunther's father was almost on his feet, a short man who reminded Gunther of Sir Ivon sat on the stool, and the third sat on his seat, tall and dignified.
Gunther's eyes widened as the tall man spoke—it was Sir Theodore. What was he doing here?
"Magnus you are contradicting yourself." He said angrily.
"Be careful of what you say, Theodore." His father hissed.
"You mus' not do this Brother Theodore! You mus' not. It is not yeh right!" The short man shouted.
Sir Theodore got up suddenly and said in an angry voice Gunther had never heard before, "Give me the boy Magnus, or I will take him."
"No you will not." His father said getting up. "He is my property—son."
Gunther's hand flew to his mouth and his eyes widened.
Sir Theodore shook his head impatiently. "This is exactly why I ask of you—"
"Not a chance." The short man hissed, also getting up.
Gunther could feel Sir Theodore staring at the short man. "You will stay out of this, Ian."
The man folded his arms in a way that reminded Gunther of Jane. "I will not listen to yeh now, Theodore. I have had enough. Tis time to do things my way, the way I like."
Sir Theodore walked around the table and stared at the man, his nose an inch from his own.
"Do you remember our oath?" Sir Theodore asked slowly, coming closer yet.
"That was not a fair oath!" The man spat into Sir Theodore's face.
Sir Theodore backed away angrily.
"Theodore that was not a fair oath," Magnus spoke up. "You cheated us you fool. You knew we would do anything you told us to. We were foolish children Theodore, we couldn't think for ourselves."
Gunther stepped backwards as Sir Theodore walked slowly towards the door.
"I close this discussion." Magnus said firmly. "I shall not change my decision no matter what you say, Theodore."
"You do not understand!" Sir Theodore said spreading out his arms impatiently. "This is for the boy's own good. He will be far better off than killing himself lifting 300 barrels weighing more than you can raise in a single day. It is better for him than to be a lousy merchant."
"Lously?" Magnus breathed, walking towards Sir Theodore.
"Lousy?" Sir Ian repeated, scratching his curly red head.
"Yes Magnus, lousy."
Magnus spun away from Sir Theodore and sat down on the chair. He banged the table with his fist and looked left and right angrily.
"Ian," Magnus instructed, "Get him away from my house."
Sir Ian saluted to Magnus and ran towards Sir Theodore and made to grab his hand.
"There is no need, Magnus. I have no desire to be in this house, I am leaving. But I warn you I will return, this matter is not closed." Sir Theodore walked towards the door, stopped a foot from Gunther and turned around and nodded. Gunther could see him now that he was closer. A frightening fire burned in his black eyes and his mouth was set in an angry slash behind his quivering mustache.
Gunther held his breath, he must not move, or make the slightest noise. Sir Theodore stopped in the doorway next to Gunther and placed a shaking hand on his shoulder. Sir Theodore nodded slowly and tried to smile, and then turned around and rushed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Gunther tip toed towards his room as Magnus and Ian began to speak once more. He jumped onto his bed and stared above him. He was shaking slightly, the words of his father and his mentor playing in his head nonstop.
"What is going on?" Gunther asked himself, staring at the ceiling above him.
***
Jane walked towards the stables slowly, her head down and her arms folded. She slipped on a patch of ice and fell head first into a clumsy looking snowman. Jane stepped backwards and stared at the fallen snow man. It was small and chubby, had a carrot nose, wild berries for eyes, and a tiara on its head. Princess Lavinia's, thought Jane.
Jane wiped a cold tear and looked up towards the sky. It was pale and lifeless. It would have been much better if there had been a laughing dragon flying loops in it. Jane imagined that the snow falling from above were actually frozen tears. Dragon was still gone. Jane longed to fly high in the clouds with her friend, to hug his big toe and scold at his silly jokes. She wished she didn't have to go on horse to find the plant, but could ride on her best friend Dragon. Jane remembered telling Dragon about how her foot was stuck in her mouth. Well, there it was again, stuck in her mouth, and this time she could not spit it out and was forced to chew on it.
