CHAPTER SIX

Gunhilde was holding court when all of a sudden a maniacal laughter filled the palace. Everyone looked around in stunned silence as the Queen's guards surrounded her to protect her from whatever or whomever was coming up the stairs. Unbeknownst to the others, Gunhilde recognized that crazy sound as soon as she heard it. When the little man who owned the laughter appeared at the top of the stairs the guard surrounded him and held him at sword point.

"State your business!" ordered the guard.

"Oh apologies my good sir, I didn't mean to startle anyone. I am here to offer my services to the Queen as her court jester." the little man said as he bowed deeply.

"My Queen what shall you have us do with him?" Falk asked.

"Let him go, I'll hear him out." the Queen commanded. "If he doesn't appeal to me then I'll throw him in the dungeon."

"My Queen, surely you jest the jester!" the little man said indignantly.

"Perform for me and we shall see." Gunhilde ordered.

The jester put on a superb show for the Queen. Gunhilde was quite amused with his talent and the fact that he was able to make everyone believe that he was truly there for a position as her jester. Everyone in the court was applauding and singing and dancing with the little fool quite to his own delight. The jester took his final bow and waited for the Queen's opinion.

"You have pleased me and my court jester, what is your name?' the Queen asked.

"It's Cicero, my Queen."

"Cicero, I will take you as my court jester, wait downstairs and I will send a parchment with further instructions for you." Gunhilde smiled and dismissed the jester.

Half an hour later Falk arrived and handed the jester his papers. When the steward left Cicero opened the parchments and read the following..

Cicero,

I am well pleased that you came to the castle. I have much to discuss with you privately. Take the enclosed key and make your way to the Pelagius wing of the castle. It will be downstairs to your right if you are facing the throne. Make sure you are not seen. I will meet you there after my court sessions have ended.

signed,

The Listener

"Hail Sithis"

" Ah, the mad king's rooms. Such a fitting place for me." Cicero laughed to himself and then made his way to the wing.

While waiting for the Listener he decided to explore the wing. He found that it contained a hidden passage that went through an old part of the tombs and ended up opening into the marshes outside Solitude's walls.

"Hmm, I wonder if the Listener knows about this? Maybe she did and wanted me to discover it. It may have something to do with what she needed to discuss." Cicero said to himself as he headed back into the castle.

Gunhilde came into the room soon after Cicero had returned. " I do hope you didn't get too bored while waiting for me Cicero."

" Oh, no Listener I kept myself busy by exploring the wing." he answered.

"Find anything interesting while exploring?" Gunhilde smiled.

"Oh I did, I did. I found what the Listener wanted me to find. Oh you are such a crafty one, sending me to the place you could tell me about." Cicero gleefully sang. "Is this what you wanted to speak to me about?"

"Yes, it is. Since I am now the High Queen, I won't have the freedom to move as I need to. I won't be able to go to visit Mother like I should. So I would like for you to bring her here. You and Mother will stay in this part of the Blue Palace. You of course will act as my court jester as you did today, but only to keep up appearances. I then, will be able to come see Mother and relay to you what she said. You will then travel to the others to relay the message to them."

"That's wonderful, Listener. I will be able to come and go without being seen. But what of the others, shouldn't they stay as well? "

"I thought about that, it would give them the protection they need. No one would actually suspect them to be living in the Queen's palace and no one would dare attack them here. They would have to come and go through the passage though and not into the rest of the castle. Only you will be allowed to do that." Gunhilde explained.

"There is definitely enough room for the more experienced members here, the new recruits could stay at the old home with at least one experienced member over them." Cicero pointed out.

"That's a good idea, Cicero. Have Babette, Vazeera, Gabrielle and Festus stay here. Nazir will stay at home and hand out the common contracts to the new recruits and keeping an eye on them. Then I can send one of you here to make contact with Nazir as needed. Okay then, go informed the others and make the arrangements Cicero. I'll see you later." Gunhilde turned and left the wing.