The Greater Challenge Beyond (The Southern Continent Series Book 3) by Jeffrey Quyle Page A
Authors: Jeffrey Quyle
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Hope and her uncle split apart.
"Uncle," she spoke in Grange's language once again, "this is Grange. I have named him as my own Royal Protector. He's the man who rescued me and brought me to safety," she explained.
"I am pleased to welcome my niece's Protector. You've been given a title of great honor," the man turned to Grange and held out his hand.
Grange extended his own hand to grasp the nobleman's, and as he did, the two sized each other up.
The Uncle's eyes grew wide as he studied Grange's face, and he released his grip.
"How did you two meet?" he asked in a stern voice. "And why are we speaking in this barbarous tongue?"
"I'm sure it would be much more pleasant to hold this discussion after we bathe and eat," Hope said warmly, “we've had a journey you won't believe!"
The nobleman looked at Hope, then at Grange. "Of course. My dear," he opened the door wide and motioned for the two to enter, while he called loudly in the native language, bringing a trio of servants scurrying from hallways to approach. Grange turned his back to the servant he had held his sword to, and followed Hope inside.
There was a brief conversation, then Hope turned to Grange to translate.
"We're going to go to separate rooms to bathe and change, then we'll meet again to eat in an hour," she told Grange. "You should follow Mira," she explained, and motioned towards a female servant.
"I don't really have any other clothes to change into," Grange informed her in a low voice, embarrassed for the first time by the evidence and admission of his poverty.
"They'll provide something suitable," Hope told him with a smile and a quick comment to Mira.
The servant girl smiled politely at Grange, gave a brief bob, then motioned for him to follow. Grange obliged and started to climb the massive stone stairs the servant ascended.
"Thank you Grange! You saved my life," Hope called to him.
He smiled at the words all the way up the stairs and into the room that Mira showed him.
He closed the door, then gave a sigh of relief. He was alone for the first time in days, in a comfortable and friendly home for the first time, about to eat a warm meal for the first time.
Those thoughts missed the mark, he told himself. There was a hint of something in the uncle's demeanor that wasn't exactly friendly. It was unclear what and why, though undoubtedly, delivering the princess in such a dismal state of appearance hadn't spoken well for his service as a Royal Protector for those who didn't know the epic tale of the journey to reach the castle.
Grange heard a knock at the door just before it opened and several servants entered carrying steaming buckets of water, which they quickly and quietly emptied into the tub in the bathing chamber.
Several minutes later, after Grange finished soaking and scrubbing in the tub, he returned to the outer chamber and found a set of green and red clothes waiting for him. He dressed in the outfit, noting that it was slightly mismatched, but understanding that the clothes had been collected on the spur of the moment to meet his immediate needs.
When he opened his door he found that an armed guard had been assigned to serve as his guide down to the dining room. “Lead on,” Grange said in a friendly tone.
The man looked at him. “You’ll wear that?” he asked, hesitating as he spoke in Grange’s language.
“It’s better than what I wore on the way here,” Grange admitted. If he thought he was likely to spend any time in Southgar, he’d have to learn to speak their language, he told himself.
The guard hesitated, then shrugged, then took the lead, going down to the dining room, where Hope, her uncle, and a pair of others were already waiting around a table.
“Grange!” Hope said with some hint of distress in her voice. “What outfit are you wearing?” she asked.
“It was the best one available,” he said blithely. “Your clothes look nice,” he added, as he noted the
"Uncle," she spoke in Grange's language once again, "this is Grange. I have named him as my own Royal Protector. He's the man who rescued me and brought me to safety," she explained.
"I am pleased to welcome my niece's Protector. You've been given a title of great honor," the man turned to Grange and held out his hand.
Grange extended his own hand to grasp the nobleman's, and as he did, the two sized each other up.
The Uncle's eyes grew wide as he studied Grange's face, and he released his grip.
"How did you two meet?" he asked in a stern voice. "And why are we speaking in this barbarous tongue?"
"I'm sure it would be much more pleasant to hold this discussion after we bathe and eat," Hope said warmly, “we've had a journey you won't believe!"
The nobleman looked at Hope, then at Grange. "Of course. My dear," he opened the door wide and motioned for the two to enter, while he called loudly in the native language, bringing a trio of servants scurrying from hallways to approach. Grange turned his back to the servant he had held his sword to, and followed Hope inside.
There was a brief conversation, then Hope turned to Grange to translate.
"We're going to go to separate rooms to bathe and change, then we'll meet again to eat in an hour," she told Grange. "You should follow Mira," she explained, and motioned towards a female servant.
"I don't really have any other clothes to change into," Grange informed her in a low voice, embarrassed for the first time by the evidence and admission of his poverty.
"They'll provide something suitable," Hope told him with a smile and a quick comment to Mira.
The servant girl smiled politely at Grange, gave a brief bob, then motioned for him to follow. Grange obliged and started to climb the massive stone stairs the servant ascended.
"Thank you Grange! You saved my life," Hope called to him.
He smiled at the words all the way up the stairs and into the room that Mira showed him.
He closed the door, then gave a sigh of relief. He was alone for the first time in days, in a comfortable and friendly home for the first time, about to eat a warm meal for the first time.
Those thoughts missed the mark, he told himself. There was a hint of something in the uncle's demeanor that wasn't exactly friendly. It was unclear what and why, though undoubtedly, delivering the princess in such a dismal state of appearance hadn't spoken well for his service as a Royal Protector for those who didn't know the epic tale of the journey to reach the castle.
Grange heard a knock at the door just before it opened and several servants entered carrying steaming buckets of water, which they quickly and quietly emptied into the tub in the bathing chamber.
Several minutes later, after Grange finished soaking and scrubbing in the tub, he returned to the outer chamber and found a set of green and red clothes waiting for him. He dressed in the outfit, noting that it was slightly mismatched, but understanding that the clothes had been collected on the spur of the moment to meet his immediate needs.
When he opened his door he found that an armed guard had been assigned to serve as his guide down to the dining room. “Lead on,” Grange said in a friendly tone.
The man looked at him. “You’ll wear that?” he asked, hesitating as he spoke in Grange’s language.
“It’s better than what I wore on the way here,” Grange admitted. If he thought he was likely to spend any time in Southgar, he’d have to learn to speak their language, he told himself.
The guard hesitated, then shrugged, then took the lead, going down to the dining room, where Hope, her uncle, and a pair of others were already waiting around a table.
“Grange!” Hope said with some hint of distress in her voice. “What outfit are you wearing?” she asked.
“It was the best one available,” he said blithely. “Your clothes look nice,” he added, as he noted the
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