Chapter 5

Tossing the covers aside, Kambry kicked her legs free of the twisted sheets. Enough tossing for one night. She opened her eyes to see the soft glow around the edges of the heavy green curtains. She must have fallen asleep for it to be past dawn, but she was still tired and let her yawn drive her mouth

open until it creaked.

Shocking herself into a sharper sense of awareness, she splashed her face with chilly water from the basin in the washroom. Her long brown hair hung in her view as she let the water drip off her face. She groped for a towel and backed away, patting her skin dry. Soft towel. She sighed. A gilded cage is still a cage. She hung it on a hook and left the washroom.

“So I have the entire kingdom to explore and find something to do.” She tapped her foot and shrugged. There had been other clothes in the wardrobe; she might as well investigate her choices. The clothes she’d worn for the dinner were a little too fine for actual work.

The wardrobe held, along with her dress, two gowns far superior to anything she imagined ever wearing. She pressed them aside, doing her best to ignore the satin finish that swished tantalizingly. Two work skirts, dark brown and navy blue with matching vests of complementary shades, looked like suitable options for the day. One drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe held undergarments and shifts of various colors. Kambry chose brown for the skirt and shift and a deep-maroon vest.

A small table near the door of the washroom had a delicate silver brush and mirror set. Her comb lay beside it. She brushed the knots out of her hair and snugged the comb into place, keeping a sweep of hair corralled and out of her eyes.

Ready for the day, she looked around her chamber and wondered what her next activity should be. She flumped onto the chair at the table by the window and played with the curtain, swishing it back and forth, allowing the space to brighten and darken by turns. “Okay, let’s start the day.”

She rose and opened both sets of curtains and tipped both windows open to allow fresh air in. With the air cool, she backed away. In the gardens below, the glimmer of dew on the leaves and buds twinkled as the light breeze pressed the plants to and fro.

“A walk in the garden, read a book, get lost in this humongous castle…. What to do, what to do.”

A brisk knock at the door sounded, and she spun around. “Please, not breakfast with the prince.”

Opening it, she found Lessa waiting, her arms crossed. “Have you had breakfast yet?” she asked.

Ever to the point. “No. I wouldn’t know where to go, anyway.”

“There are plenty of places to get food in a castle.”

She hadn’t thought about breakfast, but she was hungry and needed to eat sometime. Lessa’s question made plain the awkwardness of her situation. “You think so? I can’t have breakfast with the prince and wouldn’t want to. I can’t go to the kitchen; I’m not a servant. I had dinner with the prince last night. They’d shoo me out. I can’t eat with the lords and ladies. I’m not one of them. What are my choices? Do I even have any?”

“Hmm.” Lessa tapped her chin. “I see your point, but we can’t let you starve. You wouldn’t be able to backstab the prince.”

“That’s not funny,” Kambry said.

“Well, if you want to cry about it, that’s your choice. I prefer to look at things with a lighter outlook.”

“Fine. Under this brighter light, do you see where I can go to eat?”

“Well,” she drew out the word and then grinned, “since you’re my charge, you’ll eat with me.”

Lessa turned and strode down the corridor.

Kambry shut her door and hurried to catch up. “Where is that?”

“The guard’s mess hall. The food’s not fancy, but it’s filling.”

“I’m not a guard, Lessa.”

“There’s no dining room set aside for potential traitors, unless you consider the dungeon. You don’t want thin soup and dry bread, do you?”

“I’m not a traitor.”

“I said po-ten-tial traitor.”

“I don’t have potential anything.” Lessa stopped. “How sad.”

“Isn’t it?” She blinked, recognizing they were in the grand foyer of the castle.

“Well, we’ve got to get you some potential.”

Kambry giggled and peered around. “Where do you think they keep it?”

“It’s probably in some sugar bowl somewhere. We’ll start in the guards’ mess and go from there. If we find it, we’ll sprinkle it all over you.” They stepped out the doors to the inner bailey, crossed the yard and strode through the first set of gates to the outer bailey. Lessa marched them to the guardhouse and its environs.