The diary was also still in her mind. She must dispose of it somehow; no doubt Sir Theodore was getting very suspicious. Eyes like a hawk, brain like a storage room, Sir Theodore could sense trouble anywhere. It seemed like an easy task, get rid of the diary. But how exactly was much harder. Jane had thought of burning it, but that wouldn't help in the least. Sir Theodore would still think she had stolen it. So getting rid of it was not all, she must make it seem as if she had never stolen the diary.
"My clever brain," Jane muttered beating her head, "think! The same brain that got me into such trouble in the first place…oh I wish I had a brain like Dragon's…"
Inside the stables, Cleaver was making a lot of noise. Jane walked towards her and gave her a whack on the back, which she thought would silence her.
"You are going to wake up Smithy!" Jane said urgently, peering anxiously at the shelf above Cleaver.
Some hay fell into Jane's hair and Smithy sat up on his 'shelf covered with hay'.
"Jane, do you need something?" Smithy asked sleepily.
"No Smithy, you stay where you are." Jane said, raising a hand. "I just need Cleaver for a bit. I have to get some more Treatment a la Dragon."
Smithy nodded and smiled tiredly. "That is wonderful Jane." Jane scratched her head, wondering what was so wonderful about pulling mesmerizing plants out of their roots. "I shall saddle her for you," Smithy said, pushing himself so that his feet dangled off the shelf. A blur rushed past him and came towards him again. Smithy rubbed his eyes, surprised by what he saw.
"There all done," Jane said, leaning against the saddled horse.
"That was fast Jane," Smithy said smiling. He was surprised to see that Jane had done the job properly. "And remember, Jane, Cleaver is afraid of water."
"I now know how to take care of the animals. A knight must be prepared for any kind of situation."
"Which includes saddling horses, feeding pigs, and shaving sheep," Smithy said rubbing his head.
"I meant horses." Jane said matter-of-factly.
"Is everything alright, Jane? You seem awfully upset." Smithy asked.
"Thank you for your concern Smithy," Jane said rubbing her foot on the dirt, "But erm—erm everything is-is okay."
Smithy nodded understandingly. He already knew that Dragon's absence was bothering Jane.
Jane looked rather surprised. "I shall be going then, Smithy. You are looking worse than before. Rest, and do not shake, nod, or-or do anything with that aching head of yours except snore."
Smithy remained still—a frozen smile on his face.
"Alright then Smithy," Jane said laughing. She mounted Cleaver and rode her out of the stables.
Smithy looked after her and was about to jump off and close the half open doors when Jane's bushy red head peeked through. She nodded at Smithy, and pulled the doors closed.
Jane was riding Cleaver up the mountain for the second time. She watched the snow snaps growing on the mountain blur past and kept her ears pierced for any laughter. But Jane wasn't going to Dragon's cave; she was headed for the smaller mountain to its right. Maybe, Jane thought, she would go see Dragon's cave while she was here. She may even see him.
A stalactite fell from the cave ceiling and onto the ground. Jane walked deeper into the cave and towards the small hole in the ground. She heard some distant queer rumbling coming from above her. Jane dodged left and right as some more stalactites came falling off the ceiling.
"Queer," Jane whispered suspiciously, "That did not happen before." She sighed and ran back towards the entrance of the cave. "But duty calls first, 'the curiosity of a knight must not disrupt the duty of a knight.'"
Jane tugged on the vine and ran back towards the hole. She lowered herself in and climbed the rope down to the lower landing. Jane stood in front of the lake, her hands on her hips. She quickly took off her armor and placed it carefully on the ground in front of her. She took out the glass case Dr. Orden had lent her and placed it next to her armored skirt.
Jane put her fingers firmly into her ears and plunged into the ocean. The plants must not mesmerize her…but then again, what was the harm in that? There was nothing wrong with staying with them for just a day or two. They were calling her closer, their leaves swaying in a gesturing manner. 'Come,' they said in a deep, raspy, high pitched voice, 'we have a story to tell you.'
Soon, Jane found herself sitting cross-legged on the lake floor in front of the plants. She didn't seem to have to breathe.
"Our story is a deep one. It took place a long, long time in this kingdom. A man did a kind act, but then resorted to do one several times worse—something that we plants cannot speak of my friend. It scares us to our veins!"
The plants shook quickly, as if shuddering.
