The Changeling

by Jennifer Lyndon

  “Do you really believe you’re Vilken?” she asked in perfect Noge, glancing over her shoulder to see we were completely alone.

  “Of course I’m Vilken,” I replied.

  “Lore, how many Vilkerlings have you seen who have pale blond hair?” she asked, persisting to speak Noge even though I had not shifted from Vilken.

  “It’s no secret I have Noge blood,” I said, smiling.

  “Blood that hasn’t shown in over two centuries of dark monarchs,” Pet pointed out gently.

  “Well, I guess that’s true,” I replied.

  “Deus! You’re no more Vilken than I am,” she whispered sharply. I shook my head.

  “Don’t be absurd,” I said with a smile.

  “Do you honestly think I’d be here, surrounded by those who believe I’m vermin, if you were truly Vilken? You’re the Noge Queen Sarane, reborn,” she insisted. I stared at her a moment, trying to wrap my mind around what she was saying. “Consider this. After my escort leaves at the end of the week, I’ll be the only Fae speaking person within two days hard ride. Would I endure that for a common Vilken pretender?”

  “I speak some Fae,” I replied. Pet’Wyn reached down to scratch Faira behind her ears before gazing up at me, scrutinizing my face.

  “Of course you speak Fae, Lore, just as I speak Noge,” she said evenly. “Our native tongues are quite similar. Now, please choose either Fae or Noge if we’re going to continue this conversation. It’s dangerous discussing this in Vilken.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you,” I confessed, speaking Noge to ease her mind. “I admit that I resemble Sarane, but beyond the visual, we’re nothing alike.” Pet offered a wry smile. “Really, Pet, I’ve read a great deal about her, and I don’t think we’ve much in common at all. She was supposed to have been almost faultless, a pillar of virtue. I make mistakes constantly, I assure you. Clearly, I’m not her.” I smiled. “When I was reading about Sarane I learned that a Fae girl, also named M’Tek, lived with the royal family during Sarane’s childhood,” Pet’s gaze intensified, but beyond that I couldn’t read her response.

  “She was a prisoner of the Noge King Gendas II, though he treated her as a daughter, apparently,” Pet replied in her clipped Vilken again. “Her captivity was meant to guarantee peace between the Fae and the Noge.”

  “I think she looks remarkably similar to the current Queen M’Tek, except for that black hair of course,” I observed with a smile. Pet’s expression became more guarded.

  “Are you completely unschooled in Fae history?” she asked. I could tell she was astounded by my ignorance, but trying to conceal her reaction. I shook my head feeling ashamed.

  “Unfortunately, I am,” I admitted. “It’s one of the many areas in which I’ll need your guidance, my friend. I combed my library for books on the Fae people, but found only four, written fifty to a hundred years apart, all on Queen M’Tek’s military strategies, complete with the subsequent recordings of battles she won.” I forced a smile though I felt uncomfortable admitting my ignorance. “Apparently, every Fae sovereign for the past two centuries bore the name M’Tek. And it’s always simply the name recorded, with no number to follow. Obviously, your Queen M’Tek must be the fourth or fifth, I imagine. I was thinking about it the other day, how little my people know of you. It seems the Vilken historians believe M’Tek has lived for over a quarter of a millennium, and that she’s the same M’Tek that took half of the Noge Territory from Vilkerland during the Noge Civil War. She somehow gets the blame for almost every Vilken death in battle for the past two and a half centuries,” I said, laughing.

  “Deus!” Pet exclaimed. “You’ve no concept of who my cousin is. How can she have failed to tell you?”

  “What?” I asked. “What is Deus?”

  “Nothing, only a Fae oath. I apologize,” she said gently. “As for the rest, I suggest you ask my cousin her thoughts on all of that, when you see her next. I’m unable to comment.”

  “Speaking of M’Tek, I’ve had a letter from her,” I said in an effort to change the subject from that immense chasm in my education, which so obviously offended Pet, to a topic I preferred.

  “My cousin is well I hope,” was Pet’s rote response. I stopped and turned to face her.

  “Yes, and she asks after you,” I said. “Do you think she’ll come for a visit, now you’re here?”

  “Queen Loredana,” she started.

  “I prefer that you call me Lore, please. You’re the only person I can talk to who isn’t my subject.” Pet nodded her understanding. “Good.”

