The Queen's Curse Read Free Page A

inside told her: “Not here.” So she went on to the next floor, and continued upwards until she was at the highest floor where the Towers had to be; everyone knew Royalty had their own guarded bedrooms. She peeked cautiously around and suddenly glanced into the grey, cold eyes of a mean looking old man.
    Her heart leapt into her mouth and her breathing stalled; but then she realised how stupid she was to mistake a painted face for a real one. And a frightful face it was. She felt shivers running down her spine.
    Adrenaline was r ushing through her body; all the while she was deciding which direction she had to go, left or right. The walls curved in both directions so she couldn’t see what was round either corner. She noticed a few more doors. She decided to see where the left side would take her and tiptoed across the floor keeping close to the walls. The corridors were all dimly lit with torches here and there.
    S he almost saw the guard too late. Quickly she hid herself, pressing her body tightly to the wall. Instinctively she reached for her sword and stiffened to find it gone.
    ‘Bl ast, forgot!’ she cursed softly, but then remembered she couldn’t use it anyway without seriously getting in trouble. She didn’t want to harm her colleagues – as ignorant as they were.
    Howeve r, she didn’t have a plan; other than lying about having an appointment. She had no proof, so would they believe her?
    They simply have to. She decided to go and face the guard.
    Vehemently she walk ed over to the man, who straightened himself when he noticed her.
    When she was only a few footst eps away, she recognized the guard. Quickly she searched her memory. It was Barkor; a former soldier from the company she started her career in. Tirsa remembered he had been wounded and had lost an eye in the same campaign that she distinguished herself in. As a soldier he was worthless; but as a guard, she guessed, he was good enough. He still looked big and strong.
    She sighed relieved and relaxed . This could work in her favour.
    He also calmed down visibly when he glanced at her, his mouth gaping open and the one eye staring wide and unbelieving at her.
    ‘Tirsa? Is that you?’ he sounded more than overwhelmed. She noticed a black eye rag in front of his missing left eye.
    ‘Why, Barkor!’
    ‘Come here, little one!’ he laughed while he embraced her in a rough but friendly way.
    ‘You have come to pay me a visit?’
    ‘Er, not really, I had forgotten you worked here.’
    ‘That’s okay, ’ his full lips formed a broad smile. ‘I’ve heard you’ve been pretty busy.’ He held her so he could look her in the eyes; she thought she saw a wave of pity combined with honest affection in his one dark eye.
    ‘Tirsa La thabris, it’s been ages!’
    ‘So how’s life in Tarac for you?’ she asked quickly, and released herself from his too lengthy and tight embrace.
    He looked shyly away scratching his head and messing up his neatly combed thick brown hair, answering in a stuttering voice, ‘Ah, the food is great and the luxury and all. I even get to see the queen sometimes.’ His hand reached for his heart and he sighed. ‘She is truly astonishing and she always nods at me kindly. But … well, the work is a bit boring.’ And he added ruefully, shaking his head. ‘Not like the old days. Not by far …’
    She patted him on the back and smiled at him warmly. ‘But less dangerous, I reckon and that is for the better.’
    ‘ Yeah, you’re right.’ He shivered when he thought about the worst part – the killing fields during war although somehow it made him feel more alive; to be close to death always did. He added proudly: ‘Hey, I even have quite some responsibility here. I am after all protecting the most important woman of the country. What more can a man in Ceartas want?’ He spread his arms and she saw he had gained some weight.
    ‘And a good job you do too.’
    ‘I should say so! Not a single person ever passed me