The Agent by Brock E. Deskins

snapped as she pushed between them and entered Evelyn’s rooms.
    “Ada, thank God you have returned,” Evelyn said as her handmaiden entered. “How was your shopping? Were you able to find everything without a fuss?”
    Ada waited until the guard closed the door. “Everything seems to have gone fine. No one questioned where I went.”
    “Were you able to get the…tea?”
    Ada nodded and brought out the two bundles. “One cup of this in the morning as a preventative, and another cup of this one at each meal will help calm your nerves.” She cleared her throat to dislodge the distasteful words she was about to utter. “When Gordon comes to call on you, you might want to drink two cups or double the tea for a single cup to make it more bearable.”
    Evelyn looked at her dearest friend with confusion then understood. “I suppose it would not do if I vomited on my pillow in midst of it all.”
    Ada narrowed her eyes and grinned. “It might be an effective deterrent.”
    “Doubtful. The pig would likely just flip the pillow and go about his business. Besides, he would probably finish before the smell had time to assault his senses.”
    “Aye, I’d bet my mother’s dowry he’s more the sprinter than a marathoner.”
    Both women shared a laugh while Ada prepared Evelyn a cup of stop root. Ada emptied the special tea into a container, held up the paper it was wrapped in, and gasped.
    “Highness, look here!” she exclaimed and handed the paper to Evelyn.
    The newly crowned queen took the square and read the message someone had printed on the inside.
    Fear not, Highness, for you are not alone.

 
    CHAPTER 7
    “I can’t believe you threw me to a bear!” Adam seethed.
    “I can’t believe you’re still complaining about it,” Garran retorted as he checked the bandages wrapped around both of the Prince’s arms and head. “At least now you have a nice blanket to keep you warm.”
    “It’s the only thing that smells worse than you around here. Now I know what life must be like as one of your crotch lice.”
    “Not quite. I haven’t tried to crush you against the inside of a prostitute’s thighs. Maybe when we stop at a town we can work something out.”
    Adam made a choking sound in his throat. “I would rather have my head trapped in a bear’s mouth again.”
    “Yeah, that was pretty funny. It sounded like the bear was screaming like a girl. I really need to teach you how to fight.”
    “I cannot fight a bear, you moron.”
    “Maybe you can’t.”
    “You’re transcended.”
    “And you’re a priest.”
    “That is not going to help me when a bear is eating my face!”
    “Why not? If God won’t answer your prayers when your life depends on it, then there seems to be an imbalance in the relationship.”
    “The only imbalance is you’re your mental state.”
    “Warned you that I get worse when I’m sober. You should not have thrown out my booze.”
    “I think of our two sins, yours is by far more egregious.”
    “Your wounds are largely superficial and already clotting up, so stop being such a pussy before you get a yeast infection.”
    Adam’s jaw dropped. “How am I being a…You pushed me down in front of a ravenous bear! I think I am allowed a certain amount of consternation!”
    Garran shrugged. “I panicked. Sorry, but I did come back for you, killed the bear, and got a great blanket to keep us from freezing to death.”
    “About that, could not crowd so close when we camp? I am uncomfortable with you spooning me in the middle of the night.”
    “It’s perfectly natural. Our body heat keeps us from freezing.”
    “It isn’t that cold.”
    “It will be when we cross the Highland Range, so you had best get used to it.”
    “There are things in this life to which no man can become truly accustomed, and this is one of them.”
    Garran stood. “Bah, you’re being a big baby. Pack up so we can get a move on.”
    Adam sighed and stood up. He was as exhausted from his mauling and