[Elpis's POV]

I hissed and clenched my hands on my knees as I kneeled with my back to Ophelos. In the time it had taken to wait for the meal to be over and for Ophelos to return the pain had gone down quite a bit, until it was almost silent, when I sat still and did not move, apart from a terrible itching that appeared and then disappeared.

When Ophelos began his work it started to hurt again, which was a matter of course because his direction here was to cut the splinters from my back.

There were few, he said, reminding me that the blade was carefully sharpened, but in order to get proper purchase he needed to pinch my skin and angle the splinter towards him, and the bruised, grazed and cut skin was not thankful for this.

That said, I could feel the difference once the splinters were being removed, one of which was almost the length of my thumb, and was sticking out only just, so that it was still safer to cut rather than to pull.

He worked carefully and meticulously, I feared that if I had assigned any other man to the work I would be in far more pain.

So I gritted my teeth and accepted the offer of a potent wine that was really more of a spirit by the description of it, let the room spin a little as I waited for it to be over.

I felt a little relieved in the plain black carriage, the many fire hazardous candles lit to provide better light for him to work with, they caused a warm flickering glow and many shadows to appear, all casting their dark replicas in different angles and lengths.

I kneeled on a cushion, thoughtfully provided, and a cloth was given to me as well, for me to bite down on if the pain so persuaded. I did not use it.

For a long while after cutting the last splinter out he examined my back in silence, pinching in certain places and nearing a light to the pinched flesh it to see if there was anything else to be removed.

Finally, with satisfaction he moved back and I turned slowly to look at him.

"Any other splinters will be too small to see, but the redness and bruising of your skin may be disguising some. For now, my work is done, the smallest splinters will disintegrate on their own. I will examine you again once your back is in better shape."

"Thank you Ophelos." I bowed low despite my back aching for it, it was partly numb, though that only made stretching feel more strange. "You have given me so much help."

He sneered, washing the knife in the bowl of water and wrapping it in leather to set beside him. "I am now complicit. If I were not you would be in far better hands with a doctor at your side." He took a deep breath and gazed with some fear out through the gap in one of the veils. "I have made many grave mistakes on this trip. I think it will be difficult for me after this."

"It will?"

He sighed.

[Velius's POV]

It was getting dark as I looked for him, the ground was drier now but still slightly muddy and I was irritated when I felt it cake the toe of my shoes.

I was still hungry having skipped a full meal through my anger. Still now the residue of the anger was almost as thick as the original. Had anyone seen him as he got up and deigned to beat me for punishing him he would be dead, instead I was forced to either humiliate myself by expressing what happened to the King or sit in unwilling silence while that snivelling uppity little man ran around, probably grinning to himself and laughing with his dearest.

Only strangely enough, I could not find him. I checked every tent I was able, and even dared to make a trek back through toward the lake in the lowering brightness, found no one there but an old maid collecting water who was startled, fell and then bowed appropriately.

It was on my way back that I thought of the carriages, and only then because along the path from the woods I had heard his scampering footsteps go to the left, up along the trees. I started heading in this direction and saw the carriages on the pathway, still frozen, waiting for our ride the next morning.

Even though the black carriage was dark and it's veils thick I could still clearly see the candlelight flickering and gleaming.

It was so bright that I was almost confused by it.

I walked closer, slowly using small steps, the whistling of the wind almost giving me away as I turned up beside the carriage and glance inside through the small gap between the veil and the wooden walls.

He was there.

Oh but he wasn't just there, no, how brilliant it was... 

He was naked, only dressed in the thin white, loose under-trousers. And kneeling in front of Ophelos too, looking up at him, and they were talking under their breath like the little star-struck lovers they fancied themselves.

Surrounded by candles in the cosy little carriage... Oh, they twinkled sweetly, a romantic little creation, and how nicely they looked at each other. Well, I only saw the Joker's face but I could easily assume that of the King's stupid domestic.

Clearly the gods were giving me their blessing to ruin the little bastard and his master. 

Made to look like a fool and then beaten, he would see the same done unto him as was done to me.

But I had no time to waste, the moment I saw them, observed it all in a second, and grinned, I turned away and moved very slowly, with long strides, back down the path I took.

If they found me now it would all be for nought.

I had evidence now and it would be the kind that needed to be taken to the King. Not later, not tomorrow, but immediately, so that he would believe me and see it for himself.

[Leon's POV]

[A/N] Quick note that I sometimes introduce new characters with their POV's and people get confused. Leon is the same servant that brought Elpis food in the carriage, who serves the King, Elpis never learned his name so this will be the first time it is mentioned.

The meal seemed to go on endlessly, and it was easy to get tired after it all, more so with the lack of servants, only having a select number to serve, it meant that one was waiting from morning to evening without being switched out with another.

