Forever Knight (The Champion Chronicles Book 3) (23 page)

He just wished one of them would catch her eye.  “Yes, of course I was.  Your dress is amazing.”

“What is it?” Elissa asked, sensing the sudden change in his demeanor.

“What is what?”

“You seem distracted.  Is everything okay?”

Arpwin gave her his fatherly smile.  “Of course, all is well.” 

He tried to shake the feeling away, but it stuck with him longer than it ever had before.  The strength of this episode of tickling had surprised him, and a sudden concern cropped up in his thoughts.  “This masquerade ball is all for you.  All the lords and ladies of the realm will be here to pay their honor, respect, and tribute to you.  There is not a detail I have forgotten to make it perfect.  But there is one more thing I must attend to before the ball starts.”

“I’m a bit nervous,” Elissa said.  “You will not be there for my entrance?”

“There is nothing to be nervous about,” Arpwin said, trying to regain his thoughts.  He was still distracted and needed to return to his chambers, but Elissa needed his attention.  “You have been the center of attention for so many festivals, you should be used to this by now!”

“Yes, but those weren’t being attended by every lord in the kingdom.  Most of these people don’t know me and are only supporting me because of my father.  What if I say something, or do something stupid that will cause them to change their minds about me?”

“You are Queen Elissa, ruler of all Karmon.  There is nothing on this earth that is going to change that.  Now go, enjoy your party.”

“You will be there, though?”

Arpwin nodded and said, “In due time.  This is your party and you don’t need an old man like myself weighing you down.”

A knock on the door interrupted them.  Slowly, the door opened and a large, furry head peered around the door.

Elissa let out a laugh.  “Melanie!  Your mask is amazing!”

Her good friend Melanie appeared, her bear mask covering her entire head.  She had a long, flowing gown as well, but not nearly as extravagant as Elissa’s gem-encrusted dress.  They ran to one another and embraced in a hug, giggling with excitement.  Arpwin shooed them out of the room so that the masquerade ball could start.

Finally alone, he could scratch the nagging itch that started the moment he felt that strong tickle in his brain.

Chapter Fifteen

Conner moved through the castle as if he belonged there.  Of all the things that he learned in his short time living inside the castle walls, the most important was that if you acted like you were supposed to be there, then no one would bother you.  The clothes that he took from Master Goshin’s old chamber helped him to blend in with the castle’s servants as he made his way up from the lower levels.  He was worried that someone would recognize him, but he kept his head down and moved with a purpose.  There was a busyness to everyone that seemed slightly out of place.  While it was not unusual for there to be a lot of traffic through the halls, there was more than what he had expected.  The good thing about everyone being in a rush, though, was that no one paid him any notice.

After a few turns through the hallways, he found himself near the kitchen, which was packed with servants coming and going with arms full of food and drink.  He hovered around, trying to look busy and kept his ears open to the excited chatter.  It took only moments for him to piece together the many conversations that the servants were excitedly talking about.  A grand ball was happening in honor of the queen and all the lords and ladies from throughout the kingdom were in attendance.

The mere mention of the queen’s name sent a tingle up his spine.  He had tried not to think about Elissa, but she was now the only thing that filled his thoughts.  That strange feeling in the pit of his stomach came back.  It was the same one that started the moment he saw her and continued until the moment he had left her.  He even tried to force himself to not think about her, but he couldn’t help himself.  His mind started to wander as he thought about the future and the possibility of ever seeing her again.

One of the senior cooks, a well-respected middle aged woman, thrust a basket of fresh bread into his hands.  With his mind elsewhere, the cook had caught him off guard and he only caught the first part of his command.  He returned a blank look as if he had not heard her at all.

“Are you dumb?” the cook asked seriously.

“No,” Conner replied.

“Then take this bread to the Great Hall.  The feasting is underway, and they will be needing fresh bread!”

Clearly, Conner had no choice but to take the basket.  She was so forceful with her commands, that to turn her down would put undue focus on him. And then if he did try to recuse himself from her commands, he would be forced to explain his presence in the kitchens.  It would be just easier to take the bread under the pretense of following her orders.  Then he would have an excuse for being in the halls of the castle.

With basket in hand, he joined the mass of other servants that were continually marching food and drink from the kitchens up to the Great Hall.  He kept his head down and his eyes low as he walked.  He hoped his appearance was different enough that he wouldn’t be recognized.  His hair was longer and he was starting to have some facial hair grow in.  Not anywhere near a full beard, but in splotches, especially above the lip.  He also hit a growth spurt, adding inches to his height in just half a year.  His chest and arms were filled out, not bulging muscles of a knight, but that of a man.  His boyish looks of his face were fading away and the man that he was becoming showed through.

