THE SPY
A dark heavy smoke fills the dim, noisy tavern and clogs my throat. How they expect me to sing when I can't even breathe is beyond me.
"Get singing, Minstrel," the innkeeper barks as he hurries by with a tray full of tankards of ale.
"Bard, I'm a bard," I reply to his back. "And my name is Rosc!" Of course he doesn't hear. I sigh and pick up my lute, attempting to sing in spite of the smoke.
After a few bars I start choking for obvious reasons. Why are taverns never smoke-free? I'm finding I prefer to sing out in the open, smokeless fields.
A well-endowed serving maid walks up. "Can I get you anything? Some ale perhaps?" She grins suggestively.
"Some ale," I reply. "Maybe something more later, honey."
The serving maid blushes and walks away. I must admit, I am a handsome by at times.
I once again begin to sing, though I seriously doubt anyone can hear over all the noise.
Bang!
The door bursts open and five soldiers walk in. Silence fills the tavern except for me and my lute. We continue playing. I recognize the soldiers as members of the City Guard under the direction of the Countess.
"We're looking for Rosc Kistren," the captain informs the crowd. He glares nastily at me.
I put down my lute and stand up. The soldiers are soft from easy living. I could take all five of them easily if I wanted to. It's not that I want trouble; I just have a job to do. "For what?" I challenge.
"For stealing the Countess' silver," the captain replies.
I recognize the signal word from the guard. That meant I needed to go along quietly or face the Countess' wrath later. "I didn't do it!" I protest anyway.
The captain doesn't look amused. "Tell it to the Countess."
I barrel into the guards in a vain attempt to knock them over. The guards subdue me easily. Of course, I let them. No need to get the Countess too upset. They tie ropes around my wrists and lead me to the door. I smile at the serving maid who is holding the ale she was bringing to me. "Keep the drink for yourself, love," I tell her. "I won't be needing it where I'm going."
The guards from a circle around me and march me out into the cold street. Once out, the guards loosen the ropes but don't take them off. After all, I am supposed to their prisoner. "You couldn't just come in and report could you?" the captain asks.
I grin. "How did the Countess know I was here already?"
"You may be her best spy, but you aren't the only one."
"D'you mean she spies on her spies?" I ask. Not that I don't know this. I've had to ditch a couple of the spies when I went back home to be myself. Not that I do that anymore. I've been the spy Rosc Kistren for three whole months now.
The captain nods. "What'd you do this time?"
"Stole the King's silver," I reply flippantly.
The captain grins back at me but doesn't say anything. After all, anyone could be watching and someone probably was. A couple of other guards chuckle under their breath.
Eventually, I end up at the Countess' palace. Its almost midnight now. I wish I were back in the tavern. Even the smoke would be preferable to the Countess in one of her moods. I'm taken straight to the Countess' office where she is waiting behind a large oak desk. I bow and take a seat. The Countess isn't one for formality, especially at midnight. The guard's leave us.
"You certainly took your time getting back," the Countess says icily, as soon as the door closed.
I sigh and prepare for a long night. "I was coming tomorrow. I had plans for tonight." I stretch into a sprawl in the large, overstuffed chair.
The Countess stands up suddenly. I breathe easier because this means that I am not going to get a lecture on promptness. "What did you learn?"
"The King is sick. He probably won't recover. Rumor is that he's been poisoned. Some say by Duke Cript, others by the Prince. I couldn't find out for sure."
"And the Prince? Any sign of him?"
I shake my head.
The Countess swore. "He's the best one for the throne. How can one man disappear like that? One would think that glowing hand of his would give him away."
"Maybe he's not near people or he's bandaging it," I suggest. I glance at my own bandaged hands. They have a non-contagious disease that isn't pleasant to look upon.
The Countess notices my glance. She changes the subject. "Who's the next best candidate for the throne?"
"Though none have the glowing diamond of the heir, Duke Cript is the strongest politically. He also has the best legal claim.
"Is he going for the throne?"
I nod. "He'll get it too. The Prince isn't likely to show up anytime soon. He'd be a fool to with all the accusations about him. If anything, he'll wait until his enemies are weaker."
"And that would be the Duke and his followers" the Countess says. "You're leaving on the morrow. You are to arrange a marriage for me to the Duke."
I blink. "I thought you wanted the Prince on the throne?"
"I will ruin the Duke and pave the way for my Prince," the Countess replies. She waves me out. "Go get a good night's sleep."
I nod and stand. I leave, bowing. On my way to the rooms that are mine when I choose to sleep in the palace, I chuckle. Everything I told the Countess was true. Not a word of it was speculation. I couldn't find the Prince because I know where he is. And I know that he won't be coming back for a while. I won't give away the Prince's hiding spot though. I'm as loyal to him as the Countess is.
I reach my room, close and lock the door. Once inside, I get ready for bed and undo my bandages. As I fall asleep, I feel grateful for such loyal supporters like the Countess who will pave my way back to the throne. In the dim room, my unbound right hand begins to glow softly.
