A Merric's Tale

by Margs Murray

  My father had warned me to steer clear of serial daters and players. “Oh, a man of ill repute,” I said.

  “Man of ill repute?” Enzo laughed. “If only it were that simple. No, he’s more than that; he’s a major somebody in the country. You’ve heard of Cloverfield Foods, correct?”

  “No, never heard of it.”

  “How do you not know Cloverfield?” Enzo’s eyes were wide in shock. “Cloverfield is only one of the biggest food production companies in the country. Next thing you’ll tell you don’t know who won the National Flounce Match last year.”

  “Sorry, no.”

  Enzo put his hand to his mouth. “Flounce is our national pastime.”

  I shrugged my shoulders and I looked over the railing to the audience. The ordinary head was gone. “You mentioned a dinner. Is that where everyone is going?”

  “For the most elite, yes.” And Enzo offered me his arm.

  Chapter 10

  A Royal Meeting

  Trumpets played fanfare, and Enzo left my side and stepped before the crowd. “May I present to you Her Royal Highness, Duchess Waverly Merric, Lady of Virginia, Duchess of the Carolinas and soon to be Princess of America.” Everyone bowed or curtsied, and I was alone on display before a crowd of a hundred people in tuxedos and evening gowns, their jewels sparkling in the candlelight of the great hall.

  The butterflies flurried inside my stomach, and I felt naked. This was so unnatural. I was here alone, really alone, in front of a bowing group of strangers. I longed to be anywhere else. Or at least to have Grandma beside me to help me navigate because I was about to throw up those butterflies any second. My pending panic attack caused me to hyperventilate until my eyes caught the bent-over head of the same ordinary man from earlier.

  Much to my relief, my breathing (and stomach) calmed.

  I mimicked Grandma’s little nod and wave to crowds, and everyone rose as one.

  A woman in a sapphire gown walked over. “Your Highness.”

  Long barrel curls fell over her bare shoulders and soft curves. A second passed before I recognized her. “The Lark?”

  “This will not do,” she said, her hand placed on her heart. I hadn’t noticed her French accent when she sang. “Please call me Manon. My parents are both very French, non? Bollard thought Lark had a nice ring to it, but my friends all call me Manon. I hope you do not mind my presence.” She dipped into a curtsy.

  She looked much younger in person than she did on the stage. She wasn’t all that much older than me, twenty-six at most.

  She pulled me into a soft hug. “I have heard so much about you from Bollard.”

  Again, someone else who knew about me. I wondered precisely what Bollard told people because he didn’t know me; that was for sure. If he had, he’d at least done me the courtesy of explaining things.

  Of course, I knew nothing about her, and I tried to think of a suitable response. “Your performance was amazing,” I said.

  She gazed at me, and she lost herself for a moment until she shook her head and closed her eyes. “You are very enchanting, Waverly, very hypnotizing, a true Merric. I forgive my audience for they did not watch me; they watched you. I struggled to perform, for I wanted to watch you too.”

  “No, you were perfect,” I said, hoping it wasn’t true. If people ignored that performance to stare at me, I was in a lot of trouble. “They couldn’t stop watching you. Those birds are incredible.”

  “Oui, my birds are magical, merci. Bollard asked that I keep you company and introduce you since he cannot be here.”

  I wanted to barrage her with questions about what she knew, but with the crowds and the ordinary head somewhere close by, I decided to wait. She continued, “I will be your guide in his absence for at least a few days. You have many people to meet.”

  I stepped forward, but Manon placed her hand lightly on my shoulder. “We do not have to move. You are a magnet; they will come to you, and I will tell you who everyone is.”

  Manon was right. All around the room, people watched me and waited.

  “We have to meet the heads of industry first. Four of the seven are here.”

  Enzo came over to us with a pen and a sheet of paper. “Let me know if you would like to schedule further meetings with anyone. You know, if a man or woman catches your interest.”

  Manon playfully hit his arm. “I am sure they will. They must. You have quite the select crowd here.”