There were servants in the halls that gave him a second look.  They thought they recognized the face, but couldn’t really remember where they had seen him before.  If everyone wasn’t so busy, maybe one of them might have stopped and tried to talk to him.  But no one had time for that as the masquerade ball was just about in full swing.

A wide stairwell led up to the ground level of the castle.  Each step was long, making it easier for the castle workers to climb them with heavy burdens.  As he climbed, there was two-way traffic to keep a steady flow of food to the ball.  At the top of the stairs, a wide hall ran from the stairwell to the Great Hall where the masquerade ball was taking place.  With each step, the sound of music, laughter, and merriment filled his ears.  It warmed his heart to hear such sounds.  For so long, he had gone from one bad predicament to another.  Death had followed him from almost the moment that he had left the castle, and it lifted his spirits to be back home.

The more senior servants were dressed in similar looking costumes to fit in with the rest of the guests.  Their clothes were fancy and full of color, unlike the drab brown of the servants who were hauling food and drink from the kitchen.  They took the baskets of food and pitchers of wine from the lowly servants and brought them to the large tables that were already piled high with food. 

As Conner approached the Great Hall, he could see through an opening in the curtains that separated the servants from the merrymaking of the guests.  Directly in his sight, he could see a congregation of costumed lords and ladies huddled around one spot at the far end of the hall.  The music suddenly became much louder, the stringed instruments playing a classic Karmon march which signaled the approach of the ruler of the land.  All eyes turned, and all activity stopped. The large group suddenly separated, as oohs and ahs filled the chamber.  A wide set of double doors opened and the glimmering sight of Queen Elissa filled the room.  A large mask adorned the top of her face, showing only her large, red lips.  Her long hair was tied up atop her head with long braids descending down her back. Although the idea of the masquerade ball was to hide appearances so that everyone was looked upon at the same level, there was no doubt who the queen was, and she was the most beautiful woman in attendance.

A light clapping started as she came through the doors and continued down to the center of the room.  She smiled, but Conner knew that she wasn’t quite comfortable getting all the attention.  He also knew that she wouldn’t ever admit it or show that she was uncomfortable.  Her every move and action gave the impression that she loved being who she was.

He thought for sure their eyes locked.  Even though he was behind the curtain and mostly hidden from her view, he was certain that she saw him.  He hoped that he was not recognized, or his plan of getting to the Ark of Life would be lost.  The last thing that he needed was a big scene that would prevent him from carrying out his duty.  Inside his chest, his heart pounded.  He tried to tell himself it was because of the tension of being in disguise and the need to find the Ark of Life before Emperor Tarcious.  But he knew it was because he saw her eyes.

“Enough, now,” one of the costumed servants said to him.  “You have seen enough, now return to the kitchens.  You cannot be seen up here.”

The man stepped directly in front of him and took the basket of bread Conner was carrying.  He did not move until Conner stepped away from the curtains.  With the music continuing to play, Conner retreated down the hall, but he did not return to the kitchens.  Hoping that no one saw him, he ducked down a side corridor that would take him back towards the front of the castle.

He hoped he had time before Glaerion would wake up.  The elf would be furious if he knew what Conner was up to, but he just had to take the chance to see her one more time before he left.  The pounding in his heart increased as he came out of the corridor and into an open room full of chaos and confusion.  At first he was afraid at getting caught away from where he was supposed to be, but as soon as he realized where he was, a plan came to mind.

Not all the lords and ladies had come prepared for the ball.  Some did not have costumes, so the castle had put together many outfits that could be used by those without.  Seamstresses worked patiently attending to demonstrative ladies who were distraught at having missed the queen’s grand entrance.  Their lords simply stood behind, worried that the good food might have already been eaten.  Conner maneuvered his way through the crowded room and found that many of the pre-sewn costumes were just lying around to be used by anyone.

As he neared a table with such a pile, he reached his hand out to take one, when his hand was grabbed.

“What are you doing?” one of the seamstresses snapped.

Conner dropped his chin out of reflex, but his mind was clear and quick.  “My lord has grown impatient waiting to enter.  He ordered me to come in and take one so that he could greet the queen.”

The seamstress let out a huff.  She was tired of the demanding nobles, but she really had no choice but to acquiesce to their demands. “How tall is he?”

Conner held out his hand to measure about his height from the ground.

“And wide?”

