Chapter 11 Audryn
AUDRYN
Our carriage followed the long, winding path as we ascended the hill leading to the castle. The trail was lined with a variety of flowers and plants, all with petals that were some shade of blue. The breeze swept through, making them ripple like waves of the sea.
In the daylight, the white stone walls of the castle were far duller than I remembered. The stone itself had somehow changed, appearing dingy and in need of attention. Severe damage and deep cracks marred the facade—the building looked like it might crumble at any moment.
We lurched to a stop and the door swung open, exposing the cool morning air. A uniformed guard stood outside, hand extended in my direction. Foolishly, I’d expected Prince Sutton to greet me, yet he was nowhere in sight. With a look of disappointment, the man assessed me.
My beige dress wasn’t impressive, but it was one of the nicer ones I wore when working in the tavern.
The fitted top and waist were enough to draw the attention of lingering eyes, while the full length offered modesty for a conservative setting.
The mid-length sleeves partially exposed the expansive tattoo on my left forearm, but didn’t fully display the flowers and gray smoke crawling up to my shoulder.
“Something wrong?” I narrowed my eyes at the stumpy man, daring him to vocalize his assessment.
He shook his head. “No, Miss Audryn. Come with me.”
“Where’s the prince?” I cautiously took his hand and stepped out of the carriage.
“Unavailable.” He walked ahead of me and called over his shoulder. “He has more important matters to address.”
A second man carried my luggage, veering off with my belongings the minute we walked through the entrance.
“Wait, that’s mine!” I protested.
“They will be placed in your room and unloaded into the armoire,” the small man replied.
“No,” I complained, “I’ll unpack my own things. I don’t want others handling them. There are expensive clothes in there.”
My lie was obvious the moment it left my lips.
The molding around the castle door was probably worth more than all of my belongings.
Though there was one item in my luggage of value.
My father had opened a locked chest belonging to my mother and retrieved a gown I hadn’t ever seen her wear.
He’d given no context and told me to take it in case I needed something for a formal event.
Both men appraised me once more, suspicious of my statement. The first guard gave in. “Place her closed luggage in the assigned room.”
“Thank you,” I muttered, grateful to keep the vial of ipecac hidden. I’d had the forethought to strap Jaspar’s dagger to my thigh before leaving the house. Bringing my sword would have been ideal, but I wasn’t sure they’d let me through the gate with it.
We moved through the castle swiftly, taking turn after dizzying turn.
It would be challenging to find my way back to the main corridor on my own.
We walked through a set of doors leading into an open room.
Three women sat behind painting easels while a nude woman lay sprawled across a sofa at the front.
The woman remained posed, not allowing her eyes to roam and see who’d interrupted the creative session.
“What is it?” the woman in the center asked. Small braids were pinned in swirls around her head. She didn't bother to turn and remained focused on the model.
To her left, a woman with long red curly hair sat, skin tanned from either the sun or luck of heritage. Her purple dress billowed out at the hips, showing off her petite waist. She sat straight and poised as if she was bred to marry a royal from the start.
A golden-haired woman in a soft blue dress sat on the right. I knew it was Maris without needing her to turn. At that moment, I wished I’d brought another tomato to chuck at the back of her head for a second time.
“Princess Leanna, the last guest has arrived,” the guard spoke to the backs of the women.
The woman in the center stood and elegantly turned. I paused at the sight of her. Even wearing a muted gown devoid of lace and beads, she was as stunning as she had been at the ball. With crystal blue eyes and sun-soaked skin, she was undeniably the prince’s sister.
“Good morning. Audryn, right?” She didn’t wait for my answer. “Nice of you to finally join us.” Her words were proper, but the way she accented ‘finally’ revealed her annoyance. “You may call me Leanna in informal settings. You shall address me with title in a formal environment.”
“Okay—yes.” It was irritating just how nervous I was.
“I will be your point of contact for the entirety of your stay. Should you have any issues, you will address them with me. Inform the guard stationed in your corridor to request a meeting.”
I nodded.
“Allow me to introduce you to Allura and Maris.” The two women rose and flanked Leanna. “Over the next three weeks, you will get to know one another. That’s if you aren’t dismissed first.”
Maris rolled her eyes up to the wall, focusing above me. Allura offered a gentle smile, her fawn eyes as welcoming as the soil in my garden. They were both more suited for Prince Sutton than I was, and we all knew it. My time at the castle would be short, but I’d need to make the most of it.
An attendant entered the room carrying three plates brimming with fruit and cheeses. She set them on the small tables next to each stool and went to leave.
“I’m sorry, Miss, but I can’t eat oranges.” Allura’s voice was soft. “The last time I had citrus, I had a terrible reaction—nearly stopped breathing.” The woman chuckled nervously.
“Oh dear. Retrieve a new plate,” Leanna requested, “and send one up to Audryn’s room, she will be settling in.”
“Thank you.” I eyed the selection. The fruit was dry and sad compared to what my garden produced—or at least what it had before it was trampled.
“You’ll be notified of dinner, so take the afternoon to rest,” Leanna advised. Resting hadn’t crossed my mind when I’d barely just arrived. Before I could argue, she stepped away and returned to her seat.
I was guided down a flurry of halls and taken to my assigned room.
The bedroom was three times the size of mine, large enough for a small sofa near the window.
The bed and armoire were twice the size of what I had at home.
A bathing room adjoined my bedroom with another.
Various oils and perfumes lined the counter.
Whether they belonged to someone else or were there for me to use, I wasn’t told.
A large tub sat in the center, nearly long and deep enough for me to submerge myself entirely.
