Disclaimer: I own nothing
Characters:-
Dolen (Don), Olethia (Olivia), Ellard (Elliot), Miron (Munch), Fatin (Fin), Ailis (Alex), A'ishah (Abbie), Stina (Serena), Caci (Casey) Zafirah (Essentially Mrs Cabot), Treton (Trevor), Lonyn (Liz), Kelifa (Kathy), Gair (George), Majida (Melinda), Jaecar (Jack).
Tanton's:-
Demophan (Dolen's), Oria (Olethia's), Eneas (Ellard's), Medus (Miron's) and Fedor (Fatin's)
Thanks for the wonderful reviews. Keep it up. Because I am so far ahead and in two days time I go on holidays without my laptop and won't return until October you get a little treat, an added bonus for today. Enjoy.
Olethia saw the Queen and her friend approaching first and hastened into a bow. Looking at Oria who was standing there still receiving a scratch from Ailis, her eyes closed in bliss, she hissed at her friend
"Bow Oria, it's the Queen"
Oria's eye blinked open saw her rider bowing, looked at the two women approaching, both who looked similar to the Princess who was now too in a bow of respect and hastily laid her chin on the floor. She preened when Olethia called her a good girl. Obviously she was putting on a good show. She was trying to be on her best behaviour. She could tell Olethia was smitten with the Princess and vice versa. They were courting. She barely kept her hind end still at the thought.
Olethia sighed as she stood, sensing Oria's barely contained excitement. Oria may be close to her age in human years but in Tanton years she was about 10. Once Olethia could no longer ride, Oria would have the choice of becoming wild or choosing another rider. Most Tanton's if choosing another rider chose an ancestor of their original rider. That would be interesting for Oria, considering she didn't expect to have children. She flicked a look at Ailis, maybe, one day. Ignoring the thudding of her heart she turned to the Queen.
"Queen Zafirah, may I introduce my Tanton, Oria" she advised as the Queen stopped before her, followed by Lonyn and a servant. The Queen looked over the beast with a critical eye while Oria sat still, trying herself to look regal and proud. Olethia tried not to smirk at the attempt.
"She is magnificent, her colouring is beautiful and she appears very gentle. I saw Ailis patting her" the Queen added while Oria preened at being called beautiful.
"She is on her best behaviour" Olethia assured "She is still very young and a handful at times" she paused when Oria shot her a wounded look, causing everyone to laugh "As you can see she has personality plus but don't let that fool you" Olethia cautioned "We train very rigidly and in battle her teeth, claws and tail are very deadly"
"I am sure" the Queen nodded then looked over at her daughter, seeing the pink hew across her cheeks and was intrigued "You appear flushed Ailis. Are you feeling unwell?"
"I am fine mother" Ailis flushed deeper and looked across at Olethia who was finding a smudge on her boots fascinating. The Queen also looked at the dark haired princess and had to chuckle. Ah, young love. She decided to have some fun at their expense.
"Is there something you wish to tell me Ailis?" she asked and watched blue eyes go wide, knowing she was caught, Olethia merely sighed resigned and leant against Oria for support. What to say now? She was nearly shocked out of her boots when Ailis spoke.
"Olethia has asked to court me, I have said yes" the beautiful blonde stated with a prideful lift of her chin. Ah the stubborn woman, didn't she know that was not the way to go about things? She tried not to groan while hastily standing upright as the Queens eyes shot to her. The look she received from the queen would have had a lesser man or woman shaking in their boots.
"Is that so?" the Queen asked "When did this happen?"
Alright Olethia, nothing like the present, show the woman you aren't some simpering fool.
"Just now your highness. I had planned on asking your permission first. However it is Ailis I would be courting, I believed in the end she was the one to ask" she shot the blonde a look that told the Queen everything she needed to know. Olethia adored her daughter. Though the timing may be fast the Queen was not blind. These two had been attracted to each other from the second they met.
"You are a wonderful woman Olethia. Kind, strong and proud. You would be a wonderful suitor for my daughter. You have my full approval" the Queen acknowledged causing the couple in question to smile at each other "A word of warning though Olethia. Take my daughter to your bed without any type of formal commitment and I will make your life hell"
"Mother!" Ailis gasped shocked, turning as red as a tomato. Even Lonyn groaned behind the queen, wanting to slap her for the remark. She'd certainly give her a stern talking to later in their chambers.
"I won't ma'am. I promise" Olivia, also a deep red, hastily assured and breathed a sigh of relief when the King and the rest of the forest entourage entered the cave, followed closely by their servants and Royal Guards.
Her relief was short lived though when the Queen informed the King of the courtship and all eyes turned to her. She waited, expecting her father to blow up in outrage and nearly fell over in shock when he stated
"A fine choice Olethia. I approve" he nodded and Olethia shared a surprised look with Oria. Her father always threw men at her, he never ever indicated that a woman would meet his approval. Although coming to think of it, Ailis wasn't just any woman. Still, what was going on?
There were many excited utterances from Ailis's friends as they hugged Ailis warmly, happy with the news. Even Gair looked excited, Jaecar however looked down his nose with disdain. She wondered what the hell his problem was. The King put an end to all the excitement, clapping his hands to draw everyone's attention.
