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"Come in, Lady Maris," caed, closing the door in her wake, and taking in ed another wall, and ar fire A table littered with parchments, quills, and a pot of ink sat near the two chairs, and trunks bursting with gowns, cloaks, cups, plates, cloths, leather bags, and all types of trinkets lined the walls throughout

"Your e of the luxurious floor covering

Eleanor waved a graceful hand to an elance about the room revealed that she was alone with the queen, and she wondered whether her grace’s affliction was that of a private nature Placing her leather sack and wooden box on the floor, she did as ordered and sat, waiting

"Youthis as an invitation to serve both herself and the queen, Maris filled two of the goblets with a heavy red wine "Howa cup within Eleanor’s easy reach

"You are well versed in healing and the use of physic herbs I am told Your skills surpass even that of Madelyne of Mal Verne"

Maris bowed her head in acknowledgement "I have studied suchfor her drink with long white fingers, the queen said, "Tellher oine, Maris explained, "My an to teach me the simple uses of herbs As I becae, I studied with a ht in the healing of the Holy Lands lived at Langureat mastery with me" Emboldened by the queen’s interest, she asked, "How did you come to hear of my skills?"

A faint smile quirked Eleanor’s lips as she drank Her blue eyes were shrewd "I areat that you can bring a h to death that he wishes to die, yet not so close that he does expire"

Maris felt her face heat to as surely dark rose in color, and she was suddenly fearful that she’d been brought here for reprimand "I am ashamed that you should hear of ht--"

Eleanor laughed "Do you not apologize, Maris, as I am of the mind to reward a woman--not reprimand her--when she rises to an occasion to save herself! Does the Church not say that God helps those who help themselves?" She reached for a piece of cheese "I am one to espouse such actions if the end justifies thesight to see an entire keep laid lohilst yourself and your e"

"It was a more memorable h I would never choose the words ‘tripping blithely’ to describe our hasty departure" She took a sip of wine, wondering that Dirick had such familiarity with the queen that he should tell her of his own misfortune ’Twas a testament to his own cocksureness that he would freely share of an event in which he was bested by a woman "My lady, how may I assist you?"

"’Tis a ht but an ache tothe winter months, and most often, the leeches or physicians direct round aze direct upon Maris whilst her fingers stroked the tassel of her girdle "‘Tis not the most convenient treatment and I but search for another answer to this illness"

Maris nodded her head in understanding She found it not at all surprising that the beautiful and regal Eleanor of Aquitaine would not wish to do soainly as to soak her bare feet, particularly a her ladies and courtiers "Tell me, does the pain in your ear feel like the beat of a drum, or more like a sharp pinch of pain?"

"’Tis most like the beat of a drum, far inside my ear"

"Is it accompanied with a sound like the peal of a bell as well?"

"Nay"

"And, tell me, your majesty, have you any other complaints at the same time you have this ache of the ear?"