EIGHT
September flew by as more princesses arrived at the palace. Each time another one arrived, the king and queen formally presented her to the rest of the Court. Each time, Alanna had to stand back and watch as Jonathan danced and flirted with the princesses. Delia and Cythera did their best to console her, but they were wrapped up with Alex and Gary, happy as could be. Alanna, Raoul, Gary, Cythera, Alex, and Delia often stood together, but broken off into groups of two. Once in awhile, Thom would come over to stand with them, but he was no fun, always whining about his duties. Duke Roger occasionally floated over to converse with Alanna, at which point Raoul found something else to do. The duke made her comfortable, but she couldn't place why. During one of these events, she was introduced to Sir Myles of Olau, one of Thom's teachers, and a scholar. He kept Alanna and Raoul entertained with his commentary on the other courtiers.
As the ball for the Marenite princess wound down, Jonathan escaped and reappeared behind Alanna. He placed a hand on the small of her back, making her jump. "Jonathan!" she hissed. "Don't you have things to do?"
"Allegedly." He gave her a wicked grin. "But I can give them the slip. Come with me."
"You're going to get in trouble," Thom warned dryly. "Actually, never mind. I am going to get in trouble for allowing you to disappear."
"Are you really so bad a liar?" asked the prince. "Tell them you didn't know. You were talking to Raoul." He shifted his gaze to the big knight, who shrugged.
"I never saw you leave." Alanna gave him a grateful smile, which made his insides twist. What was he doing, helping them run off?
"Come on, then." The young prince hurried the lady out a side exit, and down the winding hallways. They snuck into the portrait hall. The stopped at the other end, where it was darker. Jonathan faced her, placing his hands on her hips.
"You can hardly expect me to kiss you in front of all your ancestors," she said, folding her arms over her chest. "No one will ever approve of me then."
Jonathan laughed. "I'm sure they won't mind." He gently unfolded her arms, lacing his fingers through hers. "Since when do you need approval, anyway?"
She raised her eyebrows. "Since you started sneaking around to see me when your parents can't see you spending time with a noble." There was an edge to his voice that made him step back. "Never mind my lineage – I'm no princess."
"Don't talk like that," he whispered. "This is all a 'maybe'. Just in case, really. I'm doing this to make them happy."
"So you don't like any of them?" she wanted to know. "You could have fooled me."
"I don't know them," he said. "Not like I know you."
"I feel so comforted."
"Stop this." He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders. "I see you, don't I? So I need to play nice for now. That will change, once they've been here awhile. You have to stroke royal egos, sometimes, Alanna. I have to make them feel important, give them each some time with me."
"It's a game."
"Yes." Jonathan sighed. "It is a sort of game." He shrugged. "They don't mean anything, Alanna. I swear." He searched her violet eyes. "Do you believe me?"
"Yes," she whispered, but he saw a question in her eyes. "I believe you." They watched each other for a moment, tension growing with each passing second.
Jonathan sighed, cutting it. "Can I kiss you now?" he asked.
She grinned. "You're the prince. All you have to do is tell me."
"I'd much rather ask." His eyes danced. "That way I know you actually want me to kiss you."
"There's no need." She stepped closer, creating contact points that sent shivers down her spine. "I always want to kiss you."
"Good." He released one of her hands, sliding it under her hair and kissing her. She took her free arm and wrapped it around his back, pulling him toward her. She still wasn't sure he was telling the truth, but it would have to do for the time being.
The Saren princess was the last to arrive. Her presentation fell on the first of October, a day that dawned with nicer weather. Not wanting to miss out, she headed down to the stables in the hopes of getting to ride before the weather turned miserable again.
Alanna was in the stable, grooming the mare George had given her. She had chosen to call the horse Moonlight, for her golden coat and pale mane and tail. She had a plan to steal Thom away for a ride, but wanted to spend some quality time with her horse first, knowing Thom would only whine if she took too long later.
"She's beautiful," a voice murmured. Alanna looked up to see a striking young woman with pale skin, crimson lips, hazel eyes, and black hair leaning on the stall door.
"Thank you," Alanna said with a smile. "Her name is Moonlight. She was a gift."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "From a very good friend." She cast an approving eye over the horse. "How does she ride?"
"Smooth." Alanna absently ran her hand over the horse's coat. "Comfortable." She flashed a grin. "Fast."
