Death’s timepiece.
Chapter 16 The Darkest of Times
Rat had watched the trial from his usual vantage point high above the court. He remembered sitting in the same position with Damselfly, watching Blakast’s trial and could not believe what was happening. Rat’s dream was to visit the royal apartments, and despite winning a wish at the princess’s birthday party, he had still never been approached. Every night he went to sleep dreaming of the day he would be invited up to the highest level in the tower. His pet and friend, Midknight, the raven would wake him in the morning, only for him to discover that nothing had changed. Rat was an orphan who slept in the lowest levels of Castle Thrane with the horses and birds. His curious nature had allowed Rat to uncover almost all of the castle’s hidden passages and short cuts. Only the royal apartments remained a mystery, and Rat was determined to find a way in. After Judge Vale gave his verdict and Tyten took Damselfly away, the crowd had erupted angrily. After a few moments of shock all the benches rose as one to give their condemnation to the decision. Judge Vale was first to flee while the royal guard kept the dissenters at bay. Rat watched with interest as events unfolded with the rebels being led by Old Nana and her husband, Pilgrim. Despite their age, the two servants were greatly wounded by the princess’s exile and were oblivious to the potential harm they placed themselves in. Rat also noticed the gatekeeper amongst the crowd, which was unusual as he rarely came up to the castle. The kitchen staff along with the masters were equally unrestrained in their protest with Bullan the Master of Hounds turning red as he screamed at the soldiers blocking their path. Luyna who alone had stayed calm was beginning to grow concerned as the mob’s enmity continued to burn hotter. Rat wondered if the soldiers would be forced to draw their weapons and then Tyten returned. The Captain of the Guard was able to inspire his men with renewed confidence, together with the unspoken truth that his appearance alone meant that Damselfly had been sent to the Evergarden, momentum swung towards the soldiers. Old Nana, realising what had happened, dropped in a sheer faint. Pilgrim knelt over his wife, protecting her from the brazened crowd until the gatekeeper arrived to carry her to safety. Many of the crowd were intent on going further until Tyten ordered the soldiers to draw their swords. Faced by three dozen armed fighters, the residents of Thronegarden began to understand the futility of the current situation. In small numbers the group started to disperse. Luyna watched triumphantly, although there were many hard looks and curses sent in her direction. The people of Thronegarden had seen King Abeldine go mad. Now his brother, King Handel, was heading the same way, and Queen Etherelle, who had always been so popular, was struck down with a mystery illness. The loss of their princess in such a cruel manner was too much. Damselfly’s story, whether true or not, had caused many to raise questions that had lain dormant.
Was there a cure for the queen? Could time be restored?
What had happened to Death?
Even news of other gardens had risen old alliances, with the folk of Thronegarden sympathizing with the villagers of Wintergarden and becoming concerned when they heard magic was running out in the Magicgarden. Since the rivers dried up, travel between gardens had become rarer. Few visitors came to Thronegarden and it was easy to forget that other people were struggling just as they were. Rat wondered what would happen now the sole heir of House Thrane had been exiled. Who would rule when King Handel died and would they be a good ruler or bad like the Fairy King?
Rat travelled the length of Castle Thrane completing his many chores. Wherever he went in the castle, a tense atmosphere lingered and would not pass. People would talk in whispers and stop the moment someone else entered the room. Pilgrim who was a master storyteller had already embellished Damselfly’s tales into legends and created new ones regarding Luyna and Tyten. A petition to the king was signed by dozens of residents asking for an audience with King Handel so they could voice their grievances. Many people believed the king was unable to rule due to illness or had been manipulated into exiling his daughter. Rat also discovered, to his annoyance, that soldiers were placed on every level at all times. They watched everyone and everything which made it difficult for the orphan to spy. Gleaning information was one of the ways Rat fed himself; scraps of overheard conversations could be traded for scraps of pie crust and stale bread. Three individuals were almost exclusively blamed by the mass populace for Damselfly’s exile: Luyna, Judge Vale and Tyten.
The Captain of the Guard was especially targeted as he was forced to face down his critiques every day when he patrolled the castle. One time a rotten tomato was thrown at Tyten by an unseen hand. Tempers almost boiled over, yet, surprisingly, it was the soldiers who backed down, realising that violence would only encourage greater resistance. Damselfly had become a martyr to the people of Thronegarden, a sign of the lost time and innocence that they had been enduring for too long. While Luyna hoped for the rebellion to fade, Rat expected further escalations to happen imminently and was not surprised when a couple of soldiers got into a scrape, arguing with Pariah when they attempted to enter The Hall of Bells. Everyone was on alert and it would only take one spark to burn the fragile peace.
Luyna had been surprised at the reaction Damselfly’s trial had caused. She expected the residents of
