Narthing knew, hells, the entire castle knew that she and Verice were sharing a bedchamber. Admittedly, it wasn’t proper, but given all that had happened, no one was pointing fingers.
The fact that Warna was human, well, that had raised a few eyebrows. Narthing hadn’t heard much talk on that topic, but then he didn’t move within the social circles. He glanced at Pernard and wondered. Although from Pernard’s expression, he need not have concerns on that aspect. Pernard clearly approved of Warna, and why not? Practical, smart, and lovely as humans go.
Warna caught him staring, and gave him a questioning look. Covering his embarrassment, Narthing gestured to the piles of scrolls on her desk.
It was Warna’s turn to be embarrassed. “The morning’s delivery. I haven’t gotten through it all yet. Mostly responses to our invitations, but I do need to sort them out this morning.”
“There’s one there with the Valltera royal seal,” Narthing noted.
“Probably Verice’s, then,” Warna said matter-of-factly. “If everyone’s been served, let’s move on to the Second Day—”
They continued on, covering all seven nights and the days within faster now that the subject matter had lightened in tone.
“You’ve made arrangements for the actors?” Warna asked Ersal.
“Aye,” Ersal said. “They know when and where to place their stage in the courtyard.”
Narthing said nothing. He and Lord Verice had already discussed the actors. Nothing seemed out of place, and everyone had vouched for Master Zester. Still, they’d be confined to the courtyard, under the watchful eyes of his men.
“I won’t bore you all with the orders for ribbons, banners, flags, and flowers,” Warna laughed. “Trust me when I say that the castle will be decorated to a fare-thee-well.” She looked at her desk, and then at each of them. “I think we’ve covered everything. Does anyone have anything to—”
Alarm horns sounded from the battlements.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Verice stood on the inner wall and scanned the courtyard as the alarm horns were sounding. He watched in satisfaction as everyone turned away from their tasks and responded to the drill. Some ran for designated shelters where warriors already guarded the doors. Others pulled their weapons, and moved to locations where they’d been told to gather. All acted quickly, quietly, and with deadly seriousness.
He knew it was disruptive and difficult. No one complained. His people remembered all too well the betrayal, and the deaths that had resulted. Drills, repetition, knowing what to do, that would make a difference when the next attack occurred.
“Give me time to check the keep,” Verice commanded. “Then sound the ‘all’s well’.”
“Aye, m’lord,” was the response, but Verice was already headed down the stairs.
Captain Narthing was by the main gates, and he raised a hand to show that his people were in place. Constable Ricard was over by the kitchens and bakery. Verice couldn’t see him, but he knew well that he’d be making sure that all was as it should be. He’d receive detailed reports later, but his goal now was the keep, and to make sure that everyone had obeyed their orders.
Ersal was barricaded in his office, with most of his staff and two armed guards. Verice lifted an eyebrow to see Priest Dorne in the room with them, but he didn’t stop to talk.
He’d finished checking three floors when he heard the horns calling the ‘all’s well’. Everything had been in order so far, with everyone barricaded in their rooms, armed with whatever weapons they could bring to bear, knowing what was expected of them. Satisfied, he went to check on the very last occupant of the keep.
Warna’s office was empty, as it should be, with a few papers scattered on the floor. He checked the bedchamber, just in case, but it was empty as well.
So, he returned to the outer chamber, locked the outer door, then stepped to the wall, and pressed his hand to the corner. With a soft rumble, the marble wall shifted aside.
Warna was seated within the bolt-hole cross-legged, her lap covered with scrolls and letters.
“You are supposed to leave your tasks,” Verice said pointedly. “Stop what you are doing and get to safety.”
She looked out at him in exasperation. “This is the fourth drill in three days,” she said. “Some of us have work to do,” she waved one of the scrolls at him.
Verice folded himself in next to her. She slid over to give him a bit of room.
“If you’d dropped one of those letters or scrolls it could have given your position away,” Verice said.
“But I didn’t,” she pointed out. “I grabbed a handful, waited until the others left, and crawled into the first available of your little cubby-holes, and closed the door behind me.” She rolled her eyes at him. “I sat quietly, waiting for you. I didn’t leave when I heard the ‘all clear’. I waited for you to come.”
“And if I hadn’t come?” Verice asked.
Warna gestured to the corner. “Then I’ve food and water for two people to last three days, along with a pallet and a chamber pot.” She wrinkled her nose as she recited her instructions. “At the end of three days, I’m to wait until dark, leave the cubby hole, and seek to learn more. Although I have to say that if two people were to hide in here, they had better like each other.”
