Don't Forget to Dream (45 page)

On the lower level the hall connec
ted to the main Palace entrance.
People
of all stations and task
were
striding by.
Most faces were familiar to her;
chambermaids, serving men, court officials, guardsmen and several well attired nobles. Smiling gently, just enough to be polite, Rhyla nodded her head to a few people as she passed but kept her head down and strode with purpose. She almost made it to the end of the grand hallway before she heard her name being called.

Initially it sounded a soft curious exclamation, "Rhyla!" but was soon followed by a more forceful, friendly but insistent call "Rhyla, there you are."

She had no option but to pause once she recognised Gina, Mistress of the Chambermaids. Quickly fixing a warm smile in place she turned, "Gina, good morning, how are you?" she asked as the tall woman crossed the hall, leaving a couple of very young chambermaids standing with arms full of folded linens.

"How am I? How are you is the question. They say you were in a battle and s
aved Prince Callum's life. As
you haven't been seen for days we were beginning to
think that
the rumours of your life
threatening injuries were true.
Elsie has barely been seen but when she is, she is ru
nning on some errand or another, n
ever stopping for a word."

Rhyla silently blessed her
friend
’
s
loyalty, a twinge of guilt twisting her insides, right alongside
that of her
her
anxiety. She forced out a gentle giggle, "I thank you for your concerns Gina but you needn't have feared. I took only a few bruises and small wounds. It was Prince Callum who killed those
attackers;
I merely distracted one for a while, and
did what little I could for the Princes
’
wounds before we could return. He is the hero in all this."

Gina grinned broadly, "He is a brave man our Prince
, that is without doubt. We have heard
of his recovery of course but few mentioned you. I really feared for you with Mistress O'Mara tending you in near secret."

Rhyla couldn't help but glance
around them hoping that others had not been
listening to their conversation. I
t was hardly a secluded position. Thankfully Gina didn't speak loudly.

"I guess th
ere was nothing to talk about, a
servant with a couple of minor wounds resting for a few days is hardly worth comment," Rhyla insisted with another smile.

"Well, I wanted to know how you fared," Gina reiterated firmly with her hands on her hips.

Rhyla reached out to clasp her
friend
’
s
hand
, easing some of her irritation.
“
I thank you for caring so.
It
warms my heart to know
I wasn't completely forgotten with
all t
he busy goings on of this place, b
ut I must delay our reunion if you don't
mind Gina;
Lady Emelia has sent me to fetch supplies and I don't want to be tardy on my first day back to work."

"I am sure my Lady won't expect you to be running about exhausting yourself either," Gina chided gently.

"I know but she has been so good to me
.
I don't want to disappoint her."

Gina's smile broadened, "I doubt you could achieve that if you tried,
”
she said as she turned away, promptly scolding the young maids still standing where she had left them.

Turning quickly Rhyla hastened down the hall beside the grand stairwell to the library. Gently knocking on the tall polished doors she waited for one to
be
open
ed
. Eventually the right door opened enough to reveal the softly lit chamber with its heavy
shelves covering the walls, neat
ly filled with rows of books and stacks of rolled manuscripts. To spend a day, an hour even in the royal library was a dream she had dwelled on many times since she had first seen
its
grandeur. Of course she
had
visited
this magnificent room
many times, but she had never been given leave to roam the shelves, free to peruse the spectrum of such an enormous collection. Lady Emelia usually sent her with a specific title or author in mind, or on an errand such as today.

With a soft blush for her daydreaming Rhyla dropped a quick shallow curtsy to the young scribe who stood waiting on her. He was a thin lad with a
reddish tinge to his fair hair;
the usual cloak of a scribe hung on his narrow frame and ink stained the side of his nose. She recognised him from previous visits, even though his bland expression did not reciprocate the emotion.

"Good morning Pallon. Lady Emelia has requested a supply of ink and parchment if you have some available," Rhyla said
, smiling warmly.
She was getting better at fixing a smile
on demand.

Pallon nodded without any change in expression, "Good morning Rhyla, I am sure we have some to spare for the Lady." He opened the door fully and indicated the small door to the side of the room. "Master Ivan is in his office."

"Thank you Pallon," she said and made her way to the familiar office of the royal
scribe
’
s
senior assistant. The door s
tood ajar as was often the case.
She
knocked gently before easing it open further. "Master Ivan, can you spare a minute?" Rhyla asked smiling at the slight gentleman peering closely at a rolled manuscript. His
room was cluttered as always.
Rows of shelves containing piles of paper
bound books and an array of jars and p
ots from which he made the inks were all visible to Rhyla.
Watching him so focused on the words in front of him, the remains of his breakfast still on the edge of his desk, she
briefly wondered if there was
such a thing as a portly scribe.

"Rhyla!" he exclaimed when he looked up and realised who had addressed him. The manuscript was quickly put aside as he stood to greet
her. "It has been quite a while since your last visit. Elsie has been giving you the books I chose hasn't she?"

"Oh yes she has. Thank you so much for them
. I have enjoyed them immensely.
You
chose well."

