"The King has told the Prince to follow your guidance as well I imagine," Lady Dells said.
"Our Prince is mighty impressive, as is the Princess. If the king and queen fall, we are in good hands," said the other man. "Lord Reynald's worries for this castle are hollow. Walls impenetrable, the guards barely need to be trained to keep this place safe. It would take more than a small army to bring this place down. The eastern devils have tried," he said with a laugh.
"Careful Lord Barnabis, you cheerfully sound as if you speak of rebellion and treason," Lady Dells said, her mouth perking up in the corners. "A fool might mishear you and you will end up in the dark cells below. Isn't that right Lord Reynald?"
"Nobles don't often get sent to prison though do they?" Piped up Flora, thinking of the bloody Nobleman that had been tossed in her cell the first night here. "Should I fear for my safety here?"
It was neither Lady Dells nor Lord Reynald that answered her question. "Don't be silly. A harmless young girl has nothing to fear unless those disgusting Folk and their counterparts weasel their way further in here. Spend your time dancing and reading, and enjoying the city, or even this castle. There is so much to see," said Lord Barnabis, wafting his hand. Flora nearly gagged on the overpowering perfume that drifted from the man. "Lord Reynald is making sure that we are free at last. Soon every city and village will have freedom ringing through every speck of dust."
"Well, if that is the case, I do hope we do not drown in the hatred and bitterness that always bubbles under the surface of war," Lady Dells said.
"You are well spoken of being against the war Miranda," Lord Barnabis said with a roll of his eyes.
"With good reason, when is war truly finished? Such a fascinating question. When are we satisfied with the destruction caused?" Lady Dells said with a stamp of her cane. "Unless you ever think to end it, such things go on and on."
"Friends," said Lord Reynald, "my cousin's sweet ears do not need to hear tales of two old Nobles bickering about politics so I need to take your leave if there are no objections. There are many people to introduce my cousin too."
Lady Dells nodded her head while Lord Barnabis snorted with indignation at being interrupted.
"Lovely, I will make sure she finds her way, send a note to my room for when we should schedule the tea between you two." Lord Reynald said. "Before I go though, how goes the prince's studies?"
Lady Dells wheezed a laugh "As good as can be managed when he is distracted by this excitement," she paused thoughtfully looking around the room, "but I am sure the Prince will be a wise man when his time on the throne comes."
"The King and Queen have put their faith in you for so many years now so I am sure you shall do well. Now I must apologize, if you will excuse us?" Lord Reynald replied
"Of course, young ones like you should be out there dancing and frolicking! Don't let an old lady like me get your way," said Lady Dells.
Bowing to the group, Lord Reynald nudged Flora again.
Flora curtsied and turned to Lord Reynald as they left. She was sure Lady Dells was staring at her back as he guided her across the room to another table laden with food and drink.
"There was no point in all those lessons if you won't let me take the lead on them," Flora said.
Lord Reynald rolled his eyes. "You are very outspoken for someone whose brothers are in prison," he said, to which Flora could do nothing but scour.
"You don't want me around Lady Dells tonight?" Flora asked as they wandered. "You brought me here to get her alone no?"
"You got an invitation, that is all you need tonight," he said. "Nothing of much importance is otherwise discussed here."
"So now what do I do with my night?" Flora asked Lord Reynald. "Steal up the Prince and go dancing?" She asked with a raised brow. He laughed into his champagne at the thought of it.
"You are going to wander around with me for a few more minutes, let people see your face, and then you are going to go back to that lovely room I acquired for you," he said.
"And you?"Flora asked.
"That is none of your concern," he said.
"If I may," Flora said back, letting her voice drip. "Haven't you noticed no one even looking at us? If I danced with the Prince I'm sure I would get some looks so people would actually notice me, and perhaps I could get more invitations and be around Lady Dells that much more often."
"You aren't going near the Royal Family," he said, catching her true goal.
"Scared?" Flora asked him with a smile. "I won't hurt him much."
