Silence in Sagas

3

It was still dewy out when Willa stepped through Notteny Castle's entrance. She had nothing to do there--Oliwa had left. There was a gnawing feeling in her stomach. It had been there all night, making her unable to sleep. Her mind didn't want to accept that Oliwa had left.

Willa needed to see for herself.

Oliwa was always in her room, but not this time. Willa couldn't remember walking upstairs, but now she stood in the doorway of Oliwa's room.

 She didn't know what she'd expected, because the room was empty, and Oliwa had left.

She stood there for a while--lost in thought, and studying the worn out walls and the window she knew led out to the roof she'd spent so many nights on. She studied all of the things, much like her father when he got lost looking at the items in a weapons store, or how her mother watched the kids play on the outskirts of town before she handed out leftovers to them.

Willa sank down against the doorframe and took a deep breath.

When it became even clearer that nothing would happen, Willa pushed herself off the doorframe and walked towards the exit.

***

Occasional Castle-Servant Kesie woke up that morning with a content smile on her face that didn't fade on her way over to the castle.

This was the day--the day the last sixteen years of her life--more or less--had led to.

The carriages would be arriving soon, and Queenling Oliwa would be shipped off to represent Notteny in The Tournament.

Kesie was beaming with pride, and with a little optimism, Queenling Oliwa could easily become the Queen of Sagas herself.

Oh, what an absolutely wonderful Queen she'd become if she won--when she won!

Kesie approached the castle. She made sure that there were no leaves or twigs where the carriages would park before stepping inside the magnificent building.

It had been a while since the last time she'd been here—after Schoolmaster Helina went on a spree to cut expenses in the realm, her work-time at the castle became limited. The rest were spent talking to patients at the elders center--occasionally missing the castle's beauty and peaceful silence--missing the feeling of being an insider to something as big as The Tournament. 

It had been an exceptionally long time since her last visit, but now she was back. Recognition swarmed around her when she sat the familiar crow statues lining the top of the castle entrance. Kesie brought out her keys--it barely felt as if she'd left at all.

Twenty minutes later, the castle kitchen was cleaner than it had ever been, and Kesie sat at the countertop, looking over the spotless tiles and feeling some sense of satisfaction.

It wasn't until another twenty minutes had gone that she started questioning.
Queenling Oliwa had not come downstairs yet, and no matter how much she focused, there were no sounds from upstairs.

Because twenty was her favorite number, and because third time is a charm, Kesie waited, for the third time, another twenty minutes.

When Queenling Oliwa did not show, Kesie started fiddling with her hands. The clock was ticking--a faint reminder in the back of her mind that the carriages would arrive soon.

She stood up and stepped out into the hallway, heading for the torchlit staircase.

With tentative steps, she climbed the flights. She had barely spoken to Queenling Oliwa when she worked here, but it was not like she wasn't allowed.