Coffee and sweats

Seryale was eagerly nibbling on a pastry, leaning on a kitchen counter staring out the window. The servants hurried past him not noticing the stranger that was picking off the shrike’s food. The rain set in again. It was weird weather rolling on by. Just a few days ago it was warm and sunny. And out of nowhere a thunder bolt roared in the night sky. The gods were up to something. It was clear from the strange pattern of rain, wind and sun. They were angered, dismayed and in doubt. Something happened that broke all rules of fate itself.

Finishing his second cannoli, he was about to pick out another that waited for him but was interrupted. His ears caught gossiping voices behind him and something inside told him to listen. He grabbed the pastry and bit off a piece, eyes concentrating.

“The shrike got angered at our poor Daniel. Yelled at the lad and strangled him.”
“How do you know that?”
“I walked past him earlier. Poor boy’s eyes were wide and his neck was marked with finger tips. I swear they must belong to his highness.”
“What do you think he did to anger Larkin?”

The voice lowered a few notches as to prevent others from hearing. Little did they know some one was eavesdropping. And this particular eavesdropper had finished his Italian pastry and was drinking a cup of coffee before them. He strained his listening.

“You remember that damsel that the shrike was dancing with last night? Before the… massacre?”
“Yes. The girl with black hair. Quite pretty that one was.”
“Well, she’s here. Larkin set her into a guest room and Daniel was the one to see to her to it. Except, from what I heard, he talked to her and that is forbidden.”
“Well, that was foolish for him to do.”
“But she was the one who started to open her mouth to him.”
“Ah. I see now. Poor Daniel. Must be traumatized…”

Seryale set down the cup of coffee and washed off his hands and lips after the servants finished passing news to each other. As he dried his hands on a towel he caught a bright idea. This Daniel may be of use to him.

He set out again and proceeded climbing back up the stairs to find where the servant quarters were.

Those pastries were delicious, he thought to himself. I must get another later on.