"I must admit to recognising a pattern in the titles Lady Emelia favours
,
but felt you may prefer a little variation." He paused for a moment, his initial confidence in discussing his books subtly
, became
a little uncomfortable before
he decided
to continue, "You are well again I presume?"

She smiled again to reassure him, "I am doing well, thank you for asking. I have been given leave to be a
bout my duties once again which is actually why I am here.
Lady Emelia has requested a supply of ink and parchment if you could spare some."

"Wasting no time," Master Ivan said softly followed by a gentle chuckle. "You are one of the hardest workers I have ever had the pleasure of knowing
,
Rhyla." He noticed the flush to her cheeks before continuing in a more formal tone. "I have some spare supplies over here. Lady
Emelia is lucky to have you.
If
you are looking for a change of position, th
e library would welcome you.
Your
hand is finer than mine
and
you would make an excellent scribe."

Rhyla blushed further as
he walked to the table with the supplies, "That is very kind of you to say Master Ivan but I shall be remaining with Lady Emelia, she has been so good to me. I like helping her with he
r letters and reading for her. I g
uess I already am a scribe, if not formally."

Master Ivan gathered several sheets of fresh parchment and a newly mixed bottle of ink and passed them to her. "It is good to see you up and well again. I was a little concerned after hearing what had happene
d. There was very little detail about the dreadful incident.
The guardsmen surprisingly said
little for such men. When you didn't appear after several days I was worried
that
your injuries were more than we were first told."

Rhyla couldn't help but smile broadly and blush slightly at a man she now realised was a friend rather than just a fellow worker. "I am very touched by your concern Master Ivan, but you needn't have feared for me. I had best be returning. Thank you for the supplies."

Master Ivan nodded and turned back towards his
untidy
desk
that was littered with
stacks of books, papers and rolled manuscripts. "Yes, yes I have enough to occupy my time. Perhaps I will see you at din
n
er later."

"That would be nice Master Ivan, if Lady Emelia chooses to dine in the hall of course."

"Yes, yes as you say," he replied already appearing distracted by the manuscript he had been reading before she had interrupted.

"Thank you once again," Rhyla said as she departed, leaving the door slightly ajar, just as she had found it.

The library itself was a tranquil haven. Pallon was busy sorting books onto a section of shelves on the opposite side of the grand room and another young man whom she didn't recognise was fetching more items from a row of large desks. Resisting the urge to browse the titles
,
Rhyla let herself out and made her way to Lady Emelia's sunroom. There were only three halls to manoeuvre and with the stack of papers and ink jar in her hands, she was greeted with warm welcoming smiles and the occasional comment on seeing her up and about looking so well. She swiftly passed on by with nods and brief words to those who spoke to her directly, attempting to appear focused and in a hurry. Within minutes she arrived at the door to the sunroom and knocked gently. After a brief pause the door was opened by Elsie who smiled and opened the door widely without comment.

"Good
,
Rhyla, you were prompt. I feared you would be delayed," Lady Emelia commented at the sight of her entering the sunroom, "expelling the t
ales of your grand adventure." s
he added with a slight grin.

Rhyla curtsied as she entered then hurried on to place the items on the table they used for their paperwork. "I did have a few kind people ask after my health but I took care not to take too long."

"Yes, I suppose Master Stephen has waited long enough for our replies. From what little I have been able to read
, he
still has concerns for the harvest, yet his yield estimates are higher than previous years and our earlier estimations. I can tell by his tone that he still frets over the losses in the fire, despite our frequent reassurances," Lady Emelia said as Rhyla gathered the
letters and methodically began reading through them. There was certainly a lot for th
em to review. T
he harvest, stores for the winter, urgent repairs
that were needed before winter arrived as well as
plans for the spring
sowing
, thoughts on the mid
-
winter
celebrations and something
on the situation of some of the tenants and servants of the estate
s were
just a few things needing the attention of Lady Emelia.

Elsie quietly poured fresh tea at regular intervals and fetched their lunch as Rhyla and Lady Emelia meticulously worked through the list. Carefully, one point at a time they disc
ussed Master Stephen's concerns. Lady Emelia
questioed
Rhyla on her views and considerations of the issue at hand before making her decision and having Rhyla write it down for her. Rhyla was quietly relieved that their conversations flowed just a
s they always had, comfortable and
familiar and that her opinions were still valued.

As the light faded outside
,
Lady Emelia called a halt to their tasks. They dined quietly in their sunroom, enjoying the lingering warmth from the day without the need to light the fire. Rhyla was content to casually discuss the more personal affairs of the estates and the comings and goings of th
e Palace in their intimate room.
She
had feared Lady Emelia would insist on dining in the great hall. It was soon after their main meal was finished and they were nibbling on slices of fruit when Lady Emelia mentioned that King Liam was insisting on continuing with a harvest celebrations. At such an event there would be numerous commendations and gifts bestowed on the men who exc
elled in the recent fighting.
Rhyla settled
into bed that night
relieved that no mention was made of Callum and the scene Lady Emelia had witnessed.