Long days were to be expected though, particularly during Rowan's day. I looked back fondly to the small chance the musician gave me to explore the festivities. Bright colours and massive kites, dancers and music and food whose scent drifted over the excessive crowd. 

By contrast the darkening day was so quiet, stillness seemed to hover over the little camp and make my eyes a little heavy as I attended to His Majesty.

When we finally withdrew I thought he looked tired too, but he said nothing and waved for Calius to bring Ophelos in, who had taken an early leave to write back to correspondence between the camp and the palace. 

There were matters of business to discuss, matters that eventually ran deep into the night. And while this would normally mean my work would continue along beside him, as I waited in the shadows for the slightest command, it usually meant an early night instead, as the King sent the majority of his personal servants away when he discussed these matters, despite ideally knowing we would never spill. There were certain secrets even the walls did not speak of.

On this occasion, however, he did not have a chance to call him as he was interrupted.

A guard walked fast into the room, bowed low as the King stared at him and asked what he wanted.

"Your Majesty, Lord Velius is here to discuss an important matter with you."

"What matter?"

"He did not say, but wished to speak fast with you."

He looked annoyed, set his teacup on the small table and crooked his finger for them to allow the Lord to step inside.

He entered fast, so that even I was surprised and wondered at the urgency of whatever information he had. Were we in trouble? 

"Your Majesty," He greeted him properly.

King Demosthenes raised a brow but leaned to the side and nodded. "What is it Velius? It's getting rather late for these meetings."

He bowed his head. "My King," He said with a tone that embarked on false remorse. I glanced at my brother servant, few of us liked the family of Velius, they were well known to be irritant and cruel, and the women all had a penchant for terrible heel chasing. "I have had these suspicions for a while now, but thought it improper to discuss it with you."

"What suspicions?" He seemed interested, but only just. 

"An affair."

"Affair?"

He gave a downcast look. "Perhaps it is not right for me to stop the webbing of romance but I thought it only right..."

"An affair between who?" He looked annoyed and a little incensed.

"Your right hand man and servant, Ophelos."

"What?" He looked genuinely surprised. 

"And Elpis, the Joker you favourite so generously."

King Demosthenes blinked slowly then started to laugh under his breath. "What?"

Velius looked a little annoyed. "I speak the truth, Your Majesty."

"Velius how much have you drunken during your meal? I did not see you at all for the meal, did you drink too much?" He asked with a glimmer of something mocking in his eyes as he watched him, relaxed in his sitting position.

"I am quite sober!" He insisted. "My King, if you'll follow me I could offer you evidence!"

He blinked, sitting up straight and cocking his head. "Evidence?" He asked slowly.

Still something about his face conveyed disbelief.

"If you move fast then we will catch them in the act. I can prove my words to be true. I only meant it as a warning to Your Majesty, lest you feel insulted later on, but I won't stand for my words being dismissed as lies."

"Prove it how?"

"I saw them together, just now, in the act."

His eyes went wide for a split second, and he slowly stood up from his bed, stepping closer as if to examine his eyes and pinpoint if he was truly being serious.

"Do you realise you will be punished for being wrong?"

"I saw them in the act! Saw it while strolling past the black carriage."

At the mention of the black carriage Demosthenes went still, took his cloak and did not allow for my fellow servant to attempt to pin it for him as he brushed him off and stepped toward Velius, holding out a hand toward the exit. He was quiet even when he spoke, he sounded deadly.

From what I knew of the young entertainer I thought it seemed unlikely he would do such a thing, he seemed too timid, too genuine. But on a more superficial note, while Ophelos was by no means ugly, he was older than the King, and anyone close to the King knew their relationship was more than just innocent poetry sung sweetly. 

Then again, Velius spoke of it sincerely, if he was wrong he genuinely thought he was right, and made grand claims as having spotted them in the act. He would be punished if he was wrong, dragging the King out of bed to go about through the cold.

I felt a little sick as I watched them march towards the exit. A set of guards naturally following in toe.

Part of me was in want that, if it was true, the Joker would make it out in time. As treasonous as that may sound.

I did not know him but I still tasted the food on my lips and thought he did not deserve to be whipped or worse for his crimes. I looked nervously at Calius who returned the look.

"Dangerous, dangerous. What a foolish Joker, I should expect more from Ophelos too!" He exclaimed in a whisper.

I nodded.

I hoped he was wrong...

It would also not be too terrible to see that Lord get his pay cut to a third for the next year.

[A/N]  Hugs to my patrons... ♪ ‧ ⁺ ( ˶'𓎟'˵ ) ⁺ ‧  

♆ Vanille ♆ Choktious