  “I likely know less than you of my cousin’s mind,” Pet said.

  “I doubt that. M’Tek is remote with me. Her letters are reserved and indifferent, as if we’re hardly more than acquaintances, which I guess we are, only having met twice.” Pet halted abruptly, kneeling down and snapping her fingers to call Faira, who had strayed down another trail as we walked. I suspected she was taking this as an excuse to delay her reply. She gathered the puppy in her arms, nuzzling Faira’s fuzzy neck before falling in step with me again.

  “My cousin is far from indifferent to you,” Pet replied when she was beside me again.

  “You’d offer a different opinion if you had read her letters,” I countered. Pet started laughing. “What? Why are you laughing?”

  “That’s the nature of correspondence for any queen, Lore. You should realize this. You can never be open when you write,” she said, smiling. “You must be aware, even here, in your own palace, that letters go through checkpoints before reaching you. Your correspondence is tested for poisons of every variety. Along the way a letter from Queen M’Tek will be read by easily a half dozen people before reaching you. How can you wonder if she’s hesitant to express any warmth of feeling for strangers’ eyes?”

  “But M’Tek warned me to be cautious of poisons,” I replied.

  “And she was right!” Pet said. “Even her letters could be tainted after leaving her hands and before finding yours.”

  “It’s all still so new to me. I have difficulty thinking in these terms,” I admitted, comprehension dawning. “M’Tek told me I was meant for this life, but I don’t see how anyone could be.” Pet only smiled.

  -CH4-

  One early fall afternoon, almost nine months after we commenced working on the treaty, our first draft was completed. Pet’Wyn and I labored long hours trying to write an agreement my Vilken advisers would not raise an army to oust me over, but that was still beneficial to M’Tek and Faeland. I was not at all satisfied with the end result, seeing it as mostly one-sided in Vilkerland’s favor, but Pet thought it enough of an effort, apparently.

  I sent a copy of the draft to M’Tek, with a request for her contributions to the finished product. Instead of a corrected draft with notes, I received a veiled suggestion that I invite her to Vilkerdam Palace to work with me on the details.

  Immediately, within less than ten minutes of reading her letter, I sent an open-ended invitation for the Fae Queen and her entourage. Her reply came quickly, with the notice that she had already left, and would arrive at Vilkerdam Palace within a few days, depending on the weather through Smugglers Pass.

  Anticipation disrupted my sleep the following two nights, until the first day I could reasonably expect her arrival, at which point I imagined the Fae Queen might appear at any moment. I’m naturally an early riser, but rose several hours earlier than usual, before first light even. I bathed and dressed in my most flattering gown, and had Faira bathed and groomed. We waited in the front sitting room, with the expectation at every moment that M’Tek would arrive.

  In late afternoon, hunger finally drove me from my perch at the window, where I was diligently watching for a dark horse and a beautiful white-haired woman. I ate my midday repast distractedly, and hurried back to resume my vigil. By evening I realized she would not arrive. I took my evening meal with only Faira for company, in my sitting room. Having lost my appetite to worry, I slowly fed my dinner to my dog.

/>   I followed this routine the second and third day, without judging my own actions ridiculous. When M’Tek had still not arrived by dinnertime on the fourth day, despondency set in. A few hours later I saw my behavior as more than slightly absurd. I decided the only way to regain any sort of control was to send out a scout to find her. In the middle of the night one of my fastest riders was sent east, toward the pass, with instructions to locate the Fae party and report back on their progress.

  The following morning I rose late and ate a light breakfast of fruit and nuts, pulled on my sparring clothes, and sought out my combat arts master to sweat out all of the anxiety that was coursing through me. My scout would return sometime that morning, I expected, with word of M’Tek’s location and eventual arrival. There was no sense worrying over preparations until I knew they would not be, yet again, otiose.

  As luck would have it, I was near the end of a particularly brutal workout, at the edge of the stable yard, wiping sweat from my brow with my sleeve, when I heard the sound of a couple dozen horses trotting up the front park to my palace. In an instant I knew the Fae Queen was arrived. My heartbeat, which was already elevated from exertion, made an anvil of my chest. With a quick glance down at my sweat soaked tunic and dusty breeches, panic set it. I ran a hand through my hair to find it tangled and wet with perspiration. My impulse was to race to my rooms, quickly bathe, dress, and then return to greet the Fae Queen and her entourage. I even set off at a run, Faira quick at my heels. Within a few strides I realized the senselessness of the effort. I could not leave the ruler of Faeland outside on the lawn, waiting to be received, while I took a bath.

