Of Blood And Royal Bones

Chapter 5: A Chance To Gain Perspective

The Baron had given Kassia specific instructions. She was to immediately return to her sleeping quarters where she was to gather up her essential belongings– and only the essentials– and then she was to visit Jurgen at the fields where she would receive proper armor for her travels. Immediately following this, she would need to return to the Baron where Ziam would join them in a briefing of their assignment. She was instructed to be back at the Baron's office no later than supper, however Kassia felt that farewells were in order. After all, she had not yet been informed of any estimated time of arrival, nor when they would at last return home.

    Her boots clunked sharply on the polished marble floors as she traipsed up and down corridors in search of Basia. After having gathered her things, she'd gone and said her farewells to Aldalbert who offered to send her on her way with loads of delicious treats that she couldn't possibly spare room for. Now she ambled through the halls, the thought of telling Basia she'd be leaving her for an undisclosed period of time clawing at her insides.

    She turned down a hallway with shiny wooden doors dappling its bone colored walls, a royal red carpet runner dampening the echoing clunks of her boots. A door was left ajar and she hoisted her pack of essential belongings higher on the hitch of her shoulder and made her way to it. She peeked inside and found Basia pulling creamy silk sheets across a wide-set mattress, much more appealing than the one she tossed and turned in each night.

    "Hello, my Basia." She greeted her friend, dipping her chin in a polite nod.

    "Not at the fields again, Kass? If I did not know better, I'd think something ails you." Her eyes fell to the heavy pack hanging from her friend's shoulder. "What is that for?" She asked, a sense of foreboding coating her words.

    "I am being sent away." She said simply.

    "Whatever for?" Basia stood from her bent over position and closed the space between them.

    "It is a good thing, Basia. It is a chance for me to prove myself." At her friend's concerned eyes, she added, "I do not expect to encounter much danger. I am only being sent to investigate a certain ominous case. But the Baron thinks it is wise to send me. He thinks it will prove effective in opening the eyes of those who disapprove of me, of what I am, and gain perspective. If I am successful, it is possible that you will be given the same opportunity that I have been given. That we could finally train together, in the open."

    Basia's spirits seemed to lift slightly, though Kassia was not blind to the loneliness she knew she still felt. She rubbed her friend's arm and reassured her, "It should not be too long before my return. Perhaps with my absence, you can decode the language of Talla."

    Basia nodded but her gaze fell to the floor. "Will you promise to return to me soon?" She asked pitifully as her eyes moved to Kassia's once more.

    "I promise." Kassia brushed a kiss to her friend's cheek and left her to her chores.

    By then the halls were swarming with kitchen maids and finely dressed diplomats as the evening meal was set in the large dining hall. She had only minutes to spare before she was supposed to return to her father's office and she still needed to collect her armor from Jurgen. She adjusted her speed from a saunter to a brisk walk as she headed to the fields. She spotted Jurgen making his way through the sweaty training warriors– swords clashing and brutes grunting– as he headed to the weapons shack on the far side of the field. She broke out in a sprint and, upon arriving at the poorly built shack, dropped her pack to crumple in the dirt and pinched her growing side stitch.

    "Evening, Jurgen." She waved a tired hand at him as she panted.

    He glanced at her as he dug through piles and piles of metal armor. "It seems I've not conditioned you well enough. Perhaps a few sprints should set you straight before you depart."