Sage in the Sea

Whose Orders

Piers didn't come to bed that night until early in the morning. I ate breakfast alone in the kitchen and approved a few wedding details the queen had sent over. The castle was quiet. There were few servants wondering the hallways, going about their jobs. The guards were mostly outside walking the perimeter. Miss. Dolloway sat in the library preparing our lessons for the week. I stood in front of the doors that led the garden, watching as the guards made their rounds. A few birds pecked at the seeds on the ground that one of the servants had tossed out.

I pulled my shawl closer around me, staring out at the barren garden. It was depressing when there was not any snow on the ground. The trees were bare, the flowers dead. The grass was brown, the furniture abandoned. A few stray leaves blew across the walkways, serving as a reminder that it was an endless cycle.

"Is everything okay, ma'am?" a man's voice asked. I turned and found myself looking up at an older man.

"Yes, just fine," I told him, forcing a smile onto my face.

"Allow me to introduce myself," he said, holding out his hand. "I am Chester Montcroix, your fiancé's constable."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir," I replied, giving a small curtsy.

"No, no, the pleasure is all mine," he said, holding out his hands. "I have been curious as to who the future princess is to be since the Bycgan. I was unable to attend due to some matters in the court, but I am glad to meet you now."

"Thank you, sir."

"I heard about your incident on the way to the facility. Such a shame. The girls there were so looking forward to hearing you speak," he replied with a smile. "I am glad to see that everything turned out well."

"As am I," I said, giving a small nod.

"Sir, they are ready for you," Fergus said as he walked down the hallway towards us. Chester held a hand out to him.

"I just wanted you to know that the man who harmed you shall no longer be an issue," Chester told me. "He was sent to the gallows this morning. I witnessed it myself. Have a good day, ma'am. It was an honor to meet you."

I didn't reply. I watched as he walked past Fergus and disappeared around the corner. Fergus slid his hands into his pockets, walking slowly towards me.

"You okay?" he asked softly when he reached me.

"Why didn't you ever tell me that the king was like a father to you?" I asked. He was staring at me. "Freya said that you had known her and Piers since they were little. Why did you never mention that?"

"Because you already believed me to be one of the king's spies," he replied, frowning. "I'm not a spy for the king, Adelaide."

"I'm not saying that you are," I told him, wrapping my arms around my stomach. "What I'm saying is that I am tired of people not being the people that you believe them to be. No one in this entire kingdom is the person that they appear to be and it is because of that man that you consider to be your father."

"We cannot choose our families, Adelaide," Fergus said in a low voice. "I did not choose for my parents to commit treason nor did I choose for the king to take me in. I am thankful that he did because I would have been in an orphanage and God only knows where I would be right now. He gave me a home, food, and a job, and while I cannot forget that nor could I ever repay him, I am not blind to the man that he is, just as his children are not."

I looked away, out at the garden as the guards made another round. "I need to know where you stand, Fergus, and I need to know the truth."

"I am with you, Adelaide," he said softly. "I have Lila now to fight for."