Capitolo Cinque
The banquet had begun. I walked down the long hallway that led towards the door to the great hall. My corset was killing me. I remember now why I never wore these things. At least not as tight as my ladies in waiting had tied it. I swear I was about to fall over from lack of oxygen.
"Yer name miss?" the page boy who stood by the door asked. I was startled by his voice, since I hadn't been paying attention while fidgeting with the back of my dress.
"Oh, um, Lady Alecian of" I began. Jerome appeared beside me with Mace and Christian trailing behind him.
"Why sister, how pleasant of you to give our names to the boy here. But please, next time I would appreciate it if you were to wait for me to arrive before you enter. We don't want you to be swallowed alive by those beady eyed men, now would we?" Jerome spoke. He held him arm out for me to take. I placed my hand delicately in the crook of his arm and smiled. I hated this.
Jerome turned back to the boy and gave him our names, along with Mace and Christian who would be entering in front of us. The page ran to the front of the doors and passed our name along to the man who would be announcing us. Bursch would not appreciate the fact that I never took the time to learn all of the proper names for everyone. It wasn't like somebody was going to come up and have a conversation with me over he-who-cleans-out-the-stalls or he-who-announces-everybody. Drat.
We stepped forward in the line and waited until it was our turn to pass through the doors and have our name shouted so all the single, over-weight, balding men could ogle at me and make dowry offers to Jerome. It will be a cold day in Tyrs when somebody marries me off to an old fart. No thank you.
"You look lovely tonight Alecian." Mace muttered pulling his gloves on tighter and making sure they were fit. All three of the guys looked quite charming. They were wearing their best tunics and had Bursch's fief printed across the front. I on the other hand was wearing the most uplifting dress I had ever come in contact with. I swear if I made one wrong move I would fall out of it. It was a light blue color with a white ribbon tied around the waist. It was simple really and a little under dressed for such an occasion, if you ask me. But Merry insisted I should wear it. My hair had been curled and pulled up against the back of my head. I had a million pins in it as well. There were a few clips that had stones attached to them that sparkled when they were hit by light. Those were my favorite part.
"Thank you. You gents look charming. I'm surprised you clean up so well." I teased in reply.
"Come now Alecian, you're our sister, you must say that." Christian replied.
"Actually because I'm your sister I'm not required to give you any compliment of any sort." I smirked.
"Touche dear sister." Christian murmured. I laughed in reply as we moved up a few more feet.
"So how long are we to stay and make an appearance before leaving?" Mace muttered to Jerome. I turned to them in surprise and raised my eyebrows in question. What are they talking about?
"What are you talking about?" I hissed keeping my voice low.
"Alecian, please. Don't become involved." Jerome replied.
"Involved in what?" I asked.
"We're going to leave the banquet and search for Aaron in the lower parts of the castle." Mace informed me.
"Oh, is that all. Well just be sure to give me some signal so I know when we should leave." I said.
"No, Alecian, I don't think you understood us clearly." Jerome hesitated in saying. He sounded like he was talking to a child who wouldn't listen. He sounded frustrated and annoyed. He better not be annoyed at me I haven't done anything. "Mace and Christian are going to go look for him. You're going to stay at the banquet as a distraction."
"A distraction for who?" I hissed becoming angry. He was my stupid brother I should go find him.
"For the men around us. If they have their attention on you then these two will be able to leave without being noticed. If you leave then a stir will be brought up and suddenly everybody will be wondering where you disappeared to and somebody will go in search of you." Jerome hissed.
"I think you have the wrong person, Jerome." I said through clenched teeth. "Nobody is going to care enough to pay that much attention to me. I'm not that famous as you think."
"Oh no?" Christian spoke. He kept his voice low and whispered in my ear. "Look around you Alecian. We have yet to enter the room and men are already peeking their heads out in hopes of getting a glimpse of you. The only daughter of a very wealthy man with many large estates brings a lot of attention wherever she goes. You are beautiful whether you want to admit it or not and you do bring a high price for your dowry as you are a virgin."
"You actually lied to these poor men?" I muttered with a roll of my eyes.
"We lied to keep your good name in tact and to make sure the attention on you would be un-stoppable." Jerome said.
"Well, you've certainly covered your tracks well. I'm glad to see that I'm just a pawn in this little charade and I won't be needed for anything but."
"Come now Alecian. Don't be so bitter just because you can't run around brandishing a sword and saving damsels in distress. You still play a large part in this game." Mace muttered.
I glared at him. He didn't need a response. There really wasn't one I could give him. If Mace wanted to play that game I was more then willing too. Since I was going to be at this banquet without him, for most of the time of course, I would have to find somebody worth speaking to and possibly bedding.
