Chapter 3 - Night Walk
It was several hours ago that the delegation from Tusaine had retreated from the hall where they were greeted by King Jon. Now Felicia was placed in three adjoining rooms. Her two maids had prepared the rooms for her, when she would return from the hall. There were vases with fresh flowers everywhere, and her clothes were hung in place. But she did not feel the least tired after the first long ride, and then dinner. She felt closer in another mood, one she had been in since she had come through the gates to the palace and saw an old acquaintance. The man, whom she had had a fling with 7 years ago had changed from being a lanky long-legged man who had both been a bit clumsy but extremely charming. So charming to such an extent that she had been close to stay when the delegation had left the palace in the direction of Tusaine.
Now there had been a mature man with masculine traits and without any clumsiness. She had felt more attracted to him at the sight of him standing in the middle of a group wearing a black robe. The robe he had not had that time, but she had heard rumours that Numair Salmalin had learned extraordinary abilities, and thus achieved the almost unachievable black robe. Felicia let her hands slide down over the purple fabric of her dress. She had chosen it especially for him this evening, when she knew that he would also be available at dinner. She had then just not expecting that he was so hard to get near. The Queen had insisted that she should sit beside her. She had had to accept it, and later, when he finally seemed to sit alone, when Alanna had left his side, there had been another woman, who had come over and sat down opposite him. She had half watched how they had conducted a confidential talk, and how this dark woman had poured a glass of water to Numair.
She turned and looked around the room. Besides the many flowers, it was a well-appointed room she was in. There were sofas, chairs and tables, how many visitors could sit comfortably in. She let her gaze slide over the large fireplace that could keep the rooms warm in winter. She felt the restlessness catch her and she walked resolutely into the room which contained the solid bed. She had to acknowledge that the royal couple knew how to decorate their rooms to their guests' tastes. This bed ... her hands sought against her back and she found the buttons that held her dress together for her. Button by button, the dress was looser around her and fell softly onto the floor. A movement caught her attention and she turned around, to stand facing herselves in the large oval mirror. In it stood a naked woman with bright red hair. She loosened the braided hair, and it fell down over her shoulders in soft curls. She had always regarded herself as a goddess. She ran her fingers through her hair and down her body, she stood and admired herself for a moment and decided. Now that Numair had not sought her tonight, she would seek him. He had told her that he had not married, and settled down.
It had been a long day first consulting with the king and his closest, in a small chamber located at the top above the large banquet hall, and then receiving the delegation out at the main gate to the palace, and then later dinner in the small hall. They had been assembled before the delegation's arrival to listening to the spy, whom they had sent to the delegation from Tusaine.
Alanna now walked through the nearly dark corridors while she underwent the interview in her mind. She had left the bed, having lain and tossed and turned in what had felt like forever, before finally giving up. Now she walked, and felt the cool breeze was beginning to sweep some of the heat away from the palace. The servants had left all the windows open out to the courtyard to get the stagnant heat to drive. It had managed a little cooler change in the corridor, now that the five-day long stagnant wind was beginning to stir. She was alone when she walked on the cool stones. She had purposely left boot and socks stay in her room.
Just the cold beneath her bare feet were a delight, she was otherwise a woman who hates the cold.
Her thoughts went back to the afternoon where they had received a sweaty spy. She knew him well for his reputation, since her husband, George, had trained him in person to the most trusted tasks.
"I found them a few hours from here. Your company counts twenty people, ten of them are guards, there are two girls who seem to be the woman's court ladies and maids, Count Harlan and Duke Mather. I do not know the rest, unfortunately. But judging from their positions, they are private consultants and then there's a man I can not place what he is doing in the delegation. "Johann explained as he took a mug with water from Jon King. He drank it quickly and put it away.
"So we can expect twenty visitors, it is far more than was written in the letter" King Jon took the mug and refilled it again.
She saw how King Jon had looked around at his closest friends. Alanna herself, had been leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, with an unreadable expression in her face. The delegation had a few more than advertised, was not any news. They always came with a few extra people. Numair, who had stood by the open window, his back to the assembly, had seemed a bit restless. His one hand was placed against the window sill while the other had small black fireballs disappear, then reappear.
"Johann, you will be kind enough to describe who this woman is and the other man" the king had asked.
Johann had been drinking the second cup with water, and had begun to describe the two, as the king wanted to know more about.
"Well, the man whom I saw, and which I think belong to either the guards or cunsultants were strongly with the dark glow" he was interrupted by a small cough, but continued a moment later. "He is a man from Carthak as far as I could see" he added, and glanced toward the high mage at the window. "His movements suggested that he is a trained warrior, and he has a very distinctive characteristics; a scar that cuts across his face" Johann showed with one finger from the upper part of the face, down to the lower part.
Numair had not moved an inch, when Johann had explained the first part. Now he had moved a little and had now turned a bit towards the company he was in, but still had the focus directed towards the woods. Alanna knew that Daine had left the palace earlier in the day to help a flock of sick birds. She had to turned her attention back to the spy, who had continued his description.
"... he is too well equipped for a simple guard." He explained further.
"What do you mean?" Alanna had finally found the description interesting.
"Well, I could see that he wore concealed throwing knives in his boots, it was obvious to everyone and he also had two knives hidden in the sleeves. Of the visible weapons, he wore, was a sword, bow, arrows and a cross-bow."
Alanna had been impressed by this description, to such an extent that she now this night could not sleep. It had been an alarming description. Too such a degree that the king's own guards had been doubled and there was now discreet bodyguards with the queen and king. An additional insurance.