Conner shrugged innocently.  “Maybe a bit larger than me.  Not much, though.”

The seamstress let out another huff and began hunting through the costumes.  She pulled out a long cape, a silvery tunic, and a matching mask that would pull over the top of his head.  “Take this.  I have no time to trim it to fit.  He can either wait for an hour for me, or try this.”

“This will do, milady,” Conner said, his eyes looking down at the ground.  Without waiting for a reply from the seamstress, he darted into the crowd to find a place to change.

***

He felt silly wearing the cape and mask, but at least it fit him.  He expected to be questioned when he walked into the Great Hall, but the pages and servants who were working the main door greeted him as if he were an invited guest.  With the festivities having already begun, the hall was packed with costumed guests.  Music was playing, but it blended into all the boisterous chatter and laughter that seemed to echo off the walls and high ceiling.  The sound was nearly suffocating and Conner wondered how anyone could stay in the hall for a long time without going deaf.  A long table full of food was set up along a far wall, but many of the guests, especially the ladies, would find it too uncouth to eat at such a prestigious event.  The men passed around goblets of wine and ale to better put themselves in the mood.

Conner walked slowly through the crowd, wondering if any of the masked men were his old friend Marik.  Part of him hoped that he would see him, as he was the one person who had been a good friend to him.  There were other squires and servants who had been kind, but none had gone out of their way to befriend him like Marik.  Someday he would have to return just to see the ranger.  Maybe they would be able to spend a few days or weeks hunting in Darkenwood Forest.

As he reached the center of the room, the crowd thinned and he caught sight of Elissa.  She sat upon a padded chair, a smile on her face while she listened and chatted to a small gathering of ladies.  Smiling and laughing at every joke, she seemed at ease, despite being hounded with praise and adulations.  Many names she remembered, which brought wide smiles and beaming faces to the ladies who acted like excited children around her.  Some had traveled for as long as two weeks to just be sure they reached the castle on time.  In many households, the lady might have been in charge, but she was never really given any true title or authority on her own.  For the first time in the history of the kingdom, a woman truly ruled for all to see.  And even the eldest of them looked up to her with childlike adoration.

It was strange to think about her being the ruler of a kingdom, but knowing her as he did, Conner was not surprised.  She certainly was smart enough.  They had spent many long nights the past summer just chatting about life and the world.  While she had lived a sheltered life and was insulated from many of the horrors of the world, she still had a perspective that had surprised him.  She was observant of how the world worked outside her city walls.  Although she might not always quite understand it, she was open to learning.  But despite all her smarts and her youthful wisdom, his biggest fear for her would be whether she was strong enough to handle the pressure of the job.  He could still see her as the wet and cold girl, shivering in a cave in the forest.  But that girl was now in front of him and he did not recognize that person anymore.  Elissa sat among the nobility strong and confident, looking every inch the queen she was meant to be.

Conner was honestly happy for her.  He wished life were different, but the two of them were certainly not made to be together.  She would need the strength and power of a noble family to marry into.  A commoner would have no place in her life.  There was definitely a sadness that he felt, but he was glad that he was able to see her one last time.  With not a single regret, he started to turn away to leave, but the shrill call of a trumpet stopped him.

Almost instantly, the entire hall fell silent.  A plump man in a white robe stepped forward.  A thin, white mask exposed his eyes through tiny slits, but the rest of his face was clearly visible.  Conner recognized him as Lord Martin, a supporter of the queen, but something didn’t seem quite right with the way the queen looked up at him.  Elissa had a sour face as the man spoke.

“Ladies and Lords!” Lord Martin shouted so all could hear him.  “Men and woman of the kingdom of Karmon, I bid you greetings and welcome to the masquerade ball where we honor the royal Queen Elissa of Karmon!”

Loud clapping and some cheering followed.  He raised a hand to silence the noise.  “In honor of the house of Thorndale, and the many generations that have served as king to the people of Karmon, Queen Elissa has declared the first dance to be our traditional Dance of the Forest.  Your partner for this dance, as always, will be by random chance.  Ladies, if you will provide your token to one of the pages.  Gentlemen, if you would all congregate to the far side of the hall.”

An excited buzz filled the hall as the ladies pulled out a handkerchief or scarf that would be given to one of the pages circling the room.  Each item was embroidered with their initials or name to ensure that there was not any confusion on which item belonged to whom.  As the traditional dance was expected to be performed, all the ladies came prepared and eagerly gave up their embroidered item.  The pages made quick work of collecting them from all the ladies, including the queen.