The Ciphers of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood #2)(15)

“Most of the helpers are children from the village,” added Aloia, trying to get her share of the attention. “You are really the princess, though? Everyone says that Lady Murer is the princess, but we know the truth at Muirwood.”

“Do not talk of such things!” Davi complained.

“Why not? She is talking to us! So you are the princess? Truly?”

Maia swirled her stew around and took another bite. “This is wonderful. Collett is a splendid cook.” She poked the stew a bit. “Yes, Aloia. I am the Princess of Comoros.”

Both girls tittered with eagerness. “But the king has tried to make you deny it,” Davi said, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

“In every way he can, yes,” she answered. “He took away my jewels and my gowns. He took away my servants and all my coin. He signed a law giving everything I owned to my stepsister. He can do that—he is the king.” Talking about him made her heart ache; she knew his hold on the throne was a result of his riches and power, not his subjects’ goodwill. Although he did not deserve the title, she did not feel it was her duty or the Medium’s will to overthrow him.

“But,” she added, wagging her spoon at them, “it is not jewels or dresses that make a princess. And laws cannot change that my mother was a queen and my father is a king. Even if no one else believed it, I would still be a princess.” She fished a nugget of venison from the stew and ate it with relish. Glancing over at Suzenne, Maia realized the other girl was watching her rather than eating.

Maia smiled at her, trying to set her at ease.

Suzenne flushed and raised her spoon to her mouth.

“Who is the man sitting by the ovens?” Maia whispered, leaning toward the girls. “Why is he in the kitchen?”

“That is Thewliss,” Aloia said, matching her conspiratorial tone. “He is Collett’s husband. Shhh! He even sleeps here at night.”

“Scandalous,” Maia said, grinning. “They do not sleep in the manor house?”

“Oh no,” Davi said. “That is their bed underneath the loft. You see it, over there.”

“I see it,” Maia said. “So they live here with you?”

“Oh yes,” Aloia said with a bubbly voice. “We are too young to be left all alone here.”

“I wish they would leave us alone here,” Davi complained.

Maia finished her stew as the girls continued with their chatter.

Aloia nodded seriously. “Do not talk to Thewliss. He is very shy. He never talks to anyone.”

“He is the gardener. He keeps the grounds,” Davi added.

“He is planting winter bulbs right now. In the spring—”

“They will blossom and bloom! He is a wonderful gardener. He talks to the plants more than he talks to us.”

“I think they can hear him. Some of them answer him.”

“I saw him talking to the birds once!”

“You did not!”

Collett’s voice rose over the conversation. “Girls, quit your prattling! You have been chattering away all day long! Hold your tongue for half a moment and take the cobbler to the manor house for the Aldermaston.”

The girls sprang from the bench and promptly obeyed, taking their stew bowls for cleaning, and quickly arranged the dessert to bring to the Aldermaston. Before they scurried off into the night, they brought small, still-steaming dishes of cobbler to Suzenne and Maia.

Maia took a bite from her bowl and murmured with delight. There was a treacle, oat, and cinnamon topping and the apples were soft and mashed at the bottom.

“This is one of the desserts she sells at Whitsunday?” Maia asked.

“Yes,” Suzenne replied meekly, taking a taste herself. “She believes in carrying on the traditions of old.” Her face darkened a bit. “I am sorry for leaving you earlier,” she apologized. “I should not have. We are companions now.”

Maia reached over and patted Suzenne’s arm. “You have my permission,” she said. “I do not mean to take you away from your friends. Besides, I was with my grandmother, so I was not alone.”

Suzenne stared at her bowl, as if she were not enjoying it.

“What is wrong?” Maia asked softly, keeping her voice low so that the others would not hear. Sabine and Collett were talking over tea and keeping their conversation quiet as well.

“I appreciate your permission,” Suzenne said, not looking at her. “But I feel I disappointed the Medium today. I offended it. I am to take the maston test soon.” She bit her lip. “To be truthful, I am a bit nervous about it. It would grieve me if I failed because I did not show you proper respect.”

Maia smoothed some hair behind her ear. “You should be the last person at the abbey to fear failing the test. You have studied here for many years. I have already seen that you are strong with the Medium.”

Suzenne looked up at her, then glanced back down. “Not as strong as you.”

Maia sighed. She reached over and squeezed the other girl’s hand. “I understand a little of how you feel, Suzenne. I am also afraid to take the maston test. Because of . . . what I am. Will the Medium reject me because of it? My heart tells me it will not. But there are those little crumbs of fear that linger in the pan.” She picked a little crumb out of her treacle to emphasize the point. “We can only do our best to clean our inner vessels. To make ourselves worthy to receive the Medium’s will and power. My grandmother believes I am the one who must open the Apse Veil to allow the dead to return to Idumea and to save the people of Assinica. No one in her generation has been strong enough to do so. Even my mother failed.” She sighed again. “I feel great pressure to succeed.”