Flecks of Gold

by Buck, Alicia

  “You may want to watch what you say around certain people. They might decide that you are more trouble than a visiting princess should be.”

  My mouth, about to say something else, clamped closed. Was that a threat? The hand gripping my sword twitched as I heard him chuckle. “So, you can learn. That’s good. You will need to stay sharp to survive this country.”

  Now I was really confused. It was impossible to make heads or tails of this guy. His responses were so foreign to me. I felt like I was still speaking English and had never learned the language lacing that made it possible for me to speak and understand Iberloahan.

  The training general walked over, took my sword, and adjusted my hands on the hilt the way he wanted them. My confusion made me feel oddly like silly putty as he shaped my position. He then stood next to me. “Follow my movements.” He swung his sword up in a block to his head, and I copied him as he swung from one move to the next.

  He started slowly, but I found that the blocks were only slightly different from what I had learned in karate class, so he didn’t often have to halt and correct my angle. When we were moving at a quick pace, he suddenly stopped. I hesitated as well. “Keep moving,” he commanded. He moved opposite me and struck as I moved through the blocking routine he had shown me. It was much harder to stay in the flow of the movements when there was a sword clashing against mine.

  I felt myself reacting a little too slowly. Any minute I knew that the training general would whack me. “Could we stop for just a second?” I panted.

  “Do you think your attacker will stop if you ask him to?”

  He wasn’t even sweating. Perspiration poured from my face and soaked my shirt. “No. But if I go much longer I’m going to vomit all over you.” It was too much effort to say anymore.

  The training general stepped back suddenly. I thought maybe he was averse to vomit, but when I dropped my sword with a thud and looked back up at his face, there was the hint of a smile. “You are a strange girl, Mary.”

  My mouth dropped open, and I plunked to the floor, panting and looking up at him dumbfounded. “You knew the whole time. The king told you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what was with all that stuff about princesses, huh?”

  “I wanted to learn some things about you, and I have.”

  “What, that I’m tactless and don’t really act like a princess?”

  “Yes, as well as other things.” He didn’t say any more, and I didn’t really want to hear how many deficiencies I’d revealed in one sword lesson.

  “I guess I’ll go wash up now.” I used the sword as a crutch to help me up and walked stiffly to the door I’d come through.

  “Don’t go that way. This door will lead you outside rather than through the training courts. Be here tomorrow during the third day portion.”

  I had been hoping he wouldn’t say anything about another lesson, so I could just pretend that I didn’t know I was supposed to come again. But it would be a lot harder to plead ignorance of daily lessons now that he had set a time. Drat him.

  I’d turned to go, when Sogran’s voice stopped me. “Verone said he told you that he had been to Earth. Did he also tell you that I have been there?”

  I spun around as if hit from behind. “You’ve been there, too? How many others have gone there? When did you go?”

  “I know of only two others who have also gone to Earth, though there could be others from other countries. The king and I went there together some years ago.” He stared at me in the same way the king had in his office. I could tell this was all I was going to get out of Sogran. As if to confirm this, he turned and walked out of the training room without another word.

  I headed back to my room slowly, dragging my feet at every step.

  When I returned, Sentai informed me that she could only find one outfit that would fit me immediately. I would have to wait for the rest to be sewn.

  “It’s because I’m so tall, isn’t it? Sorry about that. I always had a hard time finding long enough clothes at home, and there were hundreds of options to choose from.” I stopped, remembering that I was supposed to be from a country that also lacked clothing stores.

  Sentai opened her mouth as if about to say something and closed it again. I tried to look politely curious in order to draw her words from her, but she kept her mouth shut.

  “What’s next for today? I’m hungry. Do you think I could get some food?”

  “I will bring it immediately.” Sentai stood quickly.

  “Thanks. Sorry to make you work so much. You know I could get it myself if you want to keep sitting.” Sentai looked at me again as if she wished to say something but couldn’t decide if she should.

  “What? Please tell me. I’d rather know.”

