Chapter 10
Liyah attempted a curtsy, overbalancing herself a little. "Morning, Lady Rocaille." She stood there as Emileé turned her full attention to her and thought that she was being judged by the fiancée of the Dauphin. The procedure of how to proceed from the greeting was lost on her, Liyah hadn't been on top of such a thing between civilians and members of the royal house.
"You're the one that came through the Door of the Gods?" Emileé questioned.
"I am." And providing an opportunity when she was alone long enough, Liyah would attempt to decipher the DHD and get back to Earth. "I do apologize for taking up so much of your fiancée's time."
Emileé chuckled. "When Rolande had proposed that I meet you, I wasn't sure I would like you. Maybe I still won't, but I don't see why we can't be friends."
"Well, that's good to here, ma'am." Things might be okay if her sarcasm was kicking in. Hammond never really did like how her own sarcasm took after her uncle's.
The tailor had somehow managed to impress her to the point with what dresses he had made within a couple of weeks that Liyah wouldn't mind the change in wardrobe. He had also taken the time to make a couple pieces that had what Rolande explained were trousers. To her they were pants that were made of well worn leather. Liyah listened how the small gaggle of women from the Lesser Houses chirped about the dresses while she admired the outfit that would work for the hunt in three days. She turned away from where the outfits had been laid out for her to see at her leisure and walked in search of a quiet corner of the large chamber. Of the ladies in waiting, there were a couple Liyah enjoyed having around, but the others could be dismissed without much of a care from her.
"Your highness is something alright?" one of the women asked, pulling herself from the mess of ladies in waiting.
Liyah's mind darted around in search of the woman's name, feeling it just beyond her grasp. It started with an "A", Liyah was sure of it. A…Adeline that was what it was. "Still attempting to get over the culture shock, that's all, Adeline," Liyah told the other woman. She gestured to the dresses still out on display. "Not accustomed to having dresses dominate my wardrobe." Or so many people to attend on nearly her every need.
A knock at the door prevented Liyah from explaining her culture to Adeline as another of the ladies in the chamber went to answer the door. There was some sort of verbal exchange before the door was thrown open and a woman pushed her way into the chamber.
"Who are you?" the blonde haired woman demanded as she came up close to Liyah.
Taking a deep breath and steadying herself to make sure she didn't do anything stupid like making physical contact with the purple eyed woman. "I should be asking you that, since you've so rudely pushed aside one of my staff in your efforts to enter my chambers." Liyah worked not to allow a little grin when she saw the woman turn red in anger, must have touched on a sore nerve to get such a reaction from her.
"I am Isabel L'Envers of House L'Envers," she introduced herself. "And you should take note of that."
"And here I am having left my notepad and pen at home." Liyah heard a few giggles and snickers from her ladies and allowed herself to smile. "And do you know who I am?" Isabel shook her head. "I am Liyah de la Courcel, daughter of House Courcel and Rolande's heir." Isabel didn't need to know the details of the agreement Liyah had with House Courcel, she wasn't close to marrying into the House.
Isabel glared at Liyah before storming from the chambers. For some reason, the young Tau'ri didn't like how Isabel attempted to gain the higher status just by being in one of the Great Houses. Liyah turned back to her ladies in waiting to see they shared a surprised expression, as if she had woken a predator and she walked away with not a scratch. Something told Liyah that this encounter wouldn't be the last she would see Isabel L'Envers.
Liyah shunned the undergarment that would have gone on her lower body if she had chosen to wear a dress as she threaded her legs into the best thing that the tailor made to resemble her chosen underwear. It resembled women's active wear and Liyah couldn't complain all that much, she was finally able to wear pants instead of a dress. Adeline held up the shirt that accompanied the trousers so Liyah could put it on and adjust it before sitting to put on the leather boots. She had spent three days prior to the day's hunt walking around to break the footwear in. A knock at the door was responded to by Nadine, the second lady in waiting that Liyah had decided to keep on her staff. She had talked about it with Rolande and he had agreed that having such a large staff was a bit much for her.
"I see the tailor has outdone himself," a vaguely familiar voice called out.
Liyah turned as she finished buttoning up her shirt and smiled to see Anafiel. Forgetting about the rest of the outfit for the moment, she rushed over to him and hugged him. "I thought you forgot about me."
"You've been busy, your highness." Anafiel stepped back but kept his hands on her upper arms. "I wouldn't have believed it if Rolande hadn't told me himself."
Liyah pulled herself away and broke eye contact. "It's only temporary. Though I don't know which battle I'd rather fight; politics or weather." Every time she thought she had a chance to ask the Dauphin about a starting point about astrological charts and anything pertaining the Gate, Rolande distracted her with something else.
"Having second thoughts?"
Liyah sighed and turned back to one of the two people she trusted. "I don't mind doing this, really. I've come from a broken family, and maybe if I could give some sort of stability to someone else …" She shrugged. Liyah put her wall back up since she didn't want to appear weak in front of Anafiel. It was a defensive mechanism that Jack had taught her from a young age. She couldn't put an age when it began, but she was young. "So, when are we going out for this hunt? What are the protocols for it? Are we actually hunting or is this more of a nobility social outing where other people do most of the work?"
