Page 60 of Charmless
The girl was weeping too hard to answer me. Her guard, a tall, grim, looking man with heavy brows and a thick mustache, closed in on us. When he tried to yank Myrtle away from me, I cried, “Leave her alone.”
It was a command born out of desperation. I never expected him to obey me. I was astonished when he stopped, stared at me, and then bowed. “Your pardon, Miss Upton.”
Apparently even the Border Scutcheons were aware that Prince Florian had marked me as his future bride. I wondered if I might be able to use that to my advantage to aid the Hansons, but I was disabused of that notion as the guard continued, “I am sorry, miss, but you cannot interfere with a household’s removal sanctioned by the king.”
“A removal of the entire Hanson family? To where?” I demanded. “Misty Bottoms?”
The guard shifted his feet, looking uncomfortable. It was Myrtle who recovered enough to answer me. Lifting her head from my shoulder, she wept, “N-no. We are being exiled.”
“To the swamp lands?” I gasped, training my horrified gaze upon the guard. “But why?”
The man shrugged. “Not our place to ask the king for explanations, miss. We just carry out our orders.”
Myrtle pulled away from me, swiping her damp cheeks with the back of her hands. “It is all my fault. For swooning in front of the prince.”
“Nonsense! Surely that would rate a heavy fine, at most.”
“Yes, but remember? My brothers tried to rescue me and attacked the king’s guards. Our whole family was arrested that night at the ball, even Mama and Papa and Fortescue Bafton and his sister. Oh, Ella, we were all chained up in the Dismal Dungeons. Such a horrible place and I was so scared.”
“But I thought Commander Crushington had successfully pleaded your case with the king’s wizard.”
“He did. The commander got us all released yesterday evening. He sent us home and said that Papa would pay a fine and that would be the end of the matter. But now the Border guard has this writ, saying we must leave at once and we are only allowed to take one bundle of our belongings and —”Myrtle dissolved into tears again.
“This has to be some dreadful mistake,” I said. “I will go find Commander Crushington at once. He will straighten everything out and put a stop to this.”
Myrtle regarded me through tear- drenched eyes. “Oh, Ella, can you?”
“Yes. Don’t lose heart. I will be back with the commander directly.” I gave the girl a fierce hug and tore off running toward town.
With my skirts hiked up so I could run faster and my hair flying wild, I must have looked like a madwoman if there had been anyone to notice or care. As I passed through town, I saw another contingent of the Border guard swarmed around the tailor’s shop, rounding up the Bafton family. A few of the Midtown citizens watched in helpless disbelief, but most had retreated inside the shops. I caught glimpses of alarmed faces peering out windows.
We all heard the disturbing tales of poor folk from the Bottoms being driven out of the kingdom for failure to pay taxes, forfeiting their meager homes to the exchequer. It was against the law to be homeless in Arcady. Our king wanted no beggars littering his streets.
This was the first time a writ of exile had been passed against anyone from Midtown. And all because of such a trivial matter— a foolish young girl trying to attract the notice of the prince by swooning. Small wonder if Midtown folk were unsettled and seeking security by cowering at home. I clung to the belief that this had to be some ridiculous error and Horatio would be able to see everything put right.
By the time I reached Quad Hall, I was panting for breath, a stitch blooming in my side. Pressing my hand against my ribs to dull the ache, I stumbled toward the quadrant that housed the garrison office and gaol. The interior of this part of the towers was dark and cool with unvarnished stone walls and floor. My halting footsteps set up a lonely echo as I crossed the outer hall. Most of the Scutcheons were on patrol at this time of day. I prayed that Horatio was not gone as well. The only one in sight was the sentry that guarded the stairs leading up to the commander’s office.
I was relieved to see that it was the amiable Major Frackles. I had no time to get into a lengthy explanation or argumentwith some overzealous Scutcheon about my need to see the commanderimmediately.
At the sight of me, Frackles abandoned his soldier-on-important duty pose. The young man looked startled by my sudden wild-eyed appearance.
“Miss Upton!”
I had to pause to recover my breath before I could gasp out, “Commander Crushington. I must see him. Is he here?”
“Yes, miss. He is in his office.”
“Thank the heavens.” I breathed.
“In fact, he wishes to see you as well. I believe the Commander sent Private Benton to fetch you only a few minutes ago.”
He had? Why had Horatio not come to call upon me himself instead of sending one of his subordinates? But this was hardly the moment to wonder about that. Even now the Border Scutcheons could be marching the unfortunate Bafton and Hanson families through the streets, toward the bridge that crossed the Conger River, leading to the dismal wilderness beyond.
“If you just wait a moment, I will go up and tell the commander you are here,” Frackles began, but I cut him off with a shake of my head.
“Sorry. I have no time to waste.”
The major frowned as I brushed past him, but he made no effort to stop me. Gripping the rail, I climbed the stairs as fast as I could. I was badly winded by the time I reached the top, but I did not pause. Not even bothering to knock, I flung open the door and staggered inside the commander’s office.
