The days dragged on after Amber had send River her note. Each day became as miserable as the next. Lord Marshman remained in the castle for longer than usual; he hadn’t left since his last return. This made no difference to Amber who was still working hard in the kitchens. Everyday she dreamed of the cook slipping on the dirty floor and falling on her chopping knife she’d threatened Amber with many times. Amber smiled at the evil thought of cook begging for help as Amber stood over her and watched the life slip away from those cold eyes. Then completely unexpected Lord Marshman sent for Amber.
“What would Lord Marshman want with this ferret?” Cook snapped at the poor maid who brought the message. The maid ignored the bad tempered cook and smiled at Amber. “Come with me the master wants a word with you.” Amber looked over to the cook for approval. “Just go, nothing I say matters.”
Amber followed the maid through many corridors and passages, their foot steps echoed around them both until they stopped in front of a great wooden door. The door looked like any of the others through out the castle but this one was much bigger. The maid knocked gently on the door and announced that Amber was with her and then left. Amber could feel her own heart thumping through her chest.
“What does Lord Marshman want with me?”
Amber did nothing only wait for something to happen. “Enter.” A voice said from behind the great door. You could here the power and money in his voice. Amber took a deep breath and opened the door slowly. It was as heavy as she had expected it to be. Amber was now in Lord Marshman's room and she couldn’t help but allow her eyes to wonder the room. The fire place that he was stood in front of was the biggest fire place she had ever seen. His four poster bed was also enormous. To be honest this room looked as though it was built for a giant including the furniture.
Lord Marshman moved from his huge fire place and walked over to his drawing desk and sat down on a hand crafted wooden chair and then spoke.
“Amber, Amber, Amber I feel as though I know you so well.”
“Excuse me Sir.” Amber asked.
“You have had a number of adventures haven’t you?”
Ambers face only showed complete confusion. Lord Marshman gave up on having an answer from Amber and instead he opened his desk and pulled out a book. Amber remained near the door but leant her head forward to focus on what he held in his hand. It didn’t take long for Amber to see what was in his tight grip and then she froze.
“My note book.” She whispered out loud.
“Ha and can you tell me if you are the same Amber as this character in this story?”
“Yes Sir I am that Amber.”
“Can you tell me if this story is your path or just a wild woman’s imagination?”
“What you have read in that book is my story Sir, my life story.”
Amber began to panic what else did he know about the note book?
“So if you are a woman with such adventure in your blood, how did you come by working in my kitchen?” He laughed.
“You tell me.” Amber snapped and then remembered who she had snapped at. “My adventure may not be over yet Sir.”
“Working for that cook I’d say it was.” Lord Marshman laughed out loud again and then continued. “Amber I want to offer you a higher form of employment.”
“Sir I am a slave.”
“Amber I’m offering you a chance of not working in the kitchen…”
“I’ll take it.”
“I haven’t told you what I expect of you yet.”
“Sir if I remain in that kitchen another day you will be hanging me at dawn for stabbing the cook.”
Lord Marshman couldn’t hold back the laugher any longer. “Amber I wish for you to become my story teller or bard as it’s sometimes known.”
“Sir I can not sing.”
“Just tell the story, real or unreal. You will live in the old bard’s chambers and I will have a maid for you.”
“Sir may I choose a maid myself?”
“Yes, yes that’s a small pointless…”
“Sir may I ask what happened to the last bard?”
“Amber you do not fear me do you?”
“No Sir.”
Lord Marshman paused for a while, while looking at Amber and finally began to speak again. “The old bard became old, very old and well he died or at least his mind did. When you leave here you can gather your things and your maid and start with what ever you bards do. Do you know what bards do?”
“No Sir.”
“Well you’ll pick it up, just search the room it’s been left how the old bard left it, maybe you’ll find notes around there somewhere. That will be all Amber I will send for you in the future when I wish to hear a good tale.”
Amber turned to leave the room when Lord Marshman quickly added. "Oh here you may want this back." Amber walked over to him and took the book from him avoiding eye contact and then left.
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