"You must watch out for him Jane, you must. He is up to something horrid, and we do not want you to fall into his evil plans. Protect yourself Jane, come live with us. You will not be harmed."
Jane nodded fearfully, wondering who this horrid person was.
"We see him all the time," the plant turned around to look at the others behind it, "Do we not?" the plants bobbed up and down in agreement. "We see beasts of every color, purple, green, red and blue. We are warning you." The plant's leaf stretched forward and grasped Jane's hand tightly.
Jane said in a small voice, "I will not go. I will stay here with you. I will protect you with my life if I have to." Jane smiled at the plants, which seemed to be smiling too.
CRASH! A big chunk of rock fell from the first landing onto the second and rolled over towards the lake.
Jane screamed shrilly. She turned to look at the plants. They seemed to have backed away and were swaying back and forth in the water, perfectly timid. Jane realized she couldn't breathe. She held onto her throat and swam to the end of the ivy, which was roaming around the lake floor, long forgotten. Jane tugged on the ivy and climbed herself out of the lake and way from those horrid plants.
Safely out of the water, Jane looked around. The hole she had come from was bigger and there were several big pieces of rock scattered on the second landing. Jane gasped. There was something up on the mountain, something that shouldn't be. Jane suddenly realized that she hadn't gotten any plants. She took another deep breath and plunged into the lake.
The plants were pulled out of their roots as an angry Jane tugged on them.
"You fools!" She cried as soon as she stood on solid floor. Her face was red and her teeth were clenched. "How could you do this? You are so horrid! I cannot believe you! You need a good beating!" She threw the plants onto the ground and jumped on them until she felt satisfied.
"No, Jane, no!" the plants moaned in a supposedly cute voice, "We tried to save you!" Their words were coming out in short gasps.
"You liars! You were trying to kill me! Close your mouths before you do anything more!" Jane stuffed the plants into the case. "Wait," she whispered thoughtfully. Inside the case the plants smiled hopefully. "I do not have enough…" the plants invisible faces fell. "I need more…10-12…I have twelve and I need…I need 5 and 5 and 5 and 5 and 5…4 times that would be…18…no 20! No, 18…no…ugh I shall just get 25 to be on the safe side. If we have too much I shall chop them up and boil them—they deserve it."
Jane pulled on the armor and climbed the ivy out of the second landing. Thump, thump, thump. There was a small hole in the ceiling above Jane. Jane stepped forward and looked up. The hole was too small, she couldn't see anything. Jane looked down at her feet hopelessly, shaking her head.
Wait. There was something at her feet, something large and smooth—like a stone. It was almond shaped and blood red. It glittered in Jane's hand, reflecting the sunlight as if it were a very dull mirror. Jane stood there for a few minutes, looking at it closely from every point of view. It seemed oddly familiar somehow…. Jane put the red stone into the glass case with the plants, hoping they wouldn't torment it (they seemed furious with themselves—and Jane).
Jane walked towards the entrance and looked upwards, using her hand to shield her eyes against the sun. She couldn't see anything. There wasn't any path way leading up to the peak, it was too sloped for a horse to travel there. She saw more stones there; they were colored indigo and gray and were much smaller than the red one, which was as big as Jane's palm. They were about the size of her thumb. Jane collected a few and put them into the case with the red one and the mesmerizing plants.
Jane mounted Cleaver and rode off towards another mountain. She needed more plants. There were none in Dragon's mountain and there was just one cave in the other mountain. Jane pulled the reigns of her horse to stop it. She might as well see Dragon right now, before she got too far.
Cleaver ran swiftly up the stone path leading to Dragon's cave. Jane jumped off her and rushed towards the cave. Even in broad daylight, Jane could see the orange blur of a fire. But the fire was far larger than the one Jane had seen a few days ago.
"Dragon!" She shouted, worrying that the oversized newt may have caught himself on fire.
She ran into the cave and stopped in front of a clumsy wooden fence, which looked like it would collapse any second. Jane stepped backwards, what was it? She cautiously pushed a part that looked like the gate. The wooden logs tumbled down and rolled towards her feet. Jane sighed and placed them onto the fence. The fence was very low…
Jane ran outside, and sped back inside again. She leapt over the fence and landed on her knees.
