Now inside the building I was escorted to a waiting area by a maid that looked an awful lot like Angela so I had to ask, “You must be Angela’s sister. She was telling me that someone from her family worked here. Are you her older sister?” She looked a few years older and more into the age of womanhood.
“I am good Sir. Is my sister treating you well. She hasn’t been working for the Ursal family long and they seem to spend most of their time in the province making sure to arrange to pay their taxes and dues. Have you heard if they have plans to come back into the capital for some of the coming birthdays of the royal family?”
I shook my head and realized that with her eyes plastered forward she might not of seen the gesture. “I don’t know much of their plans so I’m unsure of what they will do about the birthdays. What about the Truose family? Are all their daughters presentable to the court?”
She glanced at me from the side of her eye and a little smile flickered on her face, “I’m proud to tell you that most of them are perfectly prepared for introductions. It is a grand time for the celebration to allow children of the families being introduced by their parents. I’m surprised you thought of something like that. I hold a special pride in particular for the Lady Patricia. At her young age her manners are impeccable.”
I nodded now that she was looking at me, “She was quite well mannered and seemed to be taking to her lessons well when I entertained her for tea yesterday. Did you hear any of the news?”
The sparkled of curiosity filled her eyes as she appraised me. “Do tell.:
With a smirk I put a finger over my lips in a hushing gesture, “Maybe after I entertain the good Lady Patricia you and I can sit down and have a chat. I was able to overhear some gossip that might be fun to talk about. Do you have anything interesting going on here?”
She returned to smirk and nodded, “There are some things I could speak about. We can trade some gossip and enjoy some tea. I wouldn’t expect a man to be so interested though. Gossip is usually a woman’s passtime.”
“It is good as a minstrel to make sure and know what is going on in the courts he plans to entertain. Helps make sure I choose the right songs and stories to most entertain those that hire me for my services. Maybe I could make another trip over here and tell you a few stories for the good lady. Or we could meet elsewhere for a nightcap and good conversation.” I tried to hint at a good time being had if she came with me and by the blush of her cheeks I think she got the message.
“I think that would be quite daring to say the least. I don’t know what rumors might go around about an unmarried man and woman spending time together.”
“Better than the rumors if one of us were married that is for sure.”
She swatted my arm playfully, “Now now, I think that is enough talk. I’ll come fetch you and we will have our own little tea to enjoy. I’m Rachel by the way.”
“The pleasure is all mine Rachel.”
The room she lead me into was immaculately clean. A beautiful set of artful tea pot and cups of fine china sat on the table. A small pile of cookies and biscuits sat on plates and on tiered contraptions that displayed them nicely. The sweet aroma of it all assaulted my senses with the undercurrent of weak black tea. I knew children often got the least strong doses of such things for it would effect them much more.
I got a closer look at the young Patricia. She was a few years younger than Duke Ursal and had the soft round face of youth that was so cherished by families. There was no sign of gauntness that you would see in the poorer regions that made sure to feed the eldest of their families first. She might of even been called plump at her age for her dress did not flatter her and there was still a fine layer of baby fat from the good living she must have.
Her dress was a frilly little thing with a skirt that barely passed her knees to keep her modesty while she sat down. Long socks that ran from her knees down into her dainty shoes were white and pure. I could tell that they were made of fine cotton and not the wool socks that most commoners would wear. Her shoes had ornate extra bucks over the bridge of her foot. They shined like well polished copper.
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She had her pinky finger posed out as she sipped at the tea. Her back was straight as an arrow and she looked as focused as possible on making sure her movements were smooth and graceful. An exceptional feat for someone of her age as she was impeccable. She set her tea cup down with barely a clink of china on china and she smoothed her skirt. Rachel and I bowed deeply as we entered and waited to be addressed by the instructor and Patricia.
Patricia spoke first probably after a prompting from the instructor, “Good the minstrel for our entertainment has arrived. Please come in and sing to us. You told a fine tale but I would like a song from you this morning that would go well with this finely brewed tea.” She glanced at her instructor and quickly added, “Maybe something that a youthful person might enjoy as well.”
The glare she got was short and somewhat ruined by a sense of amusement from the instructor as I took up a place in the corner of the room so the music would carry well throughout it. Patricia eyed me as Rachel left the room.
Already having tuned my weapon and the inspection of the guards not having ruined that as I was afraid of I started a light melody, “This is called the Spider's Court. I hope you enjoy.”
