Chapter 6: Contract
By SodiumChlouride12, derived from Fire Emblem, owned by Nintendo.
A/N: Eh. Decided to post this early. Finished editing it today.
In a fort near the southeast on the border shared between Santaruz, Caelin, and Tania...
Samuel rests his hands in his pockets, his eyes glaring at the two nobles standing on thrones in front of him. One of them is a young woman, Marchioness Santaruz, while the other is Marquess Tania, an older gentleman. They sit with a tirade of guards at their sides, weapons not drawn, but at the ready.
Samuel takes in a gulp of air, an anxious bead of sweat dripping down the side of his face. He has a guard in the form of Sain, but in his haste to come here, he did not have the opportunity to get anyone else. Then again, perhaps there's no reason to. He can escape anytime he wants, his escapades from multiple prisons can attest to that.
Samuel shuffles his feet on the dry, red carpet. The place is dark, even with the few windows bringing in afternoon sunlight from the outside. There's not much to see in here besides the two thrones and some lackluster art, the architecture and design is very lacking. Yet, the two royals had called him here, but only after ignoring several months of diplomatic requests from him.
Settling his nerves, Samuel finally breaks the silence. He says, "Marquess Tania, Marchioness Santaruz. I am pleased to see you two here. Allow me to extend a display of my appreciation for this meeting offering you a gift..."
Samuel reaches into his pocket to receive two amulets, both mode from fine gold. But Marquess Tania orders him to keep his peace. "Stop." He says. "That won't be necessary."
Marchioness Santaruz adds, "We won't take bribery from you, Chancellor. We want something much more than that."
Samuel eases the gifts back out of view. Then he raises his head. "Then...what do you want? Caelin is a peaceful canton. We desire neither land nor war. We're a people only interested in prosperity...and the means to achieve that."
Marchioness Santaruz, her first name being Mariah, uses his hand to remove some gray hair from her face. She asks, "Tell me, Chancellor. Do you not realize that we're after the same thing? Prosperity for our people?"
Samuel raises his brow, perplexed. "I...suppose. But, the two of your nations have rejected our attempts for closer relations. We've sent you trade deals, offers for collaboration among our mages, and invitations to parties. But, we've been ignored at every turn. Why is it you two favor conflict over cooperation?"
Marquess Tania leans against the back of his chair, his blue eyes appearing as cold as ice. "You have no idea what you're doing, do you?"
Samuel replies, "What? Of course I know what I'm doing! We're enacting policies intended to better not just the people of our canton, but of our neighbors as well! Poverty is as low as it's ever been, literacy rates are increasing, our merchants are reporting excellent markets, and our bonds with our friends have only been tightening! If I didn't know what I was doing, how could we accomplish this?!"
Samuel's face turns red, but his efforts fall flat. The two royals hardly react to his outburst. Marchioness Santaruz says, "Stay your temper, Chancellor. You are very young and inexperienced, so I will let this transgression slide."
Samuel resists the temptation to roll his eyes. "I'm just as old if not older than you."
Marchioness Santaruz either doesn't hear his words or doesn't care. Either way, she continues, "Yes, I will admit your people have been prosperous as of late. There isn't a day when I hear rumbling in my court about some grand discovery you've made, or some new public work. Even during the Great Famine that impacted all of Lycia one year ago..."
The Great Famine of Lycia is a huge famine that occurred last fall. Then, food output decreased about fifty percent, pushing many of the local peasants into starvation. Caelin was a different story, however. Through sufficient rationing, and the purchase of grain to supplement stores already present, the canton avoided much of the hardship of its neighbors. Many citizens of the realm still have their ration cards and keep it as a reminder of the devastation that almost became of them.
Marquess Tania flinches. Samuel doesn't know for what, but if the subject matter helped at all, he surmises it's because of the famine. Out of all the Lycian cantons, Tania was the hardest hit. The situation got so bad that an insurrection of rebels nearly stormed the castle. Lyn pondered sending them food to help, but they hardly had enough for themselves.
Marchioness Santaruz continues, "I have no intention in allowing that to happen again." She looks over towards Marquess Tania. "We have no intention of allowing that to happen again."
