III. chapter: Confounding encounters
About a year later...
Streets of London were crowded with so many people hurrying who knows where with hasty steps.
No one paid attention to the others, not even to the three people, who were obviously strangers. Especially two of them stood out – they were Chinese, a beautiful woman and her brother. The third one was a blond guy, who kept looking around nonchalantly.
"Everything here seems to be the same it used to be," commented Roy and glanced around once more.
"Only our purpose is different," Lin reminded him. "It's just a visit this time, nothing more."
"You're right. I wonder how our friend Artie is doing. I hope he's still a fan of Roy O'Bannon novels."
"These are lies, Roy," Chon rolled his eyes.
"Who cares, people like to read it! That reminds me, we must ask Artie how his book is progressing... Hey!" Roy yelled with annoyance as he ran into a back of a man standing in front of him. "Watch where you're standing!"
"Watch where you're going," the man turned around and glared at him. "Or are you asking for a fight, tourist?"
"You spit it out like it's a bad thing," Roy replied in what's-the-matter voice. "I just came to see an old friend, ok now? Take it easy, pal."
"I'll show you easy," the man grumbled, cracking with his knuckles.
"Just leave it, Roy," sighed Chon while Lin rolled her eyes. She loved Roy very much but sometimes he was still driving her crazy with that attitude of his. She exchanged a look with her brother and when she turned back Roy was already fighting. No matter how many adventures he had behind him he was a lousy fighter. The Chon siblings sighed in union before Wang interfered with the fight. However, a street fight was obviously seen as an attraction for in less than a minute they were already surrounded with a bunch of people and some of them seemed really eager to join in. Minutes later a general fight erupted and it didn't last long before whistling of Scotland Yard policemen cut the air.
"Great," remarked Lin and punched a random guy into his face. "We just came and they'll lock us into jail."
Stamping of horse's hoofs caught her attention. She turned around just in time to dodge the animal, which was harnessed to a cart.
"Come on, jump in," the driver, probably a boy judging by his figure, leaned down towards her. "Hurry!"
Lin didn't think twice. With a single jump she was on the cart and hastily waved Chon and Roy to join her. Ten seconds later the driver spurred the horse and they escaped the crowd. Lin kept looking back for another moment, then turned forward to place her eyes on the driver's back. He was wearing a hat, which was throwing shadows on the back of his neck, and a worn-out brown coat. But something about his figure was really odd...
"Who are you?" she asked. "You're a woman, right? Out with the truth."
"A woman?" both men asked in union but remained ignored.
"Do not speak to me in such a tone," the driver replied to Lin's statement. "Yes, I'm a woman, so what? Although I must say – very well noticed, Lin."
The latter raised an eyebrow. "You know me?"
"Of course I know you," replied the woman. She still hadn't turn around. "It's not so hard to remember you. But it is, perhaps, nice to see you again."
"Again? Have we met before?" Lin asked and Chon added: "Do we know you?"
"We've met before," she stopped the horse with a short pull of the rein and finally turned to face them. "Don't you remember me? It's surprising how people forget some things so fast while they can never let other things be, don't you think?"
Lin frowned. The woman's face looked familiar to her but she couldn't put her in place. Then she met her caramel eyes and it hit her. The gaze was so familiar, all kinds of emotions mixed in those glistering orbs yet impossible to read. When Lin had met that woman for the first time she'd been completely different. Still she recognised her features under the dirt and a scratch on her right cheek.
"I do remember you," she said. "You saved me back then!"
"I did," replied the woman simply as if she were talking about the weather or something similarly common. "So what have you lost in London?"
"We came to visit Artie," answered Roy.
"Sir Doyle, you mean?" the woman almost spitted his title. "Did you know he works for the Queen now?"
"Can you take us to him?" asked Chon. "Please?"
"I must say I'm not overwhelming with happiness over that idea but I suppose I could do it anyway," she shrugged. "Let it be. Under one condition – we'll stop on the way. I need to do something."
The trio nodded in synchronisation and she spurred the animal again.
They stopped in front of one among the many houses in London. It didn't look special in any way and none of the foreigners knew why they had to stop there, but that was the woman's condition and they didn't try to oppose it.
Their stop was short. The woman disappeared in a house and returned after about fifteen minutes. When she returned she was completely changed. Her face was clean now, her auburn hair tied up. Her clothes were no longer man-like and dirty but rather beautiful and elegant. She was wearing a dark scarlet dress under a snow white coat.
