Just a note- Cornichon is one of the French words for 'Pickle' so yes, he is our dear drummer Pickles.
That afternoon Count Wartooth took his usual walk over the palace grounds, trying to clear his head. The concert would be that night, and the duel was set for the next morning. It made him ill to think of it, but he really wanted to hear Skwigelf play. Envy aside, was he really as magnificent as they said? He certainly would have presence on stage.
A mournful feeling overtook him. One of them would likely die the next day. He thought of the gray faces of his parents, and the feel of his fingers over the guitar strings for the first time. He thought of Versailles and all its beauties and the lap dogs running over his feet while Yolande laughed. And he felt a desperate urge to abandon his pride, and simply listen, listen to the guitar as it was meant to be played.
Toki felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned around swiftly. Marie Antoinette was behind him, and, to his surprise, she was panting. She had been running after him. She wasn't the sort who ever seemed to exert herself. Life was effortless to her.
"Count. Wartooth," she gasped. Her features pinched together in a scowl and she seemed almost unattractive. "I've heard the most horrible rumor."
Toki parted his lips slightly, prepared for the worst. Who knew what they were saying about him?
"You aren't dueling with Skwigelf, are you?"
So that was it. He wished he hadn't confided in Yolande. "I ams, my Queen. Tomorrow." He spoke politely, but firmly.
"You can't! It's impossible!" Her eyes widened. "He's my guest here, Count! And it's silly anyway, he's of no birth at all."
"But as you says, he ams a Baron and a Knight."
She laughed, betraying a hint of desperation. "All that? It was only a joke."
"It ams no joke. Friedrich Wilhelm made him a Barons, and he haves insulted me. I must haves my honor."
She buried her face in her hands, and he was afraid she was going to cry. "Oh, my poor dear Count, how can you be so foolish!" Marie could not bear to lose either her celebrated guest or her dear protégé. It was an absolute disaster.
"I know!" she said, her face brightening. "I will bring him here! You will make amends."
"Impossibles, your Highness." Toki shrunk away in horror.
"Not when you're the Queen," she said, raising her eyebrow mischievously. "Oh here he comes!"
Swisgaar was making his way down the flowered path with a companion, a short, spare man with unpowdered red hair.. Skwisgaar looked with surprise at the Queen and Toki, and seemed at loss for words.
"Good days, Baron Wartooth," he said, though his words were forced. The queen's eyes darted between the Swede and the Norwegian, and the vexation on her face was clear.
"Your Highness, may I presents my drummer, Monsieur de Cornichon." Cornichon bowed deeply, if not elegantly. He had delicate features dotted with freckles and green eyes that seemed to not be focused on anything. But as he rose they fixated on the queen, and his face glowed.
"Pleased to meetcha, your most gracious highness." The queen pursed her lips a little. She loved adoration, and the small man was clearly in awe of her presence. But though he was French his accent was terribly provincial, and it pained her to even listen to it. But a drummer! The addition of a drummer to the electric guitar was a great novelty, and she couldn't contain her excitement to hear him play with the Baron.
"What a pleasure to have you at our court, Monsieur de Cornichon," she said graciously, bestowing a warm smile on him.
The drummer's face reddened, and he looked as though he would faint from happiness. Baron Skwigelf laughed a little at him. It was the first time Toki had seen him truly smile, and it seemed strange to him.
Marie Antoinette put her hands on her hips and pouted. "What is this I hear about a duel tomorrow?"
Skwigelf bowed deeply, and stared at Toki with mocking eyes as he rose. "Such matters am nots for ladies," he said softly.
"Ha!" she said, lifting up her delicate nose. "And I am not a lady, but your Queen. You are my guests and will conform to my will."
Toki glanced upwards and met Skwigelf's insolent gaze. Perhaps he thought he was a coward and had appealed to the queen on purpose.
"And for us it ams a matter of honor," said Toki delicately.
"So," said the queen, turning gently to Cornichon. "What do you make of this, Monsieur de Cornichon?"
