He moved to the door, but turned back to her before he opened it. “When I see Isabelle, I shall tell her how ye died,” he said softly and chuckled at the look of fear and pain that clouded the queen’s eyes. Then he pulled open the door and walked out of the room.
The warder got to his feet as soon as he heard the door open, coming to attention as Calibex entered the anteroom and closed the heavy portal behind him. “Will that be all, then, me lord wizard?” he asked, certainly hoping that was all Calibex required of him.
“Aye,” the wizard said as he folded his hands into the wide sleeves of his robe. “The queen is tired, however, and wishes to rest until supper,” he said and moved away from the door so the warder could once again lock it. “Ye will see to that request?”
“Oh, aye, me lord. That I shall,” he said as he went quickly to the door and locked it, all the while trying to avoid looking directly at the wizard. He hung the keys up on their wall peg and moved across the room to open the outer door for the wizard. As he did so, the warder heard a slight pop come from behind him.
He pulled open the door and stood aside, that Calibex could leave, but when he turned to face the small room the warder found that he was alone. The two men at arms who stood guard in the hallway turned to peer at the warder, wondering why he had opened the door. He stood there, sweat streaming down his face and then felt his knees start to shake. After giving the guards a stern glare, he shouted, “Back to yer stations!” Then he slammed the door shut and leaned heavily against one wall until his breathing calmed.
