Tiara- Part Two

by Robin Roseau

  “You aren’t obligated to stay with me, but you and your household would be welcome,” Grandmother said. “If you make other arrangements, I won’t fault you, assuming you don’t ignore me.”

  “I won’t ignore you,” I promised with a nod.

  “Come after your birthday. Maybe the timing will work that I can travel back with you for Ahlianna’s birthday.”

  “Even if you aren’t done down there, I want you here before Olivia arrives,” Ahlianna said. “Don’t wait for the last minute, in case the roads are uncertain.”

  Grandmother smiled. It wasn’t something I found to be a common occurrence. “Yes. I think this approach is much better.”

  “What approach?” Ahlianna asked.

  “Girls,” she said. “I have never been your enemy.” She paused. “Your parents are decidedly different from each other. Your father is quite logical. If you wish to convince him of something, you must have a solid argument, or he is quite capable of ripping you to shreds.”

  “We’ve each experienced that,” Ahlianna said.

  “Your mother is far more emotional. She responds to an emotional appeal. And that is also her style. She gets what she wants because she is sweet and lovely and compassionate; everyone loves her, and they trip over themselves to please her.”

  “True,” I agreed.

  “Well, I am not able to speak to your mother on those terms. She’s capable of speaking from a logical base, but it’s significant work to get her to do so. When I want something, I browbeat. That was exactly the right word. I pester her and work as a thorn in her side. If I were anyone else, she would find a way to be done with me, but I’m her mother, and she can’t. So she takes it.”

  “And hates it.”

  “Yes, but ultimately one of, oh, four things happens. One: I give up. Two: she gives in. Three: she gets so annoyed with me that she decides to talk to me in a fashion I can actually communicate. And in the resulting conversation, either she says something like, ‘I see your point, but you are missing this other point.’ That point is nearly always about someone else’s emotional reaction, and she is nearly always right. No. Not nearly always. Always. When she presents it that way, she is always right.”

  “Oh,” Ahlianna said.

  “Or the fourth choice: she communicates with me, and she brings herself to understand my position, and then brings herself to find a path forward. Which is why I’m here now, and Darfelsa will be giving my recommendations a chance.”

  It was my turn. “Oh.”

  “That is how I was dealing with both of you, but it is the wrong approach. So I’m trying a new one, and it seems to be more successful.” She smiled. “Good. This is easier, anyway.”

  We paused, and then Grandmother said, “Well. Perhaps it is time to join your parents. I believe I will pester your father until he lets slip his latest catastrophic decision, and I can let him know what I think of it.”

  I cocked my head, but it was Ahlianna who said, “That sounds like you. Why do you do that?”

  “Your father doesn’t need sycophants. He knows I’ll call him out for his mistakes, but that also means if I approve, I’m being honest. Unfortunately, I have to work to find real mistakes. I’m not going to bother with small potatoes. Someone offer her arm.”

  * * * *

  She didn’t go after Father. She went after me. “Darfelsa, you glossed over events in Ressaline. I would appreciate a more complete understanding.”

  And then she latched onto everything I tried to avoid discussing. Worse, no one helped me extricate myself from the situation, and a few times, Ahlianna added to it.

  She was such a mean sister!

  I finished, and then I took ownership of my mistakes, telling everyone what I had done wrong. I finished, and Grandmother was smiling.

  “You enjoy my discomfort?”

  “What? Oh. I was only thinking. You have so much of your father in you. But you also have much of your mother. She approaches things with her emotions. And you have a little bit of me, a willingness to let your pleasure be known perhaps more quickly than Leander might.” She shrugged. “You achieved results.”

  “But I’ll never be friends with Lisdee.”

  “That’s her failure, not yours.” And then she turned to Father and discussed his poor choice in a regional decision I barely understood.

  * * * *

  My original plan was to meet with one of the new suitors a day. That changed, although the basic plan remained the same.

