Part Two

Though he didn't seem too enthusiastic about it, it was not in Condor's nature to say no and disappoint a lady in need, and so in the end he agreed most readily to be her man for the fourth task.

"I still don't fully understand why you would pick me Sae." He admitted once they agreed upon it.

"Well, if this is to be a test of knowing the people, I thought who better to help me know them then someone who is counted among them. As a stable boy, I thought you would be well acquainted with manual labour."

A small amused smile graced Condor's face. "That I am indeed."

"Besides," Sae went on, "who else would be better fitted to help me here? My lady's maids, who serve inside the palace? No, I need someone who works in the palace fields, and you are really the only person I converse with who does."

"Well, that could be seen as your own error for not taking the trouble of getting to know more of the palace inhabitants," Condor mused. "However, previous ladies before you little troubled themselves to be acquainted with the servants, naturally so, and since there are no guests at the palace save yourself, I suppose your choice would be limited."

"That is something I have wondered about," Sae admitted. "I've always found it strange, when comparing our kingdom to others, that our royalty hardly invites guests outside their own family to stay at the palace, and when they do it is usually just a person or two. Ever since the Queen constituted these tasks for ladies near and far to try their hand, I believe Fu Naru palace has housed each contender as a guest on their own, as I am now."

"Well," said Condor after a pause, "there is truth in that certainly. However, your last task was a ball, so you mustn't think the royalty of our kingdom shuns society. Maybe, Sae, there is a reason why both in present and in past so few guests have lodged at the palace, and maybe you are onto something you can not yet grasp, but I shall leave that for you to discover on your own."

His teasing smile did not altogether suit his soft voice, but it did its job in sparking Sae's curiosity, and had not he changed the subject soon after, she may have pursued that road which he so strangely introduced.

Being trained previously by the palace's Royal Advisor and a loyal knight to the king, Sae was unsure of what to expect from the stable boy. Certainly at this point in time she felt closest and most comfortable with Condor compared to the other two, and this put her mind more at ease as to the idea of him preparing her for the fourth task. She could not imagine the stable boy a tyrant trainer.

Sae soon found that she had made a wise decision in choosing Condor. Not only did he seem the most down-to-earth inhabitant of the palace and perfect for understanding the common folk, much as she expected of him, but he had another quality about him she had known all along, only coming to realize then how important it would be for her in this challenge. Condor himself pointed it out to her.

"Though I've never been asked to be anyone's assistant for a task before, I have heard about the previous ladies and how each of them messed up, and I can tell you it wasn't the labour that caused them to fail."

This piece of news perplexed Sae. If the task involved her working with the people, then how could that not be the deciding factor on if she lost or not.

Condor gestured with his hand for her to sit down on the stone bench behind her. They were standing on a pebbled lane that winded through an apple-tree field, a very popular palace grounds walkway. Sae had been surprised he had brought her here to train instead of an open wheat field or even the stables. Manual labour was what she had thought she would be taught. Regardless, she trusted him, and sat down. He took a place beside her with respectable distance.

"The ladies who failed didn't do something wrong Sae, they failed at not doing something, and in the end it came down to what they were supposed to say."

"Are you talking in ambiguities on purpose Condor, or do you want me to actually understand you?"

He grinned, though his grin was meek. "Anyone can teach you how to put your all in helping those people with harvest, whether you are strong enough to be a real help or simply add to the greater effort. You are not really being judged by how substantively you help them. You are being judged on how well you know them."

"Yes, I know that." Sae responded. "It's about me spending the day with them and getting to know them."

"Yes, and there are two ways you'll be doing that. The first of course is more obvious." He stated. "By labouring along side them you get a better idea of their lives and what they do for a living. That I would expect you to already know."

"Yes, I got that connection." Sae nodded.

"Something less obvious though is that when you are working with them, you should be talking with them. Man is a social being, and it is in interacting with others that we come to know and better understand ourselves."

"I…have never thought of it like that before." Sae remarked after a moment.

"This is important. This is where the other girls failed. You have to listen Sae, really listen to what these people tell you about themselves. They will talk about their lives, their families, their troubles even their dreams if you are open to them. People love to talk if you give them the chance free of judgement. When it comes time for the Queen to ask you questions, they will be questions you can only answer if you've listened to these people."

"So I have to converse and listen to them." Sae repeated to herself.

"But I warn you, if you aren't really interested in what they are saying you won't remember half of it. I have no doubt that if you opened your heart up to these people you would find enough to be interested in, and that's the mark of a good ruler. So genuinely try to understand and hear these people, and I don't think you will fail this task."

