Word Count: 374
Althea hated embroidery, she decided as she pulled out yet another wrong stitch. The other women in the stitching circle accused her of being quiet, but she didn't understand how they chatted away while stitching without messing up their work.
*.*
There were only a few things she couldn't stand about being a queen, and the stitching circle was one of them. Compiled of all ranks of noblewomen, it was a bunch of useless gossip. She could learn more about the day's going-ons in five minutes from the castle cook. But to not show up guaranteed the gossip to be about her, so she stayed. She put her hoop and fabric down and focused on the conversation.
*.*
"Pells said they are much faster than Chocobos because they have four legs! They are from the island across the sea, and he's going to start importing them."
"Sounds like he's pulling your curls Ola." Another girl sniffed. "Nothing could replace the Chocobo."
"I bet they are just another breed of cow. Nobody is going to start riding cows!" One of the younger women piped up.
Althea sighed. Useless.
"Sesslar," one of the elder women, whose name was Tiffi, announced, "Has proposed to a Clavat woman."
Appreciative murmurs rippled through the group, thankful for some interesting information.
"Is she moving here, or is he leaving?"
"I don't know yet," Tiffi said smugly. "I'll keep you informed."
"Lilties marrying out of the tribe," a woman about Althea's age exclaimed. "Who would have thought?"
Sesslar was a good colonel. Althea would hate to see him go. She picked up her handiwork.
The girl named Ola spoke again. "I've met Sesslar's fiancé. Remember? She's the one with the little sister with the tall tale about the flyaway hat."
"Oh yes," Tiffi said. "She said that the wind caught her hat when they were on the cruise, and a young man used a blue light to stop it in midair for her. How silly -"
Althea jumped up, her hoop falling to the floor with a clatter.
"He's alive!" She gasped. She was out the door in an instant, leaving the women with gaping mouths.
After a pause, Tiffi finally said, "She has always been a little excitable like her mother."