Chapter Twenty-Five: Changed, Changed Utterly
Each day was agonizing. The hours dragged their feet and the clock bells seemed reluctant to ring. I paced, anxious to the point of tears. I attended the religious services more rigorously than ever and within two days, I was sitting in the front row being coddled by the grandmothers and exhorted personally by the presbyter.
Finally, on that last morning when the leaves were just touched by gold and the mornings carried the vestiges of summer on the humid breeze, my bags were packed and I passed through the great doors of the church for the last time. Instantly, the old biddies welcomed me into their fold, herding me towards the front. I was on the receiving end of many sharp elbows and brutal pinches because I simply could not sit still. The nervous anticipation coursing through my bloodstream acted faster than any alcohol and had a greater affect that anything I had ever known. I twitched, I shifted, I kicked my feet. All of these and more were rewarded with pain and injunctions to sit still and listen.
At long last, with a final intoned prayer to the Madonna and Her Holy Child to watch over us, the service was done and I was free to go. I stood immediately, much distaste of the grandmothers, and sought out Thomhas.
He caught my eye after a short period of frantic searching. Quietly, he escorted me out the door, his gloved hand pressed firmly into the small of my back. "Good afternoon, Sera dy Relandrant."
"Good afternoon, Ser dy Cattalo." We walked together for several steps, our footsteps marking perfect time. With effortless ease, he helped me into his carriage. I caught one last glimpse of Tännon-city before it was shut away completely. "Good-bye, farewell," I whispered to the city of my childhood.
Our arrival in Anselme was marked with so little fanfare that the great city-state seemed not to notice us at all. Thom seemed to think that was better, but I had wanted to see some display of affection or welcome, at the very least. Thom was still a high ranking member of the gentry though, he confided in me, no longer a close confidante of Prince Daryan's. It appeared that they had had a tiff over Thomhas' decision to venture to Anselme at such short notice.
"We'll be staying with the Comte d'Ardenne while in the city." My traveling companion rubbed his neck irritably. "It will certainly be a pleasure to take full advantage of his beds."
I sighed in sympathetic agreement. Traveling had not been pleasant; instead of stopping for nightly rests, we had pressed on. A halt had been called only to change weary horses or for brief meals. Sleeping in the jostling, jerking coach had not been ideal, to say the least. "I, for one, will be looking forward to being in the sunlight again!"
Anselme, renowned for her blue skies, had shown us nothing of her brilliant face while we were traveling. Even if the sun did shine, we didn't see it, cooped up as we were. I longed to simply drink in the cool, clean air of my new home, bathing in sunlight and good cheer. Thom and I had decided that, in this city of musicians and merchants, we would travel lightly, carrying only that which was absolutely necessary. We didn't bother to concoct a cock and bull story of our flight—for that was what it truly was, I realized—instead, we would simply say that we were traveling and answer no questions.
The Comte d'Ardenne greeted us with open arms, showering kisses upon us both. "Thomhas!" The old man cried, his jowls jiggling merrily beneath a heavy beard. "How devilishly delightful to see you again, my friend!" The Comte made a show of looking at me. "And mein Gott! Who is this lovely lady that you've got dangling on your arm?"
Thomhas, suddenly smiling and radiating exuberance, shoved me forward into the embrace of Comte d'Ardenne. "This is Sera Kelryian dy Cattalo, Mathieu." I managed to give him one, confused look at this sudden deviation from our plan before I was enveloped in beribboned, fleshy arms.
"You are the very quintessence of beauty, my dear!" Mathieu d'Ardenne, enthusiastic and loving, accepted my blushing thanks without pause and made no guesses as to my relationship to Thomhas.
"We've traveled far, Mathieu. Tännon-city saw us off several mornings ago and we haven't stopped since. Have you a bite to eat?" Thomhas was masterful at steering our conversation. He continued to do so all afternoon as we ate our way through delicate, airy pastries and succulent fruits. We talked of nothing, revealed nothing, and ate everything. By the time evening darkened the skies, I was happily sated and ready to sleep forever.
"My dear, you look famished!" Mathieu offered another pastry. "Here, eat!" My eyes must have been as wide as my stomach felt, for the Comte laughed merrily and patted his own stomach. "I'm sorry, Sera, but I am used to my own eating habits. Forgive me."
