Page 55 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
Tevl was an underwater ocean city in the bay of Norn Island, a large island off the southeast coast of Servalt. The people there were hostile to land dwellers, andprone to raid the Sumbrian coastal villages. Anyone seeking their city without an invitation was found beneath the steep island cliffs. At least, theirbodieswere found there, washed ashore after their ships were dashed against the rocks.
“As much as he is working with the Dark Enchanted Forest,” Pjori mused, looking through the bars in the door to the awaiting Lady Tate. “I’m enjoying my stay here so far; Servalt is not one to judge where you came from.”
It was true. The place was no meritocracy, but the monarchs were adamant on fairness between its upper and lower echelons. And many were accepted into bureaucratic positions or trades based on skill. They didn’t make justanyonea noble, but some people could earn the title through merit or great deed.
“Is there something you are looking to find out specifically?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Pjori shook his head. “My princess is going to be attacked soon, and I’ve been sent to find out more before it happens.”
“Did you receive a message from Madame Potts?”
“No.” He didn’t explain further even after a pause, so I would assume it came from Pjori’s soothsaying or another Clairvoyant class in the Coraldark.
I cracked my neck and rolled up my tunic sleeves. “Then, between a Soothfinder and my Mediator, I’m sure we will find something. It’s too bad the duke is otherwise engaged.”
Pjori smiled, and I noticed his teeth were just the tiniest bit pointy. “He’s going to miss all the fun.”
CHAPTER 30
Basking in the Afterglow
Brownie
Eventually, every guest had left except the grimalcat. Brownie didn’t mind him and continued playing for the staff as they tidied up.
Music always made cleaning go faster.
Then Page Saryl showed up, her lyre harp case in her hands. “Minstrel Bronwynn!”
“Let me just put away Danielle, and I’ll be ready to go,” Brownie said, accepting the case and carefully packing the lyre harp away. The case was a hard, stiff, layered canvas with a long shoulder strap. It had a pocket sewn on the front for her tuning tools and a few spare coins.
“Who?” Saryl obviously didn’t know whom she was talking about, but her mind was elsewhere. “No! Please, Minstrel Bronwynn. Something terrible has happened.”
That made the bard pause. “Go on?”
Page Saryl’s blue eyes were near watering, and she bowed very low. “I can’t find your bag!”
“The red one?” Brownie immediately regretted leaving that tuning key in her bag. She wanted to let out an aggrieved sigh, but the crushed look on the page girl’s face stopped her. “Did you drop it on the way here?”
A violent headshake of those short purple curls refuted her suggestion. “No, I put it on your bed with your music case, b-but it isn’t there anymore! We should tell the duke!”
The page looked ready to burst into tears on the spot.
“Page Saryl, it’sfine. I promise.” Bronwynn stood up and slung her case over her shoulder. “Besides, I’m sure the duke is a little busy right now, what with the prince visiting.”
“It’snotfine.” Saryl was really taking this hard, her ashen skin even paler than before. Brownie bent down and put a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulders.
“Why don’t we backtrack together and take another look?”
“Alright.”
The servant’s staircase on the left led into a mudroom before continuing into the castle workrooms: kitchen, laundry, and servant’s quarters. Brownie swept the mudroom with one long glance. There were a few packs and cloaks and shoes, but no familiar red bag.
“I took the shortcut to your room through here.” Page Saryl brought Brownie through a small servants’ door on the other side of the mudroom and into a tight-fitting hall. The cramped space was obviously meant for staff to wander around the castle without going through the main hall. Brownie just barely fit in the passage; shewashalf giant, not half elf. The path arched in a circle, and luckily, it was a short distance to another set of tight doors.
The bending down to not hit the ceiling was manageable for that short time, but it left a bit of a crick in her neck. She’d also had to slump her shoulders awkwardly to keep Danielle safe from hitting the wall.
Needless to say, she was happy when they came out into the regular hallway, just down the way from her room.
