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Chapter 7: (Vidanric POV) A Merindar?!

I entered the hall slowly, I knew I had to make a public appearance with the prisoner so Galdran would have no way but to acknowledge me as his current favourite, it was an essential part of the plan. I walked in under growing whispers, the crowding courtiers halving allowing a direct path to the king. I glanced on the side and saw Savona wink at me imperceptibly. That fool. Winking in front of the whole court. And next to him, with a jolt I saw Lady Nimiar. So they had come back. I had not planned for that to happen so soon. Why had Galdran's daughter come home now? The four Merindars in court right now were enough trouble for any sane person to manage. Meanwhile, I had already reached my king, my court mask securely in place.

'So you won your wager, Shevraeth. eh?' the king asked once I had bowed deeply enough for him.

'As well, Your Majesty, The dirt, the stretches of boredom…really, had it taken two days more I could not have supported it, much as I'd regret the damage to my reputation for reneging on a bet.' I drawled, my eyes half lidded.

And then I saw her.

Lady Meliara Isabella Merindar vi Remalna.

She had been steadily approaching until she was in the first lines. I had imagined her in the same build as Fialma and with Galdran's features. But the creature I had before me could not be anymore different. If not for her womanly curves she could have been mistaken for a child, she had huge eyes which seemed to try to take in everything, and I wondered how she could support that headdress with her small head. Then my skepticism returned when I saw the Flower approach behind her, gazing at me with an unreadable expression. I quickly turned my gaze to Galdran. She was a Merindar. They were all snakes whether pretty or not, Flauvic a good example. She probably used her misleading looks to her full advantage. I was dragged out of my suspicions as Galdran asked me mockingly:

'Are you certain someone hasn't been making a game of you? That looks like a peasant.'

'I assure you this is Branaric of Tlanth.'

I replied automatically, I glanced and quickly and Galdran's daughter had already left the pressing crowd, I quickly located her red head leaving to the terrace, Flauvic's arm around her waist. That was odd; she would need to lavish her father with compliments if she wanted to stay in his favour. I didn't think family ties ran that deep for Galdran. He, in his usual character was threatening the prisoner a bit more but I tuned out. Although what I was doing was necessary I did not enjoy my part. From what I had learnt of the Tlanthi man he actually believed in his ideals and was as honest as you could get. I felt a slight twinge of guilt and quickly doused it, I would try helping him escape form his doom later. Oily well wishers crowded around me and for a few minutes I answered them politely before with a single waving hand Galdran dispersed them and beckoned me to follow.

I followed still with my same bored expression as Galdran asked news of his cousin Debegri. I answered him as diplomatically as possible, trying to avoid telling him his cousin was a fool but it seemed he wasn't interested in the subject as his gaze roamed the hall. When I raised an eyebrow, he looked at me calculatingly.

'I am looking for my daughter, you have not been introduced.'

'Oh yes, that would be a great honour. I believe I saw her going to the terrace.'

We silently made our way through the babble of crowds. I blinked once when we reached the terrace, it was a warm morning for this season. I immediately saw her. Pressed against Flauvic she was talking to Savona and Tamara. I smirked inside. Of course Tamara would not like another court beauty, she was much too vain. And although Tamara's beauty was more classic, the daughter, from what I had seen, had a curious charm. As I saw her arm tighten on Flauvic's when her father interrupted them I wondered at Flauvic's and Meliara's relationship. I knew he had met her when he was in Sartor and I wondered if they were lovers. I ignored an unexplainable cold feeling in my gut and tried how to calculate it to my advantage.

'This is Vidanric Renslaeus, the Marquis of Shevraeth, heir to the Renselaeus estates.'

I heard Galdran's voice as if from a distance and quickly stated in a drawling voice:

'Delighted to make your acquaintance.'

Instead of completing the protocol greeting she simply looked at me and quietly said:

'I have heard much about you.'

Inside I started. What was wrong with her? This was supposed to be the part where she fawns over me because I am her father's favorite. Russav seemed to know what I was thinking as he quickly inserted a comment to divert my surprised silence.

'Oh yes, Vidanric, I told Lady Meliara about your prowess in chess.'

'My daughter does not like chess.' The King said coldly.

I assessed her face carefully, I knew she didn't fake the slight surprise at is words, the brief glance she gave him, and for one crazy moment, at the turn of her lips, I thought she was going to insult her own father. Instead she set me down.

'I find the game suddenly not to my taste, a pity to be sure. I'm sure I will find many other occupations.'

