Forest
Chapter 16b: Continued…
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The Yamani court was a dizzying explosion of colour, music and people. After the silence of the sea, the crowds seemed unreal. How could there possibly be so many people? And yet, there were.
First, you noticed the young courtiers, at court to impress and to marry. They wore the brightest colours, the richest silks and the more flamboyant jewels. The women trailed heavy embroidered skirts behind them, the men long over-robes. They laughed too loudly and too often, chattering in abnormally high voices as close to people of importance as they could get. Whenever one went past, whether they were walking, heading for another crowd of human-peacocks, or dancing, heavy clouds of scent filled the air behind them. Sweet pea, jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang mixed together into a solid wall of perfume.
The older courtiers looked on with disdain or masked amusement, arm-in-arm with husbands or wives they had won in the same manner. Their robes were just as sumptuous and rich as the younger ones, but were in more muted colours. The oldest nobles were even wearing black robes that made them patches of shadow among the younger butterflies.
Scattered around were men and women who were wearing a totally different style of clothes. Although they were embroidered and dyed as elaborately as the brightest courtiers', they were clearly meant to be practical as well as beautiful. They had no trailing robes, and no heavy jewellery. Many of them had cut their hair short, or had severe hairstyles. Even as these people chatted easily to the other guests, their stance was wary and their eyes were constantly alert.
Among all the chaos, it was difficult to see the servants- and yet there was a throng of them flowing in and out of the doors, serving food and drink to the gathering. Some of the more extravagant nobles had a servant trailing behind them, holding their robes from the floor or carrying a bag of what must be kohl or rouge, just in case.
Daine tried to blend in to the crowd, feeling uneasy in the delicate green kimono one of Ilane's daughters had loaned her. The dress was covered with delicate embroideries and small semi-precious stones: elaborate enough to make Daine feel over-conspicuous, but it was plain compared to some of the court dresses.
That afternoon, when Piers and Numair were discussing Yamani politics in the next room, Ilane had suggested to her that she find a "pretty dress" for court. She had been perplexed when Daine hadn't seemed that interested in the idea. Realising that Daine would probably go to the Emperor's court in the rough clothes she was wearing without being overly concerned, she devoted herself to the task of convincing her to dress well.
"But I'm going to shapeshift." Daine said, after half an hour's avid refusals. "And I've seen too many people wearing nice clothes. Don't you think they look gaudy?"
Ilane sighed, feeling put-upon. "It'll offend people if you don't dress up, to be honest. Even the warriors have to look smart in the Emperor's presence. They won't let you in if you're not 'gaudy'."
"Oh." Said Daine, taking interest.
"Besides, don't you want to look pretty?" Daine gave her a blank look- apparently the concept was new to her. Ilane wondered what on earth she had been doing when other girls were trying on makeup and dresses. Why, her daughters were always trying new clothes, like there was no tomorrow! "Didn't you and your sister-"
"No… I don't have any sisters. And I didn't have anything to dress up for, so I didn't." Daine said vaguely, missing Ilane's slip of the tongue. The older woman was silent for a moment.
"Perhaps I really need to say: there's someone you should look pretty for." She said quietly. Daine glanced at her, surprised, a blush starting on each cheek. Ilane smiled, not pushing the point, and stood up, leading the way to the women's wing of the house.
Ilane asked permission from her daughters to search their wardrobes. Daine had scowled at the vast array of pink and more pink, searching until she found the green dress.
"But it's unfashionable, my dear!" Ilane's eldest daughter had been elegantly shocked. Daine shrugged.
"It's not pink. And it's not frilly, or over-long. It'll do fine."
"But, how can you bear to be seen in something so old?" The elegance had vanished. The fine daughter was genuinely amazed.
Daine had also avoided all their attempts to dress her hair, or lend jewellery. Instead, she plaited her hair back from her face in the most practical way she knew. A few strands escaped the braid and hung around her face, softening the severity. Still, she thought she could just about stand to be seen, although she still felt ridiculously overdressed. .
At the court, she wandered through the throng, absently trying to guess which of the practically dressed nobles The Wolf was. The chaos necklace pricked her neck from where it was hidden under the gold collar, adding to her uneasiness.
Someone materialised at her arm, bowing and saying something she couldn't make out. She frowned at the man, a well-dressed Yamani butterfly, and shook her head.
"I'm sorry," She said loudly over the chatter, "I can't hear you. And I don't speak Yamani."
"Ah! But I can speak common!" He replied in a heavy accent, smiling charmingly. Although his words were lyrical and teasing, his eyes seemed to be calculating. His groomed features were marred by a scar across his cheek, which dimpled when he smiled- as he was doing now. "I was merely welcoming a new flower to the beauty of the court."
"Don't try and flatter me. I'm not interested." Daine smiled slightly to make the rebuke less hurtful, but the man didn't seem to listen. He fixed his eyes on her face as she spoke, and smiled as if she had proved him right at something.
"You are from the mainland, then. No Yamani maiden would be so modest! But where do they grow such beautiful flowers? Tortall? Galla? Your accent is strange, a mixture that I cannot place."
"It's none of your business!" She said. The man nodded thoughtfully, a knowing expression on his face.
"You are right. We haven't even introduced ourselves! It was rude of me to inquire." He bowed again, his eyes laughing. "I promise I won't compliment you again without your permission!"
Daine laughed despite herself and returned the bow. "Then I apologise for my… well, for being rude. I'm Veralidaine Sarrasri, of Galla, Carthak and Tortall."
"What a combination! I am only of the Yamani Islands, and my name is Ged Shurin. I believe you wanted to meet me?"
"Did I?"
"Yes. I was talking with the Lady Ilane, and she mentioned having lost a young friend of hers who had something particular to say to me. I agreed to search for her friend, but while I was looking I caught sight of such beauty that my quest quite escaped my mind!"
Daine frowned at the reference to Ilane and completely missed the rest of the speech, trying to work out who on earth…
"Are you the Wolf, by any chance?" She asked bluntly. The man smiled and bowed.
"Not only beautiful, but intelligent! There's hope for Tortallans yet!" He grinned. "Yes, my name is Ged Shurin, but I am also called the wolf. And I have no third name for you to discover, I'm sorry to say!"
"Are you ever serious?" Daine said, exasperated. Ged shrugged.
"It depends what this particular thing you have to say is."
"I want to challenge you, to prove my worth as a warrior." Daine recited the words Piers had taught her formally. Ged's expression changed to one of almost pity.
"In that case, I am deadly serious. And very sorry. I accept."