Author's Note:
Currently, this chapter is in rough draft format. Editing will be completed soon. You are welcome to read it, but please be forgiving of any typos as we continue to work diligently to correct them. ~ David
Chapter 7
The King's Favor
"Thank you, thank you, ladies," King Edgar said, finishing the milk from his crystal goblet and setting it back on the cart before his throne. "Breakfast was perfect. Absolutely perfect."
"Anything else, my King?" one of the two serving girls asked him.
"No, no, please. I couldn't eat another bite. Thank you." King Edgar cleaned his hands with a folded cloth and dropped it onto his tray.
With a smile and a curtsy, the girls wheeled their cart across the majestic throne room's pearly white floor, past the rows of candelabras and down the long red carpet. The massive golden-trimmed double doors were left open just enough to allow them through. They were forced to pause a moment as a man in a black jacket and a woman wearing a soldier's helm entered the room.
Locke and Terra stepped to the side allowing the women to pass. One of them arched an inquisitive eye brow at Terra as they left. The Chancellor closed the door from the outside, leaving the fugitive mage and the treasure hunter to face the king. The King lowered a thoughtful hand from his face as his ocean-blue eyes took in the sight of the pair. His long golden hair was pulled back, though a strand or two still managed to float down over his forehead. The King appeared youthful and handsome. His flawless good looks were sometimes unnerving to those who were susceptible to his flattering words.
His attire was as grandiose as his throne room: He wore a high collared blue breastplate accented with golden etchings upon the pauldrons and ribs. A long cape of a darker blue rested behind him with a white sash covering his waist. He stood tall with his back straight and perfectly poised, striding forward with the grace one would expect of a king, but with the welcoming smile of a true friend.
King Edgar's eyes studied the black lenses that hid Terra's eyes from view and he singled in on her. As he approached, she began to drop to one knee but he gently took hold of her arm and waist stopping her short.
"Please don't," he said. "You'll only embarrass me." He turned to Locke with a smile and offered him a firm hand shake, placing his free hand on top. "It's good to have you back in one piece, old friend. Still one step ahead of the proper authorities I see."
"Always," Locke agreed.
"And this is the girl you rescued in Narshe?" The king turned to Terra. "So you're an Imperial soldier? No problem. Figaro and the Empire are allies. Everything's taken care of. You may stay as long as you like. And please...relax while you're here. It isn't in my blood to harm a lady."
"That is very gracious of you," Terra said. "It will only be for a little while. I just need some time to...sort...things out..." Her words started to trail off as she saw the distraction in the King's face. He didn't seem to be listening to a word she said.
Edgar pursed his lips as he reached up for her goggles. He pulled them up to reveal her stunning emerald eyes.
"Ah ha," he said in revelation. "Magnificent." He lifted the entire helmet from her head.
This caused much of Terra's hair to come loose from its ponytail and she pulled the rest free allowing it to cascade down the sides of her face. The briefest of quizzical glances passed through the King's features as he noticed the unique color.
"No disguise will be required," he told her. "You are a free woman here. In my kingdom beauty is never hidden away, but must be seen by all. It's the right thing to do." He tossed the helmet to Locke without removing his gaze from Terra. "But where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Edgar, King of Figaro." He took her hand in his. "And your...humble servant, my lady." His face lowered to her hand and placed a delicate kiss upon the tips of her fingers.
"Terra," she said.
He flashed her a charming smile, keeping their eyes locked.
Locke cleared his throat.
"Food!" Edgar shouted. "Of course you must both be starving! Locke, you're with me. Terra, Matron will be here shortly to make sure you are given anything you could desire. A hearty breakfast, a change of clothes, and I know you must be dying for a shower after all the time you've spent on the road. Your smallest need shall not go overlooked. Unfortunately, I must leave your company before the day gets away from me. Sometimes I hate being King."
"Terra, Edgar and I are just going to catch up while you rest a bit. Will you be alright here for a while?" Locke asked.
"I'm fine," she said. "You go ahead."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Locke asked with concern.
"Mhm." Terra nodded. "This is a nice place. Perhaps I'll have a look around."
"Great, we'll see you tonight at dinner," Edgar concluded.
Locke kept his eyes on her.
"Go, I'll be fine," she assured him.
"Until we meet again, Terra." Edgar reopened one of the chamber doors and passed through it out of sight.
Locke hesitated in the doorway, studying Terra.
"I'll see you at dinner," she told him.
"Count on it," Locke said. He left the room without bothering to close the door behind him.
Terra let out a long sigh and ran her fingers through her sand-filled hair. She caught her reflection in the ceiling. Crystal chandeliers hung from chains on the mirrored surface some fifty feet above. It reflected everything in the room. Her stomach growled as she noticed what a mess she was from the road. She shut her weary eyes and placed a hand over them.
