Castles - Book 5 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Twenty

 Winter struck early. Blankets of dazzling snow lay thick in the castle grounds. Brenna told Jobyna this snow could melt quickly then there might not be any more for two or three weeks.

Hagen, the knight now in charge of the castle, dictated to Jobyna, "You are permitted to walk about the castle wherever you wish, Princess, but with conditions and exceptions. You will not go near the servant's quarters, nor speak to the children, and I warn you, do not send messages to anyone, either written or verbal.

"Disobedience in any area," Hagen decreed, "will mean loss of every privilege and I will have you confined elsewhere in the castle, Princess. The main stipulation is that you must have Brenna or one other woman accompanying you and not your slave girl who cannot and likely would not tell anyone if you chose to do something stupid such as try and run away. All that to say that you are not authorized to wander about on your own, Princess."

Jobyna submissively complied to Hagen's demands and she enjoyed the liberty of the castle. Long walks were taken twice a day as she desired to keep up her feeling of fitness and energy. Brenna would stroll with her in the morning and Boey in the afternoon. Sometimes Ellice went with her and Jobyna was pleased to have her company. She learned from Boey that Ellice was working in the kitchens. Boey was the best source of news for Jobyna and the girl learned much from conversing with her. The servants shared every tidbit they could glean from their peers, harvested from messengers and soldiers venturing in and out of the castle.

Elliad had moved into the czar's palace in Jydanski. Jobyna found this information intriguing. Boey informed her that Ranée and Ada had moved to the capital as well, but their children had been left here. Czar Kievik had assigned a whole floor to Elliad and his court.

Elliad —living in the czar's palace at Jydanski! Suspecting Elliad of ulterior motives, Jobyna wondered what dastardly scheme he was up to. At least the czar is powerful with secure control over his czardom, she mused.

She took herself to task for not giving Elliad the benefit of the doubt. She must hope he had changed. Questioning Boey as to how many people were left at Baltic Castle, the servant woman told her, "Elliad's Castle is protected by thirty soldiers, the rest went to be with their king. Not that it needs that many to look after this place. They's tells me it can be secured with ten soldiers, two at each gate and no one can enter forcible or otherwise!"

The Gospel Book continued to strengthen Jobyna's spirits and Brenna asked her to read aloud in the afternoon before the light retreated, leaving evening darkness to rule.

Jobyna often conjectured what Elliad thought about the words King Leopold wrote in the back of the book. The stitching binding that whole section had been cut away and the king's writings removed. Brenna helped Jobyna secure the Gospel Book once more in the leather casing, sewing it with strong thread to keep the pages together.

It was six weeks before a message came from Jydanski for Brenna. The doctor's wife told Jobyna that Sleven had been detained and would come as soon as the snow eased off.

The New Year began almost unnoticed. Jobyna thought wishfully of the joyful celebrations enjoyed in Frencolia to welcome the beginning of a new year.

January passed. Many days were spent sitting by the fire, craft-making, embroidering, knitting, reading and chatting.

The weeks merged into a long respite and Jobyna was pleased to be occupied.

She asked Hagen if she could spend some time in the kitchens to do some baking and he consented reluctantly, stating, "It's not the sort of occupation expected of a princess, but if you keep the rules and are happy, then I will have fulfilled my orders regarding you, Princess."