This is set at the Erastide ball thingy that they have while Silk's out butchering people. So one that light note, party up.
Chapter Four
Erastide in Tolnedra was rather cold this year. So cold in fact that they even had snow, despite the fact that it never snows in Tolnedra. However there were still a great many parties being held all over the city and everyone was celebrating. Well, everyone that was except the Honeth family. Several of them had suddenly died recently, putting a damper on their spirits.
Prince Khaldon's spirits, however, could not have been higher as he made his way down the stairs at the Imperial grand ball to join the banquet. Liselle looked absolutely beautiful in brocade gown of lavender and Khaldon felt a thrill at every envious look he received for being so fortunate to have such a ravishing lady on his arm. Naturally, they both had to present themselves to their host and his honoured guest, and Khaldon noticed how uninterested King Belgarion looked. Liselle murmured something to the king with mocked sincerity and then the pair moved on.
Khaldon escorted Liselle around the room, introducing her to several of Tolnedras most important individuals (or so they thought of themselves), never once leaving her side. Several young lords had expressed keen interest in getting to know her better, but Khaldon refused to allow the conversation to go anywhere beyond general small talk. Liselle had come to the ball with him and he planned to have her leave with him at the end of the night.
"These people certainly seem very full of their own self-importance, don't they?" Liselle giggled as the pair slowly strolled together, the soft music of the orchestra filling the air along with the small buzz of chatter and various people reinstating that it never snows in Tolnedra.
"They certainly do," Khaldon agreed. "It's one of Tolnedra's failings. They'd probably be the most advanced government in the world if they all stopped looking in the mirror to congratulate themselves."
Liselle laughed. "And yet you still live here amongst them."
"Well, it's warmer than Drasnia."
"You're getting soft."
"If you stay here long enough, you'll soon be able willing to endure these people over freezing to death."
"Are you indicating that you wish me to leave?"
"Of course not!" Khaldon gasped, with exaggerated shock. "I'm simply saying you shouldn't jump to any ideas about people before you know the truth."
"And the truth would be . . ?"
"That Drasnia's cold."
"Some ambassador you are. You're supposed to be overflowing with patriotism."
"But can't I be warm while I do that? And honest?"
"No real Drasnian is honest," Liselle said with a giggle and Khaldon couldn't help but laugh along with her.
"It hardly seems like Erastide without singing," a voice near by them said rather loudly and both turn to see it belonged to the Tolnedran Emperor. "Perhaps we might persuade one of these lovely ladies to grace us with a song or two."
It was a Borune lady of stout frame that was the first to 'grace' them with a song. Khaldon gritted his teeth slightly at the woman's poor excuse for entertainment and even flinched noticeably after one particular out of tune note. Her performance was so cringe worthy that the only enjoyable part about it was watching the audience trying to contain their discomfort at being exposed to such a retched sound.
"She's horrible, isn't she?" Liselle comment matter-of-factly.
"At this rate I think I'll be able to stand an Erastide without singing," Khaldon noted, give a brief applause as the screeching woman ended her 'song'. The people around them returned to their conversation and the orchestra began to play an old Arendish tune. It was so beautiful that it lulled the crowd into silence once again.
"An Erastide without singing?" Liselle said to Khaldon in little more then a whisper. "Well, we can't have the Ambassador of the Royal Court of Drasnia thinking such bleak thoughts."
And then, to Khaldon's surprise, Liselle lifted her head and the most amazing sound came from her mouth. He was in such awe that he unconsciously stepped back away from her in deep respect and he found that everyone else surrounding her had done the same. Encircled by candlelight, Liselle shone as that heavenly voice touched every single person in that room. Khaldon felt his heart swell with profound affection for the girl. And then Queen Ce'Nedra was there, but Khaldon still could not take his eyes off Liselle. The two voices evoked more emotion and empathy then any instrument man could craft and they soared, weaving in and out of one another so intoxicatingly that Khaldon felt his head go light.
What a marvellous young woman Liselle was.
A thunderous applause filled the room as the song came to its end and Khaldon found himself being one of the many amongst the crowd shouting for more.
"More! More!" he cried, clapping so hard his hands were beginning to sting.
Once again, the orchestra began to play and once again, Liselle and Ce'Nedra began to sing in those sweet, heavenly voices. Only this time they were joined by a third. This voice was rich and smooth, but spoke of an unspeakable sorrow. Khaldon's eyes widened as Lady Polgara entered that small circle of candlelight that encased the Rivan Queen and the Drasnian spy.
The world seemed to stop as the people of Tolnedra became completely enthralled in the sorrowful song. The three beautiful women created a harmony that was not familiar, but it touched every single person there. Khaldon felt his throat tighten and he could see several of the guests weeping openly. Every Arendish musician had tears in their eyes and even Ancient Belgarath seemed affected by the hauntingly beautiful song.
There was no sudden applause this time as the music faded away. For a few seconds, the ball was struck into an awed silence as they felt a piece of forgotten past wash over them and then vanish into the cold night air, but then Polgara moved and the spell was broken. The applause was deafening.