  The first was in the morning. Tisha Haloran was the eldest of the women Grandmother wanted me to meet. She was 25 and physical perfection. She and Grandmother were waiting in the library for me when I entered. They both stood. Grandmother provided introductions. And then I learned that Grandmother had been doing her research.

  Tisha instigated a Ressaline greeting. We didn’t kiss ears or whisper, but we brushed, both sides, and she lingered at it.

  She smelled lovely, her own, natural scent, subtle, but lovely. I found my hand captured, and she led me to the sofa, where we both sat.

  Grandmother slipped out, and while I didn’t actually see this, I imagine she was quite pleased with herself.

  “Thank you for agreeing to meet me, Princess Darfelsa.”

  “Thank you for coming so far, Ms. Haloran,” I replied. “Would it offend you if we were less formal?”

  “Not at all. Call me Tisha, if you like.”

  “And I am Darfelsa.” We both smiled. “I can be blunt,” I said.

  “I can handle blunt.” She gave a little laugh. “Can you imagine being around your grandmother if you couldn’t handle a little bluntness?”

  I joined her laugh. “No.”

  “Do I offend you to admit that?”

  “No,” I repeated. “I want to verify. You are here because you are deciding if you wish to offer suit to me.”

  “No,” she said. “I have already decided that. I’m here for you to decide if you’ll accept.”

  “You don’t know a thing about me.”

  “That isn’t true.”

  “Well, I don’t even know how many women Grandmother brought with her. I didn’t know your name until I arrived. I don’t know a thing about you. I presume you are from Grandmother’s region of Sharden. I’m told you have family connections. That’s all I know.”

  “Well then,” she said. “Perhaps we can share a little. First, unless she is hiding more, there are six of us. One is my younger cousin.”

  “That must be awkward.”

  “My family would be honored if you accepted either suit. If you accept both, even better.”

  “Do you really mean that?”

  “Yes. Siora and I are quite different, from appearance to temperament. She is softer, sweeter. I am, hmm.”

  “You don't strike me as hard.” I looked her up and down. She was quite attractive.

  “If you give us both a chance, you’ll see,” she said. “If you choose Siora instead of me, then I hope we can be friends. If you choose me over her, then I hope you understand I love my cousin, and I hope you don’t mind if she is around a lot.”

  “She would be welcome,” I said.

  “Let’s see. I am 25. My birthday is in the late spring. My interests are varied. I ride well, and my preferred instruments are piano and oboe. I fence, but it is likely you are better.”

  “Of the two instruments, which do you prefer?”

  “I love the sound of oboe, and I like that I can bring it anywhere. But no one ever says, ‘Tisha, get your oboe and play something for us’.”

  I laughed.

  I kept her talking, and I decided several things. Not only was she quite lovely, but she was charming, intelligent, and she made me laugh. And I liked the way she held my hand.

  We spoke for an hour, and then there was a knock. The door opened, and Ahlianna stepped in. We both stood, and then Tisha offered a deep curtsey.

  “Don’t do that,” Ahlianna said.

  “Tisha Haloran,”
I said. “My sister, Ahlianna.”

  “Your Highness, my pleasure,” Tisha said.

  Ahlianna closed the distance and offered my preferred greeting. Then she grinned at me. “Teaching her already?”

  “Actually, Grandmother seems to do her homework.”

  “Well, you haven’t kicked her out,” Ahlianna said.

  “Tisha is very charming,” I replied. “Would you care to stay and chat?”

  “I would love to,” Ahlianna said. We all took fresh places. “Did my sister seem surprised to see me?”

  “No,” Tisha said. “This was arranged?”

  “Yes,” Ahlianna said.

  “You’re here to decide how you feel about me before anyone wastes a lot of time?”

  “Not at all,” Ahlianna said. “I’m not going to bother with that until Darfelsa trims her list. I’m here to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Darfelsa doesn’t need me for this and is quite capable of telling you herself, but I wanted the weight of my own words behind it.”

