by Megan Hart
With my face washed, my teeth brushed, and my stomach unfilled, I was bored and restless. I was unused to inactivity. With no task to set myself to, I again wandered around the room looking at Daelyn's luxuries. I picked up books and put them down, dusted trinkets that needed no such attention, scuffed at marks upon the polished floor.
I went again to the door and called a folly to bring some food. The door creaked as I opened it. The prince stirred.
"Mother's Milk," he said irritably from his nest of blankets and pillows. "What are you doing?"
"Calling for something to break your fast."
He grimaced. "I'm not hungry."
He'd never suffered from the affects of too much drink or herb before. "Some tea?"
"Fine." He sighed and grumbled under his breath. "Fetch me a new nightrail."
I'd already laid out a morning outfit for him, and his request surprised me. "My lord?"
Daelyn sat up against the headboard and cocked a brow at me. "Today I can laze about in bed until after the twelve chime, if I wish. Today, I'm required to attempt procreation."
I lowered my eyes at his comment. "Ah...."
"Don't blush. You know I must beget an heir. My councilors are after me to keep trying, keep trying, for the love of my prick, keep trying! The only thing that makes it at all bearable is being able to stay in bed and be waited on hand and foot."
The only time I'd ever lain abed was when I was ill. I was not, however, a Prince Regent. "I wish you luck?"
I'd meant to content him, but he scowled. "I'll need more than luck."
I took the breakfast tray from the folly and put it on Daelyn's lap. He picked at the food without much interest, yelled for some hot cacao and tossed a biscuit on the floor for being too hard. He definitely seemed out of sorts.
As I scrutinized him, I noticed one eye bore a scrape above the brow, small but nasty looking. On the back of one hand, a set of bruises, again small but fierce.
"Were you troubled by dreams?"
He raised a brow at me. "Did I cry out in my sleep?"
"Nay, my prince." I didn't give the name quite the affectation Lir did, but I could tell my address pleased him. "Your eye and your hand. Did you fight against a nightmare?"
His face went suddenly, carefully blank. He curved the fingers of his unwounded hand over the bruises and sat up straighter in the bed. "Perhaps."
"Let me get the salve." I whirled before he could speak and brought forth the small pot of medicinal salve I'd used on my own wounds. "Let me put it on you."
I grabbed his hand and began to apply the minty smelling ointment. He didn't pull away or make a protest, but a tension in his fingers made me look up. He watched me with no sign of the amusement I was used to.
He stroked the ointment glistening on his skin. "A woman would never dare touch a man in such a way, though her instincts might be to caretake."
My heart thudded, and I had to force myself not to blink. "Follies aren't worthy."
He toyed with his tailored, high-necked collar. His glorious autumn-colored hair fell over his shoulders in loose curls. Though sleep still smudged his face, he looked no less handsome clad in the simple linen nightrail than he had dressed in his finest silks and satins. He looked....younger. Watching him, I recalled something I'd not thought of before. Prince Daelyn was only my senior by three years.
"Do you really believe that?"
I regarded the question warily. "It’s common knowledge, my prince."
"Ah." His smile was but a ghost of its normal radiance. "But that which many men claim to know as truth is not necessarily such. Do you believe women are not worthy?"
"No. I don't." I waited for his anger or scorn, for him to call the Book Master's guards and have me clapped in irons for heresy. Yet I couldn't have answered otherwise. He'd sense a lie no matter the skill I used in its telling.
Prince Daelyn looked again to the hand I'd smoothed with salve. "Women are caregivers, Aeris. Nurturers. It’s their nature to be such. It’s the nature of men to expect to be taken care of. It’s a natural balance between the care giving and receiving. And if you believe that, must you not believe there is another natural balance between dominance and submission? That it’s the place of men to dominate, control, to make the choices for those who are unable to? Must you not also accept that women have not the intelligence nor the strength to fend for themselves?"
"Strength and wit shouldn't determine worth." I bit my tongue as soon as I said it, but the prince just looked at me.
"Pray tell me then. What should determine it?"
I'd gone too far. I fell back. "That’s not for one such as me to decide, my prince."
Daelyn looked at me without smiling for a full, very long, moment. "I'm in a terrible mood this morning. In less than one chime, I'll be humping away with a partner whose name I won't even be told. We won't even undress. She'll probably weep when it's over. Sinder's Folly, I most likely will, too, if I'm not sick to my stomach. And for what? The sake of getting an heir? Maybe I'll just be Prince Regent until I die, and never take the name of King!"
"Don't you want to have a son?"
He shrugged. "I can't say as I've ever cared much for children, as I was barely allowed to be one myself."
I knew how he felt. My childhood had been a web of deceit and constant fear. "Should I help you prepare for your audience?"
"You may comb my hair." He seemed to offer this as a great privilege. I didn't mind.
