𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲 | Choni

Six

There was a commotion on the steps of the palace that caused the family’s lunch to be interrupted by a guard.

The girls and their mother had been ordered by their father to stay inside, but he never stated to stay where inside. From where they stood in the doorway they could hear and see all.

The King and his Guard stood at the bottom of the palace steps as a Riverdallian man stood over a Serpent man whose hands had been crudely bound behind his back.

“What is the meaning of this?” Clifford demanded standing tall.

The Riverdallian man gave a bow before gesturing down to the man at his feet, “This excuse of a man was caught stealing food from my stores.”

“Who does this man answer to?” Clifford asked calmer.

“That would be me also.” The man reported as he clutched his hat in his hands.

The girls could only think that this man must be providing poor living conditions for him to steal from him so blatantly. They’re sure their father was thinking the same.

The Serpent man wouldn’t look the King in the face as he sat quivering on the stone slabs.

“What punishment would you see fit my King?” The man asked for justice to be served.

“Punishment?” Clifford couldn’t believe that this man wanted to punish the visibly starved man for wanting to feed himself.

“He’s been caught stealing from a hard-working Riverdallian man, Sir. What would you like done with him?” General Mattias prompted when the King failed to step into the role the Riverdallian man was expecting.

Clifford looked to his General who gave him a small nod. “Oh, yes. We’ll see he is rightfully disciplined for his actions. He will be returned to you in one month.”

“Thank you, your Majesty.” The man looked a little puzzled but gave a bow and made his exit.

“Mattias, let’s bring him into the castle.” The King asked his guard when the other man was out of earshot and sight.

Without question, the soldier gently helped the man up along with the King. They escorted him passed the Queen and the Princesses.

“Let’s take him to the dining hall.” Clifford said as they moved down the hall. This prompted Cheryl to open the dining hall doors for the group.

They sat him in the King’s chair and he flinched as Mattias drew his sword to cut away his binding.

“Please eat, you must be starving” The King gestured to the spread in front of him left on the table from the family lunch.

The females of the household watched from the doorway in awe. This man was far removed from his father before him.

The King turned to his wife and addressed her, “Penelope, what do you say about giving this man a room in the guest wing?”

Penelope smiled at her husband, “I say that it’s a perfect idea and the girls and I will prepare the room now.” She ushered her daughters away from the doorway.

They followed their mother out of the room and up the stairs to one of the guest rooms, collecting linen supplies on their way. In no time the room was ready for its new occupant. Cheryl was deeply impressed by her parents’ attitude to this man’s situation and was proud to be their daughter.

They’d just finished putting some wildflowers in a vase when a knock sounded before the King opened the door accompanied by Mattias and the Serpent man.

“This is Samson. He is going to be staying here for a little while. I hope we can all keep this to ourselves please.” The King looked around the room with an almost stern look in an attempt to convey how serious the situation was.

A chorus of, “Yes Father”, “Of course”, and “Thank you” were then heard from the small gathering of people. This was a King to be proud of, looking after his people the best he could.

“Now I’m afraid you won’t be able to leave this room too often, but we will bring you everything you’ll need to be comfortable and in the meantime, I’ll see what I can do about the man that brought you here.” Clifford finished in thought of what he could do for this man, but a promise was a promise.

“I’ll forever be in your debt for this kindness you have shown to me.” Samson bowed his head to the King next to him after he’d looked around the more than adequate room.  He’d never experienced such splendour.

“It is me who is indebted to you. It’s because of my father that you suffer such a fate as this. Now rest up and we’ll bring you some supper later.” The King turned to everyone else and ushered them out of the room to leave Samson to settle in and get some much-needed rest.

When they were back downstairs and Mattias had been informed to not let anyone; Riverdallian or Serpent, in that part of the castle the King turned to Cheryl and Elizabeth, “We can’t let anyone know that Samson is here. We wouldn’t want to put his life in danger.”

Cheryl didn’t quite know what her father meant by that but knew she didn’t want to find out either. She and her sister both nodded sombrely.

“Perfect. Both of you please get on with your day, your mother and I will see you for dinner.”

They didn’t need telling twice. Elizabeth soon disappeared and Cheryl found herself wandering back to the dining hall to see if she could catch a glimpse of Toni.

No sign of her in there and all evidence of lunch had been cleared away already. Maybe she was in the kitchen. The Princess again used her knowledge of the castle to easily find her way down to the kitchens undetected in search of her friend.

She managed to sneak her way into the small scullery and found whom she’d been seeking. The slightly shorter girl had her back to her and was elbows deep in suds as she scrubbed at the pans before her. She seemed quite oblivious to the red-haired royal behind her.

With very little thought for protocol and royal conduct, the Princess threw her hands over the Serpent girl’s eyes, “Guess who?”

Toni shrugged her off unable to use her hands, “Cheryl, you shouldn’t be down here.” She didn’t sound like her usual happy self.

“What’s wrong? What’s happened?” Cheryl asked as she watched the brunette dry her hands and turn to her.

“I heard about the man who stole the bread.”

“What about him?” Cheryl raised an eye brow, she was wondering what it was that Toni had heard.

“Like how he’s going to be punished just for trying to feed himself after your people starved him half to death!” Toni was beginning to raise her voice in utter disbelief and almost disgust. She knew it wasn’t the Princess’ fault, but she was part of the monarchy that was causing all this grief.

“That’s not wha…”

The Serpent woman cut her off, “I think you should go your Highness before they notice you’re missing.” Missing from what she didn’t know, but she couldn’t face her right now.

Cheryl didn’t argue. Toni had all the right to say such things. It was her people. Cheryl's own grandfather caused her to grow up here in Riverdale and not under the sky in Sunnyside; where she belonged. She was going to try and make it up to Toni, anyway she could.

Toni knew it was never good to pay too much attention to the gossip between the Serpents in the castle, but the hurt felt by the apparent treatment of one of their own by the King was too much to ignore.

Deep down she knew Cheryl had nothing to do with it; you can’t choose your family, but she couldn’t face the girl when it was so apparent that they came from different worlds.

Cheryl couldn’t bear the thought of Toni feeling distraught about something that wasn’t true, but she doubted the Serpent girl would ever believe her if she told her that the man was tucked up warm and fed in the north wing.

She’d have to show her.