Amid all of the uncertainties and occasional feelings of sheer panic at being at the capitol fair with the Princess sitting beside me knitting a small sweater with a Neebing pattern cleverly designed into the collar and cuffs, it was comforting to be sitting around the cook fire with folks who had become my friends. No matter what happened over the next few days, I would always cherish the time I had spent with them, and the care they had shown me along the way. We were all replete with a hot meal under our respective belts, and Mistress Jalcones was berating the gossip mongers we had had to endure after the posting of the Regent’s announcement.
“Don’t those windy-wallets have anything better to do than spend all of their time gossiping and speculating about what the Regent is going to do or say. What a bunch of noisy fellows,” Mistress Jalcones exclaimed.
“Somewhere in all those rumors, there is a bit of truth,” Master Clarisse said, as she stepped into the light from the fire. “Mind if we join you?”
I looked up to see that Master Clarisse was accompanied by Evan. The only one of our merry band missing was Beezle, who had gone to the home where his uncle was staying and did not know if he would get back before sunset. The Regent had imposed a sunset to sunrise curfew during the fair week, which was not sitting well with the local citizens. The curfew was an odd one, for if you were in town you could wander the streets and if you were on the fairgrounds you could wander the lanes after sunset, but the town gates and the fair gates locked down at sunset and did not open again until sunrise. Of course the whole thing was ridiculous since the fairgrounds did not have a wall all the way around it, and according to others the town had numerous ways in and out if you were even somewhat determined.
I was beginning to think the Regent just liked to make up new rules because he could. Bertram made some comment that the Regent was making more and more rules because he was afraid. When I asked him to explain, he said the Regent was beginning to feel the opposition of his folk, who were becoming more and more aware of what was happening in Sommerhjem and more and more concerned that the smooth transition of power would be delayed or would not happen. The Regent was clamping down, trying to show the folk he was more than capable of continuing to rule in these uncertain times. Yet the more he restricted, rather than reassuring the folk, the more problems he caused for Sommerhjem and himself. I could see Bertram’s point. Folks have a tendency to fear what they do not understand, or when the common and accepted changes, they make decisions or take actions based on fear rather than on common sense or decency.
“Master Rollag has asked me to invite all of you to the Glassmakers Guildhall. Time grows short, and we need to begin to plan what is to happen next. He suggested you leave here in small groups of two and stagger your times. Wander your way there as if you are just out for an evening stroll,” suggested Master Clarisse, in a whisper so quiet I almost missed what she was saying. “Once you get to the Glassmakers Guildhall, wander their gardens until you come to the greenhouses. Enter the greenhouse in the middle. We will meet you there.”
When Mistress Jalcones offered the two of them dessert, Master Clarisse somewhat loudly begged off, much to Evan’s disgust and protest. She stated they needed to get back and had just stopped in to say hello. She wanted them to know the royal bakers would be setting up a booth several lanes over if they needed bread or sweet treats. Evan had found that out earlier from his friend Clare.
All this skulking around was beginning to get wearing. I could understand that there were eyes and ears of the Regent everywhere. We had to be extra diligent in making sure we were not overheard or followed, especially when going about the business of either doing things that could cause great bodily harm if caught by those loyal to the Regent or could place the Princess in even more danger than she already was. Bertram and Oscar left first and then the Jalcones. Shueller felt he needed to stay at his homewagon, for because of his small stature he stood out and was determined to draw as little attention to himself as possible. Tannar chose to stay with him and watch over both Shueller and our wagons. Just before it was time for the Princess and me to leave, Shueller called me over.
“Have you noticed that there have been great numbers of rovers arriving this day?” asked Shueller.
I had noticed quite a number of homewagons rumbling in down the various lanes that bisected the large field we were camped in, and other rovers setting up their booths around us. I had not thought very much about it, having other worries. Now that I stopped to think about it, there were more rovers here than at the other fairs we had been at. I guess I had put it down to this being usual since it was the capitol fair, but perhaps not.