  Manon nodded to a man with a bushy mustache and dressed in a heavily decorated military uniform. His walk and beard reminded me of a lion stalking its prey. “Waverly, may I present to you General Hector Dryden, head of weaponry and protection.”

  My palms were sweaty, but General Dryden’s hand was cool, steady. “It is an honor. Rudolf, your head of security, is one of the best Libratiers in the country. I look forward to working hand in hand with you. We will become great allies in the fight against the Galvantry. It would not surprise me if you weren’t an even better fighter than your grandmother.”

  “Did you know her?” The man was a little younger than Grandma, but I supposed it was possible.

  “Yes, I served under her at Maligne Lake. The greatest moment of my entire career.”

  “I have so many questions for you,” I told him.

  “We must meet again,” Dryden said, and with that, he moved on. Enzo wrote the man’s name down.

  The next person was a slender woman with deep-set eyes and a chin so pointy it could cut paper.

  “Tessa Amenity, head of magnetics and power.”

  “It is an honor,” the woman said. When she took my hand, I noticed a diamond hovering like magic over her right hand.

  “How is that floating?”

  Amenity spun the diamond. Her eyes widened with pain, but she smiled as if the pain were enjoyable. “Magnets.”

  I didn’t know how to respond. Diamonds weren’t magnets, and neither was human flesh. I tried not to show any special interest. Manon thankfully waved her on and moved to the next person.

  In front of me, a handsome man with dark blond hair and deep green eyes rocked back and forth on his heels. Manon waved him in closer. “This, Waverly, is Freddie.”

  His hand was clammy like he was the nervous one. I found myself momentarily distracted by him. He smiled one of those smiles that make you stop and have to remember to breathe. “You’re wearing me.”

  “What?” Of all the things I had expected to hear him say, this was not even close. I didn’t know what he meant, and an egg could have fried on my face it was so warm.

  “I’m sorry, you’re wearing my clothes. I made your dress.”

  “You did?” I peered down at my beautiful white dress, surprised. This man looked more like a model than a designer.

  “Frederick Frederickson the Third, head material goods,” Manon said. Wow. Head of material goods, at his age? “Everyone calls him Freddie.”

  “I couldn’t escape the name Freddie if I wanted,” he said. “I know it’s a terrible name, but the middle name’s worse.” His cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. From behind him, I heard a woman let out a loud sigh. “I think that’s my cue. I… um… it’s lovely to meet you. We’re a legacy, the two of us. My grandfather made all your grandmother’s clothes.”

  That caught my attention. His family knew Grandma, and if they made her clothes, they might know a thing or two about the necklace. “Can I meet him? I have so much to ask him.”

  “I’m sorry to say he passed away a short time ago, though I am having a dance in your honor in a little over two months. If you would like, you can come early, and I’ll show you around the factories. We have a museum of dresses, and we have numerous outfits owned by your grandmother in storage and on display.”

  Dresses worn by Grandma excited me but a ball in two months did not. With any luck, I would be home long before then. “Or earlier,” I suggested.

  “Anytime,” Freddie said while the woman behind him cleared her throat, and I decided I didn’t want
to meet her.

  “It was nice talking to you.” I held out my hand for him to shake it, realizing only after he took it that we’d already shook hands.

  “Thank you, Freddie,” Manon chimed in, and he let go of my hand and moved to the side.

  Manon whispered in my ear, “He is only twenty-three and he’s already inherited the whole company from his father. Oh no, where did Cloverfield run off too? Excuse me for a moment, I’ll be but a second.” Manon left, and Enzo tailed after her, reminding her Cloverfield was not on the list.

  Left alone, my nerves jittered once again. The impatient woman would have to wait.

  I went to my toes and scanned the room in search of the ordinary man. All I had to do was see him and I’d feel better, but the swarm of nodding and smiling people blocked my view. My best choice was to move around the room. I politely smiled to everyone and stepped from the center, slipping into the clusters of guests. I knew I was being silly, stupid even. I shouldn’t be hunting down a random person, but this feeling in my gut told me I had to find this guy. I had to.

