The Princess
Ch. 1: The House of Aeducan
Sereda Aeducan smiled to herself in the vanity's mirror. Today was going to be a very fine day indeed. She took extra care of her appearance to ensure she had maximum impact. Her lips were the color of rubies, matching the rich color of her hair. A series of braids fell around her head and outlined her short hair. She wished it was longer, but unfortunately, the battlefield demanded some sacrifices. To make up for that, she was blessed with pale, unblemished skin. Her grey eyes were the perfect shape and her small nose completed her lovely face.
She stepped back from the mirror and double-checked her armor. The plates of thick metal covered her frame well. She remembered the first time she trained with the heavy armor. That day, she learned just how much a person could sweat given the right circumstances. But she was used to it now, and was finally done with that horrid, bland training armor. Her armor was covered in straight lines and right angles that, despite their simplicity, enhanced the armor's presence.
"Greetings, my lady." A voice called from behind her. A voice that brought a smile to her lips. "You are dressed and ready. Excellent. I couldn't find the armor's matching dagger, but I scrounged up a rather fancy longsword. Do you wish to wear your shield to the noble's feast?"
"Yes. Let them see me as a warrior." Sereda replied after she turned around. Gorim, her Second, leaned against the doorway. His dark blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail while his beard tied into a single, large braid. His long moustache dropped over the corners of his mouth and was as long as his beard. He was armored in lesser plate armor, a darker metal that overcoated the red tunic beneath it. And she knew from firsthand experience that powerful muscles lay beneath that.
"As opposed to the Paragon of Beauty?" Gorim said with an easy grin.
Sereda matched the flirtatious grin with one of her own. "Close the door. I'll show you a Paragon of Beauty,"
"Ha! Don't you remember how this game goes? I get undressed, then one of your brothers or cousins appears and thrashes me. I'll take my chances somewhere outside the palace if you don't mind. Perhaps after the feast?"
"Perhaps," The noble caste replied with a wider grin before she accepted the longsword. It was of good quality, but she wished that she had time to stamp her house's emblem on the blade.
"Well... thoughts for later, I suppose," Gorim continued wistfully. "Moving on to the business at hand. The king expects you to make an appearance at the feast, but there's no rush. The noble family heads will spend hours boring your father with petitions and petty grievances."
Sereda nodded thoughtfully as she digested all of this information. But there was one key piece that she desired. "What of my brothers?"
"Out and about. I saw them on my way here, browsing the shops. As part of the celebrations, permits have been auctioned off to members of the Merchant Caste who wished to sell wares in the Diamond Quarter. Lord Harrowmont has also opened up the Provings for young warriors to test their mettle before tomorrow's battle. Rumor has it that Harrowmont hopes you'll be swept off your feet if a well-placed young nobleman wins the Provings in your honor."
The princess sighed. Ah yes. I see Lord Harrowmont still hasn't given up his matchmaking ways. "Should we tell him I already have all the man I need?" She replied wistfully and sarcastically.
Gorim responded in kind. "Why not? I'll just wear a sign that says, 'Assassinate me before Lady Aeducan marries beneath her.' Better yet, let's just enjoy the time we have before the feast."
She resisted another sigh as she sent a silent curse to whoever made up that damn rule. Why was it alright for noblemen to have their mistresses but she couldn't have her warrior? "The Proving sounds appealing. Let's go have a look," Sereda decided.
"With you as always, my lady," Gorim replied with a little bow. "The day is ours."
The dwarf noblewoman nodded before she walked over to the chest next to her nightstand. Inside were various weapons in all shapes and sizes. She'd spent quite a bit of time practicing with them before she finally decided to go with the sword and shield combination. The markets were on the way to the Proving, so there was no reason for her to sell off her old weapons on the way.
After all the spare weapons were situated, she nodded to Gorim and the pair exited the large and luxurious bedroom. The royal guards standing at the intersection immediately snapped to attention as Sereda approached. The younger guard shot off, "I am at your service, milady."
Sereda marked down his face in her mind as she nodded to the pair. It wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on a guard who showed some initiative. She took a right, leaving Trian's room behind her.
As she neared her younger brother's room, a voice gently snuck out the doorway. "My lord Bhelen?" A young woman stepped out of the royal bedroom. She saw Sereda's approach and immediately bowed her head, chastened. "Oh! My apologies, your highness!" She squeaked before she duck back in.
Normally, Sereda would've ignored her and continued on her way, but she thought she spied a mark on the red-haired lass' cheek. No, he wouldn't dare sink that low...would he? The dwarven princess decided to take a detour into Bhelen's room since he was obviously not in at the moment.
The bedroom was as large as hers, but while hers was simply a wide semicircle, Bhelan's was in the shape of a clover. A study with a few bookcases sat in the right 'leaf' opposite to a living area, with the actual bed at the head. The young woman was loitering next to it now.
Sereda marched straight up to her and glowered when she confirmed her suspicions. The tattoo was in the shape of an 'S' with hard angles instead of smooth curves. A casteless!? My brother brings a Castless into his bed?! How dare he!
The mistress was meek and stuttered out an apology. "I..I'm sorry. I thought you were Prince Behlen coming down the hall. I... forgive me."
Sereda had a half-mind to chase the wench out and all the way to Dust Town. But she forced those thoughts away. This young woman offered an excellent opportunity for Lady Aeducan. Speaking kindly, Sereda said, "No harm done."
"I will show myself out, with your leave, my lady," The mistress offered.
Sereda tried to avoid frowning. She wanted more information, but if she wanted to be able to exploit this Brand in the future, she needed to maintain the mask. "Yes. You may go."
"Thank you. I will go now." And with that, the mistress scurried out.
