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.I was always wondering aboutthat male prostitute and where he was hiding.I certainly hadn'tbeen into all the rooms in the Parlour, but I had been in most ofthem.And, anyway, what did he eat? Perhaps he was likeTitiana, taking a dinner of roast beef or stewed chicken withmashed, garlic potatoes in her study every day, while the girlsand I had gruel.In any case, it was very strange, and I wastedmany hours looking around for and wondering about him whenI should have been doing laundry.In any case, I was under no illusions that the letter to Rellwould take at least two weeks to arrive, and any letter ormessenger back would take another two weeks.However, wewere only an hour's walk away from the palace.Surely Dantehad gotten and read my letter by now.The knowledge that hemust have been purposely ignoring me irked me to no end, andafter about a week, I could stand it no longer.I decided to go tothe palace and force my way in, using any means needed to getpast the guards.I got dressed in my finest clothes a pair of soft brownleather pants and a flowing blue shirt, which I buttoned up tomy collarbone like a proper gentleman.I pulled on the high,shiny leather boots, with which Hailey had provided me, andmeticulously pulled my hair back and tied it with a navy blueribbon.Then, satisfied with my reflection, I went out, ignoringthe whistles of several of the girls who saw me leave.The walk to the palace took far longer than it had withMuse mostly due to the fact that I got lost several times and62 | J.K.Pendragon  The Fairy Giftthe sun was high in the sky before I arrived at the wrought irongates.The same two guards were there (at least, I thought; itwas hard to tell through the moustaches), and I steeled myselfbefore walking up to them."Hello," I greeted politely."I need to see the Wizard Danteright away.""Oh?" said the taller of the two."And who are you?"This was beginning to seem very familiar.I thought abouttelling them my name, and that I was a noble, but there was notelling whether or not they would believe me, and then theywould know who I was and that would make this next partrather awkward &No, there was only one thing to do, and I wasn't helpinganything putting it off.I sighed and looked up at the guard, subconsciously bitingmy lip as I drew up those feelings in me which I usually tried toshut off.He was a man, after all, a big, strong one, and heprobably wouldn't look half bad without the moustache.Iimagined him doing unspeakable things to me, imagined thefeelings it would give him, and then, with all the force I couldmuster, I pushed that image into his head.He staggered, falling backward into the metal fence, but Irefused to look at him, knowing what I would see, thanks to theridiculously tight uniform pants that he wore.Instead, I turnedto the guard next to him, who was staring at his partner withconcern."Hello," I said."Look at me."He did, his small eyes snapping to my face.I walked closerto him, until our faces were an inch apart."You want me," I said,"like you've never wanted anything in your life."I turned to the first guard, who was hunched over now, hisfingers twitching lightly."You both do.""Yes," he gasped, moving to stagger toward me.I stoppedhim with a finger."But you can't have me," I continued."At least, not until youlet me into the palace and help me find someone."63 | J.K.Pendragon  The Fairy GiftThey both straightened, seeming to take my statement asabsolute truth."Of course," said the first guard."Come with me rightaway."They led me into the palace through a wooden side doorand into a high, marble hallway.No one seemed to question ourpresence there."Who are you looking for?" asked the second guard, whowas shorter and stockier, with lighter hair."A wizard," I repeated."Dante is his name.""Ah," said the dark-haired guard."I believe you'll find him inthe East Corridor, around the common area."The blond guard nodded."It's where he usually is.""Perfect," I said."Thank you both very much."They looked at me expectantly."Oh." I felt a little guilty."I'm afraid you two are just goingto have to show restraint on this one.But," I continued, notingthe crestfallen looks on their faces, "both you and your wiveswill enjoy yourselves very much tonight.Understand?"They both nodded, as if this was a perfectly satisfactory gift,and left me to my own devices.Still feeling a little guilty over having used the poor men, Iproceeded down what I hoped was the East Corridor.Thecommon area seemed to be a large sitting room, with spindlytables and chairs set all about, and bookshelves reaching to thehigh ceiling.I tried my best to conceal myself behind pillars as Isearched the faces for a familiar bearded one.Finally, I saw him.He was wearing those same gaudy robesand sitting on a spindly couch with two women who lookedmuch more like whores than the ones I was cleaning sheets fordaily [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]