13

News People Bring

-.-.-

"So what does a stupid cactus have to do with anything?" Kipp said, over a turkey leg.

"Not a stupid cactus, stupid-head," Lynn said impatiently, as she averted her eyes from the jester's masticating open mouth. "The Blue Queen of the desert. It grows in the deserts of Salmari. And I already told you, my father was studying about it."

"Alright, so your dad knew some Queen cactus from Salmari. What's the big deal? You're getting all paranoid about it. Don't think too much. Your little squire brain can't handle that much conjecture," he said, continuing to chew loudly.

"Well, my bright squire eyes can't quite handle your big jester mouth, at any rate," she said, rolling her eyes. "It might have just been a coincidence. It probably doesn't really mean anything. People immigrate all the time nowadays."

"I agree with Lynn on that," Landen said, thoughtfully.

"There, see, that's what I-," Lynn began.

"Yes, my squire eyes can't handle your chewing either, Jester," he said, in a matter-of-fact tone and a straight face.

"Ugh," Lynn scoffed, taking a swig of pumpkin juice. "Idiots."

"So anyway," Kipp said, gulping down his share of pumpkin juice. "Earlier this afternoon, if you remember, the royal family had visitors from the Dukedom," he said, looking at Lynn as he talked. "Though it was just the Duke himself, his chamberlain, and their old healer. Not a very exciting bunch to watch; requested that old man's ballad 'Way of Mine,'" he said, shivering at the thought.

Amber suddenly spoke up behind them. She had the strange ability of popping up when gossip was abound. "I heard they're here to repay the kindness of the princess's visiting party last week. They're ever so grateful to the help you gave to the little mistress of the mansion, Lynn," she said, putting a hand on Lynn's shoulder.

Lynn nodded slightly. "Yes, very nice."

"They're staying the night, apparently," Amber continued. "The coachman was complaining how the little mistress had wanted to go ever so badly, and they had to delay their departure until she was securely asleep in her quarters. They're off to visit the next town over from here, on business, tomorrow at the break of down."

"Wonderful," Lynn said, holding back a yawn. "A bunch of old men. A notch better than our boys down here," she said, staring off into the distance, trying to imagine how the princess could possibly be entertaining them.

-.-.-

"Stop rushing me," Lynn said, stifling another yawn, as Landen half-dragged, and half-hauled her down the castle corridor, lit at intervals by torches burning in brackets in the wall. "I can walk by myself."

"Yeah, mind doing it sometime?" Landen said, walking at a brisk pace, yanking on her arm. "We were sent for 15 minutes ago. Does it really take that long for a girl to dress up?"

"Oh shut up, I was asleep when you rudely came barging into my quarters," she said, wiping away tears from her eyes. "I think that delay is forgivable. Besides, it's your patrol duty tonight, so why the deuce should I be awake and fully-dressed again, exactly? I heard no castle alarm."

"It's alarm enough to be called on by the royal family we have guests in the castle."

"Darned nobles," Lynn said, nearly spitting out the words. "Staying up and chatting and partying all night long, and bothering the squires while they're at it. They do know the reason it becomes dark at night, right? For everyone to go to sleep."

Landen abruptly whipped around to face her. She nearly tumbled into him in the darkness of the corridor.

"The guests are leaving in the morning, so just put up with it for tonight, alright, Lynn?" he said, a little fiercer than normal.

"Alright," she said, looking away. "Sorry."

"That's better," he said, suddenly smiling. "Now wipe that drool off your face. We're going in," he said, leading her to the door to the parlor.

"Hey, wait, give me a sec-," she said, abruptly wiping her cheek on her sleeve as he shoved her through the doorway.

A scene of utter nobility greeted them, the parlor well-decorated as usual; flowers from Amber's garden, tapestries imported from the southeast, and the guests from the Dukedom, all strewn about the room. Lynn stood there, sleeve halfway to and halfway from wiping her cheek, next to Landen, who calmly put her hand down at her side.

"Squires Landen and Lynn, summoned to your company. We apologize for the slight delay," Landen said, saluting.

"Thank you, squires," the King said, bowing his head just enough that a king should bow, acknowledging their presence.

"Wonderful, dear squires, wonderful," the Duke said, standing up and walking over to them. He was slightly red-faced and slightly more cheerful than Lynn remembered. "Indeed, it is the noble squire who helped my dear daughter. How can I repay you, young lad?"

"Actually, I-," Lynn started, when the Duke started shaking her hand.

"You're rather skinny to be a squire, young lad. Are you sure you're eating enough? Maybe you should be employed in my mansion instead, then you'd-,"

"No, your eminence," his chamberlain came up and collected the Duke. "I think you've had quite enough wine to drink tonight," he said, turning the Duke away from Lynn.

"Yes, I quite agree with your old friend, dear Duke," the Doctor said, standing up from his seat. "I believe we've all stayed up late enough; and though it's extremely admirable reuniting these two wonderful and noble brothers, it is time to retire to our chambers for the night, if you do agree."

"Thank you, kind healer," the Queen said, smiling briefly. "I guess it takes a professional like you to convince these silly old men to go to bed. Dear?" she said, turning to her husband.