Marquess Tania says, "The land inhabited by your realm is rich and fertile, among the best in Lycia. You've many beautiful streams, some of which you used to advance commerce. Your mines are bountiful with material, and your courts are bustling with the intellect of the best this country has to offer. Although our realms share many of these traits, we still find ourselves lacking..."
Marchioness Santaruz glares at Samuel. She adds, "Our courts complain why we cannot have what you have. Some mutter of our incompetence. But...others have pressed onto us a plan. In order to avoid another disaster like the Famine, we must simply add more farmland to our realms. Make use of our alliance, and pillage the labor you've built for our benefit."
Samuel takes a step back. "What?! You're...crazy! The both of you!" He slams his boot onto the ground. "Do you realize how dumb your proposal is? Just adding more farmland won't fix everything! The destruction from war will hinder some production...and what about the mouths to feed from the populace?! Have you two thought about that?!"
Marchioness Santaruz smirks, her face devilish. "The solution is simple. Simply let the people of Caelin starve while ours fill their bellies."
Samuel's face relaxes. He says coldly, "Is this...a declaration of war?"
Marquess Tania waves towards his soldiers, who to Samuel's surprise, draw their weapons. He replies, "No. You see, we still have about a month until our mobilization efforts are ready. But...having you here is quite convenient for us." The soldiers surround Samuel and Sain, the latter of whom had already drawn his sword. "You have quite the reputation from your war days. To be honest with you, my generals do not look forward to facing you. Taking you out now would do us much good."
Samuel retrieves his Fimbrulvet tome from his pocket, flipping the book to its first available page. Then he gets closer to his bodyguard. He keeps a wary eye on the circle of closing knights, who measure about a dozen in number.
Samuel says, "Sain! Follow my lead! I'm getting us out of here! We break out on three! One...two..."
Back in Castle Caelin...
"Three!"
Carvel opens his eyes as he finishes his count to three. He is amid a game of hide and seek with his siblings and newfound playmates. The venue of play is the castle garden, a favorite because of the dense vegetation making for excellent hiding places. The friends he needs to find, Carmel, Laniakea, Clarine, and Klein are all somewhere nearby.
Carvel looks around, his gaze peering through brush, trees, and bushes. He tries to find any dash of contrasting color in the sea of green, whether it be white or gold. But he cannot find any...at least not yet. The game has hardly begun, so he acts to begin his search.
"Where are you guys?" He says while walking around the garden. "Are you nearby? You all should just jump out so I can get you!"
Nothing but silence responds. Carvel opts to continue his search. He looks up at the branches of trees, through the meadow of flowers, and the many playing spots scattered throughout the area. But...he finds no one. After several minutes, the young boy grew frustrated at his inability to find his friends. He sits on a bench near the center of the garden, near some shrubbery currently being tended to by the Castle Gardener, Guy.
"Pity." He grumbles. "I can't find anyone. My mommy said she was so good at finding people. Why can't I be like her?"
Guy stops his labor and looks over towards the crown prince. He has an enormous pair of scissors in his possession, a tool that proved unwieldy for him given his lack of a right arm. Yet, despite that, there's a noticeable cleanliness present among the shrubs he'd already worked on. Guy walks over to Carvel.
He says, "Master Carvel...what brings you here today?"
Carvel raises his head and lays his emerald eyes onto the former swordsman. He remembered listening to his parents talk about this man...and his valiant time in the war. In the past, he was one of the best warriors in the army who would've seen a fruitful career had it not been for his untimely defeat in a duel. He wears a constant reminder of the result in the scars throughout his body alongside the disability that was prominent for all to see. An opponent had severed his sword arm long ago.
Carvel says, "I...cannot find my friends. They're hiding somewhere...I just can't find them."
Guy frowns and puts his tools safely onto the ground. His eyes radiate with a sense of boyish optimism much like the young Carvel, though he differs with the addition of experience. "Tell me, Carvel. Has your mother told you of the story of the Manticore? The beasts slain by an ancestor of the great plainsmother, Hanon?"
Carvel shakes his head solemnly. "I've heard of Hanon and her story with the living legends. But...Mommy's never told me about the Manticore? What is that?"
