Berlina's Quest Read Free

not…but stranger things have happened.”
    â€œWell, let’s make the best of this for the time being,” said Berlina. She went over to the door and pounded on it. When it opened, she told the guard standing there, “I’m hungry. Bring us our lunch and two bottles of wine. Hurry up about it.” When the door closed, she laughed and said, “I’ll bet they are going to get damned tired of guarding us, aren’t they?”

Chapter Two
The Taking of Quince Castle
    Prince Quince looked up from the documents he was working on as Caliban, the Castellan, entered the room. Caliban said, “Your Highness, there is some sort of caravan approaching the castle.”
    â€œA caravan? Merchants?”
    â€œI don’t think so, My Lord,” said Caliban. He and he alone had the privilege of addressing his prince as “My Lord” instead of the more proper “Your Highness.”
    â€œIt is mostly soldiers, troopers– at least a hundred of them. Besides those, there are two carriages, of the sort that you or any other high-ranking noble would use.”
    â€œWhose carriages are they?”
    â€œThey are not close enough to read the coats of arms on the sides, but they are flying pennons of maroon and orange. The same colors the troopers are wearing.”
    â€œMaroon and orange? Maroon and orange? That sounds somehow familiar…” The prince paused and thought. With a snap of his fingers, he said, “I remember, now. Far to the west, almost to the High Palace of Jylyria, there is a Prince Drailsen who flies those colors. Ugly colors…I don’t understand why anyone would choose them. Although, I’ve met this Drailsen once or twice, and he’s pretty ugly, too. Bad scars.”
    â€œYes, My Lord. What should we do?”
    â€œSend out a courier to contact the caravan and find out what they want. Probably a state visit or something. I am surprised that we have not gotten some sort of advance notice of that.”
    â€œNow that you mention it, My Lord, we have. Just a day or two ago. In a message brought by a courier, Prince Drailsen said he was touring the eastern lands and might stop in for a state visit when he got near Quince Castle. You were busy when it came. I did not want to disturb you.”
    â€œCaliban, you are so careless. I really need to know such things, no matter how busy I am. Somehow, a day or so notice seems hardly adequate, but given the great distance and the state of the roads between us, it would not surprise me to hear that a messenger had been delayed, gotten lost, or gone astray. I did complain to King Samsor a few years ago, before he died, that we were in need of a mail service. Nothing ever came of it. With the throne there being held by a Queen Regent until the Crown Prince comes of age, I doubt we will see any changes for a while.”
    â€œYes, My Lord. I will send out a messenger, and assuming their purpose is a state visit, I will prepare the castle to welcome them.” It wasn’t long before the Castellan ushered in the returning messenger, who bowed and said, “Your Highness, the carriage contains…er, ah…it contains…oh, yes…Prince Drailsen, himself.”
    The prince looked at the Castellan and whispered, “Is something wrong with him? He seems uncertain, and his eyes have a blank look to them.”
    â€œI noticed that, My Lord, but I know not what it portends.” The Castellan turned to the messenger and said, “What of the second carriage?”
    â€œEr, ah…sir, the carriage contains…um…the prince—” The messenger’s voice faded out, and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
    Prince Quince said, “Get him out of here and put him to sleep somewhere. He seemed convinced it is Prince Drailsen, so I guess we must prepare for a state visit. Get everything ready.”
    â€œYes, My Lord.”
    The caravan was moving much slower