Castles - Book 5 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Having sunk to the uttermost depths of sound sleep, Jobyna's rest was peaceful and dreamless.

Konrad shook her gently, speaking her name, but she would not rouse. It was after two in the morning and Konrad had crept back to the room.

Exhaustion and tension had combined to render Jobyna almost unconscious. The Proburg prince ordered Moritz to carry her.

Gathering her gently into his muscled arms, Moritz conveyed her down into the heart of the dungeons, through many doors. Konrad locked each one again, checking it was secure. Still, she did not wake. The prince opened a 'book-shelf door' before moving into a dimly lit room, locking the wall behind them.

The chamber had another door in it and they entered a large, furnished room. Konrad fetched a sleepy eunuch from a nearby chamber. Informing this caretaker that they would be back in the morning, they left Jobyna lying on a couch, securely locking the doors as they exited.

Jolted into reality because she had no idea where she was, Jobyna woke with a start, her eyes exploring the room.

The servant scuttled over to her as she sat up. She drew herself back from his strange inquisitive stare. He came close to her, too close, she thought. Pointing to her hair then her clothes; he spoke, but she could not understand his cut-off words. Telling him she did not speak German, she said she was from Frencolia.

"Frencolia?" his voice was soft. A strangely sorrowful shadow crossed his recessed hazel eyes. She nodded wonderingly at him. He seemed to be an old man with a smooth face. He scampered across the room.

She noticed the bookcases which lined the walls where he foraged, bringing a map, pointing to Frencolia. Jobyna nodded again and placed her forefinger on Chanoine. He left the map with her and again scurried to a bookshelf. This time he brought a heavy book, causing her eyes to light up with pleasure as he put it on her lap, drawing the pages open. It was a Gospel Book, written in Frenc. His solemn hazel eyes burning with sensitivity as he watched her gently turning pages.

His hands took hers and he pointed first to the middle of one palm, then to the other, with his forefinger pointing up, he placed his other hand on his heart. Repeating his child-like actions, Jobyna pointed to her heart. He smiled and shook her hand. Embarrassed that he stood so long gazing at her, she rose from the couch.

There was a whole shelf of Gospel Books written in Frenc! Jobyna caught her breath, wondering if someone, maybe Konrad, was collecting them up as Elliad had. The servant here was likely a prisoner. Turning to see where he was now, she saw he had taken one of the Gospel Books off the shelf and was polishing the engraved leather cover, which looked brand new. No, she thought, he does not look or act like a prisoner. And he really likes the books! What a surprise, to be here of all places and not to know how I got here.

Testing the door handle, she found it to be locked. So they were prisoners.

Returning to the couch, she studied the map again. Turning it to allow maximum light on it, she traced the road she would take through Reideaux to Frencolia. Home still seemed a million miles away.

Metal clicking against metal sounded in the lock and the door creaked open. Konrad entered with Moritz who brought a tray, which he set on the small table. The prince spoke to the servant who scampered quickly to fetch goblets, then a large full pitcher. Jobyna realized how hungry and thirsty she was.

"Go ahead, we've eaten," Konrad said, in broken Frenc as he held the goblets for the servant to fill. "Wine?" He asked.

"No thank you, I don't drink wine," she said, feeling uncomfortable as his glistening blue eyes once more met her resolved green gaze.