Ch 5 An Extended Stay
The next morning a servant peeked in the door as he finished getting dressed. "Good timing" he told the man. He had grown up with servants in his father's house, and being that his best friend had been the son of two of those servants, he had an appreciation of what it took to make a well-run household. His family might take it for granted, but he never had.
The man grinned "Thanks, you be a good un" he said. By the look on his face as he said this Van got the impression, there were those in this wing of the palace who were a royal pain in the neck. He gave the man a commiserating smile and asked what brought him.
"Lady Herent has sent word you are to have breakfast with her in her rooms" the man said.
"Thanks, If you could guide me I'd appreciate it" he shrugged helplessly "I'm afraid I've never been in the palace before and I have no idea where they are".
He followed the man down his corridor and around two turns before taking him to a door about three doors down from the last turn. Van thought it was lucky that he had always had a good head for directions, he knew he could find his and his patrons rooms himself now. And he knew where the trainee's ate. He was all set he thought with an inward chuckle.
When he entered the room he found his patron by the table, dictating to her clerk. She looked his way and smiled , but finished with her current task. Once she sent the man on his way, she turned and said "Sorry about that, time got away from me, here I invite you to breakfast and then I ignore you".
He smiled "Don't worry about it, I've just arrived". He looked at the table set for breakfast, it wouldn't have been out of place in his father's house, though some of the foods were different, being as close as they were to the Dorisha plains, some Shin'a'in foods had entered the diets of the southern nobles. There was a particular cheese he missed.
He shook off the thought, he didn't need to court any homesickness.
"There is a reason, I asked you to join me this morning" Lady Herent said, jolting him from his thoughts. She waved him to the table, he helped seat her and waited, he knew she would get to the point soon enough.
She laughed "You are the politest young man I've ever seen.
He just smiled, not wanting to mention, diplomacy and manners had been drummed into him from a young age. Being his father's son, even a younger one, made it a fact of life. He had even been taught most of the languages in the known world. With an inward chuckle he thought, at least it gave me more options.
He sat back and waited for her to continue, his head tilted slightly and a small smile on his face.
She laughed again "Alright I'll get to the point". "Something came up and we'll have to stay here for another week".
"Oh" he asked. Taking a bite of his porridge. "A point" he said pausing, "I only brought enough clothing for two days, and most of my supplies are back at the townhouse"
She waved off his objections, faint as they were. "I'll have a servant bring your supplies, though I think you'll need to get some new clothing, most of what I've seen you wear isn't really suitable for the palace, I'll send my tailor to make you some new clothing".
"You don't need to do that" he said taken aback.
She gave him a look, one he recognized as her mothering mode, he sighed knowing he had to do what she wanted, when she was in this mood, there was no stopping her.
"Nonsense " she said confirming his fears. "You'll need clothing that will, allow you to pass among those of the court, pretty manners will only get you so far" she said.
He nodded knowing she was right.
"It's settled then" she said an excited gleam in her eye. "I've been wanting to dress you, since the moment I saw you in the marketplace".
She laughed at the alarmed look in his eyes "Don't worry I have excellent taste".
"You're not going to deprive and old woman her fun" she asked in a chiding tone.
As if she had ever been old he thought to himself.
Once they finished breakfast, Lady Herent called for her tailor and appropriate cloth to be sent to her rooms. You're not staying for this he asked alarmed anew at the look in her eyes.
She just smiled "I have time this morning and I know, you are free, don't worry I'll have you out in a couple of candlemarks, there will still be light for you to do your painting".
He sighed, that wasn't what he was worried about, but he might as well go along for the ride, there wasn't anything he could do to change her mind.
