Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

Wolinda thought a moment beforeresponding. “Your plan is acceptable, Klarg,” she began, “but sendone of your men instead of going yourself. If this is a bandits’lair, your expertise in leading the men will be valuable shouldthey decide to return and attack during the night.” Wolinda wouldnever have stated her real reasons for keeping Klarg close. Once inToresh, Klarg could report on Wolinda’s lack of progress andwithout Klarg around to contain his men, Wolinda might not wake upfrom her night’s sleep.

Niki yawned and stretched in her fine,white silk robe while standing on the balcony overlooking the sea.At first Niki had been put out that the servants had assigned herto guest quarters instead of the Master’s Suite, but that wasbefore she discovered the rich wardrobe of clothes in various sizesand styles. Fredrik also pointed out that they were supposed to bebrother and sister and putting one of them in the Master's Suitewould naturally insult the other. The servants had, after all, madethe correct decision. Surely, the old sea captain’s mansion was nota Royal Palace, but Niki had never seen a palace and this was morethan she expected. She had a bedroom that was larger than any houseshe had ever been in and it was only one of several rooms that werehers alone. Even the balcony she stood on, overlooking the peasantsrunning around below, was larger than the house she grew up in. Shestood there for a long while soaking up the sea air and listeningto the bustle of the townspeople running about below.

A knock at the door disturbed her and,reluctantly, she turned and made her way through the suite of roomsto the entry. Opening the door, she saw a man standing there in arich, red velvet suit with vest and coat and a white, frilled shirtwith fluffy sleeves protruding from the cuffs of the coat. It tookher a moment to recognize the man as Fredrik. Laughing, she threwopen the door to admit her partner. Fredrik sauntered in like hewas the Lord of the manor, a stride that Fredrik had perfected longbefore Niki had met him.

“What brings the Lord to hisLady’s Suite?” chuckled Niki.

Fredrik hurriedly closed the door andtook up position in one of the large cushioned chairs. “I justwanted see how my Lady was accepting her transition,” he smiledsmugly. “This place is huge. I’ve been wandering around for an hourand I doubt that I’ve seen all of it. This old sea captain musthave been a smuggler to afford something this grand.”

“Well,” she chided, “I think Idid rather well getting us in here, but don’t you think for amoment that I have let you go of your pledge to make me a queen.Perhaps you can organize the rabble down below into some kind ofkingdom for me to rule. Those mercenaries will do for a PalaceGuard while we look for someone more suitable and then we can havethem organize an army to take over any neighboringcountries.”

Fredrik looked at her with disbelief.Could she really think getting in here was her idea? Get themercenaries to bow to her? Maybe she really was crazy. Grandfantasies were one thing, but what she was proposing was suicide.“I never promised to make you a queen,” he stated. “I said that Iwould like to see you in a palace. Now that I have, I do think itbecomes you.”

“You will serve in my court,also,” she continued as if not hearing a word he said. “Perhaps Iwill have you as my Royal Consort.”

“We are best to avoid themercenaries,” Fredrik reminded her. “They have let us in herebecause it costs them nothing and avoids embarrassment of theirfailure to do anything with the Black Devils. If we do anythingthat might upset them, you will be surprised how quickly theyacknowledge their mistake. Where are your old clothes?”

Niki snapped out of her fantasy. “Inthe closet in the bedroom,” she answered. “Why do you want my oldclothes?”

“I asked Miranda to have ourold clothes washed today,” Fredrik said. “I do not know how long wewill be here, but I want our clothes to be clean and packed in casewe have to leave quickly.”

“Leave?” she askedincredulously. “Why would we ever want to leave here? We just gothere and you’re talking about moving on already.”

“I am not planning on leavingjust yet, Niki,” he declared emphatically. “I just believe in beingprepared. One can never know what tomorrow will bring.”

As if on cue, there was a knock on thedoor followed by Miranda poking her head in. “Does My Lady havewash today?” she inquired. “Perhaps your traveling clothes coulduse a refreshing?”

“They're in the closet in thebedroom, Miranda,” Fredrik directed. “And thank you for your promptservice.”

Miranda went and retrieved Niki’sclothes and returned to leave. She bowed to Fredrik and said, “Yourthanks are most welcome Lord Wason. Certainly not necessary, butgraciously welcome.”

“Take extra care of my cloak,”demanded Niki. “I intend on wearing it on my Coronation Day and Idon’t want you mucking it up.”

Miranda looked confused but merelynodded and withdrew from the suite. Quickly, she hurried downstairsto have Alicia do the wash. When she reached the servants’quarters, Alicia was talking with Orthan, the Lord’s butler.“Humph,” Miranda began, “that Fredrik is all right, a pleasant boyat least, but that Niki, I’ll strangle her with my own hands beforetoo long.”

“Now, now,” admonished Orthan,“we went through all of this last night. We all know they are notwho they claim to be. For goodness sake, Lord Alrecht did not evenhave any brothers or sisters so he certainly couldn’t have nephewsand nieces, but without a Lord or Lady in the manor, we will all beout in the streets. I, for one, am willing to put up with thischarade for as long as we can make it last.”

“He’s right, Miranda,” agreedAlicia. “We can’t afford to be out on the street. It would kill usfor sure. There is no other Lord or Lady in Cidal who will employus and there are more than enough beggars already so that none ofthem can get enough to eat. You’ll just have to grin and bearit.”

“Not quite,” snapped Miranda,“I am the head maid here and I have decided that you will be theone to deal with our Lady Niki from now on. We shall see just howwell you grin and bear it.”

Alicia went storming off with the wash.“Was that really necessary?” asked Orthan. “We are all in the sameboat, so to speak.”

“And how safe is our boat,Orthan?” Miranda inquired. “Does the young Lord have access tofunds to pay us? Or even funds to pay for food? And what if ourLady decides to fire us? Do you have a plan for everything,Orthan?”

“We will take one step at atime, Miranda,” Orthan said fatherly. “I will work with LordFredrik Wason to solve all of our problems. The young man is athief if ever I laid eyes on one. I will arrange for him to allowme to manage the finances of the estate. Once that is accomplished,I will sell off enough out-holdings to sustain all of us incomfort. The hard part will be in getting him the legal authorityto then turn it over to me.”

“Well, you had better startyour bargaining then, Orthan,” quipped Miranda, “before I strangleour Lady and they haul me away for murder.”

Orthan patted Miranda’s armcomfortingly and headed upstairs. He caught Fredrik just coming outof Niki’s suite. “Will My Lord spare me a few moments of his time?”Orthan asked Fredrik.

“Certainly, Orthan,” repliedthe young Lord. “Let us go into the study and we’ll see about whattroubles you.”

The young Lord and his butler enteredthe study and Fredrik took the Lord’s chair without hesitation.“What seems to be the matter, Orthan?” Fredrik asked.

“The problem, my young Lord,”Orthan smiled, “is that Lord Alrecht had no brothers orsisters.”