Guy sits by his liege's side, the latter preparing himself for a story. The green-haired gardener had a reputation of being a stellar storyteller, a tradition within Sacaen men and women to pass down their heritage. Upon assuring Carvel was comfortable, Guy begins...
He clears his throat, his mind thinking of long blades of grass flowing under a light breeze. "Long ago, there was a young girl named Nina. She was brought onto the world by two loving parents by a tribe whose name has since been lost to history. But, one day, both of her parents died to an illness, this making her an orphan. Suspecting bad omens, the tribe cast her out to live alone away from society. She would have lived there for the rest of her life had it not been for a prophecy coupled with a tragedy..."
"For several years the tribe's horses and sheep had disappeared mysteriously at night. At first, the elders suspected this to be the work of the wolves, so they dispatched hunters to keep them at bay. But, despite the many pelts harvested by the men, the animals continued to vanish, leaving nothing...not even bone. This presented a tremendous problem for the tribe. For them, these animals were akin to their survival. The sheep provided meat for the winter, and the horses made hunting bison possible. With neither, starvation was inevitable. There was no hope for them until one day they finally found the beast responsible..."
"In the middle of the night, the hunters discovered a sheep being devoured. Its assailant was an animal with the head of a human, body of a lion, and a tail of venomous spines. When it turned to see the men, it had the sheep, bloodied and torn out of recognition, ensnared within its three rows of sharp teeth. It dashed before they could fire their arrows, but not before it gulped the entirety of its prey, and leaving a final message for its disturbers. You mortals have made a vile error. When the moon vanishes from the sky, I will feast on your kin instead. Rejoice, for I am merciful. The dead will be devoured quickly..."
"The tribe panicked and the entire village erupted into a frenzy. Many packed their things to escape into the wilderness. But, just as the first family was about to leave, the chief elder stayed their anxiety. She recanted a prophecy given to their people by Mother Earth herself many years ago. A beast bearing the face of a man will threaten you one day. If not stopped, it will be the end of your people. In order to avert this fate, you must enlist the aid of a hero. A person similar to my likeness, in appearance and bravery. They will come from the humblest of origins, perhaps from the lowest rungs of society..."
"Henceforth came Nina. The elders deduced she was the person prophesied because of her exile. She also possessed versatility from her life in solitude, and exceptional beauty. They called her to the tribe and presented an offer. Go forth and slay the Manticore. Do this and we will accept you back into the village. It is your destiny...so you musn't fail..."
Carvel raises his brow, perplexed by the thought of a small girl taking on the might of an animal much larger than her. "But...how could they entrust so much on a little girl? If I...or my sister tried doing the same...I don't know what we'd do!"
Guy replies, "You see...Nina had strength. It was the strength she used to live past the deaths of those close to her, her parents. In a way, we all have this strength within us...which we can only use when we dig deep down. I've felt it...your mother felt it...your father too. One day, when you get big and strong...you will probably be able to use this strength too. Its something that's not just shared among Sacaens...but everyone."
Carvel looks at Guy with a twinkle in his eyes. "What? Momma? Papa? What did they do?"
The former warrior chuckles as he recalls a memory from the war. "Ah...well, let's start with your father. A certain madness would overtake him. His blood would run hot and the surrounding aura would become dark like murky swamp water. He'd strike down his opponent with an amazing display of magic. The explosions...were awesome."
"...Boom?"
Guy nods, "Very big boom. Now for your mother. For her, she'd stay her sword and freeze for a moment, as if still in time. Then, she'd disappear and then reappear in a series of flashes. At the end of her strike, she'd pause before sheathing her sword. Her opponent would suddenly feel a succession of precise, deadly cuts...all a result of her grace."
Carvel's mouth opens with excitement. "Wow! They were so...cool! I want to be just like them when I grow up!"
Guy responds by shuffling the hair on his liege's head. "I'm sure you do. You are their son, after all."
Guy looks out in front of him. Amusingly, during his story, the rest of the kids had emerged from their hiding places and taken a seat by their bench. Clarine is snug against the shoulder of her older brother, Klein, while Lani and Carmel are gazing at the storyteller with patience. Carvel seems too enthralled with his words to notice, so Guy opts to continue.