Anafiel laughed. "A month among the nobility has already taught you something."
"Other than gossip spreads like wildfire?" Liyah adjusted her shirt, pulling the hem down. "It seems to be a waste of time and energy if this 'hunt' was nothing more than sport for those who hold titles while others do the work."
"Is that not how hunting works in your culture?"
Liyah shook her head. "Those who are hunting do all – if not most – of the work. I can only assume about the countries that have a monarchy for a government." She rolled up the sleeves of the shirt before deciding to roll them back down. "I'm not used to all of this. I'm the person who would be out in the market or maybe even another city or village not even close to this one working as a member of the commoner class, not playing dress up as a member of the nobility." She mentally kicked herself for opening up like that. But this exchange of cultural information was difficult without taking a few bricks down.
"I'll do my best to help you," Anafiel promised her. "Now I believe Rolande wants to see you in the stables before the hunting party leaves."
Liyah took the light leather jacket from Adeline and followed Anafiel. The residents of the palace, from all the nobles who held suites all the way down to the staff and guards, had grown accustomed to her presence and gossip had swung to a different topic. She still didn't feel comfortable being out without her nine millimeter, but it was something that she would have to work to get through. She couldn't really complain, she could be stuck back with the Mongolian culture and be forced to wear that horrible fancy get up that Sam had to.
"So, what does Rolande want to talk to me about?" Liyah asked when they were close to the stables.
"Why don't you go ask him?" Anafiel gestured for her to enter before him.
Liyah stepped around the corner, entering the stables to see Rolande speaking with one of the stable hands near a stall. She came up short, not wanting to eavesdrop on the conversation even though her skills in D'Angeline were still a little lacking. Rolande stopped when he noticed her and gestured her over.
"I have a gift for you," he said, stepping over to the stall.
Liyah joined him and looked to find a light brown colored horse staring back at her. She watched the animal work a mouthful of hay.
"Two years old and fully broken," Rolande told her. "The stable master assures me that she's perfect for you."
Liyah tilted her head a little as she took in the information. Sliding the bolt and pulling the stall door open, she took a few cautious steps toward the mare. The tail flicked and her ears turned toward her, but the mare took no further actions. Liyah stopped and held out a hand for the horse to smell her. It was the same thing one would do with a dog; allow the animal to take the scent and decide what to do from there. The mare took Liyah's scent and seemed to decide that Liyah wasn't a threat and allowed her to come close enough to touch. With gentle strokes, Liyah turned her attention back to Rolande.
"Why give me a horse?" She noticed out of the corner of her eye a stable hand saddling Edmeé's mare and thought something looked off with the strap.
"Do I need a reason?"
"There's usually a reason."
Rolande shrugged. "I wouldn't want you to be the only one without a mount. I applaud whoever taught you how to handle a horse."
A stable hand came over and handed Liyah a bridle and reins. Taking it, she eased the bit into the mare's mouth and the straps of the bridle over the head before securing it. She led the mare out of the stall as she noticed the same hand holding a saddle pad. The mare stood still as Liyah held the reins and the stable hand put the saddle pad then the saddle on; securing the saddle. In the time her mare was finally prepared, Liyah saw that both Anafiel and Rolande had their own horses saddled and had mounted. She waved off the stable hand who had stepped in to assist her in mounting. Adjusting herself, Liyah followed Rolande out and soon mingled with the other nobles who were going out on the hunt. She took note of Isabel's constant glanced to Edmeé's horse when it seemed that no one else was looking.
The conversations were varied as the group of nobles enjoyed the cool weather while those who were tracking the game focused on their tasks. Liyah heard the hunting dogs out in front of the mass of humans, the thought that they caught the scent of something ran through her mind. Seeing a fallen log a few feet from her, Liyah motioned her mare into a trot and surprised herself when the horse actually jumped over it. A noble shook their head as they passed by her, but Liyah didn't concerned herself over what the noble thought. Liyah came up alongside Edmeé and smiled. She had enjoyed the time spent with Rolande's fiancée and looked forward to playing aunt to their future children. Her mouth lost the smile when Liyah watched as Edmeé slid off the horse.
Pulling her own short and dismounting as quickly as she could, Liyah rushed over to where her quick friend had landed. Some of the nobles who had witnessed Edmeé fall rushed over as Liyah checked for a pulse and other signs of life; there were none. The odd angle the head was at told Liyah that Edmeé had been dead before she even reached her. Looking at the gathering nobles, Liyah spotted Isabel and would swear she saw a glimpse of a smirk on the L'Envers woman. Someone had the mind to call off the hunt while a few people came to collect Edmeé. Mentally absent, Liyah wandered for her mare and found Anafiel holding the reins.
"Someone had a hand in Edmeé's death," Liyah told him. "I think I know who, but I can't prove it."
"We'll talk later. I'll give your ladies my townhouse location so we can speak more privately."
Liyah nodded as she accepted the reins and mounted her mare, keeping a good distance away from Isabel who had secured a spot next to a visually distraught Rolande.
