My Fair Lady: Chapter 6

Jack tapped a pencil against the desk.  Turner entered the room.  “Why don’t you knock, Turner?”  He asked irritated.  Turner frowned then smiled sheepishly and shrugged.  “Because Jack…”  He said dramatically.  “Ever since I was a boy, I was afraid the goons would get me so when I entered a door, I would run in as fast as I could just in case one was following me.  They plague me day and night.” 

Jack rolled his eyes.  “Really you should knock.” 

“Really?  Who has that kind of time?”  Turner asked folding his arms. 

“You will.  Now try it.”  Jack said pushing him out the door.  “Now go ahead.”  He said. 

There was silence. 

“You knock when you’re ready.”  He said sitting back down at the desk.  A couple minutes passed.  Jack frowned.  “Turner?”  He called. 

No answer. 

Jack walked over to the door, and opened it.  Sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall smoking, was Turner.  “Why didn’t you come in?”  Jack asked. 

Turner shrugged. “Alright.  If you’re going to keep bugging me I guess I’ll come in.”  Turner said starting to stand up.  “

No, I meant why didn’t you knock?” Jack asked.  “I’m not ready.”  He said. 

“I’m not asking you something that takes thinking.  All you have to do is knock on the door before you come in!” 

“Why do I have to knock?” 

Jack threw his hands up in the air.  “Ah!  You knock on a lady’s door before you enter, right?” 

Turner nodded his head.  “Yeah, because they might be naked.  Is that why I have to knock?”  Turner asked. 

“No!”  Jack said.  “Just knock on the door before entering or you can’t come in.” 

 Turner shrugged.  “I’ll be on my way then.  I only stopped by to see if you needed someone to talk to.”  Turner stood up, and started to walk down the steps.

“Get in here.”  Jack said. 

“I’m not going to knock.”  Turner said. 

“Get in here before I wring your neck.  Jack growled.  Turner smiled then walked into the room. 

***********

“So what’s on your mind?  I mean except the fact that you just threw Kezia in the tower.”  Turner said settling down into a chair.  

Jack glared at him.  “You don’t agree?”  He demanded. 

Turner shrugged.  “I can’t imagine her as one.  She seems very passionate about the war.”  Turner said. 

“You know the thing about traitors is they don’t seem like they could possibly be one.  That is why they are chosen to be spies!”  Jack said pounding his fist against the desk. 

There was a long pause before Turner spoke.  “So you’re not curious about what she said before I hauled her away?” 

“She was trying to get out of being thrown in the tower.”  Jack said rubbing his forehead.  A migraine was staring to come on. 

“You aren’t curious just a little bit?”  Turner prodded.

 “Turner, she’s lying!  You’re blind to this truth because you want to side with her.” 

Turner scoffed flabbergasted. His cheeks turned red.  “I’m merely trying to make sure we aren’t making a mistake.”  He scrambled to say.   

Jack looked at him.

 “Alright, perhaps I do like her.”  Turner said.  He paced the floor. 

“Well you best get over her because she’s a traitor.”  Jack said.

Turner whirled around to where he was facing Jack.  “What proof do you have?”  Turner demanded. 

Jack’s eyes narrowed.  He rose up out of his chair.  “She wanted to stay in town, she was miraculously at the meeting in the woods, she looks at us with hatred, and she was meeting with the general of the enemy.”  Jack growled.  “Now I suggest you lower your tone in your voice, and remember that I’m in charge over you.” 

 Turner gritted his teeth.  “Forgive me.”  He nodded his head, and left the room.  He knotted up his fists. He went to the banquet hall where the villagers were at.  He spoke to one of the woman from the village.  She pointed to a young girl.  He nodded his head in thanks then went over to the girl.

 “Can I talk to for a moment?”  He asked. 

The girl’s eyes widened in wonder.  “Um, I suppose.”  She said.  

Turner pulled her aside.  “You said you saw Kezia Stirling talking to someone.  Can you describe him?”  He asked. 

The girl thought a moment.  “He was very tall muscular man.  He had the mark of a general. I can’t really tell you what else because it was dark, but the light did shine his face for a moment.  He had a scar on his neck, and when I walking away I heard her say his name.  I believe it was Cole.”  The girl said.  “I could draw you a picture of him.  I am very good.” 

 Turner hesitated. “How long will it take?” 

“Oh, not very long at all.  I just need some paper and a pencil.”  She said. 

Turner studied the drawing.  Like the girl had said, she was very good.  He nodded his head in thanks then left the banquet hall.  He walked out the door to the stable.  He saddled up a horse, and mounted.  He rode out through the gate and headed to the royal palace. 

Turner pulled his hood up so his face wasn’t so easy to see. He glanced down at the drawing again then shoved it into his pocket.  It was night time and the royal courtyard had come to a lull.  Turner quietly entered the castle and began to search for the man.  He went through a small passage that led him up some stairs.   He slowly went through doorway.  It was the balcony that hung over the throne room.  Inside was the king talking to someone else.  Turner stepped into the shadows and listened.    

******************

Kezia stared down at the courtyard as everyone was preparing to move into the mountains.  She played with a puddle of water on the window ledge.  She still had no success getting out of the tower.  She wasn’t quite sure why she had said that she was there at the entrapment of the soldiers, but it had slipped out.  It wasn’t something that she really wanted to bring up, let alone have Jack know about it. 

The door unlocked.

Kezia turned to see Jameson.  “Mr.  Hall said that you were to come with them.” 

Kezia lookedback down at the courtyard.  “Why would he want a “traitor” to go with him?”

“Traitor?  Didn’t you hear?  Turner cleared your name.”  Jameson turned and left.

Kezia turned.  “How in the world did he do that?”  She shrugged, stood and followed Jameson down the stairs.

 Kezia staggered into her room.  After helping moving the people into the mountains to the caves along with the supplies they would need to survive, she was tired.  She fell back onto her bed and closed her eyes.  “This feels so good.”  She murmured.  She pulled herself up to her feet, and rubbed her eyes.  “Got to keep working.”  She slowly walked out of her room, and headed down the hall.  She stopped at the steps, and sighed.  “I’ll rest a couple days before we fight.  Just not right now.”  She thought.  She plodded down the steps to the door, and headed to the smithy.

 Turner yawned, and stretched.  “Are you saddle sore?”  He called to Jack as he was coming out of his room. 

“Why are you?” 

 “I asked you first, man.”  Turner said walking down to him.  “I’m not telling you.”  Jack said starting down the stairs.  He grunted and groaned as he went down.

 “You are saddle sore.”  Turner teased. 

“Shut up, Turner.”  

“It’s your turn to handle the troops today.” 

“I know it.”  Jack said heading towards the kitchen.  “Where’s Jameson?”  He asked Turner.

 “How would I know?  I just got up same as you.” 

“Go find him.”  Jack said picking a slice of bread off of a platter.

 “Yes, sir.”  Turner picked up a piece of bread, and left the room.  Jack nodded his head to the cook then left for the courtyard. 

In the courtyard the troops stood waiting for him.  “How are you all feeling today?”  He asked. 

“Well, a bit sore from yesterday’s ride.”  One of the younger men quipped. 

Jack stood in front of him, and looked down at him.  “Sore, huh?  If you can’t handle a ride then you aren’t fit for fighting yet, boy.  We’ll go riding today to practice fighting on a horse.”  He headed towards the stable. 

“Nice going, Toby.”  He heard someone mutter.  He looked over his shoulder to see the younger man be elbowed in the ribs by someone else.  He smiled to himself.