"Nina dug deep inside of her, calling out to the spirits that roamed nearby. She prayed and promised she would go out to fight the Manticore, but only if she received with a weapon she could use to slay it. You see, Nina, at least physically, was much too weak. She needed a blade that was light, yet powerful..."
Guy waves his hand forward like a paintbrush through air. "One night, whilst she was sleeping in her ger, she awoke to the sudden appearance of a bright light. From this light appeared a sword, a perfect weapon with the weight of a feather and the strength of an axe. The spirits, sensing the pure goodness in her heart, had answered her call. She now had a weapon to slay the Manticore, of which she named the Mani Katti."
Laniakea's voice cuts through the air. "The Mani Katti?! That's Lyn's sword! It's hanging on our bedroom wall!"
Guy lifts his finger to his lips. "Shh...we'll get there later. For now...let me continue..."
"So, Nina went to confront the Manticore. She found it in a den once inhabited by bears, the lair littered with stalagmites and other rock formations at every corner. The Manticore was sleeping soundly before it awoke from her steps. Seeing one another, the two immediately fell into combat. Nina struck and swung at the beast with all her might, making use of the little training her father had given her. But, despite her efforts, the Manticore's strength proved too much. The Manticore's fangs took her to the cusp of death, with only one more strike necessary to bring her downfall..."
Clarine says, "Oh no! How can such a horrible thing succeed?!"
Guy continues, "This was when Nina summoned her inner strength. Taking her body to its limit, she focused her aura, slowed her breathing, and slowed time around her. Then, she charged at the Manticore, hitting it with a barrage of strikes. Finally, she sprung from the ground and made for the beast's neck, severing its head with one blow. With one, monstrous cry, the Manticore was no more. Nina had won and her people would survive."
Guy finishes his story, the children around him jumping up in the air with excitement. Soon enough, they start to reenact Nina's fight with the Manticore, forgetting long ago of their game of hide and seek. All leave but one, the young toddler girl, Clarine.
She asks, "Mister...do you know my parents?"
Guy nods his head. "You're...Lord Pent's and Lady Louise's child...are you?"
"Yes. Do you know any stories about them?"
Guy smiles, "Why yes, I do." He looks out towards the children. Carmel and Carvel had makeshift swords for themselves while Lani waves her hands around like a mage, and Klein took up the role of the Manticore. "But...that's a story for another day. Go and play. I'm sure you'll have a good time..."
Nearby...
Lyn, Fiora, Pent, and Louise are in one of the many studies of Castle Caelin, a comfortable location with decent furnishings and a roaring fireplace, a necessity in the cold confines of the structure. Bookshelves line the walls, and a grandfather clock ticks loudly from its position at a solitary corner. All four are huddled near a table, of which has a single, long scroll of parchment. A contract of betrothal.
Lyn says, "So...I suppose that settles that."
Pent nods, "Indeed. We've discussed all the details. All that is left is to sign."
Lyn smiles, though her intent isn't to fulfill some professional obligation. Rather, the gesture is completely genuine given the circumstance. This betrothal agreement proved to have the best possible outcome for not just the people of Caelin, but for her dear Carvel as well. The details are enshrined plainly on the contract they've spent the past few hours writing...
Contract arranging the betrothal of a union between House Caelin (Carvel Castillo Caelin) and House Reglay (Clarine Reglay).
1. The two Houses will henceforth be proclaimed allies. We will consider any attack on one House as an attack on the other. Likewise, this contract also establishes a treaty of friendship and all the benefits associated thereof.
Benefits. House Reglay will now enjoy the same privileges afforded the realms headed by Hector and Eliwood. This includes the freedom of passage through their borders, increased collaboration in developments involving magic, science, and industry, alongside the opportunity to opt into the free trade agreement currently in place with Caelin, Ostia, and Pherae. Coupled with the military contributions that will be mentioned later, this ensures closer cooperation among the Etrurian and Lycian nations alike.
