Baldwin heard the old wooden door open and shut proclaiming his wife had come home. He smiled as Agatha pulled out a chair however his smile flattered and died turning into a hard scowl. The cause was his wife's jewelery; gold earings and a matching neckless delicaltely shaped. They were too fine for a humble sailor's wife there was only one way Agatha came by that jewelry.
Agatha, how could you steal Lady Stella's jewelry? She'll fire you for sure." If she chose to be merciful and not report the theft. Agatha waved her hand and Baldwin's concerns aside. "I didn't steal them, yew fool. Lady Stella and 'er husband made a run for it after Richard was arrested since they had supported him. It was a mad house at their manor all the servants grabbing something they left behind in their haste. Sadly, most was gone when I got there but I managed to snag some fine dresses and jewelry.""Couldn't you have stolen something more useful," grumbled Baldwin.
"Ah, you'll soon see I have just made our fortunes," her eyes gleamed with excitement as she asked, "Have you heard what they plan to do to Lady Eadgyth?" Baldwin shook his head, what did it matter what they did to the ex- Queen or whatever she was being called now.
"They're exiling her and her children! Not just them but the nobles, who were for Richard, are being offered either death by the axe or banishment also disgruntled subjects are allowed to go with them. Don't you see? You can already talk like a nobleman and I can dress the part of a noblewoman an with a quarter of the nobles already fled to various countries in Europe and the rest soon to join Eadgyth we could pretend to be nobles and no one will know we're lying!" She started to speak quickly for she knew Baldwin would interrupt her and tell her the idea was absurd. "You can pretend to be part of the Gruffudd family- heaven knows that family is as numerous as the stars in the sky- we could tell them you were disinherited because you married me, a peasant."
Baldwin leaned back in his chair considering Agatha's idea. What she proposed was dangerous but it was well thought out and they could get away with it. Baldwin did sound like a nobleman since the merchant he worked for had taught Baldwin how to properly pronounce words when he realized that Baldwin could sell anything.The Gruffudd house was so numerous most Gruffudds never met half of their cousins or knew of their existence in the first place. Also the Gruffudds were known to be very prideful so anyone would find it easy to believe Baldwin was disinherited for marrying a peasant. "Fine, we'll do it." he agreed cheerfully as an after thought he asked, "Where are they going, anyway?"
"We are going to that island as nobles, no matter what rumors there are about ancient curses." Her hazel eyes held a clear warning that Baldwin had better not argue for she would not tolerate any objections he had. "Fine, we'll go," he snapped.
"Good. Now what do you want for supper."
He gave a little shrug. It did not seem to matter much what they eat when his wife had decided they would go on an island that was likely to murder them while they slept. As his wife cooked Baldwin remembered the previous sunday sermon where the priest claimed women were put on earth because God intended them to serve men. Only a single man would believe that thought Baldwin sourly, if a priest was married for a week, only one short week, he would realize that that idea was as ludircrous as saying a rabbit could be turned into a wolf.
"They're exiling her and her children! Not just them but the nobles, who were for Richard, are being offered either death by the axe or banishment also disgruntled subjects are allowed to go with them. Don't you see? You can already talk like a nobleman and I can dress the part of a noblewoman an with a quarter of the nobles already fled to various countries in Europe and the rest soon to join Eadgyth we could pretend to be nobles and no one will know we're lying!" She started to speak quickly for she knew Baldwin would interrupt her and tell her the idea was absurd. "You can pretend to be part of the Gruffudd family- heaven knows that family is as numerous as the stars in the sky- we could tell them you were disinherited because you married me, a peasant."
Baldwin leaned back in his chair considering Agatha's idea. What she proposed was dangerous but it was well thought out and they could get away with it. Baldwin did sound like a nobleman since the merchant he worked for had taught Baldwin how to properly pronounce words when he realized that Baldwin could sell anything.The Gruffudd house was so numerous most Gruffudds never met half of their cousins or knew of their existence in the first place. Also the Gruffudds were known to be very prideful so anyone would find it easy to believe Baldwin was disinherited for marrying a peasant. "Fine, we'll do it." he agreed cheerfully as an after thought he asked, "Where are they going, anyway?"Agatha smiled charmingly and said in a false casual tone, "Oh they're being exiled to Amboria island." No matter how much Baldwin sounded like a noble he still had a peasant's superstition and the mention of Amboria island aroused his belief in old wive's tales and his dread of them made him go into a panic . "Amboria island? Are you mad! Four different groups tried to settle there and not one person lived to tell what happened to them! Go to that accursed island by choice? Never!" He's voice was not booming with anger but was shrill from fear.
Agatha patiently waited out Baldwin's out burst and tried to persuade him there was nothing to fear. "The first group lived there at least six years and five men and a child made it off the island safely."
"That was over forty years ago! They might have lasted six years but by the time they returned they were stark raving mad. Kept muttering dire warnings of how the end was coming and how the demons had slaughtered them! Only the boy was sane but I hear it said somethings not right about him. How he never looks at someone but through them as if he can see their very soul."
Agatha patiently waited out Baldwin's out burst and tried to persuade him there was nothing to fear. "The first group lived there at least six years and five men and a child made it off the island safely."
"That was over forty years ago! They might have lasted six years but by the time they returned they were stark raving mad. Kept muttering dire warnings of how the end was coming and how the demons had slaughtered them! Only the boy was sane but I hear it said somethings not right about him. How he never looks at someone but through them as if he can see their very soul."
"It was just some disease that killed them and made the rest insane. Anyway, the other groups were small they probably did not plant enough food or their ship sunk on the way to Amboria Island. No need to say ancient curses or some other hogwash was behind their failure. When it can be explain by natural causes."
"We are going to that island as nobles, no matter what rumors there are about ancient curses." Her hazel eyes held a clear warning that Baldwin had better not argue for she would not tolerate any objections he had. "Fine, we'll go," he snapped."Good. Now what do you want for supper."
He gave a little shrug. It did not seem to matter much what they eat when his wife had decided they would go on an island that was likely to murder them while they slept. As his wife cooked Baldwin remembered the previous sunday sermon where the priest claimed women were put on earth because God intended them to serve men. Only a single man would believe that thought Baldwin sourly, if a priest was married for a week, only one short week, he would realize that that idea was as ludircrous as saying a rabbit could be turned into a wolf.
Ooooh, what an interesting idea, a peasant couple pretending to be nobles! That should be fun times on Amboria Island, these two trying not to get caught--hopefully Agatha's former employer isn't there to blow their cover.
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