Chapter 11.
Giles stood off to the side listening to the orders barked out by the diminutive Knight. He smiled softly; the Kingdom was full of surprises. Finding an old fox terrier as a Knight was just one of them. Listening, he had to admit the old one knew what he was doing. Giles waited until the Knight called for an 'at ease', then he moved toward the elder and bowed. "Sir Didymus, I am Giles, the King's Archer."
Didymus bowed with the same respect toward Giles. "Sir Giles! I have read of your adventure with our beloved king. I am honored to meet you. What brings you to the guards center?"
"I am here to assist you Sir. The King felt two heads would be better than one in making sure things were in hand. However I see you have things under complete control." He praised the little Knight.
Didymus let his mustache twitch, "I thank ye sir!" He pointed to the ranks. "They were once very good men at arms, and can be so again with discipline."
"I agree." Giles said looking over the ranks. "I would say the playful nature is a ruse."
The little Knight scoffed. "Not a ruse, it was but one facet of the true nature of the Goblin. We here in this kingdom are not unlike beings in thy own kingdom. We are not always what we seem to be."
Giles looked at the rapier at the little Knight's side. "That's an interesting blade you have, sir Knight."
"Aye, a gift, from his majesties father."
Giles took in the information and stored it. "I should like to fence with you one day if you don't mind sir. I'm sure you could teach me a thing or two."
Sir Didymus pulled on his mustache. "Perhaps we could teach each other a thing or two." He pointed to a spot. "Go though the next exercise with me, Sir Giles. See if I've missed anything."
Giles took his place and watched with a critical eye.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Anne returned to her office, her scribe goblins were hard at work, and looking as if they were in heaven. "Everything under control here, Nalang?" She asked her chief assistant.
Nalang was on the tall side for the local Goblins. His skin was not covered in eons of dirt and grime, but shone like polished alabaster. He had the typical long fingers and exaggerated features, including the enormous round eyes. However, the rest of his presence seemed almost human. There had been rumors that there was Humanie blood in his forebears. He looked at the mistress of the records and smiled a wide toothy grin. "We are in good shape, Mistress."
"Good." Anne looked at the neatly stacked piles on her desk. "And all that?"
"Things to attend to, in piles of importance, Mistress." Nalang picked up one paper. "This should be tended to now."
Anne read, "Yes, you're so right." She looked at him. "See to it for me."
"Yes, My Lady." Nalang bowed and moved to her desk.
Anne tapped her chin, "Do we have a records room?"
The chief scribe looked up, "Indeed."
"I'll want to see it come morning, after my ride." She addressed him. "I want you to come with me, alone."
The Goblin chuckled. "Lady Anne already begins to think like Goblin!"
"Thank you, Nalang." She winked. "I'm going to leave the rest of this to you for today. I've got to represent our department during the reception of the King's brother."
"Watch that one!" warned the scribe with a long pointed finger. "He thinks more like Goblin then his brother does."
Anne nodded. "I'll be careful, my good fellow. And thanks for the warning."
"Mistress, we are pleased to have your direction." Nalang returned to his tasks.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Jareth and Ryan sequestered with in the confines of his private office. A room that was in sore need of use, and showed it. They had started out in the war room and moved on. Jareth and his Paladin went over and over the blue prints of the layout of the castle. Making sure the security measures were being enforced.
Ryan frowned. "You think something is going to happen…that one of your brother's people could cause trouble?"
"I want to cover all my bases," Jareth said trying to sound unconcerned.
"Why hold the tourney here at all?" Ryan questioned. "Why not have it at a neutral place?"
Jareth looked at his Paladin and his friend. "I'm afraid there would be no neutral place. I've made myself rather a pariah among my kindred."
"How so?" Ryan asked, not understanding how his friend could be so lowly esteemed.
"Let us say, my youthful escapades were not always well received." Jareth lamented. "Not that my brother has faired any better." He mused. "Besides the tradition here in the Underground is for the Challenger to host the Tourney."
"Traditions change, my friend." Ryan counseled. "Perhaps when this is done we should ask the High King to set up a formal Tourney grounds some where neutral with impartial judges."
Jareth nodded, "A worthy suggestion, my friend."
"Jareth, I've a few other questions." Ryan quietly said.
"No, Ryan. I am not going to discuss my situation with Sarah with you." The King kept his eyes on the blue print.
"Alright." Ryan sighed. "Just know I'm willing to listen should you need it."
Jareth looked over at him. "That's very good of you."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Sarah stood in the throne room; it sparkled just as she had ordered. "Nice job boys!" she looked around at the ornate carvings and the many layers of the stone work. "Wow, this place is impressive."
One Goblin was hugging her leg. "Lady like?"
She looked down. "You bet I do." She praised it.
He went dancing off.
"Boys we have one more thing." She began to pace. "I know some of you are already out there cleaning up our City. It is really starting to look much better. But there's the little matter of yourselves." They looked at each other, none seeing any problem. Sarah sighed, "When was the last time any of you took a bath, with soap and water?"
