once I am in Faery. .?”
“Then seek the port city of Mizon. Therein lies a well-known map which, among other things, purports to show a path to the Changeling realm. It is the only certain way I know of to find that domain.”
“I have one other question, Geron.”
“Ask away.”
Roel lifted Coeur d’Acier. “Why do you give me such a valuable blade as this and ask nought in return?”
“Let us just say, my lad, I was driven by the Fates to do so.” The sage spoke no more of his part in Roel’s quest, though he talked freely of other things.
Roel rode away from Geron’s cottage, and days later he came to the city of Rulon, and there, but for Coeur d’Acier, he exchanged his arms and armor for those of bronze. He had the tack of his horse fitted with bronze, and the shoes replaced with ones of bronze, including the nails therein. As the merchant put away the old gear, Roel recognized Laurent’s steel dagger, and Blaise’s steel helm, but none of their remaining gear did he see.
A day later he espied the great wall of twilight, and just beyond the burnt ruins of what had once been a magnificent manor, he rode through the bound and entered what appeared to be a woodland where spring seemed burgeoning, though the remains of winter lay upon the world he had just left.
Roel drained his cup of tea and said to Celeste, “And so, Princess, that is my quest, and the tale of how I came to be in Faery.”
Celeste stood and took up Roel’s cup and stepped to the sideboard to replenish it. “Oh, Roel, I am so sorry.
Your sister stolen, your brothers missing.” Abed, Roel nodded bleakly. “Yet all are in Faery, or so I think.”
“This Lord of the Changelings, he took her shadow,” said Celeste.
Roel nodded. “Oui. As I said, it was draped over his arm when last I saw Avelaine.”
Celeste set Roel’s refreshed cup of honey-sweetened tea on the bed tray and said, “Ah, Roel, it is good that you came the way you did, for to find your sister you seek a treasured map in the port city of Mizon.” Roel looked at Celeste, an unspoken question in his eyes.
Celeste smiled and said, “I know the way to Mizon.”
5
Amour
“You do? You know the way to the port city?” asked Roel.
“Oui,” said Celeste, smiling. “I can guide you there.”
“Oh, Princess, there are Changelings involved in my quest, the Lord of the Changelings, in fact, and I would not have you in jeopardy.”
“And I would not have you go alone,” said Celeste.
Before Roel could again protest, Gilles strode in.
“Ah, you are awake, Roel. You, too, Princess.” Then he smiled and glanced at Celeste and added, “Unlike Henriette at the door. Your chaperone, I gather?”
“Oui.”
A wide grin lit up Gilles’ face. “Sound asleep she is, Princess, an ideal chaperone.”
Yet caught up in her determination to guide Roel to Mizon, Celeste graced her features with only a small smile at Gilles’
Gilles stepped to the bedside. “And speaking of sleep, Sieur Roel, you need to be doing that right now.”
“More sleep? After three days of such?”
“Oui,” said Gilles. He held the back of his hand to Roel’s forehead a moment and then nodded in satisfaction. “I told you before, it was a very virulent poison, and I would have you rest well this night.” He glanced at Celeste. “-You, too, Princess.” He then measured the chevalier’s pulse. As he released Roel’s wrist, he eyed the bowl of broth and asked, “Have you eaten yet?”
“This is my second,” said Roel.
“Finish it now, for I have a sleep-medick to give you.” Roel looked at Celeste and shrugged, and took up the broth and drank it down.
Gilles crumbled three dried petals into Roel’s cup, and poured in fresh tea. He stirred it a moment and set it before the knight. Gilles then turned to the princess and took her cup and did the same. When he returned it to her, Gilles glanced back and forth between the two and said, “The longer it stands, the worse it tastes.” Roel sighed and raised his cup to Celeste in salute, a salute she returned, and they drank it down, each making a
Gilles grinned and said, “Ah, but, my lady, where would be the pleasure in that?”
Celeste laughed, and Gilles said, “And now, Princess, our patient needs his rest, as do you. There will be goodly time on the morrow and in the days after for you two to speak of whatever you will.”
Celeste sighed and stood. “Good eve, Sieur Knight.
Rest well.”
“My lady, on the morrow, then,” replied Roel.
Celeste made her way to the door leading to her own quarters, and as she opened it she said, “Oh, Gilles.
Waken Henriette and tell her that she can now retire, for I am safe in my own bed.” Smiling, Celeste closed the door behind.
Gilles pulled the bell cord, and Gerard and two lads appeared, and they carried away the tea set and the tureen and bowls and the bed tray and utensils. Gilles took up the candle and said, “I bid you good night as well, Sieur Roel.” And so saying, he left.
Lying abed, Roel peered out the window, the glitter of stars now diminished by the light of the just-risen moon.
Celeste filled his thoughts-her beautiful face, her slender form, her gentle but determined way-and he knew it would be a while ere he would fall asleep. . and the next he knew-
— there came a knock on the door.
Roel opened his eyes to see daylight streaming in through the window. Again came the knock, and Gilles entered. “Breakfast is awaiting, Roel, and you are expected.” Roel sat up.
“How do you feel?” asked Gilles.
“Quite good, though starved, Gilles.”
“No dizziness?”
“Non, though I haven’t taken to my feet yet.”
“Then I suggest you do so and be on your way.”
“But I have no clothes, and I need a bath and a shave,” said Roel.
Gilles grinned, and he stepped to a tall chifforobe and flung it open and gestured within. On one side hung clothes, and beneath the garments sat shoes. “Seamstresses have been at work ever since I said you would live. Cobblers, too.” Gilles pulled open drawers on the other side. “Undergarments and socks and the like are in here.”
Roel eased out of bed and cautiously stood. No dizziness assaulted him. “Will they fit?” Gilles laughed. “Oh, yes. You see, they measured you two days past, while you still had not awakened. I must say, the ladies, they found you quite, um, how shall I say?
Ah, yes, utterly pleasing. Indeed, quite the man.” Redness crept into Roel’s face.
Gilles smiled and said, “Now, about that shave and a bath, as long as we keep your wound out of the water. .”
He tugged on the bell cord, and moments later Gerard and a string of lads came bustling in, steaming pails in hand.
After finishing his third helping of eggs and rashers and well-buttered toast slathered with blackberry