"All is forgiven," I murmured, satisfied exhaustion making my eyes droop once again. "And I am happy."
"Kelryian," Thomhas murmured my name very softly sometime later. "Kelryian, would you like to go to bed?"
"Mm, yes, I should think so…" I knew vaguely that, for the most part, I was asleep, but it didn't seem too important. I was tired, and so it was only right that I should sleep.
Somewhere in the swirl of sleep-hazed awareness, I heard our host chuckle. "She's very sweet, but so young!"
"Aye, indeed she is." Strong hands slipped under my back and behind my knees, hoisting me into the air. "She's just tired now."
"Let her sleep all day, Thom. She deserves it, I'm sure. An hour in that conveyance merits at least a day's rest." Mathieu's voice slowly slipped away from me, and then, I was truly asleep.
Waking up in a strange bed was unnerving at first, but I soon decided that any bed was better than that horrid carriage. Snuggling into the sheets for one last, quick grab at sleep, I readied myself to face the day.
That day turned out to be a very easy day indeed; Thomhas, once more stoic, and Mathieu escorted me around Anselme. What a city she was! Brightly colored swathes of fabric were everywhere, drenching the city in gaiety. I couldn't resist the grin that leapt instantly to my lips at the sight of it. Mathieu beside me was smiling at my reaction, delighting in my joy. Thom, his arm linked through mine decorously, pointed out myriad novelties for me to feast my eyes upon.
At one point, Mathieu slipped off for a moment, reappearing a moment later, just as I noticed he had disappeared, with a carnation to tuck neatly into my hair. With grandfatherly concern, he patted it into place with shaking hands. "There, darling, but don't worry."
"What? Why should I worry when I've got two fine gentlemen escorting me throughout this fine city?" Oh, how happy I was in Anselme!
With a face fit for a funeral, Mathieu answered, "Why, don't worry that the flower should ever outshine your own beauty!"
"Ach! The nerve of you!" I swatted at him, but missed, all the while accusing him of being a flatterer. Thom, laughing at Mathieu's misfortune, caught me back again, ending my tirade. "Oh, Ser dy Cattalo, you mustn't ruin my fun."
But Mathieu was wheezing slightly; though spry, he was still much too old to be cavorting about like I was wont to do. My fun, for the moment, was over.
At the end of the day, I had nothing to show for our journey throughout the great, musical city of Anselme except for the flower and a wealth of memories. We had been accosted by roving musicians singing lovers ballads and epic songs of heroes and dragons. I had loved every minute of it and Mathieu had insisted that Thomhas should take me out tomorrow, though he himself couldn't go. Thom had agreed and so, the next morning, our exploration of the city commenced once more.
"Oh, Thom, look!" I dragged him with me, practically falling over my own feet. A girl sat on the sidewalk, painting pots arrayed around her. As soon as I looked down at the illustration, it appeared as a great, endless tunnel through which were flying an assortment of fairy creatures. Dragons, unicorns, sprites, nymphs…! Who could ask for anything more?
"I call's it 'Imagination', miss." The girl stared up at me, her sloppy grin free of sadness. "Like it?"
"Yes, of course I do!" I knelt beside her, Thomhas remaining aloof. "If only I could paint like you can!" I reached out a hand to touch it, but I was instantly slapped away.
"Only lookin', if you please."
"Yes, sorry, of course." I bit my lip, embarrassed.
Thomhas took my arm once more and tossed a coin to the artist. "Come, Kelryian. Let's keep walking."
Lunch in a small café was accompanied by a lute player with a sweet tenor voice. My good humor was quickly restored by the lightly plucked strings and the lilting melody.
"Thomhas, I have a question." I had been thinking for two days now about how to ask about my spontaneous change of name.
"You always do."
"Why did you call me Kelryian dy Cattalo?" I frowned. "I thought we were going to keep it simple."
"We are, Kelryian. It's simpler that we have the same surname. People would question an unaccompanied woman traveling in the company of a man who is neither brother nor husband. They shan't question us." He sighed. "I should have thought of it sooner, but it didn't occur to me until that very moment."
I pondered this along with a bite of strawberry tart. "I suppose that makes sense." I thought for a few seconds more. "Which are you, though?"
"It doesn't matter." Thomhas brushed my inquiry aside easily. "What matters is that your honor in the minds of those we meet is not being impugned and that they do not hear the name 'Relandrant'."
