Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web - Volume 1 (65 page)

“No matter where I go, trouble seems to find
me
!” William couldn’t help but laugh as they wandered through a crowd of passersby blanketed by the night. “So let’s not rush to find it any faster, okay?”

They returned to the estate an hour later. William dropped off Aaron near the kitchen quarters just as Nyla was passing by. She inquired of the boys if they had had an enjoyable evening in town.

“Very much so,” William replied, recounting all the sights Aaron had shown him. “It felt good to wander about with no place to go, as if I were back home with my brother. We’re going to explore the docks tomorrow evening, too.”

“If such is your desire,” she said. “I prefer sitting by a fire on cool nights such as these and sipping a cup of blackberry tea while catching up on my mending. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do now,” she said, flashing a pleasant smile. “Goodnight, Prince William. Goodnight, Aaron.”

They said goodnight to Nyla before she disappeared down the corridor. William then left Aaron to search for Eucádus and hopefully learn about any developments in the upcoming battle with King Drogin. But when he was informed that Eucádus was still engaged in a meeting, he decided to go to his room on the third floor and lie down, the fresh air from his recent walk and the rigors of the past weeks finally catching up with him. He promptly fell asleep when his head hit the feather pillow, enjoying a dreamless, recuperative rest until the first rays of the rising sun peeked through his window shutters the following morning.

On that same evening, about an hour after she had left William and Aaron near the kitchen quarters and returned to her room, Nyla donned a heavy cloak, draped the hood over her head and stepped quietly out a side entrance of the estate as she had done from time to time on many evenings throughout the year. A guard standing watch greeted her with a smile.

“Evening, Miss Nyla. Out for another walk?”

“Most definitely, Mr. Souder. I feel as if I’ve been cooped up in that kitchen for a week straight!” she replied with a genial laugh. “I shall stop by and visit my sister as well. Mildred has been a tad under the weather lately.”

“Sorry to hear that, ma’am. My best to her,” he replied. “Oh, and that bit of roast beef one of your workers sent out earlier was beyond delicious. I thank you for that, as always.”

“I’m only too happy to share extras, Mr. Souder. Until later,” she said with a pleasant wave before disappearing in the glow of a nearby lamppost lighting the way along the main walk leading into town.

Shortly afterward, Nyla wandered the murky streets of Melinas, occasionally glancing from side to side, though certain nobody passing by could identify her. After walking along the main road past a butcher shop now closed for the night, she slipped around the corner to her right and headed down a dark, narrow alley, her footsteps echoing off the cobblestones. A moment later she stopped at a wooden door, but before knocking, she looked up and down at each entrance to the alley. Seeing no one approaching or passing by, she rapped upon the door, impatiently waiting for a reply. After a second knock, she heard a muffled voice, apparently its owner not in a hurry to open up.

“I’m coming,” somebody muttered on the other side. Soon the door was unlocked and opened a crack, a face peering out into the cool darkness. “Who is it?”

“I’m looking for Bosh. Is he here?”

“Who’s asking?”

“
I’m
asking,” Nyla said sternly, stepping into the faint firelight escaping through the crack and removing her hood. When the man recognized her face, he quickly stepped back and opened the door all the way, inviting her in.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, glancing down both ends of the alleyway. After she entered the room, he closed the door and locked it. “You’re not supposed to visit this place, Nyla. You know the procedure.”

She sighed, not in the mood to be lectured to. “I helped design the procedure. Now is Bosh here or not? I need to speak with him at once. I have important information that couldn’t wait to go through proper channels.”

“All right,” the man said, appearing tired and disheveled. “He’s in the back room discussing things with the others. I’ll get him.”

“Thank you.”

A few moments later, a tall, unshaven man sporting a tangle of dark hair and dressed as if he worked on a fishing boat entered the room, a smile of surprise registering upon his face the instant he saw Nyla. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he said, his voice grave yet exhibiting an affectionate edge as he rushed to her.

