The Grand Palace

The residents of Ramsbottom were busy preparing for an envoy of one of the highest upper men. But to me, something was not right--while we were preparing, the other villages were not. Although it was only a rumour which I does not enjoy, Charlotte is aware that in every rumour lies a bit of truth (I am certainly not a witch though).

If the crown prince is touring the kingdom, the whole kingdom would be preparing, but it seemed like bad ol' Lincoln just wanted us busy.

Charlotte walked inside the house her gaze on the floor, Her head was too heavy to keep her eyes straight. All Maisy could do was stare at the child in pity and heave. Charlotte sat down with a loud thud.

"Good evening granny" she greeted Maisy who forced a smile "Bathe, there is food on the table" she said Charlotte smiled in return, and stood up "did anyone look for me?" She asked Maisy shook her head "no, but Layla gave me a pouch" Maisy said "she looked for me then..." "No. She simply gave me the pouch and said 'for Charlotte madam' " Maisy quoted. Charlotte shrugged slightly. Then I have poor understanding of English, doesn't that means she did look for me but on not seeing me, she gave...

"Go and wash Charlotte, you smell of sweat...your money is on the cupboard" Maisy said teasingly Charlotte scoffed leaving to the bath house which most of the villagers used.

"Granny... you fetched water?" Charlotte asked sounding upset as she walked through the kitchen to the backyard which was a shorter distance to the bath house of course. "What did you intend to use then?" Maisy asked savagely "I've told you to stop doing work like that..." Charlotte called. Maisy nodded to herself, she needed to stay alive for Charlotte... dying is definitely not a good idea.

****

"I am surprised all the wood you have fetched is still not enough" Maisy muttered to Charlotte who scoffed "I guess good Lincoln doesn't want me telling the crown prince all his dirty activities and is trying to keep me busy" she replied "and who are you?" Maisy asked teasingly. Charlotte let out a loud chuckle " I know right?...I don't know how that git is taking it". Maisy dropped her shoulders disappointed, she did not expect Charlotte to be so humble. She continued her gist nonetheless...

"So...I heard the other villages aren't into so much of an ado" she said, Charlotte moped, she did not want to overthink the whole situation "well yes... what do you expect?, our patriarch is a fox, he probably just wants us to look the best so as to gain one or two favours from the crown prince." She ended with a shrug. But Charlotte knew that was not all Lincoln was up to.

CHARLOTTE'S POV

My instincts never lie, but my thoughts remained restless. I could no share them with anyone. This was exactly what Lincoln wanted from me. He wanted me to be quiet, scared to share my opinions with anyone for the fear of it being mere assumptions and speculations, because it involved the crown prince. I give it to him, he is calculative.

****

Reginald stared at Lincoln suspiciously why is the old man fretting? He thought.

"Thank you for your kindness, lord Lincoln" Floyd appreciated "an honour to serve your majesty" Lincoln said bowing to Reginald who moped , Lincoln was not getting through to him. Floyd bowed slightly in courtesy. Floyd was Reginald's 'too good' aide who could not stop appreciating Lincoln for his warm reception. From someone who has never liked him, and treated him terribly in his low days, Reginald knew there were two things involved; he needed a favour, or he wanted to poison him. And neither of the two were any good.

Having come with no escorts asides Floyd, Floyd acted as the poison tester. Taking a spoonful of the stew the man wrinkled his face, Reginald stared at him expecting. 'i knew it' he was going to yap but...

"The maids did a terrible cooking, didn't they?" He muttered "really?" Reginald asked "I'm so sorry " Lincoln apologized "it's fine"Reginald said waving "I'll eat it" he added Lincoln widened his eyes, Floyd shook his head he could not let Reginald eat something that horrible "you can't possibly, your highness" he said "I can... you eat something else" Reginald said gesturing for him to eat. Floyd shook his head "eat Floyd, or I'll change my mind" Reginald said warningly, Floyd shook his head "I couldn't, your majesty" Floyd said "eat" Reginald said jeering Floyd who began to eat reluctantly. Reginald also began eating the stew with the bread Lincoln who watched him amused had offered them. Floyd was aware the crown prince could endure anything as he never had luxury until his youth, But eating an abomination of a meal like that was what he never expected, but Reginald remained a simple minded man, even though he gave people the idea he was mean, rude and mocking, Reginald was only someone trying to save himself from being bullied...in the castle, it was either you bully, or get bullied.

Reginald moped after tasting the food, it was still nothing compared to what his step family had fed him. Salty food was part of the torture lady Ida served him before locking him away to die of thirst. He let out a scoff making Lincoln shriek horrified. Floyd and himself stared at the old man who plastered a smile on "I'm just flustered at the sight of his highness eating something so abominable" he said "it's fine" Reginald said "I should tell the maids to cook you something else..." "It's fine Lincoln...and that would be us wasting resources... I'll eat it" Reginald cut in "oh..." "Yes..." He said, he continued "... it's not like you didn't actually intend to serve me worse." Reginald said not hiding his resentment. Lincoln scratched his head even more flustered than before. "Besides, thank you for the meal." Reginald ended.

****

Lincoln was beyond flustered, why was Reginald making his job hard for him?, he wondered how the young man could be so stubborn in a calm way.

