Riding the Wind

Chapter four: Of Tea, Cakes, and Secrets Revealed

"A horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves—strong, powerful, beautiful—and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence." Pam Brown

Part one

Present day, two days after the invitation

Clarisse stared out the window of her office, ignoring the mountain of paperwork waiting patiently on her desk. She sighed heavily, ninety percent of the mountain was needless; designed to make someone feel important. It was the sorting through the ninety percent to deal with the ten that frustrated her to no end.

A light tapping interrupted her thoughts. 'If that is Charlotte with more papers, I'll scream. Very loud.' "Yes?" She replied aloud instead.

It was Charlotte but thankfully she carried no mountain. "Your Majesty, your parents are here."

"Joseph?" Clarisse asked, turning to face her personal assistant and friend.

Charlotte tried to hide a small smile, "I think you should watch your mother. She has taken a liking to Joseph."

"He does have that effect on women, doesn't he? Charlotte, I've been meaning to ask, with Amelia taking the throne, will you be staying on?"

"I've spoken with the Princess, I'll stay during the coronation and transition. I'm sure she'll want someone more her age for a Personal Assistant. I do have plans I would like to pursue."

"I should have known, forgive me for asking. We've been through a lot together haven't we?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty. We have indeed." the younger woman replied.

"Charlotte, just this once, will you call me Clarisse?"

^^C/J^^

Joseph was waiting for her when she left her office. "Everything in readiness, Joseph?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I took the liberty of placing your parents in the shade of a pear tree."

"Excellent, Joseph. What would I do without you?"

"I hope you never have the opportunity to find out." His hand in the small of her back gave her the reassurance that he was with her as he always had been.

It was a warm Spring day in Genovia, a light breeze cooled the air, played with ladies skirts and made young men think of love in a field of flowers. Joseph was not immune. He could feel the slight tremor shaking her body. He wished he could help but this was something Clarisse would have to face alone.

A slight pressure would let her know he would be nearby.

Joseph held her chair, waiting until the Queen was seated before moving off a few steps. He had an idea of what was about to transpire. It wouldn't be pretty but necessary if Clarisse was to banish this demon from her past.

"I've ordered pear cakes and tea, I hope you like them as much as I do." At a nod of her head, the Chef stepped forward, placing individual cakes in front of each; an assistant poured the tea.

Her mother took a bite, savoring the sweetness. "It is delicious, Carrie. You mentioned you wanted to talk. Well, here we are, what did you want to talk about?"

'Carrie', a nickname from childhood; she hadn't heard that name for twenty years, not until her mother had used it the day before yesterday. But she wasn't a child anymore.

"Perhaps we should get the bitter out of the way before we enjoy the sweet. I asked you and father here for one question: Why did you sell me into slavery?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Nara Magnonette placed her spoon down slowly. "I think we'll be leaving now. Thank you, your majesty, for the cake. It was very good, I'm sorry I can't say the same for the conversation."

"Sit down, Mother. No one is leaving until I have an answer to my question." The atmosphere had taken on a chill that had nothing to do with the breeze. Her mother sat back, glancing at her husband who nodded.

"Very well." Nara seemed to implode, growing smaller. "I don't know where you got your information, but you got it wrong. We never 'sold you' as you so bluntly put it. Your father and I were never given a choice in the matter.

"I have no idea where the old Queen saw or even knew about you. She only sent an envoy to tell us you had been chosen to be bride for her son, Rupert. We never heard from you or the Crown after the wedding.

"Satisfied, your Majesty? We'll leave you now."

"Sit down, Mother." This time the warmth had returned to the Spring day. "I think there has been a misunderstanding. You said the Queen contacted you about me. Do you know why she would choose me? Please, finish your cake."

"As your mother said, Carrie," Victor, her father spoke for the first time. "We can only guess as to why you were chosen. Blame us if you wish but we were ecstatic. Imagine, if you can, our daughter had been chosen to be the next Queen. Would you have done differently?"

"No, dad. I would have done the same. I'm so sorry...I thought..."

"If I may ask, who told you that you had been sold?" Her father asked.

"Rupert...on our wedding night...later he told me Autumn Dancer was the last payment on my bride price." Her voice hitched, unable to continue, she could only sit, hands folded in her lap.

"That lying bastard!" Her father exploded. "I bought that horse for you. I traded three days labor and three hundred dollars for him." He made each point by slamming his fist down on the table.

"You said you could guess why...I was chosen. I'd like to know your guess."

"Understand, it's only a guess, no way to prove anything now. I think you were chosen because the old battleaxe thought you'd be a pushover, someone she could easily control.

"She was wrong, Carrie. You're a strong, beautiful woman. We don't know what Rupert did to you but ask yourself this: Where would Genovia be without you as Queen?"

Clarisse had no answer to that question. But one thing was sure, the throne would not be in Renaldi hands.

"Carrie," her mother interjected, "I've heard that your security have to agree that...they have to take a bullet for their Queen...has anyone..."

"Perhaps your Majesty would like me answer that question." Joseph stepped forward. "Ma'am, it's a curse we don't talk about, you won't find it in any written rules but yes, every new recruit is told it's expected."

"Have you ever taken a bullet for our Carrie?" Nara persisted.

"It was an honor, ma'am." Joseph replied.

"Why did we not see anything in the paper?"

"The incident was hushed up, I don't like publicity."

"But there had to be a trial...of the person, right?"

"No ma'am, there was no trial. The incident required I be in full military regalia, including my sword. There was no trial because the perpetrator's head hit the floor before I did."

"Joseph! That's enough blood for one day." Clarisse had to smile, thinking of that day when Joseph had pushed her to the floor, covering her with his body.

"Mother, Dad, there is someone I'd like you to meet. Joseph, see if Amelia can join us for tea. I don't think she'd mind a break in her lessons."

"Yes, your Majesty. I'll check." A word in his earpiece and he turned back to Clarrise, "She's free and on her way."

A beautiful young girl came bounding out of the palace, walking swiftly. The four watched as the dark haired Princess approached the table.

"Amelia," Clarisse began, "I'd like you to meet Nara and Victor Magnonette, my parents. Your great-grandparents. Mom, Dad, this is Princess Amelia Magnonette Renaldi, the next Queen of Genovia."

"Shut...up!"

TBC