A Fool's Tale

Chapter 12 - Never Trust Royalty

I woke at sun-up. The other entertainers were still snoring on the floor, or sprawled in chairs around the hall. The other jesters and I would soon be informed by the clerk who would remain. After my performance, that had been more akin to a food fight, I expected to be sent away, so I'd woken early to get one last meal at Castle Brimstone.

When I arrived outside the dining hall, a girl with soot black hair and a thin nose approached. "Hey Gael."

She seemed familiar, but I couldn't place her. "Sorry, do I know you?"

"It's Kyla, you remember, Pickles."

I hadn't seen Kyla all night. She must have found somewhere quieter to sleep. "Oh, I thought you had red hair." I had also believed she was older than me, but seeing her without makeup, I realized we were of a similar age.

"Nah, that's part of the show. I have all kinds of costumes."

"Where'd you go yesterday? You took off to get changed, but I never saw you after that."

Kyla's eyes shifted. "I had other business."

"That's too bad. There was this one singer who was unbelievable."

She nodded. "I heard. Silver made an appearance. You got lucky. She usually keeps to herself."

Silver. The name suited her.

"So, are you here to eat?" Kyla asked.

"Yeah, my last meal," I joked.

We walked in together and headed directly for the buffet. This morning it consisted of freshly baked breads and a thick porridge. Likely, it was standard fare for the servants, but I could tell without taking a single bite that it would be far better than any breakfast I ever had with my uncle.

We both filled up our plates – mine was heaped twice as high as Kyla's – then found an empty table. It was much less busy than last night and we had plenty of choices. I quickly set into my meal.

"So, where are you from?" Kyla asked after I wolfed down my third piece of bread.

I hesitated, uncomfortable at the thought of talking about my past life, but there was something different about Kyla. I felt a kinship with her. I don't know why, but I trusted she wouldn't judge me.

I shrugged. "There's not much to me. I was raised by my uncle on a small farm after my parents died of the white plague. I came to the castle hoping to get away from...well, just to do something else."

"Sounds like my life," she muttered.

"Really, did your parents die when you were young as well?"

Kyla ignored my question. "Looks like you got in a fight recently." She scooped a spoonful of porridge into her mouth.

I touched my healing cheek and a vision of my uncle striking me crossed my thoughts. I cringed and looked away. "It's nothing."

"No, it's something. It's something you should be proud of. Never be ashamed of your past. If you were strong enough to get through it, then you're strong enough to look people in the eye when they ask about it."

I shifted my gaze back to Kyla. Her eyes were distant. I wasn't sure if her words were even meant for me or she was talking to herself, but it was wisdom I would never forget.

She shook her head and seemed to register her surroundings. "C'mon Gael, we've got to get going."

We walked to the main hall in silence. It wasn't awkward, nor was it comfortable. We both seemed to be lost in thoughts of our past. I wasn't sure if Kyla was becoming my friend, but it did feel like there was a bond between us.

When we arrived, I noticed many of the other jesters had come in costume. If I hadn't been so nervous, I would have laughed at the site of those fools shuffling their feet anxiously in the foyer, bells jingling with every motion.

A few moments after we arrived, the elderly clerk entered and tottered to his desk. He unfolded a piece of paper and regarded it. The room fell silent, well almost silent. Little bells kept tinkling from the jester's hats.

He raised his head. "Firstly, thank you all for coming. The king and queen were most entertained by your performances and they wish there was a place at Castle Brimstone for each and every one of you." He paused for breath, or perhaps the old clerk had a flair for dramatics.

"I would like to ask Pickles and Gael to stay behind."

I was stunned. Did this mean I got the job, or was he just going to reprimand me for such a poor showing?

A few jesters patted my shoulders in congratulations as they filed out, but mostly I received irritated or jealous looks. I could understand their annoyance. It was obvious, even to an inexperienced fool like me, that my skills were far behind most of them.

The clerk regarded us from above his spectacles. He took a short wheezing breath. "Let me start by introducing myself. I am Gilles, the head clerk. I run most of the administrative tasks here at Castle Brimstone, and I, or one of my assistants will be informing you of your day to day assignments."

I did get the job! I held back a triumphant smile with difficulty.

Gilles cleared his throat and scanned the sheet of paper on his desk. "As for your performances yesterday; Pickles, the audience was impressed with your cleverness, your costume, your tumbling and your over-all entertainment was wonderful. Gael; your tumbling was described as unbelievable, but the rest of your performance was underwhelming...and you didn't even have a costume. However, you seem to have a friend in the princess Talia, and she convinced King Roland you have significant potential."

He crooked his finger and squinted at me. "I shall be watching you, Gael. I suggest you clean up your act quickly. I will not tolerate a substandard performer for long." His gaze shifted to take in Pickles. "You shall both receive room, board, and ten pennies a week."

I'd never received any money in my entire life. I was just happy to get the job.

"You shall sleep in the main hall of the entertainer's residence, and shall be informed in advance when your services as a jester are required. As you may or may not be aware, there are many days a fool is not necessary to the court, so we shall have further discussions on what roles you shall be fulfilling when you are not wearing the motley."

He paused to fix us with a hard stare. "In short. You are now subjects of King Roland and Queen Vivien, and you will do as you are told. If not, your employment shall be brief. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir," we chorused.

"For the present, you have the day to yourself. "One of my assistants will see you tomorrow with further details."

Kyla and I waited, unsure if there was more to come.

"Well, what are you standing around for? The day is yours, unless you want to sit here watching me do paperwork." Gilles made a shooing motion with his hands.

We didn't need to be told twice. I grinned happily as we stepped outside.

"Sounds like you have a guardian angel," Kyla observed.

I shrugged. "Maybe. Sometimes I'm not sure." It sounded like Talia had stuck up for me after all, but I still couldn't understand what had possessed her to set me up for this ridiculous role. How did she think I could keep it? I had no training, and no idea how to even get a costume. Hopefully, I'd figure out some other way to impress the clerk because this jester position couldn't last long.

"Little advice, Gael, never trust royalty. They don't care for anyone but themselves."

That sounded harsh. "Talia's not like that," I protested.

Kyla shook her head and frowned. "Whatever. Learn the hard way. I've got stuff to do." She wheeled around and strode away.

I guess I'd offended her, but it seemed wrong of Kyla to be so judgmental. It was funny how I'd gone from doubting Talia to defending her. Friendships were complicated things.