I forced a smile at his flattery. “Have you seen Prince Zyacus today?” I had no idea which room was his or if he’d even be in it. He could be anywhere and given the size of the castle it could take me all day to find him.
“I did about an hour ago. He was sparring at the training grounds.” The guard’s deep brown eyes lingered on me. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” I said, with a shoulder shrug.
He laughed. “If you’re looking for a tumble or something more than he’s not the type to take servants to bed. I, on the other hand, am open to the idea.”
After that comment, I knew Taz would say something to likely start a fight so I quickly interjected. “Excuse me but I am a lady. That’s enough of your improper talk.” I kept my voice calm but with an underlying edge. “I won’t be going to anyone’s bed.” Normally I’d have a snarky remark but I had to play the part of a proper lady-in-waiting, not a sarcastic Delhoon Princess.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to presume anything, miss.” He cleared his throat. “I just thought—er, never mind. There’s the servants’ entrance.” He pointed at the door on the side of the massive stone castle wall. “Good fortune to you on your first day.” I heard him mumbling something about him being stupid as he walked away.
We paused outside the door. I looked to a fruit orchard then in the other direction, where in the distance appeared to be a horse stable. No sparring grounds in sight.
Taz glared at the back of the red-headed guard. “Bastard. You mention the prince and suddenly he thinks you’re going to sleep with him? Do women servants often get treated this way?”
As a princess I had no idea how servants were treated. In my own castle we had workers but they didn’t get treated badly to my knowledge. But I’d never thought to ask. “Since women in Hesstia are often thought of as lower than men it wouldn’t surprise me if that was typical for a woman servant to endure. Look how I was treated in the streets by that man.”
“If he’d known who you were it would have gone much differently,” Taz said. I could hear the anger in his voice still.
“Only because he’d be afraid of the repercussions not because he’d have any more respect.”
“You taught him a good lesson though.” Taz chuckled. Mockingly, he put his hands up like the man had. “I’m surprised he didn’t piss his pants when he surrendered.”
I laughed. “Maybe he’ll think twice next time.”
“Alright so what’s the plan? If Zyacus is practicing at the sparring grounds it will be difficult to approach him without revealing yourself,” Taz said. “Someone is bound to recognize you.”
“You’re right, I can’t approach him in public. We need to find his room.” I tugged open the door and we made our way down the damp cold passageway. Torches lined the walls giving off plenty of light. We talked softly since our voices echoed off the walls. When we came to the end, the passage opened up into a kitchen. The women cooking looked up but otherwise paid us no mind, except one.
A heavyset woman with graying and white hair pulled into a bun, stopped kneading the dough in front of her and brushed her hands on her apron. “Hello. Never seen you two beauties before. You lost?”
“I’m the Queen’s newest lady-in-waiting.” I waved a hand at Taz. “This is my escort. Perhaps we are lost.”
She made a slight grunting noise as if to disapprove. “I figured you wouldn’t be working in the kitchens. Too pretty. Clothes too fine. With me.” She moved quickly toward a heavy wooden door. “The royal chambers are on the fourth floor.”
“Which is the Queen’s?” I asked.
She shook her head, curls bobbing around her face. “Don’t know. I don’t go up there. Perhaps one of the room servants can direct you on your way.”
“Thank you very much,” Taz said with a smile.
She put a hand on her hip. “It was my pleasure, handsome boy.”
Taz and I stepped into the stairway. We went up and up, passing several rooms. Voices penetrated through the walls sometimes. Laughter or low rumbles of men talking too. When we’d climbed four flights of stairs, I stopped at the top.
Taz put his ear to the first door we came to. “I hope we find a hallway. I don’t want to barge into someone’s room.” He leaned away. “I don’t hear anything.”
“That’s a good sign.”
He pushed through and to my relief it opened into a navy blue carpeted hall. Paintings lined on the right side of what I assumed were royal portraits. Women and men all wearing crowns or dressed in a fashion of Hesstian royalty. To the left, tall windows overlooked the back of the castle grounds. Below was a garden of sorts, shrubs and well-manicured paths. One stone walkway led to a circle of men and in the center of them two dark-haired males fought with swords. The sparring grounds. I tried to find Zyacus among them but it was too far to make out faces.
Giggling girls tore my attention from outside, back to the hall. My insides stirred and I looked around frantically.
Taz pushed open the nearest door, “Quick! In here.” Peering into a darkened room he turned back to me and waved. “It’s empty.”
I darted inside and closed the door quietly. “Whose room do you think this is?” Taz picked up a dirty pair of socks. “Definitely a man’s. Could be Zyacus’s or one of his brothers. Could be anyone’s really.”
I shook my head. I recognized the pleasant smell that belonged to Zyacus. I couldn’t even describe it but this room had to be his. Unless his brothers smelled just like him. A large four-poster, unmade bed dominating the center of the room. Several swords hung on either side on the wall. A green leafy plant in a huge white
