by Jackie Dana
“Aye, Bhara,” Merel insisted, “you must join us. I would love to have a chance to speak with you again.”
So this partly explained why the keep was so quiet, she realized. Servants were preparing the feast, and maids and manservants were busily preparing the ornate clothing the Bhagali would wear once again. She recalled the hubbub putting together the last quantrill. She still felt fatigued from her journey, but with an invitation from the Bhavosa and her ladies, how could she refuse? “Sure, I’d like to attend. Is there anything special I should do?”
“Nay, my lady,” Bryll reassured her. “I will send one of my maids to speak to Lillia—she is the maid in your service, am I right?” Seeing her nod, Bryll continued. “She will know how to handle things from there. She can also arrange for you to have an escort—that is, of course, if no man has already spoken for you.”
Kate laughed at the suggestion. “That’s not likely,” she said, finding the whole thing amusing. She was still a stranger here, and not many men knew her—and of those who did, she had few fans. “No, thanks, I’ll be okay on my own. I really don’t need an escort.”
All three women turned to each other in surprise. “No escort, my lady, and you yet unmarried?” Bryll clucked her tongue as Merel shook her head in moderate remorse. “Nonsense. You must have a suitable man escort you to the hall. Gysalia, perhaps we could arrange for one of the unwed Bhagali to accompany her?”
“There’s Bhagal Tashin,” the woman suggested, and grinned when she saw Kate turn a bit pale. “But of course, he would never suit you.”
“Koldren’s wife died last spring,” Bryll noted, as she rubbed the hollow of her throat. “He may be willing to accompany the lady. He usually is a polite man,” she told Kate, “despite his behavior at the quantrill, which was quite unlike him. As I recall, he is not keen on dancing—though, seeing as you are new here, perhaps you wouldn’t mind.”
Gysalia looked skeptical. “Perhaps he would be willing to serve as her escort, Bhavosa, but you would have to ask him personally. He still talks about Arellia every time I see him, and I do not know if he seeks companionship these days. In any event, I wouldn’t want to raise the subject with him myself.”
“Aye,” Bryll agreed, “he may still be a bit sensitive to the idea. Still, there must be someone who would enjoy Kate’s company.”
“Perhaps Aldrish Rynar plans to escort her?” Merel suggested, sparking the rapid onset laughter of the other two women. “Now, it isn’t so absurd, is it? He is her host, after all.”
Gysalia initially covered her mouth to try to hide her laughter, but finally gave up the attempt. “Can you really see the Aldrish choosing to socialize with a woman, much less one as fine as Bhara Kate?” She giggled.
“He’s not so bad, and he is a good dancer.” Kate couldn’t believe that yet again, the Aldrish’s social life was worthy of so much amusement, and she also couldn’t believe that once again she was defending him.
“Indeed, Bhara?” Merel said in surprise.
“She has spent some time with him in his quarters, after all,” Bryll pointed out with a playful lilt in her voice. “Perhaps she knows something we do not?” she winked.
Feeling guilty for finding him handsome, Kate blushed, and the other women misread the gesture.
Bhavosa Bryll clapped her hands together. “Bhara Kate, I had no idea!”
“No, no—you misunderstand. I’m not—I mean, he’s not…” she stumbled over the words, her embarrassment growing by the second. “I didn’t mean to suggest that anything had happened between us, because it hasn’t, I mean, it’s not like that at all.” She began to panic. Rynar was anything but a frivolous man, and it was unlikely he’d take well to the idea that she had spread rumors about him, even inadvertently.
Bryll put her arm around her shoulders. “Never fear, my dear, we’re just teasing. We know the Aldrish well. After all, he is my husband’s most trusted advisor, and greatly respected at our court. Of course nothing happened between the two of you. It’s just not every day that women speak up for him, you see.” Turning to the others, Bryll announced, “Nay, my friends, we can do better than the Aldrish, for our new companion here deserves to have a good time.” To Kate, she said kindly, “do not worry, my dear. Once the Council session is concluded, I shall arrange a suitable companion for you.”
