With that, he closed the door to his chambers and began the preparations to fulfill the scheme he started years
before.
The Page tried to catch Demorus before he reached the staircase. He always dreaded the climb to the Counselor's chambers and with each step he took he added a different reason why. He now had 153 reasons for his dislike and still had seven steps left.
The Page grabbed the door latch and was about to enter the room when he remembered the last time he forgot to knock upon the door. The "lesson", as Demorus put it, for teaching the proper ways of a Court's Page consisted of a three day confinement within one of the kitchen's oak barrels that was normally used for food storage. He shivered to think that he came close to learning another of Demorus's lessons.
"Come in if you must!" declared Demorus as he heard the Page on the other side.
In a tone more candied than Mrs. Rhone's yams ***reference point needed***, Demorus spoke. "Ah, I see the lessons have done you good."
"Aye my Lord. King Mylor summons you. He waits in the courtyard. The garrison is prepared to leave for the tournament and you’re their departure requires your presence."
"Of course my presence is required," snapped Demorus. "The King is incapable of action of any sort without out me.
The man is feeble *** describe his arrogance better ***and practically unfit to rule; nevertheless he is the King, for now.
Leave me and inform Mylor that I come at once."
The Page wasted no time in escaping the confines of the room and raced down the staircase, adding in his mind the 161st reason why he disliked Demorus. He skipped the last two steps and made his way through the various halls that lead to the main courtyard. Once He relayed to the King's entourage that Demorus was on his way he quickly disappeared, happy with the knowledge that the castle would be empty of Demorus for at least a handful
of days.
Demorus collected his thoughts and the items he needed for the journey to Cantlow and the site of the Tournament.
The King's coach came into view as Demorus made his way into the courtyard. The sight of the elegant carriage reminded him of the last outing he had with Mylor.
Three days of riding with the King had to be worse than the punishment he dealt to the ill-mannered Page, he thought. Although the length of today's trip to Cantlow would not be as long, he still dreaded the journey.
Mumbling to himself about not having a coach of his own, Demorus reluctantly stepped up and into his seat beside the King.
"I am here Mylor. We may depart,” said Demorus.
"Still as insolent as always I see?" replied a female voice.
Stunned, Demorus slipped from the step and fell to the feet of his traveling companion. His gaze traveled up from the floor until his eyes met the face of the King's niece. A face he had not seen in just over a decade.
"That is much better, Demorus. Respect becomes even my uncle's counselor."
"Ah, Kea’na," Demorus tried to recover some of his dignity. "This is quite unexpected. How has the time escaped us so? Mylor did not mention this surprise. Where is your uncle by the way?"
"He grew anxious to get underway but would not leave without you. I convinced him to go. It would not do for the king to attend his own tournament tardy.”
My tournament. Demorus thought. *** explain better ***
"What evil do you conspire today?" asked Kea’na.
before.
The Page tried to catch Demorus before he reached the staircase. He always dreaded the climb to the Counselor's chambers and with each step he took he added a different reason why. He now had 153 reasons for his dislike and still had seven steps left.
The Page grabbed the door latch and was about to enter the room when he remembered the last time he forgot to knock upon the door. The "lesson", as Demorus put it, for teaching the proper ways of a Court's Page consisted of a three day confinement within one of the kitchen's oak barrels that was normally used for food storage. He shivered to think that he came close to learning another of Demorus's lessons.
"Come in if you must!" declared Demorus as he heard the Page on the other side.
In a tone more candied than Mrs. Rhone's yams ***reference point needed***, Demorus spoke. "Ah, I see the lessons have done you good."
"Aye my Lord. King Mylor summons you. He waits in the courtyard. The garrison is prepared to leave for the tournament and you’re their departure requires your presence."
"Of course my presence is required," snapped Demorus. "The King is incapable of action of any sort without out me.
The man is feeble *** describe his arrogance better ***and practically unfit to rule; nevertheless he is the King, for now.
Leave me and inform Mylor that I come at once."
The Page wasted no time in escaping the confines of the room and raced down the staircase, adding in his mind the 161st reason why he disliked Demorus. He skipped the last two steps and made his way through the various halls that lead to the main courtyard. Once He relayed to the King's entourage that Demorus was on his way he quickly disappeared, happy with the knowledge that the castle would be empty of Demorus for at least a handful
of days.
Demorus collected his thoughts and the items he needed for the journey to Cantlow and the site of the Tournament.
The King's coach came into view as Demorus made his way into the courtyard. The sight of the elegant carriage reminded him of the last outing he had with Mylor.
Three days of riding with the King had to be worse than the punishment he dealt to the ill-mannered Page, he thought. Although the length of today's trip to Cantlow would not be as long, he still dreaded the journey.
Mumbling to himself about not having a coach of his own, Demorus reluctantly stepped up and into his seat beside the King.
"I am here Mylor. We may depart,” said Demorus.
"Still as insolent as always I see?" replied a female voice.
Stunned, Demorus slipped from the step and fell to the feet of his traveling companion. His gaze traveled up from the floor until his eyes met the face of the King's niece. A face he had not seen in just over a decade.
"That is much better, Demorus. Respect becomes even my uncle's counselor."
"Ah, Kea’na," Demorus tried to recover some of his dignity. "This is quite unexpected. How has the time escaped us so? Mylor did not mention this surprise. Where is your uncle by the way?"
"He grew anxious to get underway but would not leave without you. I convinced him to go. It would not do for the king to attend his own tournament tardy.”
My tournament. Demorus thought. *** explain better ***
"What evil do you conspire today?" asked Kea’na.