Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 60

Nursemaid Elgiva left Castle Tori. The night was pitch black, and as she stepped the stone clad streets, dimly illuminated by the stone-grey "silver" lighthouse, which beamed out from the coastal distance, her footsteps clapped clumsily against the ground. The noise being annoyingly audible to those lying awake in the nearby homes trying to get some sleep.

When she finally arrived at the ramshackle home of her Kytalyk friend, on the edge of the Patinan city, she was slightly out of breath. As she huddled inside the small dog that had energetically leapt up at her on her last visit was sleepily sniffing around her feet. Reacquainting itself with the flummoxed late night visitor.

"I have some news," spoke the Kytalyk, quietly, smiling, as he pulled out a chair for her to finally sit down upon. "She's returned to the mainland. Arrived by ship in the Northern Kingdom yesterday, and is heading further inland." He scuttled around the little kitchen as he continued to talk, "Perhaps it would be wise to assume that she's now heading to the woodlands of the half-tails after all."

As she took a seat and caught her breath Elgiva listened with interest. The simple knowledge that Liofia was safe and well being the overriding thing that pleased her. The last time she had visited she was all at odds, and completely unsure what was going on. Now, sitting in the rickety wooden chair, she felt more secure. The time that had passed had also allowed her to mull things over more, and she'd decided that, whatever happened, she'd simply follow Liofia - wherever she had gone. Without the young princess around, her presence at the castle was entirely pointless, and more to the point the fret and worry that had plagued her since she'd left was hard to bear. Liofia, to all intents, was more like a daughter than a patron. So she now simply needed to know where to go in order to find her.

"She's most certainly not returning to the castle then?" she asked, in a half-query, already understanding that this was the case.

"It would appear so."

"Well, I'll be leaving too ..though I'm not quite sure how I'll be doing that."

"I expected you would."

The Kytalyk then poured himself and Elgiva a small cup of tea. The metal teapot making a ringing clunk as he placed it back down on the table. "There's no rush, you'll reach her eventually, it just may take some time and patience. There's little point trying to follow her through the woodland right now. Much better to know where she's heading, then head her off at the pass. It might be a good idea to start travelling west, towards the central mainland. I have friends you'll be able to stay with. That way you can stick to the roads, and if any more information pops up we can keep informed and adapt."

"So I'll be heading towards the Pox lands?"

These words came with a noted apprehension. Rumours about the spread of the dreaded Pox had increased in recent days and weeks, and the thought of heading to the cities further west didn't appeal in the slightest. She brushed her hand down the front of her coat, as if to brush off imaginary bugs, then warmed her hands frettingly around the little teacup.

"You'll be fine, I wouldn't worry about that. Just keep to yourself and follow the main tracks. My friends will help you. They'll keep you safe and sane."

Elgiva patted the little dog, which was now settling down, curled up at her feet. As she drank the warm tea she tried to stiffen her resolve for the journey that now faced her. The old Kytalyk, with reassuring simplicity, explaining everything she would need to do in plain and uncomplicated language. The prospect seemingly less daunting with each sentence he spoke.

The following morning, with little sleep, she then grabbed all her important belongings and hit the road. Taking the first steps on her pilgrimage westwards.