Betrothed

Chapter Twenty-Six: Minstrels, Music, and Sassafras

Jaako leaned toward the princess, resting his elbow on the table and pointing his finger at her again.

"You come to speak to me, little girl, regarding some important matter, as if you can order me about. I am not a loyalist! I care nothing for the crown. What have you done for me, huh? After I fought for my life on the other side of the mountain, watching my friends die one by one? What have you done for me..."

"The king is dead," Henry interrupted. Jaako stopped scolding the princess and turned to look at the prince.

"What?" he asked, looking back and forth at the two men and smiling. "You... You actually think the king is dead?"

"Horace saw it happen with his own eyes," Audrianna remarked. Jaako rested his hands on the table and sat up, studying the princess's face for a moment.

"Who the hell is Horace," he shrugged. Audrianna pointed her thumb at Henry. Jaako looked at Henry and squinted.

"She calls me Horace," Henry explained. "It's her little nickname for me. It's a long story." Jaako chuckled once again.

"She calls you Horace," he replied to Henry. "As an endearing term?" Jaako began to laugh.

"Perhaps if you take Her Highness to the bar and find her some refreshment," Balen suggested to Henry, then looked down at Audrianna. "Stay there while the three of us talk."

Audrianna wanted to argue with Balen. Coming to find information regarding the king's special forces was her idea, and her plan. She was offended that she was being sent away, like a child sent to bed while the grown-ups talked. At the same time, she was even more offended by the crude behavior of their informant. She decided not to argue with Balen, but followed Henry to the front of the pub. Henry picked her up and sat her on a stool on the corner of the bar where several patrons were enjoying their rum and ale beverages.

"What kind of refreshment do you have for a little girl?" Henry asked the man serving drinks.

"Our special sassafras drink," the server recommended. Henry pulled out a copper coin from his money pouch and laid it on the counter.

"Give her a tall glass, please," Henry requested, indicating he wanted her to be given a large amount to occupy her. The server behind the counter winked at Henry and poured the princess a drink in a tall metal mug, then slid it in front of her.

"Stay here," Henry commanded the princess. "And take small slow sips." He then turned and walked back to the spot where Balen and Jaako were sitting. Audrianna leaned on one elbow and rested her chin on the back of her hand as she watched the crowd of patrons walk back and forth in the pub.

"Don't worry, Balen remarked to Jaako as Henry returned to their table, "the two royals are traveling incognito."

"Yes," Jaako replied, "but for what purpose?"

"Because we are being hunted," Henry answered as he sat down at the table again.

"Yes," Jaako replied again, "But by whom?"

"The War Witch, Zymjai," Henry answered. "She invaded the castle, killed my father, along with Rupp..."

"No she didn't!" Jaako exclaimed.

"Pardon?" Henry asked.

"The king isn't dead," Jaako replied.

"Yes," Henry responded, "I saw the Witch stab the king and he fell forward on his bed—dead!"

"Really," Jaako questioned Henry with a tone of skepticism.

"I saw with my own eyes," Henry answered.