"The Prince would be wise to not acknowledge you," he said. His face was icy, and the cold seemed to radiate him, sucking in the heat from the room, but he kept his lips shut.
Flora bit the inside of her lip. "Well then, why don't we bring back your adorable niece? She gets people's attention."
She had to stifle the yelp as Lord Reynald squeezed her arm so hard she thought his grip might break it. "Be quiet," he said, releasing the smallest amount of pressure.
Truthfully, she did want to have a good time at the revel. This was the first revel she had ever been to and it would probably also be the last. She would have even loved to only watch it unfold from afar.
She wondered who would run away with who at the end of the night and cause the next Noble scandal. Her money was on the Prince. She had heard a story or two. She searched the room, trying to figure out where that particular young man was.
There were many young men around, but none fit the picture of all she had heard. While scanning the room, she spotted the Royal thrones. The Queen sat there with the large snake sculpture standing regally over her head, making up the back of her throne. The King's similar snake like chair empty beside her, as were the smaller ones that sat lower and to both sides. A sweating servant stood beside her holding a large heavy looking umbrella, casting the Queen's face into the dim light, and Flora could not make out her features. Nor could she really see the faces of the hooded priests or priestesses that stood solemnly at its foot cloaked in red.
Lord Reynald twisted her away from her view of the Queen and led her around the room again. Always pushing her as if they were going to talk to someone, but really only parading her around the room so others could get used to her face, only a few times was curiosity peeked in her direction.
"Everyone is so distant," Flora said.
"Do their opinions matter to you?" Lord Reynald said and Flora shrugged.
They were finishing their cycle of a large balcony when Flora felt a light callused touch on her other arm. She pulled up short, which caused her to stop Lord Reynald as well, who turned to see what happened, his face hard.
When she looked up to see who it was, she was staring into a pair of large green eyes. "Lord. Miss," he said with a bow. His voice coming out so husky and deep, full of male dominance that it made Flora's toes curl in her shoes. "I thought I would introduce myself to you Lord Reynald. I am the ambassador from Irmor," he held out his hand to shake Lord Reynald's. His palm was huge, he nearly doubled Lord Reynald's in size. He was even bigger than her brother Roanan, his shoulders filling out his shirt. His cropped fair hair tucked behind his pointed ears—
"You are Folk?" Flora gasped. There was so much turmoil between Merridan and with the Irmor Folk Mountain Nations that Flora had never met one of their kind. All she knew were from the stories told late at night in the tavern.
"That I am miss," the Folk replied. "What might your name be?"
"I'm Flora," she said her mouth gaping, still taking in the man, the Folk, in front of her. "I didn't think that there had been a Folk visitor to the castle in years, decades even?"
Lord Reynald sneered at Flora. "Yes, Cousin Flora, but what would you really know of the castle, my dear. I do apologize for my cousin's rude manners. She isn't used to the more—Noble guests."
"Not at all, it's refreshing," the Folk said, grasping Flora's hand "May I ask your hand for a dance?"
"I'd love to," Flora said quickly, pulling her arm from Lor
d Reynald's. She would pay for this later she was sure, but the chance to speak with, to dance with, a Folk, well it didn't happen often, if ever in Merridan.
"Perfect, I will deliver her back to you Lord Reynald, I appreciate your faith in my company with her. Don't you worry," the Folk said with a bow.
"Take all the time in the world," Lord Reynald said with a smile, his eyes still cold. "I hope you get educated sweet cousin."
The Folk
The Folk led her onto the marbled stone dance floor that was surrounded by spiralling pillars and the other guests as the song strung up. It was a slow and steady song, with the sound of a violin playing as the dancers moved between beats. Flora braced her hands on the Folk's shoulders, having to reach remarkably high, as he started the steps, leading her through the dance. She rested most of her weight on him, her weary body thankful for the rest.
"Is this your first time in the castle?" the Folk asked, looking down at her eyes with a half grin that barely showed his teeth. His eyes the color of a new spring leaf shimmering against the gold hues in the room around them.
Those eyes, why did they seem so enticing and familiar? They felt like a pillar for her to grab onto as the music swept her away in the waves of people.
