CHAPTER 75 The Dark Enchanted Forest Had Sturdy Porcelain

Henrietta

Bronwynn was still regaling Sithli with her adventurous trip to the Sunshine Coast in Sumbria—the southern tip of the continent, not the northern independent duchy.

During the revolution twenty years ago, Grand Duke Lysander, the level ninety-one Arcane Sorcerer, had fought against General Mathis, the level seventy-two Sage of Aegis, and cut a canyon through the center of the kingdom. The country had literally been split open north to south by magic. Now, North Sumbria was ruled by Duchess Calisto at the northwestern point, the middle became Servalt under their new king and queen, and the south remained Sumbria.

I came in as Brownie explained the importance of a lady's fichu in Sumbria, and how she had uncovered a noble assassin during her royal performance.

"I'm back," I said simply in a moment Brownie stopped for breath.

She tossed me a big smile. "Let me just finish this. You see, the assassin had seats next to the royal box, and as I was performing ‘The Traveler's Anthem,' I saw this man switch to a purple fichu scarf!"

"Ssstop, he didn't?!" Sithli was on the edge of his seat, gripping his teacup. I feared for the fine porcelain.

"He did!" Brownie laughed. "Sumptuary laws be damned. Not that I blame him—the royal oppression was what started the wars. I noticed three others in the crowd turn theirs to a purple side and had to leap off the stage while in the middle of the second to last verse. It took everything I had to hit those high notes before tackling the assassin and retrieving his poisoned dagger."

The lizardman shook his head. "Who bothersss with poison nowadaysss? It's nothing a potion can't fix."

"The blade was coated in molten ash vane." Brownie shuddered. "So I'm happy they didn't hit anyone."

I whistled low, and Sithli hissed. Molten ash vane stripped flesh from the bones and boiled the blood, killing from the inside and leaving a molten crusty lump of whatever it touched.

The minstrel nodded, finishing her tale. "And that is how I finished the song standing on a subdued rebel in the royal theater."

"Excellent," Sithli said. He released his grip, and I noted that his cup was in good shape. The Dark Enchanted Forest had sturdy porcelain, it seemed.

"I felt for the assassin." Brownie shook her head sadly. "The royals didn't even ask for an encore. No taste."

"Are you sure it wasn't the fact they were almost attacked … ?" I broached.

"With that lot?" She shook her head. "They just sat in their box gossiping the entire performance. Not even a thank you for saving them."

Sithli shook his head. "They sssound as bad as Ssservalt."

"At least the royals in Servalt are good people. It's the merchants you have to look out for." Brownie grimaced. "Whereas nobles in Sumbria and Drendil are dense as a … Sorry, Henrietta."

"No offense taken." I shrugged. "I'll be the first to admit our court politics are … Well, they aren't very nice."

"I ssshould say," Sithli scoffed. "It's a good thing you're here, Princesss. Can't imagine living with a bunch of mage killers."

"I'm glad to be here, Sithli." I turned to Brownie. "And I'm happy you're here. Is now a good time to steal you away?"

"A perfect time." Brownie stood up and stretched. She was large and in charge and lit up the room. "As long as I'm free to go?"

She raised an eyebrow at Sithli, but she was obviously teasing. He flicked his tail excitedly. "Of course, Minstrel Bronwynn, if Princesss Henrietta vouchesss for you, then you are welcome … You, uh, you wouldn't happen to be putting on any showsss in the Dark Enchanted Forest during your stay?"

"I'll be hitting up the taverns for gigs as soon as I'm settled." Bronwynn had a twinkle in her eyes that I was all too familiar with. "I might be playing at Scowls if my arrest didn't convince the owner to cancel."

"Tadek would never!" Sithli reassured her.

"Come on, Brownie." I smiled as I took her arm and physically dragged her away. I knew my friend, and she needed intervention, or she would burst into a private concert for the lizardman right then and there. "You can sing at people later. I want to show you around!"

"I'll let you know!" Brownie shouted at Sithli as she followed me out the room. We exited into the courtyard, and Brownie gave me a cheeky grin. "You've settled in nicely, Princess."

"Yes, yes, I know. I should have told you." I felt a little bad, but secrecy came with being the crown princess. I let go of her arm and clasped my hands in front of me in apology. "I'm sorry, Brownie. Still friends?"

"Of course." Brownie wrapped her arm around me in a bear hug and squeezed. My Constitution saved me. The minstrel let go, and then her face took on a conspiring grin. "Also, I can't believe you!"

"What?!"

"Don't you what me!" Brownie laughed. "I am a Charisma class. I know passion when I see it, and I saw the way the Dark Lord looked at you. You have him eating out of your hands!"

"That's not true," I countered. "He usually eats my food off a plate."

"You're being deliberately obtuse," Brownie teased. "Tell me you're happy here, and they're treating you well."

"I'm happy here," I repeated, "and they're treating me well."

She nodded, adjusting the instrument on her back, and looked excitedly around. "Good. Now show me around this dark enchanted castle and tell me everything!"

I led her into the castle's main entry, where we stopped so she could admire the dark stone interior. The hall had two sweeping grand staircases, one on either side. Going straight forward between the stairs led to the library and the kingdom's bureaucratic offices, including Keith's office and the staff break room. There were two other hallways in the main entrance, one on either of the side walls where the stairs came down. They led to the servants'—the minions' quarters and the laundry.

The kitchen was an outbuilding that connected to the castle main hall from a doorway under the staircase on the left. Another outbuilding, a smithy, could be reached from the doorway under the opposite stair to the left.

Upstairs was reserved for Keith and his generals, Feliwyn's and my rooms, and who knew what else. I hadn't gone exploring much. Though if you walked up the stairs and straight down the hallway, you could go across the landing to Keith's inner sanctum; his Dark Magician tower looked very evil from the outside. It looked pretty evil on the inside, too. He even had a giant snake construct that curled up in the rafters where sunny spots from giant skylights illuminated the room.

I linked arms with the minstrel and immediately took her to the one place I loved most.