“I guess I just expected to see more rovers here,” I said to Shueller.
“More yes, but the numbers that have arrived this day and continue to arrive are far more than I have ever seen. I think Tannar and I must take a risk and venture out this night. I have noticed several rovers pass by that I know quite well, but I am sure they did not recognize my homewagon since it has been repainted. I want to chat with them casually and see if they know why so many rovers are here. I also noticed that your homewagon is attracting attention.”
Shueller must have seen the alarm on my face, for he quickly assured me that those who were either slowing down as they drove by, or those trying to look nonchalant as they wandered by, were almost always quite elderly rovers. He had a theory as to why that was, but he wanted to check it out before he jumped to any conclusions. He did think that those who were so interested in my homewagon were, while curious as to who lived there, more interested in the designs on the outside as opposed to the dwellers on the inside. I hoped he was right.
This would have been a perfect time to bring up the green banner, but then I was not sure how to do that without coming straight out and telling Shueller that I was Thorval Pedersen’s daughter, and he had told me to hang the banner out. Maybe he just assumed I knew what it meant. So far no one had approached me and either asked for pilcher cream or said they were a friend of Haakens, so I had not had to deal with either instance. I was not kidding myself that no one would show up and place either pilcher cream or the name Haakens in their conversation. I just wished I knew what I was supposed to do then. Before I could gather my courage to ask Shueller, the Princess walked over from the homewagon to remind me that we had best head out.
After several weeks on the road, the Princess certainly did not look like the same young woman I had first met. Her hair was darker from the dye, and her skin was much darker from the sun. Her hands had changed from soft and pampered to slightly callused, her walk was more of a ground eating stride than a graceful walk. Most noticeable to me was the look of maturity, which was not all the work of Yola’s cleverness. In addition, she wore the clothing of a rover and had taken to wearing a floppy brimmed hat that placed her face in shadow. Hopefully, to the casual observer, we were just two rovers out walking.
We wandered along the outside lane that was lined with guildhalls and took note of the booths that were being set up. Finally we arrived at the Glassmakers Guildhall grounds and turned in on a foot path that meandered though the beautifully laid out gardens. Greenhouses were quite rare due to the amount of coin someone other than the Glassmakers Guild would have to spend for that much glass. They were one of the wonders of the capitol fair, and starting tomorrow would be open to the public. Inside, many plants from warmer climes grew and flourished. I know Nana would have made a beeline to the greenhouses at the first opportunity, had she been here with me.
Thinking of Nana brought me up short, for I realized I hoped I might see Da this night. I stumbled a bit on the path. The Princess looked back with concern and asked if I was alright. I nodded that I was, but I was still thinking about Da and continued to be distracted. Master Clarisse had been to our cook fire and had not mentioned Da, but then I guess that was understandable. Even so she might have asked me to walk a ways with her and talked to me, but then Evan had been with her. No sense in worrying, for it would not get me any closer to the answer. While I had been wandering around in my head, my feet had followed the Princess, and I almost ran into her when she stopped walking.
“I think this is where we’re supposed to go,” she said.
I looked up and realized we were indeed at the greenhouses and standing outside the door to the middle one. Just as I had that thought, the door opened, and Master Clarisse invited us in. This is another of those places, I thought to myself, that someday I want to return to and take my time. I do not know which was more overwhelming, the amazing array of colors or the exotic smells. I had no time to linger, for Master Clarisse swiftly led us towards the back of the greenhouse and through another door into a potting room attached to the greenhouse. Built of stone with windows only on the south side, the building was lined with long counters. After we entered, Master Clarisse swiftly locked the door behind us, stepped in front of us, and led us down an aisle between counters covered with pots holding plants in various stages of growth to another door, which when opened revealed a short stairs leading downward. Master Clarisse lifted a lantern off a hook just inside the door and descended. We followed.
The room beneath the potting house was cool, damp, and smelled of earth. In the dim light of the lantern, I could see the walls were lined with shelves and suspected that this cellar was used for storage. Master Clarisse moved swiftly across the room. When she came to the end opposite the stairs, she did something I could not see, and the shelving swung forward, revealing an opening in the wall. She motioned we should go through, and then she followed. I heard a slight thud as the shelving moved back into place behind us. Master Clarisse again took the lead, and after a few steps turned left down a short hall, which led us into a room containing a large table, chairs, and a number of folks. Many I had expected, a number who surprised me, and one who made my heart leap for joy.
Da was sitting next to Master Rollag. It was all I could do not to push Master Clarisse aside and rush to him, but common sense prevailed. I did not know how many in this room knew that the man sitting beside Master Rollag was in reality Thorval Pedersen or who thought that he was just the Glassmakers Guild’s driver, Jonzee Smed. Once I had a chance to gather my scattered wits about me, I began to really take in who else was seated around the table. Bertram and Oscar were there along with the Jalcones. Lord Hadrack and Beezle were also among those seated. There were two faces that surprised me, for one was Johan, the long trawler fisher, and the other was Elek. Elek was sitting next to an older woman who had the look and dress of someone from higher society, and the man sitting on the other side of her was the largest man I had ever seen.
I really had no time to think about who was in the room, other than for that quick glance when I entered the room, for the minute the Princess stepped out from behind me and removed her hat, everyone in the room stood and bowed. I was taken aback. Why in the world were they bowing to us, and then it hit me. They were not bowing to us but to the Princess, for all in the room would know that she was not Kiaya the rover but Princess Esmeralda, the heir to the throne.
“I thank you for your kind greeting, but it would be best if all of you would take your seats. For now, for all of our sakes, you must think and react to me as Kiaya the rover. How would it look to others if tomorrow you came by Nissa’s booth and bowed to me while I sat there knitting?”
“Well put, Your Hi . . ., ah, Kiaya,” said Lord Hadrack with a self-deprecating laugh as he held a chair out for her. “Let us all be seated. It is going to be a long night, and we have much to discuss. Hopefully before the sun rises, we will have any number of plans as to what happens next. But first introductions are in order.”
I knew many of the folks around the table by sight and some only by name. The older woman seated next to Elek was Lady Celik, and the huge man next to her was introduced as Seeker Eshana. There were several others, including a tall silver-haired man dressed in forester green who reminded me of the Huntress and was introduced as Silas. Da introduced himself as Jonzee Smed. Once introductions had been carried out, Lord Hadrack suggested it was time to get down to business.
“Here is what we know for sure at this time,” Lord Hadrack stated. “The Regent has issued a statement that the Princess had been out of the capitol and returned only recently quite ill. He made quite a show of the Princess’ carriage returning surrounded by special royal guards, and the Princess moving to the west tower because the air from the sea would be good for what ailed her. Only the royal physician and a few select servants were allowed to be in the west tower, so essentially he has kept the Princess isolated due to her fragile condition. Now all of us here know that this story is a load of, well, we all know that that is a lie. Because of this so-called illness, the Regent called off the Princess’ birth date celebration and her ascendancy to the throne, suggesting he would remain in charge until such time that the Princess is fully recovered and able to assume her duties. This announcement has not set well with folks, and the Regent has been getting a lot of pressure from all sides lately to let others see and speak to the Princess. As you all are well aware, this would be impossible for the Regent to comply with, but he has bought himself some time and breathing room by announcing just this morning that the Princess has taken a turn for the worse and is gravely ill. The royal physician has stated quite clearly that no one will be allowed to see the Princess, for they might cause the Princess to tire and further jeopardize her health. This announcement only buys him some time, and not much of it. He has put posters up all over town that there will be an assembly at the Well of Speaking. My first major worry is that he is going to announce the death of the Princess and declare himself ruler.”
“It is all very well and good to declare the Princess dead. Much lot of good that will do him because he is going to have to produce her body to lie in state. How is he going to do that?” Lady Celik asked.
“That would be my second major worry,” Lord Hadrack said grimly.