"Maggots," she mumbled, rubbing her bleeding knees. "AAAGGGHHHH!!" Jane screamed shrilly. Something had touched her, something slimy and wet….
"MOOO!"
Jane turned and to her horror, found a whole herd of cows roaming around Dragon's cave.
"Mooo,"
"Moo-ooo-oo."
"Moo-oooo-ooo-oooo!!"
The cave smelled horrible and was very, very hot. It no longer felt like Dragon's cave. His love for cows had taken him way too far…Jane backed away into the fence, realizing what it was for.
"Aghhh!!" Jane jumped over it and ran towards Cleaver, who was slowly walking away from the cave.
Jane chased after the retreating horse. "Cleaver! Cleaver," She panted, raising a hand. The horse stopped and turned around. Jane jumped onto her and said, "Scared of cows? So am I, officially!" Jane wiped her sweaty brow and led the horse far away towards a distant cave.
Jane jumped off the horse once more and entered the cave. It was dark and cold. Jane wished she had brought a torch. She walked closer to the walls; they seemed to have some sort of strange insects on them. Jane walked closer. They weren't symbols, they were dragon runes. Jane had never seen these before, and somehow they seemed recent. They were deep and clear, unlike some faded ones in Dragon's cave.
Jane stepped closer. High on the walls there was a long sentence of Dragon runes that ran 5 feet long. Below it was another line, then another, then another. It seemed as if the dragon writing it was telling some sort of story…
There was another set of runes much lower on the wall. They were messy and some were crossed out. It reminded Jane of a child first learning how to write, like Lavinia. Jane tried to read them, but most of them were new. She recognized the words dragon, danger, person, battle, and kind. It didn't make sense at all.
Jane fell cross legged on the hard stone floor. She put her spinning head into her head and tried not to think about how hurt she felt.
"UGH! I do not understand!" Jane screamed impatiently. "Why did I not see all this before? Dragon told me he explored every inch of these mountains…surely he would have seen these runes?" Jane got up and stared at them without understanding their secrets.
Jane got up helplessly and walked deeper into the cave. She had to find more of the plant, or she would be dead. Jane searched the mountain for a lake until she was breathless and her feet felt like lead. Despite the biting cold, Jane felt hot. She mounted Cleaver and rode off towards another mountain.
***
The sky was turning a beautiful shade of lavender; the sun under those pale, bright clouds was setting. Jane came out of the cave almost asleep, her head was down and she walked one inch a step. In her hand she clutched a large, thick bunch of the plants, which were singing a melodious, calming tune that made Jane feel so sleepy.
Jane bumped into her horse, which got up on its back legs in fright, neighing loudly. Even this didn't wake Jane up from her dreamy world. She mounted the horse and held onto the reigns. Just as she was about to tug on them, her head fell into the horse's mane and she snored.
***
Rake paced up and down in front of the stable doors. He had tried to fix his garden, but failed. Someone had put mud into the carrots instead of dragon dung, watered the tomato plants with vinegar instead of water, and his whole garden was wet and muddy. Rake waited until Jane would return. There wasn't much else he could do right now. But night fell and Jane did not return.
Inside the stables, Smithy paced up and down behind the stable doors. He stopped and scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. Where had Jane gone? She had gone to get the cure, right. Why had she not returned? She had set off in the morning and still hadn't returned. Smithy thought about summoning Sir Theodore. There was a small knock on the stable doors.
"Yes?" Smithy asked uncertainly.
"It is me Smithy, Rake." Rake said. He sounded worried too. "Have you seen Jane lately?"
"No," Smithy said. "She left early in the morning and has not returned. I hope Cleaver does not develop a fear of the cold…"
Rake nodded vigorously. "Whoa!"
Something big and fast was speeding towards him. "Heeeeeeelp!" Rake screamed. He pushed past the wooden doors and ran inside. He bumped into Smithy and the two of them tumbled onto the floor.
"Rake!" Smithy said trying to get up. Smithy gasped and pushed Rake down as the beast jumped over them and hid in the stables.
Smithy sat on the ground and had a coughing fit for a few minutes. Rake sat next to him, shivering with his head buried in his hands. Smithy finally got up, still coughing. He brushed himself and walked towards the stable uncertainly.