"I—uh— well I have heard much about it. What about you? I am sorry but I didn't even ask for your name?" Flora changed the topic, her mind still whirling. How had she not heard of a Folk arriving in this city. She dried her palms on his sleeve. She was sure that he must have been able to feel how sweaty they were through his clothing. She was glad he was wearing a light white cotton shirt, with only the golden buttons that screamed of its quality make. The fabric was soothing, and most importantly, absorbent.
The Folk laughed in such a way that it seemed like mad wolves had joined them on the dance floor. The crowd around them flinched, while Flora smiled.
"Vander Mosel, at your service," he said, giving a slight tilt of his head, his eyes still steady with hers under his thick blonde brow.
"What brought you here, Sir Vander?" Flora asked as he sent Flora into a twirl, her momentum pulling Vander's warm smell of cinnamon to her nose.
"No sir, please. That is specifically a Merridan term, I am no man of Merridan, and this is my first time. I arrived just the other week with more of my people. Under a white flag, of course, looking for peace. We Folk are tired of being hunted beyond our borders."
Flora tried to remember the gossip she had heard at the Hare's Tavern over the years. The King had been at war with the Folk since the beginning of his reign, but the war had spanned generations before that. She was so lost in thought that Flora only then noticed that as she danced with the Folk, people were stepping back from them, giving them room on the dance floor. Finally giving her a second look.
Vander did not miss noting it. "Many here, have not yet—adjusted to our presence."
"I had heard of the hunting, are they that successful?" Flora asked.
"Some are, some are not," he said with a shrug. "Some hunters are better than others. Some of Meridan's soldiers are less determined."
"Most only when forced," Flora said, thinking of her own predicament. Vander laughed at that.
"But didn't you think they would kill you on sight?" Flora asked again.
"It was a risk we had to take, and truthfully, our kind are not that easily killed," Vander replied winking.
Then it hit her. Those eyes she had seen the day they were captured, as she had walked out of Hare's Tavern.
She tried to not lean away from him too fast. Not to let the flicker of recognition cover her face. She would have to be careful about what she said, she knew that now. She had already gotten too comfortable. Her breath was muffled by her tight dress, but those same strings held her together. Her hands nearly slipped off of his shoulders. She wondered if he would be another threat to her bloody brothers below.
She looked past his shoulder back at Lord Reynald who was leaned up against one of the pillars in the room. Staring at her. Watching her for any ill moves, his mask barely a smile as an empty space formed around them.
"Might I say, Miss Flora, you look remarkable tonight," Vander said, reeling in Flora's attention from Lord Reynald, and her brothers, who were somewhere in the dark and dust, hidden below.
Flora blushed, shaking thoughts of Thren from her mind. "I am afraid I don't quite fit in with this crowd," She tried to remember what she had been doing before she had recognized him, the Folk that had been sitting, hidden in a dark booth, the night she and her brothers had gone out to kill Miranda Dells.
"I would disagree, you are the most memorable woman in the room by far," Vander replied.
Flora wondered if that was a hint or if he was only being kind. Not knowing what to say she glanced around the room, which was now a blur with dancing bodies.
"Do you know many of the people in this room?" Flora asked, changing subjects.
"Only a few. The Royal family included in that. But we are kept from most other people," he said.
"Really? The Royal family? I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting them," she said.
Vander looked at her for what seemed like a long moment before scanning the room around us. "I do not see the Crown Princess, but it looks like the Prince is just on your left."
Flora looked over a left shoulder, she had to drop her hands along Vander's biceps so she was not so obvious, and was disappointed by what she saw.