"You drive from now on," she ordered Chon. He nodded immediately. Not only did she look different, her presence seemed different. There was something radiating from her, something that made it clear she was above them.
"Would you be so kind as to tell us your name?" Lin asked when the woman was sitting in the cart again.
"You wouldn't have any use of my name," the latter replied, shaking her head slightly. "It is not important."
"I'd like to know it anyway," said the Chinese but only silence answered her.
XXXXX
When the cart stopped at the front gate to the palace two guards approached immediately. The woman leaned towards them and they exchanged some words others couldn't hear. However, as she straightened, the men stepped aside and let them enter.
The woman led the trio into the palace, through many corridors and over many stairways. She seemed to be perfectly sure about where she was leading them and it was also clear she belonged in the palace. People they met nodded to her respectfully and she returned them the gesture, though never stopping for even a moment.
Finally they reached a guarded double-winged door and stopped for a few seconds. The woman spoke to the guards, again in such a quiet voice she couldn't be heard by the visitors, and then they were let inside.
The room they entered was a study. One could tell at the first glance it belonged to a reach person. And it did indeed. Behind a desk made of dark wood and decorated with delicate gold ornaments sat the queen.
"Your majesty," the woman bowed respectfully. "I sincerely apologize for the distraction."
Queen Victoria was quiet for a moment. She was eyeing the newcomers for a short while. Then she rose from her seat and approached the woman with a small smile.
"Giselle," she said with outstanding happiness and relief in her voice. "I am really glad to see you again!"
"Please, your majesty, this is not appropriate," she said but the queen cut her, "Nonsense, my dear. You were away for so long, we were all worried. No one even knew whether you were alive. Where have you been?"
Giselle straightened herself and took a deep breath. Her voice was reserved and a bit flat as she answered, "There were things I had to do. I apologize for leaving in such a way."
"Don't bother with that now, my dear. I see you've brought someone with you. Our heroes from last year, if I remember correctly."
"Yes, your majesty. Sir Wang, Sir O'Bannon and Lady Lin. They came to visit Sir Doyle." When Giselle spoke her voice was very polite but there was something odd about it. It was senseless, empty. It showed no feelings at all.
"Of course," the queen nodded, turning to them. "You are welcome to stay; our country will always welcome you with open hands. You will get rooms to stay in immediately, but I'm afraid you will have to wait a little to see Sir Doyle, if I am informed correctly he is currently busy."
They all murmured a polite 'thank you'.
"Excellent," the queen continued. "Giselle, I would like to ask you a favour. Since you have already met out heroes would you be so kind as to take care for them while they will be staying here?"
The woman's cheeks turned slightly reddish. "Your majesty, we have servants to do such work!"
"I am not expecting you to do a servants work, I'd rather have it you would see yourself as a host. Our servants will be very busy since we are expecting a very important visit in a few days."
Giselle pushed her real opinion aside and forced a smile on her face. "I will do my best, your majesty," she bowed her head. "It will be my honour."
Her fake smile faded. If she wanted she could have kept it on her face all day long, she'd learnt how to wear it. She'd had to if she wanted to return to her previous life. It was a lifesaver in situations like this. She really didn't want to be a host or a guide for those people. She didn't want to be anything for them. But she had no choice. It was the queen's word against hers.
"Excellent," Queen Victoria nodded. "You may leave now."
Giselle bowed respectfully and made a couple of steps backwards before she turned around and led the trio out of the study.
"So...you're Giselle," Roy remarked. "A nice name for a nice lady."
"No, Mister O'Bannon," she abruptly came to a stop, her voice being a half-hiss. "It's lady Rayne for you. And do not try to flatter me."
"Hey, I was just trying to be nice," Roy defended himself. "Which you were not."
Giselle closed her eyes for a second while taking a deep breath. Why'd she had to pick them up? Why? When she opened her eyes a fake smile appeared on her face.
"I apologize if my rudeness has anyhow offended you. But I think it's better to make it clear now – I am not interested in friendly chats with you and I don't have any intentions to do so either."
That being said, she turned on her heels without another word and continued to lead them down the corridor. Her heart was pounding wildly. Memories she had been trying so hard to push aside came alive again and it felt like things had happened only yesterday. It hurt. Badly.