"Oh!" Smithy shook his head and laughed softly.
"What…" Rake asked slowly, "What is it?
"It is Cleaver! She is serving as a bed for tonight." Smithy smiled.
"Oh!" Rake walked towards him and peered into the stable cautiously. There stood Cleaver, and on her back was….Jane, fast asleep.
Rake and Smithy stood laughing.
"How could Jane manage to sleep through all that noise?" Rake asked.
"Oh Rake," Smithy stopped laughing. "You-you just got better…"
"Oh! Right," Rake said nodding. "But we should wake her up, should we not?"
"Yes," Smithy nodded, "We should."
Rake walked over and patted Jane's shoulder gently. Jane awoke with a start.
"Oh!" She cried, jumping off the horse. "I am so very sorry." She said rubbing the back of her neck. "I was so confused so-so—" Jane covered a huge yawn. "So tired."
"Come on then Jane," Rake said.
"Oh, right. Good night Smithy!" Jane walked towards the door sleepily.
Rake stepped backwards towards the door. "Goodbye then Smithy,"
"Good night Rake, Jane," Smithy said smiling.
Back in bed, Jane played the day's events in her head. She had just seen the strangest things ever. Dragon must know about the runes and stones—Jane would have to find him somehow. She would camp at his cave with the smelly cows if she had to.
"Dragon runes, strange stones…scales! Dragon scales!" Jane whispered thoughtfully. "There are more dragons, right here in Kippernium! Wait until Dragon hears about this!" Jane looked up at the ceiling and her eyes filled with tears. She was in a very sticky situation here, first Dragon, then the diary, then this…
***
The courtyards were dead silent. Smithy was not head hammering at his forge, Jester was not dancing around making jokes, Dragon wasn't knocking over barrels and breaking walls, Pepper couldn't be heard humming in the kitchens, and Sir Ivon wasn't seen roaming about with his new inventions. It had been six days since they were given the Treatment a la Dragon, with just a few hours left until they awoke.
The only ones who were ever seen outside were Jane, Rake and Gunther. Rake had started helping Gunther with the cooking and gardening; the food was becoming more sensible by the day. Jane was seen strolling and lousing about, her head down, hands in her pockets, and her eyes wet and glittering.
The early sun met Jane, who walking around, not quite sure about where exactly she was going. She strolled thoughtfully throughout the courtyards, bumping into the king's father, into the frozen fountain, and several walls. To all of them, she would look shamefacedly and mutter 'sorry'.
Sir Theodore and his diary and Dragon were still on Jane's mind. She was so confused about what to do. She couldn't think of anything sensible and wished she had someone to talk to on that matter. No way could Jane talk to her parents, Gunther was out of the question, Sir Theodore no way…
Jane looked up suddenly; she was standing in front of the main door of the castle. Gunther leaned against the wall of the archway; he looked rather pale and had dark circles under his eyes. His were arms folded and his eyebrows furrowed in concentration—he was thinking about something. Jane walked closer and stood in front of him.
Gunther was staring at her. It seemed as if his eyes had frozen staring in one direction.
"Gunther!" she muttered, her teeth clenched.
He didn't move.
"Gunther!" Jane waved her hand in front of his unseeing eyes.
"Oh!" Gunther shook his head and stood straight. "You thief! Do you want a piece of me?" He pulled out his sword and pointed it at Jane. "Oh, no Jane it's you." He grumbled, putting away his sword.
"What is it with the sword?" Jane asked.
"Nothing." Gunther said flatly. He gazed ahead again.
"What are you thinking?" Jane asked impatiently.
"Hmm? Oh something…" Gunther covered a cough. "And what are you-you—" Gunther covered a big yawn. Jane fanned the air in front of her with her hand. "What are you thinking about? Question 8 on the test? Oh that was a piece of pie. I got it right Jane, it was the 1st century." Gunther said smugly.
"You beef brain. That was probably the only question out of the 100 questioned test that you got right."
"Now that," Gunther said angrily, "Is a false statement you answered as true."