In the crowded mess, the guards were boisterous. Several called out to Lessa to join them, and she waved but steered Kambry to a small table at the back. As they passed by platters filled with warm food, Lessa grabbed a plate for each of them and began gathering an assortment: rolls, cheese and a scoop of shredded beef. She plonked a bruised apple down on each plate, then shoved both at Kambry. “Sit at that table. I’ll be back with something to drink.”

Kambry set the plates down across from each other and sat down. The mismatched chairs at each table gave the room an appearance of having been cobbled together years ago. Hers had one leg shorter than the other, and she rocked it side to side in her nervousness. Several of the guards stared as they ate, looking her over with not unkindly curious eyes from her suede boots to the comb in her hair.

Lessa returned with two forks and a tin cup each of water. “Safe to drink,” she said. “Kavin Castle has a deep well. Eat up.”

Kambry was ravenous and didn’t need further coaxing.

She broke the bread and slathered it with the shredded beef.

Lessa grinned at her.

While she ate, Kambry took quick glimpses at the men and women around her. There were maybe two-thirds more men in the room than women guards, but they all seemed friendly with each other.

“How long have you been a guard?”

“Since I was little. My pop and brothers have all been guards. My mom’s the head cook for our kitchen.”

“A family thing, then.”

“Uh-huh. Is scribing a family thing, too?”

“No. That’s just me. Dad and Stahn are cabinetmakers.

My mom weaves.”

“Honorable professions. Why didn’t you do one of those?”

“I tried.”

“Didn’t work out?” Lessa shoved a forkful of beef in her mouth.

“I never felt like I could excel at it to the same degree, so I started scribing.” She twirled her fork through the strands of meat. “I like to draw and tell stories. It’s a good fit.”

“So which did you start at first: weaving or cabinetry?”

“Weaving. I’m very good at knots.”

“Making them?” Lessa tore a chunk off her bread and wiped it through the juices on her plate.

Kambry snorted and took a drink to clear her throat. “Yes, but I’m better at undoing them.”

“So then you tried carpentry. For how long?” “Two years.”

“Wow, and you didn’t stay with it?”

“I liked the minor jobs. Miniature dressers for dolls. Tiny jewelry boxes. But those are extravagant purchases, you know, not essential.”

“I imagine they’re difficult to make though. That’s talent.”

“Not the right talent,” she said. “But scribing became an option when the town scribe announced his impending retirement. He didn’t have an apprentice, so Dad agreed to introduce me, and Master Muntrac started my training.”

“And how long have you been doing that?” “Three years.”

Lessa laughed. “When is he retiring?”

“He’s sort of retired now. An interim scribe from Konright is running the office and gives me most of my instruction. Master Muntrac works with me once a month on the fine points. There’s only enough work in the village for one scribe. As soon as I’m ready, Paisley will head back to Konright.” Kambry paused, the last bite of her roll halfway to her mouth.

Lessa looked down at her plate. “Maybe they’ll hold it for you until you get back.”

“The prince, Sybil and you have said no one ever goes back. The legend in our village and in others say the same thing.”

Lessa scooted her chair back. “I’ve got to get back to my shift. I wish I could help you more, Kambry. You seem like a good sort.”

“What do I do?”

“Didn’t the prince assign you a job or someplace to be?”

“He said I can go anywhere and do anything as long as I don’t cause dissent or trouble anyone. I’m to ‘find work’ where I will.”

“Oh.” Lessa looked around the room and sighed. “I don’t have any ideas.”

Kambry shrugged and tipped her chair back and forth to the short leg. “I’ll wander around. Maybe something will show.”

Lessa stood and cleared their table. “I’ll see you later. Eat here for lunch until we figure out where you need to go.”

“Okay.” She watched Lessa leave and felt instantly alone. Without Lessa, she was uncomfortable in the guards’

mess hall, though it was nearly empty now. She left her table and wandered outside. Just beyond the buildings assigned to the guards was a practice field broken into a variety of stations. Ahead was the archery range. Several guards were warming up, and two small boys at steady intervals ran along the portable wood walls holding targets of coiled straw and gathered the arrows. It looked fun. Frequent yelling kept the two boys rushing about. They tried their best, but the guards stood around waiting for them to clear the range.

Kambry tipped her head. She could pull an arrow from a target, and the two boys were so small they had to leap up to get the ones that stuck high. She strode along the side of the range, and when the next break in the shooting took place, she ran with the boys and began pulling arrows.

