by Robin Roseau
They saw the nose and there was a collective groan. Andro was the only one brave enough to complain. "You already had her, Princess Juleena," he said.
"Lady Yallameenara has been summoned by Lady Malta," Juleena said. "And she has an order from the queen to appear in court this morning. She cannot be sent hither and yon by all of you. If any of you have brief tasks that will not delay her walk to Lady Malta, I am sure Lady Yallameenara will be pleased to satisfy your needs." Then she folded her arms and leaned against the wall.
Juleena could say an awful lot with folded arms and a casual lean.
"You better get going, Yalla," she added.
I stepped past her, heading for the staircase. Andro stepped into my path, and I came to a stop. He looked annoyed. "I let you past earlier. I should have you next."
I took a hint from Juleena. I folded my arms. "I cannot possibly argue with Her Highness, but perhaps you can."
He glanced at Juleena and then made a disgusted noise. But he stepped aside but said, "Don't think you've won."
"I didn't realize there was a competition," I replied. "I'm sure you'll find me later."
Before reaching Lady Malta's office, I did end up performing a few small tasks, five or six. One of the housekeepers asked me to tie her shoes. One of the guards asked for a kiss on the cheek. Nothing took more than a minute or two. But it was a relief to step into Malta's office and close the door then set my back against it.
Malta looked up from her desk and smiled. Then she stood and gestured to a sofa she kept in her office. We both moved to opposite ends and sat.
"Lady Malta, will you remove these earrings?"
She studied me without answering. "Not quite yet."
I didn't say a word about that but instead said, "You had a task for me."
"Yes. My feet are sore. Will you rub them for me?" She didn't wait for an answer but then did the least ladylike thing I'd ever seen her do. She rotated on the sofa, lifted her feet, and then slouched down until her feet were across my lap.
"Of course, Lady Malta," I said.
She was wearing shoes, not boots. I removed each carefully and then bent to my task. It wasn't the first time I'd massaged feet. Muranna and I had traded that favor frequently enough. And so I had a clue what to do.
I didn't imagine her feet actually hurt, of course, but I did the sorts of things I'd have done for Muranna after an evening of dancing in too tight of shoes. It was actually somewhat more pleasant than offering this favor to Muranna, as Malta hadn't spent an evening dancing. I grew quite lost in the task.
It took a few minutes, but then Malta began making noises of appreciation. Oh, not many, but enough I could tell she enjoyed what I was doing. I just kept my head on my task, saying nothing.
She let me massage for a long time before she said, "Thank you. You're very good at that."
"You're welcome, Lady Malta," I replied. I collected her shoes for her and slipped them back into place, applying myself to the buckles. Then she swung her feet from my lap and sat up. We looked at each other.
"Your ears are red," she said. "Don't they hurt?"
I shrugged. Yes, they hurt, but I wasn't going to complain, and I certainly wasn't going to beg to have her remove them.
"Who else has punished you?"
"Mellara," I said.
"What did she do?" I paused. I didn't want to answer. I paused long enough that Malta said, "You aren't obligated to answer."
"A spanking," I said, speaking more quietly than I had so far. "Have I completed your task, Lady Malta? I don't know how soon I am due in court."
"We'll go together," she replied. "But yes, you have."
I reached up and untied the nose, slipping it into a pocket, then stared straight ahead, my hands in my lap, not saying anything.
"You're really not going to say anything further about the earrings? I imagine they hurt." In response, I shrugged again. She paused and then moved closer on the sofa. She looked closely at the nearest ear, and when she used a finger to turn my chin, I let her look at the other. "Why aren't you begging?"
"Did you really beg?"
"Yes."
"If that's what you're waiting for, I imagine I'll be wearing them for some time."
"Don't they hurt?"
"Of course they hurt," I said.
"But you're too proud to beg."
I turned to face her. I wasn't pleased with her, and my tone turned cold. "Will there be anything else, Lady Malta? I am sure I can find Court by myself."
She looked into my eyes for a moment and then said, "Turn your head." She made a small gesture, so I offered an ear. She removed that earring, and then I turned to let her remove the other. She cradled them in her hand but didn't move away. I looked ahead and sat quietly.
"I want to ask you something."
"All right."
"I've asked you this before. In private, I prefer to drop the 'Lady'."
It wasn't a question, but I thought about it and then turned to her. "That's not a question," I pointed out. "Malta." I added.
"No, I suppose it's not."
"It strikes me more as a hint."
This time she was the one to look away. I found that odd. I'd never seen her unsettled. Never. "I have my own question, Malta."
"What is it, Yallameenara?"
"Do you anticipate other tasks for me?"
"No."
"Will you be lurking in the hallways hoping to catch me with a muddled appearance?"
She snorted. "I have better things to do."
"You didn't lurk earlier so I would massage your feet. And you didn't lurk to ask me to stop calling you Lady in private, or to give permission for the same." I paused. "I don't think you were even lurking in hopes I'd offer Yalla."
Her lips tightened very briefly, then relaxed. So that was part of it, but it wasn't all of it.
"You weren't lurking so you could apply the earrings, either."
"That isn't entirely accurate," she said, turning to face me. "But I won't address it further."
"What is it you really want, Malta? Is it just that you wish to call me Yalla?"
She stared at each other for several heartbeats before she said, "No, that isn't it. I have a favor to ask, but I don't want you to feel obligated to grant it."
"So this doesn't carry the command of a task or to accept a punishment, but the timing isn't coincidental, either, is it?"
"No, this is not a command. No, the timing is not coincidental. Yallameenara, I intend to offer a petition to the queen later today. It will be done in your hearing. If the queen asks your opinion, and if you can bring yourself to support my petition, I hope you will do so."
"Why would the queen invite my opinion?" I asked. "Unless it's about horses, she's never done so in the past. Is this about horses?"
"No, Yallameenara, it is not. The queen may deny my petition without soliciting your opinion. It is possible she will grant it without asking you to comment, but I find it unlikely."
"Interesting," I said neutrally. It was clear she wasn't going to offer many clues, and I didn't feel like begging them out of her. "And this business about my name?"
"Perhaps after you hear the petition you will come to a conclusion on that as well."
"I'm not wrong, am I?"
"No, Yallameenara, you aren't."
I nodded. "I will consider your advice, then," I said. I wasn't in a particularly giving mood, although I'd calmed down a little since she'd removed the earrings. "Was there anything else?"
"That is all, although we have a few minutes before we need to leave."
"You are offering to let me hide?"
"Frankly, if I release you, I am almost certain someone will intercept you."
"So?"
"And you will arrive in front of the queen not entirely put together. That would not do."
"Ah. Of course."
She moved back to her end of the sofa. I sat primly, a little stiffly, looking straight ahead. We were quiet for a minute or t
wo, and then she asked, "What are your impressions of our ten and eight traditions so far?"
"I am not entirely sure that is a good topic, Lady Malta."
"Oh my," she said. "I am not sure I blame you. Yallameenara, if you were any less than you are, someone would have told you a great deal more than we have."
At that I turned to face her. "I don't understand."
"I probably shouldn't have said that much, and I definitely shouldn't tell you that your ten and eighth was discussed at length."
"Guest lists require attention."
"They do, but that isn't what I meant, and I believe you know it."
"Her Highness refused to tell me why I was kept ignorant," I said. "She refused to tell me why I arrived on this day knowing less than anyone born in Framara might know. If no one tells me, I will certainly reach my own conclusions."
"I imagine you have already reached your own conclusions," Malta replied. "And I can tell you this. You are almost certainly wrong. Well, if you think it's because we're picking on the girl born of the horse people."
"You are picking on the girl born of the horse people," I said. "But perhaps you mean that isn't the reason why you're picking on her." I paused. "I think it's been some time since anyone thought of me as a portion of a peace treaty."
"Now you are the queen's foster daughter," Malta replied. "That would change if the treaty begins to fail."
"Would I be executed?"
"There would be those who would think you should be made into an example," Malta said. "No, you wouldn't be executed. Queen Ralalta won't let anything bad happen to you, Yallameenara."
I didn't say anything further, and we fell into another silence. I wasn't in an easy mood, and I thought perhaps Malta wasn't good with casual conversation. Finally she nodded. "We should go."
"Should I don the nose?"
"No, but if anyone asks for your attention, let me handle them."
"Of course."
* * * *
There was no one waiting in the corridor, which actually surprised me. But I soon gathered some attention. Lady Malta interceded on my behalf, and we arrived at the doors to Court unhindered.
The doors stood open, although there were two guards outside the doors and two inside. However, in Marport, everyone is allowed to attend Court, and so it was not the guards' job to offer hindrance. We passed through into the large room.
It wasn't full, but it was far from empty, either, and we were noticed immediately upon entering. Malta was noticed, of course, as it seemed there was always someone who wanted her attention. And I, in my birthday attire, was certainly noticed. But Malta said in a firm voice, designed to carry, "Court is about to begin. Leave her alone."
And so I held attention, but no one assigned tasks, and my appearance didn't require correction.
Malta led us forward and to the right side, coming to a stop about two thirds of the way to the front of the room. The queen had not yet arrived, but Juleena stood on the dais talking casually to one of the ministers. Since I'd left her earlier, she'd found time to change into court dress.
There were other conversations going on around us, some I could hear, others lost to the general bustle of the room. But then one of the guards firmly thumped his staff three times against the floor and called out, "Queen Ralalta!"
The doors at the back of the room opened, and we all dropped into our bows and curtsies. Ralalta made her way to the front of the dais and paced back and forth in front of her throne. She gave a short speech welcoming everyone and then took her seat. A heartbeat later, she said, "You may rise."
We all looked at her, the room as quiet as a morgue. She gestured, and Juleena took the seat beside her mother, a slightly lesser throne. The two clasped hands for a moment, smiling at each other, and then they both looked out to the crowd again.
Then the queen looked around somewhat pointedly, frowning. "We're missing someone, Juleena." Her voice was pitched for all to hear.
"So we are, Your Majesty," Juleena replied.
"Where is my foster daughter?" the queen asked.
Everyone in the room knew where her foster daughter was, and whether I wished to go without further notice or not, that was not to be. No one had told me what to expect, however, nor how to behave, but this wasn't my first time in court.
In front of me, the people parted. I didn't know whether Ralalta had already sighted me, but she made a point of searching the audience until the parting clearly identified me. Even Malta took two steps away from me, leaving me quite alone.
"Ah, there you are, foster daughter. Step forward, child."
She'd never called me "child" before. Not once. So I knew it was intentional. I stepped to the front of the dais and then entered a second curtsey.
"Yes, yes," said the queen. "Stand up straight and turn around so I may see you."
I did as I was told, turning slowly before coming back to face the queen again.
"Adorable," she said. That was the word Juleena had used earlier. "Are you enjoying your birthday so far?"
Oh, now wasn't that a dangerous question to be asked? Queen Ralalta wouldn't be pleased if I were to lie. But I didn't think she would be pleased if I were to offer a truly honest answer, either.
"It has been a day of unexpected events," I managed to say.
"Perhaps it has," she replied. "And yet, that does not answer the question I asked."
So, she wasn't going to let me out of answering. So I tried again, but I offered another curtsey as I did so. "I do not believe I would use the word 'enjoy', Your Majesty."
"Yalla, stand up straight," she said, more firmly than anything else so far. I straightened, although I looked at her feet, not into her eyes. Her tone softened, but only slightly. "What words would you use?"
"Uncomfortable might be a good word, Your Majesty."
"What other words might be good words, Yallameenara?"
I continued to stare at her feet. I thought maybe she'd offer me a little pity and withdraw her question. But finally I looked up at her and switched to Arrlottan. "If I had been offered the same warning any child of Framara has before this day, I might have answers ready. But I do not believe you truly want me to answer honestly, and I am not going to lie."
Although I wouldn't call her fluent, the queen spoke much better Arrlottan than Juleena did, and I had spoken carefully so she could understand.
Behind me, there were pockets of muttering. I hadn't pitched my own voice to be heard, and I didn't know if anyone else in the room spoke my native language. Perhaps the muttering was simply annoyance they hadn't heard what I said, or annoyance they hadn't understood it.
The queen stood and moved to the front of the dais. She reached forward and cupped my chin, raising my face towards her. When she answered, it was in Arrlottan as well. "Do you know why we have this tradition?"
I had ideas, but I wasn't going to repeat them out loud. "No."
"Do you know why we didn't warn you?"
"No."
"No one has offered hints?"
"Only enough to know it was a deliberate decision," I replied.
"Quite so," she said, returning to Framaran. She released my chin and returned to her throne. "Well. I wish you to sit here. There should be a stool for you." She snapped her finger several times, and a page stepped forward. Clearly he'd been prompted, for he set a stool down on the dais, forward from the queen and slightly to her left. When Ralalta gestured, I climbed the dais and took the seat. It was a very low stool, and so I ended up sitting with my knees halfway to my chest, turned sideways so I could watch the queen.
"Very good, Yalla," she said with a smile. "Who has business to bring before the court today?"
* * * *
None of the business that day was important. And maybe it wasn't as bad as a walk through the market would have been, but it seemed everyone managed to assign a task to me. The first supplicant dropped the papers she was carrying. "Lady Yallameenara, would you pick these up for me?"
&n
bsp; I paused just a moment then stood. I bent to the papers, but the queen called out, "Yalla, you're forgetting something."
I looked over at her from my kneeling position. I had no idea what she was talking about. But then Juleena tapped her own nose. She had to be kidding.
But I pulled out the nose, tied it into place, and then picked up the papers, shuffling them together before handing them to their owner. "Will there be anything else?"
"No, thank you," she replied.
And so I untied the nose and returned to my stool.
After that, I picked up more dropped items, retrieved water, ferried papers from a supplicant to the queen or from the queen back to the supplicant. Each time I tied the nose in place before leaving my stool. A few times, I was run around for several minutes, picking things up all over the room before being allowed to return to my stool.
Once it was a guard, dropping his staff. It made a loud, clattering noise, but I already had the nose tied back on before it had come to a complete rest.
I couldn't believe all these people had come just to watch me move all about the room like this.
What I found interesting was that, while there were smiles, some of them quite broad, no one laughed.
What wasn't surprising, but that I'd stopped thinking about, was that it was impossible to do all that bending and lifting, fetching and carrying, and maintain a perfect appearance. And I didn't realize it at the time, but people began to notice, although at first, none of them called me on it.
When finally someone did, I presumed everyone else was waiting to let the queen or princess do it, but neither of them said a word about it. When finally someone said something, it was Lieutenant Keelara.
"Lady Yallameenara," she called out just as I was about to sit down again. I turned to face her, wondering what she wanted. I hadn't noticed, but she had moved to the center of the room, five paces from the dais. "Your appearance has gone awry."
I froze. Then I glanced at the queen. She and Juleena were both watching me, neither saying a word. And so I descended the dais yet again and moved to stand in front of Keelara. She took a breath and then categorized my shortcomings. I stood, saying nothing.
Keelara looked into my eyes, or tried to, but I wouldn't meet her gaze. But then her eyes flicked to the dais, and I knew then this part had also been preplanned. I presumed Ralalta nodded, or maybe it was the princess. After a moment, Keelara stepped past me, and I turned to watch as she sat on the edge of the dais and patted her lap. "Submit for punishment, Lady Yallameenara."