"Err... your highness...I say you take the road through the..." "But I want to see the market Lincoln." Reginald cut him off Lincoln heaved "I just wanted you to use the path that leads to the cliff...it is a beautiful sight there...it is what makes the Western moors special. From here you can see chorley,Bury, Darwen, Bolton,and Rams bottom." Lincoln said pointing at the area marked Ramsbottom on the map "but I would rather walk through the market Lincoln..." Reginald said shrugging, he continued "...or is there...a merchandise I am not allowed to buy??" he asked, Lincoln shook his head vigorously "of course not, but I beseech you; this path is in..." "So...in order to protect the gutters from sight, you'll be showing me flowers?" Reginald asked raising a brow "no..." "Look now old man...I know you are up to something, planning this disguise and everything all in the name of your stupid charade of a tour... you stink" Reginald spat Lincoln and Floyd shrieked in unison, Lincoln chuckled dryly "not at all sire..." "and your stupid prime minister too..."

"He is yours as well..." "No-no..."Reginald waved his index finger in disagreement "no...by the time I am king, I will get rid of all you con artists as well as shit bags." He scoffed turning to the commander of Lincoln's men "lead the way soldier".

****

"We will continue our journey on foot, your highness" the commander whose identification tag said; 'Rufus Reynolds'. "Take the horses" he said to his underlings. Reginald disembarked the horse he had mounted a cadet collected the animal.

"Disrespectful of you to make his highness trek" Floyd grumbled Reginald patted Floyd assuringly "we need to climb those ridges...it is risky to do that with a horse." Reginald said he leaned closer "besides...I think lord Lincoln has a surprise for us" he whispered. Floyd widened his eyes in thrill, now Reginald was amused, what surprise did Floyd think Lincoln have for them?.

Floyd was tired of walking, for weeks he had been on a none ending journey, trekking and horse riding under the hot son and now in the freezing moorlands all for a disguise. His stomach seemed vexed as well, it growled fatally.

"Oh my good glasses...my stomach hurts" Floyd said to Reginald who narrowed his gaze, although not giving him a glance "I thought we just ate?... about an hour ago...or thirty minutes more" he said "no...I am not famished your highness...I need to...dunno..." "I know what?" Reginald asked with an irritated frown feigning ignorance "I need to rest..." "Lie down then..." "On the floor?" "If you are in dire need of it Floyd-yes; rest on the floor" Reginald said enthusiastically, Rufus and his man exchanged glances, yes prince Reginald deserved to d...

Floyd burst laughing "I need a shit your highness "he said Reginald tutted "you brazen numskull..." "Ouch!" cried Floyd grasping his stomach, Reginald scoffed "well... since we are dressed like commoners, I guess you should do it like commoners" he said pointing at the woods "oh..." muttered Floyd "well yes Floyd... you are lucky sick Lincoln chose this route...I will wait for you." Reginald said.

After twenty minutes of waiting, Reginald began to feel thirsty, he tried to endure, but his throat began to hurt and his head began to spin, he felt weak and dehydrated. But Lincoln's men were no good than poisoning him...no... simple minded twits...

"I'm thirsty, I need water" he said, the two stared at him, Reginald groaned...tooooo simple minded...

"Get me water!" he said almost in a yell, the two scurried off leaving him to groan.

****

"You did a great job" Lincoln said to the head cook who plaited her fingers, was she did was wrong, but she was not concerned about that, or may be she was , but she would not let that be her problem. Lincoln handed herbs pouch, she collected it and stuffed it in her apron curtsying " thank you sire". Baron Nicholas smiled at her as well "she is such a dedicated woman... I will have you awarded a horse." He said. The lady was beyond excited she curtsied lousily and left immediately at the gesture if Lincoln. When she left, Lincoln turned to Nicholas.

"That puerile bastard...he insulted me in many ways!" He yapped Nicholas sighed, and Lincoln continued "saying;'i will get rid of all of you con artists as well as shit bags'...he plans to get rid of the court when he is king." he said, now Nicholas scoffed "too bad he won't make it to rule, talk more of deposing us."...

****

"Those good for nothings... how long does it take to get water?...is there a drought he..." "Huuuu" heaved Floyd coming out of the woods "you... what took you so long?" Reginald asked "my apologies your highness... where are the others?..." "They left to get water... I'm thirsty." Reginald replied "you are?, I thought you received training for wilderness, and can last without water for a week?" Floyd asked "yes, but..." "It's been only two hours"Floyd muttered Reginald nodded in agreement "you know my food was really salty"he said Floyd nodded "yes... And the pie was too spicy... stupid maids, poor cooking skills" Floyd said shaking his head in pity "no Floyd...the food was tempered with" Reginald said certainly "what?...why??" "To keep us here"Reginald said "how...what...why..." An arrow flew towards them Reginald caught it before it hurt himself or Floyd. Floyd gasped "we have to get out of here...get you to safety..." An arrow shot through Floyd's neck, Reginald caught him, but now was not a time to mourn... he had to save himself, but Killing Floyd was only a distraction, to avert his sensitivity as a bullet came flying in his direction. Reginald cursed underneath his breath, there was no way he was faster than a gun in his weak dehydrated state. He was losing vision, it was long since he ate something as terrible as that. He should have never eaten that, but only two ways to get rid of Luther; kill him, or let him kill him.

He let the second bullet hit the side of his abdomen, and it went blank.