Passions
Chapter 1 ~ The Invitation
Buriram Tourakom gathered up her exercise equipment from the practice courtyard of the Queen's Riders. She had a light sweat on her brow after leading the new rider trainees Onua had recruited through their warm-ups and drill practices.
She walked slowly through the glorious, sun warmed air back to her chambers in the palace. She unlocked the sturdy wooden door and dropped her luggage. She collapsed down into an overstuffed, comfortable armchair and closed her eyes. Today had been a tiring and busy day.
Just then there was a knock at the door. She pulled herself out of her reverie and walked to answer it. It was Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malories Peak, knight commander of the King's Own. Buri smiled weakly when she saw him. A while ago they'd had a brief affair but had stopped it when they both realized they weren't ready for something major yet, and they both had demanding careers. After all, Buri was Raoul's counterpart.
He bowed before her. "My fair lady, by order of King Jonathan of Conte, I bring you an invitation to the grand spring fete at the palace ballroom tomorrow evening. He would like to cordially invite you as one of his esteemed guests, and I would like to echo his ingenious proposal."
Buri giggled. Raoul had a marvelous way of words, and he'd certainly perfected the art of flirting. She curtsied. "Can you please convey my best wishes to our liege with the message that I would gladly attend this grande occasion with pleasure."
She straightened up and leaned against the doorframe with a more serious look on her face. "Is there anything else I should know about this ball? Is it a costume party? Military commanders and ambassadors from other kingdoms?"
Raoul straightened up as well and stood at attention in the military posture which had been drilled into him since he was a page with Alanna. He was much taller than Buri, who was very petite. "The ball is to introduce several young maidens to court and celebrate the anniversary of King Jonathan and Queen Thayet's marriage. The theme is romance..." his eyes took on a sexy look. "And I believe Jon wants everyone to come with accompaniment although he didn't say so aloud. You can always tell what he really means by the undertones. Jon is terrible at disguising the truth of what he says."Raoul laughed heartily.
"I agree." she said flirtatiously with, then added a look of feminine confusion on her face. She twirled the tips of her raven coloured bangs with her long fingernails.
"I don't have a fine young gentleman to escort me to a social engagement like this one... Let me see. I really don't know if there's anyone who would do just perfectly for the party, although there's one man who's a possibility..." she replaced the look of confusion with a sexy pout which invoked a feeling that she was deep in thought even though she wasn't at all. Raoul wasn't the only one who knew how to flirt.
"I know! There's a handsome fellow standing right in front of me who is without a partner at the moment is there not?" she carefully moved her hands onto his chest and started playing with the ends of his tunic collar.
"I believe you're right, madam. I think he would find that plan suited to his liking if I'm not mistaken."
"Good." she purred softly. "Then he will meet me at six o'clock on the day of this fine event?"
"He'll be happy to!" Raoul replied with another of his dazzling smiles, then turned and walked back down the corridor.
"See you then!" Buri called at his retreating figure. She laughed to herself. She should do this more often. It was a lot of fun. She turned her mind to more important things. If the ball was the next evening, she had a lot of things to do to get ready...
Chapter 1 ~ The Invitation
Buriram Tourakom gathered up her exercise equipment from the practice courtyard of the Queen's Riders. She had a light sweat on her brow after leading the new rider trainees Onua had recruited through their warm-ups and drill practices.
She walked slowly through the glorious, sun warmed air back to her chambers in the palace. She unlocked the sturdy wooden door and dropped her luggage. She collapsed down into an overstuffed, comfortable armchair and closed her eyes. Today had been a tiring and busy day.
Just then there was a knock at the door. She pulled herself out of her reverie and walked to answer it. It was Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malories Peak, knight commander of the King's Own. Buri smiled weakly when she saw him. A while ago they'd had a brief affair but had stopped it when they both realized they weren't ready for something major yet, and they both had demanding careers. After all, Buri was Raoul's counterpart.
He bowed before her. "My fair lady, by order of King Jonathan of Conte, I bring you an invitation to the grand spring fete at the palace ballroom tomorrow evening. He would like to cordially invite you as one of his esteemed guests, and I would like to echo his ingenious proposal."
Buri giggled. Raoul had a marvelous way of words, and he'd certainly perfected the art of flirting. She curtsied. "Can you please convey my best wishes to our liege with the message that I would gladly attend this grande occasion with pleasure."
She straightened up and leaned against the doorframe with a more serious look on her face. "Is there anything else I should know about this ball? Is it a costume party? Military commanders and ambassadors from other kingdoms?"
Raoul straightened up as well and stood at attention in the military posture which had been drilled into him since he was a page with Alanna. He was much taller than Buri, who was very petite. "The ball is to introduce several young maidens to court and celebrate the anniversary of King Jonathan and Queen Thayet's marriage. The theme is romance..." his eyes took on a sexy look. "And I believe Jon wants everyone to come with accompaniment although he didn't say so aloud. You can always tell what he really means by the undertones. Jon is terrible at disguising the truth of what he says."Raoul laughed heartily.
"I agree." she said flirtatiously with, then added a look of feminine confusion on her face. She twirled the tips of her raven coloured bangs with her long fingernails.
"I don't have a fine young gentleman to escort me to a social engagement like this one... Let me see. I really don't know if there's anyone who would do just perfectly for the party, although there's one man who's a possibility..." she replaced the look of confusion with a sexy pout which invoked a feeling that she was deep in thought even though she wasn't at all. Raoul wasn't the only one who knew how to flirt.
"I know! There's a handsome fellow standing right in front of me who is without a partner at the moment is there not?" she carefully moved her hands onto his chest and started playing with the ends of his tunic collar.
"I believe you're right, madam. I think he would find that plan suited to his liking if I'm not mistaken."
"Good." she purred softly. "Then he will meet me at six o'clock on the day of this fine event?"
"He'll be happy to!" Raoul replied with another of his dazzling smiles, then turned and walked back down the corridor.
"See you then!" Buri called at his retreating figure. She laughed to herself. She should do this more often. It was a lot of fun. She turned her mind to more important things. If the ball was the next evening, she had a lot of things to do to get ready...