“Long ago in a wood so cold
Sat a spider on her web
Along came a fly
A crown upon its head
A fly pleaded and cried
The spider didn’t listen
As it went to bite
The fly started to glisten
It grew and grew
Until it was so large
A bird now lay in the web
With beak open it began to charge
Jumping from the web the spider did fall
Magic wrapped around it
A cat landed its jaws looking hungry
The fly now bird threw a fit
The cat did pounce
But found a dog
It chased the cat
Across a log
The cat did launch
Into the sky
Its magic became a bull
The dog did cry
The cow chased the dog
Towards a cliff they did charge
With its horns low
The blow did barge
Their magic was gone
They tumbled down
It was no feat
Not smart enough for a crown
So be wise you child
Should you be the spider
Listen to the pleas
And settle for some cider”
The young Patricia clapped politely as her eyes sparkled with the magic only children could experience as her mind wove what I had sung into her imagination. At her exuberance her instructor placed a calming hand on her shoulder and squeezed. The motion calmed Patricia and she cleared her throat, “That was well done minstrel. Now I’m going to have a conversation with my guest so please keep the music to just notes.”
I nodded and played a wordless repetitive song for the rest of the tea time and soon I was addressed, “I’d like you to have dinner with me. I don’t yet have permission to eat with the family and enjoy the company of high ranking servants. For now you are dismissed until I summon you once more. I might need entertainment later for afternoon tea.”
I bowed at the waist and was soon gathered by Rachel and brought deep down into the cellar where the servants apparently stayed. We sat as other women and a few men came to the room and bustled about eating and chatting quickly and quietly about the day’s duties and what they all needed to accomplish. Rachel scooted very close next to me until our shoulders brushed against one another.
Leaning in conspiratorially she began a hushed conversation. “Now you go first what news is from the Ursal house?”
I matched her body language and tone, “I overheard them discussing the dowry of young Patricia marrying the Duke Ursal. It seems that the war might be taxing on the Ursal family which is already struggling. Do you think they will actually send some strong troops to help?”
“The troops of the Truose lands are impeccably trained and have the finest war formations outside the king’s own soldiers. There is a huge surplus in troops though and I thought the land was preparing for an attack from another house. Our neighbors to the east who share the same fishing grounds have been pressing our fishing vessels closer and closer to the shore. That is really bothering the good family. I think Patricia would be worth more than a few measly troops though. I haven’t been watching her over her life just to see her traded away for a handful of men.”
“They also offered a great amount of iron ingots and exclusivity on the purchase of such things until she bears an heir into the Ursal family.”
Rachel’s eyes glimmered, “I knew she would be worth more.”
“What do you know about the war? Why isn’t the lands of the Truose family on the march?”
She looked around and made sure no one was close enough to hear anything, “What I’ve been thinking, which is treasonous, is that instead of waiting to be attacked by House Horgar to the east we might blitz their castle when they decide to march to the war front. They have taken several of House Truose’s children as wards in some old skirmishes before the king took his throne.”
I leaned in putting together the beginnings of the web that was the court. If I was going to navigate it and make sure to blend into the shadows while still being liked enough to be requested I needed every bit of information. “That would be such a bold and dangerous thing to do. Wouldn’t Truose be condemned by the king?”
She leaned and cupped a hand over my ear to further hide what she was about to say, in the barest whisper she spoke, “I’m pretty sure the king gave him the idea. They had a meeting in secret here in the house two weeks ago.” She pulled back her eyes gleaming and her hands clasped tight as she smiled like a young girl.
“How could you know?” This could all be a false lead. I needed confirmation.
“They didn’t allow any servant to answer the door, escort or attend to the guest. In fact they had us all seclude ourselves in our chambers until we were summoned. I think my hunch is right, I have a nose for the truth.”
A little fear ran through my spine at that. Rachel might have just put herself and Angela in danger for her snooping. I felt bad for what I was about to do but for her own sake and that of her family I had to do something.
“Oh, you have a little something,” I ran my fingers over her forehead and paused at her temple and plucked from her memory anything she had to base this theory off of and wipe it from her mind. The fog in her eyes and the sudden confusion as she looked around the room, she looked suddenly lost.
“Where, who?” She looked at me quizzically and at my hand. She pulled away from it quickly. “Sorry sir, you shouldn’t touch people like that. I don’t even know you.”
I smiled, hiding what I had just done, “I’m Dolan Talespinner, remember Lady Patricia summoned me. You’re supposed to entertain me until afternoon tea.”
“Oh, sorry I don’t know what came over me. Let us get something to eat. I’m sure you're famished.”
I had saved her, it had taken something from her that would never be recovered like plucking a weed from the roots. The ground is always left disturbed. It would take weeks for her mind to repair itself from my rushed work. If she was so loose lipped with me who knows who else she would have told. I hoped I wasn’t too late.