Kate nodded, trying to seem like she appreciated the effort, though really she was beginning to dread the outcome. She really didn’t relish another awkward encounter with a strange man, especially if it was another teenager or someone like Tashin. To hide her apprehension, she leaned over to smell a rose.
“A lovely one, that,” Bryll nodded appreciatively. She stepped to the bush and yanked a short blade from her belt, cutting a few buds and handing the small bouquet to her. “Take them with you, my dear, and perhaps they will brighten your chambers this afternoon.” She paused, and then added, “hmm, one moment.” She tapped her lip with one finger, and then wandered a short way down the path, snipping bits of this and that, some sprigs of rosemary and thyme, a cluster of sweet alyssum, and a few additional roses. Then she handed the small but highly aromatic bunch to Kate. “I am pleased that you are a guest here. Until tonight, then?” Her hand lingered on Kate’s for a few moments. “I do hope you enjoy yourself here.”
Chapter 30
“Your escort has arrived.”
Hearing Lillia’s announcement, she tugged at the sleeves a final time. The blue gown was very different from others she had worn. This had a tight bodice that laced up the back, with loose, flowing sleeves, and a much more revealing neckline, around which were dozens of tiny drops of silver that Lillia had just finished sewing on by hand. They glistened against the deep blue fabric. “Someone left a pouch of these glysar beads for you,” she had explained to her earlier, “and I thought they would look lovely on your gown.” Winking, she had added, “you have an extravagant admirer.”
The maid’s announcement felt like a punch to the stomach, but she said nothing. They must have come from Rynar, just as she assumed the gowns had. There was something about that man... he tried so hard to take care of her, yet refused to offer up any explanation as to why. His constant attention worried her, and she wasn’t really looking forward to an evening with him. Still, she was back in relative comfort here in the keep, with dry, warm clothing, a comfortable bed, and as much hot food as she wanted, and she was determined that even under the Aldrish’s watchful eye, she would have fun tonight. And, as she consoled herself, at least there would be wine.
As she adjusted the dress once more, she declared in a whisper, “it’s tighter than the others I’ve been wearing.” She held out the skirt and turned around, desperately wishing there was a mirror so she could inspect the way it looked. “Are you sure it fits okay? Maybe I should wear that other dress—”
Lillia twisted it slightly at the waist of the skirt, to settle it better over her hips. “Ah, my lady, that is exactly how it should fit.” She stepped back, to better appraise Kate’s appearance. “Indeed, you look beautiful. This style suits you nicely.” She reached into a small box on the mantle and pulled out a narrow silver chain. “I think you should wear this as well.” She wrapped it around Kate’s waist and pulled the ends together with a sapphire clasp.
“I don’t know—” she hesitated. Never in her life had she been slim, though the time she had spent in the swamp likely burned off a few pounds. Keeping her voice low, she asked, “you really don’t you think it makes me look fat?”
“Goodness, no, my lady. However, perhaps your escort should be the one to judge?”
Kate swallowed heavily, and took a deep breath. Then she raised her head and walked out of her chamber and into the larger room beyond. She was prepared for Rynar, or some pock-faced boy, to be waiting upon her.
It was neither.
As she stepped into the other room, she realized that Lillia had been mistaken—this wasn’t her escort. Standing at the mantle of the fireplace, admiring
the roses that she had brought back from the garden, was none other than Dosedra Arric.
Even so, her breath caught in her throat, for the transformation of the Dosedra from rough and tumble renegade soldier into an immaculate courtier was astonishing. Unlike his appearance at the “welcome home” quantrill, where he had dressed in tidy but well-worn garments, and clearly had not spared the time to prepare, tonight he had put significant effort into his appearance. Now Arric wore neither a simple linen shirt nor even one of the common tunics, but instead a vest made of very soft midnight blue leather over a fitted shirt of embroidered dark gray silk with full sleeves. The vest was tailored to follow the curve of his chest, lacing up front, with a flounce to accentuate his hips, rather than falling straight down from the shoulders. Complementing the dark vest, he wore finely-knitted tights of pale blue, and blue and silver brocade slippers. On his fingers, in addition to the one large signet ring he always wore, were numerous glysar rings set with gemstones. His hair seemed different—a bit darker, as if he had used some sort of dye to fade the gray strands. It was smoothed down and braided in a neat plait that hung just past his shoulder blades, gathered at the end with an elaborate glysar clasp. He was clean-shaven, and even his fingers were scrubbed, his nails trimmed and scraped to perfect pink crescents.