"I'm sorry you are disappointed but this is what we were told to do. Now you must do your part and stay at the banquet." Christian finished his little speech and prepared himself for entrance into the room.
"Oh trust me. I shall find somebody worthy of preoccupying my time. Perhaps a wealthy nobleman who would love to spend his time keeping me company. Maybe finding a spouse isn't such a bad idea. After all, all the extremely wealthy men are here currently, are they not?." I muttered while glaring at the back of Mace and Christian.
"When did marriage come into anything?" Mace whirled around and hissed at me. I stared back with a blank face.
"Why dear cousin, that's the reason I'm here isn't it? To find myself a husband."
"You-" Mace began before he was interrupted. It was our turn to enter.
"Announcing Sir Mason Bursch of Stone Creek, Sir Christian Bursch of Mounts Creek, Sir Jerome Bursch of Mounts Creek and Miss Alecian Bursch of Mounts Creek." the man called who stood by the door of the great hall. He hit the rod he held four times against the floor as he announced us. Jerome and I followed Mace and Christian into the hall with smiles on our faces though I could see that the muscles in Mace's back were tense.
"Sir?" I muttered questioning Jerome's title as we passed by the crowd of people who had formed two lines on either side of the aisle. The great hall looked beautiful. It was draped in different colored tapestries with large candles hanging from the chandeliers in the middle of the room. Other candles lined the walls and tables around the room. There were ladies dressed to their finest and men in their best tunics taking their seats or standing around and talking. I was surprised when Jerome began to lead me toward the table that Bursch sat at. Surely I was going to sit with the other single females.
"Bursch was able to create manuscripts from our 'knighting' ceremonies and argue with the King for quite some time. Who knows what he had done to convince them of our rightful titles, but yes, we are knights." Jerome replied.
"Well your manners certainly speak otherwise."
"Come now, don't be so cruel."
"I'm just speaking the truth."
"The truth can be a deadly weapon. Remember that."
"Of course dear brother, but can you?"
"Remember why we're here Alecian." he said.
"How could I forget?" I replied. I smiled and nodded toward a man who was probably as old as Bursch was. He had been staring at me since I'd arrived and I wanted nothing more then to slap that smirk off of his face.
"I just want to make sure you don't get caught up in the excitement of the banquet and forget the purpose we serve." Jerome continued.
"Brother dear," I murmured as a well-to-do lady and her husband passed us. "You've made it quite clear that I serve no other purpose but to be a limp noodle for men to pleasure themselves with. Have fun on your little adventure and leave me to do my part. As that's what you wish, isn't it?"
"You're taking this a little bit too far Alecian. It's only for tonight that we wish you to be a lady and stay in this room. It's not like we're locking you up."
"No, I'm only wearing this incredibly uncomfortable contraption that you've had me strapped into."
"You've worn a corset before, don't even pretend you can't stand it."
"Must you always spoil the fun?"
"It's my job as your brother of course." Jerome muttered before turning to the two men who had approached us. His smile had disappeared and he now wore the face of a protective older brother. I could see that Mace and Christian had joined a group of young men, one of whom was talking loudly and gesturing with their hands.
"Good day m'lord, m'lady." One of the men who had approached spoke. I noticed that it was the same man who had tried to introduce himself when we'd arrived. I grimaced on the inside. The man beside him looked to be a younger version of himself. A little bit thinner, but not by much. Mithros if that was his son and he was trying to set me up with him I was going to kill myself on the spot. I prayed that Jerome would get me out of this mess.
"Good day sir." Jerome replied with no feeling at all. Actually there was a little bit of roughness in his voice that I'd never heard before. He sounded years older and much more aggressive. I merely gave a small curtsy in greeting instead of replying.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lord Trumen of Lands Creek. This is my son Ronald. He was recently knighted." Lord Trumen spoke. Three of his chins jiggled as he did so. I had to bite my tongue in order to keep my food in my stomach.
"Good day sir." Jerome replied with no feeling at all. Actually there was a little bit of roughness in his voice that I'd never heard before. He sounded years older and much more aggressive. I merely gave a small curtsy in greeting instead of replying.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lord Trumen of Lands Creek. This is my son Ronald. He was recently knighted." Lord Trumen spoke. Three of his chins jiggled as he did so. I had to bite my tongue in order to keep my food in my stomach.
"A pleasure to meet you both." Jerome spoke with a nod toward each men. "I'm Sir Bursch, the younger, of Mounts Creek and this is my sister Miss Alecian."
"The younger, eh?" Ronald spoke up interrupting whatever his father was about to say. "I never knew he had a son."
"Yes, I've been in Tusaine for the past few years with my brother and cousin. We've been working to stop the growing population of Stormwing that have planted themselves there after the past years of fighting between Tortall and Tusaine." Jerome spoke quite clearly and somewhat bored sounding.