“I got tired of standing over steaming kettles and listening to chatty underlings,” she joked. She took his hands in hers and kissed him, letting the man hold her in his arms. “How are you, Bosh?”

“Better now,” he replied, kissing Nyla on the back of her head as she rested it on his shoulder. “Still, why are you here? What’s so important that you ignored procedure?”

She stood back and looked Bosh in the eyes, a thin, knowing smile upon her face. “I may be able to lead you to some valuable information that will help our effort. But I had to be quick about it. We may not have another opportunity.”

“Go on,” he said, inviting her to sit at a small table against one wall. A candle flickered on the tabletop in the otherwise spartan room. Low flames burned in a nearby fireplace.

“An army from the west has recently arrived, if you haven’t already noticed.”

“How could anyone miss it?” he said. “Word has already been sent south with the particulars.”

Nyla explained about the gathering in King Basil’s room earlier that day with King Cedric, Prince William, Eucádus and the others. “Later, they met for lunch to strategize against King Drogin, no doubt, except for King Basil. He is still very ill.”

“That’s not surprising, Nyla. But unless you were allowed to sit in on those gatherings, how does this help us?”

She smiled. “Because I know exactly where the young prince of Montavia is going to be tomorrow evening, nearly alone and unprotected. Can you imagine what military details he might possess?”

Bosh rubbed his whiskers, suddenly interested in where the conversation was heading. “Tell me how you know this.”

Nyla explained that Prince William had struck up a friendship with Aaron, one of her kitchen workers, and told of their planned excursion along the docks on the following evening. “Should you somehow confiscate that young bit of royalty, think of the benefit to our cause, to our leader.”

“I’m doing just that,” Bosh said, nodding.

“Drogin planted us here months before the war started, and though I’m able to glean a few scraps of information from inside the estate from time to time, it can’t compare to anything like this opportunity,” she said, brimming with excitement. “What propitious timing too, with Drogin on the verge of an attack.”

Bosh reached across the table and held Nyla’s hands. “This could be very useful, my dear. Tell me more.”

She gave Bosh detailed descriptions of William and Aaron. “If one of your men keeps a lookout of the estate before sunset, you will most certainly see the boys as they leave. You can follow them from there to the docks so there is no mistake.”

“There are several vantage points close by, yet still far enough away to remain discreet,” he said. “Though I feel confident that this war will end in our victory, I won’t turn up my nose at a possible advantage like this.”

“I thought not, so I risked the visit,” Nyla said. She kissed Bosh’s hand still warmly clasped to hers. “But I must leave soon. I’m never out too long on my walks and don’t want to arouse anyone’s suspicion. I’m visiting my sister again tonight.”

Bosh grinned. “You don’t have a sister.”

“But I’ve always wanted one.”

“When we’re back in Zaracosa where we belong, you’ll be so happy that you won’t even think about such things,” he said as he walked Nyla to the door. “We’ll have much to do then, helping Drogin rule these lands as they should be. Imagine the rewards he’ll send our way if this latest ploy helps our cause.”

“I’m imagining,” Nyla said. “But even if it doesn’t...”

Bosh nodded, a snakelike smile beneath his furrowed brow. “Don’t worry. Prince William and his friend won’t be returning to the estate. You’ll have to hire another worker to wash the crockery, I’m afraid.”

“Oh well, the inconveniences of war.” She kissed Bosh goodbye, caressing his face with her hand. “Farewell, husband,” she said before draping the hood of her cloak over her head.

“Farewell, wife,” he replied with a distant smile. “Watch yourself.”

“I will,” she promised, gazing into his eyes one last time before stepping out the door and back into the cold, black chill of fading autumn.

