With your permission, I have ordered a modest meal during which we can celebrate your engagement. I have to confer with my Master of House now, but please be rest assured, everything will be taken care of and none of us will miss the Ball.
Well, we shan’t miss more than three hours of it,” and with that, he departed.
Lunea hugged Gloria.
“We have to have your fiancé brought over. He must be so very happy.”
‘He probably would be, if he knew I said yes,’ Gloria thought with an almost invisible frown.
***
Octarian, Sylvain, Wolly and Trillian Silvertongue were getting ready for the ball in the Wintersky Royal Quarters of the Academy.
Their preparations consisted of their usual routine; making sure they didn’t smell too badly, throwing on their formal attire, and then starting on the Euposian Nightmare.
They had an hour before they planned to swarm out in four different directions to pick up their Ladies before they all met up again at the Windscale Castle.
Their spirits were high, their heads started buzzing, and the mutual mockery has reached a pleasantly nasty level, when a Sunflare servant asked for admission.
“Emperor Lexandros II has called an urgent Royal Family Assembly to which the presence of Prince Octarian Sunflare and Crown Prince Sylvain Wintersky is required. Would Your Majesties please come with me?”
“Sure,” said Sylvain emptying his glass, “I was going there anyway to pick up Liona. We’ll meet you at the ball, lads,” he nodded to Wolly and Trillian.
“I can’t! I have to meet Ariessa at the Warhorn Palace in an hour,” shouted Octarian, enraged at his brother’s apparent attempt to ruin his life.
“His Majesty Emperor Lexandros II was counting on some resistance, Your Majesty. He asked me to give you this letter,” the servant said, offering him an envelope.
Octarian,
Please don’t make a scene. This is important. Come to see me as soon as You get here.
Lex
P.S. I had an operator call the Warhorn Palace and sent a messenger to Ariessa, explaining the situation.
“Gods damn it,” Octarian fumed.
“Fine, let’s go then, Sylvain,” he said to his future brother-in-law.
As soon as they had arrived at the Sunflare Palace, Octarian ran up to his brother’s study. He had to force himself not to kick the door in. Lexandros dismissed his team of advisors, lawyers and scribes, who seemed to be even busier and more agitated than usual.
Octarian waited patiently until the door closed behind them, and was about to begin his shouting, but Lexandros was faster.
“We don’t have much time. The faster we get this all done, the quicker you can get to Ariessa. Sit down and listen.”
Octarian gave him a nasty look, but obeyed. He didn’t want to waste time.
“You will undoubtedly have some comments to hurl at me, but please wait till I’m finished.
Here goes; apparently Mordan Grimdor is the son of Scypian Stinger. He asked Gloria to marry him and she said yes.”
“What?” Octarian said, looking stunned.
Lexandros gave him the extended version.
“And you believe that? It’s utterly ridiculous. That story is bleeding from a thousand wounds - as the Warhorns would say… I could point out exactly where.”
“Don’t! Not to me, not to anybody. We need this to be true. I will have the facts checked out of course, but I can’t imagine they left holes in the story.”
Octarian looked at his brother incredulously.
“I don’t believe you. You don’t care whether it’s actually true or not?”
“I care whether the Pyonians believe it or not. I’m certain they will want to believe it, and that’s all that matters.”
“Is it really? Even if it’s a bloody lie?”
“It’s for the good of our country.”
“And that’s all you care about,” Octarian stated bitterly.
Now it was Lexandros’ turn to look incredulously.
“Oh, right, you’re the Emperor, that’s what you do,” Octarian grimaced.
“I’m very proud of you, brother; seems that you finally begin to grasp the basics of ruling. One more thing; be civil to Grimdor… I mean Stinger.”
“He was trying to sabotage Liona’s wedding! She’s your sister too. Don’t you care about that?”
“Did you give him a chance to explain himself before you beat the crap out of him?”
“I wasn’t interested in his excuses.”
“Now would be the time to start being interested then.”
Octarian looked at Lexandros mutinously.
“Grimdor will be Gloria’s husband. His half-sister, Countess Ricarda will be Gloria’s sister-in-law. Do I need to explain the necessity of the good relations between our families?”
“I can promise to be more than civil to Countess Ricarda; poor girl must have suffered enough to be a part of that horrible family.”
“Good, good,” Lexandros said absent-mindedly. He thought for a moment.
“How do you feel about Gloria marrying Prince Mordan? No resentments?”
Octarian hadn’t even had time to consider it. All that concerned him was that he had to make Ariessa wait. He smiled a little at the thought of her.
“None whatsoever. I’m glad she found someone to marry. Though she could have done Hell of a lot better.”
“I disagree and I’d like to ask you to refrain from expressing such sentiments in public. It’s time you made peace with your friend. Would you mind hearing him out? He’s in the Scarlet Salon.”
“Do I have a choice in the matter?”
“No.”
“Why don’t you just order me then?”
“I thought I just did. Now go, before I throw the ink bottle at you. My aim is good, as you know.”
“Yes, you’re perfect in every way,” Octarian mumbled, closing the door behind himself.
