“Hannah?” William’s voice called softly.
She shot up in the bed and realized she had fallen asleep with the painting next to her. She could have rolled over and damaged it. The call of her name came again, soft but insistent.
“In here, William. I think I fell asleep.” She put the linens over the paintings before he reached the doorway, but his eyes went to the chest before his first step into the room.
“I see you found the key,” he said. “Your father and I believed the notch in the bedpost sufficient to keep it hidden, but I see you found it.”
“You knew?”
“That chest contains your family history. It is yours to do with as you wish.”
“Can you tell me about the people? I mean, the ones in the paintings?”
William perched on the edge of the other trunk. “I can, but those diaries will provide more information—and in your father’s words. You should wait until you can read it for yourself.”
“I worked on writing until my hand got sore.”
He shrugged, “Nothing of value comes easy. Right now, you are the talk of the Palace, and the rumors are flying about the deaths of Sir James and the Old Mage. You may be hidden in here for longer than we planned. Either that or we will find another way out.”
“They won’t leave me alone?”
“The King has agreed to seal these rooms—for years if necessary.”
“Years? I can’t stay here for years.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“The King? Does he know where I am?” Hannah asked, a touch of fear adding a chill to the room.
Willian said, “I have spoken to him briefly, but there were others about, others with ears like field mice, listening to all. I will again speak with him, and in doing so, I must tell him of you in private, unofficially. The intrigue in this Palace is intense. Guards often sell their ears to Royals. Servants spy. Minor Royalty sells secrets for gold or favors to those closer to the throne.”
“Is everyone here, after power?”
“Yes.”
His short and sad answer stunned her. The Old Mage had made a similar comment, but at the Earl’s Castle, she had never seen the same sort of intense jostling for power or position. No, that was not true. She had seen it, but not realized it for what it was. Even in her kitchen, similar quests for power took place daily. The nasty old woman who baked the hard bread for the servants smiled and tossed out false compliments to other cooks when the Overseer made his rounds. Another over-salted a stew that a cook prepared, then stood aside wearing a small smile of satisfaction as the first received humiliation for the poor food preparation. A day later their jobs were reversed as the perpetrator received an undeserved promotion.
Hannah had watched it happen from her woodpile outside where she could peek around the edge of the door unseen. The maligned cook never knew what happened. There were other instances, too. Royals, men, and women, as well as servants and slaves, told lies, whispered hints of misdeeds and shared secrets. She had never understood why making someone else look bad helped them. Others always knew the truth.
“Is it always about power?” she asked.
William shrugged as he took a final longing look at the painting of the couple with the child. “The details are different, and some call it something else, but yes, it is always about power, money or sex. Now, let’s discuss the contents of this chest. I suggest you explore it in private then close and lock it again. You can return to it after you learn to read, or whenever you wish.”
“Why did you know about the key?”
“Your father trusted me.”
William seemed to have a habit of taking complicated subjects and reducing them to a few simple words. Hannah appreciated the short insights. “Want to see my writing?”
He chuckled, “I guess learning a single letter can be referred to as writing, so show me.”
Hannah took him to the desk and showed him her progress. However, now that time passed, and she looked over his shoulder critically, the results were not as good as she remembered. A sigh escaped.
“No,” he said quickly. “Look here. Your first attempts were too large, and the letters were slanted and misshapen. Half way down the page they become more recognizable and uniform. “What is the name of this letter?”
“A.”
“Do you understand the concept of writing?”
She shrugged. “So others can read it?”
“I should have phrased my question differently. That A is the sound you hear in words like acorn, angel, and air. Do you hear the A in each of them?”
“That’s the sound I wrote. I get it. My mother was teaching me when she died.” She felt the smile on her lips shrink to nothing.
William lifted the pen and scolded her for allowing the ink to dry on the tip. “Have to trim a new nib each time, then slice it for the ink to flow.” He cut the feather and examined it critically then demonstrated the strokes to make the letter. He told her that each mark had an associated sound. Her first two tasks were learning to print the letters and make the sounds.
She said, “I thought it would be harder.”
It was his turn to smile. He was not telling Hannah all, but she understood he had his reasons. Still, she didn’t wish him to think her silly or stupid. “There are things I’m supposed to learn. Four of them. Besides reading and writing, there are royal manners. There is learning what is in this room, my father’s library. And there is protecting myself.”
“In that order?” he laughed. “Seriously, you need to learn all those and survival. By that I mean, you must survive the palace intrigue which today will be at the top of your list.”
“You’re trying to say people are trying to kill me, right? Am I not safe here? Don’t you think I know that?”
He turned his eyes away as if trying to find the right words. When he looked at her again, there were tiny tears in the corners. “Already I am suspect in hiding you. Two different people followed me. I saw them and managed to slip away, but their scrutiny will increase every moment you are missing. There are hints of rewards for information about you. Soon the entire staff will be searching.”
“It’ll be impossible to hide me or bring me food.”
He hung his head. His voice took on a defeated tone. “I am just a manservant. I do not know how to do half of what is needed to protect and educate you, but if I fail, I also fail Sir James and the Old Mage, not to mention the King.”
Hannah went to him and placed her arm on his shoulder as he sat and looked at his feet. She said, “This is my problem. I will ask two things of you.”
“I fear I cannot do any, but ask.”
“These you can do. Help me pack. I cannot stay here. We both know that. Next, meet with the King and have him seal these rooms until my return.”
He turned to her, fear on his face. “Where will you go?”
“To the tree where the sorceress lives. It’s better for you if you do not know exactly where it is, then you cannot lie.”
“I feel guilty that you are running away, and I cannot help you.”
“Help me pack for a journey.”
William stood and wiped his eyes dry. “You cannot return to your old life, or even go near the Earl’s Castle. They will be watching it. I am going now to request an audience with the King. When I return, I’ll help you.”
Hannah watched him leave, knowing that each time he opened or closed the door to the apartment he risked discovery. If only one passerby or one servant happened to see him, the word would spread that Sir James’ manservant visited the Old Mage’s quarters, and her enemies would draw their conclusions and know her location.