As thoughts about the task were formulating in her head Sae thanked him for his advice, adding, "For a stable boy you have a philosophical view on human nature. I wonder how advanced your thinking would be were you born privileged enough to be well read."

Condor reddened in embarrassment. "I have been taught to read, but my books have been limited; I would have probably been a great reader given the chance. However, I find you can study humanity best by simply observing it with your own senses."

"In any case I am glad I chose you for assistance. I was thinking of choosing Sir Lisario again and yet I did not think he would be suited for this task as much as you. Thinking of him now is funny."

"What is funny?" Condor asked.

"Oh, I don't know exactly. I just had his appearance in my mind and looking at you I thought it was kind of an odd coincidence you both have such similar coloured hair and eyes. I don't suppose you two are related in any way? I mean, I know Sir Lisario has the hazel honey eyes so well connected to Fu Naru reputation but I don't suppose you are related to the royal family as well?"

Condor looked stunned by her observation but negated her claim, assuring her that hazel eyes were common enough in Fu Naru, and a stable boy was hardly a profession a cousin to royalty would willingly accept.

However, Sae speculated that Condor couldn't completely detach himself from the family in question. She was suspicious that he and Prince Sevastian shared some sort of secret confidence. More than once she had caught of two of them standing together, speaking in low voices in a manner that seemed to advocate secrecy. The Prince still came for his regular morning rides with her, though sometimes she would find he was already there with Condor, both of them immediately stopping their conversation when she came. Perhaps she wouldn't be so curious had she not also come upon them whispering during her training time with the stable boy. Though they acted ordinary around her, in spite of that she was still dubious.

As far as preparations went, Condor seemed to make a decent assistant. Manual labour was included in his training and Sae was taught how to properly harvest wheat, spending a day with the palace servants who were gathering for the harvest. She also took a leaf out of Condor's book and made the effort to listen to everyone around her carefully, show and genuinely feel more interest in what they were saying, and from that better understand them. Her maids were taken aback when she asked them about their personal lives. Phélie seemed delighted to go on and on about her life though Alesia seemed unexpectedly reclusive, more so than even Beda. Sae supposed everyone carried a secret or two of their own, though she was beginning to feel as if Fu Naru Palace was chock-full of them.

There was a lot about Alesia that Sae wagered she didn't know. In her first weeks at the palace Sae had hardly seen any of her three ladies without the other two in faithful accompaniment. As time progressed however she began to notice there were times when Alesia went off on her own, usually outdoors. Beda and Phélie always claimed that she was out in the gardens, or quite possibly one of the many fields. Alesia, Sae came to find, was a lover of nature and the outdoors. Now Beda always gave off the air of wanting some time alone, and yet there she always appeared before Sae, accompanied at least by one of the other two. Phélie was known for running off on occasion to visit and talk with one of her many servant friends, most of them she had grown up, or—one could argue because of her delicate age and lively, almost naive disposition—was still growing up with.

Along with being a good assistant for the next task, Condor was proving more and more to be a good listener. Sae was still feeling the bitter effect of the stinging arrow Roderick had shot her way, and though she had not brought herself to completely relate it all to him, Condor was beginning to get a better and better picture of what was going on.

Sae had gone so far one day, as she was tying up a bundle of wheat with her slow soft hands, trying to match Condor more deft movements, to ask "just out of curiosity, what kind of woman would the Royal Advisor be attracted to?"

Condor deliberately took his time answering, mocking deep thought and then answering. "Well now, though I can't really put into words what she would look like, or how she'd act, or think and feel, I do believe if you imagine someone the complete opposite of you, it would be a fairly clear description."

"I think I would toss this bundle of wheat at you if it weren't a waste of a good natural resource for our country." Sae grumbled.

Condor laughed softly. "There you go Sae, already thinking like an economical villager who needs to use every bit of stock they have. I think you'll do just fine on this task."

Whether she was truly ready or not, the day came when her skills were to be put to the test. At the crack of dawn, for this was when the farmers were out doing their morning chores, Sae found herself sitting in a beautiful pearly gold-lined carriage with silk interior and enough cushions to make her feel as if she were on a cloud. This definitely wasn't the way she should be treated on a day when she would be expected to do hard labour, but she supposed all the castle carriages were like this, never having ridden in one before. Her father's carriages were decidedly less grand. She'd have to block out this comfort and get ready to work.

The village at the edge of the palace grounds was a far ride away. The palace itself was so secluded that she wondered how vast the fields and forests surrounding it were. Within two hours Sae was stepping out of her carriage and onto the dry dirt path bordered by farmlands. The carriage had stopped at a fork in the road in which one path led towards the market place, the other one to all the village homes and fields. In the distance Sae could see people in the fields working. Behind her carriage the Queen's carriage came to a stop. Prince Sevastian, Roderick, and Sae's helper for this task, Condor, all rode on horses further behind.

