Chapter Five: Arrival
Keosha jerked Abby back into the carriage. She shook a slender finger at her before saying in a cautionary voice,
"There are far too many bad men about here, Abby. You'd better pray." Abigail frowned, confused,
"Pray?" Her maid nodded as she took up her cross-stitching once again, " You'd better be praying for my cousin. If she's involved with that mangy dog, she's got another thing coming!" Abigail hid a smile as she resumed her people-watching from the slow moving carriage.
The Mattensworth carriage rolled through the gates between two tall, stone towers, which loomed in the gathering dark. The couchman reined in the four horses pulling the carriage and they slowed. The sky cracked and boomed with thunder as the footmen opened the carriage door for the two women.
Abby gazed up at the tall, dark castle that seemed to forbid her entry. She shivered and pulled her thick cloak closer to her small frame as she allowed herself to be helped out of the carriage. Keosha followed, muttering in Manisanran as she went.
The footmen led Abigail and Keosha about ten feet from the large, wooden doors, where he motioned for them to wait. In silence they nodded and the footman turned and walked up to the door and knocked. Quickly, they were swept open and the footman skilfully jumped out of the way (so as not to be clobbered by the fast-opening doors).
The interior of the castle was vastly different than the outside. The hall that the footman led them into was warm and brightly lit. The heels of Abby's boots clicked on the stone floors and refused to echo on the tapestry- covered walls. The torches in their brackets burned brightly and the maids that cleaned stopped to bob a respectful curtsey to the noblewoman.
Abby's feelings of mistrust and unwelcome were as non-existent as the echoes as the footman led them to a small ante-chamber. A man in a long green robe sat behind a table, sipping wine and slowly chewing whole- grained bread. He looked up and quickly stood, a warm smile lighting up his features.
"Welcome to Mantol, and let me extend welcome to the royal castle! We are most grateful to have you join our court, Lady Abigail. You are Lady Abigail, yes?" She smiled and nodded, too tired to do much else. The man smacked his forehead lightly and said in an apologetic tone,
"Where are my manners? To keep you standing and cold, please sit, and refresh yourself, my man, Gorison will get you some, ah, wine, perhaps?" Keosha bobbed a curtsey and said politely,
"My mistress doesn't take wine, tea would be better, if you don't mind, Sir." The man looked startled, but smiled at Keosha in genuine appreciativeness. He nodded to the man who had been waiting at the doorway and he opened the door and left. The 'thunk' of the wooden door startled Abby and she unstuck her throat enough to say,
" I thank you, sir, but I've no notion of who you are and I feel rather ignorant." The man looked startled yet again and said in a sad tone,
"My dear, the King is right, I am growing more remiss in my duties. I am often forgetting that while I am well informed, others are not so. The many times people have said varying version of what you've just said is appalling, and their hardly as polite as you were just now, Lady Abigail. Would you prefer Lady Abigail or Lady Abby? I rather find that Abigail is a nice name, but Abby sounds ever so much more, ah, what's the word, oh dear, ah, yes, impish or mischievous, but my tongue is running away again and I've probably just insulted you, how careless of me, the King's patience for my wanderings is waning, I'll loose my job before long. Now my dear here is your tea," Gorison had come unnoticed into the room and he handed Abby her tea off a small tray.
"Cream, honey, milady?" The young man smiled encouragingly at the young noblewoman who nodded and said quietly,
"Both, please." The young man seemed surprised at her manners towards him, a servant, but nodded and gave her the requested ingredients. Abby stirring in the honey and cream before sipping hesitantly. She was surprised at the taste, a mixture of apples and the honey she had added. The green robed man smiled at her pleasure and said kindly,
"Perhaps you would like to go to your rooms and rest the night before exploring the castle, mmm?" Abigail nodded and she stood, placing her cup on the table. The noble continued,
" It may take a while to book an audience with his Majesty. I shall try for less than a week, but you must be patient, my dear." Abby nodded wearily.
Gorison opened the door and led them out. They had gone only a few feet before Keosha and Abby heard the man calling out to them. Turning the young noblewoman saw the man flick back a lock of shoulder- length grey hair and say in a kind, fatherly voice,
"If you should be in need of assistance, come and talk to me. Gorison will know where I am. Good night, Lady Abigail, good night." The man nodded in true respect to Keosha, a silent 'good night'. Keosha nodded back, too concerned to think too much on this startlingly considerate, seemingly nameless noble.
Reposted with Editted parts on August 10th, 2oo5