Her companion laughed. "The best way they come." She smiled. "I'm Thayet."
"Alanna." She glanced between her horse and her new acquaintance. "Do you ride?"
"Of course!"
"Silly question." Alanna smiled. "I was going to fetch my brother to ride with me, but if you would like to go…"
Thayet lit up. "I would love to. Give me a moment."
"Sure." Alanna returned to grooming her horse. She overheard voices, but couldn't make out more than snippets of conversation. She shrugged and kept working.
Thayet returned. "How soon will you be ready?"
"Not long."
"Perfect." The woman disappeared.
With ten minutes, Alanna had finished tacking the mare and stood by a mounting block, waiting for Thayet. Soon after, the young woman emerged, leading a leggy chestnut. Alanna cast an approving eye over the mount. "You like him?" Thayet asked with a grin. "He was a gift for my birthday from my father."
"He's beautiful." Alanna mounted her horse, glad to have found another noblewoman who enjoyed rides as much as she did. "Do you know the grounds at all?"
"No. I've just arrived." She swung herself into the saddle with practiced ease. "Do you?"
"Well enough." Alanna drew up beside her. "How long do you want to ride for?"
"Not too long." She glanced in the direction of the stable, where Alanna saw three people hidden in the shadows. "I'm under strict instructions not to go too far, too fast, or to be gone more than an hour."
Alanna grinned. "That's easy enough." She glanced at the people clearly watching Thayet. "Handlers?"
"Something like that," she sighed. "Can we not talk about it?"
Alanna shrugged. "Suits me fine. Let's go."
After the ride, Alanna left Thayet at the stables. She wandered to her rooms, cheeks pink from the chilly wind whipping against them. Of course, she ran into Jonathan and Thom on their way in from the practice courts. "You look healthy," Thom commented.
"As opposed to my typically sickly appearance?" Alanna countered. Thom rolled his eyes. Was she going to leave soon? "I was out for a ride."
"Alone?" the prince and his squire asked in unison, looking horrified.
"No." Alanna rolled her eyes. "I'm not a moron. I had company."
"Who?" Jon asked, trying to sound curious rather than prying.
She flashed him a grin. "I don't see how it's any concern of yours. I came back fine, that's all you need to know. Now, I'm sure you have things to attend to before this evening's ball, so I'll just head off to my rooms now…" She waggled her fingers as them and practically skipped down the hall.
Thom looked at Jonathan. "Tired of her yet?"
"Not in the slightest." He grinned down at her. "Come on, squire. Your sister was right. We do have things to go."
Thom sighed. "If I'd known about this when you asked me to be your squire, I never would have agreed." Jonathan laughed as they continued down the hall.
Alanna, meanwhile, had run into Raoul. Are all the knights about? she thought. "Hello, Raoul."
"Hello, Alanna." He looked her up and down. "You look invigorated. Go for a ride?"
"I did." She smiled. "It was wonderful."
"I'm sure. Let me know. Maybe I'll join you next time."
"I'd like that. I'll warn you, though, I don't talk much when I'm beating people in a race."
"Oh, you think you could beat me, hm?"
"No." She grinned. "I know I could beat you and that oaf of a warhorse of yours."
"My 'oaf of a warhorse' is quite fast, thank you very much."
"And my slender Moonlight is faster. I'd put money on it."
"You're on." They shook on it, eyes glittering. "Tomorrow, if the weather's nice?"
Alanna nodded. "I have nothing planned."
"I'll cancel mine, then."
"Which princess is it tonight?" Alanna asked, sidling up to her brother that evening. She wore a lavender gown, the same she'd worn for the first princess' arrival. She doubted anyone would particularly care, and there was only so much her family could spend to dress her for these festivities.
"The last one," Thom told her, sounding relieved. "She's the daughter of the Saren warlord and his K'miri bride. They say Kalasin is the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Hm." Alanna nodded. "Have you seen her?"
"Not yet. But she's rumored to be beautiful." Alanna glanced at Jonathan, who was fidgeting and looked impatient. She knew he was as tired of these as his squire. The other princesses looked annoyed, and kept eyeing each other suspiciously. "I hope she's better than the others. They'd all make terrible queens."
"He could always marry a Tortallan," Alanna pointed out. Thom glanced at her and she shrugged, leaving to go stand by her friends.
"What did he say?" Delia asked from her place beside Alex.
