Episode 3
Previously on Snow...
"They are Lord Gerald's men" Alice said, hiding with Snow.
Lady Myre was getting annoyed by the minute. Lord Lucas heard a crack behind him.
"Come get it,you oaf" Snow said, looking up to the baker.
" Get her! Now!"the young soldier commanded.
" The Lady has no ill intention towards the State and the empire, your Highness"lord Lucas defended.
Now...
Snow was breathing hard,as she and Winsley headed back home. The bag she was holding in the morning was filled with the harvest of their theft. They still needed some carrots,tomatoes and onions,but they would surely have a fine meal tonight. She walked on the snow crusts and her blue eyes traced the track along the pathway, leading to somewhere like a garden.
There was a terrace of all the things she needed. Wild tomatoes, onions,carrot, cabbage and all. Maybe they were planted by someone after all. But she didn't care,as she told herself that it was wild,and was not planted by anyone. She started to pick as much as she wanted. But surprisingly, Winsley didn't follow her to the small garden, where there was a thin river of water covered with snow. He was barking.
"Winsley, what's wrong?" She asked, pausing a bit,but the dog kept barking. She had just picked an half dozen of tomatoes, equally six carrots,two onions,and two wraps of cabbages. They still needed more. She knew it was not enough. "Winsley,boy,you would have more than enough to eat,if you cooperate with this little lady" Snow said, resuming to pick the vegetables.
But Winsley kept barking. Snow sensed a presence,just as she had always done. She abandoned the vegetables left in the garden, and walked closer to Winsley. She crouched low to his side,"What's wrong?" She asked, but the dog kept barking. Snow looked around. The atmosphere was tense and suspicious. She could bet her all that someone was watching her. Winsley suddenly ran off, expecting her to follow. And she did.
A man in black was peeping at them,his lips black as well. He drew his hoodie.
*. *. *
"Lord Lucas is back. He looks quite upset" Harriet Beecher came in, addressing her mistress sitting at the table, reading some scrolls as usual. Lady Myre loved reading,and she had a vast knowledge of most things. She was reading about the Great Tibor tribe,the empire's greatest enemy. She had read about the people,and they were a bunch of people that still had the hearts of the early men. But they were a vast tribe,with incredible weapons. Both the men and women were skilled warriors.
"He probably won't come for me. That is just what I want" lady Myre said, closing the book in front of her,to turn to Harriet.
"Actually,you are wrong. I think he's coming" Harriet bowed as Lucas came in,still in his uniform. Lady Myre rose gracefully,"My Lord" she curtsied.
"Leave us" he said, turning to Harriet,who bowed as she went out. After she closed the door behind her, Lucas spoke,"The king's eyes are on you. Why do you leave traces each time you go to the Temple?"
" Forgive me,my Lord. I was hungry for some meat,and my thirst for it was great,so,I took to killing the animals with my bare hands. But I did it in such a way that no one would ever think it was a human that killed the animals"
Lucas heaved, looking at his wife. " Or perhaps,the king has other intentions towards me,or what..."
" I'd see you some other time."Lucas said, cutting her off and leaving. Lady Myre heaved.
*. *. *
"Lady Ella, lord Simon is here" a young maid came into Ella's room. Ella looked up, surprised.
"Tell him I'd be out in a minute" she said, discharging the poor maid before she vented her anger on him.
The unclear dressing mirror on her dressing table didn't help matters,as she quickly looked at herself. She got up, and adjusted her skirt. Even though she didn't like Lord Simon,she didn't want to lose her lady charms in front of him. She stepped out of the room and saw his back turned, looking at the setting sun from her upstairs chamber. She owned the whole floor. His hair was wavy and thick. He had dark chocolate eyes, handsome face,and a gentle aura. He smiled as she approached. She made a curtsey hastily,"What are you..."
"Never mind, I'm not here for you. I've come to see your father" he said, cutting off her next statement.
Ella relaxed. "For what?" She asked out of the blues, surprising him,knowing that he knew she didn't like interfering in the men's business. "Some drug barons are invading the town. They are causing ruckus,and the Emperor is holding the governor responsible,thus he asked for my advice" Simon said, turning away from her.
" Oh"
"Heard Lord Gerald had his men after an ostracized that came into town today"
Ella looked dreamy," He always comes out cool in everything"she said, smiling foolishly at nothing in particular. Her hair was brushing her forehead and cheeks as she smiled.
Simon squared his jaw. "I guess I'm needed in my own home than here" he said, going away. But as he went,he said,"It's a beautiful night, lady Ella. You must not let it go to waste"
Ella wondered what he meant.
*. *. *
Snow moved from the scullery to the kitchen. She wondered why Winsley had been barking. The moment they had entered the house,he had stopped. She also wondered why Alice disappeared suddenly. But she remembered that she had left her.
She started bringing the dishes. The aroma of the dishes filled the room,as she placed them on the table one by one. Winsley's drooled,as he watched Snow seating down now at the table.