Meep, who was hanging in the air, watching, began to snicker.
Sarah looked up at him. "Ok, smarty pants, that will be enough out of you. If you are not going to be of help you can go away."
"I don't follow your orders!" Meep told her. "I'm here to keep an eye on you."
"I don't need a duenna." She turned back to the horde of Goblins watching her.
"Care to bet on that?" Meep teased.
Sarah looked over her shoulder. "What ya got, little man?"
Meep moved closer. "What you want, little girl?" he teased back.
Rassple put two fingers in his mouth and whistled sharply. "Bet later, Lady Sarah need to talk to us." He admonished the pair.
Sarah nodded. "So when was the last time you all bathed?"
Rassple shrugged. "When ever we want. Not as often as should, perhaps. Lady wants us clean and bright; we go are clean…we even put on good clothes to please you."
Sarah watched them all exit, in every direction. "That was too easy." She said to Meep who was floating near her face.
"They are up to something." Meep speculated. "But they are the least of your worries, Missy."
"Oh really?" She looked at him with a pout. "How's that?"
"You just wait, you have yet to meet the other of the High King's bad boys." Meep touted.
"Oh familiar with the whole family are you?" Sarah turned to leave.
"Care to take up my wager?" Meep now twirled a purse in his hands. "We could keep it a nice friendly bet, just Fae Silver."
"Instead of what, a bet for power?" Sarah teased.
"Ha!" the Pixie laughed. "What would I want with more power?" He winked at the girl. "Pixies like other things much better."
"Meep you're a dirty old man!" Sarah accused in an amused tone.
"Not talking sex you silly girl. I'm not the one who'll be wanting to wooooooo you." Meep giggled. "Me thinking both the King's sons are gonna want that privilege."
Sarah started for the door, "Well no one is going to want anything to do with me if I don't get cleaned up and dressed."
"Are you kidding?" Meep shouted. "In a gunny sack those two would be still wanting the likes of you!"
Sarah stopped. "If that's a complement, thanks."
Meep floated closer. "Kidding aside, you be careful."
"I've been warned about Quinn, Meep. Thank you." Sarah assured him.
Meep shook his head. "I'm talking about both of them! You be careful around both those Fae wolves."
"I'm not in the Red Riding Hood mood, Meep." She warned.
"Mood or not, those two are dangerous, Lady Sarah." The Pixie reached out to touch her cheek, "And you are too much of a ripe peach."
Sarah shuddered. "Did you have to say Peach?"
The Pixie nodded. "Pixies use the words that get though. You think back on your last taste of a peach here in Labyrinthia. It will keep you wary and on your guard."
Sarah looked at the little creature. "Whose side are you on?"
"Meep beginning to wonder that himself, Lady Sarah." He winked. "Better go, King want you done up like carrot to dangle in front of the donkey."
"Oh that's lovely, Meep…Now I'm bait."
Meep nodded. "He told you, you're the floor show."
"I hate smart-ass Fae creatures." She groused as she exited the throne room for the stairs leading up to the royal apartments and her quarters.
Meep sniffed the air, and turned to look at the being standing in the entry. His eyes narrowed. "Glamour." He hissed as he moved closer, and the man moved not.
The man raised one hand, "Do not bother, Pixie." He cautioned. "You will not discover my true identify until I deem it's time."
Meep looked at the man dressed as Head Butler. "I warn you, not matter who you be. You do anything to endanger my Sarah…." Meep's voice was tight and low.
Mycroft was amused. "Your mortal friend need not fear me, Meep." He looked around the immaculate throne room. "I have a deep respect for the Lady in question. As you said to her…it's the two sons of the High King she needs worry about." He looked toward the Pixie. "If I were you, I'd go stand guard over her door."
Meep sniffed the air again. "There's magic in you…deep…and old…" He turned. "Just remember, you leave my Sarah alone."
Mycroft waited until the little Pixie had exited and then he snickered softly.
"Do not discount that one because of his size." Lusha warned. "He sees and feels more than the others. He is paying attention.
"We are safe for now." Mycroft said carefully. "But as you have so wisely pointed out we need to take care."
"The girl?"
"She sees us as neutral." Mycroft gazed around the room. "I'd forgotten how handsome this chamber could be." His voice was distant.
"Her doing?" Lusha asked.
"Indeed." He paced hands behind his back. "Indeed."
His wife paced at his side. "I heard the Pixie caution her, to be wary of both the sons."
"Wise words of warring," the man agreed. He looked around the room one more time. "We will see it all, and yet remain unseen."
The woman looked around the room, almost sadly. "And in the end, what will it profit?"
"I am not sure yet." The man admitted. "However, the play has yet to begun, and we know only what one side of the players are up to."
"We must proceed from here with caution. We do not wish to be, uncovered, do we?" She was careful in her words. "Let us appear to be the good and devoted servants to the Goblin King."
"Aye…for now." The man moved out of the chamber. The woman followed.