Throughout her appraisal of his makeover, he had apparently not heard her entrance. “Dosedra?” she finally said to announce the fact that she stood there.
He spun around. “Aye.” He took in her appearance with similar awe. “You look breathtaking tonight, my lady.”
Blushing, she shrugged off the unanticipated compliment. “Um, thanks, I guess.” Then she considered more carefully the fact that he was here. Surely he had stopped by on his way to retrieve Merel? “I’m sorry, but is there something you needed?” she asked, and then quickly added, “I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s just that I’m expecting—” she paused, not knowing whose name to fill in, “someone else.”
“Someone else, Bhara?” he said, seemingly confused, but keeping to the courtly address.
“Well, of course.” How could she explain it without sounding stupid? “Bhavosa Bryll arranged an escort for me, and… oh never mind.” Damn it all, how was she going to deal with this without sounding insulting? She tried a different angle. “Were you wanting to ask me about Merel, then?”
He tipped his head slightly, as if he did not understand her words. “Bhara?” he said, remaining formal. “What gave you that idea?”
“I just figured, since you’ll be seeing her again after all these years…”
“Aye, that is true enough, but what does she have to do with you?” He had pulled a small peach rosebud from the vase and was examining it closely.
“Well, I—” she began, but then, exasperated, threw her hands up into the air. “Okay, just tell me then. Why the hell are you here, Arric?”
He twisted his mouth. “It’s ‘Dosedra,’ Bhara Kate. I believe I reminded you about using the title a couple of days ago?” Rather than angry, he sounded amused. “From what I was told, you were in need of an escort. Or was I mistaken?”
She turned to Lillia, who grinned, revealing her role in pairing them up for the evening.
As she stood there, still a bit confused, he reached over to pull the stem of the rosebud through the tines of one of the combs in Kate’s hair.
“No, you heard correctly.” She felt the warmth of a blush on her cheeks, which embarrassed her. Normally she wasn’t so shy.
“Good.” He examined her appearance once again. “The beads look very nice on your gown, by the way.” He winked, and at that moment he reached out for her hand. With sudden, uncharacteristic exuberance, he tugged her towards the door. “Come, Bhara, it is time we joined the others. I insist we arrive before the dancing begins. I wish to be the first one out on the floor!”
As he led her down the wide flight of stairs to the great hall, they caught up with a few other couples heading the same direction. With a small crowd forming close to the landing, he stumbled slightly on a step, jerking his arm to maintain his balance. Kate, who was holding onto his forearm, was jostled in the process, and examined Arric’s demeanor a bit more closely. “You’re drunk,” she said softly after a quick appraisal.
“Nay, my lady,” he replied, a bit too loudly, “I have had a few sips of havar, but I assure you, I am entirely in control.”
“Are you sure?” she whispered as she watched him take the steps slowly, overcompensating for his loss of balance by pausing every couple of steps. As he staggered to the landing, she grasped his arm firmly and forced him to straighten up. “I mean, it seems somehow unlike you.”
“It is nothing to concern yourself with, Bhara,” he said, not unkindly, but still, she dropped her hand from his arm. If he wanted to make a total fool of himself by falling head over heels down a tall staircase, that was his business, but she wasn’t inclined to let him drag her with him.