***
It must have been Mordan’s strangest day in his whole life.
When he got up in the morning, he decided that postponing the inevitable would only make things worse, without improving his chances. If he had to propose to Gloria, he might as well get it over and done with.
Before heading to her palace, he popped into the Spider’s Nest to imbibe some liquid courage, in the form of a couple of glasses of Covaxian Aimwater. Apparently Covaxians swore it improved their aim, which - considering the high alcohol content of the drink - was highly unlikely. The clear schnapps burned its way into his empty stomach, before shooting right into his brain.
His chances started to look better already.
The cold reception by Gloria was unpleasant, but to be expected. After all, he had intruded on a woman getting ready for a ball. He thought that the limited time-frame would guarantee a short, but effective exchange.
Very soon, Mordan realised he had made a grave mistake by coming here today, but it was too late.
Mordan had recounted Scypian’s revelations as quickly and convincingly as he could. He saw the utter astonishment in Gloria’s eyes, but he took it seriously that he only had ten minutes, and he knew his time was running out.
He lowered himself on one knee.
Gloria looked at him as if he was about to cut a piece of fish with a steak knife.
He knew it was a bad sign.
He went on nonetheless.
“Gloria, my love… I know I don’t deserve to breathe the same air as you, therefore I must beg you to forgive my boldness to ask you to consider accepting my proposal of marriage.”
He had wished he could have consulted Wolly before coming here, he would have known how to handle this situation.
Mordan didn’t dare to look up at Gloria.
The silence became deafening.
“Of course, I don’t hope for an immediate reply,” he muttered to the floor.
Gloria still didn’t say anything.
He fel
t foolish kneeling on the floor, so he scrambled to his feet. He took her hand and quickly kissed it.
“I will leave now. Please forgive me for my boldness. Can I still…?” he wasn’t quite sure whether he wanted to finish his question.
“I need to be alone now. Come back at three, as agreed,” she had said finally.
Mordan felt more sober than any time in his life. He wandered the streets aimlessly; he had no idea where he was.
So that was it.
He had utterly messed it up.
Gloria would let him escort her to the ball because it was too late to find any satisfactory company on such short notice.
A few days later, she would let him down easily.
End of the affair.
For a while, he sat on a bench with his head in his hands.
Finally, he had decided to go to his ‘sister’s’ mansion; he better let Scypian and Noerelle know, that unless they held a gun to Gloria’s head, this marriage won’t happen.
Hardly had he stepped into Swiftarrow Mansion, Noerelle hurried up to him, frantically waving an envelope. He was surprised to find it was still unopened.
Dear Prince Mordan,
On behalf of all my countrymen and my family, I would like to express my joy about Your upcoming nuptials.
I took the liberty to arrange an Engagement Lunch for two o’clock this afternoon, after which we shall all attend the Windscale Ball together.
It would be an honour if You made use of the Royal Barge I sent over for You and Your family.
Looking forward to having the pleasure of seeing Your Majesty, Your sister, Countess Ricarda Swiftarrow and Your father, His Majesty King Scypian Stinger,
I remain with best regards,
Emperor Lexandros Sunflare II of Heliodoria
Mordan sank into the next chair he could find. He was utterly confused.
“Let me see,” Noerelle craned her neck over his shoulders. He didn’t have the ability to argue, he just gave her the letter. Only then he noticed the liveried Sunflare servant patiently waiting at the door. The man bowed.
“My Prince, the barge is ready and waiting.”
“Yes, thank you, I will get ready…”
Suddenly, his brain started working again. He turned to Noerelle.
“Listen to me. I don’t quite know what just happened. I don’t know how much is your doing; and I don’t care either. One thing I know; I won’t let you spoil this. Again. You will not come with us. You will not go to the ball. And most importantly, you will not get near any of these people. Do you understand?”
She gave him a cynical smile.
“Or what?”
“Don’t!”
For a few seconds they locked gazes.
“Fine,” she finally laughed, and raised her hands in defeat.
“You win. Go and get ready. I’ll find something to do while you’re all out having fun. At least we don’t need to sink any barges or trip any horses to delay Octarian,” she said and left.
Mordan had no idea why Octarian had to be delayed, but at that moment he didn’t care.
And now here he was at the Sunflare Palace.
Rica and Scypian were mingling with the Sunflares and their relatives somewhere in the palace, while Mordan sat in a very red salon waiting for Octarian to appear.
Previously, he had a chat with Lexandros who behaved as if he was one if his oldest friends. He had assured him that there was no reason why their families shouldn’t have the best possible relationship in the future, and asked him to have a friendly chat with Octarian.
The door opened, and Octarian strode in with a sulky expression on his face.
“Mordan,” he nodded curtly.
“Thank you for seeing me. Your brother asked me to talk to you, but I wasn’t sure you’d agree.”
“S’alright.”
“How have you been?” Mordan asked. They haven’t talked for a month.
“Listen man, say what you have to say, I didn’t come here for chit-chat.”
“Fine. You’re right. I know you think I had some kind of agenda. I didn’t.