  “You asked me to help you to adjust to Ismar’s social etiquette.” There was another long pause, and I tried to keep a look of eager interest instead of frustration. Why was she so reluctant to talk to me? “There are those here at court, powerful people, who do not like you. They will look for ways to hurt you, and I’m afraid if they see how you treat servants, they will use that knowledge to accuse you of not really being a princess.” She watched my face intensely as she spoke, seeming to search for some sign that she had gone too far.

  “And what would happen then?” My stomach gave a nervous flutter.

  “Their words have power, and they could make your life more than difficult. If they claim you are an imposter, you would no longer be around to bother the natural order of things.” Her eyes were earnest, and I realized with a chill that she meant I could be killed. She must suspect I wasn’t who I claimed to be either. What I really needed was to get out of Ismar as fast as possible, but I still had no idea where to go.

  “I’ll try to be more discreet. Thank you for your help, Sentai. I really appreciate it.”

  She nodded and looked around, as if trying to remember something, and then slipped out the room. It hadn’t occurred to me that I could be killed if someone found out that I wasn’t a real princess. However, it made sense from all that I had seen of Iberloah so far. If they thought I was really someone of a lower class, they might become afraid that other lower-class people would realize that there was no real difference between them and royalty. It would ruin the nobles’ cushy set up. There was no way anyone of the upper class would stand for that.

  I was in a deeper hole than I had realized and for the first time since coming to Ismar, a shroud of Freon-numbing fear gripped me. I felt close to shattering. My breath whooshed in and out for a few minutes before I could think straight again. No wonder Breeohan had seemed so tense since coming to the palace. I suddenly felt angry at Breeohan for getting me into this situation.

  There was a knock on my door, and I jumped. I had to clear my throat before I could manage a feeble, “Who is it?”

  “It’s Rafan.”

  I rolled my eyes and reluctantly went to the door, opened it a little, and then stood wedged between the door and the wall. “What can I do for you, Rafan?”

  “Princess, I was hoping you would join me for a stroll in the gardens. But if you are busy . . .”

  “I’m sorry. Sentai was just going to bring me some food, and I’m really hungry. Maybe we could go for a walk later.” I edged back through the door slightly, but didn’t want to close it in his face.

  He didn’t take the hint. “Ah, may I join you? We can take a walk after your meal.”

  I didn’t really feel like company, but I couldn’t think of any excuse to get rid of him that wouldn’t be rude and dangerous, considering he knew I wasn’t a real princess and could use that knowledge against me. Rafan was a wild card. I felt like he wanted something from me, but I had no idea what. I decided it’d be better to humor the guy than to let on that I thought of his flattery as gilded hogwash.

  “That would be nice. Come in, Rafan. Have a seat.” I smiled and moved so that he could enter. I opened the door wider and left it that way as I motioned him toward a chair
at the table in my outer chamber.

  “So how’s your day been so far? Done anything interesting?” I asked, trying to be conversational.

  “Nothing of much importance. I have been resting up from my trying time in the city.”

  I had no response to that. Did he want me to ask about his adventures in the city? I nodded, trying to look interested.

  “You really have no idea of what it is like to have to be dirty all the time.”

  I thought it was kind of forgetful of him to say that since he knew I’d traveled for a week without being able to wash most of the time. I smiled though and tried to look sympathetic, not even tempted to show him my cleaning lacing.

  “That must have been hard for you.” I hated these kinds of conversations. It was difficult to keep looking interested.

  “The whole undertaking was worth the effort since I was able to meet you at the end of it. That is a handsome reward I had no way of knowing I would be given.”

  My cheeks ached, and my smile felt ironic. I tried a smaller one hoping to look more sincere.

  Sentai came back at that moment, saving me from having to respond to his remark. She hesitated before setting the food on the little table before Rafan and me. Then she faded into a shadow against the wall. I remembered not to thank her. It was probably a good idea to start acting more princesslike, even in front of someone who knew I wasn’t a princess. The tray was obviously made for one person, but I offered Rafan part of my food anyway.

