Chapter 6: The Conversation
The King was seated on his throne, with Fran by his side, strangely occupying a place on the arm of the chair. How she managed that, Maxwell had no idea – as he had no idea why he found it so alluring.
Sir Niles kept himself at what he considered the most favorable place for observation of the room – it was slightly by the left side of the throne, but closer to the middle of the room than the throne itself. Once the witch was in the middle of the room, he could observe her in detail.
It was wonderful to have the task of being full aware of her, because he could have his eyes fixed on her without the fear of being caught. He was just doing his job and protecting the King, after all.
To his surprise, her first words were directed at Fran. 'I don't see why your presence is required, here. This is a matter of State'.
King Maxwell moved on his seat. 'Maybe this conversation should be private'.
'What? Whyyyy?', Fran whined from her place, and it was impossible to know if she was offended or frustrated.
Niles had to control his urge to roll his eyes: was that man crazy? What does he gain showing he has no fear of being alone with a stranger? 'Well, your Majesty, it is not like myself or Miss Fine really want to be here, but everybody knows some demonic ceremonies can't be performed before witnesses. We just want to exclude some dangerous possibilities'.
'What is a pity, because I'm sure you're more than ready to be the chosen virgin to a sacrifice', the woman in white shot him a venomous glare. 'Anyway, I am not here to perform any ceremony'.
'Who was talking about you?', he made an obviously fake innocent face at her. 'You never know when the flying pigs will come crushing our windows'. He made a professional expression. 'We must be prepared'.
She opened her mouth to answer, but the King thought that it was again time to interfere. 'Well, strange woman', he said, smiling patronizingly and reclining on the throne. 'I'm all ears'.
'I don't need more ears than the ones you normally have', she answered in a very annoyed tone.
Fran whistled and noticed the smile in Sir Niles' eyes. She was starting to understand his attraction to that woman: she was really self-confident and impressive, and a clever guy like him seemed to like the challenge she represented.
And the danger, of course.
The King cleared his throat. 'To someone who arrived talking about respectful manners, you've changed quickly'.
'I'm being truthful with my words. I think this task is too important to be dealt with lightness'.
'I see', the King frowned. 'Maybe you should say what you came to say, before we have more misunderstandings'.
'As you wish'.
Niles observed the way she kept silent for a moment, as if she was concentrating. For a brief moment he prepared himself for some kind of magic, but she just looked at the King again.
'I come from a traditional and respected family from distant lands. Wise men and women from other cultures often visit my people to discuss matters related to knowledge. They asked my relatives to indicate someone to come and talk about the Great Forest, and my name was said'.
'But what is this they want, strange woman? What do you represent?'
'In ancient times, the Great Forest was a place for research, meditation and cult. Then, your older ones decided to make it an exclusivity of your people, prohibiting visits of outsiders. I'm here to ask you to understand the absurd of the situation and change it'.
King Maxwell tensed at that. 'You must be careful with your words, stranger! The decision was taken by honored men, and had the goal of protecting the territory they were responsible for!'
'Don't be such a hypocrite. You know very well the prohibition is related just to religiosity'.
That was the last straw, and the King stood up and started to yell.
Niles entered the key-words mode, listening while the King went on and on, and the knight picked blasphemy, witch, forest, foreigners, tradition and concluded she had been right to the point: there was no logical explanation for the prohibition.
He noticed how calm and collected she was, even when the yells served to call the guards, and they were ordered to take her to prison.
'It is not the wise thing to do!', Niles said, before even realizing he had gave two menacing steps into the guards' direction. 'Your Majesty. Sir'.
'What the he… heck do you mean?'
'I mean that… well… Prison will make it seem like she has really any importance… What she doesn't'.
Maxwell had his mouth in a line.
The knight stayed silent for a moment, waiting for the reaction of the King. The man seemed to think and seated again. 'Explain yourself'.
Niles puffed his chest and started talking animatedly to hide his proud smirk. 'Well, Sir, she can be a liar, but we cannot be sure. Maybe she is representing other people. People who have armies…'
'I don't fear any armies!'
'Of course not, Sir, but avoiding war is always better. Why throw her in a cell and attract the hate of her associates – because, of course, a type like her doesn't have any friends – when you can simply ask her to stay in a room and put some guards around to… guarantee her own security and privacy?'
Fran made an approving face, 'You know, he's right. One thing is to receive a letter saying I'm sharing a cell with a dwarf and a chicken's robber! Come over!' and other, completely different, is I'm at a room just by myself, with an enormous bed, free meals and big muscled guys at my door! Help me!'. She stopped to think for a moment, then touched the King on the shoulder. 'If I say nasty things about your family, would you punish me like this, too?'
The King was confused and overwhelmed and jealous, all at the same time, and his mouth stayed open for some seconds, with no sound coming from it. When he could finally speak, he turned to the guards. 'Take her to a room and put some security in the corridors'. He turned to the woman in white. 'I think both of us need some time to calm down. Will you stay with us until we can talk again?'
She just nodded, not saying a word, and turned to go with the guards.
Niles was amazed by the mysterious smile she threw him while passing by.
When the group disappeared, the King came closer to the Knight. 'I want you to take care of this. Make her talk to you, convince her to give up and go away from here. I don't mind the way, just do it!'
Niles was shocked by the force of the words. 'What did she do to provoke such a reaction on you?! Sir'.
'Haven't you heard? She questioned the actions of my family!'
'Those were just words, Your Majesty. If people were to be locked away by the words they say when they are in an argument, there would be no one free in this world…', and he smirked, because he knew that, based on his last conversations with that same witch, he would be between the first ones to be arrested.
Fran smiled, 'I know my family would be in jail with lifelong sentences…'
Maxwell sighed. 'I know, I know… However, she really disconcerts me'.
Niles made a pained sympathetic expression, and Fran put a hand on her mouth to contain the laugh. Once the King turned to a wall to contemplate the situation, Niles gave her a jokingly menacing glare.
'Maybe I should just send her away, indeed', King Maxwell turned again, oblivious to the silent understanding that was happening on his back. 'But she is dangerous, Niles. I want her here, under my vigilance. I need her where you can discover what are her plans'.
'Maybe she will simply tell you, in a next meeting', the knight suggested.
'I don't trust her. I'll know things for sure after you have a conversation with her. Go and use this privileged head of yours!'
Niles could see Fran moving on his line of vision, above the shoulder of the King. This time the urge to laugh was so strong she fell from the arm to the seat of the throne, her hands on her belly, silently cracking.
The King went on, searching Niles' eyes and talking with all the seriousness he could, to attract his attention from whatever was he looking at. 'I trust you to discover what she is really up to'.
Niles nodded, mirroring his King's sobered expression, and turned to exit the room.
Fran's display was funny, but all Niles could think was that he would try to use his head – well, his brain –, because the truth was that his heart was beating too fast to let him think straight.