"Bergamot." I blinked at the harsh light silhouetting the figure in the door. I frowned. "Catnip." I patted the empty spot beside me, inviting her to sit. We have much to talk about, I assume?" She nodded, walking up to my bed in five quick strides. Catnip sat beside me, the dagger at her hip shimmering dangerously in the dim candlelight. "I apologize for the way my guards treated you." She took my face in her hands, inspecting the bruise where the guard had punched me. "They didn't rough you up too bad, did they?" She gave me a serious look. "I'll have them executed." I shook my head. "No, that won't be necessary," Turning away from her, I hopped off the bed and walked to the far corner of the room. Catnip shot me a puzzled look. "What are you doing, Bergamot?" She asked as I stared at the room, trying to sear the image in my mind. "Getting one last look of this place, before you send, me abroad," I replied nonchalantly. In my 2 months' stay in the room that had served as my "prison," the surroundings had become familiar to me. The only things in the room were the bed that I had slept on and the window, where I'd spent many a late night staring out of. "Bergamot." Catnip had walked over to me, and placed a hand on my shoulder, derailing my train of thought. "What?" I gave her a puzzled look, to which she frowned at. "Did you hear me?" She asked, and I shook my head. This was not the correct answer apparently, because her frown merely deepened, and she shook her head dismissively. "Of course you didn't." Catnip muttered, smacking me lightly against the head. "You've nothing up there but cobwebs." She said, with a chuckle. I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. Catnip's face turned serious again. "Listen Bergamot, because this is important," She said sternly. "When I send you away, you'll be out of my protection. But you'll also be unrecognizable from the posters placed around the kingdom."  Judging by the exasperated sigh that she made, I must've not understood where she was going with her little explanation. "Maybe you'll understand after you've had a bath." I blinked. "Bath?" It had been a while since I had a bath, nor was I eager to be thrown into a freezing-cold river. Sensing my hesitation, Catnip hastily added; "Don't worry, I won't toss you in a river," She said with a grin, and clapped her hands together. Two maids entered the room, looking to Catnip for instructions. She pointed at me. "You know what to do." The two maids nodded, and rushed at me, grabbing my arms. "Catnip?!" I struggled in the maids' grip, to no avail, as they led me out of the room. Catnip grinned. "Scrub 'em 'til he's pink." She told the maids, as the maids led me to the castle's bathing quarters. What occurred in that room was torture of the utmost diabolical degree. The maids first stripped me of my clothes, leaving me shivering while they drew the bath. Then, they led me to the bath. While they bathed me, they talked when my head wasn't underwater and introduced themselves. I learned their names quickly. Majoram was the taller of the two, tall and slender, with hair the color of iron, bound tightly in a bun. She was heavy-handed while she scrubbed me, voicing her criticisms with clicks of the tongue. The other maid was Coriander, younger than Majoram, with flowing blonde hair. She was gentler than Majoram, almost motherly as she cleaned me. "I have a son who's your age," She spoke softly, her blue eyes wistful as she talked. Majoram was washing my clothes with a fierce determination, her gray eyes blazing. "He's in the war, bless him." Coriander sniffed. I thought about something comforting to say and found nothing. "But, he's a fighter," Coriander continued. "I should know, I gave birth to him." Majoram snorted, still scrubbing my clothes. "I've had 8 sons, and 16 grandsons," She said, staring at me harshly with hawk-like eyes."They're all like you." Her gaze softened and then hardened again. "Dirty, and always causing trouble!" She took Coriander's place and began scrubbing me roughly. "Ow! Watch it!" I start to climb out of the bath, but Majoram grabbed me, pulled me back into the bath, and resumed scrubbing. "I'm not a cooking pot that needs scouring!" I protested, and Majoram laughed. "On the contrary, Bergamot." Coriander piped up, the two maids stepping away as I climbed out of the bath, feeling very much like a wet cat. Majoram and Coriander left the room, leaving me with my thoughts and some clean clothes. I change into the clothes, putting on boots a horserider (Horses and I have never gotten along in the slightest.) might wear, and leave the bathing quarters. Walking past a quartet of maids, I make my way back to my room. Hearing a giggle, I turn to see an unfamiliar face. The owner of said face happens to be one of the maids in the group I walked past. She's the same height as me, with eyes the color of pale blue glass. Her light pink hair is styled in two tight braids. I notice that she has a smattering of freckles on her light brown skin. She clears her throat, bringing me back to the present. "S-Sorry," I reply, tripping over my words. "I guess I was... distracted." I grin, and she smiles, sticking out her hand for me to shake, which I do. "I'm Cardamon." She says, her voice reminding me of birdsong. "You must be Bergamot." I nod. "Lady Catnip gave me orders to take you to the carriage." I blinked. "Carriage?" Cardamon nodded and took my hand. "I'll take you there. After all," She continued, leading me out of the castle. "I'm your assigned