"All set, dear?" a female voice called to her.
Terra looked across the room where a woman more than twice her age waited in a doorway veiled by a red curtain.
"Well come along then," the woman beckoned. "Let's get you all cleaned up and into some fresh clothing."
Terra moved toward her without a word.
"This is King Edgar's private entrance to the castle spa," the woman explained. "At his request, all the luxuries we have to offer are available to you."
The doorway led them into the reception room of the lobby. It was a well lit room with painted white walls and a thick carpet underfoot. The woman smiled at Terra as she locked the private entrance behind them. They passed the reception desk where Terra saw a blonde girl in a white blouse and blue skirt handing a stack of towels to one of the other guests.
The woman led Terra down a short hallway where people were lounging in hot tubs and saunas. After a couple of hallways they passed through an opaque green veil into a larger room. Inside were walls of stone and a floor of smooth black marble. A slow burning candle sat on a shelf creating a relaxing glow. Three horizontal green rugs lead to the center of the room where steps lowered to an in-ground pool filled with clear water. The gentle sound of flowing liquid came from each of the fountain statues that faced the pool. The left most statue was a small dragon-like wyvern, the center was an exocite crustacean, and on the right was a shell dwelling squid creature known as a nautiloid. A steady arch of water poured from its small beak into the pool.
Terra smiled. "It's beautiful," she said.
"I'm glad you like it. This is the King's private room. Today it is reserved for you for as long as you should like."
The woman turned on a decorative golden record player and a soft chorus of harp music began to play. The soothing tune reminded Terra of twinkling crystals.
"Just leave your clothing upon the bench over there and you'll find a good selection of soaps and scented oils in the chest beside it. Also, if you'd like, we have many accomplished hair stylists here. After you've finished soaking, perhaps a little trim or a new color? A lovely blonde would be well suited to your complexion I think."
"Oh." The offer seemed to catch Terra off guard. Instinctively she reached across her chest and touched her hair. She pulled a strand out so she could see the color. "No," she said. "No I think a good soak is exactly what I need right now. Let's see to my hair another time." She looked back to the woman.
"Very well. Of course. Take all the time you wish and I will send one of the girls to check on you in a bit. If you should require anything else, just ask for Matron and someone will come and find me."
.o.O.o.
The running water from the nautiloid statue washed through Terra's hair as she rolled her neck, allowing the last of the shampoo to rinse away. She pushed the wet hair from her brow and pulled it behind her body once more running her hands down it. She had been soaking in the pool for nearly an hour and was starting to feel immensely better.
Much of what had happened at Narshe was beginning to feel distant. Remembering the guards and the cave felt more like watching someone else's life rather than her own and even that was starting to fade. The only things that felt real to her were the kindness of Locke and Edgar and the relaxation of the warm water that wrapped around her slender body.
Her future seemed uncertain. She didn't know what to expect from her life in the coming days or weeks or even in the next few moments, but for the time being she pushed such concerns from her mind. She reminded herself, no amount of fret would make her memories return faster or help her understand anything that had happened to her.
She lay back and floated to the center of the pool. The water enveloped her ears and much of her head. The thought struck her that she couldn't remember when she had eaten last. She wondered what type of food she normally enjoyed. Terra supposed that she would have to re-discover her world and in time things would come to make sense.
Her eyes darted to the right. She heard someone else in the room with her. Her head raised from the water to see the woman that had stood behind the reception desk. The woman was gathering what was left of Terra's Imperial uniform from the bench at the water's edge. Terra lay her hands upon her shoulders covering her breasts with her arms. Her wet hair fell upon her hands and wrists. She put her back toward the woman and turned her head toward her.
"May I help you?" Terra asked.
The woman scooped up the last of Terra's belongings. "Matron asks that I take your things to be cleaned. She is selecting some new clothing for you to wear when you're finished. In the meantime is there anything I can get you for? Perhaps some wine or some fruit?"
"Both please," Terra replied. "I'm starving."
"Right away," the courteous woman smiled.
As Terra reached for the lavender towel at the pool's edge, she heard something fall against the hard floor. She whirled around. An item had slid from the woman's arms.
"My pendant," Terra said laying her eyes on it.
The woman bent down to pick it up with her fingers, while attempting to balance the boots and other clothing in her arms. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to drop your necklace." She looked up apologetically. "I'll have it cleaned for you!"
"Leave it," Terra said flatly. "Don't touch it."
"Oh." The woman was taken aback. "I'm so sorry." She made an apologetic face. "Will there be anything else?"
Terra shook her head no, moving her gaze from the golden chain and finally up to the woman's eyes. "No. Nothing else."
