Castles - Book 5 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Six

 The next morning, Elliad woke with a thumping headache. He had stayed up too late the previous night drinking too much of the Proburg brew, kvass. It was difficult for him to steady himself enough to dress. Moaning loudly, he lay down again.

Jobyna woke early, suffering embarrassment from her actions the night before. A pink satin and lace gown was laid out and the women helped her dress. Her hair crinkled attractively as they brushed the long braids out. She had scarcely completed dressing when there was a knock at the door. A woman-servant opened the door.

A young man wearing a blue costume spoke to her. Jobyna could not understand him, "Prince Gustovas requests the presence of Princess Jobyna at his breakfast table." He handed the woman a red rose.

She replied, in the same language, "Just wait a few minutes and the princess will be ready." The woman passed the rose to Jobyna. The name 'Gustovas' was familiar to Jobyna and she guessed the monarch wanted to see her. Holding the rose in her left hand, she placed her right hand on the knave's and allowed him to escort her where he would.

An exquisitely carved balcony with arched openings met Jobyna's delighted gaze. Displayed before her green eyes were the beautiful castle gardens filled with flowering rose bushes, trim hedges, and cobbled paths winding their way amongst the foliage. Out beyond was the rolling countryside. Jobyna's vision was overcome with a hunger to keep feasting her eyes on the beautiful view.

Prince Gustovas rose to meet her. "This view pleases you?" he asked, kissing her hand in a manner Jobyna considered much too passionate. She curtsied, stating the affirmative. Keeping hold of her hand, his eyes scanned her face, hair, and neck. "It pleases me, too, very much!"

A rosy hue crept into Jobyna's cheeks.

Princess Rhaselle rose and Jobyna turned away from the prince, curtsying to his wife.

"My wife does not speak Frenc and you do not speak German. It makes for difficulty. I shall interpret." He motioned her to sit. "I have sent for your King Elliad; but he is, how you say, 'under the weather'. Too much kvass, I think. So we have you with us for breakfast, which is good." He clicked his fingers in his characteristic way. Servants entered, bringing hot bread rolls and all manner of exotic dishes.

Prince Gustovas chatted whilst they ate, explaining the various ingredients and chuckling when Jobyna tried to show politeness at the strange flavors her taste buds were subject to. Never before had she seen such food for breakfast! When the prince was sure Jobyna could eat no more, he stated they would go for a stroll in the garden.

Princess Rhaselle chatted away to her husband and he relayed the questions to Jobyna, passing the conversation back and forth. Jobyna enjoyed the discourse, which she felt was the first unthreatened verbal exchange she had been involved in for over two months.

A carved stone seat in the castle garden provided the perfect place to continue chatting.

"Rhaselle asks if you have ever seen the sea?" Prince Gustovas inquired.

"I'd never left the borders of Frencolia, before coming here," she replied, asking, "what is the sea like?"

"It is something you have to experience yourself," Rhaselle replied through their interpreter. "One-third of Proburg's northern-most border is the North Sea and the most beautiful scenery in the world is along our coast. You must view the Baltic Sea from Proburg one day, Jobyna. It is like all the rivers and lakes of the earth rolling together to kiss the sky at the edge of the world."

"That's beautiful," Jobyna said and described the geography of her own country, the mountains, valleys and luscious meadows. Rhaselle told her that Proburg was low-lying land with vast plains and rolling hills.