"Very exciting, but as it is we need to go to the markets and then the Queen and I must discuss this new turn of events and what it means at the end of the week" he turned, looking over his shoulder and waving. Two servants hurried forward, carrying a tray filled with bulging coin purses. "I have organised some coin for you, no objections" he warned the Queen when she would have spoken up "You can purchase items at the market as you see fit. You will require warm clothes for the week and I am sure they will come in handy just as much in the forest during winter, so do not waste your breath and protest"
He picked up one particular sack and heaved it in his daughter's direction. Olethia caught it easily and frowned at its weight.
"I have reimbursed you with interest for your wonderful generosity last night Olethia. Spend it wisely. Perhaps on your intended" he pointed out and Olethia looked over at Ailis who was watching her with a smile. Olethia returned it and offered her hand, the smile broadening as Ailis left her circle of friends and came forward to accept it. With their parents blessing they could share that intimacy openly.
Olethia turned to her friend and gave Oria a pat, Ailis too offered a quick scratch much to the King's surprise. If a Tanton readily accepted Ailis as a mate then Olethia must have told Oria all about Ailis and Oria must agree and approve. The King let out a relieved breath. He had been waiting a long time to see Olethia settled, now he need not worry any more. He hoped he could convince them to marry by the end of the week when he could not delay any further. He had kept Olethia behind with platitudes of scouting missions but he knew, if a war started, she needed to be there with her men.
Olethia walked behind Ailis, her arms laden with wrapped parcels. Who knew the princess would be a shop-aholic? Of course she was very thrifty, could pick out a bargain and went to ten different stalls before usually going back to the first. Sigh. She had done well though, she hadn't spent too much of her coin and had another set of clothes like what she was wearing as well as a couple of dresses and shoes to go with them.
Olethia had already sent a couple of servants back laden with those items before Ailis found a beautiful royal blue cloak which she had to have, along with some personal items and night clothes. All which she carried now to allow Ailis to continue to look around. She continued to seek out the servants to see if they had returned to give them their next load.
The one thing that kept her smiling was the knowledge that Ailis wouldn't be spending like this if she truly believed she wouldn't be staying at the week's end. She was positive the Queen wouldn't let her either. It eased her troubled mind knowing this.
A commotion behind her drew her attention and without thought she pushed Ailis behind the wooden stall, shoving the items she had at A'ishah who was standing next to her and ordering her in to safety also.
Stepping out into the road between the stalls she drew her sword and waited. She could hear someone yelling "Stop thief!" and was incensed that someone dared to steal from another. Every person in the tribe was paid handsomely for their work, their produce or products. No one paid taxes towards the up keep of the territory. If it was needed, people were employed and paid handsomely. Where did the gold come from? Well there wasn't just slate and ore in the Mountains or valleys. So she was furious at the thought that someone had decided to steal from someone else who had worked hard to produce their product.
She watched now waiting. She could see two large Royal Guards running towards her but could not see the perpetrator. She could see where he was though as people jumped clear to provide him with a clear passage, stepping further clear as the guards raced after him.
Her mouth fell open in shock as the people in front of her parted and she saw a small boy, no older than 8 running straight for her with a loaf of bread hugged to his chest. Why was a boy of his age stealing? Admittedly he looked like he could use a good feed, not to mention a bath. She wasn't sure what he looked like under all that dirt and grime, let alone what his actual true age was.
She snagged his shirt when he would have run past her, halting him in his tracks.
"Oh no you don't son" she told him and held him at arm's length while he screamed to be let go and swung and kicked. The Royal guards caught up finally and seeing who had caught the thief bowed before her.
"Your highness, thank you. We will deal with it from here" one guard stated and clamped a large hand on the boys shoulder. The boy screamed as if in agony and Olethia saw red, thinking he was squeezing too tight.
"Let him go" she ordered and the Royal Guard did so. The boy gasped and collapsed to the ground. Olethia hurried to him and noticed a large red stain spreading across his shirt. Knowing the guard was not able to do this and that the boy obviously had a wound she hastily raised his shirt. She gasped in horror upon seeing his flesh. The child had been beaten! She nearly gagged from the stench of his festering wounds.
"My God, who would do that?" a horrified guard asked as people started to crowd around and murmurs started to spread. She heard a gasp and looked up to see a pale Ailis looking on. Olethia stood and grabbing one of the guards pointed at Ailis.
"Get the Princess and the others away from here now" she ordered then hurried over to Ailis. "Go with the guard, find the others and get back to the caves. I need to deal with this"
"Olethia that boy has been tortured. He is barely ten, if that" Ailis was horrified. No one should be treated like that.
"I know, once I have found the culprit he will be dealt with. Now go, I cannot look after the boy and find his abuser if I am worried about you, please Ailis" Ailis nodded, giving the unconscious boy one last look before the guard guided her gently away and Olethia turned back to the boy.
She crouched next to him, checking him carefully to see if he was still breathing, relieved he was so when she heard her father's voice.
"Olethia? Good God what happened to him?"
"I'd say long term continuous beating father" she told him as he crouched down next to her. She looked up to see him looking down at the boy with compassion. "Take him to Majida. I will find out who did this and bring him before you"
"I cannot condone this Olethia. Whoever did this will be imprisoned for a long time or banished" the King stated then turned to wave at his servants who hurried forward. He gave them instructions to take the boy to a room in the servant's quarters and get Majida to treat his wounds. He then turned back to his daughter. "I will be in the meeting room" he advised and standing strode off after the servants that were carrying the boy gently between them.
