‘It is still too dangerous to travel and I do not know any local witches, I will have to ask.’ said a pensive Anya. ‘I’m just warning you that we may have to keep to our disguises for longer than we planned’
‘I can’t say it is ideal’ said the Crown Prince from his toddler girl body. ‘But I guess we are safe here. Can we send word to my Father that I am safe?’
‘Perhaps there is a way of getting word via Mary. Her husband is in the royal army. I will ask at her. I’m sure her sentiments are with the royalists’ Just then they heard crying in the other room. ‘I hear young Jaspar awake. I must retrieve him’ The conversation was over.
………
Anya did ask about getting word to the Royalist army but Mary said she could not help. She had no word from her husband and knew not whether he was still alive or not. ‘Am I to assume that Jess’s father is also in the Royal army?’
Anya had never had to explain the whereabouts of Jess’s father. The fact that she wore no wedding ring suggested she was not married. She decided to go along with Mary’s guess, it would explain why she wanted to make contact with the Royalist army. ‘He is, I wish to make contact with him and tell him where we are’
‘I understand as I am in the same situation. Word is that the army was routed. At least mine husband knows where I was going to wait out the war. I can only pray that he has survived and will return some day’
‘Do you know what unit your husband was assigned to?’ asked Mary.
‘He was with the Crown Prince’s guard’ Anya had to quickly come up with a name. ‘His name is Gareth Smith’ That was the name of one of Jaspar’s loyal guards. If she could get word to Gareth than he would get word to the King.
‘Hmm. We will ask Conrad at dinner. He is visiting the cross roads today. He may have news’
…….
Later that day Anya was able to ask Martha the cook, a local, whether she knew of any witches.
‘There is a blonde hag that lives in the forest to the north who sells petty potions. I once bought a fertility charm off her’
‘Did it work?’
‘Yes. Too well. I wanted one baby and it gave me twins. Why do you have need of a witch?’
‘It is a private matter’ Anya did not trust this woman
……..
At dinner Mary asked Conrad ‘What is the latest news of the war?’
‘The survivors of the Royalist army have regrouped in the East. I have heard that the King has survived as has Princess Elaine’
‘Have you any news about the Crown Prince?’
‘Only that he is not with the King. I heard his guard were captured with his harem trying to flee. The Prince was not with them. Rumour is most were killed defending the women and any survivors were put to death as they would not reveal the hiding place of the Prince. He is yet to be found’
Anya didn’t need to fake distress on hearing this news. She knew many the Prince’s guards well. Poor Jess would not be happy when she heard this news.
Mary was looking at her. ‘Perhaps you should lie down Anya?’
Conrad looked at his governess. She was very pale ‘Anya? You are distressed?’
Mary filled him in ‘Anya’s husband was with the Prince’s guard’
‘I did not know. I am sorry Anya. Come lay down on the couch’ Conrad escorted Anya from the table to the couch. He assisted her to lay back.
Anya asked ‘What has become of the Prince’s harem?’ She had many good friends amongst her fellow concubines.
‘I have heard they will be ransomed. Any not claimed will no doubt be sold off to the highest bidders. I have heard that the Prince had a collection of the finest beauties. The rebels will make money from their captures one way or another’
Anya felt sick. That could have been her fate had she remained with her friends. As a witch though she would have had special treatment. They would not have ransomed her. However one of Conrad’s words gave her some comfort. He had described the enemy army as “Rebels”. Did that mean his sympathies remained with the Royalists?