  “Who are you looking for, dear?” An old woman sat in a chair against the wall. She rested her hands on a walking stick.

  “Oh, I’m not. I’m just walking—”

  She sighed. “I’ve known enough Merrics to recognize that expression, so lying is useless. I’ve seen that look on every young female Merric except for your grandmother, although from your presence, I deduce she met her anchor in your world.”

  “My world?” I inspected the woman in pink and saw the dark gray eyes. I’d failed to recognize her without her hat, and I curtsied to Lady Poppy. She shook her head. “Rise. Official rules state I should bow to you. Excuse my impertinence of speaking to you first without an introduction, but my handlers had to help my husband to the bathroom.”

  “That’s a stupid rule,” I said.

  Lady Poppy smiled. “Most are.”

  I looked around the room. Many guests had found me, and they stared in our direction, waiting for my next move.

  “Can I sit with you?” I asked.

  “Please do, but only for a moment. You have duties to attend.” Lady Poppy then added in a whisper, “They’ll come for you any second.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “This has been a shock.”

  Lady Poppy nodded. “As it was for Helena.”

  “So, you knew her? And you know the truth about where I come from.”

  “Yes. Years and years ago. I know of your world, although few do. This side of the family keeps it secret for your family’s safety.”

  “I have so many questions for you. Like, are we related? Am I even part of this family? Because according to my grandma, her real brother died in the war. Why was I brought here? What do these people want from me? And this ring...” I held it up for Lady Poppy to see. “Does it look familiar? Do you know where the necklace is that goes with it?”

  Lady Poppy cupped her hand to her ear like she couldn’t hear me. Her other hand went over her mouth and she whispered, “My goodness child, we do not have time to talk.” She pointed to Manon and Enzo, who both were relieved to have found me. Lady Poppy then yelled, “Helena! Yes. A bright star in this bleak universe.”

  “Will you meet with me and talk later?” I asked.

  Lady Poppy turned her ear in my direction and yelled, “Huh? What did you say, dear? Everyone speaks so quietly nowadays.”

  Manon and Enzo smiled and nodded, each taking one of my arms.

  “Have a lovely evening, Lady Poppy!” Enzo called back to her.

  “Poor thing is as deaf as they come,” Manon said, louder than she should. I turned to my great-great-great aunt, and I remembered what Enzo had mentioned at the opera about Lady Poppy being hard of hearing.

  “Do you think you could schedule her with me, Enzo?” I waved to my great-great-great- aunt.

  “I’ll see what I can do. Dear lord, Waverly. She’s deaf and even when she can talk it’s all nonsense,” As Enzo said this, I saw a flash of silver in Lady Poppy’s eyes.

  Manon spoke up. “I’m sorry we left you. Henry Cloverfield was here and wanted to meet you, but he’s been called away on urgent business. He is a most interesting person although very busy with many things.” The crowd swarmed again, and Manon waved them on and said, “You must meet everyone later. Dinner is being served.”

  An immaculate table awaited us. Every seat and setting reflected the beauty of L’Autre Bête. Staff members measured the placement of every plate, spoon, and glass. The crowd filled in behind us. I scanned the people, searching for the man.

  “Is everyone eating with us?” I asked Enzo.

  “Only a hundred,” he responded. “I chose the small hall and was very selective, so you wouldn’t be overwhelmed.”

  “So not everyone is here?” No wonder I no longer saw the ordinary head.

  I fidgeted, overwhelmed and nervous. I scanned the table, and when I was done, I felt no better than before. The ordinary head was gone. He wasn’t one of the selected 100.

  Lady Poppy and her husband sat at the far end of the table. Manon was three seats from me. Amenity was on my right and Dryden to my left. Freddie sat directly across, smiling at me.

  The servers carted out trays of food, and I expected a fancy, beautiful appetizer like I’d seen on cooking shows. Imagine my shock when the attendant placed a bowl of vegetable soup with Cheez-It crackers crumbled over top in front of me. I thought I was the only person who ate that.