After a thick, morning fog lingered upon the lake and surrounding area for a time, the next day turned sunny and cool as billowing clouds sailed lazily overhead. King Cedric, Captain Silas, Eucádus and the other captains and Clearing leaders made separate rounds to the various battalions encamped in the fields to the west and south of King Basil’s estate. The King himself remained inside, though received regular updates from couriers on the battle preparations. Troop movements to the north to meet up with the raft builders from Altaga, and to the south to directly confront Drogin’s main army, were scheduled to begin in three days.

Today, William had the pleasure of accompanying Eucádus and Ramsey as they inspected and consulted with some of the troops stationed on the western field. He proudly rode upon Lester as the trio made their rounds all morning and into the afternoon. On a few occasions, he rode alone to the estate to deliver correspondences directly to King Basil as did other couriers from different locations.

As Eucádus and Ramsey neared one tent to discuss matters with several company leaders, William gazed about at the activity swirling around him, a heightened sense of anticipation enveloping the mass of military might. Some men engaged in training exercises, the clanking of metal swords and the swish of speeding arrows wafting through the air. Others tended to the mundane tasks of stoking the bonfires, washing laundry, mending tents and preparing meals for the sea of soldiers. Sweet smelling wood smoke drifted into the sky and dispersed on a mischievous breeze. He viewed the landscape as a stunning and exhilarating sight, yet knew that when this vast engine of war finally moved forward and the clash of swords drew actual blood, his mind would harbor none of the romantic notions in which he now indulged.

“Such an impressive view never wears off,” Ramsey commented to him as they wandered through one company of soldiers near noontime among a sea of colorful flags and banners fluttering in the breeze. “It’s amazing how a committed group of men will fight for the freedom of others when they’re organized behind great leaders. Yet I’m equally amazed, though in a different way, when I witnessed so many men from my country of Linden tolerating the slow corruption of our nation to Vellan’s will. It was as if they simply gave up without a fight, letting him methodically wrap up Linden’s cherished way of life in twisted webs of deceit like a gluttonous spider.” He shrugged as he looked at William. “I will never understand it to my dying day.”

“Nor would I,” William said, “though I’m pleased that none in Montavia were happy to see Caldurian and his Island troops attack our kingdom.”

“But your land was attacked in front of everyone’s eyes. The invasion of Linden, Surna and Harlow was executed subtly at first as too many leaders walking the corridors of power were corrupted one by one, ultimately blinded as to where their loyalties should have lied. Now the mountain nations are on the verge of an Enári invasion to follow the political dismantling of our governments. We must succeed here to have any hope for victory back home.”

William slapped Ramsey on the back and offered an encouraging smile. “I’m certain we’ll succeed. I admit I was less hopeful when I heard the sad stories about your homeland during the war council. But standing here in the light of day and seeing all this before me, my confidence is renewed.”

“Those are heartening words,” he replied as he rubbed a hand through his mop of dark brown hair. “Let’s hope that sentiment remains when gray clouds gather and darkness falls.”

“Always the optimist!” William joked. “But before I ride back to deliver Eucádus’ next report to King Basil, let’s find a bite to eat. No matter how bad things might appear, a good, hot meal is sure to turn your thinking around.”

After a brief lunch with Ramsey and a few other soldiers, William rode back to the estate to deliver his latest report to King Basil. The King was in a fine mood, having finished eating lunch himself after waking up from a short nap. He invited William to stay for tea, eager to speak with the young prince about matters other than war and politics. William was delighted to join him, sitting opposite the monarch in the same chair King Cedric had occupied upon their arrival. A stream of bright sunshine pierced through the partially closed drapes on the lakeside window, scattering the dusky shadows that had gathered inside the room.

“I grow weary of the constancy of this struggle and crave some conversation, however short, about any other subject,” the King said as William poured them tea from a steaming kettle. “I used to quiz my sons, Victor and Morton, on the names of the various mountains in the Ridloe chain or the types of industry prevalent in each province of Rhiál and such. They seemed to enjoy it, especially after they grew smart enough to counter my inquiries with questions of their own. When the boys stumped me, they had a fine time announcing their victory to any who would listen!”