Sir James had pulled the battered straw hat low over his forehead and slumped in the seat. “People will know me as we get closer to the palace. First one, then all as the word spreads.”
A group of walkers went by, two of them wishing them a good morning. Hannah had to keep from responding. For a chatterbox like her, being invisible became a task. She couldn’t speak when spoken to, couldn’t move when others were near, and she felt hungry again, but their food was gone.
She wondered about the old farmer who now owned their horses. It had been a good trade for him, especially with the silver coin thrown in, but when he returned to his normal self when the spell wore off, what were his thoughts? Did he think his mind grew weak? Did the idea of a spell cast over him ever cross his mind?
His experience stood out in her mind. A mage or sorceress must consider the effects on others after the spells wear off. Hannah decided to consider that as a major item in her education. And also to learn the difference between the sorceress' and mages. Each seemed to hold advantages, but the dividing line still seemed fuzzy.
A flicker of color captured her attention. Ahead, just over the next hill, rose a gray tower, a yellow flag waving from the pointed roof. The mule slowly pulled them to the top of the hill and with each step more of the King’s Palace came into view. There appeared to be six of the round towers, one at each place where the high walls made turns. Different color flags or banners flew from each rooftop.
Between the towers ran walls so tall the longest ladder couldn’t reach up to them. Men walked the tops of the walls, so there had to be walkways from tower to tower. The top of the wall had a design built into it. Sections were missing. As the soldiers walked the parapet, they almost flickered as they passed behind the stone cutouts. Then, in a flash of understanding, she knew they could hide behind the taller sections and leap to the others to shoot arrows, throw spears, or whatever.
The Earl’s Castle had always seemed fantastically large. Hundreds of people lived in that one ‘house’, Royals, servants, slaves, and freemen. The palace on the hill ahead could hold ten of the Earl’s Castles. More. But the Earl’s Castle had been constructed as a summer home in the forest, later converted to a castle, or a large home for Royalty. The Palace ahead had been constructed as a fortress, a massive stone defensive fortification ready to stand against any attackers.
Several paths and roads had intersected with the main road, the travelers all using the same road leading to the Palace until Hannah decided she had seen more people on the road than lived in the Earl’s Castle, and those were only the people who chose to travel on this day. The realization made her swallow and feel small and insignificant. She’d expected to see a castle similar to her old home, but perhaps larger. Instead, she found a Palace so large she couldn’t comprehend its size.
“What do you think?” the knight muttered.
“Huge. I’m scared.”
“I expected you to say how pretty it is. Maybe something else, but not scary.”
“In there are people who want me dead. At least one of them, and I have no idea who it is, so how could it be anything but scary? Any person on this road might be a killer looking to collect a reward for my head.”
“If there is one thing I could tell you to help you survive, that would be it. Do not be fooled by the colorful banners and fake smiles. Until you establish yourself and your claims, consider it a pit of vipers.”
“I don’t know what vipers are.”
“Snakes. A den filled with snakes. Poisonous ones.”
“Oh. I guess I sort of expected people to welcome me and give me hugs.”
“Some will offer hugs. Some will squeeze you so tightly that you choke,” he muttered, still speaking into his chest. “But, others will genuinely welcome you and offer their condolences about your father.”
“How will I know which is which?”
He snorted in laughter. “Again, you impress me by asking the most intelligent questions. If I had the answer to that one, I’d be the smartest man in the Palace.”
A pair of horses trotted closer from behind, the two young men talking and ignoring the other travelers as their horses cleared the way. Both wore clothing as well made as those the Earl wore, and probably more fashionable. Their hats flopped as the horses trotted, raising their polished hooves high with every step. A single colored feather stood several hands high above each hat.
The horses moved the travelers on foot aside by intimidating them. They trotted down the center of the road, side by side, and the peasants spread apart to allow them to pass. The riders ignored the people walking, many of them carrying burdens to sell at the market.
One horse struck a man who hadn’t heard them approach or hadn’t stepped out of the way quickly enough. The left shoulder of the horse struck him. He stumbled off to the side of the road and dropped a sack of squash as he caught his balance. Several squashes split open as they struck the ground.
As bad as that was, the smirking rider, annoyed that the peasant hadn’t moved from his way, lashed out with his left foot, striking the man on his shoulder, just as he caught his balance after the near fall. A woman made a desperate grab for him but missed. The peasant fell to his knees amid the laughter of the two riders and the scowls and angry faces of the peasants. Many made obscene gestures when they were sure the two riders would not see them.
The riders whooped and spurred their horses ahead until they pulled alongside the old wagon and the slow mule pulling it. Hannah wanted to reach out and slap the nearest rider. He was close enough to reach, and he wouldn’t see her hand. Her temper almost reached the flash point as they looked behind at the man on his knees retrieving his load of squash, and they burst into new gales of laughter.
Sir James hissed from the side of his mouth at her, “Be quiet, Hannah.” He scooted to the left of the seat and leaned out as the riders pulled alongside, drawing their attention to his action. He lifted his old straw hat as if wishing them a good morning, but his voice held no warmth as he growled so only they could hear. “You will both report to me at first light tomorrow in the stables. Until then you will say nothing of seeing me on this road.”
Their eyes went wide, all traces of humor replaced with fear. One muttered, “Sir James?”
“Another word from either of you and I’ll double your punishment. Get on with you.” He waved an impatient arm in their direction and turned away, dismissing them.
The horses trotted and then with a last look behind from one of the young men, they galloped in the direction of the palace, careful to avoid any peasants on the road. Sir James muttered, “Now everyone will know I’m returning. I should have held my peace and handled that tomorrow.”
“Who are they?” Hannah asked.
“Squires. They’re the sons of wealthy men who have sent them for training as the King’s Knights. I am the head Knight. Therefore, they report to me.”
“What will happen to them?”
“Their fathers have gold and position so I won’t send them home in shame, which is what they deserve. But tomorrow they will learn to clean horse dung from the stables like your friend at the Earl’s castle, but worse. I’ll have them fill my flagon.”
“I didn’t know that you knew about Cleanup. He was a good friend. But, you use a lot of words I don’t know. What’s a flagon?”
“Years ago I had a container built for punishing pretentious squires like those two. They will be ordered to fill it with fresh horse dung until it’s full. Then they will find me and be released from the task.” He chuckled.
“There’s more that I don’t see?”