Desires of the Crown

30 - The Bearer of Heavy Burdens

          Demetri

I watched her take her seat on the stone bench with the same visiting lord that Jonathan had been weary of. What was she doing? I frowned and watched carefully, cursing when I couldn't hear when she spoke to him.

Did they know each other?

Little Miss fiddled with the a piece of her dress, though I doubt she noticed. She seemed to be completely absorbed by his words.

What could they possibly be talking about?

"Demetri." A whisper came to my right and I turned to see Nicolai standing beside me. "Prince Dillon wants a word."

I frowned even more confused than watching Little Miss talk with a visiting Lord. Why was nothing in my life making sense to me anymore. "Where is he?"

Nicolai nodded in front of us and sure enough, Prince Dillon was seated in his chair just a little further down the corridor with his eyes studying Little Miss and her new confidant. I wonder if he had more answers than I did?

I walked further in the shadows away from Dillon until I rounded the corner. I looked around briefly before sliding open the glass and slipped out into the light. Making my way back, retracing my steps, I stopped just behind Dillon and bowed deeply. "My Lord. You wanted to see me?"

"Yes. I did."

I moved to stand beside him so that he didn't have to crane his neck to the side to see me. I leaned up against the railing separating the hallway and the gardens.

"Who is she?" He asked me, his words filled with caution and curiosity.

"I don't know."

"Who is she, really?" He pressed, his eyes flickering towards me.

I shook my head. "I only know as much as you."

He sighed deeply as he stared out into the gardens, his old eyes carefully watching Little Miss quietly converse.

"Her story doesn't fit. She navigates court too well to have never had the experience before. Ashiar said she reads complicated books far beyond anything a Blacksmith's daughter can comprehend." He began to list the flaws within her. What was I supposed to say?

"We don't think she the average peasant." I admitted. There was no harm in stating the obvious.

"I can see that Demetri." Dillon said with a slight annoyance. "Jonathan appears rather taken with her."

Taken is not the word I would use, Bewitched seemed to be the better term. She has done what no one else - not even his tutors - has managed to do in an entire lifetime; hold the King's attention.

"Yes he does." I nodded agreeing with Dillon as I watched the Lord stand from the stone bench and bow his head ever so slightly to Miss before he retreated towards his room. "What was it you wanted to speak to me about?"

He shook his head and repositioned his chair so that it was now facing me. "There are a few reports about missing girls in the west, where Jonathan raided. More importantly Nobel girls."

"I have heard. Many people ran and not all have made it back to their rightful house." This was nothing new, it happened all the time after a raid as people ran like rats from a hole.

"Yes but now one never will." He gestured over towards Little Miss as she finally began exiting the gardens. "She is higher born than a Blacksmith's daughter. You agree?"

I lifted a shoulder. "I have my suspicions."

Higher born than a Blacksmith's daughter was about as far as I had gotten with that thought. But in my defence, I have been very distracted what with the king, Nicolai, Little Miss, and not too mention strange letters from Gabriel that was taking up more of my attention than I had room for.