2. A betrothal ceremony will be conducted exactly one month after the signing of this document. It will follow traditions established by the Lycian, Etrurian, and Sacaen cultures respectively. It will be a large festivity, and both parties may invite whoever they please. Lady Priscilla will officiate the ceremony, unless Lucius becomes available for the proceedings.
The Ceremony. Its procedures are very important, and if done wrong, the whole arrangement could be for naught. Given the significance of the two parties to be betrothed, Clarine and Carvel, (the only son and daughter to their parents) both hoped to make this party match the love they felt for them. This ceremony will prove interesting considering the multiple cultures involved, but only in a positive way.
3. The betrothed will continue to live with their respective parents until they come of age. In this case, the age is set at eighteen.
Usually, upon a betrothal between two noble houses, the girl (or boy if a matrilineal union) is sent to live in her fiancé's household. This effectively makes the boy's parents the girl's new guardian. But recently, more and more noble families have taken to bucking this tradition. Both are hardly ready to say goodbye to their offspring, hence the addition of this third and final provision in the contract.
Or...so it seems.
Lyn takes the parchment and slides it up on the table. Then, she goes to the drawer and retrieves a small scroll of paper hidden away from view. It has legalese written on it, its contents the reason she and Pent had been here by themselves, away from the prying eyes of their courts.
Lyn says, "Now, for the secret part of this agreement. I take I have your agreement?"
Pent nods and then puts his signature down. "Absolutely."
4. This contract may be terminated by either House Reglay or House Caelin to no penalty. It can happen at any time, with or without reason. When the groom or bride becomes fifteen years of age, they may terminate this contract on their own if they wish. No wedding may occur until both groom and bride are eighteen years of age, and have both completed education at the secondary level.
This was the true bread and butter of the contract. With this, Lyn and Pent get all the benefits of cooperation without dooming their children to a loveless match. This part was to be signed in secret, otherwise their courts would be in an uproar over the easy-to-break nature of the clause. They will surely be infuriated with them if this tenet is ever invoked in the far future, but that's a problem they can deal with later.
Lyn signs her name on the secret clause before stuffing the document back in the drawer. Then she sits down on a leather chair, exhaling. She motions over towards her subject, Fiora. "Let them in. We're done now."
Fiora obliged by opening the door to the study. Almost instantly, a thick river of humanity streams in through the door. Important court officials, several landed nobles, and lawyers from both houses pack themselves inside the small room, resting their eyes on the contract just signed between their realms. Nobody gives a thought to the closed drawer at the side of the table, but several do give Lyn and Pent their congratulations.
The first to approach Lyn is Baroness Angelica. She'd put on her best outfit for the occasion, a conservative dress ornately touched with the color purple. She says, "You have my thanks, Lyndis. I understand how much this might make you feel. But, not only have you acted to enhance this kingdom's defense, you also secured your bloodline's future. Caelin is safe as long as your kin is in charge...I truly believe that."
She reaches her hand out, which Lyn respectfully takes. "Thank you, Baroness. I just hope we can avoid war. I'll do anything to avoid hearing cries of despair from my subjects."
Angelica nods her head. "Indeed. I am rather pleased with you, Marchioness." She mischievously looks away. "I suspect this will affect my behavior the next time we meet in court. I'd say now is the time to try to push through some policy. While I'm at a good mood, that is."
Lyn feels a rush of adrenaline, but resists the urge to flinch. Instead, all she allows is a warm smile to evade her lips. "I...appreciate your assistance. I will mention that to my husband."
Angelica replies, "Speaking of the Chancellor..." She briefly looks around the room. "There's no sign of that curly-haired tactician. Where is he?"
Lyn opens her mouth to speak, but before she could partake in speech, she hears a wave of gasps leave the lips of those around her. She gets up from her chair and looks over the shoulder of her baroness, her eyes bulging with shock. A couple of men had stumbled into the room, both of whom are bloodied and injured.
Samuel!
They are Samuel and Sain, having returned from their trip at the border. The former's leaning against the small door frame of the front entrance, his form leaning heavily on his left leg and his hand resting over some hastily prepared bandages over his forehead. The latter is standing under his own power, but has his right arm wrapped over a sling. Both have clothes that are damaged and tattered, a sign of the trouble.