  I changed direction and set off at a trot to the front steps, arriving just as the front section of her guards came to a halt. I ran my fingers through my damp hair in an effort to tidy it, and then stood in my usual position midway up the stairway, with Faira at my side. Per my instructions, Uncle Toblin and my council were already assembled, as were Aunt Kessa and the household staff. Pet’Wyn stood at the base of the stairs. She glanced over her shoulder at me, meeting my gaze for only a moment before a broad grin spread across her face. When she turned back to face the guards, her shoulders were shaking. Pet, my sweet friend, was laughing at me, or rather my appearance.

  I looked back to the guards, recognizing one of the front riders as Shiroane, even though the cloak obstructed most of her face from my view. She was the guard M’Tek had sent to track me for over a decade. Shiroane’s expression betrayed not an inkling of recognition or acknowledgement. Her dark grey eyes were as stones. My gaze traveled over the next several cloaked riders, but still, no M’Tek. I scanned the dark horses. There were three. And then a rider midway down the line dropped from her horse, and walked toward me. I descended the steps eager to greet her. Her swaggering gait revealed her identity to me, even before she swept her dark cloak back to reveal brilliant white hair.

  No level of self-control could have prevented the massive grin stretching across my face. For a moment I forgot my shabby appearance, as she stood before me. She allowed her gaze to trail over me in an exaggerated way, as a smirk softened her features.

  “Have I interrupted something? Perhaps you were wrestling with a hog?” she asked quietly and in perfect, unaccented Noge, an eyebrow lifting in question. “From the look of you, the hog won the day,” she teased. I felt my face getting hot. “Faira, my beautiful girl, you’ve grown up!” M’Tek said, exclaiming over my dog and kneeling down to scratch Faira’s ears when the hound ran to the Fae Queen.

  “I was more presentable yesterday,” I stammered. “And the day before as well.”

  M’Tek straightened, waving away my explanation before draping an arm across my shoulders. Apparently she didn’t really mind my appearance. She then turned me around completely, to face the rear of her entourage.

  “I’ve brought you another present, my sweet girl,” she whispered excitedly next to my ear. “I hope you’ll indulge me. I relish giving gifts to those I love.”

  She raised her free arm and the last guard separated away from the company to lead a beautiful golden filly toward us. M’Tek released my shoulder and went to meet the guard, collecting the lead in her, still gloved, hand. She led the horse the rest of the way, and then handed me the lead rope.

  “She’s from my own stables,” M’Tek offered. “I knew the moment she was born, she was destined to be yours. She’s a full sister to my own mount, Twyneth, and truly a fit mount for a queen,” she added, as her hand glided down the animal’s neck.

  I let my gaze roam the beautiful creature. Her coat was palomino, but with a definite metallic glimmer. She nuzzled M’Tek’s pocket gently, prompting the Fae Queen to retrieve a piece of dried fruit that she then handed to me. “You should give it to her,” M’Tek suggested. “Make friends.” The filly’s velvet soft muzzle tickled my hand as she delicately nibbled the fruit. “She’s a little spoiled, I’m afraid,” M’Tek said in a tone of apology, while scratching the mare behind her ears. “I’m too easy on her,” M’Tek explained. “I can’t resist the beautiful ones. Maybe you’ll show more restraint.” The Fae Queen looked almost sheepish. “I trained her myself, sheltered her, you could say. No one else has saddled her.”

  “Thank you, M’Tek,” I said, genuinely overwhelmed by her generosity. M’Tek obviously loved the animal. “What’s her name?” I asked.

  “I have called her Sabea,” M’Tek replied. It was the Old Noge word for the sun. I thought it fitting. “You may call her anything you like, though.” M’Tek grinned, her pale eyes lit by sunlight.

  “I like the name. It suits her,” I replied, stroking the animal’s soft cheek. “She’s very gentle,” I observed.

