I approached Alina's chambers for the second ti today. I was beginning to feel like an expert of the royal wing. I fell in step behind the Queen with Finley, Alejo and the maid nad Marta shortly behind. I have never been more proud to be the Queen's subject.
The two guards who greeted the first ti I ca down the hall still faithfully held their positions. The two n shared a startled look with each other. Neither of them expected the Queen to visit. Before we reached their post, the shorter one retreated into the Princess's parlor to retrieve Caismir.
The Queen approached the taller guard in all her glory. "Good sir, I need to speak to my daughter about changes she approved for the Prince's chambers. May I pass?"
Who would deny the queen entry to anywhere?
The guard stood in complete awe as our monarch addressed him. His mouth hung open with a single syllable emanating from his maw, "uhh."
Luckily Caismir ca to the man's side. "Your Majesty! What an unexpected surprise. His Majesty did not tell the Princess's guards that we should be expecting such an honor!" Caismir added a flourished bow to the end of his flowery speech.
"Ah, Caismir, is it? I have heard a lot about you," the queen gushed. The words were true, but her tone made them seem like a complint as opposed to a condemnation.
Caismir shot a panicked glance my way, before letting the elation of the queen knowing his na sweep across his slender face. This man wanted to be soone.
"I hope they were all favorable things, Your Majesty," Caismir clothed his speech in false modesty.
"I actually wanted to et you, Mister Caismir. I heard you take safety very seriously. I do worry about my dear husband. Would you consider a transfer from the post protecting my daughter to being a personal guard for my husband?" The Queen used a distressed tone.
Our Queen is brilliant. She just offered Caismir a promotion, at least from a guard perspective, all while making it seem like he would be doing her a favor if he complied. On top of that, Alina would be free from the zealous guard.
"I.. I would be honored," Caismir stamred. His eyes grew wide in anticipation.
"Of course any personal guard might need a few lieutenants, if these n suit your temperant," The Queen vaguely motioned to the other two n who were standing in the hall.
"It would be a pleasure to continue working with these n. Thank you, Your Majesty!" Casimir could have died from excitent.
"So shall it be done. Report to the King's Chamber tomorrow morning. For the rest of today please feel free to plan amongst yourselves about how to best protect King Caderyn. You are dismissed," the Queen cleared the path to Alina's room.
It was only as the three n were walking away, I realized a deeper brilliance in the Queen's thod. She now had three more pairs of fairly loyal eyes watching the King. It's hard to keep secrets from that many people when they are with you all day.
I stopped mid step dumbfounded. Is that why the Queen assigned Finley and Alejo to ? To make sure I had no secrets? I continued in step behind the Queen. If that was her original intent, then I surely disappointed her. I'm kind of an open book. My favorite kind of book.
Finley opened the door for the Queen and the rest of us followed. Alina was sitting with her back to the door.
"Caismir, for the last ti, please stay outside!" Alina's volu teetered on the edge of a shout. When no one responded, she turned around.
"Mother!" Alina bead as she ran into the Queen's open arms.
"He's gone, sweetheart. Marta is going to stay with you for a couple of days," The Queen inford her.
"Your maid?" Alina asked, pulling back from the embrace. "I'm grateful, don't get wrong, but I'm confused as to why."
"Trust . Until I fully unravel your father's thinking behind all those guards he sent, you will want her nearby," The Queen cryptically stated.
"So she's now my guard?" The conjecture was rhetorical, but mischief ran across the Queen's face.
"Let's just say she's been trained by one of the best." The Queen eyed the two n by the door.
"Your Majesty! I thought you said you weren't giving away my secrets!" Alejo protested in good humor.
"I didn't. You did. I didn't say you trained anyone," Queen Valerie pointed out. Alejo rolled his eyes at the logic.
"Nice to et you, Marta. Welco." Alina rembered her manners.
"Thank you, Your Highness," the sweet dark-haired woman responded. For so reason her cheeks turned rosey as Alejo looked her way and smiled.
"Sadly Alina, the rest of us must be going. There is a Swordsman eting we need to attend. I will call on you later," Queen Valerie interrupted my internal evaluation of Marta.
"Sounds good. See you soon." Alina then turned toward . "Thank you, Jack!"
"My pleasure," I said before bowing my head and following the Queen out the door. My shadows fell in behind , leaving Alina and Marta to get to know each other.
I slowed my pace as we walked through the corridor, placing myself between the two guards. I was curious. They knew so much about , but I knew very little about them.
"Alejo, did you really train the Queen's maid to fight?" I hoped I was not being too forward.
"Yes and no. My wife was not the Queen's maid when I trained her to fight," Alejo offered.
"You're married?!" I looked at his hand, but saw no wedding band.
"Yes," the swarthy man responded nonchalantly before noticing inspecting his hands. "A ring would tell enemies that too. It's one way to keep her safer."
"And here you are blaming for telling all your secrets, Alejo!" Queen Valerie laughed.
Alejo again rolled his eyes before joining the rest of us in a mont of joyous camaraderie
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