"We walk from here on." Roderick said, dismounting his horse. "The path to the farmlands is not suitable for carriage use, and it's better to present ourselves on foot anyway."

The other two men dismounted their horses and the coachmen helped Sae and the Queen out of their carriages. As custom would have it Sae was accompanied by her lady's maids, who all got out of another carriage after her and took in the familiar farmland scenery. Two of the Queen's attendants fussed about her ladyship, making sure her highness' garb was impeccable. Her third attendant, Mayah, slipped graciously out of the carriage after everyone else and came to stand next to her Queen. The two of them exchanged a look of silent communications, and then her highness turned toward Sae and said, "Well dear, are you ready?"

Not trusting herself to talk so early in the morning, feeling as anxious as she did, Sae nodded and turned toward the path intended for her. With her maids walking behind her, she led the procession down into the farmlands. Condor soon made his way to the front to walk just behind her, pulling his horse by the reigns.

"I know we had to abandon the carriages, but I don't see why you and his highness and the royal advisor cannot keep riding on your horses." Sae remarked when she noticed him.

"What kind of men would we be if we rode while all the ladies walked?" Condor replied gallantly for a stable boy.

The journey on foot did not take them long. A quarter of an hour took them to the field where Sae was expected. A farmer, his wife, and three of their four children were out in the fields collecting wheat and managing the reaper harnessed to a work horse.

At the approach of the royal procession the family stopped what they were doing and came to meet them. Everyone met at the edge of the fields, a worn down fence separating the two terrains.

"Milords an' ladies," The farmer began. "I thank ye an' welcome ye to my lands again."

"Farmer Davenboard, madam Davenboard" Prince Sevastian smiled broadly. "It is a pleasure to be on your lands once again. May I introduce to you our contender today? Lady Sae."

Sae stepped forward at the sound of her name, like a trained bird, she oddly thought, but regardless smiled and made introductions with the farmer and his wife.

"An' these are our brood," The farmer's wife motioned to her children. "Jase our oldest, an' Beth an' Fanny. Our fourth tot Ian is within doors; he's still a babe."

"It is nice to meet all of you." Sae smiled politely.

"The Davenboards have been very loyal and hardworking subjects of Fu Naru for generations." Prince Sevastian stated. "They've graciously accepted our request to be a part of the fourth test these past couple of months, and we owe them tremendous gratitude for their kindness."

"Ye offer us free labour, how could I say no?" Farmer Davenboard beamed.

"Indeed," the prince laughed. "And so, shall we begin?"

The Prince looked to Roderick, who looked to the Queen. With her face half concealed by a shell fan, she nodded assent. Her lady's maids went about setting up a special outdoor seating arrangement for the queen. Now everyone would wait until Sae finished helping out with the harvest.

"This way, milady," Madam Davenboard motioned, as the family set out into the fields.

Glancing back at the party which she came with, she caught Condor's eye. He nodded encouragingly at her. Prince Sevastian was standing next to him, saying something she was too far to hear, and her curiosity spiked when they looked away from her and at Roderick, who was talking intently with Mayah. Looking away, she turned and followed the farmers.

o-o-o

The sun was high in the sky and it was well past noon by the time Sae was done. Of course the harvesting in itself was not complete. The family had begun well before the noblemen had arrived and they would be doing it until the early evening, as it was a big job for four people. Sae's task was merely to help out, not stay for the entire occasion, and the truth of course was that the Queen could barely stand the boredom of being there much longer, not to mention the sun beating down on everyone. So, it was decided just after noon that her job was done.

"How do you feel?" Condor asked when she came out of the fields and approached her companions.

"A little worn out, to be quite honest." She sighed.

"Well, that is good; you've toiled away the day in labour. I just hoped you've spent it speaking with your fellow labourers as well."

"As best as I could, I followed your advice."

"Lady Sae," Roderick called to her. "The Queen requests your presence now to answer a few questions."

Condor took a step back and gestured for her to go. She came to where the Queen was in her outdoor seating arrangement, Prince Sevastian standing on one side, Roderick on her other. Mayah, Sae's ladies-in-waiting, and the Queen's all stood a respectable distance back.

"Now Lady Sae, you will humour me and answer a few enquiries that must be asked before I decide if you have passed this task or not."

As this was not a question, Sae felt she didn't need to respond. Queen Ryona thus commenced:

"Let us begin with some of the easier questions, shall we Roderick?"