  “I think I know what I’m facing.”

  “I find that unlikely,” Ahlianna replied. “Oh, you probably know some, and you probably think you know the rest. You’ve never been the subject of the sort of attention you’ll receive when this suit becomes public. If you have secrets, they’ll come out. Your friends and family will be approached, and some of them will sell your life story. Some of those versions will even contain elements of the truth.”

  “I’ve been warned, and I don’t have anything to hide.”

  “Everyone has things to hide. Have you ever shared your bed with another woman?”

  Tisha blinked a few times then said, “Excuse me?”

  “It’s not a complicated question.”

  “Have you?” Tisha shot back.

  “Yes, but we’re not talking about me. Answer me.”

  “Yes,” Tisha said. “I have. Why is this any of your business?”

  “Frequently?” Ahlianna asked. I cocked my head. She seemed annoyed; I wasn’t sure why.

  “On and off since before I was 18.”

  “Boys?”

  “No. I’ve let a few hold my hand. One stole a kiss. I slugged him. That was some time ago. I’ve allowed kisses of one other, but I wasn’t interested in more. I thought this was about letting me know what I’m in for.”

  “It is,” she said. “Darfelsa and I are close, and if you think that was intrusive, just imagine what I can be like once Darfelsa narrows the list and I give you some real attention.”

  “I’m not afraid of a few questions.”

  “Excellent,” Ahlianna said. “Give me the names of your three most recent lovers.”

  Tisha paused then smiled. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

  “I am the crown princess,” Ahlianna said.

  “And I still don’t kiss and tell, Crown Princess. Are you evicting me from the palace?”

  “No.” Ahlianna smiled at me. “She has backbone. She’ll need it.” She shifted her gaze.

  “So all that was a test.”

  “No,” Ahlianna said. “A sample.” She paused. “Ms. Haloran, you may not be aware, but I am our future ruling monarch. I am not going to marry some lord’s son and pass him the reins of power.”

  “I know. Your grandmother seems rather fond of the phrase, ‘our next ruling monarch’.”

  “How long has she been saying that?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. She used it several times during our trip.” She cocked her head. “She used it once or twice when we met to discuss whether I was coming. I’m not sure, but I think she’s used it before that, but I’m not someone she frequently talks to. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” I said. “You can only answer what you know.”

  “I am the next ruling monarch,” Ahlianna said. “My sister has expressed her intention of supporting me. She stated almost six years ago her goal was to be my right hand. Every decision she’s made since then has taken that overall goal in mind.”

  “She refers to me as her future problem solver.”

  “And that is why she spent several years in Ressaline,” Ahlianna said, “Learning from Ambassador Cuprite.”

  “And getting more experience,” Tisha said. “Gandeet, then back to Ressaline.”

  “And smaller issues here in Barrish,” Ahlianna confirmed. “I do not expect her to be permanently placed away from Barrish, but when I need to send someone who can speak with my authority, it will be Darfelsa. Her life will involve significant travel. I will not allow her consort to be anyone who cannot fully support her.”

  “And now I understand the conversation,” Tisha said.

  “Darfelsa can handle the rest of this, but I wanted you to hear that much directly from me. Do I need to lay things out more plainly?”

  “No.”

  “Excellent. It was a pleasure, Ms. Haloran.” She rose. We rose.

  She turned to go, but Tisha stopped her. “Princess Ahlianna.” My sister turned. “Is it your intention to treat my cousin the same way as you’ve treated me?”

  “Well, that’s an interesting question.”

  “My cousin is softer than I am, sweeter. I would ask you to treat her more gently than you have treated me. Does that request eliminate her from consideration?”

  “No,” Ahlianna replied. “That makes her different from you.” Ahlianna headed for the door. “Welcome to the palace,” she said before the door closed behind her.

  Once she was gone, Tisha looked at me. “That was intense.”

  “She’s not always like that.”

