"Raoul!" Jon shouted, breaking through Raoul's melancholy thoughts.
"What?" Raoul said, a little dazed.
"We're talking about a possible rebellion we have no information on, and you're not even paying attention. What is the matter with you lately?" Jon demanded.
"Oh, Jonathan leave him alone," Alanna snapped. 'It's hard to pay attention to when we are just at another meeting about bad omens and with no new information. Besides, you keep forcing us through these dratted balls that neither Raoul nor I want to go to, after two years of that idiotic Progress. It's no wonder we can't concentrate, you've destroyed our brains with socializing. And you're making us go to anther one tonight."
As Jon and Alanna squabbled for a few minutes, Raoul was able to collect his thoughts and concentrate again. Interrupting them before full on war could occur, Raoul said, "What were you asking me before this all started?"
"I was telling you that First Company was going to have to stay up North since we obviously still need Third Company here."
"This isn't sustainable, Jon," Raoul said. "Glasidan is not going to be able to hold the border alone for much longer. Third Company probably would do a better job up there alone then Second Company."
Jon sighed. "I know. I know, but I don't feel comfortable sending my best force away from the capital if we have a rebellion afoot."
"Is there any way we can get more information? Numair, have you gotten anywhere finding this prophecy?" Raoul asked.
Numair shook his head, his frustration clear. "I don't even know what I'm looking for. I have this sense that maybe I've read something relevant, but I've read a lot of prophecies, and our library doesn't have some of the volumes of prophecies of old. I've contacted mages in Carthak. They are going to try and help us find something."
"I'm not getting anywhere either," George said. "Mercenaries are the one unethical element I did not have a lot of contact with, since they usually had their own leaders. Our only hope now is that one of my men who are working on the job can find one of the mercenaries and get him or her to flip."
A knock sounded at the door, and George and Alanna's daughter, Aly, entered without waiting to be summoned. She walked quickly over to her father and handed him a paper. She leaned over and whispered something in his ear. He grinned and kissed his daughter's cheek. "Well done, younglin'. Now be gone with you."
Once Aly had left, George said, "This might just be our break. Aly decided to decode some messages, and I got word from one of my men that he has information for me. I need to leave now if I'm going to meet him."
"Good luck," Jon said seriously. George nodded and stood, pausing a moment to kiss Alanna before leaving the room.
The group spent a few more minutes talking before Jon let them all go. Alanna hurried out, but Raoul caught up with her easily.
"Thank you," he said.
Alanna smiled at him. "I know how difficult things must have been for you lately, and I wanted an excuse to pick a fight with Jonathan anyways. He's been a bit of a prig lately, and it's good for him if we get in a row now and then. Now, I'm going to try and catch George before he runs off to Mithros only knows where."
She gave his arm a sympathetic squeeze, then rushed off. Raoul turned to walk back to his room, when Gary stopped him.
"Geoffrey is bringing Lady Maura to court today. I just received word that they arrived. Numair, Daine and I were going to go greet them. Want to come?"
Raoul smiled, happy for the distraction his old friend would bring. "Of course, I haven't seen Geoffrey in ages. I always seem to be away from Corus when he's here, and he's always in Dunlath when I'm in Corus."
Gary and Raoul walked quickly through the castle and across the grounds, stopping just as a carriage came inside of the palace walls. Sir Geoffrey of Meron hopped off the horse he rode as his ward, Lady Maura of Dunlath exited in the carriage without waiting for anyone to open the door. As Daine and Maura hugged each other enthusiastically, Raoul and Geoff clapped each other on the back and exchanged pleasantries.
"Maura," a voice called. The whole group turned as Jai rushed at Maura and gave her a tight hug.
"Jai!" Maura yelled, hugging her back. "Cousin, it is so good to see you," she cried. "I haven't seen you since we were little girls. How are you? How's your new husband?"
"Everything is good, especially now that you've joined us at court. I've already gotten you're room all set up for you, and there's a warm meal and bath water there if you want it," Jai said.
"That's lovely. I can't wait--Is that a bruise on your chin?" Maura asked, interrupting herself abruptly and looking at her cousin in concern. "That looks quite nasty under all that face paint you have on."
Jai blushed, refusing to look in Raoul's direction. "You know me. I'm terribly clumsy. I fell down and hit my jaw."
Maura frowned. "You should get a healer to see to that."
"I will. I will. I just haven't had a chance to yet," Jai replied, a forced-looking smile on her face. Come on, let's get you up to your room." She linked arms with Maura and walked past Raoul towards the castle.
"Maura wait a moment," Geoffrey said, forcing Jai to stop while she was right next to Raoul. Geoffrey and Maura talked for a few moments, but neither Jai nor Raoul heard a word of what was being said, both completely conscious of the small amount of space between them. Jai looked at her feet until the conversation was over, while Raoul forced himself to chat with Gary. At last the conversation between Maura and Geoffrey was over, and the two women walked inside the castle.
"It was good to see you, Geoffrey," Raoul said. "I'll let you get settled in, and see you later."
Raoul quickly walked back to the Own's stables, praying silently to any gods listening that Gary had not noticed anything odd. He saddled Drum and managed to calm his thoughts some by spending several bells practicing jousting with a small wooden ring. When the bell before dinner sounded, Raoul sighed and took Drum back to the barracks. Once he brushed his horse thoroughly, he returned to his room, bathed quickly and readied for the ball that evening. When he reached the dinner and realized where he was sitting, he wondered what god was punishing him. Lady Maura sat on his left, and Jai sat on his right, her husband sat on her other side.
Jai flushed slightly as Raoul sat down next to her.
"Good evening, Lord Raoul," she said softly.
"Good evening, Lady Jai and to you, Lady Maura," Raoul replied.
"Jai, how is your fief doing? In your last letter you said you were planning to add a new crop into your rotation. Did that work?" Maura asked, speaking as quickly as Jai used to.
Jai was forced to lean close to Raoul so Maura could hear her response, and Raoul was painfully conscious of Jai's arm pressed against his. He ate mechanically, trying not to show any sign of what her presence was doing to him. This close he could smell the lavender scent she favored, and it brought back memories of holding her close with such strength that Raoul could hardly bear the weight of them.
"Honestly, Jai," Barner sneered, interrupting Jai's description of the new system she'd set up so the people on her fief would be able to see the healer more easily. "You coddle your people a ridiculous amount, and it's costing us money. Those rats don't need every single sniffle to be healed, which is what will happen if you promise to start paying the healer for his supplies."
Jai shifted away from Raoul as she turned to her husband. "I disagree my lord, and it's my decision what happens on my fief."
"As your husband, I am telling you this decision is a terrible one. The peasants owe you money. You shouldn't be spending your money on them when you allow them to work your land."
Realizing Jai was about to respond angrily and worried about the beating she'd take for that response, Raoul slid a hand on her knee under the table and squeezed slightly, trying to signal her to be careful.
Jai breathed in sharply, then shook her head and said, "You may be right, my lord. I'll think about it some more before I make a decision."
"Well, I think you're right, Jai," Maura said. "Besides, if the people are healthier, they can do their work better."
Barner and Maura spent the rest of the dinner arguing, leaving Jai and Raoul to sit in silence. As Raoul took his hand off her leg, Jai looked up at him and gave him a small smile of thanks. Both Jai and Raoul ate without a word, but throughout the dinner they bumped into each other and pressed their legs against each other unnecessarily, both willing to take joy in the simple feeling of togetherness. As the desserts were being served, a messenger came in and whispered something in Jon's ear. Jon went pale and leaned over to say something to Thayet, before standing and commanding everyone's attention.
"Lords and ladies," he said. "I have bad news. Commander Glasidan of Haryse is dead, along with all the members of two squads of the King's Own save one. They died heroically defending Tortall from Scanran invaders. We will remember them as heroes. In respect to their memory, this ball is now over."
As Jon spoke, Jai laced her fingers through Raoul's under the table, and scooted as close as possible, her weight against his arm a slight comfort as he processed the death of 19 of his men and one of his commanders. Knowing Jon would want to meet to discuss this new information, Raoul sat for a moment after his speech, letting Jai's presence soak into him before he let go of her hand and stood up. He and the rest of Jon's closest advisors left quickly, heading towards Jon's study.
Once they were gathered, Raoul demanded, "What happened?"
Jon sighed, "Glasidan apparently misinterpreted tracks and only took two squads when meeting what turned out to be a large contingent of Scanran troops."
Raoul slammed his fist on the table. "Gods curse it, Jon. I told you he wasn't fit to command."
"I know. I'm sorry. I think you know how sorry I am."
Raoul nodded, then said, "I know, but Second Company can't stay there alone anymore, Jon."
"I know. We'll send three more squads of Riders up immediately, but I want you to wait until George comes back. If George comes back with no information, you will go up and Second Company can come back to Corus."
Raoul opened his mouth to argue, but Alanna interrupted, "George didn't think he'd be gone more than a day, Raoul. It will take you at least that long to get Third Company ready."
Raoul grimaced. "Very well. Let's hope he comes back with good news."
"So mote it be," echoed from around the table. After spending a little while longer discussing tactics and positioning of troops, the group dispersed. Raoul went back to his room, the combined grief of the death of his men and Jai's situation threatening to overwhelm him. When he opened the door, however, he saw Jai standing next to the bookshelf. She turned to look at him, a fresh black eye still swelling on her face. Raoul closed the door and the two both crossed the room in long strides, wrapping their arms around each other and bringing their lips together in a passionate kiss.
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Review! Pretty please, with a cherry on top?