"Thank you loads for starting an argument," Jane hissed. "You-you ruined my—erm…"
Gunther raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Keep thinking Jane, I shall wait." He stretched and leaned comfortably against the wall, arms folded.
"Ugh!" Jane turned around and stormed away.
Sir Theodore entered the castle on his horse. He looked down at Gunther, who was staring at him thoughtfully. His eyes had frozen once again.
"Gunther?" Sir Theodore asked uncertainly.
Gunther shook his head. "Yes—Sir Theo-dore?"
The man gave Gunther a strange look. Gunther smiled nervously, he felt very strange.
"Gunther my lad, I wish to see you in my room at noon."
"Certainly, Sir," Gunther said bowing his head.
Sir Theodore smiled, and nodded. "See you then," and he rode off.
"Ooohhhh…"Gunther moaned shaking his head and slipped down the wall and onto the floor in a very confused heap.
Gunther walked towards Sir Theodore's room. He walked slowly, almost tip toeing. He frowned at the stone path he walked on. Was he going to be punished for over hearing their conversation? Why did Sir Theodore want to take him away from his father? What was going on here?
The door creaked open and Gunther entered the Knight's Quarters. He walked past Sir Ivon's room and into Sir Theodore's much larger one. The window was open, the fire crackled merrily in its home and Sir Theodore was sitting on his two sided chair.
"Er, Sir Theodore?" Gunther asked nervously.
"Ah…Gunther," Sir Theodore said looking up from a piece of parchment. He pushed the parchment under his desk. "Sit down Gunther," Sir Theodore gestured to the floor in front of him.
Gunther sat down and stared up at Sir Theodore questioningly.
"Gunther," he sighed, shaking his head, "Gunther, Gunther, Gunther." Sir Theodore looked down at Gunther sitting on the floor in front of him, his entire face a big question mark.
"Yes, Sir Theodore?" Gunther croaked, moving his head closer.
"I see that you have overheard our conversation, child."
Gunther nodded shamefully. He was surprised to hear Sir Theodore say,
"I do not blame you lad. I was quite like that my own self. Gunther, you remind me of a much less smarter, much less handsomer version of myself." Sir Theodore laughed, nodding.
Gunther nodded uncertainly. Then he looked up suddenly, one of his eyebrows raised questioningly.
"Gunther now you know." Sir Theodore said getting up from his chair and gazing out the window.
"Yes Sir, but I do not understand." Gunther said slowly.
Sir Theodore turned around suddenly. "What is it that you do not understand?"
Gunther thought silently. He didn't understand a thing, and he didn't know how to ask Sir Theodore about it. "Nothing Sir," Gunther said shaking his head.
Sir Theodore smiled and said rather proudly, "Call me uncle, child."
"Uncle?" Gunther blurted out disbelievingly before he could stop himself. Sir Theodore looked down at him, disappointed. "Right, Uncle…uncle…" Gunther sighed he stopped and thought. "Uncle Theodore?" he said testing how it sounded.
"Yes child?" Sir Theodore asked turning around.
"Nothing Sir—erm, uncle."
"I must ask of you, child, tell no one."
"What?" Gunther said loudly, waking up from his thoughts.
"Tell no one of this relationship," he added bitterly, "especially Jane."
"Certainly Sir—er-er uncle." Gunther said.
"Is everything alright Gunther? You seem awfully tired."
"No, everything is okay Sir Theo—uncle."
Sir Theodore nodded.
"Sir—uncle?" Gunther asked.
"Hmm?"
"It is nearly time for lunch..." Gunther croaked.
"Then you shall go," Sir Theodore groaned reluctantly. "But I must inform you that we shall start training today. It has been long kept even though it should not have been. Kindly tell Jane, my lad."
"Okay, goodbye then Sir." Gunther got up and walked out of the wooden doors. Once outside with the doors closed behind him, Gunther stood and mumbled, "Uncle."
-
Jane walked in circles in the courtyards. She spun and wandered towards the kitchen. She was bored and sad, so she opened the door and went inside. Jane saw Gunther's preparation for the noon meal; peppers, olives, tea leaves, pumpkin, and walnuts were placed on the table in neat piles. Jane walked towards the walnuts and impatiently swiped them off the table and onto her hand. She then threw them into an empty pot hanging on the wall.
