Ch 12: Games Of Politics And Sport
Captain Beltran entered the great hall of Telmar's sprawling castle with relief. He had worried that Corisande would balk at the king's demand, and Beltran would have to return to their king with unpleasant news.
Oro was not one to bear unpleasant news kindly.
How the king thought the inexperienced girl could manage a subterfuge, Beltran neither knew nor cared, as long as it wasn't his neck on the block. He approached the throne and bowed. "Your Highness."
The man on the throne turned a deceptively casual stare on him. "What news, captain?"
"The lady has accepted your charge."
"As I thought she might," the king said. He waved his hand toward a page, who disappeared from the great hall. "Go back to Narnia. Make certain she keeps her word."
"Y-Your Highness?" Beltran blurted in surprise before he could catch himself. The journey from Narnia had taken more than a week, and that only because he'd exhausted himself and three horses with rushing. The king waited on no one.
Oro fixed him with a stern look that brought Beltran sharply aware of the many armed guards standing on the perimeter of the hall. "I believe we speak the same language."
"Yes, sire." Beltran gave a hasty bow. Some devilry (or his own lack of rest) drove him to ask, "Forgive me, sire, but is she not to marry the High King? Will this be necessary?" He swallowed in fear as soon as the words left his mouth.
Oro reached toward a stand beside the throne, where servants had placed a platter of grapes. He plucked one from the bunch. "Why should I be content allying with Narnia when I can own it?"
"Your Majesty is cunning," Beltran said, relieved to have escaped the noose for his impertinence. "But...sire...can you be sure the girl is up to the task? She is young. Inexperienced..."
"And beautiful. A man of intelligence knows his advantages, and when and how to press them."
Beltran nodded. Half the men under his command desired the marchioness for their own after seeing her. Beltran himself thought her exquisite, though he had more than enough to occupy him with a wife and three children that he rarely saw anyway. "What am I to do if she fails or refuses to complete her task?"
Oro smiled, and it wasn't at all pleasant. "I am not so fond of my cousin that I will mourn her death. Captain."
Beltran swallowed his shock and bowed again. "I am Your Majesty's servant." He turned and left the great hall, aware with every step of the king's sharp eyes on the back of his neck.
- # -
Cori stood in a large, green courtyard with Lucy and Susan, holding a long wooden, paddle-like object. "And what do you call this game?"
"Cricket," Lucy said. "It's British."
"And you strike the ball with this? What is the object of it?"
"Fun," Lucy said, as if that explained everything. "Not as fun as dancing with the fauns, of course."
"I think I prefer my horse," said Cori.
"He's lovely," Susan said. "Are there many Telmarine horses like him?"
"Not a one," said Cori, "though my father does his best. He is--" Or was, before he got sick, she thought with a pang. "--the finest horseman in Telmar."
"Peter's fond of horses as well," Susan added. The gleam in her eye told Cori that it was more than casual observation.
Cori blushed. "He has admired Cayo."
"I think he admires Cayo's owner, as well." Lucy giggled.
"What do you think of him?" Susan asked.
With her cheeks flaming (she was certain her face was as red as the ball in Lucy's hands), Cori set the cricket bat aside and sat on the blanket spread under some shade trees. "He's...very..."
Lucy squealed. "I knew it! I knew he wasn't storming around like a rhinoceros with a sore foot for nothing!"
Susan smiled and sat down beside Cori to open the picnic basket on the edge of the blanket. "Lucy, dear, don't embarrass her."
It was too late for that. Cori stared at a leaf that had fallen into her lap, letting her hair slide forward to hide her face.
"Are you fond of him?" Susan asked (less exuberant than Lucy, thought Cori, but just as embarrassing).
"King Peter is--" Kind. Handsome. Unexpected. "--very nice."
She felt Susan's smile even without looking.
"Where's Ed been? I haven't seen him for two days now," Lucy said. "He likes cricket. We should have invited them both, actually."
"Gone," Susan said.
Cori looked up then. "Where?"
"He said he was going to the Western Wood for a few days, and to see the dwarves on his way."
He'd left without a word, without even apologizing. Cori frowned. She'd thought him a much different man. "Did he say anything of my studies before he left?" she asked, gratified to hear the coolness in her voice.
"I'll help you with that," came Peter's voice. "I know as much as Ed, anyway. I'm just not as captivated by the library."
Cori smiled as Peter approached. "Good afternoon, Your Majesty."
He grinned as be bowed to her. "My lady."
Susan couldn't have looked more delighted if she tried. Cori wondered how much of her own pleasure showed on her face.
