by Robin Roseau
“When I come here, I draw anything and everything. The vines. The buildings. A wine cask. Just a bottle, sometimes with a glass. I’d love to draw you holding a glass, a bottle with you. I suppose I shouldn’t do that. It must be against the rules or something.”
“Yes. One of Sergeant Felist’s guards has the specific duty of arresting anyone caught rendering an image of me.”
“Now you’re being silly.”
“Father appears in various sarcastic forms on a nearly-daily basis,” I said. “Mother collects them.”
“Really?”
“She’s less pleased when they’re of her,” I added. “But that doesn't happen very often. Father is considered a fair target; Mother isn’t.”
“And you?”
“As a child, I was considered off limits for that sort of treatment. Now that I’m adult, I guess we’ll see.”
“Father gets treated that way sometimes, too, but it’s not so often.” She smiled. “Three of my drawings of him have been published.”
“Under your name?”
“Absolutely not, although I imagine Mother recognizes my style, and Blaze once dropped the newspaper in my lap and said, ‘Good one’.”
“If I asked to watch you start something new, would that put you off?”
“No.” She flipped to a fresh sheet. “What do you want me to draw?”
“Anything. I just want to watch.”
She moved my wine glass closer. “Pick that up and hold it here.” I did what she asked, and then I watched as she drew quickly, sketching out the basic shape in very light marks. She changed pencils frequently, and it wasn’t all that long before she had drawn a glass of wine, half full, held by a hand. Then she turned and smiled.
I sipped from the wine and set it down. “You make it look easy.”
“We all have our skills,” she replied. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night.”
“I can’t. The next night.”
“Sure.”
“I come with guards,” I said. “And they’ll want to know where ahead of time.”
“Talk to them about it?”
“Yes, or I can.”
“No, no. I’ll do it. I’ll send a note to you with expected attire.”
I nodded. “Flame.”
“Darfelsa.”
“You’re lovely, and I enjoy your company.”
“But?”
“But I’m not looking for suitors.”
“It’s only dinner.”
“I’m not sure I believe you.”
“And yet, you said ‘yes’.” She paused. “I wasn’t necessarily asking for more than dinner.”
“Maybe I want more than dinner but less than durable promises.”
“What is going to happen if I show up in Barrish on a diplomatic mission for Father and ask your mother for permission to court you. Would you turn me away?”
“No, but she might. Did your father put you up to this?”
“No. The looks you gave me when we met did.”
I smiled. She smiled back.
* * * *
We returned to the embassy and offered our goodbyes. Belolad drew me to the side and said, “I would like to call on you tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Ms. Leyviel won’t be with me.”
“She will if it’s an official conversation.”
“It’s personal.”
“It better not be more matchmaking.”
At that, he buffed his fingernails against his shirt, but said, “It’s something else entirely.”
“All right.”
He nodded, and then I watched them ride away. Renishta stepped to my side. “So.”
I turned to her. “So.”
“She’s a beauty.”
“And I like her.”
Then Sergeant Felist was there. “Taking my advice?” she asked.
“She’ll be talking to you.”
“She already did. I’ll check out the places she asked about and get back to her.”
“Thank you.”
“Princess, if you’ll be sharing a bed, it will be here. Plan accordingly.”
“I’ll move out,” Renishta said.
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, she will,” Sergeant Felist said.
I didn’t argue with them.
* * * *
I greeted Belolad. We shared tea, and then he said, “I want to ask a favor.”
“You may ask.”
“When you leave, take Ms. Leyviel with you. I presume you can find a post for her.”
I wasn’t expecting that. I froze then leaned back against the sofa, contemplating my tea. Finally, I asked, “Why?”
“I don’t want to answer that.”
“It will remain entirely between the two of us. I won’t even tell my father, and I normally tell him everything.”
“I doubt that,” he said. “On your honor, Princess.”
“On my honor.”
“I can’t protect her forever.”
“From a certain minister?”
“He can’t get to you.”
“Why is he part of your government?” I asked.
“We’re all elected,” he said. He paused. “We should come back to this conversation. There’s something I should show you.” He reached into his coat and withdrew a folded newspaper. Like newspapers at home, it was thin, cheap paper, a few pages thick. He had it folded to a particular section and said, “Please do not be offended.” He set it on my lap.
I picked it up. It took seconds before I began laughing.
“I’m not sure that’s the reaction I was expecting,” he said.
“I imagine Minister Silmarion is most unimpressed.” It was a cartoon of the minister and me. He was drawn as a hulking ogre, towering over a tiny woman wearing a tiara. But I was holding my ground and waving a finger at him.
And I thought I recognized the artist.
“Can you get more copies?” I asked.
“More copies?”
