bow. Chris snorted at it
in disgust and Natalie nudged him and grinned broadly.
“Not exactly true to life, is
it?” she asked, amused.
“No kidding. Now that one,”
he pointed ahead to a life-sized statue about ten yards in front of
them. “That's a little more realistic.”
The statue Chris had indicated was of a
female. But she was dressed in intricate armor, her arms tightly
muscled. She held a sword and shield and her wings stretched up high
behind her. Her expression was grim and her marble hair blew around
her as if she stood in a high wind.
“Ah yes. That one is called
Defiance, sir,” their guide said helpfully. “She's my
favorite, actually.”
“Cool.” Chris looked
closely at Jamie for the first time and realized just how young he
really was. He can't be more than sixteen or seventeen, Chris
thought. Wow, they hire them young here. Their eyes met and the other
young man looked away quickly, as if fearing he was being impolite.
Near the end of the hallway, a
staircase led up to the left and they followed Jamie up to another
corridor. The walls on both sides were painted with murals.
There were landscapes and rolling
hills. A hunt was taking place on one wall, horsemen leaping over low
walls and hounds baying as they followed the scent of a fox. Chris
looked around curiously for their prey and was amused to see that
further down the mural, a young lady was strolling innocently along a
country lane carrying a basket. A length of furry, red tail was
peeking out and when he saw it, Chris had to laugh out loud.
The others stared at him curiously, but
he couldn't stop laughing. Chris simply pointed at the painting and,
once Chef and Natalie figured out what he was laughing at, joined in.
Jamie just stood and grinned.
“I had the same reaction when I
first saw that, sir,” the young man said. “You could
stand here for hours and not run out of things to discover in these
murals.” He pointed across the hall at the other mural and the
group turned to see what he was pointing at.
There were lakes and rolling hills,
little forests and small streams meandering through the painting. But
Jamie was indicating a concealed nook beside a tiny waterfall. There,
several friends were having a picnic. A checkered blanket was laid
out, a basket full of goodies next to it, and the friends were
chatting amiably. What made it humorous was that the group consisted
of a badger, a rabbit, two squirrels and a doe. The doe was wearing a
kerchief and glasses.
Everyone laughed again at the
improbable group. Chef actually ended up wiping his eyes from
laughing so hard. This time even Jamie joined in. Chef had a
contagious laugh.
Finally, the group moved on. Chef
reminded them that they'd be staying for some time and they'd have
plenty of time to explore the castle, including the delightful
murals.
Several minutes later, they finally
reached their new quarters. Natalie and Chris had rooms directly
across from each other and Chef was going to be staying just two
doors further down the hallway.
“Thank you for your help, young
Jamie,” Chef rumbled. “It was a very...amusing journey,”
he added with a smile.
Jamie gave them a slight bow. “My
pleasure, sir. I hope you are all comfortable.” He looked at
each of them, ending with Chris. “If you need anything during
the day, my number in the house is two-seven-three. Just dial nine
first. I'm the gopher on the day shift, so your wish is my command.”
They all thanked him and he left with a
wave.
“Well, I don't know about you
two, but I could use a nap,” Natalie said and stretched with a
loud groan. “I've got a few bumps and bruises that could stand
some rest to heal up.”
“Capital idea, Natalie,”
Chef said. He looked at Chris. “You're pale as milk, my friend.
Get some sleep. We'll all meet later, once the judge settles in and
gets this castle in hand.” His smile was grim. “That
won't take long, I have no doubt.”
The three of them separated,
in disgust and Natalie nudged him and grinned broadly.
“Not exactly true to life, is
it?” she asked, amused.
“No kidding. Now that one,”
he pointed ahead to a life-sized statue about ten yards in front of
them. “That's a little more realistic.”
The statue Chris had indicated was of a
female. But she was dressed in intricate armor, her arms tightly
muscled. She held a sword and shield and her wings stretched up high
behind her. Her expression was grim and her marble hair blew around
her as if she stood in a high wind.
“Ah yes. That one is called
Defiance, sir,” their guide said helpfully. “She's my
favorite, actually.”
“Cool.” Chris looked
closely at Jamie for the first time and realized just how young he
really was. He can't be more than sixteen or seventeen, Chris
thought. Wow, they hire them young here. Their eyes met and the other
young man looked away quickly, as if fearing he was being impolite.
Near the end of the hallway, a
staircase led up to the left and they followed Jamie up to another
corridor. The walls on both sides were painted with murals.
There were landscapes and rolling
hills. A hunt was taking place on one wall, horsemen leaping over low
walls and hounds baying as they followed the scent of a fox. Chris
looked around curiously for their prey and was amused to see that
further down the mural, a young lady was strolling innocently along a
country lane carrying a basket. A length of furry, red tail was
peeking out and when he saw it, Chris had to laugh out loud.
The others stared at him curiously, but
he couldn't stop laughing. Chris simply pointed at the painting and,
once Chef and Natalie figured out what he was laughing at, joined in.
Jamie just stood and grinned.
“I had the same reaction when I
first saw that, sir,” the young man said. “You could
stand here for hours and not run out of things to discover in these
murals.” He pointed across the hall at the other mural and the
group turned to see what he was pointing at.
There were lakes and rolling hills,
little forests and small streams meandering through the painting. But
Jamie was indicating a concealed nook beside a tiny waterfall. There,
several friends were having a picnic. A checkered blanket was laid
out, a basket full of goodies next to it, and the friends were
chatting amiably. What made it humorous was that the group consisted
of a badger, a rabbit, two squirrels and a doe. The doe was wearing a
kerchief and glasses.
Everyone laughed again at the
improbable group. Chef actually ended up wiping his eyes from
laughing so hard. This time even Jamie joined in. Chef had a
contagious laugh.
Finally, the group moved on. Chef
reminded them that they'd be staying for some time and they'd have
plenty of time to explore the castle, including the delightful
murals.
Several minutes later, they finally
reached their new quarters. Natalie and Chris had rooms directly
across from each other and Chef was going to be staying just two
doors further down the hallway.
“Thank you for your help, young
Jamie,” Chef rumbled. “It was a very...amusing journey,”
he added with a smile.
Jamie gave them a slight bow. “My
pleasure, sir. I hope you are all comfortable.” He looked at
each of them, ending with Chris. “If you need anything during
the day, my number in the house is two-seven-three. Just dial nine
first. I'm the gopher on the day shift, so your wish is my command.”
They all thanked him and he left with a
wave.
“Well, I don't know about you
two, but I could use a nap,” Natalie said and stretched with a
loud groan. “I've got a few bumps and bruises that could stand
some rest to heal up.”
“Capital idea, Natalie,”
Chef said. He looked at Chris. “You're pale as milk, my friend.
Get some sleep. We'll all meet later, once the judge settles in and
gets this castle in hand.” His smile was grim. “That
won't take long, I have no doubt.”
The three of them separated,
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