“Hey! Miss!” yelled one boy. “Don’t take those arrows.

The guards want them back.”

“I know. I’m helping you.” She tugged one out that the boy had been jumping up to reach. “I’ll get the high ones, you can do the low ones.”

“Really? You’re going to help?”

do.”

“Sure. Why not? You need help, and I need something to

He looked her over. “But you’re a lady.”

The other boy smiled shyly and pointed at an arrow too

high for him.

“And these are arrows.” She handed them to the first boy to place in the tub standing nearby and stepped to the next target for the one the boy had pointed at. “I’m Kambry, and the prince said I can help where I see it’s needed. Come on.” She grinned. “Let’s see how fast we can get this done.”

“I’m Teddy; he’s shy, but his name is Neal.”

“One, two, three. Let’s go, Teddy and Neal. Run fast!”

They sprinted down the wall of targets, gathering the arrows as fast as they could, giggling and gasping when they dropped them or tripped. The boys each took a handle of the tub and ran it back to the guards at the front of the range. The men and woman cheered them on.

Kambry, Teddy and Neal stood off to the side, catching their breaths as the guards worked through the arrows.

“That was fun,” said Neal, who then immediately dropped his head and stole glances at Kambry.

“It was. Let’s try to be faster the next time,” Kambry said.

Teddy nodded enthusiastically and braced his feet in a sprinting stance, ready to go, his arm up and fisted. They ran the arrow run three times, each time faster, until the last gathering when they were far too worn out to improve their time. The guards were leaving, and Kambry took her time. The archers must have been growing tired. She laughed and pointed out a few poorly aimed arrows, earning playful grumbles from the guards who’d shot them.

She stood, fists on her hips. “I thought you were here to protect the castle. These shots would have taken out one of your fellows.”

Challenged, the four guards she’d teased ran for arrows and lined up their shots, taking their time.

The four of them made her think of Stahn and how she would tease him. Normally, she could not have been so forward with strangers, but in her time gathering arrows, the guards had made her feel welcome, learning her name and purposely mispronouncing it.

“Kammly, watch this.” The first guard released his arrow.

It struck the center, and he shouted and leaped into the air. She applauded, and the boys whooped long and loud.

“My turn, Kimber,” said the tall blond. He pulled his bow and steadied it for a moment. The arrow raced and plunked into the second ring from the center. His best show of the day.

Teddy whistled shrilly.

Archer number three drew on his bow in a slow, graceful pull. He was the best of the archers. His heavy brows dropped low over his eyes. He always hit the center, except for the one she had teased him about, which hit the line marking on the outer edge of center. The arrow flew steady and true.

Kambry lay her hand on her heart, and his serious face seemed to soften. He walked away without a word before the boys had finished their display of exuberance.

The fourth archer scratched at his chin and then his shoulder. He always did that before a shot.

Kambry laughed.

He scratched again, giving her a grin before raising his bow. There was no pause: pull up, pull back, release, fly, plunk. Dead center. While he bowed, they clapped their hands.

“Miss do Brode, if you please,” a deep voice sounded from the porch of the guard shack behind the shooting line.

The boys dashed away, gathering the four arrows. The remaining guards scurried out of sight. Kambry looked to the gruff older man who’d called out to her. She chewed the inside of her cheek as she walked reluctantly over to him.

His posture was straight and commanding. Because of his height, she had to look nearly straight up.

“Do you shoot?” he asked upon her arrival. “No, Sir.”

“Name’s Burty, not Sir. Rather uppity to criticize trained men and women when you don’t shoot.”

“I’m sorry, Burty. I let the activity go to my head.” She sighed and stared at the ground.

“Hmm. Stay.” He walked away.

She looked about her, uncertain what would happen next. Teddy and Neal peeped around the corner of the building. Their worried faces didn’t help her feel better.

Burty returned with a bow in hand and shorter arrows. “This is my daughter Cecily’s bow. She practices here in the afternoon and won’t mind you using it.”

“What?” she said, her voice pitched high. “Face the target,” he said.

Still uncertain, she gaped at him.

He lowered his chin, his eyes glowering under his heavy brows, and pointed for her to turn around.

She faced the wall of targets.