Gunther came storming into the room just as Jane brushed off her hands. He walked towards the table and smiled contentedly. His smile turned to a frown.
"Something is missing…" Gunther looked at Jane suspiciously.
"Even I can tell that it is nuts that you are missing." Jane said. "As well as the useful half of a brain, of course, how could I forget?"
"You can forget, Jane, because you do not have a brain at all. Now where did you put them?" He snapped.
"I did not…" Jane began
"Oh yes you did Jane!" Gunther said angrily, pointing a guilty finger at her. "Jane your nose should really grow every time you lie!" The anger drained out of his face and he stood laughing, bent down with his arm clutching his stomach. How many times did Jane lie? And promising things she wasn't sure of? Gunther laughed hysterically, imagining Jane with a nose so long that it sagged and dragged on the floor.
"What?" Jane asked, startled.
"Ahahahahahaha you with a nose so long—ahahahahahaha—"
Jane touched her nose involuntarily as her mind processed what Gunther had said. She watched him laugh, trying to think of something mean to say. He finally stopped, leaning against the wall. His face became angry again.
"So where are they?" He said, looking in every jar on the counter.
"Must you put nuts into every dish you make?"
"Must you—erm…erm…"
"Must you always think of a retort and not admit anything?"
"Must you always come to the kitchen?"
"Must you always bicker?"
"Must you always argue?"
"Must you always…put nuts in your stew?"
"Yes." Gunther answered flatly. He held out his hand in front of Jane.
Jane walked over to the pan resignedly and slapped it onto Gunther's hand.
"YOW!"
"Wow…I'd say." Jane laughed. "Now get on with the stew I am starving—not that I like it in the least."
"You need not mention it." Gunther said. "I have a dazzling idea!" Gunther said smiling, one inspired finger raised in the air. "You make the soup today!"
"Haha, like I would. Me, a knight, cooking in the kitchen."
Gunther stared at her.
"You were meant to be a kitchen maid." Jane said quickly, shrugging.
"I say you were meant to be a troll."
"Humph!" Jane turned and stalked out of the kitchen.
"Wait Jane! Sir Theodore told me to tell you that we will be having it right after lunch." Gunther said matter-of-factly.
"Grr," Jane bared her teeth at Gunther. "What is it?"
"Oh just another lesson, first in quite a while," said Gunther.
Jane nodded and stormed out the door.
***
"Direct orders from another knight, especially the captain, must be followed no matter what the circumstances." Sir Theodore stopped and turned sharply to face his two squires. Jane and Gunther looked up from their parchment. "True or false? Jane!"
Jane started. "True, it is true. There is no danger there because a captain knight is honorable and well trusted." Jane said confidently.
Sir Theodore nodded. "Indeed Jane, I understand your statement." Sir Theodore turned around and gazed out the window. "A captain knight is only made captain because he is trustable, honorable, and intelligent. The order must be carried out, you say Jane?" Jane nodded vigorously. "Gunther, what do you say?"
Gunther's reply was obvious. "No." He said quickly. "It is not true, it is false. The captain might have been a traitor, giving out orders that might harm the king or the kingdom. Knights should also be intelligent, honorable and….and trustable, perhaps as trustable and all as the captain. They should think for themselves and see if the order of the captain knight is reasonable."
Sir Theodore turned around sharply and stared hard at Gunther. Gunther's eyes widened and he stepped backwards. "No Gunther. That is wrong. Jane, you are right. The statement is indeed true. A wise king will only choose a knight who is trustable. It is highly unlikely that they may be a traitor."
Jane beamed. Gunther nodded slowly and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"You are dismissed." Sir Theodore said quickly. "I must return to my errands."
"Certainly, un—Sir," Gunther's cheeks reddened and he looked at Jane quickly.
Jane cocked an eyebrow.
"Jane," Sir Theodore turned around to face Jane. "Do you have anything to confess?"
Yet, Jane thought. "No I have not."
Sir Theodore nodded. "You may go. The castle staff has awakened and I trust that you want to greet them. Sir Ivon is still in bed."
Jane jumped and ran towards the door.
"Good day, Sir Theodore." Gunther nodded to the knight and ran after Jane.
