Chapter Eight: Gone
"Rehani, wake up. It's time for the talks. Would you like to come?" Daine shook her daughter's shoulder.
"All right. Ma." Rehani muttered sleepily. Daine smiled. Rehani pulled on breeches, a shirt, and a tunic, and followed Daine to the room where the talks were being held. Emperor Kaddar sat at the head of the table. The seating was in order of importance. Numair, Daine, and Rehani were in the middle.
"Welcome, Tortallan guests. I have some news that I regret to inform you." Kaddar announced gravely. Rehani bit her lip. What could be wrong? "I regret to inform you that the search for Varice Kingsford has been called off. She has not been found. Guards inquired at the gate and were told that at about the time you told me of the kidnappings, a lady in a muddy ball gown demanded that they open the gates for her. They opened the gates and she raced off. They did not say she is Varice, but." Kaddar's voice trailed off.
"She got away! I can't believe it!" Numair exclaimed.
"We'll find her. Anybody found helping her will also be punished. We will find her, Master Salmalin. Now let's get back to the talks. Will my head scribe please remind us of what happened next?" Kaddar replied smoothly. Rehani listened to the talks with interest. She didn't know Princess Kalasin, the twenty-four-year-old daughter of King Jonathon IV and Queen Thayet, but she found it interesting to find out how royal marriages were decided.
"So it is decided. We will send a message to King Jonathon, Queen Thayet, and Princess Kalasin. Princess Kalasin will marry Emperor Kaddar and rule by Emperor Kaddar's side as the Empress. Princess Kalasin will travel to Carthak with three ladies-in-waiting in one and a half years. She will be given a tour of Carthak and will be allowed to invite guests to her marriage, which will take place after the tour of her lands." The head scribe announced at the end of the talks. Everybody in the room nodded.
"We will prepare to leave for Tortall tomorrow." Alanna announced as they bowed to Emperor Kaddar and left the room.
"I don't know what Kalasin will think of this. Kaddar is a nice person. I don't think she wanted an arranged marriage, even though she knew it would eventually happen." Daine fretted.
"Thayet reminded her of her duties as a princess. Princesses marry to make peace with other countries." Numair reminded Daine.
"We have peace with Carthak, though. Why not marry somebody useful, like a Copper Islander or a Scanran." Daine told him as they headed to their rooms.
"No Tortallan will marry a dirty Scanran. If we marry Kalasin or Lianne off to a Copper Islander, it would brake their peace with Scanra. They're allied with Scanra. If they get into war, they'll need help. If one of them marries a Tortallan, Scanra won't help them." Numair told her. Daine scowled.
"I hate it when I'm wrong." Daine muttered, audible only to Rehani grinned. "I plan to spend the rest of the day getting to know my daughter. And teaching her meditation."
"Wait, what about Princess Lianne? I thought she might marry a lesser prince." Numair commented.
"You can be so scatter brained, Numair. Kaddar, Jon, and Thayet agreed that Princess Lianne should marry to another country instead, because it will make peace with a country we are at war with. It will be more useful, and gain us and Carthak both an ally." Daine rolled her eyes.
"Oh, right. But there isn't anybody for her. We already have peace with the Yamani Islands, Tusaine, and here." Numair replied.
"What about Tyra, Galla, Maren, and Sarain. But Sarain is in ruins. Jon wouldn't marry Lianne to somebody in Sarain." Daine retorted.
"We have peace with Galla, magelet. But they won't ally us in war."
"It's not like Carthak does either."
"Kalasin's marriage will ensure help during wars. I wish it could have happened years ago, during the recent war against Scanra, but that's life."
"Numair, do you have any ideas for meditation. Is there any other way?"
"Now that I remember it, yes. It's very different, and I don't know if Rehani would like it."
"What is it?"
"Work with the staff." Numair answered. Rehani shook her head.
"I don't like hitting things." Rehani whispered.
"You're going to have to learn sometime, Rehani. You have to defend yourself. We can teach you the bow and staff. Baron George of Pirate's Swoop will teach you hand to hand combat and knife fighting." Numair told her. Rehani sighed.
"I guess I don't like hitting things because I've never been allowed a weapon." Rehani shrugged.
"You worked a little with the staff when you were six. Fine, that's out of the picture. You can try normal meditation again tomorrow.
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Varice Kingsford raced through the gates of the palace to her waiting barge. She had known this might happen. She had known Rehani would find out who her parents were in that room. Varice was ready to kill herself for putting them all in the same room, but no, she had to be kind and let them be happy. Now look what she had done.
"Shove off. Now. Hurry." Varice snapped as she leapt nimbly - too nimbly for a lady - onto the boat. Her lover at the time, Henry Sugarman, was down below scolding the slaves' overseer on how he treated the slaves.
