The Green Amulet

Chapter 5

Caleb

Mother dearest imparted an important teaching within me that I shall forever recall; in order to survive in this world, you had to persevere it's toiling.  When the servant had side kicked his horse causing the stallion to neigh to life and pad it's hooves away towards my new home or preferably hunting ground, I had carefully emerged from the barrel and heaved a gasp of fresh air. As much as I lavished the feeling of beer in my belly and it's scent in my nostrils, swimming in the drowsing liquid was a tad extreme. Besides, the situation I was currently in demanded for my sober persona not my drunken  alter ego. The crispy night air infiltrated my light flannel causing my teeth to chatter. Unconsciously, I found myself waving goodbye to the place I had called home for two decades. A memory tried to break free from the talons at the back of my brain but to no avail, memories formed attachments and attachments  were the main source of weakness among humans. If only everyone could  master the art of forgetting. Perhaps I could begin teaching people how to, make an honest living out of it...I repressed a chuckle at the morbid idea, I was indeed a funny lad.

The sudden halt and successive feral neighs from the horse hinged my inner monologue. I momentarily panicked when I heard the servant's feet began approaching the back of the cart. I opted to slip under a pile of clothing within the cart which would actually prove a much safer hiding spot than the inside of a barrel. I coyly smiled  as I remembered how he had let out a string of profanities while lifting the barrel I had let myself into, the man had brutal strength I would give him that.

"Right this way! The feast has just commenced and the gin is already running low, hurry. Thomas! Would you stop downing the rum and help the lad lest you want to be out in the streets soon!"

Feast? Meaning the whole Kingdom including wealthy nobles with their snotty noses would be making merry in a drunken state not minding their pricy possessions? I was loving this Kingdom already! I slowly lifted up the piece of clothing and examined my surroundings.  The cart was nearly empty but the men who were off loading it were no where to be seen. If I alighted from the cart at that very moment I could be spotted but then if I waited I could also be spotted once the barrel in front of me got lifted. Grinding my teeth, I opted for the first option.

"Hey! What are you doing there?"

I froze. Swallowing back a huge lump in my throat, I scrutinized the short  stature of  the man in front of me. He had a protruding belly and a large square head with a bearded face. I bit back a laugh, he strongly reminded me of a goblin.

"Stop dilly dallying and bring the barrels in the tavern! We have to start moving them to the palace right this instant!"

I visibly relaxed, not sure why I was scared in the first place. The only person who could supposedly recognize me was the servant from back home. I swiftly covered myself with one of the clothing and lifted a barrel of beer from the cart. My feet hit the ground with a thud and I couldn't help the smirk on my face, I had actually done it. I had escaped a mob and infiltrated another Kingdom undetected.

"Why are you just standing there? Bring it in!"

My victory thoughts hit a barricade upon hearing the command and I found myself moving towards the tavern. Just as I was about to push the door,  it flung open  and the servant from home emerged his face scrunched in what I deemed to be disgust. He appeared to be too engrossed in whatever had taken place prior our meeting at the door to even notice who I was. Again, mother luck was on my side. I watched in disbelief as the servant clambered on his horse, kicked it on the side and took off pulling the empty cart behind him headed for Malin.

"For the love of Aires! Would you move you scum!"

Bobbing my head in compliance, I pushed the door with all my weight since my hands were occupied. The scent of rum, wine and gin hit my nostrils all at once and my taste buds scowled at me for not introducing them to these enthralling liquids.

"Hey man, you are new here huh? Boss giving you a rough time eh? Don't worry you'll get used to it and if he gets too hard I'll intervene. I'm Akarda, I work the bar. But now we have to take these barrels to the feast before people start getting sober and remember our king is dead."

Akarda took the barrel from my hands as if it contained nothing and dissapeared to what appeared to be a back exit of the tavern. I was taken aback by the tall, handsome,  green eyed, tanned blonde. Growing up I had been accustomed to charming people into receiving kindness and here was a man who knew absolutely nothing about me yet he had offered me the one thing I rarely came by, instant kindness.

" I didn't catch your name stranger."

As I hopped into the cart, I threw him a disarming smile. He smiled back.

" My name is Caleb,  Caleb Ferra."

One could hear the music from a distance. It was loud and upbeat,  nothing like Malin mourning feasts. Once we halted and alighted from the cart, I could not help but stare at the palace in awe.

"If you are captivated by the outward upholstery then I can't wait for you to see the inside of it Caleb."

Eager, I lifted a barrel and followed Akarda into the palace. We did not use the entrance as expected of course therefore avoiding the unnecessary scrutiny of the palace guards. We entered through what appeared to be the kitchen area, it was humongous.  Servants scurried here and there as they bustled with cutlery of various delicacies. Placing the barrel at one of the corners of the kitchen, I turned to inquire something from Akarda but he seemed engaged in a rather endearing conversation with one of the female servants whose cheeks were aflame. I nodded in respect while scouring for an exit from the large kitchen. I spotted a door where servants were exiting with food and followed them. There was only one word to describe this palace, grand. The white velvet was nothing short of elegant and the marble floors were simply astounding...

"Oomph!"

A sharp pain erupted in my gut, someone had bumped into me,  hard. The said person had also managed to pour their drink all over me. Spiffing, just spiffing. So much for impressing the nobles.

"My apologies, I happen to be quite clumsy when I engage in illicit drinking, please do not inform my brother or my father or Mitchell for that matter...they would simply go bonkers if they heard..."

I had been so busy wiping the liquid smudge from my flannel that I had not lifted my eyes to see the cause of all this fracas. The moment I did I almost toppled backwards. Dressed in a ruby red free flowing dress, the girl who appeared to be heavily drunk was currently stretching out her hand and in it was a kerchief. My body refused to function even though I was well aware that the kerchief was meant to be an apologetic gesture for the incident. Her jet black hair was tied in an elegant bun with a few strands hanging on the side of her oval shaped face. Her sultry lips were pursed from my rude reaction of not taking the kerchief and her high cheek bones appeared to be flushed no doubt due to her drinking spree. Her eyes, her pulling green eyes that appeared to be a riddle wrapped in an enigma...

"Mother of all apes! What are you doing here Lyra? Your speech is about to begin! Remember the queen speech? I was supposed to stuff my face with delectable meals and you were supposed to move the crowd with words!"

My gawking trance hit a wall. I swiftly examined the person who had just joined us. He appeared angry, very angry and with the way he was staring daggers at me... Wait had he said that  the drunken mesmerizing  girl in front of me was the queen?

Jackpot!