Chapter 9
(Faber Est Suae Quisque Fortunae)
Rene could not wrap her head around Murtagh's words.
"You will get to spend much time with me in the coming days…"
They floated in her mind. Like smoke, she could see them, feel them, but as soon as she attempted to grasp them, they disappeared.
"Admit it, you missed me?"
He had teased her mercilessly. But was it the truth?
"You're attracted to me, don't even try to deny it!"
Since being taken from her village, Rene had been subjected to one emotion confusion after the next.
Do I like Murtagh? She asked herself. Sure, I like him, but do I like him?
Despite his overly large ego, it was still highly possible. He had the looks, the commanding presence, and his aristocratic status gave him the potential to fit her "knight in shining armor" ideals.
What about Ivan? Rene's conscious continued for her.
In the short time she had known Ivan she had grown to like him. He was kind, funny, sweet, and he made her feel the most beautiful woman in Alegasia. The question was to debate, not the existence of her feelings for the soldier, but the nature and depth of them.
Rene sighed, "I wish things were easier."
"What was that?!"
She snapped to attention. Rene's face flushed as she remembered she was still in her lessons and that, currently, all eyes were on her.
"Daydreaming, are we?" A short, plump woman stood in front of her. Her hair was gray and her face showed signs of aging but she did not look old, simply well worn.
Rene cast her eyes to the floor, "Forgive me, Madam Juliante, it will not happen again."
The professor stared Rene down before shaking her head with a wave of her hand. "Ah, no matter, may as well forbid the trees to grow rather than tell the young to stop dreaming."
Rene was free to breathe as she Madam Juliante turned her back. I thought I was in trouble there.
"Now, if you will follow me, ladies," The older woman said, "we will begin to properly train you in the art of the walk."
'`'`'`'`'`'`'`
They practiced walking for several hours, or so Rene's feet tried to tell her. They were aching, throbbing, possibly bleeding, and she was sure her left one was bound to fall off later than night.
They had pranced – left foot, right foot, turn – they had stood up tall to glide, they had even stuck their noses in the air and strut.
Rene did not understand the reason to act superior, to turn up your nose and pretend as if everyone around you reeked of spoilt food and fecal matter. Nevertheless, she pranced and strut and glided alongside the rest.
"Well done, ladies!" Madam Juliante applauded when they were finished. "The majority of you have quite a knack for walking. Miss Gellard, Miss Randa!" She gestured toward two mousey looking girls against the back of the room, "the two of you might aspire to further practice though soon I am sure even you will have it down as well.
"Gather 'round now, girls, I have a message for you all."
This intrigued Rene. They had, had lessons and practice, scoldings and lectures, but never once a 'message'. She wondered what it was about.
All six dozen potential brides, for their numbers had continued to grow for some time, crowded in, seated elegantly on poufs that had been previously situated along the walls.
"There you are!" Rene heard Melody calling, " I lost you for a while. How are your feet-"
"Quiet," Rene hushed her, "I want to hear what she has to say!"
They turned their attention to the larger woman in the center of the circle.
"You should know well by now," She began, "the nature of your stay at our Lord's castle. This is no vacation."
"Obviously," A whisper came from the other side of the room, "if it were I'd be out on the beach and the only action my feet would see is a fantastic massage from a nice boy."
The girls erupted into a fit of giggles.
"Alright, alright, settle down!" Madam Juliante scolded through her smile, "I never promised it would be a walk in the park but for one lucky girl," she fixed them all with a stare, "life will change forever.
"I know for some of you this seems less of a prize and more of a curse," she looked in the direction of another girl Rene recognized as the crying one from her first night, "but one day you may feel different.
"I am filled with both pride and regret to inform you that your time in my care is drawing to an end. You lessons have gone well but you are too leave my court soon and enter into a far greater one. You may face trials and challenges, but you might also find love and things much greater than any of you could ever imagine."
"Like what?" Melody piped up.
The professor turned her way. "Treasure? Power? Passion? Adventure? Search within yourself for the deepest desire of your heart. You will find it inside these walls, whatever it may be. But be careful," she cautioned, "that you do not become this desire, for it may have dangerous potential and dire consequences."
The room fell silent. Not a single woman had words to ease the tention of the moment.
"But enough about that, dearies, you atke care and remember to call on me sould you ever have the need."
They vacated the room. Some stood around in groups, sharing the latest gossip, others walked in packs, despite their aching feet, Rene alone trudged slowly down the corridor to her quarters, replaying Madam Juliante's words inside her head.
"Rene, Rene, wait!"
Rene heard Melody's shouts but did not stop. She had too much on her mind.
A/N: Here it is guys, another chapter! I expect you will all be happy to know I finally have a plan as to where exactly I want this story to go. I am predicting approximately thirty chapters give or take a few. It it neat to watch your reactions to things and see how they begin to differ as the story progresses. Keep it coming, it intrigues me immensely! Now comes the time when I address the things you, the reader, has to say.
To Lightkit: You are correct in some cases. I did discover, partially through last chapter, that I had done my quotes wrong and went back to change them. If you break a quote mid-sentence, it is there that the commas come in. If, as I do in many cases, it comes at the end of the sentence, you use normal punctuation. I believe I have bits of both in my story. Thank you so much for your concern though!
To JessieLightyear: I would like you to know that it was mainly due to your review that I finally was motivated enough to plan out the rest of the story. Your concerns with the overly cocky Murtagh is something I have been battling with myself for quite some time. Rest assured there is a reason to it. I would rather have a strong story with tender moments (which there will be) than a sappy one.
To Lady Scribetracker: I know what you mean. I've got economics right now and it is a pain! Not because I don't like it, but because I am required to take it. It's thrown in with my painting, creative writing, photography, AP lit, and yearbook stuff and it just throws me off. I don't like having constant notes and bookwork. I prefer to stick to the art realm.
My favorite so far has got to be the way some love the way Murtagh is portrayed while others are a bit on the rocks. I promise to all of you that he will be allowed to remain strong, cocky, arrogant, and quite humorous, but he will eventually be given a little third dimention. A little heartache never killed anyone, right? The way my plan is looking on paper things are going to end up great. I hope you all enjoy reading as much as I am enjoying writing! - TVM
