Bab 18: Chapter 16: The poisoned Chalice VII
The maid walked into the room in her usual haste and opened the drapes to the window, allowing bright lights overshadow the darkness that preserved itself through the night before.
Aridal maids were divided into four different sectors: The maids who were dressed in violet corset and white gowns were maids that serve the Nobles and were usually assigned to a particular Noble indicating ranks and whatnot. They were the ones allowed into a Noble chamber at any given time and there were only five of them in the palace. One was assigned to King Andor who was now serving Lord Weyback and had followed him. The other was assigned to Verlock, one to Sharma who was now also serving King Ratarod known as Mera, one to Prince Artirad and the last one to the Knights. When the hands of the first sector are full with preparations, the second sector step in to assist .
The other sector following behind were maidens who wore dark blue gowns and bright yellow corset, known as helpers to the first sector. They were divided into two, the hands-on who assist in dressing and bathing and the others who assist in bringing food to the Nobles. The ones who check if everything is prepared accordingly. They were also assigned to a Noble when different Kings or Royals come for festivities, that is, if they didn't come with their own maids; which seldom happens. In the whole of the palace, there were about ten to fifteen of them.
This maid now here in Verlock's chamber was his personal hand maiden. She wore an off-white gown with a violet embroidered corset. This was an indication that she was a maid of the first sector.
She walked to the bedside of Verlock and removed the sheet he covered himself with, revealing the clothes he had worn last night. She pulled his shoes from his feet and then his stockings. She dropped them in the basket she had brought in. She went further to pull off his tunic, leaving him with only his trousers on.
He felt the pull on his body and knew it was his assigned maid. This was a ritual for him and especially on very important days. Today must be important, what was it?
He sat up straight on his bed.
"Rise and shine, my lord." She said enthusiastically. " I have prepared your bath for you."
He had a headache. There was this feeling that his skin was being pulled from his body. The back of his head pounded so much he squinted his eyes and groaned.
"Are you alright?". She touched his arm.
He waved her hand away and moved to the edge of the bed. "I am fine, Grana. Just headache."
She walked over to the side he was sitting and got ready to pull off his trousers.
"I can do it." He said, the vision of the room clearing out as he stood up.
"This is my duty, my lord. Let me do it."
"I said I will do it."
"Do you need me to bring the hand maidens to wash you?" She asked.
"No. I will do it. That will be all, Grana."
Grana looked at him and sighed. She walked over to her basket and put the tunic with the others.
The door to the chamber room opened and another maiden, of the second sector, walked in with a tray of covered plates. She bowed. "Good morning my lord. Courtesy of Lady Romayo. She said you will need it."
"What is that?" He asked.
"Soup to clear your head, my lord."
Grana walked over to her and collected the tray. "Tell the lady that Lord Verlock appreciates the courtesy."
The maid bowed. "Is there anything more you need?"
"Hold on." Grana said. She went in and dropped the tray on the table. Picking up the basket of clothes and shoes, she handed them over to the maiden. "Get this to the washers. It's for Lord Verlock. Make sure it is not mixed with the knights clothes."
The maid collected it. "I will. Anything else?"
"No. That is all, Sheda."
Sheda bowed and turned to the door, walking away without a word.
Grana faced Verlock, he had removed his trousers and was now naked. "The truce signing will be holding in an hour, my lord. Queen Sharma requests that you be there on time."
So that was the important thing he forgot. He touched his temple as he walked to the inner quarters where his tub was prepared.
"Are you sure you do not need any help to quicken your preparation...my lord?" Grana called to him.
He sat in the tub, the water warm to his skin. It was soothing. He closed his eyes and breathed in the scented candles in the room. He could hear the chirps of birds that sing the songs of Aridal every morning from the small window.
Grana waited for a reply. But when none came, she turned to the door of the chamber. "I will leave then, my lord."
"Grana..."
She heard Verlock called to her as she was leaving. "Yes?"
"I will need the help."
Grana smiled. He always said he didn't need help and few minutes later, he would go against his own words. "I will go get them then."
She walked out of the chamber.
.....
.....
Artirad groaned when the flash of light hit his face.
"It is morning already." His manservant said.
"Shut the drapes, Midel. I need to sleep more."
"Are you forgetting that you have to be present for the truce signing? You will be late if you don't prepare now."
Dazed, Artirad squinted his eyes at his surrounding. The thick white furred bed cover he was under, the painted walls with murals on them, the finest furniture set for royals and a mahogany bed. This wasn't his room. The realization dawning on him, he briskly sat up in his bed.
"Seems your vision finally cleared." His servant said.
Artirad rubbed his eyes with his hands. "They need my brother for the treaty, not me. I could as well just sit here all day."
"No, my lord. You have to be present. King Ratarod will not have you not attending. You will be digging your grave, I must say. Utmost."
Artirad groaned and shifted the sheet from his body. He was in a white silk shirt and trouser, a night night wear. When he turned to the other side of his bed, he was taken aback to find that there was someone else in the room. No, there were three of them.
"Who are you?" He asked the one in front who was smiling at him and whose clothing was different from the other two behind her holding trays of food in their hands.
"Good morning Prince Artirad. I am Hannah." The one in front said. She was wearing an off-white gown and a violet corset, a maid of the first sector. "I am your maiden for your stay in Aridal. Food for you and your servant."
Artirad watched as she directed the other maidens of the second sector to drop the trays on the small dining table in the center of the room. They set the table for them, arranging the spoons and fork.
When they were done, Hannah came to his bedside. "They will also be helping you with your bath."
"Bath?"
"That won't be necessary." His manservant walked forward.
"But I must insist. It is our duty." She said, signalling for the maidens to go to the inner room to prepare the tub. "Your bath is getting prepared. If you need any other help, just let me know."
"I don't think there will be any help I will be needing at all. I have a servant present already." He looked at Midel and shot him a look. "He should be doing his tasks."
Midel grinned.
Hannah looked at him. "Then permit me to do mine, Prince Artirad. I also have a task to fulfill."
"But—"
She bowed and walked away, closing the door to his chamber.
Midel laughed. "Aridal may be more extravagant then Rabadon. Don't you think, my Lord."
Artirad looked at the door where Hannah had walked out from, losing an argument. "So it seems." He turned to look at the door of the inner room. "You better make sure I am not bathed by a group of women, Midel."
"But what can I do, it has been set already my Lord. And we are in Metabul. I am sure they have their own ways of doing things."
"I can object!" He stood up and turned to Midel. "Make sure by the time I remove my clothes, they are not there or I will have your eyes for the gutters. Do we have an accord?"
With Artirad's eyes glaring deep into his, Midel constrained his laughter that was waiting to erupt. "Yes...my Lord. We do."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone