Tiara- Part One

by Robin Roseau

  “Maybe you should do something about that.”

  She did.

  Question

  I woke with Gretchena’s arms around me. It was such a lovely feeling. I lay there for a while, enjoying the feel of her body behind me. Then she stirred, and I rolled over.

  We kissed, and then we touched for a while, then did more than touch.

  Eventually we dressed. She borrowed clothes. Holding hands, we slipped from the embassy.

  Breakfast was at the Baby Blanket. I paid little attention to the people around me and focused entirely on Gretchena. I realized I was completely in love, and I thought she was, too, and now it was only a matter of finding a way to make it work.

  “So,” I said finally. “I’m going to Gandeet.”

  “Yes.”

  “I want you to come with me.

  “I have duties here.”

  “Your mother can get along without you for a while, can’t she?”

  She dropped her gaze, and a lump formed in my throat. “I have duties here.” She looked up. “Darfelsa, I really enjoy our time together, but my life is here. I don’t want to go to Gandeet.”

  “Oh,” I said. “Oh. Of course. How silly of me. I’m sorry.”

  I dropped my gaze, staring at the remnants of breakfast. Five minutes later, without another word said, I paid our bill. Gretchena tried to pay half, but I told her it was my treat.

  Outside, she tried to walk me to the embassy. “It’s the wrong direction for you. You’ll just have to come over and get your clothes sometime. I’m going to hold them hostage.”

  She laughed. “Sure. Tonight?”

  “Sure.”

  We kissed and then we both turned in opposite directions. If she turned to look at me, I don’t know it, because I walked away from her.

  I was just a playmate, but she wasn’t interested in a life with me. I should have known better. It wasn’t really the Ressaline way.

  * * * *

  “Where is Allium?” I asked.

  “I believe she’s in her office.”

  “And Ahlianna?”

  “She’s out with Gionna.”

  “Thank you.”

  I headed for Allium’s office. Viella was with her, but I stepped in. “I need to speak with the ambassador. Please step out.”

  Viella didn’t say a word but gathered her things and left. I took a seat. Allium stared at me. “What was that?”

  “That was the Princess of Flarvor not standing in line behind your assistant,” I said. “Ambassador, thank you for your hospitality. I need to continue my mission. I would prefer to take two of your couriers, but I won’t pull rank over it.”

  “Darfelsa,” she said. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

  “I’m leaving as soon as I can be on the road.”

  “What’s going on?” she demanded.

  I nearly began crying, but I shoved it back. Instead, I deliberately misconstrued her question. “I don’t know any of the staff in Gandeet. If I need to send a messenger to Father, I want to use someone whose loyalty I trust. But if you can’t spare your couriers, I’ll use one of the Royal Guard. It’s fine.”

  “Darfelsa.” And she left it like that.

  “Great, now you’re doing it. Everyone is using my name like somehow, it’s more than a name. Ambassador, it isn’t a difficult request to answer, but if it’s difficult to grant, I entirely understand. I have other choices.” I began standing up.

  “Darfelsa,” she said. “Talk to me. What happened?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I demonstrated yet again what an idiot I am. May I use someone to send a message to my staff at the Baby Blanket? I’d like to pack and get on the road.”

  I headed for the door, not waiting for an answer, but she was out of her chair and interposed herself in my path.

  “What. Happened?”

  “I have duties in Gandeet,” I said.

  “Yes, and you told me you wanted to talk about it with me.”

  “I’ll figure it out,” I said. “And then make a new colossal mess. I don’t think we’ll need to worry about Father assigning future duties to me. He’s going to marry me off as far from Flarvor as he can.”

  “Darfelsa,” she said. “Talk to me. Sit down and talk to me.”

  I closed my eyes, counted to five, and then said, “Ambassador, thank you for your hospitality.” And then I stepped around her. She didn’t stop me this time.

  I scrawled a note and asked Tarleet to deliver it. I found Ms. Pelonden and told her we were leaving in an hour, and to please make sure Ms. Blendost and Sarlenda were ready to go. And then I went to my room and stared at my closet.

  I sorted my clothing. I didn’t expect to be back. I picked my favorites. I had expected to bring a few things with me, so I had a near-empty trunk waiting. But then I remembered the last time I’d worn this gown, and I began screaming, collapsing to the floor, screaming, and throwing everything I could reach away from me. Then, still screaming, I curled into a ball on the floor.

  And screamed.

  It took a minute before Allium was there, kneeling behind me. “Darfelsa,” she whispered. I pushed her away, but she lay down beside me and pressed into my back. “Darling.”

  “I am such an idiot!” I screamed. “I know the Ressalines don’t think like we do.”

  “What happened?”

  “I was stupid enough to fall in love.”

  “Gretchena is besotted with you.”

  “Apparently not, as she was entirely uninterested in being my companion in Gandeet. Her life is here, so I presume she also would not be interested in a future based in Barrish, either.” I paused then screamed again, just screamed and screamed.

  Allium wrapped around me, just holding me, not talking. I don’t know how long I screamed. Another minute? Probably not much longer, then I lay there, my eyes slammed shut.

  I don’t know how long that was until I pushed away and sat up. I looked around, then stood and numbly began picking everything back up. I stared at it then dropped it all on the bed. “There’s nothing for me here,” I whispered woodenly. “Feel free to give everything away.” I paused. “Except this.” I walked to the shelf and stared at the ugly glass I’d made. Then I picked it up, screamed, and threw it as hard as I could against the far wall. It made a satisfying explosion of glass.

  And then I stared at what I had done.

  I turned to Allium. “Thank you for everything, Ambassador,” I said. “You’ve taught me so many things, and I’ll be forever grateful.”

  “No,” she said. “You are not burning your bridges with me. I’d rather you stayed here for a few days, but I understand. You can’t travel in those clothes.”

  I didn’t say anything as she plucked one set of clothing from me then carefully picked traveling clothes from the closet, avoiding anywhere there might be shards of glass. She got me dressed, kneeling before me to see to my boots. Then she stood back up and set her hands on my shoulders. “I love you,” she said.

  I felt tears begin streaming from my cheeks.

  “Do you want me to go to Gandeet with you?”

  “Yes, but you need to stay here. I’m going to go start a war or something, and you need to stay out of it.”

  “You’re not going to start a war. Bridgie and Marga should be ready to go.”

  “Thank you.” I looked at the wall. “The glass.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Darfelsa, I want you back. I will come to Gandeet and get you myself if I have to. If I do, I will drug you and toss you into the arena.”

  “You will do no such thing,” I said.

  “You’re not burning bridges. Do you hear me?”

  “I think I already have.”

  “No, Darfelsa, you have not. I think running from your sister and me is a mistake, but I understand. It’s what I’d probably do right now. But you’re coming back. Your room will be right here, waiting for you.”

  “My life isn’t my own, Allium, and I’m not su
re there’s anything here for me anymore.”

  “Well, you can decide that another day,” she said. “Not today.”

  I nodded. “I’m going to go.”

  “There’s no shame if you get five miles and turn around.”

  “I’m going to kiss you,” I told her. She didn’t stop me, and so I did, a salty, tear-stained kiss, but sweet and lovely and everything I thought it might be. Then I turned it into a tight hug. Then I pushed away, but she slipped an arm around my waist, and that was how I reached the foyer. Everyone else was waiting, my staff, my couriers, and most of the household. I didn’t meet anyone’s eyes.

  I hugged Allium once more. And then there was a line. I let them all hug me. Renalla whispered, “I was hoping for a practice challenge.”

  “Ask me the next time you see me,” I said.

  I reached Mendari. For her, I set my hands on her shoulders and said, “You’ve had one princess, but if you want this one, it’s red, not blue.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Good.” Then I kissed her, a quick kiss, but a kiss nevertheless. Renalla complained she didn’t get a princess kiss, but I slipped away before she could catch me. “Let’s go.”

  The Road

  A group of riders came up hard behind us. We had the wagon, but as they drew closer, we pulled to the edge of the road as best we could so they could pass. They rode past us then spun, several of them dropping from their saddles.

  “You weren’t going to say ‘goodbye’?”

  “We said goodbye in Barrish,” I told my sister.

  She stepped to me and pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “You didn’t have to come after me,” I replied.

  “Yes, Little Sister,” she said. “I did. I love you, and I think it’s important for you to remember that.”

  I held tightly for a minute. “I’m fine.”

  “No one believes that,” she said.

  “I’m fine,” I lied. “A little less naïve than I was.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  We held each other for a minute, but then Gionna was there. She pulled me from Ahlianna and offered a Ressaline greeting, warmly delivered. “I wish you’d come back with us.”

  “No,” I said. “I’m fairly certain I’d do something incredibly stupid, worse than kissing Allium.”

  “I think she rather enjoyed that kiss,” Gionna said. “I want a challenge.”

  “I know, and when you get her back to Charth, you should issue one. But you’re sweet. Thank you.”

  I pushed away. “Come visit me in Barrish sometime.”

  “Don’t talk like that.”

  “I think it’s your turn.”

  “You haven’t been to Ressaline City yet.”

  “I’m not arguing about that right now.” I squeezed her shoulders and turned to Olivia. “We’re fine,” I told her. “What’s an old lady like you doing riding like that?”

  “Hey!” she complained. “I’m not an old lady.” We shared a greeting, and then she whispered, “Everything you said yesterday was true. I’m sorry, Darfelsa.”

  “It’s fine,” I said. “Thank you, Olivia.”

  I didn’t make promises, but I hugged Ahlianna once more then turned back to my horse.

  “Come back with us,” Olivia invited.

  “I’d wallow or make poor choices,” I replied. “But thank you. Go put my sister in red. Write me and tell me how it was.”

  “I’d rather see you in red,” Ahlianna said.

  “I bet you would, but that’s not happening this trip.” I climbed into the saddle. “Lady Olivia, I will return to Barrish by a southern route, but I do hope Queen Lisdee considers my proposal.”

  “I understand, Darfelsa,” she said.

  I nodded to all of them and turned east, but then I looked over my shoulder. “I do love the three of you. Now take my sister back to Charth and challenge her, Gionna.” And then I clucked to my mount.

  I didn’t look back.

  Part Three

  Dennaholst

  We traveled under the credentials of our two members of the Flarvorian Royal Couriers. I hid my hair under the hood of a cloak, keeping it braided besides. Between the base travel clothes and plain appearance, no one pointed and said, “That’s the Princess of Flarvor.”

  We reached Dennaholst, the capital of Gandeet, and then Bridgie led us directly to the embassy.

  Sergeant Felist and the other soldiers had been dressed as normal soldiers, and I was still in the appearance of a commoner. That was to change.

  We stopped in the street before the embassy. By turns, we held up a canvas, forming a wall, and we changed clothing. The guards all donned their regular uniforms of the Royal Guard. Bridgie and Marga were already dressed as Royal Couriers. But I went through the greatest transformation.

  We stripped my outer clothes. Ms. Pelonden helped me into a gown. I hadn’t brought anything as ridiculous as a tiara, but it was Sergeant Felist who wove ribbons into my hair. Ms. Pelonden draped a necklace, a symbol of my position, about my neck, and then added earrings and rings.

  I stepped into a pair of heels and then turned to Ms. Pelonden. “Do I look royal?”

  She and the sergeant both brushed at me for a minute, then they nodded. “Quite so.”

  “Don’t humor me.”

  “I wouldn’t,” she said. “No one is going to be confused about who you are.”

  “Good. Sergeant, until we have assessed the situation here, I go nowhere without at least four of you. Nowhere.”

  “I understand,” she said.

  “If I try to brush you off, mutter about direct orders from my father.”

  “Right,” she said. “Got it.”

  “You know your jobs, but I wanted to be clear.”

  “Thank you, Princess,” she said. “It helps that we understand each other.”

  “Good. Ms. Pelonden, you are with me as well. Sergeant, they don’t go anywhere, either.”

  “We’ll protect all of you.”

  “Thank you. Is everyone ready?” I smiled. “Have we collected an audience?”

  “I imagine we have.”

  “Let’s do this.” I stepped forward, then realized it was the wrong direction, laughed, and turned. Soon I was striding towards the gates of the embassy.

  There were two guards waiting, both men. They wore uniforms of Flarvor, but not the Royal Guard. “Sergeant, what unit do those uniforms suggest.”

  “Foreign service,” she said. “They probably rotate through the regular army.”

  “The ten of you are better?”

  “Not necessarily, but on average, yes.”

  Ten steps later, I came to a stop at the gate. “I am Princess Darfelsa Cinnabar. Open these gates and step aside.”

  The two men gawked. I took two more steps, coming to a stop facing the one on the right. “Look around, soldier,” I said. “Those two are Royal Couriers. The other ten are Royal Guard.” I fingered the necklace. “I am Princess Darfelsa, second in line to the throne. Unless we’re lost, and this isn’t our embassy in Gandeet, I require admittance.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.” And then they both came to attention and saluted before opening the gates. I waited until they were fully open before striding forward.

  There were two more guards at the embassy doors. They had the doors open by the time I had finished climbing the stairs, and I arrived in time to see a man scurrying forward from deeper inside the embassy.

  I looked around. This embassy was significantly larger than the one in Charth and far more ornate besides. I nodded then adjusted my gaze. “Do you recognize me.”

  “No,” he said. “Should I?”

  “Yes,” I said. “I’ll give you a few hints. Two Royal Couriers. Ten members of the Royal Guard. And I am wearing this.” I touched a finger to the pendant hanging just at the cleft of my chest. He eyed it, and I think it really was the pendant and nothing further south.

  “Princess Ahli
anna?”

  “Not quite so lofty. The other one.”

  “Princess Darfelsa,” he whispered, and then he offered a hasty bow.

  “And you are?”

  “Nessor Surlelt, Your Highness.”

  “Ah,” I said. “You are one of the consular officers.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “Excellent.” I offered my hand. “My pleasure. Perhaps you could tell Mr. Gremish I have arrived and desire a tour of our fine embassy.”

  “Your Highness, we were unaware we should expect you.” He paused and gulped. “I wouldn’t suppose…”

  “That I can prove I am who I am?”

  “I hate to ask.”

  “It would be rather remiss if you were to accept me at my word,” I said. “It wouldn’t do to let any young woman stroll in, pretending to be me. I might take offense, and I imagine Father wouldn’t be impressed, either. I would be happy to present my credentials to Mr. Gremish.”

  “Um.”

  “Yes?”

  “Mr. Gremish isn’t immediately available.”

  “Hmm. Mr. Surlelt, that is frequently code for one of several things. The first is that Mr. Gremish is with a woman, or perhaps a man. The second is that he is falling down drunk. It is unlikely he remains drunk from last night, and it is a little early for someone to have reached that state today. The third explanation is that he is on a walkabout. Do you have a different explanation?”

  “I believe,” said Mr. Surlelt, “that Mr. Gremish is on duty for the embassy.”

  “Well, I need three things. I am fairly sure that Mr. Gremish would prefer hearing I have arrived by someone representing the embassy, and not the rumor mill. You should perhaps dispatch a messenger. Second, I require a tour of the embassy. And third, I require the head political officer here, Mr. Epseen. Perhaps you could find someone to attend to a tour before working on the other two.”

  “Very good, Your Highness. Please, Your Highness, I really do require…”

  “There must be someone working for the embassy who would recognize your king’s younger daughter,” I said. “I will present my official papers to Mr. Gremish, or perhaps someone else has assumed primary authority pending a new ambassador.”