Without announcement, Lir entered Daelyn's chamber. My back stiffened, as it always seemed to do in Lir's presence. He, on the other hand, didn't even acknowledge me.
"Good morrow, my prince."
He gave a showy bow more mocking than honoring, but Daelyn laughed. "You're here for the debacle, bless you."
"Have I ever failed you?" Lir made himself comfortable in an overstuffed chair next to Daelyn's bed. "I thought you might have the lad stay in my place."
Daelyn gave me a sideways glance. "Of course not."
I tied off the end of Daelyn's braid and got up. "Is there anything else?"
"Now you've hurt his feelings." Lir grinned.
I held myself stiff, not wishing to give in to the urge to retort. I ignored him and focused my attention on Daelyn. "My prince?"
He clasped my hand briefly. "I couldn't ask for a better fetchencarry than you. My last one was a complete idiot."
"You're just hard on fetchencarries. You expect too much from them." Lir laughed.
Daelyn scoffed. "He's fair grateful to me for taking him away from that awful joba melon stand. And despite his rather crude upbringing, he's done rather well."
"You're insulting him again, Dae. Can you not give a compliment that has only one side?"
Daelyn rolled his eyes. "You're just jealous."
I took the tray to the hall. I didn't like being discussed like I was an inanimate object. I didn't like Lir, or his crude jokes. Daelyn was right; I was grateful to no longer be working for my uncle. But I had bigger plans for my life, and they didn't include being anyone's servant for very long.
"Is there anything else?" I asked instead.
"You can send away all those people hanging around outside my door. I hate being gawked at."
That earned a hearty laugh from Lir. "Aeris, don't listen to him. Daelyn wouldn't know how to live without constantly being surrounded by admirers and hangers-on."
"That's not true!" Daelyn frowned. "I'd adore some time alone!"
Lir shook his head and rolled his eyes at me. "So he says. But put him alone and you'll see how fast he seeks company. He lives in the public eye, and he ought to admit he loves it."
"It’s my duty to live in the public eye, Lir."
"And you love it."
A knock on the door interrupted their argument. The small, dark-skinned man standing outside looked surprised to see me at first, then pushed past me and into the room.
"Most gracious morning, to you, my lord. 'Tis my pleasure to bring you three fine
young follies of child-bearing age, one who's birthed three sons already."
"Are they prepared, Fiesco?" Daelyn, sounding bored, gazed into his hand mirror.
"They've been bathed, my lord, as you require." Fiesco rubbed his hands together as though to warm them. "Flow cycles have been documented for the past year. They're regular. It's their time. If you can't get a child on these –"
"If I can't, then what?" Daelyn looked up. "Are you implying something, Fiesco?"
Fiesco looked stricken. "No, of course not, my lord."
Daelyn sniffed. "Good. Because I fear you are calling my manhood into question."
"Of course not, my lord."
"Aeris!"
I stepped up. "Yes, my prince?"
Daelyn waved the mirror. "Kindly escort my lord Fiesco out of my chambers and send in the follies. Wait outside until I've finished. Both of you."
Fiesco didn't seem pleased, but he nodded. "My lord, the protocol...."
"Fuck your protocol," Daelyn replied calmly. "If I've got to get a child on these women, I'll do it my own way. Without an audience!"
"It’ll be near the only thing he does without an audience." Lir's mumbled comment caught Daelyn's ear.
I believe Lir was teasing, but Daelyn didn't take it so. "You get out, too! I don't need you!"
Lir spread placating hands, but it was too late. Daelyn was too angry. He threw his mirror at Lir, who ducked. It bounced on the carpet but didn't break.
"You need me, Dae." Lir shook his head. "But if you're going to be too stubborn and conceited to take a jest...."
"Get out!"
Lir held up his hands in defeat. Fiesco and I shared a glance. He shrugged, and I followed him out the door. I was only Daelyn's fetchencarry, not his friend. If he threw a mirror at Lir, I didn't want to think about what he'd do to me.
The women went through the door without a word. Fiesco leaned against the wall and pulled out a cheroot, which he lit and puffed upon continuously. The smoke made me cough and stung my eyes.
"Lord Rosten won't approve of this."
Lir drew on his own cheroot until the smoke wreathed his head. "The Book Master should know better than to try and tell the Prince Regent how to behave."
Fiesco scowled and rubbed his head. "Them follies is from my very own stable, my lord. I'd hate for them to be...roont."
Lir ground his cheroot beneath his heel. "Has Lord Rosten been pestering you?"
Fiesco looked subdued, then spoke under his breath with a quick glance to me. "My Lord Akean, Lord Rosten takes his duties very seriously. 'And the woman of his household, shall she not bring forth the fruit of her womb, she shall be dealt with.'"
Lir grimaced. "Yes. I know. The Law of the Book. 'And shall three times the woman prove herself unable to get with child, measures you shall take.' I know what Rosten thinks of that passage."
