PRE-A/N: I hope you know, I'm madly in love with you all!
Felsong- There is a narcissus flower, which is really pretty I've heard, but in the myth, Narcissus himself turns into an anemone flower. I checked.
Ekirth- Come on, who actually thinks of themselves as good looking? Personally, I like to think that because Elestra's not some great beauty that she can get away with being so... I kinda wanna say subversive, but that makes her seem like a brat. It allows her to operate for the greater good in a more behind-the-scenes way because she doesn't draw so much attention- how's that? Oh! And Flauvic's POV jumps in quite a few times as the story goes on. Not every chapter, but we will get to see what he's thinking about a few things.
CHAPTER 7- Political Pressure
Everyone looked at me a little differently the next few days after the ball. I had Maureen order more dresses in the same style that the gown had been in, and trusted that she would know my preferences to choose colors and materials and such. Phillo Keradec followed me around like a lost puppy for nearly a week before I tripped over my own feet and nearly went face down on the path through the gardens. After that, people seemed to realize that I was still me. I was glad. I hadn't liked everyone treating me like I was someone else; someone delicate and breakable.
The next Petitioner's Court was held two weeks after my Flower Day celebration. It seemed to be going along well enough when an unforeseen- at least by me- problem arose. A man was brought in for stealing from a shop in one of the villages near Athanarel. He had been doing this for some time before they caught him. When was asked what he did with the goods he stole he said that he sold them to others at a cheaper price and kept the money for himself. Mother asked him what he did with the money and the man refused to answer. It was probably gambling or illegal loan payment, I guessed. Father had the man taken to the dungeons to await sentencing.
When we convened in the Rose Room, the first issue that we discussed was that of the thief.
"He didn't give a reason for his actions," Savona recalled. "That leads me to think that it was something illegal."
"And even if he had given a good reason?" Tamara asked. "Would you have pardoned him then?"
"No, but the circumstances might have been such that we could understand the motive behind his stealing," he said.
"In my opinion, a thief forfeits his rights to clemency the moment he commits the crime," Lord Nerroc said. "Regardless of his motive, which was probably illegal in the first place, he should be made into an example that thieves and others of his ilk are not tolerated."
"Are you suggesting that all thieves are worthy of an automatic death sentence?" Mother asked.
"Yes," Nerroc shrugged his broad, elegant shoulders. "Why not? Anyone that has to result to thievery in the first place has little or no life in them anymore to save."
"Then way about the Norsundrian bandits who still attack year after year?" Father asked mildly, which meant that he was trying no to show his annoyance.
"If they threaten your land, prosecute them fully. You will do my king a service to have such criminals taken care of."
"What of the family's of the bandits?" Father continued. "The men that have little food because your king underpays their large standing military so they must come over the boarder to steal what they can to sustain their wives and children. Are the nobles willing to un-pocket the money to feed these people? Is there somewhere that they can go so that they have shelter and food and warm clothing given to them? Or do you simply let them starve because the men are killed for the act of stealing?"
"Our standing army is what kept Norsunder from being taken over in the Great War, while Remalna was overrun with armies from both sides," Nerroc said proudly. "Tell me, why doesn't your part-time militia protect your boarders from bandits who wish to steal your farmers' livestock and produce, burn houses, kidnap and kill?"
My held my breath, waiting for what either of my parents would say. I felt an intense stare from near the back of the room, not on me, but on Father and Mother. He was waiting for an answer, too.
"Because no one believes that it will happen to them," someone said. I realized in surprise that it had been me. I hate it when my mouth acts before letting the rest of me catch up, but I had to keep going now that I'd started. "But then it does happen, and it's too late to rouse the militia to protect the farmers or shopkeepers or tradesmen. The poor and middle classes can be just as lazy as the nobility. Social position doesn't negate human tendencies. Does Norsunder's army make you all so secure that you are invincible, or do you have Sartoran brigands at your boarders, as well? Is everything so peaceful that you cannot fathom dissent? Or is there such unrest that your king feels that you must have a standing army to reinforce peace?"
I tried to look as innocent as possible while the room's eyes swept from me to Lord Nerroc.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, but what would you know about such matters?" he tried to sound condescending and patronizing.
I shrugged and picked up my glass of wine. "I know that Norsunder is currently the largest nation in this part of the world," I smiled sweetly at Nerroc. "I know that it is the most powerful in military might. I also know that there have been three riots in the capitol since last autumn, mainly about the food shortage. The floods in Norsunder haven't let up since last summer, have they? Too much water can kill crops as easily as not enough. That, and the territories that were acquired during the war are still rebelling against Norsundrian leadership."
Lord Nerroc looked ready to ask me to name my friends. He was red with anger and embarrassment. I sipped my wine and waited for him to gain composure. I looked up to see Father's proud, but worried, expression, and Mother's satisfied smirk. My eyes went around the room to see how everyone was handling the turn of events. Flauvic's face was behind the arrogant courtier mask, only thoughtfulness showed through.
"Your Highness," Nerroc eventually gritted through his teeth, "we were discussing the punishment for a common thief."
"So we were," I nodded, turning to my parents. "In that case, what ever his punishment may be, I think someone ought to find out what he really was doing with the money he acquired. It could lead to other illegal activities, which could then be shut down, or to a family in need that could be helped. Either way, at least something good would come of this."
"Very wise deduction, Elestra," Father smiled. "I believe I will have someone look into it."
I bowed my head and raised my wine glass in salute. He raised an eyebrow that told me not to get too carried away. I had probably made an enemy out of Lord Nerroc today. I sighed and wondered what I was going to do about it. I hoped that he wouldn't do anything against me before I could make amends.
I went to my room to change into a simpler day dress instead of the blue court dress in my new fashion, which was surprisingly starting to catch on. I put on a light grey dress that matched my mood. I went to the library to think. I went into the archives and pulled out a book my parents had once recommended to me. Somewhere in it there was a story about a mock duel conducted to prove a point. I found the passage easily enough because there was a dried starliss marking the page. I grinned as I read the passage.
...and mock-solemn, matching his Manner to the most precise Degree, I challenged him to a Duel. He was forced to go along with the Jest, lest the Court laugh at him instead of with him, but he liked it Not...
I wondered how I could use that. I didn't want Nerroc to try anything, or even to drop the matter, but I didn't think that an apology note would be heeded and could even be used against me. If I proposed a mock duel, would he go along with it? Could I pull it off? I laughed out loud; it was worth a try. I would attempt a simple apology first, face-to-face, and if he wouldn't accept it, then I would see if the duel worked.
