Read Online The Warrior and the Petulant Princess by Maggie Carpenter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Maggie Carpenter
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and when he finished Handerah nodded in agreement, then let out a heavy sigh.
“It is an excellent plan. It’s no wonder your Prince made you a Commander. You are not just cunning, you are insightful. It saddens me greatly that Farris would wish to do me harm, it is stunning news, but you’re right, he must be dealt with. I owe you my life, Larian.”
“It is Lizbett to whom we are indebted, Sire. Were it not for her nose…”
“Yes, my beautiful, willful daughter,” he said warmly, turning to face her.
Lizbett had been sitting quietly, too unnerved by what had happened to do anything. She wanted to be next her father, to feel the power of the throne; sensing her trepidation the King leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“All is well, child. Do not fear, this will soon be over, sooner than you might expect.”
“Thank you, father. I do confess to feeling quite shaken.”
“You have a small task to perform. Are you up to it?”
“Of course,” she nodded, feigning a bravery she did not feel.
“It’s quite simple,” he smiled, and leaning in, whispered the instruction in her ear.
“Sire,” Larian said softly, recapturing the King’s attention when he’d finished talking to Lizbett, “you must keep her in sight. If there are other culprits not yet uncovered they may still try to take her. They may see her as a way out, a bargaining chip.”
“Yes, yes, you’re right, Larian. Never fear, until this business is over she will stay in my apartments.”
“I must send an urgent message to my Prince. If there is danger here, there may be danger in Zanderone as well. We do not know the extent of this treachery.”
“Yes, yes. When the ceremony is over. We must wait until then,” the King said solemnly. “Do you see that man, the one in the brown leather?” Handerah asked, nodding his head to the table opposite the one at which the plotters were seated.
“Yes, I see him.”
“He is the Commander of my personal guard, Lockley. He is drinking heavily. I don’t believe he would be downing so many goblets if he was involved. He would be watching, pretending to drink.”
“I agree, Sire, the man is happily at ease, it’s obvious.”
“You said the maiden named someone called Curullis?”
“Yes, Sire.”
“It must be Corilleus. There is no love lost between Corilleus and Lockley. When Lizbett has her accident, you must go to Lockley and tell him what’s happening. He is to slip away, find Corilleus and arrest him, and anyone with him. We can sort out the innocent from the guilty quickly enough.”
“This is a good plan,” Larian agreed. “No-one will think anything of me saying hello to a fellow warrior, especially your personal guard.”
“He must also send five of his most trusted men back here immediately to wait outside the doors for my call.”
During their exchange large platters of meat and fowl had been set upon the tables, along with boats of gravy; the King, Lizbett and Larian were sharing a single gravy bowl between them. The King was plating some meat, and Larian some fowl, when reaching for the wine bottle Lizbett ‘accidentally’ knocked the gravy bowl, sending it crashing to the floor. Handerah covertly glanced at Farris; the man’s face was ten shades of purple.
As the servants hurried to the table to clean up the mess, Larian used it as the excuse to wander across to introduce himself to Lockley. Meanwhile, back at the King’s table Lizbett told the servants to fetch the gravy boat that Farris and his three accomplices had been using.
“Ah, thank you,” Lizbett smiled, pouring the gravy across her meat.
Things settled back down, and the meal continued with some jesters juggling and some acrobats bouncing between the tables for entertainment. Every time Handerah glanced over at Farris and his cohorts, he saw only forced smiles and furrowed brows. When the platters and plates were finally cleared away and the entertainers had left the room the King rose to his
“It is an excellent plan. It’s no wonder your Prince made you a Commander. You are not just cunning, you are insightful. It saddens me greatly that Farris would wish to do me harm, it is stunning news, but you’re right, he must be dealt with. I owe you my life, Larian.”
“It is Lizbett to whom we are indebted, Sire. Were it not for her nose…”
“Yes, my beautiful, willful daughter,” he said warmly, turning to face her.
Lizbett had been sitting quietly, too unnerved by what had happened to do anything. She wanted to be next her father, to feel the power of the throne; sensing her trepidation the King leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“All is well, child. Do not fear, this will soon be over, sooner than you might expect.”
“Thank you, father. I do confess to feeling quite shaken.”
“You have a small task to perform. Are you up to it?”
“Of course,” she nodded, feigning a bravery she did not feel.
“It’s quite simple,” he smiled, and leaning in, whispered the instruction in her ear.
“Sire,” Larian said softly, recapturing the King’s attention when he’d finished talking to Lizbett, “you must keep her in sight. If there are other culprits not yet uncovered they may still try to take her. They may see her as a way out, a bargaining chip.”
“Yes, yes, you’re right, Larian. Never fear, until this business is over she will stay in my apartments.”
“I must send an urgent message to my Prince. If there is danger here, there may be danger in Zanderone as well. We do not know the extent of this treachery.”
“Yes, yes. When the ceremony is over. We must wait until then,” the King said solemnly. “Do you see that man, the one in the brown leather?” Handerah asked, nodding his head to the table opposite the one at which the plotters were seated.
“Yes, I see him.”
“He is the Commander of my personal guard, Lockley. He is drinking heavily. I don’t believe he would be downing so many goblets if he was involved. He would be watching, pretending to drink.”
“I agree, Sire, the man is happily at ease, it’s obvious.”
“You said the maiden named someone called Curullis?”
“Yes, Sire.”
“It must be Corilleus. There is no love lost between Corilleus and Lockley. When Lizbett has her accident, you must go to Lockley and tell him what’s happening. He is to slip away, find Corilleus and arrest him, and anyone with him. We can sort out the innocent from the guilty quickly enough.”
“This is a good plan,” Larian agreed. “No-one will think anything of me saying hello to a fellow warrior, especially your personal guard.”
“He must also send five of his most trusted men back here immediately to wait outside the doors for my call.”
During their exchange large platters of meat and fowl had been set upon the tables, along with boats of gravy; the King, Lizbett and Larian were sharing a single gravy bowl between them. The King was plating some meat, and Larian some fowl, when reaching for the wine bottle Lizbett ‘accidentally’ knocked the gravy bowl, sending it crashing to the floor. Handerah covertly glanced at Farris; the man’s face was ten shades of purple.
As the servants hurried to the table to clean up the mess, Larian used it as the excuse to wander across to introduce himself to Lockley. Meanwhile, back at the King’s table Lizbett told the servants to fetch the gravy boat that Farris and his three accomplices had been using.
“Ah, thank you,” Lizbett smiled, pouring the gravy across her meat.
Things settled back down, and the meal continued with some jesters juggling and some acrobats bouncing between the tables for entertainment. Every time Handerah glanced over at Farris and his cohorts, he saw only forced smiles and furrowed brows. When the platters and plates were finally cleared away and the entertainers had left the room the King rose to his
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