The woman forced a quick smile, bowed to Terra and exited through the veil that covered the doorway. Terra was up the steps in an instant. Without drying herself she wrapped the towel around her body and moved around the pool to her pendant. She knelt down and gazed into the red ruby at its center. She could see her blurred reflection within. There was something about it, something that made her feel connected to it. Slowly she extended her fingers to touch the center jewel...
"Well?" King Edgar's pleasant voice startled her. "How do you like my castle?"
The curtain was pushed halfway open and there he leaned against the doorway with a wide smile on his face and a long white clothing bag draped over his shoulder.
Without straightening up, Terra looked sideways through her hair as it draped over her face. "Don't you know how to knock?" She asked.
"I tried." Edgar clenched his jaw and sucked in an apologetic breath. "No door." He walked into the room and held out the long garment bag. "I brought you something. Perhaps it will help to make up for my bold entrance. It is an original design straight from Jidoor. It's an Amano," he said knowingly.
Terra stood and looked briefly at the bag on the hanger. She fastened the clasp of her pendant around her neck. "I'm sorry I," she paused. "I don't-"
"Of course," Edgar looked sheepish. "Of course. You wouldn't remember a silly thing like a famous fashion designer, would you? How terribly impish of me. Nonetheless, it is beautiful, and it's yours. I thought you might try it on and allow me to take you to lunch. There's a cafe here in the spa. They'll make you whatever your heart desires. You must be famished after all you've been through. Not to mention in need of some company."
Terra opened her mouth to form words, but they seemed to escape her. She only looked at him with an unreadable expression upon her face.
"Forgive me for intruding. If you do decide you're hungry, it's just around the corner. Take your second right. I'll be waiting."
Edgar hung the ensemble on the wall and started out of the room. He took the curtain in his hand to slide it across the opening once more.
"King Edgar?"
"Just Edgar, will be fine, my lady."
"Edgar," she repeated. "Thank you."
The King nodded to her with a pleasant grin and the curtain closed.
.o.O.o.
Terra blew on her red fingernail polish as the blonde servant woman pulled her hair back into its customary ponytail. She clipped Terra's hair in place using a golden pendant with a red stone. Her long green bangs adorned both sides of her face.
Terra sat upon a high stool in the cheerfully lit dressing room. Her ankles were crossed and resting on the lower support bar. She savored the taste of one of the seedless grapes from the platter on the counter and chased it with a sip of sweet purple colored wine. The servant girl gently lay decorative red pauldrens with golden trim upon Terra's shoulders; the final part of the new clothing the King had graciously provided. She latched them in place using the black leather straps that came from under Terra's top.
"All set." The servant smiled, turning Terra around on her stool. "Let's have a look at you."
Terra stood before the full-length golden framed mirror mounted on the wall behind her. Her hand touched her chest as a look of delight played upon her features. The formfitting sleeveless top was a bright red with designs of sparsely scattered flowers placed throughout, and a matching skirt. Her forearms were covered with red sleeves independent of the rest of her clothing. They lay over the tops of her hands looping under her middle fingers. At her waist was a flowing sash with layers of purple and pink connected in the front by way of a green emerald that had been matched perfectly to her eyes. Her legs were covered by a transparent white hosiery that extended into her low cut red boots.
She faced away from the mirror and glanced back at it over her shoulder. In the reflected image she saw the black straps of her pauldrens forming an X over her exposed back. Unconsciously she bent her hand back over her mouth and felt herself smile.
"It looks perfect," the servant girl said.
Terra's eyes followed her as she began to clasp a delicate white cape onto the pauldrens. The cloth hung loosely by way of four golden hoops. It draped low and did not hide the skin of Terra's back.
She let her hand fall from her lips and her eyes seemed to fill with life. She turned around to face the woman. "It is perfect," Terra elated.
"Now then. Where can I take you from here? The courtyard? Would you like to go for a walk? We have an excellent library. We can go anywhere you wish."
Terra seemed to consider this a moment. She lifted her cape and watched it fall. Her lips pursed with amusement.
"I hear the cafe is nice," she said.
.o.O.o.
The girl curtsied to Terra and left her at the stone archway entrance to the cafe. Across the black and white checkered floor, patrons were seated at rounded tables adorned with white cloths. A classy tune came from a live piano and in the rear was a small selection of bookshelves and large fluffy sofas. A few wayward stares followed Terra as she navigated the room, looking for her host.
Another woman in a blue dress and white top approached Terra. "May I help you?" the servant woman asked.
"I'm just looking for someone..." Terra glanced about.
"Over here!" Edgar called from across the floor.
He was seated alone in a rounded corner room built right into the walls. The nook was sectioned off by a red rope and a maître d' stood before it.
