HANA’S BEEN more cheerful than ever lately. Perhaps her love wrote to her saying that he’d come soon. Perhaps in an effort to be cheerful, she’s faking it. Maybe she’s hiding something. I’ll begin by telling you that I found Hana curled up on the bench in the middle of the night, in the courtyard, shivering. Her cloak was neglected in a puddle of melted snow, a sheet of parchment with writing laying next to it outside of the puddle. It was quite lucky that the letter hadn’t landed in it, for the ink would have bled through the paper and made it illegible. No matter how much I wanted to read it, I resisted and carried Hana up to her room. Placing her on her cot, my arms suddenly felt empty without her weight. Suppressing the sudden urge to plant a light kiss on her freezing nose, I rearranged her more comfortably and covered her with the thin cotton blanket. I had no idea how long she’d been outside, but it was definitely too long. There was no evidence of drinking, so the thought was wholly her own. That workweek was the most difficult of my time as a servant at Wildwood. My schedule had changed, and now I was working on the week’s end as well. Dust mantle pieces on 5th story - 5:30 AM-6:30 AM Wash dishes - Thursday - 6:45 AM-7:00 AM Wash stairs - Friday - 6:50 AM-8:10 AM Clear chimneys on 3rd story - 8:20 AM-9:00 AM Mop eating chambers - Saturday - 9:20 AM-10:00 AM FREE PERIOD - Saturday-Sunday - 10:00 AM-2:00 PM Re-organize library books - 2:15 PM-3:00 PM Dust library shelves - 3:15 PM-3:45 PM FREE PERIOD - Monday-Friday 3:45 PM-4:30 PM Sweep eating chambers - 4:45 PM-5:30 PM Polish trophies in 2nd story hall - 5:45 PM-7:10 PM Dry Dishes - Saturday - 7:20 PM-8:00 PM FREE PERIOD - Sunday-Friday - 7:20 PM-8:30 PM Straighten desks on 4th story - 8:30 PM-9:15 PM Give High Master Kieser his bedtime tea - Friday - 9:20 PM-10:00 PM That last one I was dreading the most. He was sure to recognize me! He was the 3rd in command after my father and his most trusted advisor and had been to the palace millions of times. Good thing today was Friday so I could get my first time over with. Later that night, after a crippling amount of work I walked towards the kitchen for the easiest job of the day - or so I thought. “Bert, how are yeh today?” The cook said in her Gaeilge (a neighboring kingdom) sounding accent. “I’m doing well,” I replied. “Thar’s a good lad. You here for the High Master’s tea, eh?” “Indeed, I am.” “Eh? What’s up with you now?” “It’s been a rather exhausting day.” “Ah.” “Yes. Well, I’d like the tray now, if you may.” “I may,” She replied, pouring the boiling water from the kettle into the teapot. “Thank you,” “Eh, don’ mention it, laddie. It’s part of my evenin’ routine.” I shook my head, smiling. She crammed everything onto the tray and gently pushed it to me. “Now, don’ spill the tea on yar way up.” “I won’t, Cook.” “Eh!” She laughed, “Cook?!” Call me Lannie, lad. I have a name you know.” “Of course, Lannie,” I said, laughing as well. Leaving the wonderful company of the cook - Lannie, I was careful to keep my hands steady as I climbed the stairs to the teachers’ chambers. My knees shook as I stepped further up the stairs. “Come in,” Kieser said when I knocked on the door. “You’re late,” He said, checking his watch, and closing it promptly. Glancing at the clock on the wall, indeed I was late, but only by a minute. “I brought your tea,” I said, trying to stifle the urge to spill the tea all over his floor. “Ah, thank you, my good fellow.” I bowed, though my nature told me not to. “Do you have a name? I’d like to know who I’m ordering about.” His dark eyes pierced straight through my disguise. I found myself at a loss as to what my name was. “I’m…” “Come on, spit it out, boy. I’m waiting.” “I’m…” “No matter. If you don’t want to tell me then I guess you’d better pack up.” “I’m Bert,” I answered quickly, inwardly wiping my brow in relief. “Well, hello Bert. I am Wilkes Morton Kieser, but you may call me High Master Kieser, Lord Kieser, High Master, or if you’re daring, simply Kieser.” “Well, sir I am not daring.” “Ah, ah, ah. No need for such formalities. I am not a ‘sir.’ please call me by my proper name. Now, try it again.” He said passively. Why that- if he knew who I was he would not like to be in his shoes right now! Grimacing, I said, “Well, Kieser, I am not daring.” “Hm... your use of my surname suggests otherwise.” I rolled my eyes inwardly. “Indeed, High Master, it was meant with the highest respect.” I closed my eyes and rolled them once again. He didn’t seem impressed. “Well, Bert. You may depart.” If I weren’t in this disguise HE would be the one wanting to depart. I bowed myself out of the room. I shut the ornate door behind me, gripping the golden handles in the shape of dragons as if they were my lifeline in place of slamming it shut. I swear, one of them was so hot, it felt as if it had come to life and breathed fire on me.
:OOO THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT'S FIT IN THE ONE BOX!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- EEP, PETER'S COMING BACK NEXT CHAPTER. Next chapter: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/489280378/
