Have you lost all your senses Jehnt?” councilman Jaris Freble said. “You cannot talk to the queen in such a manner. She is ruler of the land now.”
Jehnt put up his hand stopping the councilman in mid-sentence.
“No, she will not talk to me or anyone else in the council in such a manner, as you so diplomatically put it. She will have to learn what the King knew. We run the land she is merely the dispute settler.”
You never talked to the King like that.
“Never had to. He understood his role and was paid handsomely for it.”
They entered the ale tent.
“Where is the table for the council?” Jehnt asked the barkeeper.
“Anywhere you want sir,” the bartender said as he pointed around to all the tables.
“Where are the privacy curtains?” Jehnt’s face was turning ed again.
“None were ordered sir,”
“That tears it, if the bitch thinks….”
Jehnt felt a large hand give him a heavy pat on his shoulder.
“I thought someone was bitching about no business today.” Jaris said with a laugh.
“I have no need for reminders of what I have said in the past councilman,” Jehnt's face was flushing even more.
“Calm down old friend before you join the King before your time. Relax and enjoy. The King would have wanted it that way.”
“I suppose you are right but...”
Jehnt was interrupted by the councilman.
“I raise a toast to our King,” Jaris held his tankard high.
“To the King,” He said then took a large gulp.
The Jehnt and the rest of the council joined in.
“To the King.”
The whole group patted the wooden bar three times with their left hands.
The councilman once again held up his tankard.
“To the Queen.”
Again, Jehnt and the council followed. Jehnt made an audible grunt. He spat his mouthful of ale out on to the ground.
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Jehnt slammed his tankard on the bar.
“There are bugs in that brew,” he yelled.
The barkeeper quickly returned to the councilman.
“I am sorry sir,” apologized the barkeeper. “I run a fine establishment and this tent too. I cannot believe there was anything in the tankard but ale.”
“I tell you there was a bug,” Jehnt insisted. “Bring me another filled tankard.
Jehnt pushed his tankard towards the barkeeper.
“I will be sitting with these fine men.”
Jehnt turned his back to the bar and walked to the table in the farthest corner of the tent.
‘Yes sir.’ The barkeeper looked straight at the councilman. “I swear there are no bugs in my ale or tankards.”
“I am sure you are right. He is just upset for the loss of his close friend. No malice should be taken.”
Jaris slid a gold coin in the direction of the barkeeper.
“For your trouble and understanding.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Jaris walked to the farthest table and sat next to Jehnt.
“Have you lost what is left of your senses,” Jaris said softly.
“What?” Jehnt said not looking at the councilman. “I felt a bug or something like that in my mouth.”
“Your words reek of manure Jehnt.”
“Ha, what type of manure Jaris.
“What?”
“You know, cow, sheep or pig. They all have a unique aroma,” Jehnt chuckled.
“You are impossible and quite possibly the biggest horse’s ass in the land,” the councilman said while slowly shaking his head in disbelief.
Jehnt started laughing harder.
“You will get no argument from me on that.”
The bartender stood across the table from the pair.
“Your ale sir, and my most deepest apology.”
“Thank you, kind sir,” Jehnt said with a smile. “And take this as a token of my appreciation.”
Jehnt handed the bar keeper two gold coins.
“Thank you, kind sir,”
The barkeeper gave a graceful bow to the pair and went back to work.
Jehnt turned towards the council man and held up his tankard.
“To the Land.”
“To the Land.”
They clinked their tankard and took a long drink.
***
Jehnt turned towards the council man and held up his tankard.
“To the Land.”
“To the Land.”
They clinked their tankard and took a long drink.
* * *
Queen Ellsbeth Harbeth, ruler of all Estinolla, kept running through her mind. The more she thought about it the more she liked the sound of it. She sat at the white marble table in a black iron chair on the balcony overlooking the festivities. She held her wineglass by the stem. She swirled the wine and watched the sun sparkles play in the red liquid.
No, she thought. Just, Queen Ellsbeth, ruler of Estinolla. Yes, I like the sound of that much better. She let out an audible giggle. She rose out of her chair and walked to the balcony railing. She set her glass on the ledge and looked over the festivities. The sunlight made her red satin dress glow. She saw a few take notice of her standing there. She waved to the people and she saw the excitement in their faces as she acknowledged their existence. Most of the crowd gathered below stopped their revelry and looked up to the balcony. They waved at the newly widowed Queen and she waved back.
Queen Ellsbeth turned around and saw a chamber maid dressed in a black dress and white pinafore waiting inside the double-door opening to the balcony. Her golden hair had the shine of youth. She stood quietly with her arms behind her crossed at the wrists. She gave the queen a polite curtsy.
“What is your name child,”
“Andrea, mam. Andrea Bastinice”
“Andrea, how would you like to share a glass of wine with me?”
“Mam?”
“Go get a glass from the cabinet and come join me.”
Andrea stood there for a short time.
“Go child, fetch a glass,” Queen Ellsbeth had a slight chuckle in her voice.
When Andrea returned, she saw that the queen had returned to the black iron chair. She noticed that the queen had removed her ankle-high boots and untied her long black hair.
“Come Andrea,” the Queen said as she motioned Andrea to sit at the table. “Come join me.”
Andrea slowly approached the table.
“Sit down child. It is alright.”
Andrea careful set the crystal wine glass on the table and politely sat down. The queen picks up Andrea’s glass and filled it with red wine.
“Here you are my dear,” Ellsbeth said as she handed the full glass of wine to Andrea. “You are the first one to share a drink with the new Ruler of Estinolla.”