I unpacked my clothes and tucked away my bag with the small glass tube hidden inside.
Leaving it behind was risky, but it was more of a danger to keep the liquid on me.
If a guard found it, I’d be punished—maybe executed just for carrying it.
I was already taking a risk by keeping Jaspar's dagger strapped to my thigh.
Afternoon turned into evening and, before I knew it, a meal was delivered to me.
The attendant informed me dinner had been canceled, but offered no information as to why.
Before leaving, they asked if I had any food preferences or restrictions.
Not wanting to seem difficult on my first day there, I lied and said I ate everything.
I sat on the sofa and dug through the food.
I first tasted the thick slice of golden-crusted bread.
Topped with a pad of butter, it still wasn't as good as Benton's.
I poked at the rectangular hunk of ground meat, unsure at first. I couldn't quite identify which animal it came from, but at least it wasn't fish.
The fresh herbs made it tolerable. The roasted carrots and creamed potatoes lining the edge of the plate were the best part of the meal.
Exiting my room, tray in hand, I looked down the hall at the lonely guard standing at the end. Another tray sat on the floor in the hallway, the remaining contents stacked thoughtfully. Careful not to spill, I walked toward the dark-haired guard, sure to avoid eye contact.
“I … I’ll get somebody to take that from you,” he said, looking on in horror and interrupting my steady pace.
“No, it’s fine, I can clear my own dishes.” I scanned his uniform. “Guard Roark, will you please tell me how to get to the kitchen?” His demeanor was much calmer now than when we first met at the market.
He hesitated, but provided the directions I sought. Giving him a tight smile, I skittered away before he questioned his choice. If I could befriend the kitchen staff, maybe I’d get access to the king’s food; I’d only need a moment to pour ipecac into a drink or bowl of soup.
Three corridors later, I arrived at the doors of the bustling room. Dishes clanked and voices hummed behind the barrier. I set the tray down and straightened my dress.
Sucking in a breath, I picked up the tray and pushed through the door. Staff wearing white uniforms stopped to stare. One man wearing an enormous hat stepped forward with a faint sneer. Focus on the most difficult, and the others would follow, I reminded myself.
“Hello.” I dipped into a curtsy. “I’m Audryn and I’m staying—”
“I know who you are,” he interrupted. “What I don’t understand is why you’re standing in my kitchen, especially when we have meals to serve.”
Earning his friendship would be more of a challenge than I had expected. I lifted my tray. “I just wanted to return this. No need to make others clean when I’m capable of doing so myself, right?”
“Hmmm.” The male’s brow furrowed.
“The meat was delicious,” I said, attempting to find common ground between us. “I’m probably wrong, but was that saffron I tasted?” I knew it was saffron. It was an herb I’d grown but given up on because of the demanding amount of labor required for it to flourish.
“Indeed,” he said, his face softening slightly.
“I have a garden at home and dabbled with herbs, but my cooking is atrocious. I wasn’t able to use them as creatively as I would’ve liked, so I stick to fruits and vegetables now.”
The male waved a hand at the kitchen staff, and they returned to their tasks. He gently grabbed the tray and placed it on the counter. Carefully, he wiped his hands on the towel tucked into his waist.
“Which dishes do you have difficulty with?” he inquired.
“All of them." I forced a chuckle. "But I’d love to learn and maybe impress the prince by creating something for his father. Does the king have a favorite dish?”
The door swung open, and I turned to find Leanna and Allura standing at the threshold.
The princess tilted her head at me. Her hair had changed and was placed into an intricate swooping design high on the top of her head.
Multiple pieces crossed one another in a pattern similar to several pairs of laces up a boot.
“Well, this is … interesting,” Leanna drawled out and scanned between the man and me. “I hadn’t expected to see you here, Audryn.” My name was like a sugary venom on her lips.
“Yes, well,” I offered, searching for the reason I’d given to begin with, “I was …”
“Bringing the tray in from dinner,” the man said, completing my sentence for me. “She was polite enough to bring it down herself instead of taking up our staff's time.”
Leanna’s eyes looked at the tray and then darted to me. “It appears your task is complete.” She pursed her lips. “We are meeting my brother tomorrow afternoon if you’re available to do so, or shall I expect to find you with the gardener next? Perhaps trimming the roses?”
“I’ll be there,” I replied quickly, giving her a friendly grin, which she didn't return. Got it—winning her over with my shining personality wouldn’t work. I’d need to try a different tactic. Allura let out a heavy sigh and looked down the hall, clearly bored.
“We’re meeting in the sitting room at two o’clock. From there, we’ll walk down to the fighting ring to meet Prince Sutton.” Leanna scanned my clothes and gave me a sad smile. “Please be sure to dress appropriately for the occasion.”
“Yes, Princess Sutton.” I dipped into a bow.
“Audryn, this is not a formal occasion. Leanna will do,” she responded curtly before turning to leave.
The man chuffed behind me as the door shut, and I was certain he swore under his breath. He too noticed Leanna’s frustration with my presence.
“Thank you for that.” I dipped my chin.
“No need to thank me.” The man extended a hand. “The name is Draven, I’m the head chef. If you need anything, let me know.”
I didn’t want to ask for a favor immediately, but I also didn’t want to get sidetracked. “Actually,” I said, hesitating, “I’m looking for the library. Could you provide directions?”
“A woman who enjoys a good read—I like that.” He nodded and gave me the short list of turns.
“Thank you again for the delicious dinner. It was truly enjoyable.” I curtsied before turning and pushing out the kitchen doors.