Roderick gave a curt nod from her side, cleared his throat and focused on Sae. "Can you tell me the names of all the farmer's children Lady Sae?"

Sae took a deep breath and answered. "Jase, Beth, Fanny and Ian."

"Yes, that's correct. Can you tell me their ages Sae?"

Sae blinked, then looked off to the fields as if trying to dig up some short-term memories.

Jase, you're quite strong, lifting that much at a time.

Ah yes, milady, our Jase here is very strong, like his pap, an' he's only eleven.

Really? I thought you were older, you are quite tall. I have twin brothers who are twelve, and they are not nearly as big as you are.

Well, I do drink a lot of milk Lady Sae, an' I suppose it runs in the family. My sister Beth here is nine an' she's almost as tall as my ma.

It's true milady, my daughter here is almost as tall as me as ye can see, an' Fanny here is six an' growing fast too.

"Jase is their eldest at eleven. Beth is nine and Fanny is six. As for Ian…"

I suppose I'll have to run in soon an' see how my little Ian is doing. I have my own ma looking after him in there, he's such a wee thing, not yet one.

"Ian is under a year old." She finished after a pause.

"Correct." Roderick said. "Now, tell me, for how many generations have the Davenboards been living on their land?"

It was my great great great….seven generations back anyway, grandfather who started all this ye know. Migrated east to Fu Naru and found it quite peaceful here.

"They go back seven generations."

"Correct. Who are the Davenboard's good friends and neighbours?"

I heard it from Bret Tilley that they won't be doing their harvest 'til tomorrow week, but I told his wife Sari, I told her they had better get it done before a rainstorm hits us. If it gets bad though Farmer Sadler an' I will be lending our hands in aid of course. Here milady, grip the scythe this way.

"They are good friends and neighbours to the Sadlers and Tilleys."

A small smile began to form on Roderick's face. "What do they do with their wheat?"

Ye would be surprised how little of this we keep for ourselves. Most of it goes to the village market place, quite a bustling place, ye must visit it sometime milady if ye want a real feel of the commoner life.

"A little bit is kept for themselves; the main bulk of it is sold at the local village."

"Is it their main source of income?"

"Yes and no, they also sell a substantial amount of food gathered from their vegetable fields, especially carrots and potatoes."

"Good." Roderick said, his smile now very apparent and encouraging, which astonished Sae greatly. "Can you tell me how many horses they have at their disposal?"

Sae had to think about that one for a moment. She vaguely remembered farmer Davenboard saying something about his horses. "I believe they have two of them; one for working the fields, and one for travelling and pulling their wagon."

"Yes, and that is the average number of horses our farmers tend to have in Fu Naru, a very important thing to know when ruling a country which feeds on the food provided by its farmers. Now, I think this will be the final question?" He said, glancing over to the Queen.

She gave him a questioning glance but nodded her head and said, "If you think that is all that is necessary, then I will not argue it."

"I think it is all that is necessary, yes." Roderick said firmly. "Now Lady Sae, can you tell me what the Davenboard's plan on having for dinner tonight?"

Sae almost laughed. With all the other questions, she could see how they were important, how they connected to statistics that concerned Fu Naru. The ones about the children, for example, showed her that farmers were having less children than they used to; she remembered hearing of when families were as big as twelve children, but she supposed it varied country to country. Asking about dinner however, she could see no relevant connection.

"I believe Madam Davenboard mentioned roasted goose and cabbage."

"Yes, a very common meal for commoners of our lands." Roderick nodded.

"Really? I thought goose was a noble dish."

"In some countries yes, but Fu Naru is abundant and rich enough that even its commoners can afford decent eating." Prince Sevastian interjected proudly.

Sae realized how even a question like this could tell her a lot about the subjects of Fu Naru. Then it hit her. She had just successfully completed task four.

On cue, Queen Ryona got up from her seat and said, "You've passed the test Lady Sae, and now we may all go back."

The lady's maids moved quickly to attend the Queen back in her carriage. Roderick and Sevastian walked back to their horses and Condor approached Sae before her lady's maids got to her.

"You did wonderful." He said, full of pride.

"Thank you so much for assisting me, you really were the one who got me to pass this test." Sae left out a sigh of relief. "I'm just happy it's over."

"Yes…earlier than normal. I believe of all the ladies to do this test, you are the first to only get asked eight questions. The standard was ten, though of course all the ladies had gotten at least one wrong by question four, so I suppose the advisor thought eight correct answers were sufficient."

"There were supposed to be ten?" Sae bit her bottom lip in thought. "You once said to me Condor that Roderick had a lot of say in what happens, and I'd be surprised. Well, I think I see what you mean now."