"What should that matter? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I shrugged simply. "I don't understand."
"They're looking for you." He was so serious.
"Who?"
"Your parents are, and Ser al Monteville."
That wasn't what I wanted to hear, but I shoved that aside. "I thought my parents had disowned me. I thought that Gerand wouldn't want me. Hasn't news of my escapades reached them yet?" I was a bit bitter about that last bit.
"You are a valuable commodity, do you realize that? You are worth a rather large sum of money. Valuable things should be guarded carefully, not allowed to run amok all over the countryside." Before I could react, he caught my face in his hands and forced me to look at him. "Gerand al Monteville wants you because you will add to his wealth and because you are a beautiful young girl that he can claim as his. Your parents want you back because without you, they will lose most of their negotiations with al Monteville—bad faith would be the reason for that."
"Well don't I feel loved," I muttered, my face inflamed with both the heat of his hands and my own blush. "Here, for all these years, I thought they didn't want me."
Thom sat back a little, dropping his hands to my shoulders. "Actually, they still don't want you. At least, not your parents. They're merely trying to get rid of you to get something better."
"Good sir!" One of the wandering minstrels interposed himself at once. "How dare you say such a thing to such a graceful young lady! Whoever could want more than this?" I cringed as the minstrel flung Thomhas' hands off of me. "Fine golden hair, comely figure and face, sweet tempered and tongued, with out a doubt. I'm sure she could fetch far more than any other treasure in this room, were she to be sold!" The man ran a bow across the taut strings and those immediately around us quieted so as to better here the music.
"Ladies, gentlemen! You are now to witness the saving of a young damsel from distress!" Notes wailed from his instrument, plaintive cries that nearly broke my heart and my ears all at once. "There once was a girl, whose name was Annalyd. She was a pretty sight to and so too thought the wind…" The minstrel paused hopefully, obviously begging for some kind of recognition. When none was given, he sighed. "Not that one, then. It's no good anyhow. Perhaps another?"
"That won't be necessary." Thom smiled as politely as he could. "We should like to dine in peace, I think."
"Oh we should, should we?" The man made a face as he imitated my companion. "How 'bout it, gents? Ladies? Another one for the lord and his lady?" He threw his arms wide to his audience, which was always ready for the public humiliation of some poor soul or another. "What shall I play for them?" It seemed as if then entire café roared at once, bubbling with different suggestions. Finally, the minstrel raised his hand and the hubbub ceased. "Thank you kindly for your suggestions, my friends. Now, for the lady and her lord, I shall play a song." With great flourish, the bow whined across the strings. "In a city not so far away, there is a man searches night and day…" There was a pause for a brief instrumental interlude, and then he continued. "He looks for the girl he was to wed and looks to take her to his bed. But he's too late, oh yes he is, he's too late, for she spurns his love with hate. She's led him on, oh along, along, but she has done him grievous wrong."
I listened with interest; I was always up for something dramatic. This sounded like something that would suit me perfectly. Thom was restless, but I bid him sit still, for now I was enthralled by the story, if not by the musician's rather less than stellar voice. As the song progressed, however, I began to like it less and less. It began to hit too close to home, for the girl of the song tarried with princes and scorned her parents. She, too, had ordered three dresses to be made in impossible colors and had gone to three balls wearing them. My hand shook as I tried to delicately lift my teacup to my lips. I nearly spat out the tea when the minstrel sang of the catskin cloak.
Thomhas caught my eye and I tried to choke as silently as I could. "Shall we go, Kelryian?" His voice, always soft, was almost lost in the jarring cant of the song.
"Yes, oh yes, please." I set the cup down on its saucer with a clatter. "Please, Thomhas, now."
He took my arm and led me from the café in the heart of Anselme where minstrels sang of me and reviled my deeds. I cringed as I heard the minstrel decry us in a sharp tone, his words following us. I took one look back and, at the sight of my pale, terrified face, he began to laugh and point.
Thomhas handed me his handkerchief as I began to cry.
Author's Note: So this chapter has been sitting here for a while, just waiting for me to get around to it. Tsk, tsk. Well, here it is now and I hope you enjoyed it! Feedback is always appreciated! I will do my best to update as quickly as possible, but nothing is guaranteed, what with school and all. I hope everyone is having a nice school experience and all! J