Montesanto’s Experiments

Montesanto bowed.

“Your Majesty, cousin, we are honored to serve you. Is there a place where the Magician can work? It would be best to have a building away from palace proper. He will need a hot spring nearby, of course.” Owain paused to listen to the Count. “Ah, a delicate matter. The Magician will require servants, Majesty. Whomever displeases you, perhaps, the lazy or willful.”

“Why does he want bad servants?”

“Ah, well, to perfect the great magics that protect your Majesty against your enemies, the magic that will make you the greatest ruler the land has ever known, there are experiments he must do, testing. He must test his art on the unworthy so that the worthy may achieve greatness.”

Adolphus shouted warnings through his gag, but was ignored.

“How many?” The chamberlain spoke up, lines of worry on his round, red face.

“One or two at a time, your Majesty, no more than a dozen a year.”

The chamberlain shook his head, his mouth began to form a ‘no’ but the queen did not hesitate.

“Sounds perfectly reasonable,” she said. “My guards will help you find suitable subjects. I have an idea! Why don’t you start with these children?” She pointed to Adolphus with his own knife, resting the tip on his chest. He stopped shouting.

Montesanto smiled and bowed again. Adolphus’ attention was torn between the knife at his chest and the Count’s response.

“The magician says they are unsuitable for experimentation, but may be useful as servants.”

“I doubt it,” Queen Drysi said, poking the knife through Adolphus’ shirt so that he stepped away from her. “They are willful and opinionated.”

“Perhaps, noble Queen,” Owain translated, “the magician suggests he might take cuttings from them, and grow obedient children from the cuttings. Would that please your Majesty?”

“Nooooooo!” A wooden tray flew from the door to the hallway, smashing into Owain’s face. It was followed by another shout from the corridor.

“Gerhardt wait!”

A red-headed blur rushed into the room and leaped onto the Capsicum Chief, knocking him onto his face. Gerhardt sat astride the fallen chief pummeling his head with both fists.

Mirabelle ran in behind him straight to the Count, shoving a screwdriver against his ribs.

“Don’t move, you filthy liar!” she shouted.

Adolphus charged the guard Braith shoulder first, ramming him into the shrubbery wall. They tangled in the branches as they fell.

The queen screamed. She dropped Adolphus’ knife and ran behind the chamberlain, still screaming. The Capsicum Chief rolled over, sending Gerhardt crashing into the queen’s couch.

Adolphus disentangled himself from Braith and rolled out of the hedge, finding it difficult with his hands still tied behind his back.

A moment later, the room was swarming with Capsicum Guards.

Guards captured Gerhardt and Adolphus and made them kneel before the queen. Mirabelle was disarmed of her screwdriver and shoved down beside them.

“Find the others!” Queen Drysi shrieked.