All this was said with a sweet smile. I thought I perceived amusement on both Russav and Flauvic's faces but I did not have time to look more carefully as I smoothly asked:

'Well then I assume you are an excellent dancer? May I tempt you?'

I knew this was a mistake as soon as I said. From a sudden flare in her eyes I knew she was going to be rude and I felt a jolt in my heart. But her father beat her to it:

'She'll be delighted. After all, that was Lady Limiar's main task to teach her.'

I was starting to see how all the emotions flitted through her face, betrayal as she saw her father's thinly veiled threat. I wondered for a moment if this was a ploy on her part, if the emotions were a ploy but I immediately dismissed the notion, they were too raw. So the next question I asked myself as she forced herself to put a small freckled hand on my arm was her father's apparent approval at us forging a relationship. This was going to become very tricky if Galdran tried to foist his daughter on me, the only reason I could think of was to control me. And for a second a part of my mind asked: 'Would it that bad? It would be a sure way to get the crown from him without rebellion once I killed him.' I quickly squashed that thought as I realized we were in the middle of the dance and we were both silent, the king might be watching, and even if I might not agree to marry her I could not afford to ignore her:

'Are we going to remain silent for the whole dance?'

For all my effort she gave me a dark glare, looking like she wanted to hurt me which would have been funny given her size if this was not such a serious situation.

'I was expecting you to congratulate me on my catch at least.'

I prodded her. If her emotions were real on that terrace then this should put some sparks on her.

'Congratulate you?' she asked so light I nearly bent my head to her to hear more clearly.

'Well of course, as our king's daughter you should view all his victories as yours…'

I couldn't help it. I had already the noticed the slight estrangement between the father and daughter. And though I wondered what he had refused her, annoying her was annoying Galdran. Childish, I admit, but gratifying.

'Oh really,' she answered cautiously. So she had played this game before. She was going to be the smooth faceless courtier which her cousin was so good at. But she surprised me by continuing. He eyes flashing and her small face upturned was full of irony.

'Well then I congratulate you. How many soldiers did you need to capture that man? Let me guess, he was actually unarmed.'

I was so shocked I accidentally told the truth:

'Did anyone ever tell you your eyes sparkle when you are angry?'

She ignored me, 'Tell me. What did Br-the prisoner ever do to you?'

I narrowed my eyes; she had nearly called him Branaric, but not on purpose. Did she know him previously? Impossible. She was only in Sartor, the Tlanthi had never been there. I noticed the dance was over but I kept my hands where they were, one on her waist, the other holding her hand as I tried to keep my court mask from slipping.

'I don't quite understand you, I must confess.'

'Really? Well let me explain it to you.' She stepped backwards releasing herself from my tightening grasp. 'Do you ever question your orders? Or are you a mindless being? Do you just follow orders, commit atrocities which are not your fault because you were ordered so? What did he do to you to merit such punishment?'

Was she seriously saying this? My thoughts running too fast as I mumbled the lies we had been all told to tell:

'Enemy of the kingdom.'

'Oh, and what did he do to deserve that title? Tell me, did he tell my father he didn't like his shoes?'

She had a sense of humour too? How different could a Merindar be? I needed to pause this scene think for a few hours and resume the conversation. If she was anyone else and her father had heard that speech she would already have been murdered. I no longer knew what the plan was and what was not; I had no idea what was the best approach for this dangerous conversation. Still she might be a spy for her father; one could never know as I remembered her question and answered cautiously:

'He sent traitorous letters-'

I started but apparently it was not lies she wanted to hear. She raised her hand vengefully as she brought the fan she had been grasping tightly towards my head in a furious lunge. I stood there staring dumbly. My mind registering I was being attacked. But the situation was so different from anything I had ever encountered in this court I did not do anything to stop it. Thankfully for my head, someone else did.

'Cousin, it seems you are bleeding.'

I blinked dazedly as I saw the normally smooth perfect Flauvic slightly ruffled and panting, holding Lady Meliara's slight wrist. He gently removed the fan as I observed he face. She seemed shock at what she had done, relieved, apologetic to him, then pain crossed her expressive features and I looked down to see angry red welts on her palm. I wondered what type of fan could do that. Another thing I needed to investigate.

'Come, let's have that looked by a healer.'

I glanced back to Flauvic, he seemed angry, probably at her, and she seemed cowed by his anger, surprising, since neither I nor her father seemed to have elicited anything other than hate. I stared stupidly at their retreating from as the crowds started whispering their questions on what exactly had happened. As always Russav saved me by grabbing my arm and practically dragged me across the court. I followed numbly. I wondered lightly how such a small individual could smash all my carefully made supposition on the Merindar family. Meanwhile Russav had dragged me out of the hall to my personal chambers which were not far. As soon as were safely behind my closed doors Russav swore and started laughing maniacally.