  “She’s protective of her little sister,” Tisha replied. “Will she give me a real chance?”

  “If I do, she will.” I paused, collected my thoughts and then said, “Nothing I’m about to say is any sort of state secret, although a lot of it isn’t necessarily discussed for reasons I don’t know. However, I would rather you not talk about this with the other women until I’ve met with them.”

  “You want to judge their reactions yourself.”

  “Yes, and there’s a portion of this that you’re going to have a difficult time understanding, and I’d rather they hear from me rather than from you.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Thank you.” And then proceeded to tell her about all of it, as best I could. She sat quietly, absorbing, reacting from time to time, but not interrupting.

  She didn’t run away.

  I told her what I knew about the customs of Karishten and said, “It is likely, if and when we visit, we will be expected to participate. It is certain we’ll be expected to attend. The Guard won’t let me do anything too dangerous.”

  “I don’t think that’s something I’d be good at.”

  “I wouldn’t necessarily be good at it, either. The question is: can we avoid being insulting? Being bad at it gives them an opportunity to laugh at us, which we need to accept graciously. But responding poorly is entirely different.”

  “It would be hard. I hear what you’re saying, Darfelsa.”

  I told her about Ressaline. She said nothing.

  And I told her about traveling. “When it is time to travel, if it is an expectedly short trip, I may go alone. If it is to be lengthy, I would want you to travel with me.”

  “I’d want that, too.”

  “Once we have children, my preference would be for all of us to go. That may not always be wise, so my second choice is the ones who can’t go would foster with Ahlianna. The last choice is for me to leave without you. Being gone from my family for a year or two isn’t my choice.”

  “And that’s the thrust of this conversation. The rest was what to expect. You need someone who can support you, wherever your duties take you.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Could we back up. Children.” She looked away. “One of us would need to sleep with someone.”

  “Yes,” I said. “As horrible as it might be, you would need to sleep with me. This might be a really poor idea if that
idea startles you.”

  “I am fairly sure that won’t result in children.” She looked back. “I think I deserve to know who is sleeping with a man.”

  “Neither of us,” I said. “Were you paying attention to the conversation?”

  “I’ve heard every word.”

  “So you heard the part where I said there are no men in Ressaline? None. You didn’t consider the implications?”

  “They must do something,” she said. “Come here? Maybe they hide them away in a convent.”

  “No. They use magic.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Magic. Our children would be planned. We would have only daughters. It has been suggested, for political purposes, that I should carry the first, but we could discuss that and any subsequent children. We would need to travel to Charth, together.”

  “So the first would be yours, and the second would be mine?”

  “No, they would both be ours, a little of you, and a little of me. It’s magic. I obviously haven’t experienced it myself. Princess Gionna is visiting, so if you don’t run away, you can ask her for more details.”

  “Magic children,” she said. “Daughters. As many as we want?”

  “As many as we want,” I confirmed, “but requiring a trip north.”

  “And I have to do this… First? Each time we go?”

  “Ah. You have to have a First, and then future obligation is based on whether you follow the old rule or the new rule. The old rule means two months the first time. The new rule means you continue to experience the custom during subsequent visits, until Lady Olivia is satisfied.”

  She went around in circles on that for a minute, but then she nodded. “And you’ve done this.”

  “Oh, yes. It’s a spectator sport. And I’m a very sporting person.”

  She laughed at that. “What if I want you to be my slave?”

  “I guess you better beat me in a practice challenge.”

  “What if I want some sort of guarantee?”

  I paused. “I took a suitor with me this summer.”

  “You bring that up now?”

  “She embraced the tradition.”

  “And now I must tell you I’ll embrace it, or I don’t get my chance?”

  “No. I’m reaching a point. Before we left to come south, she made an offer to me, and she told me it was very important. She told me she wanted me to belong to her, even if it were only a few days, but then she wanted to be mine, and to remain mine for a period after arriving here.”