Chapter 177: Setbacks
"Why did he send you?" The question slipped out before she could think better of it.
Both n exchanged glances but said nothing, as if they thought she was supposed to know.
"I am no longer in his care, if I may put it that way. So... it would be best if you both return back to the castle."
They remained exactly where they were.
"If we return... without you, he will have both our heads on a spike, my lady. Your safety is of paramount importance to the King."
She could see there was more he wanted to say but didn’t.
"Well, you can stay until I find enough money to send you back with. I hate to be indebted to the King as it is, you see."
Neither uttered a word. She might have as well been talking to statues.
The plump lady clapped her hands over her ears, suddenly reminding Claire that she was there.
"I am hosting n from the King’s guard?" She sounded excited and dreadful at the sa ti.
Then she turned to Claire. "Do forgive
for throwing you in such a terrible room. I shall find sothing suitable for you." Then she scuttled off.
Claire returned to the room she shared with her sister and climbed back into bed.
He would behead his own guards for her sake?
It reminded her of the ti he wanted to punish Terrence and Arman for allowing them to attend the mating ceremony.
All for what? She had to wonder.
Soti during the night, she managed to fall asleep. At the crack of dawn, her eyes snapped open. The sky outside was still partly dark. A cock kept crowing sowhere below her window, constantly reminding her of sothing she already knew.
Before she slept, she had been pondering which of Jarren’s things to sell off to repay them. From the look of Penbrook, even a single candelabra could bring a tangible amount of coin if sold.
But after hearing of their master’s death, would his n be loyal to her? They were the sa people who had hunted Aurora and herself down the ti she tried to run away. Yet, it always seed as if it was more out of fear than of loyalty that they did as uncle Jarren had always hidden them.
Rory stirred beside her but didn’t wake up. She tapped her sister.
"Get up, Rory, we have to be on our way. The rain has stopped and the sky is clear."
Aurora mumbled sothing in her sleep and turned her head to face the other way without getting up.
Claire rose up from the bed and went to wash her face with the water in the wash basin. The wash basin was rusty but the water inside it was clear. After splashing the cold water on her skin, she mopped her face and went to wear the dress that had been laid out for her.
Aurora was wearing a similar dress with beautiful floral patterns everywhere.
She went towards Aurora and shook her awake none-too-gently.
Her bright green eyes finally slid open and gazed around with confusion.
"What is it, Claire?"
Claire was in no mood for a delay. "We have to have breakfast and leave if we are to get there early, Rory."
Rory rubbed her eyes and sat up. "We can stay here as long as we like, can’t we? I don’t want to go back to Penbrook, Claire. Besides, the Carriage is not fixed." She said in a sleep-muffled voice.
Claire fixed her hands on her hips and gave her a firm look. "We aren’t staying here a second longer because we cannot afford it, Aurora. I won’t let the King think that I am still living off his charity - we are not people to be pitied. Get up, get dressed and be down for breakfast. I wil go down and see to the carriage."
Then she spun on her heels and left the room. She hated speaking so firmly to Aurora, but her sister was yet to understand their situation. She was much too trusting.
As she was descending the stairs, the plump lady was ascending it with a steaming tray of food. The sll of freshly baked bread wafted up to her nostrils.
"Ah, there you are. A good morrow to you, Milady. I was just even bringing food up to you, you needn’t bother about coming down, dear."
Claire smiled at the radiant woman.
"Very well, thank you. Take it up to my sister and make sure she finishes every morsel."
The woman raised a brow. "And what about you, dear?"
Claire shook her head. "Do not bother about ."
The woman looked like she wanted to argue but only nodded and went up the stairway.
Claire made her way to the front entrance and had to shield her eyes at how bright it was outside in contrast to the darkened interior.
Not so far away stood the Carriage and she could see a few n gathered around it.
Drawing in a deep breath, she started walking towards them.
She could tell from the loud pounding of tal against tal that they were repairing the broken tire.
Her olive-skinned guard stood to the side and watched carefully with his arms folded. However, as he spotted her, he took a step back from the others and waited for her to approach.
Claire could see that they had called a blacksmith to attend to the wheel from the tools that were scattered on the ground.
Her guard nodded at her when she reached his side.
"Would this take long?" She asked, loud enough to be heard over the din of the noise.
"Yes, Milady. But I must inform you that you are not to leave until you are fully recovered from your accident."
She blinked at his words.
"Says who?"
He just stared at her.
Of course she knew who said so. She just wanted to hear it from him.
"I am leaving this place this morning. If he isn’t satisfied with that, then he can co here himself."
"Be careful what you ask for."
The voice sent a shiver down her stiff spine.
She spun on her heel and found herself looking into those dark eyes that filled her dreams.
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