by Callie Kanno
Prydwen winced, and Idris knew she was thinking about the dust and cobwebs that had gathered over the years it had stood empty. They only used it for storage these days.
“Yes, of course,” his mother said smoothly. “It will just need some tidying. If you would please excuse me and my children, your majesty, we will go prepare it for you.”
The queen inclined her head, and Prydwen ushered all of her children away. Idris knew that they would all be ordered to scrub that cottage until it shone, and he didn’t envy them their task.
“Elder Gwydol will wish to see you,” Cadell said. “I can take you there.”
The wagon was redirected down a branching path, and the group continued at an unhurried pace.
Gwydol was the oldest person in Rest Stone Valley, and while Idris sometimes suspected that he was not the wisest man, he was certainly the most respected. He lived in a small cottage on a farm that belonged to his grandson, where he settled disputes and meted out punishments when rules were broken.
News of the visitors must have already reached him, because he was waiting for them at his front door when they arrived.
“Well, young Idris, whom have you brought with you today?”
The queen didn’t need Idris to speak for her. She stepped forward and lowered the hood covering her golden hair.
“I am Arminell, wife of King Nikolas the Bold and Queen of Calaris.”
Gwydol’s eyes widened in shock and he clumsily made a low bow. “Your majesty, forgive my impertinence. I did not know we had such an esteemed guest in our humble valley.”
She inclined her head graciously. “I did not wish my arrival to be generally known. My daughter and I are in need of a quiet place to hide from the enemies of my husband. Idris said we might find refuge here.”
“Of course, your majesty,” the elder exclaimed. “There is no safer place in all of Calaris than Rest Stone Valley.”
“I am counting on every resident in this community to help keep us safe,” Arminell cautioned.
Idris’s mouth curved into a slight smile. Queen Arminell couldn’t have handled the situation more perfectly. She had drawn every person in Rest Stone Valley into her confidence, and now they would do everything in their power to guard her from danger.
Elder Gwydol bowed again. “I will send word to every family in Rest Stone Valley. We shall all keep watch and make sure no harm comes to you or the princess.”
“Thank you,” Arminell said sincerely.
The aged man rubbed his hands together absently. “Of course, of course. It is our honor, your majesty. Would it be acceptable to you if we were to put together a small celebration this evening to welcome you to our home?”
The queen smiled. “That would be lovely.”
“It shall be done,” declared the elder. “I trust Idris has arranged for adequate lodging for you and your daughter.”
Idris nodded hastily. “My mother is seeing to it now.”
Gwydol seemed satisfied. “Prydwen is quite a capable girl. If there is anything we can do for you, your majesty, do not hesitate to ask. We are but humble farmers, but we are happy to give of what we have.”
You know, Iona said thoughtfully, I believe he means that.
Of course he does, Idris thought in surprise.
It seems obvious to you, but few are so open with what they have. I have seen enough of humankind to know that the need to survive overpowers the desire to be kind.
A frown passed over Idris’s face. Perhaps you just have not met the right people.
There was a brief pause before Iona answered.
Perhaps.
Cadell led the way back to his farm, speaking to the queen in the same respectful tone that he used when talking to his peers.
“I imagine you had a tough journey,” he observed. “The celebration will most likely be at sundown, so you have a few hours to rest before then. I hope you will forgive my leisurely pace. If we arrive before my wife has had the chance to finish cleaning, I will never hear the end of it.”
Arminell appeared amused. “I understand.”
“Is this your home, Idris?” asked Zorina.
He nodded. “Yes, this is where I grew up. While we are here we will be staying with my family, so you will see the house where I was born.”
“Mommy,” Zorina said to the queen, “may I get down from the wagon? I want to walk.”
“I suppose, my dearest,” she replied.
The princess held out her arms to Idris, and he lifted her to set her on the ground. She took his hand and skipped along next to him happily.
“What is your littlest sister’s name again?” Zorina asked Idris. “She looks my age.”
“Her name is Adwen,” he reminded her. “She is one year older than you.”
Zorina looked momentarily disappointed and slowed to a walk. “Will she still want to be my friend, even though I am younger?”
“I am certain that she would love to be your friend.”
“I suspect that you will have many friends here in our valley,” Cadell said with a wink. “It is not every day we have a princess come to visit.”
That idea seemed to make Zorina happy, and she resumed her skipping with renewed energy.
When Idris’s family’s farm came into view, Idris was nearly as happy to see it as he had been to see his family. He could see his mother and siblings scurrying to finish up the last touches on the old cottage that had once belonged to Cadell’s father. It was a simple structure, consisting of two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. When Idris and the rest of the group reached the doorway, he saw that the house had been cleared of all the storage it had been holding, and every speck of dust had been scrubbed away.
Idris recognized the beds and furniture as the ones from his family’s home. His brothers must have been instructed to haul them over and exchange them for the older furniture that had been in the cottage. He understood there wouldn’t have been time to refresh the straw in the old mattresses and wash the coverings, so his mother had done the next best thing.
