Note: To all my dear readers who've stuck with me, I give you my sincerest apologies. I've been coming to the place in life where my novels, and other projects have been taking over my schedule, but I couldn't with good conscience leave the story hanging. And I didn't want to leave the story. So now, after the most terribly long break, I am back. And I hope that now I can update more regularly, and not leave you all waiting. Thank you for reading this. Please enjoy! ~Lucy
Debt of Honor Chapter 9 - What Is Going On?
Serelise found she could not sleep at all that night. Every time her eyes managed to close, and she would begin to drift into the comforting arms of sleep, she would imagine Jakin being dragged out of the apartment, helpless and against his will. She gave up her bid at slumber, when the first rays of sunlight began to lighten the morning sky. Pulling back her covers, she walked to the balcony, overlooking the palace garden. No one was in sight this early. The girl needed refreshment. She needed to visit the garden.
Knowing Emine would be in soon with a breakfast tray, Serelise wrote a little note, instructing her maid to leave the food on the bedside table, covered. She then dressed herself, her clothing choice much less extravagant then what she had worn the day before. She pulled a plain rust colored gown over her shift. She had chosen this dress because it had a belt round the waist, and she wouldn't have to worry about tying laces. Next, she brushed out her hair, and attempted to braid it. She continued to lose strands of hair, and at last she gave up in consternation. I must learn to do more for myself. Instead, she tied her hair back with a ribbon, and pulled her green cloak and hood over herself.
The girl walked into the parlor area, closing her door behind her. As she was passing her mother's room, she thought to check on her. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she opened the door, wincing as it creaked. Soon she spotted her mother.
Mirah lay in the very center of the bed, curled up, arms wrapped around herself, the covers kicked down to the end. A wave of compassion hit Serelise, and she pulled the comforter up over her mother. She looked so fragile, as if one gust of wind would blow her away. Why are you like this mother? What have you and father been hiding from me?
A tear wrested from her eye, drifting down her cheek. Jakin and her father's disappearance was not the only thing bothering her. She knew that both of her parents had been keeping something from her… all those whispered conversations and worried glances. They hadn't said anything to her, and now she had to learn about it in the worst possible way. Already, she could suspect at least a bit of what the trouble was. She ran a hand over her eyes, and exited the chamber.
She walked up to the door to the hallway, and upon opening it, was shocked to find Sir Kagan, leaning against the wall and sitting on the ground, chest rising with even breaths. Serelise tiptoed around him, her forehead scrunched in confusion. Why was here? To protect them? Or… to keep them from leaving? Whatever the case, she expected it wasn't a good idea to wake him. So, drawing her cloak tighter around herself, she hurried round the corner, finding that she couldn't breathe until she was out of his range.
More then once, she found herself having to hide from sight. There are an awful lot of men around here… Perhaps they were all going to be looking for Jakin. She could see that at the bottom of the main steps, there were many more men congregated, talking in hushed tones. For some reason she didn't understand, she felt she shouldn't be seen. She was about to despair, when she remembered the servant's stairway Emine had shown her the first day she went to the garden.
Serelise heard footsteps ascending the staircase, and she scuttled backward, searching with frantic eyes for the entrance. Where was it… A moment later she spotted it, ran across the hall, and flung the door open, breathing in great gasps as it shut behind her. The stairway was almost pitch black with no candles or lights, but the girl decided to feel her way down.
With hands outstretched, she carefully put one foot after the other, making sure to place her weight on a step and not thin air. At last she felt solid wood against her fingertips, and opened the door to find the kitchen. A sleepy kitchen maid was scrubbing the floor, gazing with empty eyes, probably lost in a dream. The cook, however, was far from sleepy, and she gawked with wide eyes at the young noblewoman. Serelise blushed; pulling her hood back in hopes it would put the cook more at ease.
"I'm just going for a walk in the garden. It's very nice there…and, well…" She smiled, though somehow knew it was a bit fake. At this moment, she felt she had no reason to smile.
The cook just nodded, mouth still hanging slack. Serelise beamed once more, and inched towards the door to the outside, ignoring the delicious aromas of the cook's treats wafting on the air. She was cooking for the second day of celebration, no doubt.
At last she was outside, the cool morning breeze teasing at wisps of hair falling at her cheek. She inhaled deeply, feeling a peace wash over her. In a few moments, she was in the garden, surrounded by the beauty it offered. She found a stone bench, and sat, looking about her in interest. This was the first time she had come where she was the only person around, and she felt now that she could truly enjoy it.
She looked at the way the flowers had been planted. The different blooms were all mixed together… violets, hyacinths, snapdragons, and several other types. Except the roses. The roses were in their own bed, planted firmly, their blossoms reaching for the sky. Serelise suspected they were planted separately so that the thorns would not choke any of the other plants. She approached them, sniffing, but not touching. They smelled so sweet! She wished that she owned her own rosebush that she could carry around wherever she desired. A giggle escaped her lips at the thought.
"Is there something funny about the garden?"
She went rigid at the voice, and spun in a slow circle on her foot. Prince Corin was seated on the bench she had just left, watching her with rapt attention, and a strange sauciness in his gaze.
