The Four Swords

Chapter 131: Being Neighborly

I reported back to the queen all that I had learned and she seemed distracted. Instead of sending me back to my regular babysitting duty, she assigned me to help Sir John on all the preparations for a tournament.

I was sent on errands to the palace grounds keeper, the head cook, the steward in charge of the guest wing of the castle, and the stablemaster. Under the direction of Sir John, I was instructed to keep the motivations behind my questions a mystery.

I would much prefer to track down a wild beast than to interact with so many people while attempting to keep them in the dark as to my motivation. I am was far more skilled at remaining unseen rather than trying to deceive.

In lieu of trying to use my cunning to spin a web of half-truths, I resorted to acting aloof and throwing the weight of my title around to keep people from asking too many questions. It felt disingenuous to act in such a manner to people trying to help me, but I found solace in the fact that my interactions with these servants were few and far between.

By the end of the day, I realized I had skipped a midday meal and had not been off my feet for the better half of the day. I did not mind staying active. I minded the tasks that were keeping me busy.

Sir John was not a cruel taskmaster, simply overwhelmed. It seemed like something besides the mammoth task before us was forefront on his mind.

He taught me many shortcuts hidden within the castle. I did not question him on how he learned so many ways around without being a swordsman, but maybe I should have.

Sir John finally dismissed me to go home. I could not be more grateful to leave the castle.

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The sun hung low in the sky. I knew that the responsible thing to do would be to spend the night at my brother's house again even if I longed to pitch a tent somewhere far away from people.

I made my way back through the city streets as the last few golden rays swept across the town's square. The sight was almost lovely enough to make me forget the longing for my tent for a moment. Almost.

The door to the clock shop beneath my brother's home opened to reveal a sight that pushed the tent far from my mind and even made me happy to spend the night in town.

Gella's flowing locks were liquid gold. Her rosy cheeks flushed as she turned to see me almost right in front of her. The blue pools of spring water that colored her eyes mirrored the surprise.

"Holden!" She shook her head in frustration with herself. "I mean Lord Holden. Fancy running into you twice in the same day."

"The pleasure is all mine." A wide smile reached my eyes. I resisted the urge to reach for her hand to kiss it, but I was not sure how that would be received inside the city gates. Back home it would be respectful.

I glanced down at her hands to fully make up my mind. She had a large basket that she held between both of her palms as it hung low.

"Let me help you with that." I offered while taking the basket from her grasp. The weight of her bundle was more than I expected her to be carrying so easily. "Where is this parcel going?"

"It is a clock for a family a few blocks away. Father just finished it not too long ago and I figured I could declutter the shop a bit by delivering it tonight." Gella blushed again.

"I would love to accompany you, if that is alright." My mouth spoke without consulting the part of me that was tired of people. Maybe childhood friends do not count as people in the same capacity as the masses.

"I would be delighted. I do think you owe me a walk home after court today," Gella seemed to bite her lip after she spoke.I wonder if she embarrassed herself by being so forward.

We walked in comfortable silence down the block before she spoke again.

"Is Sir Carrion alright?" Gella questioned.

The city might have been a bigger hub for gossip then back home. Gella must have heard about the duel from someone. There must have been a very gregarious servant nearby for news of the duel to already have reached the masses.

"I cannot imagine having your heart broken in front of the entire court. He did not even have the support of his father. Princess Alina sat there powerless to help him too. How cruel traditions can be at times!" Gella proclaimed.

I almost missed a step. She was not speaking of the duel. I suppose court-goers could view today's display very differently than those close to the crown. I stifled a laugh that surely would have been viewed as impolite.

"Sir Carrion is in a much more elevated state than he was this morning." I answered. Maybe I did not have to be cryptic earlier with the servants, but now seemed a better time to employ such measures. He was very much elevated in rank.

"I am glad you walked him home then. Although I did miss your company, it seems that you were the healing salve his heart needed," Gella offered.

"I am not sure I helped the situation, but I thank you for your kind words." If she only knew all that happened today.

Gella stopped short at a doorway to a quaint cottage along the main road. She knocked on the door and a slender gentleman answered with a short plump wife with prying eyes not far behind him. After Gella explained who she was, I handed over the goods.

The plump woman pinched the corners of her tight smile before taking the basket directly from me whilst pushing her husband out of her way. I smiled sweetly at the lady.

The knowing glance Gella received as the lady thanked her profusely for the clocks was enough for me to know that even if Sir Carrion's exploits from today had not yet been made public knowledge, rumors of my love life would soon be widespread.

Somehow I did not hate the idea of such a rumor.