A Ward's Tale

Chapter 2

Walking down the halls a few days later, the hall is suddenly filled with people rushing past me. I grab the arm of one servant rushing by to ask what was going on.

"A stranger with mysterious markings walked onto the front staircase before passing out. He held a white flag in his hand." The servant says before rushing off. A white flag, the symbol of peace, but where did he come from? What do these "markings" mean?

I grab for another servant and ask about King Charles and the family. "The King has been moved to the safe house and is being guarded but Arthur is to go talk to the marked man when he wakes."

"And where is the marked man now?" I ask curious. There is a strange feeling in my gut that pulls me toward the idea of him. I have to go see this strange man.

"Someone said he was being taken to the physician's house because they don't want some curse laid upon the castle." The servant said, "We're to go get food and water and the Prince."

"Thank you." I tell the servant and let her go to do her duties. The physician's house. I've been there many times to hide my wounds I'm not supposed to get, but that is to be told at another time. Right now I change my course and head out of the castle and down a street. I tighten my cloak around me. This mysterious man has peaked my interest widely. Where did he come from? Why come to the front steps of the castle if he was so injured? Why not any of these houses you pass before getting to the castle? And what are these markings? What do they mean?

I come to the physician's house and knock on the door. Gayle opens the door and smirks. "I knew you would be here as soon as you found out. Curiosity is one of your weak points you know."

"Yes, yes. I have many "weak points" as you say. But what about the man? What are the markings?" I ask trying to peak around him into his familiar house. It is just as it always is, the stove and some cabinets to the right, and a wooden table with chairs in the middle. The door to the back room where Gayle fixes his patients is cracked open and I see a figure laying on the bed.

Gayle steps in front of me, blocking my view. I step back. Gayle may be up in the years with more gray showing each year but he is still a mountain of a man and I don't dare risk angering him. For one, he's the only one that can let me come in and see this man, and two, he's helped me so much in the past I can't bring myself to disobey this man. Besides the royal family, he's one of the few people I actually trust.

Gayle shakes his head running a hand through his thinning graying hair. He looks down at me with conflicted brown eyes. I know he's been told by the King that no one is allowed to enter the premises unless it is Arthur or he allows it. That is why I nod and say, "I'll wait outside for Arthur."

Gayle nods his thanks and steps back to close the door. In the moment before it closes I move to the right to get another glimpse of the mystery man. All I see is a figure laying in bed. There is something that draws me towards him, but I have to be patient.

I wait a good half hour or so before word is sent that the mystery man has woken. I wait another half hour before Arthur comes. By that time I'm nodding off in a pile of hay outside Gayle's door.

"Rissa?" Arthur asks bending down to look at me. I open my eyes and jump.

"Oh! You scared me, Arty!" I exclaim scrambling to get on my feet. "I want to know more about the mystery man. Do let me come in with you." I plea grasping his hands in mine. Arthur looks down at me, he is half a foot taller than me and loves using it against me. He smirks.

"How did I know you would want that?" Arthur laughs but then grows serious, "You can come, but don't say a word, don't ask questions of your own. You are there to watch and listen. You are good at picking up clues in words, tell me after if he's lying about anything."