Warlord's Ward

A Retrieval Attempt

Warlord walked over and opened the door. Giving me a clear view of the tower stairs.

"Go little maid. Straight down." He pointed.

"Then straight up." He pointed outward toward a floor parallel to the tower.

"Third chamber on the left. Red and gold. Make certain," He emphasized the word. "He is not there."

"What does the book look like?"

"I don't know. But old, I'd imagine."

"How will you know which spell?"

"I will know."

"But if he finds you. I need you to shriek like you intend for the ceiling to collapse. Don't you dare hold your silence." His face grew hard.

"Why?"

"Because many women have, and no one even knew what happened to them in that room."

"I'll not let that happen to you."

I bobbed my head in understanding. Startled to feel loose flesh below my chin wobble and a mop of brown curls dance around my face. I ducked my head and linked my hands before my waist. Quickly making my way down the stairs.

I heard Warlord shift out of the chamber to watch me from the doorway. I could physically feel his apprehension.

Be careful. I could literally feel him willing me.

***

I went down to the foyer and spotted the beautiful blue carpeting with gold tassels that indicated the route up to the second floor. Clutching the railing in a white knuckled grip. I stayed far right on the stairs as I saw other maids doing while they scurried up and down. Their arms laden with bedding or chamber pots or boxes.

I speeded up to more closely match their pace. Keeping my eyes averted. Occasionally a knight in heavy armor would go clanking past me.

I made my way on hesitant feet. Reaching the third chamber on the left I touched the handle and the door eased open on well-greased hinges. Revealing an ornate chamber. All the furniture and tapestries were gilded. The room was immaculate from constant cleaning.

I wondered which maids cleaned in here.

Warlord had made it sound like they were all too petrified to come near it.

My question was answered when I heard a clink which drew my attention to a footman collecting a few items in a corner, and readjusting bottles on a dressing stand. As if someone had tossed them off in a rage.

Only men clean here. It gave me an eerie feeling.

The footman began to turn, and I dropped to my knees on the floor and crawled behind the bed. Surprised by how slow I moved and how awkward each dragging knee seemed.

I'm not used to moving the extra weight.

Scurrying along the side of it before tucked beneath it. Finding myself getting stuck when my belly wouldn't quite go under the side. I sucked in a breath and tried to flex my stomach muscles beneath the extra skin to tuck it in. Then roughly scooted sideways. Jerking underneath and sliding sideways some.

I stilled. Watching the feet of the footman and hoping he didn't turn.

He seemed oblivious. Shuffling side to side.

I caught a horrible, metallic odor that made me wrinkle my nose. I reached up to physically plug it to try to block out the reek that was tainting my over-sensitized nose.