More concerned with the safety of her husband than customs, she pushes her way through the crowd, reaching the duo quickly. She says, "Good heavens! What happened to you two?! You both need to see a cleric!"
Samuel struggles to keep himself upright, but he musters the strength to step forward towards his liege. He falls onto her, but luckily, she catches him without much effort. He chokes, "...Lyn...there's a situation. We...got beat up bad. But...I got us out."
Fiora reaches over towards Sain, laying the knight onto her shoulder. He grunts as his own body weight shifts over to her. She says, "What happened, Chancellor? Were you not in a meeting with the rulers of Tania and Santaruz?"
Samuel nods his head, but then coughs and spews half a pint of blood onto the ground. Not only had the pair run into trouble, but evidently, Samuel had punctured his lung, too.
He mutters, "...I...got stabbed. I...we...they..."
Lyn exclaims, "Samuel! What's going on! Stay with me!"
Fighting the temptation to close his eyes, Samuel says one last thing before succumbing to his wounds. "War...Tania...Santaruz...they're mobilizing. We have...one month...until war reaches our realm..."
Later...
"Mommy? Where's Daddy?"
Lyn opens her eyes, her bubble of consciousness popped by the words of her young daughter, Carmel. She and the little girl are alone outside their family bed room, Carmel having left the other children, and Lyn desiring some time to herself after what happened earlier that day. Carmel is not aware of what had happened to her father, though she often asks of him when she sees her mother alone.
Lyn looks at her daughter, observing the brown eyes she'd inherited from her father. Besides that, Carmel had taken much more from her than him. Lyn can't shake her resemblance to him, producing some anxiety in the deep pit of her mind.
She replies, "I...he's okay. He's taking a nap...he'll be fine."
Carmel raises her brow at her word usage. She's very intelligent and Lyn curses herself for not accounting for it. Yet, deep down, Lyn knew her husband. He'd taken much worser injuries in their younger years. He'll be fine...he has to be.
Carmel asks, "Taking a nap? Can I...sleep with him?"
Out of all of their children, the one with the closest relationship with their father had to be Carmel. The little girl felt incredibly safe while around her father, hence her request.
Lyn shakes her head slowly, her hand ruffling the top of Carmel's head. "No. He needs to be alone, for now. It's not that he doesn't want to...he just can't."
Carmel frowns, the black tulip wilting with disappointment. This summons a sigh from her mother's lips. "I'm sorry, Carmel."
"...No, it's okay." She looks up and lets out a yawn. "I'm tired. Can you put me to bed? Please?"
Lyn nods, "Of course. Anything for you, swee—"
Suddenly, the air changes. "Coming through! Watch out!"
Sensing danger, Lyn pulls Carmel towards her, embedding the child into the fabric of her dress. Carmel squirms as muffled screams escape through the cloth, but Lyn keeps her gaze steady on the approaching figures speeding through the hallway. Her eyes soften when she realizes it's the other children in the midst of a game.
Carvel and Clarine scurry away from Klein, of whom is firmly on the shoulders of his guardian, Dieck. Klein appears to be taking the role of a mounted warrior with Dieck being some type of golem. Carvel and Clarine serve the roles of the helpless escapees, though curiously, Lyn notices something peculiar about the two. Carvel is holding on tight to the blonde's right hand, a sign of their burgeoning friendship, or emerging closeness if nothing else.
Klein exclaims, "Mwuahaha! Give up! You two have no hope for escape! There is nothing that can impede my beast, Batta!"
Lyn flinches at the uttering of that name. It's probably just a coincidence. She thinks. There's no way he actually knows about...yeah...
Carvel tugs Clarine towards him, placing himself between her and her brother. There's a fire in his eyes that Lyn had never seen before from the usually shy child. Carvel's never shown this more assertive side of himself, not towards Lyn, Lani, or even her sister. He exclaims, "You won't succeed! I will protect Clarine as her humble knight!"
Clarine shakes Carvel's grasp, freeing herself with force. She looks towards her brother. "No! My brother will protect me! He is the only one I need!"