"You treat them too kindly! If they take their eye off their oar for one split second, lash out. Teach them to obey! They can't shirk their duties. They are to keep their eyes on their oar at all times. You have a whip. Use it!" Henry was thundering. Varice hurried down.
"Henry, darling, you said you'd have clothes for me." Varice cooed.
"Ah, Varice. Your room is waiting. Please, follow me. Once you change, meet me in the dining cabin for a late supper. You barely eat at your banquets." Henry replied, kissing her. He showed Varice her room before heading to the dining cabin. Varice slipped into the cabin and opened the wardrobe. She chose a simple rose pink dress and pulled it on. One slave did her hair while the other began to mend her torn dress. Varice hurried to the dining cabin.
"Henry, what do we do now? Where do we go?" Varice asked as she sat down beside him.
"I thought you knew, Varice. That's why I agreed to have this barge ready." Henry frowned deeply.
"No, your part of the plan was to make the plan!" Varice shrieked, infuriated. "I went to that room to find them all gone! They were running up, the whole Tortallan party. Then they turned and ran to the emperor! I had to leave! I ran out the gates and onto this barge, ready to go forth with your plan!"
"Varice! Darling! Please, Varice! I misunderstood. A misunderstanding. We can go see my parents in their village. We'll be fine." Henry soothed. But Varice would have none of it. She stormed out of the cabin. "Varice! Varice!" Henry ran after her. Varice clumsily stood on the edge of the boat. Just as Henry was about to yank her back, Varice Kingsford stepped off the ship. Into the calm water of the river. Henry leapt after her and the ship sailed over the two lovers. Henry found himself too battered to care if he lived or not. He sank like a rock down to the bottom of the river. But what about Varice? He thought worriedly, as he let himself sink. Where was she? Then he spotted the beautiful woman. She was clinging to a rock. Then an wave - how could there be a wave on this river? - came and slammed down on the rock. Henry began to swim up. When he surfaced, he looked at the rock. Varice was gone. All that was left of her was a square of her pink dress. Sobbing helplessly, Henry swam to the bottom and opened his mouth wide. Water filled his lungs until he was about to burst. Then one last swallow - and he did burst. To sink like a rock to the bottom of the river, never to see daylight again. Never to kiss the soft lips of Varice Kingsford again.
Should this be the end or should I keep going?
"Rehani, wake up. It's time for the talks. Would you like to come?" Daine shook her daughter's shoulder.
"All right. Ma." Rehani muttered sleepily. Daine smiled. Rehani pulled on breeches, a shirt, and a tunic, and followed Daine to the room where the talks were being held. Emperor Kaddar sat at the head of the table. The seating was in order of importance. Numair, Daine, and Rehani were in the middle.
"Welcome, Tortallan guests. I have some news that I regret to inform you." Kaddar announced gravely. Rehani bit her lip. What could be wrong? "I regret to inform you that the search for Varice Kingsford has been called off. She has not been found. Guards inquired at the gate and were told that at about the time you told me of the kidnappings, a lady in a muddy ball gown demanded that they open the gates for her. They opened the gates and she raced off. They did not say she is Varice, but." Kaddar's voice trailed off.
"She got away! I can't believe it!" Numair exclaimed.
"We'll find her. Anybody found helping her will also be punished. We will find her, Master Salmalin. Now let's get back to the talks. Will my head scribe please remind us of what happened next?" Kaddar replied smoothly. Rehani listened to the talks with interest. She didn't know Princess Kalasin, the twenty-four-year-old daughter of King Jonathon IV and Queen Thayet, but she found it interesting to find out how royal marriages were decided.
"So it is decided. We will send a message to King Jonathon, Queen Thayet, and Princess Kalasin. Princess Kalasin will marry Emperor Kaddar and rule by Emperor Kaddar's side as the Empress. Princess Kalasin will travel to Carthak with three ladies-in-waiting in one and a half years. She will be given a tour of Carthak and will be allowed to invite guests to her marriage, which will take place after the tour of her lands." The head scribe announced at the end of the talks. Everybody in the room nodded.
"We will prepare to leave for Tortall tomorrow." Alanna announced as they bowed to Emperor Kaddar and left the room.
"I don't know what Kalasin will think of this. Kaddar is a nice person. I don't think she wanted an arranged marriage, even though she knew it would eventually happen." Daine fretted.
"Thayet reminded her of her duties as a princess. Princesses marry to make peace with other countries." Numair reminded Daine.
"We have peace with Carthak, though. Why not marry somebody useful, like a Copper Islander or a Scanran." Daine told him as they headed to their rooms.