A dark heavy smoke fills the dim, noisy tavern and clogs my throat. How they expect me to sing when I can't even breathe is beyond me.
"Get singing, Minstrel," the innkeeper barks as he hurries by with a tray full of tankards of ale.
"Bard, I'm a bard," I reply to his back. "And my name is Rosc!" Of course he doesn't hear. I sigh and pick up my lute, attempting to sing in spite of the smoke.
After a few bars I start choking for obvious reasons. Why are taverns never smoke-free? I'm finding I prefer to sing out in the open, smokeless fields.
A well-endowed serving maid walks up. "Can I get you anything? Some ale perhaps?" She grins suggestively.
"Some ale," I reply. "Maybe something more later, honey."
The serving maid blushes and walks away. I must admit, I am a handsome by at times.
I once again begin to sing, though I seriously doubt anyone can hear over all the noise.
Bang!
The door bursts open and five soldiers walk in. Silence fills the tavern except for me and my lute. We continue playing. I recognize the soldiers as members of the City Guard under the direction of the Countess.
"We're looking for Rosc Kistren," the captain informs the crowd. He glares nastily at me.
I put down my lute and stand up. The soldiers are soft from easy living. I could take all five of them easily if I wanted to. It's not that I want trouble; I just have a job to do. "For what?" I challenge.
"For stealing the Countess' silver," the captain replies.
I recognize the signal word from the guard. That meant I needed to go along quietly or face the Countess' wrath later. "I didn't do it!" I protest anyway.
The captain doesn't look amused. "Tell it to the Countess."
I barrel into the guards in a vain attempt to knock them over. The guards subdue me easily. Of course, I let them. No need to get the Countess too upset. They tie ropes around my wrists and lead me to the door. I smile at the serving maid who is holding the ale she was bringing to me. "Keep the drink for yourself, love," I tell her. "I won't be needing it where I'm going."
The guards from a circle around me and march me out into the cold street. Once out, the guards loosen the ropes but don't take them off. After all, I am supposed to their prisoner. "You couldn't just come in and report could you?" the captain asks.
I grin. "How did the Countess know I was here already?"
"You may be her best spy, but you aren't the only one."
"D'you mean she spies on her spies?" I ask. Not that I don't know this. I've had to ditch a couple of the spies when I went back home to be myself. Not that I do that anymore. I've been the spy Rosc Kistren for three whole months now.
The captain nods. "What'd you do this time?"
"Stole the King's silver," I reply flippantly.
The captain grins back at me but doesn't say anything. After all, anyone could be watching and someone probably was. A couple of other guards chuckle under their breath.
Eventually, I end up at the Countess' palace. Its almost midnight now. I wish I were back in the tavern. Even the smoke would be preferable to the Countess in one of her moods. I'm taken straight to the Countess' office where she is waiting behind a large oak desk. I bow and take a seat. The Countess isn't one for formality, especially at midnight. The guard's leave us.
"You certainly took your time getting back," the Countess says icily, as soon as the door closed.
I sigh and prepare for a long night. "I was coming tomorrow. I had plans for tonight." I stretch into a sprawl in the large, overstuffed chair.
The Countess stands up suddenly. I breathe easier because this means that I am not going to get a lecture on promptness. "What did you learn?"
"The King is sick. He probably won't recover. Rumor is that he's been poisoned. Some say by Duke Cript, others by the Prince. I couldn't find out for sure."
"And the Prince? Any sign of him?"
I shake my head.
The Countess swore. "He's the best one for the throne. How can one man disappear like that? One would think that glowing hand of his would give him away."
"Maybe he's not near people or he's bandaging it," I suggest. I glance at my own bandaged hands. They have a non-contagious disease that isn't pleasant to look upon.
The Countess notices my glance. She changes the subject. "Who's the next best candidate for the throne?"
"Though none have the glowing diamond of the heir, Duke Cript is the strongest politically. He also has the best legal claim.
"Is he going for the throne?"
I nod. "He'll get it too. The Prince isn't likely to show up anytime soon. He'd be a fool to with all the accusations about him. If anything, he'll wait until his enemies are weaker."
"And that would be the Duke and his followers" the Countess says. "You're leaving on the morrow. You are to arrange a marriage for me to the Duke."
I blink. "I thought you wanted the Prince on the throne?"
"I will ruin the Duke and pave the way for my Prince," the Countess replies. She waves me out. "Go get a good night's sleep."
I nod and stand. I leave, bowing. On my way to the rooms that are mine when I choose to sleep in the palace, I chuckle. Everything I told the Countess was true. Not a word of it was speculation. I couldn't find the Prince because I know where he is. And I know that he won't be coming back for a while. I won't give away the Prince's hiding spot though. I'm as loyal to him as the Countess is.
I reach my room, close and lock the door. Once inside, I get ready for bed and undo my bandages. As I fall asleep, I feel grateful for such loyal supporters like the Countess who will pave my way back to the throne. In the dim room, my unbound right hand begins to glow softly.