Cassarah
It was an easy flight to the summer house, full of beautiful scenery I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else in our kingdoms. My guardians stuck close while the others hung back in formation like the trained mercenaries they were.
When we got to the summer home, it wasn’t a home but another castle, just smaller.
It was three stories high and spread out more like an estate, but still far larger than anyone really needed.
Surrounding the summer castle were farmlands with cattle roaming the fields, making a rather picturesque visual.
It gave me some peace of mind that there weren’t too many people close by to the summer castle so innocents wouldn’t be slaughtered when the fight inevitably broke out.
I could see from my vantage point the queen was already there, her carriage being pushed into the stables for safekeeping.
With the much more open landscape, I landed along with the others of my guard all at once.
Servants came running from the castle to assist where needed, but I brushed them off, not needing to be fussed over.
I handed off my personal luggage but kept my sword, strapping it to my hip.
It had been a few months since I felt the weight of it, but it served as a reminder of our purpose here.
“This is what they call a summer home?” Cole muttered under his breath.
Paxton snorted, trying to keep from laughing as we entered the front gates to the castle courtyard. The gravel crunched under our feet, making it impossible to sneak in, which was helpful.
“Where are they going to put all of our men?” Abbott questioned, looking around the property.
“King Thomas told me there was an old barracks down the way they maintained in case there was ever a need to retreat out here. It isn’t much, but they will have meals provided and a place to sleep.
They will be taking shifts guarding the castle, so we can keep some loyal people around us,” I explained.
The guys all nodded, but May didn’t look pleased at all. “So, are the guards who are normally stationed here also going to be on watch? How is this going to work, blending the two?”
“I plan to talk to the head guard here and have them split who will be watching when and where. If we can have one group inside and another outside, then it will be flipped when the shift change happens,” I shared, pausing to look at them all.
“My hope is they won’t feel like we are stepping on their toes but afford us the protection we actually need.
Our biggest challenge will be not tipping off those who work for Henry.
They can’t know until it’s too late what we’re really up to. ”
“Cassarah, everything about this is a huge risk, and your men might be willing to bend to your requests, but just know I’m not going to be so easily swayed,” May challenged. “You and those babies you’re carrying are my responsibility, and I will do what is needed to protect you all.”
“I would expect nothing less, May, but all I ask is that if you have a problem with my choices, you speak to me directly about it,” I countered. “There will be no questioning my authority in front of the enemy. It can wait until we’ve removed ourselves from the situation.”
May gave a sharp nod. “That I can abide by unless it will put you in immediate danger.”
“Fair enough,” I said, offering my hand to her.
Grinning at me, she shook my hand before pulling me in for a hug.
“Ah, we made a mercenary out of you despite your noble upbringing. Never give into the first offer, always negotiate for better terms, but never forget to shake on it, or the deal is null and void. You make me proud to be part of your family, Cassarah.”
I laughed and hugged her back. It wasn’t often she allowed such obvious affection, and I wasn’t going to waste the moment. With a slap on the back, she let me go, still grinning, and headed toward the castle, expecting us to follow.
“What in the world was that?” Dayson asked, his expression shocked. “That woman never says anything nice, let alone give hugs.”
“Guess you just need to be special,” I teased, grabbed his arm, and tugged him to follow after her. “May is unlike anyone you’ll meet, and to be considered her family is one of the biggest compliments I think I’ve ever received.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Day muttered. “Once you’re family, she no longer feels the need to protect your self-esteem.”
“I love that she speaks her mind. It lets me know exactly where I stand with her, and that is something you don’t get often in this world,” I stated as we walked up the steps to the castle.
“We’ll just see about that a few years down the road,” Day warned.
The interior of the castle was far more relaxed than the one we just left. Oddly enough, it felt more like a home—a space to be lived in—not just presented as a show of status. Hundreds of windows let in the afternoon light, making the space warm and inviting.
