Letters and Secrets
POV: Alexandra
I had just finished eating when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to find Elder Edgar smiling down at me, “Your Grace, I believe His Majesty is waiting on you to write a letter to your father so that he can send your correspondence tonight.” My eyes widened and I gasped, “I totally forgot! I will get going then.” I looked over at the two lycans who were supposed to be my bodyguards. Jess hopped up, “I can go with you. I have a letter to write of my own. I’m wondering if His Majesty wouldn’t mind me sending mine along as well. It’s going to Blackwood manor as well.” I shrugged, “I don’t see why not.” I turned to the Elder, “Sir, would it be okay if I remove myself to attend to this task from His Majesty?” He nodded, “You may. I will see you back here tomorrow morning. I have something a little different for you tomorrow.” I curtsied at him, “Thank you, sir. Have a wonderful evening.” We walked out of the tent but Jess stopped me, “Can we have a chat just you and me after you are done? I think Derek said he would be playing cards with the other guys for a couple of hours tonight before lights out.” I smiled at her and nodded, “Sure but I’m not sure what advice I can offer if that is the reason for the chat.” She giggled, “We’ll see. I just really want to talk to you about life more than anything. We haven’t had much girl talk lately and it is understandable since you have a lot going on with your grandfather.” I put my arm around her, “I would love some normalcy. That is normal for me at this point. It’s therapy, I think.” She nodded, “That’s what I’m thinking too.”
We finally got to our tent and walked inside and offered Jess the single writing desk that was set up inside. I pulled out my stationary set and a book to write on top of and set to work:
“Hello Dearest Father,
I thought it would be nice to write to you to let you know that I have made it to Kastilidan Glades safely and have worked out here for a couple of days. On my first day, I helped to uncover some of the manor. Sadly, we didn’t find any survivors the first day, just the dead. On the second day, Elder Edgar was too concerned for my safety to keep me doing that task so I have been working in the hospital. I have met many displaced children there, some who have lost everything, including their parents. Many of them were not able to recover any possessions which brings me to the second reason that I wanted to write to you. I have compiled a list of items that the children have asked for as well as a few supplies I need to help the children from my own hands. I have enclosed this list for you and Mother to look at. I humbly ask that you consider sending these items so that the children could find some measure of comfort as they are trying to heal from their injuries and deal with the loss of their possessions, their homes, and, in some cases, their family. I am doing all I can from here to ease some of their suffering but it would be nice if they can know that we, as nobles, are here for them in their time of need. I’m hoping all is well at home and I hope you are all still happy, healthy, and safe.
Love you more,
Xan”
I folded the letter and pulled the list I had made out of my pocket and placed the two pieces of paper in an envelope and wrote: “Duke Reginald Batiste of Blackwood Deep” on the front and sealed it. I looked up at Jess who looked like she was still writing her letter. I opened the book I had brought, it was about methods and practices in creating magical items. It was enthralling to find that Vanessa’s method was only one way to do so. You could make a small magical item with just a small rock and a few scraps of metal. I looked back up at Jess after a while and she looked like she was wrapping up her letter as well. She sealed it and wrote a name on the front and handed it to me. I looked down at the letter and it said: “The Befent, Theodore Befent of Befent Estate.” I had wondered what she would need to write to him about but she shook her head, “I know we are best friends but this is very personal so I can’t say just yet what it is about.” I looked up at her and nodded, “I won’t push anything Jess but if you ever want to talk or need me, you know I am here.” She smiled, “I appreciate it. I will talk to you about it, just not yet.” She held her hand out to me to help me up off my bed and we walked over to the King’s tent. The guards outside nodded, “He’s expecting you but let us announce you first.” I folded my hands in front of me, “Of course. I will wait.” The guard ducked his head in, “Pardon me, Your Majesty but The Batiste is here along with Lady Kellen.” I heard Lucien hoarsely say, “Let them in.”