"Oh," Ronald replied clearing his throat.
"Indeed." Jerome took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He sounded incredibly bored. "If you'll excuse us gentlemen. I need to escort my sister here to our table. I would hate it if she were to faint from lack of nourishment."
"Yes, yes quite right. She does look like she could use a little bit of padding on her. Doesn't she?" Ronald spoke turning to his father for his agreement. Lord Trumen looked livid and embarrassed. As he should be. Jerome and I both stopped in amazement. Had he just called me too skinny? Mithros I was going to kill him in his sleep. I clenched my teeth and prepared myself to reply when Jerome clamped his hand around my arm and squeezed a little bit too hard.
"I do believe so m'lord. Thank you for the compliment. I shall be sure to pass along your good fortunes to my father. Good day." Jerome whisked me away from the men and continued toward our table.
"What in Mithros name did he just call me?" I hissed underneath my breath trying to keep a smile on my face.
"I believe he just called you skinny." Jerome replied. He looked like he was about to laugh. "Just be glad you're not plump enough for them. That's one suitor who just screwed up his chances of marrying you. I believe his father was about to strangle him."
"Serves him right. The fat pig will never get a wife at the rate he's going." I muttered.
We were stopped three other times on our short walk to one of the side tables where Bursch was waiting for us. Along the way we met Lord and Lady Wildmen of Hearts Inn, Sir Warric of Mandash, Sir Faleron of King's Reach, Sir Iden of Vikison Lake, and Sir Balduin of Disart. I swear if we were stopped one more time on our way to our damn table I was going to scream. It was nice to see Mace squirm and glare every time somebody came up to speak with us. That had to be the only highlight of the repeated stops.
Finally we reached Bursch and the four empty seats to his left. I took the one next to him and Jerome seated himself beside me.
"You look lovely my dear." Bursch whispered leaning over toward me. I smiled and thanked him. "From the bitter look on your face as you crossed the floor I could see that the boys have told you of the plan for the evening."
"Was I that readable?" I whispered afraid that people thought of me as an ungrateful person for scowling.
"Only to a trained eye. Trust me, nobody thought any different then what they saw. Which was a gorgeous unmarried girl being paraded around the floor by her elder brothers who want to marry her off." Bursch laughed.
"Thank you for your compliment." I replied with a smile.
"Come now dear. Enjoy the feast. Don't think so much about what the others are doing and concentrate on having a good time. That's all that is required of you right now. You might want to take full advantage of it." Bursch said as the pages began to serve the first meal. I was thankful that it wasn't snail.
Taking a deep breath I let it out slowly and moved my neck around. Fine. If they all wanted me to be so Mithros lady like and stay and the celebration then I would. I was going to have a good time and I wasn't going to be upset when the others left. I was going to be the good little daughter they wanted me to be.
The meal continued without any disturbances. I could feel the eyes of the young men staring at me from all corners of the room. Whether they were noble and eating the meal or lower class and serving the meal they were all staring with intent. I also felt the eyes of the women who weren't so happy to see me. I looked at a few of them and saw the evil glares they were sending my way every time one of their fancies would turn and look at me.
Bursch talked to the couple sitting to his right about the supposed war that was brewing between Scanra and Tortall. Nobody was for sure about the plans that King Jonathan had been making and Bursch was acting like the concerned father. He kept saying how horrible it would be if he had to send two sons and a nephew to war. I rolled my eyes at that. It didn't seem to terrible from where I was sitting.
To my left the three boys were discussing the war as well. Though their version of it was a little bit different than the nobles on my right. They were wondering if they would be in Corus that long and if anyone would actually remember that they were knights once we were gone. I wasn't sure about the plans for rescuing my brother. I only knew the small bits they had informed me of tonight. But hopefully we wouldn't be staying in Corus for that long.
Finally the meal was finished and people began to stand. Conversations started up around me as other couples walked into the middle of the floor and began to dance. It was remarkable how everybody seemed to know what was asked of them and when they were intended to do. I wasn't quite sure. It was been years since I had been around noble people. Since my mother sent me off. And I was young at that. I had never attended a feast like this and I had absolutely no idea what in Mithros name I was suppose to do.
"Care to dance m'lady?" came a voice. I glanced up to see Sir Iden standing before our table with his hand out stretched. Dance? I didn't dance. Bursch had taught us how to, which had taken three days, but I didn't care for it.
"I thank you for--" I began.
"Of course you would Alecian." Jerome interrupted me. He was sipping wine from his glass. When I turned toward him startled he simply raised his eyebrows at me in question. Beside him I saw Mace stiffen. He had turned to look at us as well and glared vaguly at Sir Iden. I narrowed my eyebrows a little bit before gritting my teeth. With a smile I turned back to Sir Iden.
