Ch 7 A Silent Scream

As he walked into the palace towards the Trainee's dining room a servant stopped him to deliver a message.

"Lady Herent wishes you to join her for dinner" the man said before darting off on another errand. Van sighed and detoured to his room to pick up some fresh clothing, he would just have time to clean up before he would be expected. He was glad he had asked one of the servants for the location of the bathing rooms.

As he came to the door to Lady Herent's rooms Van slowed, he was still a little unsettled by the days events. He took a deep breath and knocked. The servant opened the door. As he entered Van looked for his patron, she was sitting at the table already sipping from her wineglass. She looked up at his entrance. "I'm sorry if you've had to wait" he said.

"No, I didn't have to wait long" she fell silent, fingering a letter she held on her lap.

His blood ran cold as he recognized the broken seal on the letter, it was the official crown seal of Jakatha. He closed his eyes and prayed for calm.

"That's from my father isn't it" he said hoping his voice remained calm.

She took another sip from her glass then set it on the table "Yes, I'm afraid it is".

"What does he want" he asked, almost he could guess the answer.

"You are to be confirmed the Jkathan ambassador to Valdemar" she said softly. "I wanted to tell you first, before I took this to Selenay".

He shook his head, he should have known his father had let him go too easily. He looked up at his former patron "Did he say why" he asked.

"Would you expect him to" she asked him.

"No" he said in a tired voice. He looked up "I seem to have lost my appetite, would you mind if I returned to my room" he asked, suddenly wanting to be alone.

In his room Van paced unable to think of anything but his impending doom, he had the feeling that he wouldn't even be given time to finish the murals for Lady Herent, he had been proud of how they were turning out too. The walls seemed to close in on him and he looked up suddenly. I can't stay in here he thought to himself.

Walking quickly he excited the palace and walked back towards Companion's field. At the fence he closed his eyes and rubbed his face leaning against the fence. Opening his eyes he barely noted the full moon shining, it's light reflecting off the backs of the companions in the field. He knew he would end up doing as his father wished, he could also see that it was necessary, he was here, of all his brother's and had started making contacts. But it was hard giving up his dream.

He stood there by the fence until even the companions had left for their stable for the night. Finally he turned back to the palace, but he didn't expect to be getting any sleep this night.

The next morning Van got ready and waited for the summons he knew he would be getting, it came while he was eating a quick breakfast in the trainees dining hall. Heads turned and he heard the whispers as the queens own came to his side. "The queen would like to meet with you when you're done with your meal".

Van nodded and pushed away his breakfast and stood up "I'm done now, I really wasn't that hungry anyway" She gave him a sharp look but didn't say anything as he put his tray with the other dirty ones and turned to follow her.

She looked up at him as they walked down the hall "She doesn't bite you know".

"What" he asked startled out of his brooding.

"The Queen, she doesn't eat foreign ambassadors for breakfast" she added.

He shook his head "Too bad, she could put me out of my misery".

Talia laughed and neither one said anything more until they were outside the door of the room the Queen used for informal Audiences.

Selenay looked up as they entered the room, she smiled "Welcome".

He smiled slightly and bowed, the correct amount of respect to be given to a monarch not ones own.

"Come there's no need to be so formal" she said.

He nodded "It's a habit" he said taking the seat she gestured him towards. He kept his mind alert as he had been taught reading for the slightest nuance.

"I hear I have a new Ambassador" she said.

"So I've heard" he said dryly.

She laughed and he relaxed slightly. "I suppose I'll have to find you another suite until you find a building that suits you for your embassy".

"That would be fine, I can't do much until I've had contact with my government" he said.

"You'll do" she said.

Talia looked at him an abstract look on her face "I've seen you someplace".

He shook his head "I don't remember seeing you until today".

"It was recently" she said absently. "Oh" she exclaimed. "It was a painting from those rooms the servants found recently" she turned to the Queen. "You remember, it said on the back that it was Herald Vanyel Ashkevron".

He laughed "That doesn't surprise me, according to the family stories we're descended from him".

"I believe it" Talia said.

"That would make us related" Selenay said.

"How" he asked.

"The royal family is descended from a daughter of his" she said.

"That won't stop me from doing my best for my people" he told them.

"I wouldn't expect anything less" Selenay said.