"This is the last one. She's from Sarain," Alanna said, going to stand between Raoul and Gary. "Apparently, her mother is the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Sarain is a rough place," Gary observed. "Her father's held power less than a year, and it's a shaky crown. If you could call it a crown – he's really more of a warlord." Everyone stare at him. "What?"
"You know too much," Alex told his friend. "Now shh."
"Why would they want Jon to marry the daughter of a warlord with no security?" Alanna asked, interested in what he had to say. "Why not one of the princesses with a more secure royal line?"
"Because she's beautiful," Gary answered simply. "And I think there is a great deal of respect for her mother, if not her father."
"Hm." Alanna turned her attention to the staircase, where the herald now stood. "Thank you."
"Your majesties, may I present the Saren delegation." Three tan-skinned people – two women and a man – walked down, followed by the ambassador and his wife. They paid respect to the royal family and stepped aside. The tan-skinned ones kept a watchful eye on the staircase and the crowd, while the ambassador seemed to be a nervous person. "Your majesties, your highness, Princess Thayet jian Wilima of Sarain." Thayet? Alanna's eyes widened as her riding companion descended, dark hair braided and pinned, radiant in a red gown the same color as the pages and squires wore.
"Gods," Gary murmured. "They weren't kidding, were they?"
Her eyes darted to Jonathan, who sat up a little straighter, and to the other princesses, who looked concerned. Finally, she looked back at Thayet, who had a determined look in her hazel eyes, with a hint of amusement. She didn't tell me she was a princess, Alanna thought, still reeling from the shock. I spent the whole morning with someone who could be my queen and she didn't tell me. Thayet curtsied to the royals, catching Jonathan's eye on her way up. He inclined his head to her ever so slightly, just as he'd done to the previous princesses. But there was something different about this. Alanna could tell.
Once the formalities were over, everyone split and the music began. The group turned in on itself. "She really is beautiful," Delia said, stealing a glance in the princess's direction. "I can't imagine what her mother looks like if that isn't the most beautiful woman in the world."
"She has a better sort of look about her," Raoul commented. "She's different."
"She is," Alanna murmured. All attention was fixed on her. She looked down. "We went riding this morning."
"What?"
She looked up. "I didn't know! She saw me in the stables, and said hello, and we went for a ride. We didn't talk much, but she was very nice. I didn't even suspect…"
Raoul grinned. "She might be good for Jon, if she's going for rides with you. She keep up with you?"
Alanna nodded. "Her horse is beautiful. She rides like she was born in a saddle."
"That would make sense, her mother being K'miri-" Gary began.
Cythera gently covered his mouth with her hand. "Not now," she told him.
"Look at the other princesses," Delia said with a laugh. "They're all staring at her jealously."
Everyone turned to look. The other princesses gave Thayet a wide berth. The former rivals stood in a group, whispering and giving the newcomer dark looks. Thayet ignored them, conversing easily with Duke Gareth while Jonathan and his parents talked with the ambassador. Her tanned companions stood close to her, eyes watchful. Bodyguards, Alanna realized. "Who is she?" she asked. "The ones guarding her?"
"K'miri tribesmen," Gary answered. "Her mother is K'miri, so I would guess they protect her mother, and thus Thayet." Before Alanna could ask more questions, the music started up. Jonathan dutifully rose from his seat and strode over to Thayet. He bowed and offered her a hand. She curtsied and accepted. The two moved into the center, and began their dance. Several bars in, Duke Gareth joined them, as did the king and queen. Duke Baird, chief of the palace healers, joined after that. The king's advisers all joined the prince and princess in the first dance, while everyone else watched. Jonathan would have time after to talk to Thayet. Alanna wasn't sure how she felt about that. There was no way she could compete with a woman like that.
"I don't want a dream tonight," Alanna told the darkness. "I would really just like to sleep. I'm not in the mood to see what might have happened had Thom and I swapped. May I please just sleep?" She lay her head down on the pillow and stared into the emptiness, scared to fall asleep and have another dream. She didn't want to think about what might have happened had she made a different decision six years ago. Not after all the work she had done to adjust to this one. Besides, Raoul was teaching her. She wouldn't have a full knight's education, but she could come close enough, couldn't she?
Eventually, she fell asleep against her will.
But she did not dream.
This is way longer than I realized. I'm sorry if you're completely bored by this. I didn't mean it to be so long! Hope you enjoyed it anyway.