“Thank you, mam.” Andrea said not knowing what else to say.
The queen held out her glass. Andrea stared like a frightened deer.
“Pick up your glass child and let us toast to my rein as Queen Ellsbeth, Ruler of all Estinolla.”
Andrea did as she was told, and the two women clinked glasses and took a drink.
“Oh my, this is strong,” Andrea said as she winced.
The queen started laughing.
“Have you not drunk wine before?”
“Yes Mam, but only on special occasions and it was not this strong,” Andrea said as she put down her glass.
The queen laughed again.
“Well, this is a special occasion Andrea,” the queen said as she leaned back in her chair and lifted her glass to the sun again. She swirled the wine, then looked back at Andrea. “You are the first person to have a drink with the first woman ruler of Estinolla. For the rest of your life you will be able to say that. Won’t that be lovely. Now, let’s have a drink.”
“Yes Mam.”
They clinked glasses. Andrea wince a little again. The queen laughed.
“I suppose it is a little strong to those not used to good wine,” the queen said just before she took another drink. She motioned to Andrea to take another too.
“This wine comes from my father’s land. Best land for grape growing anywhere. I used to play between the rows of vines and helped with the early morning harvests.”
The queen slammed her palm on the table, startling Andrea.
“Damn him, Damn him to hell.”
She took a deep breath and a drink, then calmly said, “Enough about me, let me hear your story.”
“Mam? My story?”
“Yes, I want to hear how you came to be in the employ of the castle.”
“I came here to get away from my family, mam,” Andrea said as she took another small drink.
“Why child?”
“For as long as I can remember my father was a drunkard. He would slap my mother and I around and punch and kick my brother when he came home from a night of drinking. Mornings weren’t much better.”
Andrea stopped to sigh and take a drink. The queen did the same as she attentively listened.
“One day I heard there was a hiring fair for the castle, and I went and took my chances.”
“What about your family?”
“I take what little I have left after I pay my room and board to help my mother. She takes in laundry and mending. My brother helps too but I am not sure what he does. He is only ten.
“Where does your father work, child?”
“He’s the floor-sweep at Pigknee’s Inn. He gets paid in drink. Never seen him bring much coin home.”
The queen took Andrea’s glass and filled it again.
“On my, I really shouldn’t,”
“It’s alright I’m the Queen.”
“The Ruler of all Estinolla, mam.”
They both laughed and had another drink of the potent wine. The queen leaned in toward Andrea.
“Maybe I should have your father arrested.”
“Too late for that my Queen. My father disappeared three weeks ago.”
“So, the drunk ran off.”
The queen shook her head in discuss and took another drink.
“No mam, he has nowhere to run or no one to run to. He just disappeared.”
Andrea stopped and took a drink. The queen followed Andrea’s lead.
“Some say my mother killed him, but I know that’s not true. She's so heart-broken she barely eats.”
Andrea sighed and took another drink. The queen did the same.
“She really loved that fat bastard. She blamed herself and circumstances for his drinking and foul moods.”
Andrea shook her head and took another drink. The queen did the same.
“Some say my brother killed him. I can believe that. He stopped crying one day in the middle of one of the beatings and the look he gave my father was frightening. My father punched him in the face. He still did not cry. He was only eight. Just can’t see how a ten-year-old could move that fat bastard’s body.”
The queen let out a little laugh. Andrea watch as the queen acted out her brother trying to pull his father’s body. Andrea let out a laugh.
“It just doesn’t seem possible,” Andrea said between laughs. “The way I see it, the more I can help my brother get into Candidate School the more it will help my mother.”
They both took a drink and composed themselves.
“What is your brother’s name, child.”
“Bortine. He was named after…”
“Bortine Westmond Hellgard,” the queen interrupted. “The bravest man to walk this land or any land.”
“Yes, mam.”
“Andrea, fetch me another maid and bring her here.”
“Yes, Mam.”
Andrea slowly stood up from her chair.
“Oh my, that wine really is strong.”
The queen smiled.”
“Take your time child, no need to be falling down,” the queen was laughing as she watched Andrea navigate a path to the door.
Andrea walk through the large room slowly and with a slight stagger. She pulled the large door open with some effort. She leaned out and on the door. She saw a maid in the hallway.
“Marthleth come here.”
Marthleth stopped in her tracks and looked at Andrea.
‘What?”
“Come here, the queen wants you.”
“The Queen?” Marthleth scurried over to Andrea.
The look of puzzlement on Marthleth’s face made Andrea chuckle.
Andrea held the door open and Marthleth entered.
“What does she want?”
Andrea looked at her and shrugged her shoulders.
“Have you been drinking?”
Andrea just smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
The two maids walked through the room together. Marthleth stopped at the balcony door. Andrea continued to the table and sat down. Marthleth stared at Andrea with a shock look. Her mouth gaped open a small bit when she saw Andrea take a drink.
“Queen Ellsbeth, this is maid Marthleth Towners.”
“Hello Marthleth Towners.”
Marthleth curtsied.
“Your Majesty,” Marthleth replied in a soft voice.
“Come here child,” Queen Ellsbeth said before she took a drink. “No need to be so shy.”
“Yes mam.”
Marthleth stopped next to Andrea’s chair.
“How may I be of service, mam.”
The queen stood up and walked to Marthleth and placed a hand on each of Marthleth’s shoulders. She looked into the quivering maid in eyes.
“I have a very important task for you,” Queen Ellsbeth glanced at Andrea and winked at her. “I need you to find one of our biggest and strongest guard and go to the festival. Then I want you two to find a young named Bortine Bastinice and bring him to me.”