Don't Forget to Dream (23 page)

King Liam continued,
“
We have already dealt with many of the criminals and are preparing to deal with the rest. If your lord sees fit to do his duty and join with us then he can marshal his men to join with us within the week,
”
King Liam looked around the Great
Hall,
his grim determination blatant for all to see
. He raised his voice and spoke clearly
,
“
Men
, make your final preparations.
We
leave in four days.
”

At the dismissal
,
the servants and troops began to disperse from the back of the hall. King Liam waved Captain Martin forward as he approached the rider.

“
Yes your majesty,
”
Captain Martin said
,
bowing.

“
Captain, find Kurt a bunk and make sure his horse is seen to. You can stay the night lad before returning to the Eagle
dun
,
”
the King said looking to the two men.

“
Yes your majesty,
”
Captain Martin said as Kurt also spoke.

“
Thank you your majesty.
”

Turning to his sons
,
King Liam called them to him,
“
We have work to do lads.
”
Prince Edwin accompanied his
father but Prince Callum paused.
He
couldn
’
t stop looking at Rhyla.
She smiled warmly, reassuring him.
He
didn
’
t turn to leave until she nodded.

Rhyla approached Lady Emelia after Prince Callum had departed.
“
My lady
”

“
Yes Rhyla?
”

“
I was wondering if I may have a little time to myself this afternoon,
”
she asked curtsying.

“
To become reacquainted with your old friend,
”
Lady Emelia said indicating Kurt.

“
Yes my lady,
”
she said,
“
It is just that it has been many years and he has to leave tomorrow.
”

Lady Emelia caught and patted her hand,
“
W
e all,
”
she started with a little more emphasis on the
all
than was really necessary, but the inclusion was not lost on Rhyla,
“
understand the need to keep up with old friends. Enjoy the afternoon. I shall be perfectly content in the women
’
s hall.
”

“
Thank you my lady,
”
Rhyla said.
“
I knew you would understand,
”
she added in a whisper looking towards the door by which Prince Callum had just left. Lady Emelia patted her hand again before letting her go, standing and making her own way from the hall.

Rhyla returned to Kurt
’
s side.

“
I shall have one of the lads see to your horse Kurt,
”
Captain Martin said as she arrived.
“
You and Rhyla can spend the afternoon catching up.
”

“
Thank you Captain, you are most kind,
”
Kurt said. Captain Martin nodded to them both and left the hall hollering at his men to get about their business. Rhyla led him to the rider
’
s table where he had left his mug and settled herself across from him.

“
So tell me all about Shana. How many children does she have now?
”
Rhyla asked.

“
Three and I don
’
t think they are planning on stopping there,
”
he laughed after taking another draw of his ale. Kurt told her stories of Shana, her children and her husband Grant, a dairy man, before progressing to news of his mother and her new husband.

“
And what of your relationships Kurt,
”
Rhyla asked suddenly, pleased to see his cheeks redden as he attempted to hide his grimace behind the rim of his mug.

He had to clear his throat before responding,
“
There is no possibility of me finding a bride in the near future.
”

“
Oh and why is that?
”

“
It is not complicated. There are no available lasses that have caught my attention in the dun.
”
He shrugged and returned to his ale. Noticing his careful choice of words Rhyla elected to refrain from probing further.

Rhyla spent several hours happily
reminiscing of their childhood.
She
spoke briefly of the events that brought her to the Palace and proudly discussed the duties her position with Lady Emelia required.  Kurt laughed
when he heard
that old Lydia
’
s lessons had at last brought prosperity to one
of her long suffering students. He and his sister had never embraced their opportunity to learn as Rhyla had.

They dined in the company of Captain Martin and his men, making the unusual allowance for Rhyla to remain at their table. It did not go past Rhyla
’
s notice that Captain Martin kept looking towards the King
’
s table.

The following morning Rhyla reluctantly bid Kurt goodbye
with messages for Shana and
with
hopes tha
t their paths would cross again. A
t least he now knew where to find her. Rhyla walked him to the Palace gate and waved him off. As he passed out of sight she was thankful that Captain Martin was on duty at the gate. He crossed over from the guardhouse and silently placed an arm around her shoulders. In silence she leant against him for a few minutes before returning to her mistress in the sun room.