  “Yes, she took her mother’s temperament, happily. Her father, my stallion Ronin, is a demon, beautiful, but truly bad mannered. He’s kicked so many grooms we stopped shoeing him.” M’Tek said, appearing slightly proud of the animal’s fierce nature. I glanced over my shoulder to the assembly still gathered at my command, begrudgingly awaiting introduction to the Fae Queen. “Are they waiting to show us to our apartments?” M’Tek asked, noticing the direction of my gaze. “My guards are exhausted. The weather through the pass was a nightmare, not to mention the Borderlings we had to contend with,” she added.

  I seized M’Tek’s gloved hand in my free one, and led both Sabea and the Fae Queen toward the stairs, with Faira close at our heels. “I’d like to introduce the ruler of Faeland, Queen M’Tek of the House Tannuk. M’Tek, this is Kessa, Dame of Marinella, and Master Toblin.” M’Tek offered an easy nod and received stiff Vilken bows in return.

  I would have preferred more courtesy, but was unsurprised by the cool reception. I made my way through the rest of my council, quickly, and then excused everyone. There was a flurry of activity as horses were attended to, and trunks carried up the steps, the members of M’Tek’s guard being led off in the direction of their rooms. Only Pet hung about. After a few minutes she approached M’Tek, offering an informal bow.

  “Pet?” M’Tek asked, appearing concerned. “I hardly recognize you. You’ve lost weight. You’re not sick I hope?” Pet shook her head.

  “I’m fine, cousin, only homesick,” was Pet’s reply. “And the Vilken food is not to my taste, as you must know. Vilkerlings eat meat at every meal.” M’Tek’s expression softened and she drew Pet into a quick hug. Meanwhile, Sabea noticed the healthy green grass at her feet and nearly pulled my arm out of socket to indulge.

  “Have I asked too much of you these past months? Return with my guard,” M’Tek suggested, stepping out of that quick embrace to appraise Pet again, at arms length, releasing her hands finally. “Stay until I call them back for me,” she continued, scanning Pet’s face for agreement. “Or stay in Lareem longer. Remain there as long as it takes to recover.” Pet shook her head. “Unless you want to end your commission? I’d understand. These months away have been too long. You’ve been missed at the palace, especially by me,” M’Tek added with a wry smile.

 
; “I wouldn’t dream of leaving you, my Queen,” Pet replied. “We’ll need to work on this treaty together. I’ll likely be needed, since I helped write it.” M’Tek nodded in agreement. “As for my commission, I’ve grown wholeheartedly attached to our young Noge Queen. Lore and I have grown quite close.” Pet stepped away from M’Tek and reached out to squeeze my arm before adding, “I’ll not leave her.” I found Pet’s golden eyes quite pretty in the morning sunlight, as she offered a shy smile, her pale cheeks coloring slightly. After a moment she released my arm and began climbing the stairs back into the palace.

  When my attention returned to M’Tek she was wearing an expression of mild annoyance. M’Tek continued watching Pet retreating up the stairs for a moment. “It hasn’t been easy, staying away this past year and a half,” M’Tek finally said, her silver eyes returning to my face. “My presence here would’ve been a hindrance to you. You understand that, don’t you, Lore?” M’Tek’s eyes were too sharp, her tone clipped, as if slightly irritated. I noticed her chest was slightly red, and the color rising in her cheeks. Something had passed between M’Tek and Pet that was beyond my grasp.

  “Of course,” I answered. Her eyes bore into mine for a moment as if she were trying to read my mind. Finally, she broke eye contact and reached down to pet Faira again, scratching the hound behind her ears.

  “Well, do you like your present?” I grinned at my happily grazing filly and nodded.

  “She’s amazing,” I said.

  “Let’s show Sabea her new home then,” she suggested.

  ****

  After Sabea was settled in, Faira and I escorted M’Tek to the south entrance, and up the stairs to my apartments. We entered into the enormous hearth room, with the three plush sofas set before a fireplace, and walked on in the opposite direction of my own bedchamber. I opened the door to the unused rooms within my apartment, and led my guest inside. I rarely entered those rooms. Upon the day of our arrival, when I reclaimed the palace, Aunt Kessa informed me that those rooms once belonged to my mother. I felt uncomfortable within those walls thereafter, preferring the rooms once occupied by my father. As I glanced around, a feeling of unease settled on me. I tried to remember the woman who had come to such a violent end while protecting me, but all I recalled were flashes of her shining, almost black, eyes, and gentle hands. I took a deep breath, chasing from my mind a quasi memory of a dark-haired woman with fear in her voice. I turned to M’Tek.