Page 37 - RotalTutor

Elizabeth and Marina to help her. They were reluctant and tried to beg out of it, but that only made her angrier. At times she was sure that they warned him ahead of the event, tripping up her plans, but she couldn’t prove it. Furthermore, she had to have an escort on her rides around the countryside. She could either remain indoors or tolerate his company. After nearly a month, she was running out of sinister ideas to antagonize him. Up to that point she had avoided visiting any of the towns in Bernodia, thinking they weren’t worth her time, especially if it had to be time spent with Alexander. But when he invited her to ride to a mountain village, she happened on a plan to embarrass him, so she agreed to go. It would be a long day’s journey there and back. Alexander had a nice picnic for them packed in his saddle bags. Her saddle bags contained some dried meats, cheese, and breads for her to snack on during their return trip. Her plan required a bribed servant, a chicken fed with fermented grain to produce a drunken stupor, and a few moments without Alexander watching her. She asked him to slip back in and get her some extra water. She demanded that Marina and Elizabeth watch for him and stall him on his way back to the horses. While he was gone she quickly retrieved the bird from the servant, yanked out their wonderful picnic, and stuffed in the drunken chicken. She threw the beautiful ice-wrapped roast beef, the cake, and the soft rolls into a horse stall. 35