Terra smiled politely at the woman and headed for the King. The maître d' greeted Terra with a wide grin as he removed a section of the rope. Once she passed through, he latched it behind her.
Edgar stood and greeted her. "My lady." He offered a gracious bow. "I am pleased you decided to join me."
Terra offered a polite curtsy like she had seen the servant girls do. "Of course, kind Sir, how could I refuse"? She found the formality of the situation amusing.
"How indeed?" Edgar asked and pulled out of her chair.
After she was seated, he lifted the lid from the silver platter that awaited her. A puff of steam revealed a tender steak, a salad of leafy greens with vinegar dressing and a serving of red berries in a thick sauce. He seated himself across from her and served himself as well.
"I'm afraid I took the liberty of ordering for both of us. If you are in the mood for something else, all you have to do is say the word and it is yours. Wine?"
"Please."
He poured the light liquid into her glass and then his own.
"Well then," he asked, "to what shall we toast?"
She picked up her glass and thought it over a moment. "To...Figaro?"
"What better?" he smiled. "To Figaro and to new...friendships."
"New friendships," she agreed and they drank.
Edgar watched as Terra cut into her steak. "I see you found the attire I selected to your liking."
"Mmm," she agreed. "It is lovely."
"It suits you. You may find yourself adjusting quickly to life here. At least while you recover from your unfortunate amnesia. But the Empire and war are hardly a proper topic over lunch. Have you been able to recall anything else? Anything before...?"
"Yes. I believe I have."
"Oh? Do tell." The king leaned forward.
"Well, it isn't much..." Her brow furrowed a bit it seemed with the thought. "But my name? I think? It came to me while I was bathing. My last name may have been Branford."
"Branford. Terra Branford. Well that is something. A good sign I think. I'm certain it will all come flooding back to you before you know it."
Terra winced just slightly. If Edgar had not been studying her face intently, the movement may have gone unnoticed.
"Everything all right?" he asked.
Her eyes cast down to the table. "Yes. No, I'm fine. Just a...just a bit of a headache. Nothing to worry about."
"Just to be safe, perhaps one of the healers should look you over. You've been through quite an ordeal."
"Why is..." she seemed to stumble over her words. "Why is everyone being so nice to me?" She looked up at him again. "Is it because of my...abilities?"
"Terra," Edgar said with a trace of disappointment. "Perish the thought. I'll give you three reasons. First of all, your beaut-"
Terra let out a shrill scream at the top of her lungs. Her glass toppled over as she brought her shaking hands to her head and leaned forward with the sharp pain.
The King was out of his seat and by her side in an instant. Music and conversation ceased and every eye in the room was upon them.
"Get help now!" Edgar ordered the maître d', and the man ran for the exit. "My lady...what can I do?"
"I'm afraid," Terra said through her tears. "Afraid to think...it hurts so much." She was on the verge of sobbing.
"Just try to relax. Stay calm and take deep breaths. We'll get through this." He stood behind her and moved his fingers under hers rubbing her temples. "Does this hurt?"
She leaned back and seemed to consider the sensation. "No. It helps...a little bit." Her voice was small and trembling.
As the king continued to massage her temples he scanned his eyes over the crowd of people still watching the scene causing most of them to turn back to their lunch.
"Don't worry. I'm here. I'll stay with you until help arrives," he said.
Terra leaned her head back into him and sighed trying to let go of the pain.
The head waiter came rushing back to the table with Captain Allyandra and a cleric dressed in a ceremonial white garb.
"My Liege," the cleric said. "What is the situation?"
Terra lowered her hands. "Just a sudden headache but, I think it's starting to pass." She looked up at Edgar. "It only hurts when I think." She tried to force a smile.
"My King," Allyandra said. "I understand the timing is poor, but I did not come to administer pills for a headache. There's someone in route to the castle. Someone who should be attended to with urgency."
"Who?" Edgar asked a bit too sharply.
"It's an ambassador from the Empire. Kefka Palazzo, Sir."
"Damn it!" Edgar swore. "Of course it has to be now."
"It's okay," Terra assured him. "It scarcely hurts any longer. Go be King. You shouldn't trouble yourself over me, I'll be all right."
Edgar was about to reply.
"Sire?" Allyandra urged him.
"All right." The King seemed to consider the situation. "I'll address Kefka, but in private. Find Locke, he'll want to hear this too. Lady Terra." He squeezed her hand gently. "Be safe until my return."
He addressed the head waiter, "Keep her out of sight. Let no one see her face until Kefka is gone."
"It will be as you say, my liege," the maître d ' said.
"See to her," Edgar commanded the healer. His cape whirled behind him as he made a hasty exit followed closely by his Captain of security.
.o.O.o.
Authors Note:
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