***
As the doors to the hall were opened, she noticed that the room was already rather full. The Vosira and many of the Bhagali were already seated, though the food was just being brought out. Rather than seat the Dosedra near his brother, as she expected, the pair were led to a smaller table along the side. While it was clearly a slight against Arric for them to be seated there, secretly she was relieved to not be in the spotlight. So far the only other occupants at their table were Bhagal Jamra, who smiled warmly as Arric placed his hand on the man’s shoulder to announce their presence, and a couple of the charnok, who first stared at them and then, after a glance to each other, reached for their goblets and casually got up to join friends elsewhere.
Arric took a gulp from a goblet at his seat, and flashed her a fleeting grin. Then he skipped over to the minstrels, and began an animated conversation with a man who played the flute. It was not the same kind of instrument as the one Arric had played several nights ago, but she imagined there was enough in common for them to be discussing technique.
Watching him, she realized how out of place she felt, attending a banquet of this nature with a prince. A few days ago he was just Arric, but now—it was just like he said. The formality set a very different tone, and she started to wonder if it was a good idea to be with him, because of both his rank and his reputation. Many of the Bhagali were boldly staring at the Dosedra, some even pointing and making comments. It was like the quantrill the first night, except now people weren’t even trying to be subtle about it. Had something happened in their absence, she wondered, or was it simply his disappearance and sudden reappearance that caused tongues to wag?
She glanced to Aldrish Rynar, who had already arrived and was seated tonight at the royal family’s table. He was intently listening to Vosira Bedoric, and didn’t seem to notice her. She then noticed Bryll, who was ignoring the tale her husband was telling, and instead was leaning forward to chat with a pair of women standing across the table from her, one of them Gysalia. In contrast to her often-sloppy husband, she again noticed how stunning the queen was in her ruby velvet gown.
Also at the Vosira’s table, the weasel-faced Bhagal Tashin sat with his arms crossed in front of him, exuding a smugness she could not decipher. He was staring in her direction and didn’t as much as drop his gaze when she made eye contact, and knowing his eyes were on her made her nervous. She held her gaze for a moment, as if to tell him she wasn’t afraid, and then tried to look away as casually as she could.
The musicians had paused as the Dosedra spoke to them, but in a splash of sound, they began a loud and lively tune. Stepping into the center of the room, Arric clapped his hands above his head, indicating others should join in the dancing. Then he jogged over to Kate, and after draining his goblet, grabbed her hand. “Come, it’s time you dance with me!” His words startled her, and he dragged her from her seat without allowing her to refuse.
As she watched the others, she realized that this was a very theatrical dance, with a lot of exaggerated arm gestures and wide steps and sp
ins. It was very unlike the dances she had attempted with Rynar, and it seemed that Arric was not as keen to explain every maneuver. At the same time, he didn’t seem concerned if she got the steps right.
“Just have fun,” he whispered as she made a mistake, and then he grinned. “Tonight we shall have no worries. It is much better here than the Muras, is it not?” he added, with a wink. Unlike Rynar, who was controlled and precise in his dancing, Arric seemed to care little about what others thought of him, and instead just tried to enjoy himself. He never stopped smiling, and his attention was as much on her as on the music. In return, she felt at ease and happy, and she couldn’t help giggling. Unlike the sullen and wary man she remembered from the earlier quantrill, tonight he had transformed into an entirely different person.
As the first dance ended, Arric wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and reached for a goblet on a tray. “You did well,” he praised her. It wasn’t true, but his words improved her confidence. At least that was the case until the music began again. At the very first strains, he pulled her close, and exclaimed, “it is the Dance of the Ripolas!”
“Oh, no, I don’t think so.” She remembered the music from the quantrill. It was a fast dance, and intricate, and worst of all, it was very long. “I’d never make it through this one,” she argued with a laugh.
“Nay, Kate, you must not quit on me so soon!” He lunged forward and grabbed her wrist, spinning her back into the crowd of dancers. “This is the song of Sarducia. I wish to celebrate being home.”
As they lined up to begin, she noticed Merel had managed to appear beside her. The tall brunette with milky pale skin and a long, elegant face, wearing a violet gown with a tight, low-cut neckline. The glances between the former lovers were quick, but unmistakable.