Page 64 of The Queen's Crown
“Are we still in the palace?” Sabine asked. She thought there were only five levels, but they’d gone down more than that.
“Technically.”
They descended another narrow stairwell and came to a door. Lottie knocked.
The top portion of the door slid open, and a man eyed them. “Just the two of you?”
“Now, Tim,” Lottie said, her voice practically singing, “you know our future queen can’t come in without a guard.”
He grunted. “Fine. She can have one.”
Lottie smiled and looked at Sabine. “Now it’s time to have some real fun.”
ChapterFifteen
The man swung the door open, revealing a tavern. A group of three musicians played instruments off to the side while a dozen or so people danced. The fast, upbeat, lively music was unlike anything Sabine had heard before. On the other side, thirty or so tables filled the space, most occupied with patrons. Along the entire back wall, a bar spanned from one end to the other, every stool filled. The stone walls appeared to have been chiseled right out of the mountain.
“Are we below the palace?” Sabine asked as Lottie pulled her into the tavern.
“If you’re asking if this is in the mountain, it is.” Lottie patted Sabine’s arm. “Don’t tell me you’ve never been to a tavern before.” She led the way to one of the open tables.
Sabine had been to a tavern or two, but always with her brothers, and only to the more reputable ones in which people of similar station frequented. Her father never would have permitted her to go to the local tavern where the townsfolk went. “Are we allowed to be here?” As she scanned the people’s faces, noting most wore plain clothing, she figured these people were probably workers in the palace, not its noble inhabitants. She had no idea where the guard who’d followed her inside had gone.
Lottie rolled her eyes. “Why wouldn’t we be allowed?”
“Do people from the royal family frequently consort with commoners?” she asked as the two of them each took a seat.
“Ah.” Lottie folded her hands on the table and leaned forward toward Sabine. “Here, there are no titles. Everyone is equal. No questions asked.”
Sabine had never heard of such a thing. However, she found the notion intriguing. Looking at those around them, no one seemed to be paying them any attention, as if the people didn’t know that their princess and future queen were sitting amongst them.
Lottie waved a server over. “Two cups of your house ale.”
The server nodded and left.
“I don’t see any other noble people here,” Sabine commented. Unless they were dressed as commoners, but she didn’t think so. She and Lottie definitely stood out based on the coloring of their clothing.
“Their loss.” Lottie shrugged.
“Do you come here often?”
“I do since I can’t very well leave the palace grounds and go to a tavern in town.”
“I’m surprised your brother allows this.”
Lottie suddenly became very interested in a scratch on the table. “Well,” she said, “when he ascended to the throne, he asked that I not come here any longer and I promised him I wouldn’t.”
Sabine scoffed at her. “Then why do you?”
“Because it’s fun. Besides, nothing is going to happen.” She leaned back in her chair. “Rainer used to come here all the time before my father died.”
Sabine understood why the royal siblings would want to come here—the need to escape for a few hours.
“Oh look,” Lottie said, gesturing across the room, “Markis is here.” She smiled and waved at him.
Sabine peered across the room and saw Markis dressed in an outfit similar to everyone else in the tavern. It was nice to see him without his mask on. And now his eyes were glaring at her. Of course he’d be upset she was here.
The server returned, setting two mugs of ale on the table. Sabine knew better than to drink it without it having gone through a taster first. Lottie, however, took a long sip from hers, not seeming at all concerned about it being laced with poison.
