Lenore leaves her for only a couple of hours, during which time she does a little more research, asking more questions about what the invading soldiers saw, who they killed, who they captured. She's genuinely surprised to find that they brought no captives back to the castle. The conquered castle was full of old and withered people, bearing scars from an old plague. Those who had fought had died. A few farmers and servants had been left to their farms, but there were few enough of those.
When she returns, it's with a pair of guards carrying things for her. They set down their burdens just outside the cell, scurrying away skittishly from the bars, but Lenore opens the cell door without fear and carries the items inside, then locks the cell again from the inside, key returning to her pocket.
To one side of the prisoner, Lenore sets down two buckets of water, both steaming, a cloth rag, and a cake of soap--sweet-smelling and studded with rose petals. On the other side she sets down a tray with a bowl of rich stew of meat and vegetables and herbs, a tall mug of water, and a tall mug of cider. Next to the tray, a little bundle of clean clothing. In front of Gideon's left hand, she sets down three keys, to unlock her hands and feet but without any key that unlocks the collar. She then picks up one of those keys and tries it to the lock on her wrist. It doesn't work, so she puts it down and tries the next one.
The lock clicks open, and Lenore gently removes the metal cuff, wondering whether Gideon will immediately try to seize or strike her.
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When she returns, it's with a pair of guards carrying things for her. They set down their burdens just outside the cell, scurrying away skittishly from the bars, but Lenore opens the cell door without fear and carries the items inside, then locks the cell again from the inside, key returning to her pocket.
To one side of the prisoner, Lenore sets down two buckets of water, both steaming, a cloth rag, and a cake of soap--sweet-smelling and studded with rose petals. On the other side she sets down a tray with a bowl of rich stew of meat and vegetables and herbs, a tall mug of water, and a tall mug of cider. Next to the tray, a little bundle of clean clothing. In front of Gideon's left hand, she sets down three keys, to unlock her hands and feet but without any key that unlocks the collar. She then picks up one of those keys and tries it to the lock on her wrist. It doesn't work, so she puts it down and tries the next one.
The lock clicks open, and Lenore gently removes the metal cuff, wondering whether Gideon will immediately try to seize or strike her.