"Y- your highness." She found the words hard in coming out. And she curtsied, though in a reluctant manner. Her head snapped up when the unmistakable sound of a snicker came from him. Immediately, she felt her defenses rise. "What are you snickering about?"
"Why you of course. I can't seem to figure you out."
Serelise glared. "What ever do you mean?"
Corin jumped smoothly to his feet, a grin splitting his face. "Most girls act as if I'm the most wonderful thing in the world… because I'm the prince, or else they're afraid of me."
"And what does this have to do with me?" She crossed her arms.
He shook his head, as though every word she said added to his amusement. "Why, because you act neither of these ways!"
She frowned. "Perhaps I don't think you are all that wonderful, and I'm not afraid of you."
He walked closer to her, waggling a finger in her face. "Ah, that's what you want to think."
She rolled her eyes, and was about to respond, when he grabbed her hand, dragging her behind a bush. A squeak was the only noise that she could get out as his fingers covered her mouth.
"Shh! Someone's coming."
She shoved on his arm, and he let go, sending her a warning look to be quiet. She peeked through their hiding spot to see a couple of armed men walking along the path.
"Do you see her?"
"No. But the cook said she went this way. Lady Serelise?" he called.
Serelise's eyes widened when she realized that were talking about her. She listened as they continued their conversation.
"Do you think she's run off? Should we check the stables?"
"Could be. We can try anyway." They turned and headed back up the path. When they were finally out of sight, she heard the prince give a deep sigh of relief.
"That was close," he muttered.
She turned, giving him a confused look. "What do you mean it was close? I'm the one they're looking for!"
He just shook his head, and she found she recognized the mischievous glint in his eye. Uh oh.
"I want to show you something."
Before she could protest, he had grabbed her wrist, and was practically dragging her towards the palace. Just when they neared the kitchen door, he veered off, mumbling about how she had ruined that route. Instead, he pulled her along the wall for several yards, and around a corner to reveal another door. This he opened wide, and entered through. It was another staircase.
"Actually, this could be better. It goes all the way up to the top floor." He pointed in reference.
Her eyes widened. "Are we going to the top floor?"
He laughed. "No. But pretty close."
A sigh escaped her lips, and they were off again. Serelise didn't count the steps she climbed, hurrying after the prince, and wondering what on earth he was up to. He finally stopped, entering a long corridor. It looked a bit like the hall Serelise's rooms were located in, but she could tell that it was different. He approached a door, and knocked softly. A maid opened it. Her eyes were big, and frightened, and she was biting her lips in distress. Corin gave her a nod, and she shut the door.
"Here's what I want you to see," he whispered.
Serelise listened, and could hear the maid telling whoever was occupying the room to wake up. Only a few seconds had passed, when a scream sliced through the air, sounding as if a murder had occurred. Corin grinned, and Serlise stared at him. What was going on?
"There's a creature! AHHHH!"
The voice coming from the room was that of a young lady. The latch on the other side of the door started to wiggle, and Corin pulled Serelise into the shadow of an alcove. The door was flung open, and a young lady with hair down about her shoulders, and a horrified face entered the hallway, a robe wrapped tight around her.
Serelise heard the sounds of several men running up the hallway, and she gulped in unexplainable fear.
"What's happened?" one fellow called.
Another shook his head as he approached. "So much screaming going on in one night. I suppose sleep isn't a word anymore."
The girl was in hysterics, tears streaming down her face in rivulets. It was then that Serelise saw she was the girl Corin had been seated with at the Birthday celebration of the night before. One of the men was trying to console her, but she would not be consoled. It was then that Sir Kagan appeared, eyes alert.
"What's going on?"
The girl sniffed, rubbing a tear from her eye. "There- there was a creature in my bed."
The maid Corin had spoken to pushed out from behind the girl. "It were a frog, sir."
Sir Kagan's face begin to grow weary again. "A frog?"
"Yes," the young woman began to weep again. "A horrible frog!"
Sir Kagan shook his head. "It sounds as if our prince is up to it again."
Corin snickered. Serelise would have glared at him, but it seemed quite impossible with the way they were standing. As it was, Sir Kagan whipped his head around. "Ah… and I believe the perpetrator is here… a witness to the crime so to speak." He lit a candle, and approached the alcove. Serelise was groaning inwardly as he approached. What was he supposed to think?
There was an ounce of merriness in his eyes as he drew near. "Come on out, your highness, the game's up. You'd better-"
He'd seen her. She knew he had- hiding in alcoves with a prince like a common criminal. But… criminals didn't often spend time with prince's, did they? Of course, in this instance the prince was the criminal.
But Serelise saw from Kagan's shocked expression that there was something more going on then the prince just playing games. "Lady Serelise!" he exclaimed, reaching for her hand. She accepted his offer, and stepped out, embarrassment washing over her.
"It isn't what it looks like, Sir Kagan. I-"
He put a hand out. "It's alright. You do not need to explain to me. But we have been searching for you. We were quite worried about you."
She looked up at him; feeling confused, and as if she was the only person in the world who had no inclination as to what was going on. "Why would you be worried?"
He shook his head, glancing around at the men swamping the corridor. "Not now. Let your mother or the king explain it."
She felt her eyes widen once again at his words. "The king?"
He nodded. "Yes. In fact, I believe he wants to see you."
What is going on?
