The Waterkeeper's Wake
Chapter Seven
King Cadassi's Court
Kai and Sirena’s travels had been uneventful over the last three days. The sun was just coming up as they made their way through the marketplace outside the gates of King Cadassi’s castle. Merchants were unpacking their wares and the smell of cooking filled the air. The young friends purchased a breakfast of cinnamon buns and hot chocolate for Kai and raw fish for Sirena, then sat down to fortify themselves before approaching the castle. They were just licking the last of their meals off their fingers when a kafuffle arose at the stall nearest the castle walls. They went to investigate.
A boisterous crowd was jostling around what appeared to be a relatively new stall. Several men were busy organizing and displaying a number of large wooden casks while a red-haired man uncovered the stall’s sign, which read:
CLEAN, REFRESHING WATER FOR SALE
(payment accepted in GOLD ONLY — NO EXCEPTIONS!)
Kai and Sirena gasped!
“Well don’t just stand there gawking,” said the man with the red hair. “If you’re not buying — move along!”
Sirena was the first to break their stunned silence. “How can you do this?” she blurted. “Water shouldn’t be FOR SALE. Water belongs to EVERYONE!”
“Have you seen the state of the Great River missy? No one’s gonna drink that slop. The only clean water’s being hauled from inland by my boys — they’ve got to get paid. Besides, I’m doing people a favor. People need to drink water. I’m saving lives,” the man declared. “Now — run along!”
Sirena’s face clouded over and she opened her mouth to respond when Kai grabbed her by the shoulder and dragged her towards the castle gate. “It’s not worth it Sirena. Save it for the King. With any luck, we’ll be in his court in no time!”
As the two approached the imposing wooden gate a royal guard barred their way. Kai immediately noticed a pair of silver shackles hanging from the guard’s belt that were identical to the pair that Kai had tucked inside his shirt. He stepped forward boldly and addressed the guard.
“We’re here to report a kidnapping. We’re also looking for the Waterkeeper and need the King’s help. Kindly let us pass.”
The guard burst out laughing, “There is no way the likes of you are getting in to see the King. He’s got more important things to attend to. Now scram!”
Kai could feel Sirena tense beside him. Very calmly, Kai pulled the hand shackles from inside his shirt and dangled them in front of the guard. He spoke very softly, “My friend’s family has gone missing and these were all that were left behind. Now, it’s possible that one of the Royal Guards may have been kidnapped with them. I think that King Cadassi will want to know about this, don’t you?”
The guard blanched slightly, cleared his throat and mumbled, “Right this way.”
“That’s more like it,” Sirena grumbled as they were ushered inside the walls of the castle.
After a silent procession down winding corridors Kai and Sirena were admitted, unceremoniously, into the King’s court. King Cadassi was a tiny man with thinning, gray hair. He wore a heavy, golden crown and a jeweled ring on every finger. He lounged languidly in an enormous throne and fixed the two with a piercing stare.
“That will be all Williams,” the King said, dismissing the guard. “I’m happy to attend to our little friends myself… Now children, why don’t you tell me everything.”
The events of the last two weeks tumbled out of Kai and Sirena — the poisoning of the Great River, the inexplicable absence of the Waterkeeper, the kidnapping of Sirena’s family and their discovery of the Royal Shackles. By the end of it, both Kai and Sirena were both on the brink of tears. It was nice to finally share all of this with someone who could help.
“Well…” the King said slowly. “You two have certainly been under a lot of stress. I’m glad you came to me.”
“You see Sirena, I told you King Cadassi would help us,” Kai said.
“You’ll help us find the Waterkeeper, won’t you Your Majesty?”
A slow smile crept across the King’s face. “My dear boy — I’ve known where the Waterkeeper was all along. And I’ve taken very good care of him…”