The guard pulled the flap and beckoned me in. I stepped inside to find that all the papers that had been scattered on the floor of the tent had been neatly tucked back into the box. I looked up at Lucien confused and he smiled, “I figured I would appoint someone to go through the documents and make an itemized list of the criminals and their crimes. The Elder has suggested an investigator and I have agreed to summon him. Please have a seat ladies. We can drop honorifics since it is just the three of us right now.” I sat down and Jess sat next to me and I pulled out the letters, “Where’s Malinus?” He laughed, “Well, even royal scribes need to eat. Don’t worry though, your letter will get out tonight.” I slid the letters on his desk, “Would you mind terribly if we sent Jess’s letter to Blackwood as well?” He shook his head, “If they are going to the same place, I don’t see why not. I am sending something myself.” I asked, “Orders? Or a letter to Gramps?” He smiled, “I do need to write to Gramps. He wrote to me just before I came out here so I do owe him a letter.” I laughed, “Let me guess. ‘Make sure Xan stays out of trouble’ or something of that nature.” He winked at me and bowed, “Watcher of Alexandra Batiste at your service. He did ask for me to keep an eye on you while I was out here. He’s more worried for you than you getting in trouble. He said you have a good head on your shoulders but you can be impulsive sometimes. Given that you almost had yourself in trouble for treason tonight, I would say he was right.” I stuck my tongue out at him, “I was proven innocent, was I not?” He sighed and sat down in front of us, “You were but you were lucky. Please be more careful since I can’t always protect you.”
I nodded and he turned his attention to Jess, “How are you doing out here Jess?” She sighed, “I had to do medical tent duty for the first two days but, as you can imagine, it is a bad place for an empath to be who hasn’t yet trained with a master. I couldn’t handle the level of suffering. It was making me depressed so I spoke candidly with the General and he reassigned me to recovery roles. I was actually helping the General locate that.” She pointed at the box, “I was on a mission since I had heard from the General the kind of trouble Xan got herself into.” I ducked my head feeling guilty, “Jess, I made work for you. I’m so sorry.” She shook her head, “Not to worry, it was actually interesting to find the nook we found it in. We definitely would have tossed it had it not been for the tip from Ms. Celia.” Lucien nodded, “It brought to light quite a few crimes already and that was just a few sheets of paper. Both of you have been instrumental in exposing these crimes. I am more than sure the council will want to commend you somehow.” I sighed, “I didn’t do anything.” He tapped his desk with his pen, “You see? That’s where you’re wrong. Your knack for getting people to open up to you is invaluable to finding things out. Do you really think Ms. Celia would have told anyone else about all of this?” I shrugged, “I don’t know that.” He shook his head and dropped the pen, “Most would be too ashamed to admit they were roped into such contracts. From what I understand, beyond answering medical questions, Celia hasn’t spoken to anyone else. Think about that a second, Alexandra. This is precisely why Vellum needs you. Grand Pretre has revealed to me more earlier.” I sat up, “What do you mean earlier? She was here?” He nodded, “She’s still here, they are setting her up another tent. She intends to stick around to help with morale but she did say she would summon you tomorrow. She said she wished to speak to you alone.”
Malinus walked into the tent, “Oh pardon me. I had not realized that you had guests, Your Majesty.” Lucien waved at him, “Not to worry Malinus, I was going to bid these ladies good night since it is getting late and I am sure they had other plans.” I nodded, “Yep, best friend girl talk time.” Something crept into Lucien’s face that I believed to be rare and I spoke, “Are you blushing?” Lucien wiped his hand across his face to hide his face and Jess giggled, “Nice to know I’m not the only one who could blush so easily around their loved one.” He turned his face and waved us off, “You, uh, can go now. Just, uh, forget you saw me like this. That’s an order as your King.” I started to giggle along with Jess, “Very well, Your Majesty. We shall take our leave now.” We giggled on our way out of the tent and walked back to our own tent but we heard a voice behind us, “Enjoying yourselves?” I turned to see Melody looking furious and I shrugged, “Not particularly, no.” She waved at Lucien’s tent, “Yet you come giggling out of His Majesty’s tent. I wonder what you find so amusing then.” Jess stepped out in front of me, “His Majesty told us an amusing joke before we left. He was trying to lighten the mood since Alexandra has been helping the sick, injured, and dying…unlike some.” She turned around and pulled me with her, “Come on Xan. Some jerks aren’t worth the time and energy.” I nodded, “Agreed.” Melody shouted at me, “Doesn’t matter what you do, cow! I will be Queen and by then he will never love you! He will love me! You hear me!” Jess whispered in my ear, “Isn’t she going to pop a blood vessel when she learns that Lucien loves you? That will be amusing.” I whispered back, “Or the other thing he knows about her.” She gave me a knowing nod. We came up to our tent where a dainty figure in a white cloak and hood was standing. She turned to look at me and Jess, “Good evening, my lovely ladies. I have come because there is a matter I must discuss with one of you.” I had assumed that Grand Pretre had come for me so I stepped forward but she held her hand up, “Not you today, Alexandra. It is Jess who I seek. I know this interrupts your plans but she must speak with me tonight.”