“Teddy, Neal, be ready to gather arrows. But stay back until we’re certain the arrows are all flying in the correct direction.”

The boys ran out, their bright teeth flashing. They winked at Kambry and hid behind a barrel of arrows sitting off to the side.

She gave them an insulted look, which made them giggle.

Burty stepped up beside her and demonstrated how she should hold the bow. Then he handed it to her, adjusting her stance and arm placement with professional quickness.

“Now, I just want you to pull back lightly on the string.

I’ll tell you when to stop. Pull slowly and maintain control.”

Kambry lowered her shoulders at his tap when they rose. She pulled the string, her fingers positioned as he had shown

her.

Burty paused her with the bow half-drawn and adjusted

her stance. “Okay, relax a moment.”

She brought the bow back down and watched him.

He pulled an arrow from the tube and handed it to her. “Get in position.” He talked her through the pull again and gave her pointers on aiming.

“Release.”

The arrow leaped high, turned perpendicular and landed ten feet in front of her. The boys whooped and hollered. Kambry gave them a twisted smile.

“It went the right direction!” Teddy yelled, adding two more whoops.

“Again,” said Burty.

Kambry took the arrow he handed her and reset herself. He nudged her arm, kicked a heel forward and gave her a nod.

She concentrated, eyed the target and released. It flew straight, landing a few feet from the target to stab the dirt before falling flat.

The boys jumped up and down. There was clapping behind her, but Kambry ignored it.

Burty slapped her shoulder. “There you are, Miss do Brode. Now do it again.”

She nocked the arrow. One of the guards leaned in on her other side. “Hold your breath before you release. Don’t breathe until the arrow’s in flight.”

She looked at Burty. He nodded. “Just so.”

Kambry sighted the target, checked her stance and arm position. After a quick inhale, she pulled the bowstring, running the arrow along the rest, and held her breath. She released her fingers, straightening them and feeling the bow rock in her grip.

The arrow landed at the foot of the target wall.

A hard slap knocked her forward, and Burty grabbed her by the shoulders, apologizing. “Do that to Cecily, too. She’s started hitting me back.” He beamed at her. “Nicely done, Miss do Brode.”

“But I didn’t hit it.”

“I didn’t expect you to.”

Her heart sank. “That’s me. I always do what’s expected.” “Miss do Brode, you just started. That target’s set for

experienced archers with heavier bows. Just hold a minute.” He yelled out at the boys. “Get that target set at ten paces.”

The boys jumped to the job, barely able to get the heavy wall on its creaking wooden wheels moving. Burty stepped in to give them some momentum. Kambry doubled over with laughter when Neal was nearly flattened by the coiled straw target they knocked off.

Burty rehung the target and walked back to Kambry. He held her arrow until Teddy had finished snatching the three from the ground and brought them back. When everyone was clear of the range, he handed it to her.

“Now try it. Do what you’ve learned so far and don’t fault yourself if it doesn’t work the first time.”

Kambry lowered her shoulders. She felt better, especially after laughing at Neal who was grinning at her for all he was worth.

She raised the arrow and checked her positioning.

Burty tapped her elbow up and straightened her back. “Perfect,” he whispered. “When you’re ready.”

She held her breath. Tension built in her shoulder blades. She took another breath and held it. She trembled and released.

It hit far outside the target area but buried itself in the wood planks.

Everybody hoorayed, including the two guards behind her. Her throat tightened. Was she going to cry?

They were yelling “Hurray!” The boys cartwheeled, badly. She laughed.

“Okay, now do it again. Believe in yourself, Miss do Brode. Trust that you have it right and don’t delay.”

“Okay, Burty.” She took the arrow and nocked it. Thinking about the guard who was so smooth with his draw, she imagined a similar style for herself and raised the bow, pulled, aimed, held her breath and released.

It hit just inside the coiled straw. She threw her hands in the air, bonked Burty on the head with the bow, and screamed.

He rubbed his scalp and patted her back. “You’re an adept student. You can practice any day after my archers finish in the morning. I’ll round you up a bow that will suit you, and you can even practice with Cecily if you like in the afternoons.”

She grinned at him and hugged Teddy and Neal, who were still jumping beside her. They settled down enough to squeeze her back.