“Your Majesty,” an older woman said as she bowed before me.
“I am Lady Blanch, and I run this estate for their majesties when they are not here. If you should need anything while you are staying with us, please don’t hesitate to ask.
I’ve been informed of your situation personally and physically so that I might be able to assist where I can.
There is a wing of the castle I’ve set up that will be for just you, your consorts, and ladies while you sequester here for your pregnancy. ”
My hands immediately went to my stomach as she spoke, feeling the need to shield them from her judgment. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that I had more than one partner or if she just was this blunt with everyone she interacted with.
“The queen has retired for the afternoon to rest. Carriage travel has always been hard on her,” Lady Blanch informed me as she clapped her hands together.
A young woman scurried from somewhere to appear at Lady Blanch’s side. “Yes, m’lady?”
“Would you escort Queen Cassarah and her companions to the room in the west wing we prepared?” Lady Blanch requested, even though we all knew she wasn’t asking.
The woman bobbed into a curtsy and set off, assuming we would follow.
The rooms were on the second floor, and we passed many sitting rooms, game rooms, and I believe what I might guess to be a library.
We were moved along so quickly I couldn’t be certain.
This castle was fully functional and could be used full-time if they ever wished to.
Having more than one didn’t make sense, but I was fine with the simple life.
We were led to a massive set of double doors the girl struggled to push open, revealing a long hall with various doors on either side. The hall ended in floor-to-ceiling windows, facing out onto the kingdomside.
“This whole wing is yours. All the rooms have been prepared, so feel free to choose where you’d like to stay. There is a dining room, two sitting rooms, bathing chamber, and a veranda that leads down into the gardens,” the woman informed us before she bobbed another curtsy and went on her way.
The guys ventured down the hall, opening all the doors and checking the rooms as I waited with May and Becka.
I promised I would let them do this, especially in this place, since we didn’t know who to trust. Feeling uneasy, I looked back at the doors, noticing that they could be locked from the outside, and the inside didn’t have a way to open it again.
“May, why do I feel like they put us in this wing for more reasons than to give us space?” I asked quietly, knowing that in old castles, the walls had ears.
She looked around calmly as if taking in the space, stepping over to a wall hanging that portrayed a group of hunters out chasing a buck. Pulling back the corner of it revealed a door, but there was no way to open it from this side. It could only be pushed open from the other side.
“Seems they are fine with things entering this wing… just not leaving again. This is not going to be a space where we can relax, I’m sorry to say.
I think it would be best if we keep this to ourselves and not mention it to the queen.
She will only stir up more trouble with her good intentions,” May shared as she stood next to me once more.
“That sword better be your new and fervent companion.”
I nodded, understanding what she was alluding to.
While I was always armed with my Birthright, this would help others to understand I was not to be messed with.
The feeling that crawled along my skin, making my hair stand on end, told me this was the Lost King’s home, and he ruled here whether he was present or not.
“All clear,” Zan called from the end of the hall. “The rooms remind me of our home, much less about show and more about comfort,” he shared as he walked up to us, Ezzu flying around him, chattering her excitement.
I smiled and took the hand he offered, seeing how excited he was to show me through the space.
The first room was one of the sitting rooms, and across the way was the dining room.
Both were simple yet welcoming, not at all austere in their decoration.
Then started the bedrooms. Clearly, there were more than we needed, but it was nice to know it would just be us.
The bathing chamber was like home, more of a community space for us all to use instead of individual ones.
“There is only one room that would work for you,” Zan commented as we approached the last door. “It has the biggest bed and sitting area for us to hang out in.”
Everyone else agreed since they were all there relaxing and chatting, pouring drinks from the pitchers of wine and snacking off the trays filled with food.
At first glance, one might think we were totally unaware of what was going on around us, but I knew them well enough to see the watchful glances.
They might have looked relaxed and enjoying themselves, but they were incredibly aware we were in enemy territory.