“Mother is going to want one,” I said. “And we should keep one for the files here. And I’d like to keep one to show some of my friends. Maybe a few more. Not many. Five or six?”
“Yes. I can get you a few copies,” he said.
“Thank you. I love it.” I looked up. “Is this why you wanted to get to know me?”
“I wanted to know if Ms. Leyviel was safe with you.”
“Is there some reason you’re taking a protective interest?”
“Yes. Her mother and I have known each other a long time, and she threatened to come out against me in the next election if I didn’t deal with all of this.”
I laughed. “Flame was right about that?”
“Yes.”
“Belolad, I have to ask. Is there anything untoward I should know?”
“Absolutely not. I gave a little attention to Castia’s best friend, a lifetime ago, and we became friends. That’s all.”
I nodded. “When would you like me to take responsibility for Talith?”
“After we work out the current issues,” he said.
“All right. May I talk to her now?”
“Yes. However, you want to handle that.”
“All right, then.”
“That easy?”
“Yes. That easy.”
“What do I owe you in return?”
“Not a thing. Who knows we’re having this conversation?”
“No one.”
“Castia?”
“No one.”
“I want a written request.”
“Why?”
“In case someone attacks me for recruiting from your side of the table. If it blows up, I want it known you and I have a friendly agreement. I don’t particularly care how you write it as long as it acknowledges a friendly arrangement.”
“That’s probably good,” he said.
“If it doesn’t come up, that’s even better.”
“Agreed. So.”
“So.”
“Where is my daughter taking you to dinner?”
“I haven’t heard yet. And you have promised to stay out of it. I’m entirely unsure this is a good idea, Belolad.”
“Why?”
“Because the only way I don’t leave in an obvious snit is if we come to an agreement that is far better than any Gandeet has offered us in years, and everyone is going to wonder if you’re buying a place for your daughter.”
“Pshaw. I want you to do something else.”
“What’s that?”
“Make yourself into a darling here. You’re halfway there.”
“Not hardly, and I can’t imagine that improves your political situation.”
“I’m very popular,” he said. “Minister Silmarion is vulnerable, and I want him crushed in the next election. Princess Darfelsa, be the face for Flarvor.”
“Am I going to get my agreement on transportation companies?”
“Yes. We’re going to take one of your suggestions. We’re fighting over which one. You’ll strengthen your position if you do what I’m asking.”
“This is bad politics for you,” I said.
“No, it’s not,” he replied. “I was only elected Prime Minister two years ago. I’m still cleaning up some of the mess from my predecessor. Minister Silmarion is part of the old guard, and I want him out.”
“And prior to that?”
“This is my fourth term.”
“Four-year terms?”
“Yes.”
“Previously you were…”
“The Minister of Agriculture. Be the darling,” he said. “I imagine you know what I mean.”
I wasn’t entirely comfortable with what he was saying, but at the same time, I was well-prepared for the role in the question. I needed only to channel my mother.
“This could be a mess if we can’t come to an agreement.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
I nodded. “All right.”
“Good. Do you know what you’re going to do?”
“Yes. How confident are you we’ll reach agreement? I don’t want to tell my staff to start unpacking if we’re just going to pack again, but if I’m going to do this right, we’ll need to host guests.”
“We’ll reach an agreement on transportation companies. There will be longer negotiations on the rest.”
I nodded. “All right then. Do you need to know my plans?”
“Only when they directly involve me.”
“All right then. Anything else?”
“Not today.”
“Very good.” We finished our tea, and I saw him out.
* * * *
“Princess Darfelsa, Ms. Leyviel is asking to see you.”
“Send her in.”
We greeted, and then she said, “I have a letter to you from Prime Minister Githien.” She handed it over. I opened it, verified the contents, and then smiled at her.
“So. Did you still want that job?”
“Why do you keep asking?”
“Githien was here an hour ago.” I turned the note around and slid it to her. “Read it.”
She did, her eyes growing wide. “You’re kidding. You asked him?”
“He asked me.”
She lifted her gaze. “He wants to get rid of me?”
“He wants to get you further from Minister Silmarion.”
“Oh,” she said. She paused then repeated herself. “Oh. I see.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” She smiled broadly. “When do I start?”
“After the immediate negotiations. After that, I would like you here to help me understand some of the other things I’m looking at. You can give me the Gandeetian perspective. When I leave, you go with me, if you so choose.”
She nodded. “Good. That’s good.”
“I get the impression you are close with your parents. Barrish is a long way from home.”
“You’ve spent three years in Charth.”
“Are you considering this temporary?”
“No.”
“If you are, that’s fine.”
“No,” she repeated.
“All right, then,” I said. “If you need to move in earlier for your safety, you may.”