'Life, Danric! She attacked you.'

'You saw?'

'Thankfully I was one of the few. They were all paying attention to me and my loud demonstration about various deeds. But Danric! She attacked you! Meliara! Galdran Merindar's daughter! Part of the family which are known for their courtier behavior, smooth masks and public accordance to protocol.'

'I heard you clearly the first time Russav.'

I sighed as I sat heavily into one of the stifling chairs.

'And you didn't do anything.'

'Well I was a bit surprised. How many times have we seen a Merindar attack someone physically in public?'

'Exactly. You know I really think someone switched the real Merindar at birth and that she is actually related to me. I mean we have the same good looks, an unparalleled sense of humour and good fashion sense.'

'Enough Savona, be serious. I know I haven't asked yet but have you started collecting information on her?'

'Of course, who do you think I am?'

'Good, then please tell me with as little embellishment as possible.'

'Right. Lady Meliara Isabella Merindar vi Remalna. Too long a name for such a small person, but well, anyhow,' Russav continued quickly seeing Danric's glare.

'From the few sources I could find. Lady Ranisia, her late mother was traveling to Sartor by the north for a health journey to the springs of Raetha.'

'North? Why go north, that could hardly be to the springs.'

'I'm just saying what I got from the various sources you left at my disposal while you went gallivanting after honest men, uhum. She had her daughter with her. They were attacked by brigands who were never found. Apparently all their guard vanished without a trace. Meliara was found hidden in the hands of a peasant couple of which I could find no trace. It was a very shady situation. Meliara was entrusted to the late king of Sartor to protect. She grew up in court. Lady Nimiar was sent a few years later to teach her the ways of Remalna after the king received reports of her wild ways and scrapes she got into. From what I understood she was forbidden to play with the guards when Nimiar went but apparently she won her over and she continued living beneath her station in one of her old professor's wards. She is very easy to like according to most Sartorian nobles, and that fact I can attest to myself, she was the court's darling if that term even exists. She formed a close bond with the current queen Yustnesveas, and made important political allies. Her father called her back six months ago and since then she has tried every possible way to delay her leaving, I do not think she has any attachment for Remalna. She faked, I believe, an illness, tried to get kidnapped and also ran away for more than a week before Lady Nimiar managed to bring her back. She was shipped off immediately after that.'

I raised an eyebrow,

'You are sure your sources are accurate?'

'Well I used your spies so they'd better be. Now a thing that might be of interest was her latest ambush.'

'Ambush?'

'Yes,' Russav continued on a more serious tone, 'They were attacked in the Tlanthi region, not by the Tlanthis. Mercenaries. Her personal guard dealt with it. But we can safely assume someone wants her dead.'

Perhaps that was how she met Branaric. But it seemed unlikely...

'I can also assure you she did not tell her dear papa. A fact attesting to the strained relationship between them. From what I've seen of her she hates him, hates you too by the by, can't keep her face straight, can unbalance a person with the most honest questions a Merindar has ever made and is overprotected by her cousin Flauvic.'

I looked up sharply at that comment, not knowing why.

'Yes, I thought they might be lovers but I don't see how that worked out, she did just arrive, and she was too young in Sartor for a tryst to happen there. So in my considerable expertise I say she merely thinks of him as the brother she never had. I can't tell what he's thinking though.'

Savonna sighed, then smiled,

'But Meliara nearly hitting you will be my dearest memory of her.'

I smiled wryly, as Savonna went to the window seat, still laughing.

'Well, she is certainly an unknown factor, I'll have to be careful about my expressions, she can shock anyone out of countenance. Well, we'd better go for the rest of the court party; after all, I am the lazy courtier who loves those gatherings,'

I sighed.

'Oh, and she is an excellent rider too, she does not even have a saddle, my! I want to try racing her.'

Russav exclaimed as he peered out of the window. I approached and looked out and saw a small figure racing a breakneck speed, still in that silver gown her headdress completely undone. I saw a black one joining her less expertly on a white horse, and the smile I was about to let out died on my lips, I withdrew my face and turned my back,

'Come Russav, spying from the window is very bad protocol.' He grinned rakishly and we strode back into the lion's den.

So what do you think? How did I portray Danric? Anyway, you know the drill. Review and I might be tempted to write another chapter before I go travelling...