At the time of the Academy Ball I didn’t know that Scypian was my father. He was merely my employer. Noerelle is his protégé or ward or something, I don’t even want to know. He told me to take her to the Wheatfield Ball. I said I couldn’t, because it would upset my friends.
Believe me, I’ve tried to keep Noerelle away from Sylvain for weeks, up to that point quite successfully, but that day my father was adamant.
I’m so sorry that it happened.
You have no idea how much.
That’s why I didn’t even try to fight you; I knew you had every right to attack me. You don’t know what it’s like when you’re ordered to do something you don’t want to do,” Mordan said bitterly.
Octarian snorted.
“I don’t know? Now, who has the pain in the arse brother? I wouldn’t even be here, if I didn’t know what it’s like to be ordered to do something you don’t want to do,” he couldn’t suppress a grin.
Mordan smiled at him uncertainly. He had never hoped to ever reconcile with Octarian again. He didn’t dare to risk any remark.
Octarian sighed.
He couldn’t help it; he had missed Mordan.
“So… Gloria, huh?”
“So it might seem.”
“Good choice, well done. Lexandros had peed his pants with excitement. You know; the political crap. Congratulations, man,” Octarian extended his hand.
Mordan shook it with relief.
A wave of happiness swept over him.
He couldn’t believe Octarian had forgiven him. Or so he hoped. He didn’t dare to assume anything, but this was a good start.
“So, what’s your sister like then? What was it like to be introduced to a stranger who is apparently related to you?”
“She was no stranger. I grew up with her. I just didn’t know she was my sister.
As far as I knew she was my mother’s employers’ daughter. Rica is a sweet girl, you’ll see. She’s very shy though. She has some kind of condition. Something horrible has happened to her, and she lost her memory. She could remember me though.”
“Bloody hell… poor girl. I’m looking forward to meeting her.
And your mother? I mean… you know, you thought she was your mother… but she isn’t?” Octarian was somewhat confused about Mordan’s family history.
“As it turns out, the woman I thought was my mother; was the Swiftarrow’s maid. Later she had become my sister’s governess.
She had been paid to pretend to be my mother… but to me she still is. She had brought me up after all.
Countess Swiftarrow, my real mother, couldn’t admit I was her son. I didn’t really know her. She hardly left the house and only saw very few people. Ruby was the one who sang lullabies and told me bedtime stories,” Mordan was surprised how easily he could get used to his new heritage.
“Of course… I understand.”
Mordan looked at Octarian.
“Do you think we’ll be alright?”
Octarian nodded.
“We’re getting there.”
At six o’clock, after the Royal Family Assembly was thankfully over, it was finally time to get to the Windscale Ball.
Even though Octarian was pleased about having made up with Mordan, he had grown more and more anxious about Ariessa. If he had learnt something about her, it was that she hated to wait; she must have been the most impatient person he had ever met.
He was about to have an operator call the Warhorn Palace to make sure Ariessa wasn’t there waiting for him, when a servant appeared with a letter for him.
Sunflare,
If you think I’ll wait around for Your bloody family meeting to end, dressed up in my stupid gown for hours, You’re sorely mistaken.
I don’t need a bloody escort to go to a ball.
See You there.
Maybe.
Ari
/> ***
Octarian wanted to jump on his falcon to get to the Windscale Palace right away, but that was of course out of the question. There were about a hundred guests in their palace, who had to get over to the Windscales, and Octarian being the second most important man of the family, he had to behave accordingly.
What slowed him down even more was the new circumstance of Lady Ricarda being there. She had been assigned to the same barge as Octarian.
Mordan and Scypian somehow got on a different one, so he had felt responsible to make sure she was looked after.
Mordan was right; she was a sweet girl with honest big, brown eyes, dark hair and an olive complexion. Rica smiled a lot and didn’t say much. All the commotion about the noble company moving over to the Windscales visibly shook her. No sooner did everybody in their barge settle down, she whispered to him.
“Prince Octarian, I’m so very sorry to bother you, but I don’t know anybody else here. Could I please be excused to go in one of the cabins? I need to take my medication. I’m so sorry for inconveniencing you,” she smiled at him apologetically.
He noticed that her hands were shaking slightly, and beads of perspiration were gathering on her brows, despite the chill in the air. The sadness in her eyes quenched his heart. He forgot about Ariessa for a second.
“Of course Countess, I’m happy to be of assistance.”
He led her to a cabin and waited patiently.
They were almost at the Windscale Palace when she had finally emerged. She seemed to have regained her strength, and smiled at him thankfully.
“Do you feel better now, Countess?” Octarian asked with honest concern.
“Yes, much better, Prince Octarian. Thank you so much. I promise, I won’t bother you again,” she whispered.
He took her hand and breathed a kiss on it.
“You are no bother, Countess Ricarda. On the contrary; it has been a pleasure to have made your acquaintance. Please know, that I’ll be there for you if you need anything. Tonight, and any time in the future.”
By the time they got to the ball, it was past eight. As far as balls go, it was still very early of course, but it was five hours past the time Octarian was supposed to meet Ariessa.
Equimancer's Realm Page 18
