City of the Underground

Past and Present

The guard stood quietly beside Kaylana lost in thought. She thought he must have known something of Jonathan and Caitlin's love affair. He looked over at her in apprehension. He must have been worried she would be suspicious of her fiance's activities. Kaylana decided to spare him the awkward moment.

"Pleased to meet you Samuel. I am Kaylana."

He cleared his throat and answered, "The pleasure is mine highness." He gave a small bow.

"Samuel, it seems we are left to plan this ball together. Tell me, how many balls have you attended? And where shall we find this decorator?"

She looped her arm in his and gave him a bright smile. She thought if she was charming enough it might put him at ease. He seemed unsure how to react but finally began leading her through the long hallway that lead from the kitchen into the main hall.

"I've only been a guest at two." He answered promptly.

They found their way out of the narrow corridor into the bright and and open space of the main hall.

"They must have been very special then," Kaylana said with a smile.

They walked over to the far left where large glass windows stood almost to the ceiling. They were draped with wine red drapes that dropped down to the floor. Kaylana ran her finger along their ornate gold stitching. The cloth was surely silk. These windows opened on a hinge and led out to a large veranda. Past the veranda, a winding garden came into view with decorative stone benches lining the path. Lovers benches, Kaylana thought.

"Yes they were." Samuel smiled. "It was for Thomas' 18th birthday. The king had a string quartet set up at that corner." He pointed to the end of the veranda. "And inside were tables and tables of delicacies. There was also a second group of musicians inside. And there was a sea of people dancing. And plenty of drink and ale." Samuel smiled mischievously.

Kaylana imagined the large hall filled with opulent lords and ladies. Each maiden floating around in lavish gowns and the men handsomely pressed. The endless tables of food she had to look forward too, and all the scrutiny she would be under. The thought made her queasy.

"So you were close with Jonathan's brother?"

He turned his head and looked off past the garden and into tw distance. "Inseparable." He whispered. His brow furrowed as he lost himself in thought.

"May I ask what happened?"

Kaylana was curious about Jonathan's brother and what had become of him. She wondered if he was still alive.

Samuel kept his gaze aloof, looking into the past.

"We planned a trap for--" he paused and glanced at her quickly. "--some thieves who needed to be caught. We had laid everything out carefully, planning routes and ambushes. We had waited a long time to catch these scoundrels. Jonathan wanted to come, but Thomas insisted he stay behind. He was protective in that way. When we finally went out by night fall to lay in waiting, it turned out they had been ready. They were waiting for us and instead we were the ones taken by surprise."

Samuel leaned against the window with both hands pressed against them, holding himself up.

"Thomas was the first one they went for. He tried to fend them off, but they out numbered him. I tried to help but as soon as I rose up to fight I was knocked unconscious with a blow to the head. I woke up in the woods with a bloody knot on the back of my head and no one else around. Thomas, everyone, they were gone. "

Samuel's head hung low on his shoulders.

Kaylana stood by him silently. She tried to think of words of comfort but none would come. All she could imagine was what it would be like to lose her younger brother. What a lose it would be for their kingdom and thought she felt a small bit of the sorrow Samuel felt. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.