09

Secrets People Keep.

"And is that all that happened, squires?" Sir Galadore said, to Lynn and Landen, in the mansion's courtyard.

"Yes, sir, we came back here right afterwards, sir," Landen said. "I-, We did not see it safe to remain in the marketplace any longer."

"This is distressing. Quite distressing indeed," he said, rubbing his stubbled chin. "Very well. You two are to remain within the Duke's mansion until we return to Kippernia. I trust you made no mention of your alliance to the Duke or the King?"

"No sir, I believe Lynn only mentioned her hometown of Dellour, in connection with her notebook," Landen answered quickly.

"Good, good," Sir Galadore said. "This way the rest of the princess's party remains safe from the thieves' knowledge."

Sir Galadore walked away a few paces and looked up at the sky before turning and walking back to them.

"But that notebook," he said, motioning to Lynn. "May I have a look at it, Squire Lynn?"

Lynn flinched, remembering the merchant's words. She hesitated in bringing it out, then looked at Landen, unsure of what to do.

"Go on," he said, motioning his head toward their superior knight. "We trust him."

Sir Galadore took the notebook slowly from her hands. "May I?" he asked Lynn, who nodded shyly. He opened it to one of the many tabs she had on its pages. He flipped through random pages, before turning to the front page again.

"Verdant Eldridge," Galadore read out slowly. "Quite an intricate crest embellished here. If I do recall correctly, the head of this family is a man called Verdant Eldridge, of Dellour… if I'm not mistaken."

"Verdant…," Landen said, suddenly deep in thought. "Verdant. That's the name that old healer mentioned, back in the corridor. Verdant of Dellour, that's what I heard him say when I caught up to you back there."

"Yes, Verdant Eldridge, the prominent healer, known for his unusual methods and advocacy for the welfare of all citizens of the land," Sir Galadore said, closing the notebook. "But perhaps you'd know more of him, Squire Lynn Eldridge, daughter of Verdant Eldridge?"

"Wow," Landen gasped. "I knew you were more than an ordinary peasant," he said, scratching his head. "But I didn't think you were the daughter of someone that prominent. I mean, not that I know of that guy personally, but hey, if Sir Galadore knows him, he must be one heck of a bigshot."

"Oh shut up," Lynn said, blushing furiously. A wave of déjà vu hit her, but she brushed it off as she crossed her arms and turned away from Landen.

"Wait, then that notebook isn't yours?" Landen asked suddenly, pointing at the notebook in Galadore's hand. "I mean, if the name on it is your father's…"

"Yes, it was my father's," Lynn said, bowing her head. "I found it among his belongings after he died three years ago."

-.-.-

In one of the mansion's study rooms, Lynn read to them from her father's journal as the shelves of books flickered in the light of the lamps.

Dellour was once an independent state, right at the eastern border of the Kingdom's reaches. It was a self-sufficient town at peace with both Kippernia, and the lands to the east, a neutral town.

A hundred years ago, a dragon and his woman rider came to the town. The citizens then had heard rumors about them, travelling the entire kingdom and forming alliances with its cities. The Lady Knight Jane offered such an alliance, offering the Kingdom's protection if Dellour would allow the Kingdom to appoint some guardians, and recruit some of the townsfolk and youth in its service. The Dellour Council was honored by her presence and agreed at once.

Dellour mourned the death of the brave Lady Knight Jane, as the news came to Dellour a short 10 years after she herself had visited. The Dragon, it was said, left the Kingdom after her death and was never seen since. However, life went on it little Dellour.

"That was a history bit," Lynn said, pointing it out to them. "Next he has accounts of his own life, starting work as a healer, marrying my mother, me being born, my mother dying…" she enumerated, her voice trailing off at the last one. "Me being his apprentice," she blushed slightly as she said this, before continuing, "and accounts of his last few months. While he was sick, before he died."

"Oh," Landen said, quietly. "I'm sorry, I didn't know…"

"It's okay," Lynn said, trying to smile. "And this last bit here, is a letter… to me."

