Free A Tale of Two Princesses by V. Ashenden Page A

Court said with a smile. "I am so looking forward to breakfast."
         "We shall make it special then, your highness."
         "Goodnight," Court said, passing into the room. He sat down heavily on the bed, sighing. It had been a long ride. But no sooner had he taken off his boots that Wellington began knocking. He knew it was Wellington because Wellington always knocked until he got his answer. "Yes, yes, Wellington! Stop rapping on the door! You'd think there's a fire!"
         Wellington came in. "Sir, I believe we are victims of price gouging, highway robbery, an arm and a leg!"
         "What are you on about?"
         "The owner of this property is charging us an outrageous sum of two hundred silver pieces per room! These rooms are not worth fifty!"
         "Wellington?"
         "Yes, your highness?"
         "I'm exhausted. I am about to marry and so inherit all that I have surveyed. Do you think I care if a few pieces of silver are spent at a tavern? Let me sleep."
         "Very well, your highness. I will have two men standing guard outside at all times."
         "Do that, Wellington."
     
    * * *
     
         Sienna woke up to the sun coming in through her window. She yawned a nice long yawn, stretching out her arms and legs, not bumping into a stall, not picking straw out of her hair, no smell of horses in her nose. This was paradise, serving here in the castle. Oh, how she wished it could go on forever.
         She climbed up, leaning against her window sill, taking in a deep breath, the salty sea air filling her lungs. She looked out over that dark blue horizon, the sky brightening with each passing minute. How content would she be to live here for the rest of her life, never to be beaten or cursed at or sold for a night of pleasure? But then she was forgetting. It was her last day today. At the end of the night...it was over. Would they let her sleep here and return home in the morning, or would they send her off straight away?
         "You're awake?" Kathree said, opening her door. "Well, come on then."
         "Yes, ma'am."
         "Shush!" Kathree said. "How many times must I remind you of what the princess said? You are mute! You will only nod. Do you understand?
         Sienna nodded.
         "Good. Get on down to the kitchen then. Bring up the firewood. Juice the oranges."
         Sienna dressed as quickly as she could in her uniform, scurrying down to the kitchens, bringing up the wood, lighting the fires. Betilly made her breakfast, as always, and she ate it as she worked, juicing with one hand. Then she was set to the task of washing the dishes from last night's dinner service.
         Soon, the servers came to take food to everyone in the castle. The servers were mostly young boys, all hurriedly coming and going. She stole peeks at them as she washed. She was not used to seeing boys her own age, as so many who visited the tavern were older men, travelers mostly. Homa came down to say hello and collect the princess' breakfast, and Sienna returned a polite smile and a nod, pretending to be as mute as ever. She averted her eyes when Vrine came, after serving her with a bow of the head, that is.
         "Still have that wretch working in here, I see," she said.
         "Only for the day, Madam Vrine," Betilly said. "Truly, I'll miss her, such a help, and being mute, she never, ever complains."
         "Hmm, mute servants," Vrine said. "What a perfect idea."
         The dishes kept coming, returned from morning service. Sienna washed them all. She didn't even have to eat the scraps. It was all in the trash. Her uncle would have been horrified.
         Afterward, they were set on the task of lunch. Betilly had taught Sienna how to chop onions, carrots, tomatoes and a few other things properly. She enjoyed chopping. There was something so simple but so complicated about it, how each piece had to match the size of the last.
         "Well, at least you can dice