Snow smiled, watching this fine meal she could only eat once in a while. Plate of pie, bread and cheese, broth and hot and tea. She was happy, seeing the bread looking so rich with the sliced cheese. Everything smelt so nice. She smiled.
"Old boy,you should take the first bite. It's all thanks to you I got dinner on my table tonight" snow said wearily. She broke the pie into two and gave it to Winsley,who ate in haste. Winsley had been able to steal as much as six pies, which means they would be eating fine for a few more days. She rubbed the dog's head and smiled again as she took the pie herself to eat. She nodded. The best pie she had ever stolen.
*. *. *
Lord Lucas could not sleep. He was seated at the open veranda outside his upstairs room. The night air was cool and soothing, even though he was still mad at the emperor for getting interested in his wife.
"My Lord,the governor seeks for you" someone said from behind him. It was Wright.
"Seek for me? This late? Why?" Lord Lucas asked, getting up now. Wright walked closer to him,"My Lord, I think the other council of elders are there. It must be something very important. All other Generals are there, except Lord Gerald Maybe a few governors too" he said.
" Perhaps a coup"lord Lucas guessed.
Wright was not surprised.
*. *. *
There was chattering all around. Distinguished men sat around a large table that had wine and chicken. The fat chickens sat in the golden bowls comfortably,slices of carrots, green onions and other spices on them.
Then,a man wearing an obviously expensive robe was seated at the end of the table. It was Governor Dawkins. Lady Ella's father.
There was silence when Lord Lucas came in. They all watched him. Several governors were there as well.
"My governor, it's a pleasure to see you at this time of the night" Lord Lucas said.
" What are you implying? That the governor cannot meet you at this time?"one of the Generals,who had a big beard said. Lord Lucas glared at him,then turned to the governor," Forgive me,my Lord. I didn't mean it that way. It's an honor for me to serve you and the State anytime."he said.
" General Lucas, would you occupy the last seat reserved for you?"the governor asked.
Lucas did as told. A young maiden came to serve him some wine. He suspected some foul play. Lord Gerald was nowhere in sight, and he knew why. He was the emperor's man. The General the emperor liked most. It was no surprise,as Lord Gerald was loyal.
"General Lucas,how pleasurable it is,to have you in our midst. You must be wondering why I had to summon you this late."the governor said.
Lord Lucas nodded. A plate of a big chunk of chicken was passed to him. He only watched the well garnished chicken. " It has come to my attention,that the emperor is planning a war against me, even though I don't know why"the governor said.
" What do you suggest we do?"Lord Lucas asked.
" Well, here are a few trusted men and me. We are planning to go to war with the Emperor"the governor said.
This was crazy. How could the Emperor want to go against a state under his rule? This was crazy and unbelievable to Lord Lucas. He knew something was off,unless it was a personal battle, which involved both the emperor and the Governor of the Old town state.
"My Lord,I might suggest that we..."
"He has an interest in your wife" the governor said, cutting Lord Lucas off. There were murmurs all around.
Lucas looked angry again. He hated hearing that word. It made his head spark. He thought about it. It would not be a bad thing to take down the emperor,as he was going overboard with his wife. Lady Myre.
"Yes. The Emperor had wanted to take lady Myre for himself while she was fifteen,but her father had to trade something else with the Emperor, but it still did not change his lustful feelings for her" one of the governors said.
Lucas fisted a ball. The words were getting on his nerves. He knew he had to calm it.
"Perhaps,it would be the best to destroy your rival early on, general Lucas. Think about it" the governor said, while others nodded and chatted.
Lucas didn't want to join the war. He knew they were using him,his anger and hatred for the Emperor, but the thought of him coming for Myre was frustrating,and he said,"We need a plan"
The governor nodded approvingly.
*. *. *
It was midnight. The moon was up in the sky. The atmosphere was tense,and everything was quiet. The far away howls of wolves could be heard.
Snow turned on the bed. Then suddenly,she flashed open her eyes, sensing a presence. She saw Winsley sleeping peacefully by the foot of the bed. She sat up. She needed to put on the light. As she reached for the candle,she knocked it over the table,and it fell down and broke. She was frustrated.
She managed to get the little part of the candle on. She stepped out of the bed. The air around was suspicious, and she had a feeling that a knock would soon come on their door. She went to the back of the door, readily prepared with a knife she had always been holding on her way to Old town. She looked at Winsley again. He was still sleeping.
She looked up with a start,as the lock of the door came sounding unlocked. She was panting quietly. Was it any of the people she had stolen from? Or the soldiers from earlier? No,it couldn't be. They couldn't have probably traced her down to the forest. All the same,anyone it was must be ready for a stab. She grabbed the doorknob, ready to open. She prepared the knife again,in a more striking position. But as she opened the door suddenly,and wanted to attack,a girl fell in, panting heavily. The knife in snow's hand dropped. She had her greatest hunch. As she looked more closer,she observed that the girl was bleeding, probably stabbed. She braced up all the courage left in her, even though her heart was almost out of her mouth,she bent to the lady. She turned her over and gasped.
"Alice!" She shouted.