"It's just that this is the third time," Fiesco whispered with another look at me. "I'd have brung ones that hadn't been tried already, but these was the most promising. And I sorely do want them to catch with the prince's seed."
"Don't we all?" Lir said crossly. "He hates this."
"Lotsa men hate fucking women," Fiesco said. "But if he don't get a son, he'll never be King. I'm only doing my job. Have him take up his issue with Lord Rosten and the Council of the Book."
Lir turned his attention to me. "He'll need you when he's done."
I lifted my chin. "Then I'll be there for him."
Lir didn't smile. His gaze pierced me, but I didn't look away. "Such loyalty is commendable. But, as Daelyn pointed out, what else did you have?"
I looked around the hallway, the marble floors and pillars, the intricate paintings on the walls. "I never thought I'd live in luxury like this. Serving as a comrade to the prince seems a small price to pay for the privilege."
"Sinder's Arrow," Lir exclaimed. "He's got you wrapped around his finger. Tell me, Aeris, has he kissed you yet?"
Fiesco let out a snort, and I gritted my teeth but kept my gaze on Lir's. "None of your business. My lord."
Lir nodded as though I'd confirmed a thought. "He can get anyone to do anything. You could have stayed selling melons, which is at least an honorable occupation for a young man. Instead, you feed and dress him, clean up his messes, and generally act as his folly---"
My blood fair simmered, but I restrained myself. "It’s not dishonorable work, to serve a prince!"
"No. It’s not."
His mild response took some of my anger. Fiesco laughed. I glared at him, but he only puffed on his cheroot.
At that moment, the door opened, and the follies came out. Fiesco jerked his head toward the end of the hall, and they turned to follow him that direction.
"We'll know by the next great moon," he called over his shoulder.
Lir went back inside the room, and I followed. Daelyn lay curled on the bed, his face in the pillows. I stopped, uncertain as to what I should do.
"Run him a bath," Lir said. Daelyn gave a muffled sob. Confused, I made to go to him, but Lir shook his head. "A bath, Aeris. And he'll want to dress."
Daelyn sat up, his eyes swollen and his cheeks marked by tears, but he was no longer weeping. He pushed away Lir's hand when Lir tried to embrace him. "I'm still angry with you."
Lir glanced at me. "Dae, love...."
"You knew what I needed from you this morn, and you left me to fend for myself!" Daelyn accused. He tossed his hair over his shoulder, then jabbed a finger into Lir's chest. "You left me, Lir! Just like you did last night! I'm beginning to wonder if you're as loyal to me as you say."
"Don't you question my loyalty. You know what happened last night wasn’t my fault. And this morning you told me to go." Lir got up from the bed and smoothed his clothes. "You wanted me to go."
Daelyn's lush mouth twisted. "You shouldn't have listened to me."
Lir's laugh was loud but without humor. "You demand obedience from everyone around you, Daelyn. Demand! And most of the time, friend, I find it easy to give. Most of the time."
"You don't care about me." More tears glittered. "Aeris cares more for my needs than you do!"
I didn't want to be drawn into the argument, but the noise of it followed me into the privy chamber. As I turned the taps, I still heard Lir's shout.
"He's your lap dog, your pet! You've got him convinced wiping your arse is an honor! You took him from the streets and now you're promising him the Land Above, but what are you really going to give him?"
The water was too hot, and I turned on some cold. I didn't know whether to leave the privy chamber or not. They were still discussing me as though I couldn't hear.
"You shouldn't have left me. You know what's going to happen."
"They'll question the women, and they'll tell them you did what you were supposed to. You did, didn't you?"
Daelyn laughed sourly. "Oh, yes. Hard enough to make them squirm. But you know –"
"I know you speak too freely."
"Do I? Why don't you just get out, Lir? I'm in a bad mood today."
"I can see that. And I'll take my leave."
"Fine!"
The slamming of the door answered him, and in the next minute, he called my name.
"Yes, my prince?" I asked from the privy chamber doorway.
"Pick something for me to wear. Something comfortable. I wish to attend court."
He went into the privy and slammed the door behind him. I went to do as he'd ordered. Something comfortable. But what? Nothing in the armoire looked comfortable to me. Heavy fabrics, tight waists, laces to cinch everything snug. He was more often concerned with appearance than comfort.
I chose soft, black velvet pants laced to the knee. A finely woven white shirt with bloused arms and lace at the throat. A waistcoat, with laces at the sides and back to pull it close to the waist and enough excess material to flare out beneath. Even the cod was minimally decorated with embroidered designs instead of jewels or gold embossing. I added a pair of thick knee hose just as Da
elyn emerged from the privy chamber, wet but wearing his nightrail.
I laid out the clothing on the bed, and he inspected it. "You have a fine eye. I've never worn these together like this. But you've chosen well again. Nothing to pinch or bind, naught to constrict me while I sit for hour upon interminable hour. Thank you, Aeris."