It took Khaldon a few minutes to fight his way through the crowd to once again take Liselle's arm. She beamed a smile at him, looking very proud of herself. Wordlessly, Khaldon raised her hand and let his lips brush across her pale skin, his eyes glowing in unspeakable respect. Her smiled grew wider and her dimples shone at him. Khaldon had never seen anything so breathtaking.
"Would you still be able to stand Erastide without any singing?" Liselle asked him sweetly.
Khaldon smiled at her deeply. "If you were to be the entertainment, I would stay rapt from Erastide to Erastide, and all the day in between."
Liselle giggled, flushing slightly at his complement.
Before too long, the entertainment turned to dancing and Khaldon led Liselle around the dance floor, ignoring the eager young men who tried to cut in. He was completely enthralled with the young woman in his arms and he had no intention of letting her leave them. Never before had the Prince had a more enjoyable Erastide then in the company of this amazing little spy.
As one song came to an end and another began, Liselle suddenly gave a deep sigh.
"My goodness," she gasped, placing a delicate hand to her forehead. "All this dancing is awfully tiring. Oh my," she panted. "I think it's time for a drink, and maybe some fresh air."
"An excellent idea," Khaldon agreed. "Shall we?"
The pair both collected a drink and then managed to find a balcony that branched off from the ballroom and overlooked the city below. None of the other party guests had made there way out there due to the cold, but it was nothing a pair of Drasnians couldn't handle. The two stood together, watching the snow falling lightly from the sky onto the city. They were both unaware that somewhere out in that city, another Drasnian was currently hiding under a garbage heap. Instead, all they saw was the majestic city of Tolnedra.
"I can see why you like it here," Liselle said, wrapping her arms about herself. Khaldon moved in closer to her to try and keep her warm. "It's a very pretty place, really."
"It certainly is," Khaldon agreed, but he didn't look down at the city. Why would he want to look at some city when there was such a stunning woman by his very side?
"I'm going to miss it when I leave."
Khaldon suddenly felt the cold. "When you leave?"
Liselle nodded. "My business here is finished and now I must move on to another part of the world. Such is the life of a spy I suppose."
"When will you go?"
"I think it's best if I leave tonight," Liselle told him and he felt his heart stop. "I've been listening to the conversations that are going on inside and it is probably best if my companions and I depart immediately."
"Dalva? Why? What's he done?"
"Dalva's no longer my companion. He'll be returning home for my uncle to find some use for. I, however, will be leaving in King Belgarion's company. My uncle wants me to keep an eye on your cousin."
"You can't go," Khaldon begged, taking her hands in his. He had to find a way to keep this amazing woman by his side a little bit longer. "I've enjoyed your company so much these last few days. I can't stand the idea of you leaving me so suddenly."
Liselle smiled. "That's very sweet and I've enjoyed your company very much too, but I cannot stay. My business is no longer in Tolnedra. I have to move on."
"Please, don't go. Your uncle can send someone else to else watch Kheldar. I'm sure the actions of a greedy little merchant aren't really that important to the intelligence network. Just please, don't leave me."
"Khaldon, I have to go. I – "
"Stay with me. Stay with me and I will give you everything you ever wanted. Everything you've ever needed. I'll find you excitement. It'll give you every comfort you wish for. I'll give you love and a family. Isn't that everything you've ever needed? Just please don't go," he pleaded.
Liselles eyes had gone very wide. It suddenly became very clear to her that Khaldon had taken the friendship she offered him much further than she intended. Why did men always do this to her? Why can't they just accept that just because she was being friendly with them and joked with them didn't mean she wanted to marry them? She had already found the man she wanted to marry and yet for some reason he had not interest in her. Why didn't this charm work on him when it so clearly worked on every other man that she associated herself with?
"Khaldon, I'm sorry. I can't," she whispered, trying to get free from the Prince before her. The wrong Prince.
"Liselle, Velvet, please. I've never felt this way before," Khaldon told her. "I can't take my eyes off you. You're always in my thoughts. I can see only you in my future. I . . . I love you."
Liselle froze and Khaldon took this slight pause to capture her mouth with his. It was rather out of character for him since he was never as reckless as most Drasnians, but he had dreamed about it for so long. And he was not disappointed. Her lips, like her hair, reminded him of honey and he felt waves of pleasure rushing through his body, making his skin tingle and his legs go weak. His heart pounded in his chest and once again he became light headed, but he didn't want to stop. He couldn't stop. He could have stayed like that forever, except Liselle pushed him off of her and held him firmly at arms length.
"Khaldon," she said firmly in a breathless voice. "I'm going to leave with King Belgarion and nothing you try to offer me is going to change my mind."
"Velvet," Khaldon gasped, his heart breaking. "Liselle."
"It's just like you said; you shouldn't jump to any ideas about people before you know the truth," she told him. "And the truth is I don't love you. I'm in love with your cousin."
"Kheldar?" Khaldon spat. It had to be him. Of all the people in the world, it had to ne him.
"Yes. Now, if you excuse me, I have to make sure my bags have been brought up here so I can leave immediately," she said, removing her hands from him and moving back inside. She did however, pause in the doorway to look back at the Ambassador. "Goodbye, Khaldon."
And then she was gone.
TBC. Oh, poor Khaldon. Oh well. Everyone loves Silk but him, so there's got to be something wrong with him.