Chapter 33: Aaron Indulges His Inner Stalker

Chapter 33: Aaron Indulges His Inner Stalker

Aaron didnt do it intentionally. He just did it. The way out of the courtyard and back to the servants entrance passed by the stables. He saw a flash of white coat. Before he knew what he was doing, hed already pressed himself to the wall behind a corner, his heart pounding against his ribs. Slowly, he eased his head out to look.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

The coat was argent with red lining. The duke stood outside the stables. He was speaking with someone; his bannerman. His back was to Aaron. He looked larger, from down here. More real. He was the same height that Aaron was, and they had about the same frame, but somehow the man seemed more solid. His arms were well muscled; his shoulders were squared even as he stood at ease. Just watching him made Aaron twitch to roll his own. The man was overseeing the last of his partys mounts as they were settled into the kings stalls, running a hand over the flank of a horse here and there as the stablehands finished brushing them down. He spoke once to the stable master; a compliment to how well the man had trained his staff. He said it where the boys could overhear.

The duke left. Aaron followed.

He didnt mean to. He just did.

The servants hallways paralleled most major arteries through the castle. They were narrower, and undecorated, but just as effective. More so: often a main corridor would amble through several halls before reaching a grand stone staircase up, whereas the servants passages felt no compunction about throwing in wooden stairs at half the distance. Aaron watched from an upper floor as the duke passed through the grand hall below. A royal valet was trying to show Sung to his rooms. The duke consulted with his bannerman, and chose a direction that left the valet following uselessly on their heels.

There were narrow corridors that ran most everywhere. Aaron discreetly cracked open a servants door, and peered out.

The dukes party was a large one: twelve other nobles, together with their attendants, and their guards. Except for a select few higher-ranking officers, most of those last sort would be quartered in the barracks. It was to there that the duke next turned his feet, after he had checked that his fellow nobles were settling in.

There were fewer servants routes towards the barracks. None, really, the closer he got. Guards had no need to be waited on, and did not appreciate people sneaking around where they couldnt see them. Nevertheless, he was having a go at hiding in a doorway when said door opened behind him.

What are you doing, Lochlann said, managing to make it a resigned statement rather than a question.

Sneaking, Aaron replied. Do you mind if I?

He ducked into the room as footsteps drew near, pressing flat against the wall out of easy view from the still-open door. Not heavy steps, but confident ones, shadowed by the easy stride of the bannerman, and the flustered taps of the royal valet.

Would you care to see your own rooms now, Your Grace? the valet was asking.

The barracks are too cramped. Well need to move more of the men into the guest wing with us. Weve enough room there; the lords can share.

Ill see to it, my lord, the bannerman replied.

Yes, that can be arranged, the royal valet was quick to agree, as if his input were required.

Right, then. Aaron opened the door and slipped out, shutting it behind himself with a small click.

The bannerman gave a start upon seeing his face. The duke did not. He crooked a finger, silently ordering Aaron closer. Not so close that he was exposed to the main hall, however; not out to where the other southern nobles and their people still bustled. Aaron stayed sheltered from the sight of all but these two.

Youve been skulking after me like an assassin. Why? the duke asked, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword. Aarons gaze followed the motion. At this distance, he suddenly understood why the hilt was white. It was not a wrappingit was bone, carved with a spiraling pattern. The chill he felt from it was not unlike the one in the council chambers. Kirins bone?

I asked you a question.

Im choosing not to answer, Aaron said. No, not kirins bone. Not bone at all, and not carved. The slow spiral of the hilt was natural, rough-hewn from a larger piece.

Are you acting as a valet?

More of an errand boy, if you must know, Aaron replied. A man who carried a unicorns horn like a trophy didnt deserve any more from him.

Is that so.

Aaron nodded tightly.

The kings new errand boy, Your Grace, the bannerman prompted quietly. I believe hes called Aaron.

It was the dukes turn to give a start. Just a small one, a sudden stiffness to his back. You saved Princess Rose?

Seems so, Aaron agreed. And wasnt it curious that the man had come to the castle already knowing that. His Grace had friends, it seemed.

Well. Isnt that interesting. The duke looked at him hard: gray eyes met gray. Aaron felt his own back stiffening. He resisted the urge to blink.

Whether Sung found what hed sought in that look, Aaron didnt know. After a long moment, the man merely scoffed.

Get back to work, errand boy. Keep clinging to my coattails like this, and someone will think youre my son.

Well. They certainly couldnt have that.