The Duke

6- Stuck

The following day, Sybil woke me up early and helped me to get ready once again. I had breakfast in my room and forced her to sit with me for a while. It really bothered me she stood in silence somewhere in the room waiting for me to finish eating. I took the chance to ask her a few other questions and know a bit about her.

Later that day, a woman in fancy clothes visited me, looked at me from head to toe, and took my measurements. Despite her grumpy face, she was very nice and had a sweet voice.

Sybil told me Derren had ordered to make some dresses for me since I was staying for a while. I asked for my clothes, but she said they were too revealing to be used there. I was discussing with her what was revealing about a pair of jeans and a sweater when another maid knocked at my door and told us I was expected in Archie's chamber.

I thought I was going to be alone that day because it was Walt's funeral. Archie probably didn't feel well enough to go.

When I got to his room, there was a table already set for me, and he was seated on his bed waiting for me with tea and some desserts.

"Good afternoon", I greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than yesterday", he smiled. "I thought we could kill some time together". Archie lifted a little wooden box from his lap.

"What's that?"

It was a game similar to checkers, we played for quite a long time before a butler came to check on Archie and brought us more tea.

"This place is really quiet", I commented while we finally started to dig in the pastries.

"Yeah, it drives me crazy", he said with an exasperated look that made me laugh. "That's why I'm always outside".

"I don't know, I like it. We are next to the sea, don't we?"

"Oh, I forgot you haven't been outside", he gasped. "I will take you around as soon as I can walk around. The castle is right next to a cliff so we can't get to the beach from here, you have to go downtown but I know a shortcut".

"Why does it not surprise me?" Archie really looked like the type of kid who would be running and sneaking around.

"We will have to wait until Derren is not here, though". I laughed. "He doesn't like me to go around on my own".

"It would worry me if it wasn't the case taking into consideration the things that have happened".

"You worry too much", he complained.

Archie reminded me of Steve, although he was way more considerate than my brother.

That day, instead of mesmerizing him with stories and inventions of my world, he astonished me with stories about elves and dragons. It was truly amazing, I felt like in a fairytale. The possibility of seeing a dragon was almost nonexistent, but just knowing they existed there was enough to make my heart jump in excitement even when it was a bit scary.

The next day, I was introduced to Evelio, a man in his mid-30s, as tall as a basketball player, pale like rice, and eyes as dark as petrol. His purple tunic made him look even taller, and a bit scary, but his movements were very delicate and his voice very sweet, he spoke to me like you talk to a child.

Evelio taught me about the presumed origin of witches, their powers, and how they were used in medicine. I knew what was coming: potions, but he started a lecture about herbs that lasted hours. He said it was necessary, and I was interested in potions so I did my best to follow him.

It was hilarious. When I thought we were finally having a break to have lunch and change the air a little bit, we had already moved to another room and were served our meal, he resumed the lecture right there.