Brokedown Palace Read Online Free PDF Page B

wrist. Viktor sighed. “That’s two out of three,” he said.
    “Yes,” said László. “And I feel much better for it. Go ahead and send me this wench.”
    “It’ll be tonight, Your Majesty. I’ll have her bring in a message from me so the guards will let her pass.”
    “I’ll tell you tomorrow if you’re safe from the dungeons.” He gave Viktor his practice sword. “Have you seen Prince Andor?”
    Viktor’s face was expressionless as he said, “He’s down by the River, Your Majesty. Planting flowers.”
    László’s brows came together. “Planting flowers?”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.”
    “Why, in the name of the Demon Goddess, is he planting flowers?”
    “He didn’t say, Your Majesty.”
    László shook his head. “This is going to be interesting.”
     
    “MARIGOLDS,” EXPLAINED ANDOR, “MUST BE PLANTED EACH year; they do not return unassisted. Roses, on the other—”
    “Andor,” interrupted the King.
    “Yes?”
    “When did this sudden interest in flowers come over you?”
    Andor looked up from the neat rows he had dug in the dirt of the Riverbank.
    “Not long ago,” he said. “A few days.”
    “I see. And what happened to your interest in the magical effects of proper diet?”
    Andor made a brushing-off gesture. “Unimportant,” he said. “Only the surface manifestation of a deeper principle.”
    “The principle of gardening?”
    With obvious effort, Prince Andor rose to his feet. He wiped his hands on his royal garments, leaving brownish smudges across the bright blue tunic on either side of his ribs. László controlled his reaction.
    “It’s an expression of the life force,” said Andor. “Every time I put a seed into the ground and bring it to fruition, I am strengthening
my own force of life, binding myself closer to every other living thing. I am strengthening my will to live, my ability to—”
    “I understand,” said László. “Or, well, I don’t really, but never mind. I hope it gives you what you want.”
    Andor smiled. “Thank you, brother. It will. Sándor himself gave me the idea.”
    “I see. Sándor. And where is Sándor, since we speak of him?”
    “Oh, around.” Andor gestured vaguely.
    “Well, if you see him, tell him I’d like a word.”
    “I shall.”
    László nodded and turned to leave. Andor said, “Where are you going?”
    “To visit our parents.”
    “Ah! Yes! I’ll have to do that myself, soon. Give them my regards.”
    “I shall, Andor. A pleasant day to you.”
    “And to you, brother.”
    László walked away as Andor, whistling, returned to his gardening.
     
    THEY LAY IN BEDS NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN A ROOM DONE IN red and purple. The old King, János VI, and his Queen, Teréz, now slept most of the time, but awoke when László came to visit them.
    János’s eyes opened. “Who is it?” he asked in a whisper.
    “It is I, father. László.”
    “Welcome, my son,” said the old man, managing a feeble smile. “How rests the kingdom?”
    “Well enough, father,” said László. “There is a dragon to the west and Northmen to the north, but all is under control.”
    János nodded, still almost smiling. He was small, shrunken, and had not moved since losing the use of his legs when the west wing had collapsed many years ago, forcing his abdication. He had
taken it well, though, and maintained an interest in the running of a kingdom that he had no part in. His face was animated and alert when László came to see him, as he did every day. Teréz could walk if she wanted, but seldom did, being content to sleep most of the time.
    King János stirred. “Have you given thought to the Palace itself?” he asked, as he always did. “I admit that, in my day, I did little to see to its repair.”
    “The Palace is as it has ever been,” said László, as he always did.
    The old King seemed about to say more, but then he shook his head.
    László looked at his father’s withered face, pleased that he could meet his eyes, and said,