“I’ll be fine,” she replied.
“Please be careful.”
“I will.”
Fire
Flame arrived by coach. I waited for her in the embassy foyer, standing near the window, and so I saw when she pulled up, and I saw when she got out.
Mariya – Sergeant Felist – stood at my shoulder, and so we both saw Flame at the same time. Mariya set her hand on my shoulder. “She’s truly stunning, Princess.”
“She is,” I agreed.
Then I moved from the window. The guards opened the doors as she approached, and so she strode in and came to a stop, smiling broadly.
We were both in gowns. Hers was cobalt blue and displayed her figure quite well, her shoulders bare and drawing my attention almost as much as her hair.
I wore white with a halter top, also leaving my shoulders bare. The neckline and back were lace, and I wore lace fingerless gloves that ended at my elbows.
We stared at each other, and then she stepped forward. I realized she had grown at least an inch more than I had, and I looked up into her eyes before she brushed my cheeks. “I think I like this tradition from Ressaline,” she whispered. “Will you help me introduce it more widely?”
“Yes,” I replied. We exchanged ear kisses, and then she traced her fingers down my bare arms to the lace, eventually capturing my hands.
We smiled at each other a little longer, and then I recovered sooner than she did, turning her and taking her arm.
We strode to her carriage. Two of my guards were waiting to hand us in, and after a minute, we were rolling forward.
“Very elegant,” I said.
“Yes, you are,” she replied.
I laughed. “I meant the coach.”
“I was going to take the family carriage, but Father surprised me with this one.” She collected my hand and lifted my fingers for a brief kiss. “This is mine tonight.”
“All right,” I whispered. “Will you let me have it back when it is time to eat.”
“You may use your other.”
“Cute.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“I noticed that you are left-handed.”
“And so I will share my left hand, and you will share your right.”
“I bet you are more ambidextrous than I am.”
“Don’t be a baby.”
“Ha! I’m right, aren’t I.”
She put on a pout. “Fine,” she said. “But for that, you must go dancing with me.”
“I love dancing. Did you check with Sergeant Felist?”
“Of course I did.”
“You may need to teach me your styles, but let me tell you about dancing in Charth.”
* * * *
It turns out that my hand was safe. We were actually seated across a small table from each other. And so, I gave her my left as we gazed at each other. We spoke easily, talking about nothing important for a while, but then touching on the differences in our childhood. “Have you always been an artist?”
“Yes, as long as I can remember. Have you always been a princess?”
“Yes, but it took time before I grew into becoming a spoiled princess.”
She laughed. “What do you see for your future?”
“My sister will be queen. I intend to act as her right hand, her most valued advisor.”
“Your sister will rule?”
“That is the plan. The various lords may have their own plans.”
“What does the right hand to the queen do?”
“She travels to Gandeet to resolve trade disputes,” I said. “She works with the Ambassador to Ressaline to negotiate other agreements. She travels where my sister cannot, and when she is not traveling, she is brow
beating lords.”
“So this is very good experience for you.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Yes.”
“Good. And so you expect much travel.”
“Yes, and much browbeating.”
“And will your husband remain home and care for your babies?”
“Don’t even go there,” I replied. “And I don’t know.”
“Where is it I am not going, to be clear?”
“Husband.”
“Wife, then?”
“Flame.”
“We are getting to know each other, Darfelsa. Do you begrudge my curiosity?”
“No.”
“You are the one who first brought up suitors. It is your fault if I’ve wondered if I want to make this easy for you or not.”
I laughed. “Fair enough.”
“And so if I ask questions, please answer.”
“That goes both ways, then.”
“Of course. Would your wife remain home?”
“Perhaps some of the time, especially if there are, indeed, children to see to. I don’t believe there would be so much travel as I suggested.”
“And so you would not take me hither and yon?”
I didn’t chastise her this time. We were only playing. “Are you aware of the requirements to travel throughout Ressaline?”
“There are requirements?”
“Most definitely,” I said. “And I’m not explaining them to you.”
She put on a pout. “Why not?”
“Because…” I paused. “Because the requirements are rather unexpected, and I do not wish to devote the entire evening to trying to explain them.”
“They are so unexpected?”
“Yes.”
“And now I will spend the entire evening wondering.”
“No, you won’t, because you’re going to be thinking about me,” I said. It was my turn to lift fingers to lips. I kissed each one before setting our clasped hands back on the table. Flame didn’t take her eyes from me the entire time.
“What were we talking about?” she whispered.
We ordered our meal. I asked Flame to select our wine, which she did readily. “Your Grandmother’s?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“It was very good,” I said.
“I’ll send a case to the embassy,” she said. “Grandmother will be pleased.”