"No Tortallan will marry a dirty Scanran. If we marry Kalasin or Lianne off to a Copper Islander, it would brake their peace with Scanra. They're allied with Scanra. If they get into war, they'll need help. If one of them marries a Tortallan, Scanra won't help them." Numair told her. Daine scowled.
"I hate it when I'm wrong." Daine muttered, audible only to Rehani grinned. "I plan to spend the rest of the day getting to know my daughter. And teaching her meditation."
"Wait, what about Princess Lianne? I thought she might marry a lesser prince." Numair commented.
"You can be so scatter brained, Numair. Kaddar, Jon, and Thayet agreed that Princess Lianne should marry to another country instead, because it will make peace with a country we are at war with. It will be more useful, and gain us and Carthak both an ally." Daine rolled her eyes.
"Oh, right. But there isn't anybody for her. We already have peace with the Yamani Islands, Tusaine, and here." Numair replied.
"What about Tyra, Galla, Maren, and Sarain. But Sarain is in ruins. Jon wouldn't marry Lianne to somebody in Sarain." Daine retorted.
"We have peace with Galla, magelet. But they won't ally us in war."
"It's not like Carthak does either."
"Kalasin's marriage will ensure help during wars. I wish it could have happened years ago, during the recent war against Scanra, but that's life."
"Numair, do you have any ideas for meditation. Is there any other way?"
"Now that I remember it, yes. It's very different, and I don't know if Rehani would like it."
"What is it?"
"Work with the staff." Numair answered. Rehani shook her head.
"I don't like hitting things." Rehani whispered.
"You're going to have to learn sometime, Rehani. You have to defend yourself. We can teach you the bow and staff. Baron George of Pirate's Swoop will teach you hand to hand combat and knife fighting." Numair told her. Rehani sighed.
"I guess I don't like hitting things because I've never been allowed a weapon." Rehani shrugged.
"You worked a little with the staff when you were six. Fine, that's out of the picture. You can try normal meditation again tomorrow.
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Varice Kingsford raced through the gates of the palace to her waiting barge. She had known this might happen. She had known Rehani would find out who her parents were in that room. Varice was ready to kill herself for putting them all in the same room, but no, she had to be kind and let them be happy. Now look what she had done.
"Shove off. Now. Hurry." Varice snapped as she leapt nimbly - too nimbly for a lady - onto the boat. Her lover at the time, Henry Sugarman, was down below scolding the slaves' overseer on how he treated the slaves.
"You treat them too kindly! If they take their eye off their oar for one split second, lash out. Teach them to obey! They can't shirk their duties. They are to keep their eyes on their oar at all times. You have a whip. Use it!" Henry was thundering. Varice hurried down.
"Henry, darling, you said you'd have clothes for me." Varice cooed.
"Ah, Varice. Your room is waiting. Please, follow me. Once you change, meet me in the dining cabin for a late supper. You barely eat at your banquets." Henry replied, kissing her. He showed Varice her room before heading to the dining cabin. Varice slipped into the cabin and opened the wardrobe. She chose a simple rose pink dress and pulled it on. One slave did her hair while the other began to mend her torn dress. Varice hurried to the dining cabin.
"Henry, what do we do now? Where do we go?" Varice asked as she sat down beside him.
"I thought you knew, Varice. That's why I agreed to have this barge ready." Henry frowned deeply.
"No, your part of the plan was to make the plan!" Varice shrieked, infuriated. "I went to that room to find them all gone! They were running up, the whole Tortallan party. Then they turned and ran to the emperor! I had to leave! I ran out the gates and onto this barge, ready to go forth with your plan!"
"Varice! Darling! Please, Varice! I misunderstood. A misunderstanding. We can go see my parents in their village. We'll be fine." Henry soothed. But Varice would have none of it. She stormed out of the cabin. "Varice! Varice!" Henry ran after her. Varice clumsily stood on the edge of the boat. Just as Henry was about to yank her back, Varice Kingsford stepped off the ship. Into the calm water of the river. Henry leapt after her and the ship sailed over the two lovers. Henry found himself too battered to care if he lived or not. He sank like a rock down to the bottom of the river. But what about Varice? He thought worriedly, as he let himself sink. Where was she? Then he spotted the beautiful woman. She was clinging to a rock. Then an wave - how could there be a wave on this river? - came and slammed down on the rock. Henry began to swim up. When he surfaced, he looked at the rock. Varice was gone. All that was left of her was a square of her pink dress. Sobbing helplessly, Henry swam to the bottom and opened his mouth wide. Water filled his lungs until he was about to burst. Then one last swallow - and he did burst. To sink like a rock to the bottom of the river, never to see daylight again. Never to kiss the soft lips of Varice Kingsford again.
Should this be the end or should I keep going?