7. Chapter Seven #2
“Fine! Starve! Back to the rules. You are allowed in all areas of my castle that are not closed off by black doors. If I find you have broken this rule, I will lock you in your room for the remainder of your stay.”
“Anything else?”
“You are to eat breakfast with me every day, and I will discuss fighting techniques with you. Not because I have any desire for you to survive, but it would be advantageous to never deal with Lazzus again.”
“For a moment, I thought your stone heart may have cracked a little,” I say.
“I may very well kill you at the end of this, so nothing should be mistaken for warmth on my part.”
“That would never be an issue.”
He glances out the window at the storm’s fury. “I’d advise you not to wander too far from my castle, but if you wish to go outside, the servants have warmer clothes that will prevent you from freezing before you can become useful.”
“You don’t seem to care if I freeze while I sleep, so I’m surprised you’d offer me winter protection.”
He sips from his silver goblet and sets it back on the table. “You won’t freeze in the tower, but it will toughen you.”
“You don’t think I’m already tough?”
“We have many mirrors around the castle for you to see that for yourself.”
“You’re an ass,” I say.
“You speak to a king that way!”
“I speak to you how you deserve to be spoken to.” I shove my chair back, but it’s stone and heavy, making it difficult to show my disdain with the action.
“We aren’t done with breakfast.”
“And what will you do if I don’t comply?”
“As I said, you will be locked in your room.”
Defiance rises in me, but I need to have access to the castle grounds to find the objects. I cross my arms and slide back into my chair, and it takes a good amount of effort to scoot my chair close enough to the table. I eat some fruit and a couple of biscuits with honey.
My chest aches as I look at the bounty and how I wish I could send it all back to my family and the villages. The food he’s set out for one meal is more than we have for the entire winter. His greed sickens me.
When he decides I’ve eaten enough, he dismisses me with the flick of his hand. “You may go.”
I rush from the room and turn in the opposite direction from my bedroom tower.
It doesn’t take me long to find one of the forbidden black doors, and my fingers tingle as I restrain myself from opening it.
It would be locked, wouldn’t it? I take a few steps toward it but stop when bony feet tap against the cream marble floors.
A servant in all purple, except for the green top hat, appears around a corner. His skull is enormous, but it’s difficult to distinguish what animal he once was. The only beast large enough is perhaps a bear, and so I decide that’s what he is.
He bows low, removing his hat dramatically while whistling. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a lady in the castle. Fredrickson is my name. You’ve probably heard me mentioned?”
“I have not, but I am pleased to meet you. When was the last time a lady was in the castle?”
His fingers are flat at the top and above them form enormous grey claws, and he taps the bottom of his snout with one. “It’s difficult to recall how long it’s been. My mind is a bit foggy on the subject. Lazzus must be awake.”
“He is. That is my fault.”
“It is always the lady’s fault but never done on purpose. How long are you able to stay?”
I point out the round window. “Until all that snow melts.”
“Oh! I hope we’re in for a winter’s worth, then.”
A limber bird flaps its bony arms like it wants to fly, despite having no feathers for assistance.
Its long beak resembles that of a crane.
“A lady! I’d heard rumors one had arrived in the castle.
We are so very pleased to have you. Please let us know if we can do anything to make your stay more comfortable.
” Her voice is high, with a slight crackle caught in her throat.
I quickly bow to her. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“What room has the master put you in? Is it the sunflower room? Or maybe the rose room?”
“Unless either of those is a damp, cold tower, neither.”
She brings her hand to her beak. “He didn’t! What is the name of this time’s lady?”
“I am Neera and am pleased to meet you.”
“Such a pretty name. I am Caldra, and I will speak to the master right away about getting you a better room. He’s such a brute.”
“He’s tired of the curse and has taken that frustration out on poor Neera,” Fredrickson says.
I squint as I look between them both. “It's not like he's had to deal with it that long. Is he so impatient that he tires after only a day?”
“Patience is not a strength of the king. He thinks the entire thing isn’t something he should worry about.
The Zyon line never learns from the previous, as everything is discussed to end the curse the next time.
Yet, things are never learned from.” Fredrickson bows with his top hat pressed against his chest. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Neera. Please tell us if you need anything at all.”
The crane hooks her arm in the bear’s enormous arm, and they walk away together.
I look around to see if anyone else is close and inch toward the black door.
I turn the knob, and it clicks open. It’s possible they forgot to lock one of them, but when I find two more black doors also unlocked, it becomes puzzling.
If the cold king wanted to keep me out of forbidden areas, he did a poor job of it.
It would be his fault if temptation became too great and I find myself wandering restricted areas.
Don’t look him in the eyes!
Don’t do that! No, no, no.
I stomp my ears as though that will help quiet the voices clearly coming from inside my head. “And here I thought you’d left me.”
Never, never, never.