Alanna turned and stood in front of one of the open windows. The cool breeze tickled her skin.
"What about the other in the company, the woman?" Had Gareth, the elder asked.
"The woman, she seemed to be a noble ancestry. She and the warrior were quarrelling loudly. It was not hard to find them, they could be heard several kilometres away" Johann had described the situation to the great amusement for Alanna. The woman had apparently counted wrong with the riding time, and had chosen to take a nice dress instead of riding clothes.
"What a woman" Had Johann added with a resigned sigh.
"Do you know who she is, did they said her name?" Asked Kong Jon curiously.
"Yes, the man with scar lost patience at last, and struck out at her. Which led Count Harlan shouting at them both ... what did he call her?" Johann hesitated for several seconds.
"Licia or Alisha ... I do not know. It was something like that" Had Johann answer.
"Hmmm ... I do not know anyone by that name from Tusaine. At least not a noble born" King Jon had been thinking aloud. "What did she look like?" he asked a moment after.
Johann had taken a cake from the table and begun to eat it before he had answered. "She had red hair, lighter than Alanna's".
A sudden flash of lightning had blinded them all.
Alanna had out of the corner of the eye seen how Numair flinched at the last sentence and how he had lost the ball of black fire. He had not had the time to close the hand before it had hit the floor and exploded in a bright light.
"Numair! ... What in gods name are you doing?" Had the king shouted at him and scolded him, still blinded by the small explosion.
"Sorry" was the only thing Alanna had heard from Numair, because when they all had the vision back, he had left the room.
She had not seen it coming, but the description of this soon arrived woman with the red hair, had caused Numair to lose control of his magic. Leaving a black burnt hole in the floor.
Alanna stood in the empty corridor, laughing. She decided that it was time to make her way back to her own room and try to get some sleep.
She stood in front of the door that led into the room where the country's mightiest mage lived. It was night, and the corridors had been empty. Her nocturnal journey had led her to the door. She had stood there for a few seconds, with one hand raised, ready to knock lightly and discreetly on it in the hope that the man who was staying behind it would invite her inside. She pulled herself together and made a pass to give the door the first knock, but in that same second, a fire of black light flashed silver appeared. The black light spread in the cracks where the door was not closed tightly into the frame. The door was engulfed in light, which spread like a spider web and eventually filled the whole doorway. She wondered. Had he heard that she was standing outside his door, and was it his way of telling that she was unwanted. He had seemed interested in her as they stood together in the yard, and had inquired into every aspect of her life. She ran her fingers a few millimetres from the black light, unsure if she should take the step or not.
"If I were you, I would not touch it," said a bright voice behind her.
Felicia jumped in fright.
"What?" Felicia spun around and pulled her night robe closer around her.
"I would not touch it if I were you" it came from the woman before her.
"Sorry?" Felicia felt confused.
Alanna was facing her, with both a smile and a light warning reflected in her violet blue eyes. "When you see that kind of black light in Numair's door, it means that he wants to be alone and only an attack against the king is reason enough to disturb him," she explained. "And I do not think that what you have in mind can cope with an attack against the king," she said afterwards. Letting her gaze slide down over Felicia's choice of clothing.
"Oh" Was the only Felicia had to say. Now she was a total lost for words. Her little outing that night, had been discovered by no other than the lioness.
"Well .. you have to say that you have chosen the wrong time," half laughed Alanna. She seemed to enjoy her selves tremendously. "Do not say that I have warned you, if you decide to try to touch it anyway ... you better be prepared to have a solid headache the next week or so."
"I ... I better find my rooms" Felicia, felt humiliated, turned and disappeared down the hallway.
"Yes ... if you may prefer" She head Alanna chuckle behind her.
Alanna was amused. She saw Felicia disappearing around the corner. Then she turned her attention towards the door, which had a sign with twisted letters: Numair Salmalin. She shook her head, it was just typical how some women where thinking that they could sneak into a late night visit to this mage. Then again, she had in the past year noticed how Numair's female acquaintances had shrunk and was now non-existing.
Back in her own room, she could not help but to let the rage explode. The nearest vase with beautiful white roses flew through the air and smashed into the ledge of the fireplace. Three vases followed in the same direction, and glass shards now lay shattered on the floor and with roses broken
"Where..." she screamed suddenly. From being completely alone in the room two blond girls appeared. One little taller than the other, they both were dressed in subdued light blue dresses.
"You called My Lady" both girls curtsied deeply. They seemed to had rushed out of their bed, which stood in the adjoining small room. Their hair tousled half, the clothes slightly wrinkled and they both tried their best to hide yawns behind discreet hands.
"Yes, clean that up" she demanded and pointed to the fireplace.
She moved over to the table with a large mirror on it.
She was angry at having been discovered on her little excursion. Why should the lioness also located in the same corridor where Numair's room was. And at this time of night. The Lioness had been wide awake and Felicia had noticed that she had been armed.
She sighed deeply and took the brush from the table. The loose red hair didn't needed to be brushed, but she loved to admirre herself in the mirror and make her more beautiful. She decided that next night she would try again.
Behind her, the girls worked to remove the smashed vases. One girl cut herself and gave a little gasp from her.
Felicia looked uninterested at how the other girl helped her friend to stop the bleeding. She needed to be alone now. Without a word she turned from her maids and walked into the room where the high poster bed stood. The door slamming shut behind her.