She read it to them. She could almost hear her father's voice as she read:

"My beloved Lynn,

"Though you may find my body cold and still, believe you me, my mind is exploring the vast abyss after life. I don't know yet what will happen to me as my body rots in its eventual grave, but I don't want you be sad.

"For years I have trained you as a healer, and I have found you a fantastic student, and a perfect daughter. And especially since you are a healer, do not blame yourself for my coming death.

"I believe I know what has been happening to my body these past few months. It is no common sickness, as you may have noticed. I've been taking note of every little ache and pain in my body, my blood, and I have compiled it in this journal. This is something I have, in fact had the chance to treat before… It was something I failed to do. It was something beyond both of us. Again, do not blame yourself for my death, like I blame myself for your mother's.

"Your mother was a great woman, always very thoughtful and helpful, and of course, someone who gave birth to a daughter as wonderful as you. This strange sickness, I believe is the same one that afflicted her when you were but a child. I could not forgive myself for not being able to bring her back to health, and after that, avoided all reminders of her dying days. But now I regret trying to forget about it, because I find that I am suffering from the same thing.

"I realize now that she could not have blamed me for failing to cure her, just as I cannot blame you. I've seen you at your best everyday, caring for me, and I know now that I have raised you, and taught you well, my daughter, my only child.

"I thus entrust this journal to you, knowing you will find it, and hoping you will use its contents wisely.

"Your father,

"Verdant Eldridge."

Landen and Sir Galadore were silent when she finished.

She took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes, holding back a sob that had appeared in her throat. "A week after that, I couldn't function. I couldn't even read through the textbooks I used to study all the time. I couldn't cure him, is what I kept remembering. I can't go through with being a healer.

"I left for Kippernia soon after. I came to the castle, seeking employment from the king. Anything besides being a healer was alright with me. At first I thought I would be a lady-in-waiting, but after meeting the princess, I adamantly requested to be appointed somewhere else," she said, recalling her early days in Kippernium Castle.

"Ah, I remember, Squire Lynn," Sir Galadore suddenly said, rising from his chair from behind the large wooden desk that separated him and the two squires. "You were the chamberlain's apprentice when you came to me after squire's training."

"Yes, after I saw Lan-," she said, suddenly checking herself and clearing her throat. "I mean, after I saw the squires training. The chamberlain's books reminded me too much of my studies back home…"

"I remember too!" Landen suddenly said, sitting next to her. "You were so shy then, avoiding everyone like we all had the plague."

"Oh, don't remind me," Lynn said, suddenly chuckling. "You wouldn't know how awkward it was, to be in a new setting, with new people, especially since…"

"Especially since what?" Landen queried.

"Since…," Lynn said, but she hesitated. "Since I'm, well, you know, a girl. And you were all guys."

Landen laughed suddenly. "Oooh, that's why you were so shy. What a sheltered life you must have led before coming to Kippernia then!"

"Oh shut up, dung-brain," Lynn said, blushing.

Sir Galadore chuckled too, as he watched to two squires suddenly reminiscing about the three years that Lynn had been in the Kippernium Castle.

They heard a knock at the door and a messenger boy came in, in a red and brown uniform. "The Princess, Duke, Duchess, and Young Mistress require the Knights at the dining hall in thirty minutes' time," he announced with a straight face.

Sir Galadore walked over to the door and acknowledged the message, sending the boy running off again.

"Very well then, squires, I believe our time for talk has run out. We have a royal dinner to attend to," he said, with a smile on his face.

And thoughts of the journal were lost as it was left behind on the wooden desk.

-.-.-

Hurrah, quick update of Chapter 9! The first part of this was supposed to be in Chapter 8, but it ended up going on too long so I cut it into the next Chapter, and ended up completing the ninth one! Hope it's alright, and comment on whatever you want to comment on. I think my writing style may have changed a bit, since it was quite a gap between Chapters 7 and 8, so feel free to comment on that as well.

Oh the suspense, what will happen to the journal?