Cornichon kneaded his hat in his fingers. "I-I," he stammered. "I have agreed to second Baron Skwigelf in the duel, your Highness."
"What troubles my guests make for me behind my back!" she said indignantly, and turned from them. Cornichon reached out his hands desperately, dropping his hat. His mouth was moving, and he was struggling for words.
Skwigelf smiled at his friend, and his eyes turned to Toki. Toki repressed a shudder. He hated the chilling effect those eyes had on him, and worse yet, the taunting jut of the full lips under the high cheekbones. And yet he couldn't help staring back. He had little idea what expression he was making- whether it was defiant, proud, or, horror of horrors, pleading, pleading for his enemy to have mercy and look away.
"I think my little friends is disorient-nated," said Skwigelf, butchering the word but not aware of it in the least. "They were very liberals with the wines this morning, and my poors Cornichon has a weakness."
Count Wartooth had no wish to make small talk with Skwigelf, but he felt sorry for the small red-haired man. He hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself in front of the queen.
Her back was still turned, and Cornichon was on his hands and knees, fumbling for his hat. Barely thinking about it, Toki took one arm and Skwigelf the other, and they hauled him to his feet. When the queen faced them again, his hat was on back his head and he looked reasonably respectable.
"I've had a thought, and a very clever one," she said, lifting her head and smiling. "You must have your little duel of honor, silly as it is," she pointed her finger at them, as though they were small children. Toki was used to it, but he enjoyed Skwigelf's discomfiture at this treatment. "But," she continued. "It won't be with swords."
She laughed aloud, showing her white teeth. "As you're both excellent guitarists, I propose a guitar duel."
"A guitars duel?" asked Skwigelf, looking Toki with confusion.
"Yes, Count Wartooth is an excellent guitarist," she said, proud of her friend. Little did she know the disdain professionals held for noble musicians. They were fawned over for minor achievements simply because of their titles.
The Baron's lips twisted, but he betrayed no concrete emotion. "I wasn't awares, your Highness," he said dully.
" It will entertain the court," she said. "And there will be no ridiculous bloodshed over nothing."
Swigelf's voice was low. "I would not discounts bloodsheds. I don't think you have hearing me plays, your Highness."
"Such self-importance!" she said, smiling, and Skwigelf frowned as much as he dared.
"I will dos as you bids me, if Count Wartooth ams agreeing." He looked down at Toki, his lips trembling with amusement. Toki felt a great sense of foreboding, perhaps greater than when he had imagined death. His guitar was his heart, his life, and he was not sure he could bear to be humiliated by the Baron. But perhaps he had something in him greater than he knew, and perhaps he had a chance to succeed. And he would not have the prospect of the murder on his hands. Some part of him still felt an urge to pierce the Swede straight through the heart, but the death of someone so vital, even his enemy, seemed a cruel thing. He felt as though he were damned either way.
He lifted his eyes first to Skwigelf, then to the queen and answered, controlling the vibrato of his voice. "I ams agreeing."
"Splendid," she said, clapping her hands.
Toki envied her with her joy and her small enchanted world, so rich with pleasures. But perhaps he was wrong: sometimes the most frivolous people were hiding from something.
"And we must set it for next week, to give you gentleman something to come up with."" She smiled wickedly. "And to build some anticipation in the court. Perhaps Monsieur de Cornichon could set the rules?"
Cornichon smiled foolishly. He was obviously delighted in spite of his inebriation.
"Or would that be unfair to you, Count Wartooth?" asked the Queen. " After all, Cornichon is a friend of the Baron's."
Toki considered for a moment. Cornichon seemed so simple and kind, if a little…tipsy. In any case he was nothing like his friend. It might be foolish to trust him, but he had no reason not to.
"I thinks that ams an excellent idea." He said, nodding towards Cornichon, who smiled back.
"And my dear Count Wartooth, you will come to the concert tonight?" she pleaded. Toki struggled to hide his distaste. There was nothing he would like less than to have everyone see his reaction to Skwigelf's playing. But perhaps he could slump in the shadows and make a quick exit before he was barraged with questions.