  The second dish was mashed potatoes, corn, and coleslaw, more of my favorites. Apparently, these selections were not popular amongst the people; many avoided the coleslaw and pushed the potatoes and corn around their plates. Most settled on a polite conversation instead.

  Some people can’t have their food touch other foods on a plate. Well, I am the opposite of that. I am what my mom lovingly calls a piler. I make one huge pile, mixing my flavors, much to my mother’s horror. I only did this at home and only when we didn’t have company, not even in front of Sasha. I had barely eaten anything since arriving here and never once piled.

  I realized then Bollard must have placed cameras in my home. Anger bubbled inside and I stuffed it down, adding this to the long list of things I would use when I was finally able to tell Bollard off.

  I noticed a restraint to the chatter at the table. Faces looked at me with half smiles and questioning eyes. I suspected they were so quiet because I was so quiet. I didn’t know what to ask or say, and I wished Doc had stayed. Finally, I asked the people seated at the table if there was anything interesting in the news. Big mistake.

  Many of the women in the room covered their mouths in shock, and some gasped. The men all shook their heads in mournful silence.

  “Dreadful, simply dreadful,” a woman in a green dress declared. “The Galvantry attacked Charleston. A hospital, no less.”

  Manon sadly shook her head. “It is getting direr by the day. There were over two hundred casualties.”

  A man spoke up from down the table. “General Dryden, this is serious. We need answers. What do you have planned to get rid of this Galvantry scum?”

  “Who are the Galvantry?” I asked without thinking. I instantly regretted it because the whole table of a hundred plus guests stared at me open-mouthed. Any citizen would know this.

  “The Galvantry is the enemy of the state,” Freddie said, attempting to save me. “A rogue group of anarchists and murderers who long to overthrow the crown.”

  Manon sighed. “It is worse than that. They want nothing more than to end the country as we know it. They want to burn it all to the ground.”

  The woman in green was fanning herself nervously. “They’ve been recruiting, and the poor have been joining. Misinformed fools. This is no longer a West problem. What can be done?”

  Dryden’s mouth twitched under his mustache. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “Our military is more than prepared for this small uprising. It won’t be long before we crush the threat.” Dryden poun
ded his fist on the table and his medals flopped against his chest. “We’ve increased our security in the cities and added nanos to the forest. We’ll drag the scoundrels out one by one if we must. With the Merrics’ help, the Libratiers will quell this skirmish. Our Waverly will be a great asset to the cause.”

  Me? An asset to a military cause? What was this guy talking about? Barton High had not prepared me for army tactics or fighting rebels. If this was what Bollard wanted me for, he would be very disappointed.

  Before I could say anything and admit the fraud that I was, the General stood up, wineglass in hand. “The Libratiers will not stop. Raise a glass for a better world.”

  The table raised their glasses. “For a better world.”

  I raised mine too but only pretended to drink; after all, I was still only seventeen.

  Freddie smiled at me over the top of his glass. “Let’s talk about something more interesting. Manon, how did you train the birds to sing like that? What’s your trick?”

  “The trick is a secret I will keep.” Manon’s fingers traced the rim of her wineglass. “They were a gift from the regent, and when Bollard gives a gift, you keep it close.”

  “Tell us more!” a woman called.

  “What do you do if a bird misbehaves?” Amenity’s eyes were too big, her smile too eager.

  “I have never had a bird misbehave; they never miss a note. My birds are completely trained. All I must do is sing the notes, and they learn the songs. They are more obedient than most people, and sweeter too. Bollie says humans cannot be trained, that humans are sure of their skills. He says this is a detriment. Animals though, once they realize they are animals, can be trained to do the most amazing things.”

  “What would you do if they bit you? One little nibble. What do you do then?” Amenity challenged. She spun her diamond over her skin. I suspected that the act caused pain, but that was perhaps the point. I shivered thinking about it.

  Manon’s features hardened in defiance. “I’d return the gift, and Bollard would take care of it. Bollard only gives perfect gifts. One cannot question.”