The Prince's intoxicated swagger set her teeth on edge even when he had a black eye. His long pulled back hair swaying as he moved. Partying with his friends like he was already King. His group around him were easily the most rambunctious crowd in the room, with many of their shirts popping out of their pants to hang over their bellies. Without care for any other guest there. As if only him and the girl under his arm were there at all, so lost were they in their own celebrations. A small earthquake shock the room, but it only sent up a light twinkling noise as fine china and crystals settled against each other. The music stopped for only a moment before the rattling stopped and laughter and music once again filled the room. The Prince had not even noticed,
As she watched the young Prince, Vander spoke up. "Apparently, just a little while back, he was jumped and robbed on the street. Risky business for whoever decided to do that," he paused. "Worst of all, the person who had done it managed to escape. Imagine that? Jumping the Crown Prince and managing to get away with it."
"How do you know they got away with it?" Flora asked, not looking at Vander
"Well, you are still alive, aren't you?" He replied.
The song need at that moment. Flora's eyes widened and anxiety filled her as her head snapped back towards him, and she brought her hands up back to his shoulders pushing him away. Careful not to dig in with her fingernails she had to ball her hands into fists as she put space between them. She had definitely been recognized.
Unfortunately, Lord Reynald had quickly appeared at their side, ready to take her back into his custody. His hand gripped her bicep hard. He must have been pressing all of his anger into those five fingers for the pain they caused.
"Your cousin is a delight Lord Reynald. I do look forward to seeing her again," Vander said. He grasped her one hand again, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it. Flora pulled her other hand to her skirt, picking at the folds as she thought.
He finished smiling at her and bowed his dismissal. "Until next time, Miss Faodail."
As Vander walked away Lord Reynald mumbled under his breath. "What a disgusting creature."
"Uncle!" Came a high pitched scream from behind them, Flora watched Reynald's lip give a harsh twitch, and he released Flora's bicep, to turn to his niece.
"Its time for my dance Uncle," she said.
"In a little bit darling, I have tasks that need my attention," he said
"But you promised," came out another stutter as her lips started to shake.
"I will be back in but a moment," he said, patting her shoulder in kin
dness then to grab Flora again and walk away.
Flora could feel Lord Reynald cringe when the next scream tore out.
"NO, now!" Came the loudest siren yell Flora had ever heard.
"Sh—shhhh, my darling, you are causing a scene. Okay," Lord Reynald said as his shoulders sagged under the girl's orders, soothing the girl's hair back with his hands. Out of the corner of his eyes, he looked back at Flora.
"Stay right here. The guards stationed at all the doors are aware of what you look like and that you are not allowed to leave. If you are smart, you won't even move from this spot," Lord Reynald finished,
"Why is cousin Flora guarded?" Asked the little girl gripping hard onto Lord Reynald's index finger. "Are we in trouble Uncle?"
"You will never be in trouble sweet one," Lord Reynald said leaving Flora standing there as his niece dragged him to the dance floor.
Fairy Tale Moments
Flora wandered on her own, careful to find any hint of greenery to blend herself next to out of habit. She was pleased when the scowl befell Lord Reynald face when he looked back at where he had left Flora, to find she had vanished. With a sense of freedom she bobbed to the tune of the music as she walked away.
She stayed near the edges of the room, as far away from the dance floor and Lord Reynald as possible, but still in the thick of the crowd. Or at least, the crowd that moved around the edges of the great room like a river, with small islands of people standing off on either side. Her hands drifted towards them, as if to steal from there pockets, but she always pulled back. She already had her hands full with the Folk's pocket watch that she had twirled through her fingers.
She didn't think Vander had noticed, Lord Reynald certainly hadn't, which made Flora feel light on her feet. She was sure that Lord Reynald had not taken his eyes off of her the entire time she had been dancing. She pulled it out from where it had indented itself in her palm.
It was worn and rusted bronze with age, and small. So small it could have easily been mistaken for a locket if the clock hands were not moving steadily along around their point. It was very smooth, probably from being taken in and out of pockets for years. She was not sure if it was a sun or a flower, but the rays were still definitely there and it was still remarkably beautiful. Utterly unique in this room of polished glittering gold. Though, she wondered at the time on the clock face. She looked around the room to see if another clock was nearby to check, but found none. The walls were only decked in stained glass and paintings, littered with statues and plants in between. Balconies opened every few feet, bringing much of the party outside.
Flora Page 10
