Faerie Faerie

22-Sunset on a Life

Lyle frowned. "I was under the impression you had no children."

Phoenix stared at the child, then moved some as he wormed his way between Lyle and herself. She reached out and tore off chunks of meat for him. "I've given birth to many children." she said dryly, composed once again.

Corrin sneered, "Whore," then left.

The boy ate from her hands, careful of his teeth and her fingers. "Did you do as asked of you?" she asked the boy.

He nodded, the soldiers and handmaidens looking baffled. The handmaidens were the ones that scurried off and hid in the kitchen.

"Did you have a name for yourself?" she asked, picking up a cold potate. She took a bite, skin and all, then offered the boy a share.

He munched. "I do not." he spoke freely.

"Guards, remove this.... urchin from my sight." Grengal edged back in his seat, away from them both.

Phoenix leaned into his ear and whispered something to the boy. After that, he grinned at her, showing teeth that look a bit too sharp. "Thanks."

"Be good, alright?" she asked lightly. The boy finished the potato in her hand, nodding as he chewed.

The boy was lead out of the dining hall into a corridor to another hall that was out of sight and earshot. Grengal looked at Phoenix.

"We found the child in Garland." he said, looking at her with narrowed eyes. A wicked smile played on his lips. "If you don't want to see the child hurt, I suggest you--"

"I doubt your men would be able to." she chuckled. "The boy's father would never let anyone hurt him." She sniffled, and took another bit of bread. After that she sipped more rose water.

"That man you were traveling with through the forests?" Lyle asked, a little too sharp.

Phoenix side glanced. She opened her mouth to reply, but then closed it. "I'll have to inquire, but I'm not really sure." she chuckled. "I'm sure his new wife would say otherwise."

Lyle tried to read her, but Phoenix had no tells. She looked more exhausted above all else.

"I'd like to retire for the night." she wiped her hands on the closest tunic, Lyle's.

Grengal frowned at her, then waved his hand. Another soldier came and directed her out of the room. She had assumed he would put her in one of the dungeons the queen had. They were meant to be drafty, cold, wet and lead to the prisoner dying from exposure. Phoenix knew every inch of the palace.

What she did not understand was why they were leading her up, not down. Up two sets of stairs, then into a tight spiraling case that lead to a tower. Once at the top, she was deposited, into a room that had been used for guests of the Queen. The door was locked and there she sat in the darkness.

"Grengal doesn't want me running rampant. Cute." she remarked, walking skillfully through the darkness. She padded gently along the walls and found what she was looking for. She wiggled the worn stone, getting a soft crack as the stone gave way. She slid her fingers where the mortar had crumbled. She pulled out a leather bound notebook, an assortment of small sealing waxes and quills.

She flipped through the pages, trying to find the latest entry. All staff in her Lady's estate was well versed in poetry, knew how to write and read in multiple languages. Notebooks from some of the handmaids were kept in the walls, the male servants kept theirs along the stone flooring. They kept trivial things, dates, organized deeds and schedules or the upcoming weeks.