Aleia was ready for the banquet. That is, physically ready. She really did not want to go. Thinking back to the ball, she didn't see how it could not be a disaster. And to think it was only the first of a fortnight of such celebrations! She was concerned with what other things the duke might be involved besides his "petty tricks."
Tonight, she very much wished she was guarding the royal family, instead of being in it. With a sigh, she turned away from her dreary thoughts and started to walk to the banquet hall. When she entered the queen was there, inspecting everything to be sure all of the last-minute preparations were done.
"Darling, do you think that shade of candles goes alright with the tapestries?" Queen Lydia asked.
Aleia glanced at the candles, then the tapestries. She really didn't see how any color could make much of a difference on how the room looked. "Um—yes, it looks—lovely."
"Oh, good, I'm glad you think so. By the way, that color looks gorgeous on you!" she said as he passed by to attend to something else.
Aleia looked down at her crimson colored skirt, then at her mother, who was rushing around doing something or other. Aleia slowly walked around the tables, looking at all of the fancy decorations. There were many candles and fancy glasses and wreath-like decorations on the table-tops.
"You look magnificent."
Aleia turned. It was the duke, and he was smiling in a most unfriendly way. "Don't attempt flattery, Kevar, it doesn't suit you."
He laughed. "Well, aren't we feeling gracious tonight."
"Do I have any cause to feel gracious towards you? I don't really think so," Aleia said in a low voice.
"I haven't killed your father, yet."
"That's simple etiquette, not philanthropy."
He gave a sideways smile. "I suppose so."
"Why do you always feel the need to torment me with your conversation?" Aleia asked him.
"Torment? You mean you don't enjoy it?"
Aleia just turned away.
"Well, if you must know, I find it interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Studying your life. The way you move, talk, think."
"You jest, Sir."
"No! Really, somebody should know something about your life before its over."
Aleia frowned, she was angry now. "You always have to end the conversation on something of that note, don't you? Why can't you just forget about it, instead of gloating in my face that you'll get to rule and I won't?"
"Oh, so you've accepted it now? Last, I thought you were telling me that you weren't going to die."
Aleia gave him a testy look.
He laughed. "Alright, I'll leave you for now, the other courtiers are coming in." He walked over to join them.
Aleia watched him. He was so unreasonably cruel! She soon left her place by the table to converse with some of the courtiers. After a few moments a trumpet blew, everyone went to the tables. Aleia stood near the head of the longest table, the king and queen came down the stairs, arm in arm.
The queen looked radiant, and she walked with such a grace Aleia didn't ever think she would have. Of course, I may not have long to practice, she thought, recalling the dukes words. He seemed so adamant on her dying, if she didn't for some reason, he would probably kill her himself.
Once the king and queen sat down, everyone else followed suit. The king gave a short speech about how glad he was that everyone was there and how lovely the holidays would be. Then the waiters brought out the food. It was delicious and everyone was so concentrated on eating it, that there was little conversation.
Aleia carefully observed everyone, with no real intentions, she just enjoyed watching people. It was habit probably learned from being in the spy business. A few things caught her eye. The king kept glancing around, as if he was fearfully waiting for something dreadful to happen. She frowned and tried to follow his eyes, but there was nothing there. Eventually, she turned away in confusion. Duke Conrad Kevar, on the other hand, was looking exceedingly smug, like he had done something which he thought was very difficult. He looked proud of himself and as if he was expecting something interesting to come of whatever it was he had done.
As the waitors were bringing out the second course, there was a loud crash. Everyone jumped and looked to where it came from. It seemed that the ceiling had caved in, in front of the head of the table. Something had fallen through. It was—a spinning wheel. It was rather old looking, made of dull wood, and it had a thin, sharp-looking needle.
Aleia closed her eyes, trying to just breathe. She didn't need this, not now, first the duke and now this. She tried not to relate it to her death, it was just a spinning wheel, not the spinning wheel. And, as far she knew, the spinning wheel did not and would not exist.
Finally, she got up from her chair to look at it, like everyone else had already done. She looked at her mother and father. Her mother had a hand at her throat, fluttering around nervously and kept glancing to see how Aleia was doing.
"I'm fine," Aleia mouthed to the queen.
The queen smiled pitifully.
Her father was frowning, trying to organize the people were all talking and surrounding the spinning wheel. Then she looked at the duke.
He looked at her nearly the moment she turned her gaze to him. He shrugged in an innocent looking way.
She scowled at him and shook her head.
He smirked.
At that very moment, the courtiers started to surround her. They asked her questions, like: "What do you think about it? Does it mean you're going to die? What are you going to do?" It was all faster than she could answer and she was feeling quite overwhelmed when the king stepped in.
"Enough," he said loudly.
"Leave her alone. This is our business; not yours. We will continue our banquet in the green hall."
The people reluctantly retreated out the door and began the short walk to the other hall. After waiting a minute, Aleia followed them. The king grabbed her arm.
"Aleia, are you alright?" he asked her.
She sighed and nodded. "I am, but what are you going to do with the spinning wheel?"
"I'll leave it for now, and have the spies look at it later."
Aleia nodded, trying to look normal. In truth, she was very excited. If the spies were going to look at it, then she would, too, but she managed to calm down. "Do you think—does it mean anything?"
The king opened his mouth, looked on the verge of saying something, then shut it. "I—nobody knows. I'm sure you'll be fine, if you want we can put a guard outside of your room."
"That won't be necessary," she said quickly. She could defend herself.
The king nodded. He glanced at the spinning wheel one more time and started to follow the courtiers.
Aleia looked at one of the corners. She could see Raoul step out from behind a tapestry, just enough so that she could see him. She inclined her head towards the spinning wheel. He nodded slightly, and stepped back behind the tapestry. She smiled at the prospect of examining it, to decide for herself what she thought about it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dun dun duuun! scary music plays So, how was it? Next chapter they investigate the spinning wheel and the room that if fell from! Woohoo! It will be up, hopefully tomorrow, if not, Thursday.