Chapter 9

The evening before the men were due to leave, a strange melancholy, subdued aura permeated the atmosphere of the Palace. Every resident of the Palace congregated in the Great Hall to toast the guardsmen who would depart the following morning. It was an evening of hope and praise for their courage but also of restrained fear that some of them may not return. All ran
ks were infected by the anxiety.
King Liam would not be leading the men but both his sons
would be taking charge.
Prince Callum knew the terrain and situation but for such an important mission it had been decided that Prince Edwin would accompany him.

Kurt had returned with messages for Lord Hough regarding the plans they had for dealing with the bandits and to encourage him to unite with the King
’
s men. Knowing his Lord as he did
,
Kurt feared that he would remain hiding in his dun, leaving the dangerous work to Princes
’
Edwin and Callum. H
e hoped that he was wrong. They wouldn
’
t know until they gathered to the south of the forested hills
where the bandits had taken
their refuge. The muster was set for two days time.

Lord Palmer, whose
dun lay west of the
hills,
had pledged twenty men under
the
leadership of his eldest son, Lord James. Lord Bruce Gale of the Stag,
whose
lands stretched across the north of Lord Palmer and Lord Hough
’
s lands, would be joining them with another twenty five of his men.

The meal was nearing
its conclusion when a rider not recognisable to Rhyla entered the Great Hall. She did however
recognise his
tabard;
it was white with a blue rim with
a black swan upon it. The usual couriers from Lady Emelia
’
s
estate were well known to Rhyla.
This
new man
’
s unexpected arrival caused a shiver of apprehension to ripple through her. The young man hastily s
trode to stand before King Liam.
He
bowed stiffly before stepping to Lady Emelia
’
s side and kneeling to hand her a message. Rhyla had observed his
progress through the hall and was prepared when Lady Emelia signalled her. Rhyla curtsied to the King as she approached the table. She accepted the letter from her mistress and read it loud enough for the table to hear.

“
Lady
Emelia, it is sad tidings I have to so urgently report. There was a fire that started in the hay
barn;
it destroyed part of the wheat store and most of the meat and vegetable stores. Two men died fighting the blaze and several have been injured. I am in need of your guidance my lady. We have barely enough
stores
to make it through the summer and even with the crops coming in there will not
be enough for the replanting and to
restore the reserves for winter.

“
Awaiting your instruction my lady.
Master Stephen.
’
That is all that the letter contains my lady,
Rhyla said. Despair filled her face as she looked
to her mistress and
along the table to Prince Callum. The thought of the fire destroying buildings and costing lives brought back a stabbing agony that constricted her chest. The smell of smoke filled her nostrils once again at the memory of standing in the midst of her destroyed home, knowing her father was no longer there to comfort her.  She suddenly felt dizzy and had to grab the back of her mistress
’
s chair. Before she could stumble, Rhyla
felt strong arms wrap around her to support her weakening knees. She knew the feel of those arms and for a momen
t was content to sink into them.
She
looked up as her swirling vision
cleared; directly
in
to
Prince Callum
’
s eyes.

“
Here take my seat,
”
he said gently guiding her.

“
No, I am fine my Prince,
”
Rhyla said softly, attempting to stand by herself once again.

“
You are white and shaking.
Please
, forget the formalities,
”
he said guiding her to his seat. She sat as instructed but remained uncomfortable as he stood behind her. The entire royal family was looking at her with a range of pity, sympathetic embarrassment and confusion at her being overcome by the
news, or was it for Prince Callum
’
s behaviour towards her. Lady Emelia was the only one not looking at her but staring blankly at the far wall.

“
Do you have any more details for us lad,
”
King Liam asked the messenger.

“
Not a lot
,
your majesty. Master Stephen is looking at all the stores around the estate to get a more accurate tally but I don
’
t know much else of use,
”
the lad looked away.
“
Tad and Peter were good men,
”
he added slowly,
“
they have families.
”

Lady Emelia came out of her shocked silence to respond,
“
They shall be taken care of.
Do
not concern yourself Ryan.
”
The courier nodded with a pained smile as he realised his mistress knew his name. She looked to her daughter,
“
We shall leave in the mornin
g. I have to see to this myself;
it can
’
t be done with letters.
”

“
Of course mother,
”
Queen Aletta said before looking to her husband.
“
I am sure we can send some supplies.
”

King Liam didn
’
t hesitate,
“
Yes, even with the men leaving we will have some to spare. Speak to Mistress O
’
Mara of what we can send. It shouldn
’
t take more than a few days to organise.
”

“
Then it shall have to follow.
We
must leave in the morning,
”
insisted
a very determined Lady Emelia.