escort, and bodyguard!" Cardamon stopped in front of the carriage. I entered the carriage, and she followed, settling down beside me. "So..." I whispered, grateful that Cardamon couldn't see my blushing face in the carriage's dark interior. "You're coming with me?" She nodded. "My orders were to accompany you," Cardamon whispered back, lifting her skirt, revealing a dagger, strapped to her leg. "And defend you from harm." She grinned and lifted the carriage's cover a bit. "Wow, it's dark." Cardamon said quietly. "And the carriage's stopped." I observed, and she turned to me, grinning dangerously. She grabbed my hand. "Let's sneak out." She whispered, and I shrugged. "Sure. Why not?" I replied, and Cardamon's grin grew wider. She pulled me out of the carriage and pointed to a bush. "Do you see that bush?" I nodded, and she led me closer to it. Up close, I could see that the bush was covered in dark blueberries. Cardamon grabbed a handful of them and handed some to me. "No thanks." I replied, with a shake of my head. "I don't like-" Cardamon frowned, grabbing my hand, and giving me the blueberries. "Come on Bergamot," She popped one of the blueberries in her mouth, closing her eyes in bliss. "Mm!" She smiled. "They taste amazing! Try one!" Cardamon looked so happy, I couldn't refuse. Holding the small berry between my thumb and index finger, I gaze at it. Cardamon watched me intently, one eyebrow raised. "Are you going to eat it, or-" She fell silent as I dropped to one knee, holding the berry just so that it caught the moonlight. "What're you doing, Berga-" I raised a hand for silence, and spoke. "Berry of blue," I said, glancing at Cardamon from the corner of my eye. She was trying hard not to laugh. I continued, trying not to laugh myself. "As I consume you, please don't be too tart." I popped the berry into my mouth and grimaced. The blueberry was extremely tart. I must've made an extremely humorous face because Cardamon burst out laughing. Tears rolled down her face, and her shoulders shook. "Come on Bergamot," She said, still laughing, grabbing my hand and walking me back to the carriage. She climbed into the carriage, and I followed, flopping onto the blankets beside her. "We should go to sleep while it's still dark Cardamon." I whispered to her, and she nodded, closing her eyes. I closed my eyes but didn't drift off right away. Instead, I listened to the noise of the night; The multitude of cricket chirps, and occasional owl hoot. I awake to Cardamon shaking me. Wincing at the harsh sunlight streaming through the carriage, I sit up. "Where are we?" I ask and shrugged confusion swimming in her blue eyes. "The carriage isn't moving, and the driver is gone." Cardamon murmured, stepping out of the carriage. I follow, surveying our surroundings warily. We were in some sort of forested area, and close by was a cottage, its cozy light promising warmth, a place to sleep, and a hot meal. "Let's go to that cottage," I said, pointing at it. "Maybe whoever lives there will let us stay the night." Cardamon looked at me hesitantly and then nodded, slipping her hand. Hand in hand, we walk down the dirt path, the cottage growing closer as we near it. As we stand before the ornate wooden door, Cardamon gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. Feeling reassured, I knock on the door, and we wait. Then, the door opened, revealing an elderly lady. She regards us coolly. "Let me guess," She begins, her voice sounding like a rusty door hinge. "You newlyweds got lost?" I shoot a glance at Cardamon, knowing without a doubt that my face was red. "Yes. We are lost," Cardamon says, meeting my gaze, and nodded slightly. "And we were wondering if you'd let us stay here for a night." The elderly woman nods to herself, and steps inside, inviting into the cottage's cozy interior. "The guest bedroom is upstairs and to the left." I nod, staring at the brooch on her dress. It was pretty, a silver circle, with two snakes, one pale rose pink, the other vibrant green, connected, nose to tail. "Bergamot!" I wince at Cardamon's elbow prodding me in the ribs. I tear my gaze away from the brooch, meeting Cardamon's cross face. She cocked her head to the stairs, and I nod, following her upstairs. We walk into the bedroom and I grabbed one of the blankets, laying down on the floor and falling asleep. I wake up to loud banging on the bedroom door. I watch as Cardamon goes to open the door. The scowling face of the elderly lady greeted us. "Come on you two!" She screeched, storming downstairs. Cardamon and I walk down downstairs hastily, glancing at each other nervously. "Wait here!" The lady vanished into another room. I frowned, and Cardamon shot me a worried look. "Get near the door," I whispered. "If she comes back with a weapon, we leave." She nodded, and the elderly lady returned, her hands in her long sleeves. Cardamon raised her dagger, ready to fight if necessary, but the old woman ignored her and turned to me. "Hopefully, one day you will forgive me for this, Bergamot." She started and pointed at me. Something flew out of her sleeves, and two serpents, one pink and the other vibrant green landed on me, wrapping around my wrist and neck. Both serpents struck, and I staggered, struggling to stand as a hazy feeling swept over me. "Bergamot!" The last thing I heard was Cardamon, shouting my name as I collapsed onto the ground.8964 copyright protection39ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIcjWx9T9L 維尼

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