Carvel frowns, noticeably disappointed by his newfound friend's unwillingness to not let him play hero. Despite that, Lyn notices a hint of red on the young girl's cheeks. Her infatuation's clearly centered towards Klein, but...is that a trace of appreciation in her eyes? Perhaps Clarine feels grateful that she hadn't one, but two protectors in her life, a quantity that was very useful for a princess. Lyn foresees a turbulent, but fruitful relationship for her child and Pent's. No matter what the result is.
Carvel meekly says, "Erm...well...I..."
Klein raises his arms into the air. "Fear not, dear sister! Simply come here and I will provide protection from Carvel!"
Upon hearing Klein's request, Carvel stiffens. "No!" He exclaims while grabbing Clarine's hand again. "We'll lose the game if we do that!"
Carvel tugs on Clarine and sends her away into the hallway with him. Klein and Dieck follow in hot pursuit, eager to win their made-up game. The pitter patter of their steps echo before vanishing into the Castle's stone. Lyn allows the silence to soak into her mind before lifting her daughter away from her dress. "My my...Carvel. What energetic people they are..." She looks down on her, pausing when she notices the closed eyes of her kin. Her breathing is slow and steady. A slim smile streaks across her face. "Pity...you're already asleep."
She lifts the child up into her arms, much like she did when she held her for the first time as a newborn. Happy memories fill her mind, the images of the twins' day of birth compelling a tear to appear from her eye. She wipes it away, unwilling to dwell on such a thing now. As the ruler of Caelin, there are many other things that take precedence. Like the safety of her many subjects.
She mutters, "I'll put you to bed...my daughter. At the very least, I can do that..."
Several miles south...
"Courier, what is the meaning of this?"
The mail courier stares at the man addressing her, his face writhing with anger. They are standing at a field outside a village near Castle Caelin, the two one of the several postmasters under the employ of the crown. The setting sun makes their bright, green cloaks appear almost beige under the light.
The Courier replies, "What do you mean? I came here just like you ordered me to."
The man shakes his head. "No. Do you have the message? I was told by a raven that Dr. Parah had something of much importance. She should've sent it through you."
The Courier pouts and rummages her fingers through her yellow hair. She remembers picking up several letters in her route through Antioch, but no one had told her about Dr. Parah. Then again, she never really paid attention to the official giving her the mail. It's a genuine possibility he'd mentioned something along those lines.
She says, "I probably have it. Do you need it? I thought you just wanted to share a meal, Grover."
Grover groans, "I explicitly told you I was to deliver the message to the Castle." He rolls his eyes. "Geez, did someone shoot an arrow through your head?"
The Courier nods, her mind recalling an instant when a bandit did just that. Several years ago, she ran into some trouble with a crime syndicate in Badon. As punishment, the gang ran an arrow through her brain and pushed her into a makeshift grave outside of town. Fortunately, the attack didn't end up killing her, and since the gang thought they dealt with her for good, they presumed her dead. After that, the Courier went to Caelin to pick up any work she could, hence where she is now.
Grover flinches, his eyes staring at the Courier for a second. "Darn, Lilith. You're one tough cookie."
Lilith shrugs her shoulders. "I grew up in the streets of Badon. I could've made for a good pirate, but here I am delivering mail instead."
Grover sighs before waving away his friend and colleague. He, too, had come from humble beginnings, but he'd rather not dwell into that now. "Bah...enough of that. Just give me the doctor's letter so you can go back to your route."
Lilith obliges, and she works to search through her bag, a large, leather-bound pouch with a flap at its top. Her eyes scan through the assortment of letters in her possession. After several seconds, a frown leaves her lips. "Um...we might have a problem here."
Grover raises his brow. "What?"
"It's just...not here. Nothing written from a Dr. Parah anywhere."
"Let me look at that!"
Grover goes over to Lilith's side and snatches her bag from her possession. He searches through it like a constable looking for contraband, but to his astonishment, he finds neither the doctor's letter nor a happiness-inducing plant. All he finds are several birthday cards, a letter detailing an affair, and other useless correspondences. He looks up at Lilith with shock. "What's...the meaning of this?"
His words reflect a sense of disappointment over his colleague's negligence. If only he knew of the grave consequences that neither would realize until it was too late.