"Quite so," the king said, standing up. He motioned to one of the servants standing in a corner. "We're done here for the night. Please escort our visitors to their rooms, they have a trip to make tomorrow. Dear brother," he said, walking over to the Duke, "I do hope you enjoy your stay for tonight. It's been such a long time… It's a pity you have to leave before breakfast tomorrow morning."

"Ah, don't worry about me," the Duke said, still leaning on his chamberlain. "And I'll make sure to stop by longer next time. Good night," he said, walking unsteadily away, led by a maidservant.

The King and Queen made their bows as they exited by another door. The princess, blinking back a yawn, followed suit, but not before sidling up to Landen and smiling a "good night" at him. Lynn cringed.

Pretty soon, Lynn and Landen were left alone in the room with the old healer.

"Well now, it didn't take too long to get them to leave, now did it?"

"Er, no sir…?" Lynn said, not sure what to reply.

"Such an admirable family. Quite the royal triplet, I must say. And their range of conversation, extremely exquisite. Quite the entertainment, too, that jester of yours. Admirable, indeed. Quite admirable," he said, stroking his chin.

"Indeed, sir," Lynn and Landen said, almost simultaneously.

"Oh, that's right," he said suddenly, snapping out of his daze. "I haven't asked your name yet, oh healer's-apprentice-girl-squire," he said, turning towards Lynn.

"Er, no, sir," Lynn said, suddenly uncomfortable under his gaze again. Landen elbowed her and she mouthed "ow" at him. He mouthed "answer" back at her.

The healer cleared his throat and held his hand out to her. "Might I know your name, then?"

"My name is Lynn, sir," she said, gulping.

"Ah, exquisite. Quite an interesting name. A last name, perhaps?" he said, smiling.

"Er," Lynn hesitated. This man knew my father. I'm not quite comfortable with letting him know just who I am…

"Her name is Lynn Eldridge, sir," Landen suddenly interjected. "Daughter of Verdant Eldridge, prominent healer of Dellour, sir."

"Landen!" Lynn gave him a glare that could kill.

"Lynn Eldridge! Verdant Eldridge!" he said, clapping his hands together loudly. "I knew that prominent brow and unusual technique of yours seemed familiar back then. I only wish I'd found out sooner. Listen, lass," he said, stepping closer. "I was a good friend of your father's. Why, I knew you when you were but a little girl, running around your father's laboratory. Oh, how much you've grown. He would have been proud of you," he said, smiling a kindly old smile.

Lynn smiled back, weakly.

"Dellour lost a great healer, when your father died three years ago," he said, his voice suddenly becoming serious.

Lynn bowed her head, blinking back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"It lost two, when you left," the old healer said, lifting Lynn's chin up. She looked back at him with watery eyes. "Child of Eldridge, Dellour has missed you," he said, smiling the kindly smile again.

At the word 'child,' Lynn's defenses broke down. She broke out into a frantic sob, suddenly missing her hometown very, very much.

Memories of her house came back; her room, filled with books, drawings, and contraptions; her mother, hovering over her as she played; her mother, dying in her sickbed while she was too young to understand; her father, tall, calm, and wise, teaching her his trade; her father, sick and frail, and whispering his last words…

Wasn't it easier back then, when I was smaller. There was always a bigger shoulder to cry into.

And suddenly, there was a bigger shoulder in front of her, broad and strong, and pulling her into it. She started crying hysterically, years of pent-up sadness gushing out all at once, as she put her arms around him and cried and cried.

"I couldn't-," she sobbed, trying to repeat what she had explained to Sir Galadore and the others, back in the manor's study, but she couldn't form the words properly now, her voice coming in hics and sniffs and sobs. "I couldn't - sniff - even heal him! - sob hic - after all he taught me-," and her voice was lost in her cry.

For what seemed forever, her tears flowed, until her eyes stung and her voice was hoarse. Then she realized that she was still in the parlor, as the memories and images of Dellour disappeared from her vision. She panicked and tried to gather herself, ashamed that she had let loose in front of the castle visitor…

…The older healer, who was standing at a distance now and smiling at her. Then her face went flush as she realized that she had been crying into Landen all this time.

"I'm sorry, I-," she said, her voice shaking. "I don't know what came over me. I-, I can explain, I mean, I-," she said, looking all around the room and fidgeting as she pulled away from him. Landen reached for her, but she pulled away even farther, edging around the furniture.

"Lynn Eldridge, come here and sit for a while," the older healer said kindly, motioning to a couple of chairs next to each other.

Lynn gladly obeyed, putting distance between her and Landen.

"And you, young lad, thank you," he said to Landen. "But could you leave us to talk for a moment? I believe she's in a more conversant mood now that she's let out her feelings."

"Of course," Landen said, obediently leaving the room.

"Don't be so flustered, Lynn," he said, chuckling amusedly. "You really have become a fine lady in the time that you've been gone."

"What-, what do you want to talk about?" she said, unable to focus.

"Now, you do know that I have to leave early in the morning, so I'll make this short," he said.

"Okay," Lynn said, curious.

"I have requested the King that you join us tomorrow when we leave for our trip," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"What? Why?" Lynn asked, tilting her head.

"Because, Child," he said, taking a deep breath. "We're going to bring you back to Dellour."