  He refused politely and sat watching as I gnawed on bread. The bread was soft in my hands, but it stuck in my mouth and refused to go down. It was unnerving to have him watch me eat. Though not full, I couldn’t clear more than a third of the plate. His gaze stuck to me until the taste of the delicate fruit turned sour.

  “I’m ready,” I said, pushing my plate away with regret.

  “Good. I will take you to the south garden since you couldn’t have seen it as we came in.” He held out his arm, and I took it with a mental shrug.

  We walked through more hallways, past embroidered hangings and stone carvings, until I was hopelessly lost again. When we finally reached a large archway with the doors wide open to the outside, I saw green, broad-leafed plants defying the heat of the sun by looking almost junglelike. Trees and flowers grew in a wild tangle, only kept at bay around the sandstone cobbled paths by dedicated gardeners, or so I was informed. It was a remarkable inconsistency in the dry and hostile land. Rafan led me to the shade of the path, keeping my arm in a stiff square at our sides. My muscles started to ache from the strain of holding steady after wearing myself out that morning with the training general, but I didn’t want to be rude by ripping my hand away from his.

  When I couldn’t stand it any more, I tried a lame diversion trick. I took my hand from his and pointed at a purple vine twisting up one of the trees. “What do you call that plant? I’ve never seen anything like it before.” I quickly reached for one of the strange purple leaves before he could reclaim my hand. The leaf was rubbery with large black veins weaving its surface like embroidery.

  “It is a dorkee plant. They grow best in places where there is almost constant shade, though there is a tougher version of the plant that is a horrible muddy brown-purple. That variety grows almost everywhere you don’t want it to.”

  I walked ahead of him to the next plant, trying to look engrossed at the little yellow flowers growing in a clump next to the path. I heard indistinct chatter ahead and looked at Rafan to see if he still wanted to go on. He showed no sign of being deterred, however, so I continued on with him, touching a leaf here and a flower there so that I wouldn’t have to strain to keep my arm placed on his.

  The path widened, and Rafan and I came upon people. My fists clenched as I saw Avana sitting on a rock bench, purple skirts fanned perfectly about her, with one panted leg artistically peeping out. Next to her sat Doln Baro. She was laughing daintily at something Baro said. When she noticed Rafan and me, her lips tightened, all traces of laughter gone. Baro’s eyes narrowed, and his brown face turned reddish brown.

  “Zefa Avana, how lovely to see you. You look like the sun itself,” Rafan said smoothly. He smiled broadly as if at a secret joke.

  “Doln Rafan, I am always pleased to see you.” She stood and took his hand. Her head stayed fixed on him as she spoke, her eyes never wavering to include me in the welcome. “You know Doln Baro, of course.” She waved her hand at Baro who was staring fixedly at me.

  “Of course. We used to spar together to keep fit for the jova courts,” Rafan said.

  Baro’s eyes swiveled toward Rafan, his face turning a deeper shade of puce.

  “Well, it was so nice seeing you both again,” I said pointedly. “Doln Rafan was showing me this fascinating garden, and I would really love to see more of it, so if you two don’t mind we will let you continue the conversation we so rudely interrupted.” I put my hand on Rafan’s and walked us quickly away. The corners of Rafan’s mouth curved skyward. I removed my hand again and reached out to pluck a leaf off the closest dorkee plant, shredding it into tiny pieces so that I wouldn’t say something I would regret.

  “Be careful. The dorkee plant stains,” Rafan said, and sure enough purple sap was dyeing my fingertips. I dropped the leaf and tried to resume my former act of interest in the plants rather than looking agitated. After an eternity we reached the path’s end. It was a relief to see the entrance to the palace.

  “Thank you for taking me on the lovely tour of the garden. But I’m feeling a bit tired. I think I’d like to go to my room to rest now, if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all, I shall escort you back to your room. Shame to me for not realizing you were so fatigued.” He flashed a solicitous look and then took my stained hand in the courtly gesture that seemed so possessive to me.