“Get yourselves some lunch, boys, after you get that wall moved and the arrows picked up and put away. Off with you, now.” He encouraged them with a wave. “Miss do Brode, you can have your meals with us if you wish.”

Burty strode off before she could thank him. The two guards who’d been watching headed off, leaving her standing at the shooting line. Giddiness burbled in her chest. She waved at the boys and headed back to the mess. Was it already lunchtime? Her stomach protested any thought it wasn’t.

Lessa strode in just as Kambry grabbed a tin plate. They waved at each other, and after filling their plates, headed to the table they had shared that morning. “Did you find something to do?” asked Lessa.

“I helped the boys gather the arrows at the range.”

Lessa’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth. “You gathered arrows. That’s really not a job for guests.”

“I’m not quite a guest, am I?” She chewed the meaty stew. “Burty taught me to shoot a bow and arrow.”

Lessa put fork down. “Burty?”

She pointed out the burly guard filling his plate and grabbing a handful of hot rolls.

Lessa stared at Burty, then eyed Kambry. “The big guy with the sour face. That Burty?” Her tongue stumbled over the name.

Kambry nodded. “Yes.”

“And does he know you call him Burty?” She stuttered the name again.

“Yes.”

Lessa looked again at the man now sitting at the head table and glowering at anyone who caught his eye. “Kambry, that’s Marshal Burtram. Only his daughter calls him Burty, and that’s only because he doesn’t want her calling him Poppa in front of his guards.”

Kambry looked toward the head table. Marshal Burtram gazed at her, his scowl firmly fixed, and winked. She looked at Lessa. “He told me his name was Burty.” She looked back to the table, and the marshal’s seat was empty. She couldn’t find him elsewhere in the hall, but when she looked back at Lessa, the marshal was walking toward them. Unaware of his approach, Lessa turned her head to follow Kambry’s gaze and jerked it back forward.

“Oh, no. What have you done? I’ve stayed off his pig list for more than a month. Why is he coming here? Is he coming here?”

Kambry swallowed and smiled as the man drew up in front of their table.

“Guard Veed.” His voice rumbled, and Lessa shrunk in her seat.

“Yes, Marshal Burtram. Can I help you?”

“I would like you to speak to Mrs. Kauper about getting Miss do Brode appropriate clothing for shooting at the range. Her skirts impede a proper stance.”

“They do?”

“Would you like to practice drills in a dress?” he asked, his tone revealing a deep interest in her opinion.

“No, Sir. I’ll speak with Mrs. Kauper.”

“Good.” He turned to Kambry. “Whatever she tells you, remember, you and my daughter call me Burty, as does Prince Russal. Enjoy your meal.”

He walked away.

Lessa ate with intensity for several minutes. She didn’t raise her head once.

Kambry ate leisurely. This day was turning out nicely. “Is he gone?” asked Lessa, still keeping her head down. “He’s back at his seat eating. Why?”

Lessa sat up. She tried to speak, but she just kept shaking her head. Finally, she said, “It’s not that he’s difficult to work for. He’s very good at leading. I wouldn’t want anyone else, but he’s a perfectionist. The slightest mess up and his eagle eye is on you for weeks, his sharp tongue ready to clarify your every mistake, in extreme detail everybody hears.” She slumped. “Is he looking at me at all?”

Kambry looked. “He just winked at me. Is that okay?” “Kavin’s curse. Please don’t let it befall me.”

“There’s a curse worse than the one I have?” Lessa scratched her ear. “No. Just a saying.”

She patted Lessa’s hand clutching a fork. “It’ll be okay. Just don’t forget to talk to Mrs. Kauper about my shooting clothes.”

“I should never have brought you to the mess hall.” She sat shaking her head, but a smile rose on her face. “I can’t believe he told you to call him Burty. How did you shoot?”

“Badly. Then better. He’s getting me a bow.”

Lessa nodded approvingly, then squinted at Kambry. “You still look tired, Kambry, but you also look a lot happier than

you did this morning.”

“I have a friend and now a teacher. Things could be worse.”

“Who’s your friend?”

Kambry scooped stew onto her spoon. “Some guard named Lessa.”

“And what are you planning for your afternoon, friend Kambry?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’ll wander around and see what happens.”