The Princess and the Captain by Anne-Laure Bondoux Read Free Book Online Page A

room, unable to make out what they were after. ‘Where were you last night? Looks as if you didn’t sleep here.’
    Orpheus murmured huskily, ‘I must have dropped off in my chair. What exactly are you looking for?’
    The soldiers exchanged suspicious glances. The whole city knew about it. Was this young man laughing at them?
    â€˜Carry on searching!’ their leader ordered, pointing his musketoon at Orpheus. ‘I’ve got my eye on him!’
    The others took hold of the mattress, lifted the base of the bed, emptied the wardrobe and drawers. This unceremonious search acted on Orpheus like a cold shower, bringing him back to his senses.
    â€˜I have nothing to hide!’ he said indignantly. ‘What you’re doing is against the precepts of Tranquillity and Harmony!’
    â€˜The precepts of Tranquillity and Harmony are suspended until further notice!’ replied the soldiers’ leader. ‘Until the Princess has been found!’
    Orpheus gave a start of surprise, but he didn’t ask for explanations. Through all these years of peace the soldiers’ musketoons and carabins had been in disuse, mere decorations on guardroom walls. But this time there was a whiff of real gunpowder in the air.
    After a while, when they had found nothing, the soldiers left, but not without threatening all kinds of reprisals if Orpheus had been hiding anything from them.
    â€˜And seeing as you’re so keen on the divine precepts,’ added their leader, ‘sleep in your bed next time! A night in an armchair is anything but tranquil!’
    Then he went out, laughing uproariously and leaving Orpheus in disarray. His house looked like nothing on earth – or rather like the mirror image of his mind, all confused and topsyturvy.
    Now that he was fully awake, Orpheus heard the cries and lamentations out in the streets. So it was true: the Princess had disappeared! How could such a thing have happened? When he went up to his bedroom, intending to tidy it a bit, he saw the washerwomen gathered on their rooftops opposite. They weren’t at work as usual, but standing on tiptoe, trying to see what was going on in the Citadel.
    Orpheus quietly opened his window.
    â€˜They’re draining the water from the basins!’ cried one of the women.
    â€˜Oh, Holy Harmony!’ moaned another. ‘Let’s hope the Princess hasn’t drowned!’
    â€˜Look, there’s the Archont himself!’ said the eldest washerwoman, pointing to the west facade of the palace. ‘He’s questioning the servants.’
    â€˜They’re in trouble,’ commented another woman. ‘The Archont must be dreadfully anxious!’
    â€˜Look over there!’ called the youngest woman. ‘There’s some horse-drawn carriages coming!’
    â€˜That’ll be the Prince of Andemark’s party,’ confirmed a tall, thin washerwoman. ‘What a disaster! Oh, just think of the ceremony being called off!’
    â€˜If the Princess isn’t found we’ll all be put to shame,’ sighed the eldest. ‘Dear me, I see sad times ahead.’
    Orpheus had heard enough. He closed his window again.
    Sad times ahead. That last remark had a strange effect on him. It was as if, by some unfortunate chance, his own and his country’s destiny had been thrown off balance together in a single night.
    Suddenly there was more knocking on his door. Orpheus felt perspiration run down his back. Had the soldiers come back to arrest him? Did they suspect him? In his overheated mind, everything was happening so fast that he even wondered if the truth about his father might have reached the Coronador’s ears.
    He ran downstairs and went to get the poker from the hearth. If the soldiers wanted to take him away they’d have to fight him first! Orpheus approached the door and flung it open abruptly, brandishing his improvised weapon.
    But there was no soldier on the doorstep,