Lady Aeducan spent a moment, going over various possibilities regarding the girl before she nodded to Gorim and the two resumed their path. Hm, what could I do? In case my brother ever makes an attempt on the throne before the Assembly, I could use her to establish myself as a defender of the traditions and the Stone. That would guarantee Lord Harrowmont's support and a sizable chunk of the Assembly. But what to do if he tries no such thing? As a Brand, her family wouldn't have any sort of protection and I could exploit that easily. Hm, I wonder if she has a family. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised if she was an orphan street urchin like so many of her filth. Hmm, I could use that too. Pretend to be the concerned sister-in-law in case my brother does try to keep her for any length of time. Then again, she's probably as devious as the rest of her casteless kind. I'll have to be careful and send spies to figure out what her background is truly like. And, I suppose I'll have to spend time with her myself to discern her nature.
A queasy frown threatened to break out onto her face as she and Gorim walked out onto the streets. Such unpleasant thoughts troubled her no longer as she caught sight of an argument before her.
"I'm sure we can work this out reasonably! It's in the records! There's nothing I can do," The red-haired man protested nervously. Across from the robed man was a dark-haired dwarf wearing armor and an indignant expression. Sereda recognized the scholar for what he was. But she knew the name of the armored fellow: Bruntin Vollney.
"Please, Master Vollney, my work is accredited by the shaper!"
"These books are lies written by the enemies of House Vollney."
"I write only what I find in the ancient records!" The scholar reasoned. "Lady Aeducan! You can vouch for my work, can't you? Your father loved my "History of Aeducan: Paragon, King, Peacemaker!" The scholar offered as he turned to her for aid.
The Lady paused and turned to her Second. "Gorim, does this scholar truly have my father's favor?"
"The king, as well as several of the lords, are quite fond of his work. He writes of the ancient Paragons," Gorim answered dutifully.
"This... worm has written a book that slanders my house!" Bruntin growled.
"That is a serious charge," Sereda replied coldly.
"He deserves to die for what he has written of Paragon Vollney!" The lordling countered, eyeing the scholar angrily.
She turned to the scholar. "Tell me what it says, scholar."
"My work tells the stories of all of those raised to Paragons in the last five hundred years. When the Assembly names a Paragon, that man or woman is then, by definition, everything one can aspire to be in the world. They form their own nobles houses, and are revered as living ancestors. But Paragons start off as men," The scholar explained, relaxing as he slid into his topic.
"Vollney was more than a man!" Bruntin added loudly.
Sereda remembered Gorim's advice how this scholar had her father's favor and what she knew of her ancestor's abilities. "What was Aeducan like before he was a Paragon?" She asked, knowing that however bad it may be, Vollney was bound to be worse. A subtle jab against Bruntin.
"Aeducan was much loved, but he was still a man. He was plagued by melancholy, and his fervor regarding Orzammar's safety bordered on obsession. When Aeducan was proposed as a Paragon, only one lord in the Assembly objected. The others savagely hacked him to death. Aeducan's motion passed without a single dissenting vote."
Sereda hid her triumphant smile. Truly, her house was the most noble of them all.
"Unlike Vollney! Is that what you mean, old man?" Bruntin snapped.
Lady Aeducan sighed. Pity the fool can't see it was my doing. He is as blind as his nose is huge. She decided, glancing at the oversized organ.
"Vollney became a Paragon by the narrowest margin in history-one vote. A vote mired in rumors of intimidation, intrigue, and outright bribery. The records of the vote are kept in the Shaperate and are a matter of fact. Not liking history doesn't make it any less true!" He threw at the nobleman.
For Sereda, the decision was made when Gorim told her who her father favored. "The scholar is right."
"You're taking his side? What if he published a book like this about your Paragon Aeducan?" Bruntin shot at her.
"The truth is more important than your pride," She answered. And Aeducan was a great man, She thought to herself smugly. Perhaps if the Stone hadn't blessed her with such a noble house, she might be inclined to agree with Bruntin. But the Shaperate, though not officially a political power, still had their influence to be considered. Best to appear as a staunch friend of theirs. Who knows what 'truths' they may hold in their bastion of knowledges.
"You would not say so if it was your house, but I shall respect your wishes. For now," Bruntin warned. "Excuse me, your Highness."
"That fool has no idea how weak his house is or how low he sits in it. Shall I have him killed, my lady?" Gorim offered while he glared at Bruntin's retreating form.
Sereda paused before she blurted out for him to do so. She turned her attention to the scholar. After all, if she was to establish herself as a defender of the Shaperate, she had to be seen taking their advice. "What do you think, scholar?"
"Well...historically it has been prudent to eliminate a small threat before it becomes larger..." The scholar trailed off, allowing her to fill in the rest.
She didn't hide the smile this time. "Hear that, Gorim? Do the prudent thing."
"How do you want it done?" Gorim asked.
"Publicly. Make sure everyone knows why," Sereda answered confidently.
"Understood." Gorim nodded before he walked off to give the word.
"You're shown yourself more daring and aggressive today than most believed of you. Someday, I hope to write of the great exploits you are sure to perform," The scholar hoped for.
The more he speaks, the more I like him, Sereda thought to herself with a smile.
"Word has been sent. He won't live past the hour," Gorim quietly announced upon his return.
"You've shown House Aeducan a friend to research, history, and the glory of our people," The scholar declared awe-filled.
Perfect.
"Before you carry on with your work, scholar, may I have your name?" She inquired pleasantly.
"Of course, my lady. I am Gertek. Good day, your Highness, and thank you," Gertek said with a deep nod before he walked off.
Sereda smiled. Today is going to be a glorious day.