in a way she’d never imagined. She
wanted to believe him, but could she?
“Should I have Echo bring you some breakfast?” she asked.
“No. The cook will have mine prepared. Would you like to
join me?”
“Yes, but I can see that you’re eager to get on with your
day and I still have to dress. Before you go, is there anything you would like
me to do? What duties are expected of me?”
“Talk to Alexa. She’ll show you everything. There are many
well-trained servants in this household, but you’re in charge whenever I’m
occupied, which is often. Most of my time is spent either with my advisors or
my men.”
“I’ll do my best to serve Lortia.”
Holding her gaze, he said, “I know you will.”
He rose and headed for the door, but paused to glance at her
over his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here, Delia.”
“So am I,” she admitted, though reluctantly. He seemed as
good a man as Rain and the guards had said, but she had only been here a day.
She refused to lose her heart too quickly. Areus would have
to earn her trust.
* * * * *
After dressing and eating the morning meal Echo had brought
to her room, Delia decided to explore the castle. She and Echo stopped in the
library, where they spoke to two scribes who not only cared for the king’s
impressive collection of books and scrolls, but also recorded events happening
in Lortia at the moment, both important and mundane.
Next they ventured to the great hall where servants went
about their work. Alexa joined them, and at Delia’s request, introduced her to
many servants around the castle. Unlike most women in her position, Delia
wanted to know the people around her. Living in the convent had taught her
humility and the value of hard work. The sisters had also taught her to respect
everyone, even those beneath her status. If her father had fully understood the
values the sisters instilled, he probably wouldn’t have sent her to the convent
at all—or perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered. When he’d packed her off, he’d
never expected to see her again or go through the trouble of finding a husband
for her.
By noon, they had completed a thorough tour of the castle and
Delia looked forward to meeting some of the villagers as well. Alexa ordered
three horses saddled. She, Echo and Delia rode out of the gates, accompanied by
Cyril and Eli again. Apparently Areus had ordered them to escort Delia should
she leave the castle grounds.
Delia had been wary of riding at first. In the past she had
taken short walks on one of two mules kept by the sisters. Access to a vast stable
was new to her and she looked forward to learning to ride better.
“Don’t worry. Clive is probably the gentlest in our stable,”
Alexa said. “And quite old. Queen Cosma, Areus’s mother, used to ride him
often.”
“Will the King mind me riding her?” Delia asked.
“No. He’ll be glad of it. He likes to keep all the horses
exercised and well cared for.”
They rode by a large blacksmith shop and armory with many
workers. Passing by houses with women working in gardens, scrubbing laundry and
minding children, Delia smiled and waved. She stopped several times to speak to
the villagers who seemed surprised, but not nearly as much as if a member of
the royal family in Prem had acted in the same way.
Before heading into the more thickly settled part of the
city, Delia glanced toward a field planted with a variety of vegetables. A
long, narrow storage house stood nearby with bins filled with various fruits, vegetables,
clothing and blankets.
“What’s that?” Delia asked. “Surely not the market?”
“No,” Alexa said. “It’s the community house, as we call it.
It was Areus’s idea. Villagers pitch in to help plant and harvest the field.
Wealthier citizens, instead of discarding old clothes, send them here. Anyone
who needs assistance—the old, sick and widowed—can come to the community house
to take what they need.”
“Charity,” Delia said.
“Yes,
wanted to believe him, but could she?
“Should I have Echo bring you some breakfast?” she asked.
“No. The cook will have mine prepared. Would you like to
join me?”
“Yes, but I can see that you’re eager to get on with your
day and I still have to dress. Before you go, is there anything you would like
me to do? What duties are expected of me?”
“Talk to Alexa. She’ll show you everything. There are many
well-trained servants in this household, but you’re in charge whenever I’m
occupied, which is often. Most of my time is spent either with my advisors or
my men.”
“I’ll do my best to serve Lortia.”
Holding her gaze, he said, “I know you will.”
He rose and headed for the door, but paused to glance at her
over his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here, Delia.”
“So am I,” she admitted, though reluctantly. He seemed as
good a man as Rain and the guards had said, but she had only been here a day.
She refused to lose her heart too quickly. Areus would have
to earn her trust.
* * * * *
After dressing and eating the morning meal Echo had brought
to her room, Delia decided to explore the castle. She and Echo stopped in the
library, where they spoke to two scribes who not only cared for the king’s
impressive collection of books and scrolls, but also recorded events happening
in Lortia at the moment, both important and mundane.
Next they ventured to the great hall where servants went
about their work. Alexa joined them, and at Delia’s request, introduced her to
many servants around the castle. Unlike most women in her position, Delia
wanted to know the people around her. Living in the convent had taught her
humility and the value of hard work. The sisters had also taught her to respect
everyone, even those beneath her status. If her father had fully understood the
values the sisters instilled, he probably wouldn’t have sent her to the convent
at all—or perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered. When he’d packed her off, he’d
never expected to see her again or go through the trouble of finding a husband
for her.
By noon, they had completed a thorough tour of the castle and
Delia looked forward to meeting some of the villagers as well. Alexa ordered
three horses saddled. She, Echo and Delia rode out of the gates, accompanied by
Cyril and Eli again. Apparently Areus had ordered them to escort Delia should
she leave the castle grounds.
Delia had been wary of riding at first. In the past she had
taken short walks on one of two mules kept by the sisters. Access to a vast stable
was new to her and she looked forward to learning to ride better.
“Don’t worry. Clive is probably the gentlest in our stable,”
Alexa said. “And quite old. Queen Cosma, Areus’s mother, used to ride him
often.”
“Will the King mind me riding her?” Delia asked.
“No. He’ll be glad of it. He likes to keep all the horses
exercised and well cared for.”
They rode by a large blacksmith shop and armory with many
workers. Passing by houses with women working in gardens, scrubbing laundry and
minding children, Delia smiled and waved. She stopped several times to speak to
the villagers who seemed surprised, but not nearly as much as if a member of
the royal family in Prem had acted in the same way.
Before heading into the more thickly settled part of the
city, Delia glanced toward a field planted with a variety of vegetables. A
long, narrow storage house stood nearby with bins filled with various fruits, vegetables,
clothing and blankets.
“What’s that?” Delia asked. “Surely not the market?”
“No,” Alexa said. “It’s the community house, as we call it.
It was Areus’s idea. Villagers pitch in to help plant and harvest the field.
Wealthier citizens, instead of discarding old clothes, send them here. Anyone
who needs assistance—the old, sick and widowed—can come to the community house
to take what they need.”
“Charity,” Delia said.
“Yes,