  I really was tired. Despite all the toughening up I’d gone through on my journey here, the workout with Sogran had been arduous. I felt the need to take a catnap. Sentai wasn’t in my room as Rafan led me through my door, but I didn’t doubt she was off doing something else to help me seem more like a real princess rather than the imposter that I was. Thanking Rafan rather shortly, I closed the door on him before he could utter a sappy good-bye. I flopped on the bed and tried to get my brain to stop going a hundred miles an hour. Despite my fatigue, I couldn’t stop thinking, so I finally gave up and got out my anatomy book to study the lacings of the human body.

  Soon there was another knock on the door. I unraveled myself from the bed sheets and book images to answer it. This time it was a servant in the royal colors. I tried to look unconcerned rather than nervous by straightening my shoulders.

  “Yes?”

  “The king asks if you would join him if you are not already engaged.” The servant looked all the time at the ground rather than at me.

  “Of course. I’ll come with you now.” He nodded to the floor, turned, and then waited until I’d passed so that he could follow me through the corridors. I was glad there were so many people to help me figure out which way to go, but I so wished they would just lead the way. Instead, I led him through another merry chase full of polite coughs to redirect my course.

  Finally we reached a spacious room with only one or two chairs against the wall. Nothing obstructed the beautiful marble floor, laid out in circles and diamonds in coral and off-white. I looked up from the floor to see the king in one of the chairs. He put down a stack of papers he was reviewing and stood, motioning the servant to close the door. The man bowed out, leaving only the king and me in the vast and empty room.

  “Princess. It’s nice to see you.” His voice and facial expression made his words sound surprisingly and comfortingly sincere.

  “Please, Sire, there is no one here but us. I would prefer you call me Mary when no one is around. I’m starting to dread the word ‘princess.’ ”

  “Mary, then.” He paused as if mulling the sound of my name over, then shook his head. “Since we are having a ball, and a princess is expec
ted to dance, I thought I would teach you as quickly as possible. I could have forced Sogran, but he would make me suffer for it. It is one thing to have him teach you weaponry—he likes that, and he likes you—but it is like digging for water in the sand dunes with bloodied hands to get him to dance at all, much less teach it.”

  I was glad to hear that Sogran liked me. I hadn’t been sure by the end of our training session. “I’m sorry to trouble you, Your Majesty,” I said.

  “No trouble at all. Not much, anyway. I like to dance, though you will find many a better dancer. Besides, teaching you will give me a break from some of the more tedious tasks of the day. It also helps Breeohan learn to handle the repetitive drudgery of being a king.” He smiled mischievously, which made him look very unkingly. I much preferred it.

  “So how does one dance at an Iberloahan ball?” I bowed dramatically.

  “It is similar to ballroom dance, but more stylized.”

  It felt so wonderful to hear him refer to ballroom dance that I couldn’t help giving him an enormous grin. I could feel it stretch through my body, the kind of smile Mom usually inspired in me. He smiled back, eyes crinkling, sensing I think, what had made me so happy.

  He held out his hand and led me to the center of the floor. “We can’t risk asking for musicians while I teach you, so I hope you have a good imagination and at least a passable sense of rhythm.”

  “I played the piano as a kid.”

  “We don’t have those here, though I hear they have something like it across the ocean in Krio. Now, let’s get started. Right hand to right, and left to left. Left is high, and right is low in opposite arches like so. Next you step right, then forward with your left, right again forward, forward to the side.” I was now at a right angle from the king. We repeated the steps so that my back was to him as he held my hands over my head, then to the side again. Finally, we faced each other once more.

  “Now that is the simplest dance. It has a few variations.” He showed me the more complicated steps one could do. I found them much easier to learn than I’d feared. Much of the ease, however, had to do with the king’s ability to make it seem natural and fluid. He explained things very well. He was also patient when I stumbled, showing me the sequences I messed up on until I got it right.