A Prisoner

Sir Riley stood in the garden. He held in his hand the note that had been on the desk. Holding it up to the light, he studied it. A stick cracked behind him. Stuffing the paper in his pocket, he turned. Prince Leos was standing in the bushes.

“Ah, the poor knight is distressed over the accident to his lady.” Prince Leos said, mockingly.

Sir Riley face grew pale. Prince Leos laughed. His eyes strayed towards Sir Riley’s pocket. Sir Riley stepped forward.

“What do you want, prince?”

“Oh, just thought I’d say hello.” The Prince replied.

He turned and disappeared in the foliage. Sir Riley gazed after him, seething with rage.

“The monster!” Sir Riley muttered, “Perhaps it is best if Jewel dies! I would rather she did so, then have her marry him!”

* * * * *

Doctor Harrison worked steadily, moving about the room. His mind also was active. He knew that Sir Riley loved the Princess, though he did not comprehend just how passionately.

The good doctor hoped that Sir Riley would not be rash. For the doctor loved Sir Riley as if he was his own son. He hoped the princess would live, for Sir Riley’s sake, as well as her’s.

* * * * *

The Royal Guard combed the castle, searching for clues. They worked their way towards the butler’s quarters. He met them at the door.

“Purvis, we must search your rooms.” The lieutenant told him.

“W-why?” stuttered the butler, nervously.

“We are searching for clues of the murderer.”

Purvis let them in. the soldiers began to search the rooms. One of them spotted a black cloak hanging behind the door.

“Lieutenant!”

The lieutenant stepped over and picked up the cloak. Out of his pocket he took the piece of cloth that they had found. The material was the same. The lieutenant fingered the cloak, and his finger caught. Looking closer, the lieutenant saw that there was a tear. He held the scrap up against it. It matched exactly. Purvis stood watching. The lieutenant turned.

“This is your cloak?”

Purvis looked at it and swallowed nervously.

“I’ve never seen it before.” He stuttered.

“Seize him!” Commanded the lieutenant.

The soldiers grasped the butler’s arms firmly, and he was dragged off. The lieutenant watched them go. Then he turned to the remaining soldiers.

“Search the premises carefully.” He ordered.

Then he turned and left.

King Ronald frowned. “Purvis? You are sure, Lieutenant Garrin? He has always done a very good job. And he’s been with us ten years.”

“Well, the cloak was in his possession. And he acted suspiciously.”

“I suppose that does incriminate him.”

“What shall I do with him, Sire?”

“Put him prison. But treat him kindly, if it turns out not to be him, I do not wish to feel guilty for my treatment of him.”

Purvis was put in prison and kept under close guard.

* * * * *

Sir Riley sat in his chair, buried in thought. A servant brought in a cup of coffee, but he waved it away. When the servant left, Sir Riley pulled out the note once more. Carefully he studied it. He reached his hand towards his head and ran his fingers through his hair. As he brought his hand down, his fingers brushed the white ravelotte in his buttonhole. It had wilted in the heat. Seizing it, he was about to throw it away, but a thought suddenly he had a thought. He gazed at the flower for a moment. Then he hurried into his bedroom. About ten minutes later, he returned, looking puzzled. Going out, he mounted his horse and rode off to the palace.

When he arrived, he handed his horse to a stable hand. The he went out to the garden. Carefully, he searched the area where he and Jewel had stood. When he had finished, he stopped. The puzzled look had been replaced by one of befuddlement.

Sir Riley returned to the courtyard. There a page greeted him.

“Ah, Sir Riley!” the page exclaimed, “Have you heard the news? They have arrested the butler.”

“The butler!” repeated Sir Riley, in amazement, “You mean Purvis?”

The page nodded.

“But Purvis was…” Sir Riley started to say, and then he paused. A pleased look appeared on the young knight’s face.

Sir Riley returned home, to think. Repeatedly, Sir Riley went over the events of the night before. A servant stepped in.

“John?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Have you cleaned the suit that I wore last night?”

“No, sir. I was just going to do so.”

Sir Riley looked thoughtful, and then he spoke, “John, would you get me a new ravelotte flower? This one has wilted in the heat.”

“Yes, sir.”

John handed Sir Riley a fresh flower. Sir Riley placed it in his buttonhole.

Sir Riley settled down and dozed off. Suddenly he was interrupted, by a knock.

“Come in.” he muttered drowsily.

The door opened. In stepped the Captain of the Royal Guard. Sir Riley sprang to his feet.

“What is it, Harvell?” asked Sir Riley, he knew the captain quite well.

“I’m very sorry Sir Riley, but you are under arrest.”

“What!” cried Sir Riley.

“I am forbidden to speak to you.” Captain Harvell said.

Soon Sir Riley arrived at the palace. He stood before Lewin.

“May I ask with what I am charged?” asked Sir Riley indignantly.

“Attempted murder.” replied Lewin.

Sir Riley went white, and then asked, in a quiet voice, “Of whom?”

“The Princess Jewel.”

“The Princess!” exclaimed Sir Riley, “But just a few hours ago I heard that you had arrested the butler.”

“We did.” replied Lewin, “But for all we know, he is your accomplice.”

Sir Riley stood on silence, then he spoke, “Do you have any evidence?”

Lewin reached down and picked up something. He held it out towards Sir Riley. The young knight stared. Then he picked it up. It was a white ravelotte flower. Sir Riley was well known for having bred his own flower. He always wore one, no one else did so; for there was no way to get one.

“Where did you find it?” asked Sir Riley.

“The maid, Elise, found it in her mistress’s room. She put it in her pocket and did not think of it until just a moment ago.” Lewin said quietly, “Everyone knows you alone wear this flower. You must have dropped it when you attempted to murder the Princess.”

Sir Riley stood holding the innocent looking flower.

“So, that’s where it went.” he muttered, for the flower had been what he was looking for. He could not find the one that he had worn the night before. It had bothered him. Now it turned up, making trouble. He must have dropped it in the garden, and the murderer found and used it to throw suspicion on Sir Riley.

“Put him in a cell.”

Sir Riley was brought in to the prison and thrust in a cell. The door clanged shut.

End of Chapter Five

(I remember spending so much time on this part of the story! It still is one of my favorite parts, though. Maybe because The Captain of The Royal Guard shows up, and he's always been one of my favorite characters. Perhaps I should write a story about him, since he really doesn't get any real story line in any of my books. He does have an interesting backstory in my head... :) If you are not being tagged when new chapters come out and would like to be, let me know!)