The Fallen World

House Konnen - Part 5

     Large though the mansion was, it took them just a couple of hours to explore all the parts they were allowed into and now, as they wandered around despondently, they kept coming to places they’d seen before, bringing home to them the truth of Diana’s words; that although their prison was larger and more luxurious than Shaun and Matthew’s, it was a prison nonetheless.

     As they were going past the banqueting hall, though, they happened to see an elderly lady inside, dressed in the rich and ornate clothes of the nobility, and guessed that she was another family member, probably Lord Basil’s mother or aunt or something. She was supervising a small army of maids and housemen who were busily laying out cutlery and table decorations, and as they watched she gave a smack on the head to a maid who was laying out place names, knocking her blue and white hat onto the floor.

     “No no no Tinny!” she scolded. “How many times must I tell you? Edward and Philip are to be placed apart until they get over their silly quarrel. Go and put him over there.”

     The maid curtsied, picked up her hat and hurried off to obey.

     Diana dashed inside before the others could stop her, ran over to the old lady and curtsied before her as she turned around in surprise. “Pardon the interruption, mistress,” said the cleric, “but I would like to beg a favour from you, if I may.”

     The old woman took a pair of spectacles from one of the pockets of her dress and, with infinite dignity, held them up in front of her eyes by their long handle to look down at the young cleric. “And who are you?” she asked in puzzlement. “I don’t know you, do I? Are you the new maid I asked for? And who are these others?” She looked behind her at the others, who were waiting anxiously to see what would happen.

     “No, mistress,” replied Diana. “We’re, er, new to his Lordship’s household and will soon be helping him to fight his enemies, you know who I mean.”

     “Ah, yes, those naughty Traldians,” said the old lady, putting her spectacles away again. “Good for you, what brave people you must be. I had no idea he was making soldiers of girls now, though. Is that the done thing these days?”

     “No, mistress,” replied Diana. “I’m just a healer. I tend to the wounded. I don’t fight.”

     “Oh, I see,” said the old lady. “Yes, of course, the wounded. Isn’t war a nasty business. Why do people always have to fight each other? If only they could learn to get on together, the city would be a much better place. Don’t you agree?”

     “Oh absolutely!” agreed Diana enthusiastically. “War is a terrible thing! I can see that you’re a woman of great wisdom and sensitivity.”

     “Thank you, my dear,” said the old lady, beaming. “What a polite young lady you are. I can see we’re going to be very good friends. We must talk again very soon. At the moment, though, I’m afraid I have a banquet to prepare so you’ll have to excuse me.” She began to turn away, dismissing them from her mind.

     “Er, excuse me, mistress,” said Diana, raising her voice a little, “but I wanted to beg a favour from you. Do you mind?”

     “Ah yes,” replied the old lady, turning back. “I’m sorry, but my memory’s not what it was. When I’m concentrating on one thing, everything else tends to be crowded out. It’ll have to be quick, though, as I have very little time. You can see how busy I am.” She indicated the maids bustling around the table, all of whom seemed to know exactly what they were doing without the need for any supervision.

     “Yes, mistress,” agreed Diana. “This won’t take a moment, I promise. It’s just that when we first came here, there were six of us, but Lord Basil threw my brothers into the dungeons and I haven’t seen them since. I’ve been told that I can’t see them unless I get permission, so I was hoping that you could tell the guards that I can see them. Please?”