"I would love to." I murmured. I placed my hand in his and he led me out from behind the table. We danced a few rounds around the room before another knight stepped in to take his place. It continued like that for what seemed like hours. Every once in a while I would stop to rest and a swarm of people would fawn around me. I met so many new people that night I wasn't sure I would remember names with faces. But I knew I would. It was part of my training to remember who I saw.
"Come lady Alecian," spoke the girl to my left. Her name was Lady Margaret of Alvinhom. She was there for the husband search as well. Though her father was currently residing at their fief and would be arriving at a later time. She was small and petite with straight black hair and rosy cheeks. Margaret had a friendly disposition and seemed to get along with everybody. I liked her immediately. "Let us go and chat with the other women for a while. I think I need a breath of fresh air from all the sly glances we've been receiving."
She pulled me away from the circle of men that had surrounded me and I let her.
"Thank you." I whispered once we were safely away from the throng of men. They stared after us in awe and looked like lost puppies.
"Your welcome." she giggled in reply. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to escape from them or not, but I figured it was worth a shot. Even I couldn't stand the presence of men for that long. I don't know how you did it."
"I stopped listening when they spoke and simply smiled and nodded." I informed her with a smile.
"I should try that sometime. Come, lets step outside momentarily. I really do need some fresh air. The sweaty bodies is enough to drive any woman mad."
We walked toward the doors that led out onto a large balcony. There was a small circle of girls our age standing out there whispering to each other.
"I saw that Sir Iden had his eye closely on you." Margaret smiled as we continued to walk past the group of girls.
"I realized that as well when he wasn't able to pry himself from my side." I replied with a small grimace.
"He is quite a catch and has always been popular at the feasts. But even I have to admit that your brother seemed to steal the spotlight the second he stepped into the room."
I scowled on the inside and gave a small smile on the outside. "Which brother?" I asked curiously.
"The one who escorted you in. He is extremely handsome. Is he single?"
"Yes. Jerome isn't the type of man to become involved with."
"A ladies man? Well that's perfectly normal. It's not like I was inquiring as to marriage, though I here that's the reason you've appeared at court." she smirked before picking arose from the bush that we passed. She began to pull the petals from it one by one the toss them aside.
"Wait. You're not here to find a husband?" I was extremely confused.
"Well finding a husband would be pleasant. But its not the end of the world if I don't."
"Your not a virgin?"
"Of course I'm not a virgin. Do you think I would be this bold if I was?"
"And the other girls?"
"Like I said, they're pleasant enough with a warm bed at night. Most of them aren't really here in search of a husband since their fathers have already made arrangements for that. Their here to have a little bit of fun before being forced into a loveless marriage." Margaret shrugged and continued to walk. I went with her with a little bit of information that could be used in the future. "Are you saying you're a virgin?"
"Oh, well yes. My brothers are extremely protective and have watched me for years. Nothing gets past them." I muttered with a roll of my eyes. I doubt she saw it from the darkness.
"That's a shame."
"Quite."
"Well I'm sure you'll find somebody here that you'll be able to sneak off with. The castle is quite large and their unable to keep watch over everything."
"They certainly try. There are three of them."
"I know." Margaret winked and turned around. We began to walk back towards the feast in silence. "So how long are you planning on visiting the castle? Through midwinter at least, right? That's when all the squires return to be knighted. It's quite entertaining."
"I'm not sure how long my brothers plan on staying. It's really up to them." I replied nonchalantly.
"Well tell me if your going to disappear during the night sometime. I'd like to get to know your brothers better before you leave." she smiled as we reached the doors leading inside. I had to laugh at that. The thought of any of my friends bedding her was quite amusing. I think Merry would slaughter one of them before they did that.
"Who is he?" Margaret gasped as we stepped inside. I turned to see who she was referring too. A man stood in the circle of friends his own age. He was talking with them politely though you could tell he wanted to be in a less stuffy place. The man was tall and dark haired. He seemed to have a well built manner and was quite gorgeous. Even I had to stare.
"You mean he's new?" I asked in awe.
"I've never seen him before and I've been coming here for a few years now." Margaret muttered.
"Well whoever he is, he's quite charming to look at."
"I'll attest to that." Margaret giggled. She stepped further into the room and was swept away immediately by a suitor wanting to dance. I followed suit and prepared my feet for more dancing.
A/N : I graduated! Finally. Well I'm terribly terribly horribly sorry for the really late update. I really do feel terrible. I've been busy. And my computers been down. And I could come up with a million other bull shited excuses. But I'll stop. Thanks for all the reviews! I hope everyone likes this chapter and thank you to all who e-mail me to bug me about updating. Continue doing that. It really keeps me in line.
Thanks!