Idris knew better than to mention any of this to the queen, but she seemed to sense the sacrifice all the same. She gave Prydwen a grateful nod. “Thank you so much for your hospitality.”
“It is our honor, your majesty.”
“We will leave you to rest,” Cadell said, nudging his younger children back toward the main house. Prydwen gave Idris’s arm a loving squeeze as she passed him.
When Idris’s family had gone, Queen Arminell glanced around and began issuing instructions. “Zorina and I can share a room. I would prefer to keep her close to me. Farah and Hildar can share the second room. Palti can sleep here in the living room. Idris, would you prefer to stay with your family?”
Idris shook his head. “My duty is with you, your majesty. I would prefer to stay near. I can string up hammocks for Palti and myself.”
“Very well,” the queen said with an air of satisfaction. “I will leave the arrangements to all of you. Zorina, come with me. Let us rest before tonight’s celebration.”
“But, Mommy,” protested the princess, “I wanted to go look at the animals.”
“No, my love,” Arminell firmly replied. “You need to rest, and so do I.”
The grumbling princess followed after her mother, leaving the Royal Guards alone. Palti and Farah exchanged glances before studying the cottage purposefully. Idris knew they were inspecting it so they could decide how best to defend it.
Idris fetched the promised hammocks and tied them up in the corners of the living room. Hildar stood near the door that led to the queen’s room, looking uncertain of what she should be doing.
Idris noticed her discomfort. “You can go rest, if you want.”
“No,” Hildar said stiffly.
He made an exasperated noise. “You have been up since yesterday morning. Resting does not make you weak.”
“No one else is resting,” she maintained stubbornly.
“Because we have not had th
e opportunity yet,” he shot back. “As soon as I am done with these hammocks, I am taking a nap.”
Hildar scowled at him. “We should be standing guard.”
Idris rolled his eyes. “There is no need. No one knows we are here, and there is no danger from within Rest Stone Valley.”
“You trust your fellow farmers too much,” she said in a dire tone.
Palti and Farah returned from walking around the outside cottage, conferring quietly with each other about the strengths and weaknesses of their location.
“It is not really a matter of trust,” Idris argued. “It is simply a fact. Rest Stone Valley is not a place people visit. The only people here are people who have been here all their lives. We get no strangers, and most people who are born here stay here until they die. There are no conspiracies or plots in a place like this.”
“That seems like a naïve point of view,” Hildar muttered.
“And yet,” Idris responded with a shrug, “it is true.”
Idris turned to Palti and Farah, who had finished talking with one another. “Palti, what would you like us to be doing?”
The senior Royal Guard smiled at Idris. “I overheard what you said to Hildar. In general, I agree with you, but we still need to be cautious. You and Hildar can rest for a few hours while Farah and I stand watch. Then we will trade places.”
Idris shot a jaunty grin at Hildar and hopped into his hammock. “Sounds good to me.”
Hildar turned on her heel and marched into the second bedroom. The door closed sharply, and Idris chuckled to himself as the hammock swung gently.
“She may be a bit overzealous,” Farah commented, “but she does have a point. We cannot let our guard down no matter where we are.”
“Yes, Farah,” Idris replied obediently.
Even so, he closed his eyes with a relaxed sigh. He simply couldn’t imagine anything going wrong in Rest Stone Valley.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Humble Celebrations
The sun was just dipping below the mountains when Idris and his companions arrived at the common land where gatherings were held. The uncultivated field was beautiful in the summer when it was covered in low grass and wildflowers, but now it simply looked like a barren plot of land.
Fallen logs were arranged around the edge of the lot so that the honored and the elderly could have a comfortable seat. Fires were burning in every corner, ready to provide warmth and light to those in attendance.
Queen Arminell and Princess Zorina were led to the most prominent log where a beautifully woven blanket had been draped to pad their seats. Elder Gwydol was there to greet them. He immediately began to apologize for the humble arrangements, but the queen graciously accepted as if the seat had been a throne of gold.
Farah and Palti took their places directly behind the two royals, while Hildar and Idris each took a place on the sides.
Idris watched as all of the families he’d grown up with in Rest Stone Valley gathered together to form a line, stopping before the queen and princess to swear their loyalty and to express their gratitude of being in the presence of royalty. Queen Arminell asked to know everybody’s name, and she thanked them individually for their kind words and fidelity to the monarchy. Not once did she seem bored or indifferent, and Idris felt a deepening respect for his queen.
When all of the formalities were over, Elder Gwydol stood and called for the musicians. They gathered in a corner and struck up a lively tune, punctuated by the joyful cries and stomps of the listeners. The first number was given the full attention of all who had gathered, and the second song drew out those who wished to dance. Young farmers cajoled their wives into joining them, and daughters wheedled their fathers. Courting couples took the opportunity to draw near to one another, all under the watchful eye of their chaperones.
The third and fourth songs brought even more people to the open area, and soon it seemed like the entire valley was dancing.
Idris glanced over and Hildar, and he could see that she was comparing the dance before her with the ceremonious balls of Marath. And, instead of judging it to be beneath her, Idris guessed by her expression that she was almost delighted.
“I told you that I would show you a real dance someday,” he said to her quietly.
Hildar gave him a wry smile. “I can see how you would feel the balls of Marath to be lacking.”
Princess Zorina heard this exchange and she turned to frown at them. “You do not like our dances in the city, Idris?”
“I only meant that I think a dance like this is more fun, your highness,” he explained.
Zorina pursed her lips together and furrowed her brow as she considered his words. “I think you may be right,” she finally assented, “but it is difficult to tell from here.”
If she had been any other little girl, Idris would have offered to dance with her. However, she was a princess, and he dared not be presumptuous.
“Hildar,” Zorina said suddenly, “I want you to dance with Idris. Then you can tell me if this is more fun than a ball in Marath.”
Everyone within hearing thought this arrangement to be terribly amusing, except for Hildar. Idris chortled at the strained expression on her face.
“Oh, your highness… I…”
Idris turned to Hildar. “If you do not think you can keep up, I will not hold it against you.”
Her face flushed briefly. “It is not that. I mean, of course I can keep up.”
“Very well,” said Zorina, as if it were settled.
Idris adjusted his partisan in its holder and tightened the straps that held it to his back. He knew it would be cumbersome to dance while wearing his weapon, but he couldn’t leave it behind either. With a small flourish, he held out a hand to Hildar, as if he were some fine gentleman.
She knew he was teasing her, because she scowled at him and walked into the mass of dancers without looking back. Idris had to hurry to catch up with her.
The dance was one that he had grown up doing. Every child in Rest Stone Valley knew the steps. Idris fell into the rhythm easily and worked his way over to where Hildar was standing uncertainly.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her into place next to him. He began shouting instructions at her over the music, and those dancing nearest to them grinned and joined in helping the city girl along.
“Four steps forward, then four steps back.”
“Light on your feet!”
“Spin and change partners.”
“Hand over hand, around the circle.”
“Light on your feet, m’lady!”
At first Hildar seemed aggravated by her mass of dance instructors, but their laughter and the joyful atmosphere soon had her smiling in spite of herself.
The song came to an end and Idris gave Hildar a final spin. She gave a breathless laugh and looked around expectantly. However, instead of striking up another tune, the musicians settled themselves on a nearby log. The dancers all moved to the side and sat on the ground.
“Is it over?” asked Hildar. “In Marath the dances last all night.”
Idris smiled at her superior tone. “If this were a regular dance, it would go longer. But it looks as though they have prepared other entertainment to honor the queen and the princess.”
He returned to his place at the side of the princess, and Hildar followed him. Idris knelt on the ground so that he would be out of the way of the entertainment but ready to jump into action if necessary. Hildar sank down next to him.
“Well?” Zorina asked.
Hildar’s expression seemed to be conflicted between her usual stiffness and the enjoyment she had just experience. “It is amusing, your highness.”
A hush settled over the members of the farming community, and Idris spotted Siani taking center stage. She was wearing her best clothes and her long dark hair fell loose around her face. Idris was startled by how womanly she looked. He was accustomed to thinking of her as his childhood friend, but like him, Siani had left childhood behind.
As she began to
sing, Idris marveled once more. It had been a long time since he had last heard her sing, and her voice had matured into a lovely alto.
Sweet is the face that I see,
Oh, child, precious child,
Sweeter than the honey o’ t’bee,
Oh, child, precious child.
I would take thee far away,
Far from the cares o’ t’day.
I would take thee in my arms
And hold thee while I pray.
The musicians picked up the tune and began to accompany her as she sang.
Pure are the eyes that I see,
Oh, child, lovely child,
Pure and open and beautif’ly free,
Oh, child, lovely child.
Thou’rt a’new and without a care,
What I would give to keep thee
As free from trials and from woe
As thou’rt now, so sweetly.
Idris felt a small hand touch his arm, and he looked down to see that it belonged to Princess Zorina. She beckoned him to lean closer, and he quickly obliged her.
“What is she singing about?” the princess whispered.
Idris smiled at her perplexed expression. “She is singing about a baby, your highness.”
“Her baby?” was the follow-up question.
He shook his head. “Siani does not have a baby of her own, but the song is one that her mother sang to her when she was young.”
Zorina’s brow furrowed. “Did you hear her mother singing to her?”
Idris chuckled softly. “No, but all mothers here in Rest Stone Valley sing it to their children.”
Hildar was listening to the exchange, and a strange expression crossed her face. Idris would have called it envy in any other person, but he could not believe that Hildar would feel envy for simple farmers.
You really are quite fortunate, farmer, Iona said sincerely. You have always been surrounded by such love.
Siani began to sway back and forth, and a gentle breeze stirred her loose hair. She closed her eyes and continued to sing with all of her heart.
