CHAPTER SIX
We walked into a room that, at first glance, looked like a calendar painting meant to evoke how perfect the Victorian era was in summer. The windows were enormous, letting sunlight stream in anywhere it could, and the women reclining on white wicker furniture fit the scene ridiculously well. Their gowns were in complimentary pastels, the ringlets trailing down pale swanlike necks were of perfect shape and size, and the luncheon spread out on the little tables was comprised of tea sandwiches, lemonade, and sliced fruits. I raised my eyebrows. Grethel laughed.
"Are we late?" she asked cheerfully. Pearl, sitting on a couch by Lisette, her legs curled elegantly beside her, shook her head.
"Not at all."
Grethel took my hand and led me over to Pearl, and then made a pointed gesture with her eyes. I curtsied, as I'd seen everyone else do, and Pearl smiled. I couldn't tell if it was a gracious-welcome sort of smile or amusement at my attempt, but she said merely, "Have a seat."
I was the subject of many sideways glances as I tried to determine what would be considered the appropriate amount of food on my plate. Though fairly starving, I figured princesses supposed to be dainty eaters, and my plate ended up mirroring Grethel's. I think she noticed, but was kind enough to not say anything.
Pearl was telling a story about something she and her sisters had done way back when. I was too busy taking in the room and the people around me to pay much attention, but she seemed to hold everyone else in sway. Her hands waved around, long-fingered and pale, her wedding ring --- the only bit of jewelry she wore --- catching the light and sparkling. It was oddly reassuring to see that people wore wedding rings here.
"Have you visited Atlantis yet?" one of the women asked me. I shook my head.
"What's that?"
"Home of the mermaids in this part of the sea," Pearl said. "Where I grew up."
Right. My birth mom, the mermaid. How weird.
"Oh," I said. The next words that came to mind were That's nice, but I couldn't think of a way to say them without sounding sarcastic. "No, I haven't."
"You'll like it," Pearl said with another smile. Her teeth were as white as her name. She was the kind of person you could love to hate, if she weren't so... well, honest. Our acquaintance had thus far been short, but I couldn't imagine her capable of avarice or malice. Her emotions showed through her eyes far too easily.
A tugging at my skirt caught my attention. A little girl was standing in front of me, with white-blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a smile that was too wide and full of tiny teeth. I hadn't noticed her before, for she was extremely short and had been up till now completely silent and mostly out of sight. She tilted her head to survey me, then held out her arms in a gesture I recognized as "Up!"
"I'm sorry," said one of the women, flushing and moving to get up from her chair. "I didn't realize she'd left, she'd been sitting so quietly."
I shook my head. "No, it's okay." She eyed me hesitantly, and sat back down. I lifted the girl onto my lap. Her warm weight was comforting beyond words. Lisette gave me a knowing sort of look, and quickly got the conversation going again, on a subject I wouldn't be expected to participate in.
"How old are you?" the girl said, in a soft voice that must have been learned from hours of sitting with these women.
"Seventeen," I said. "Is that pretty old?"
She nodded seriously. "I'm four."
"That's very grown-up."
"I know," she said. "Are you a princess?"
"Yeah," I said. She didn't look impressed, just fingered my hair and said that it was pretty. We talked for the rest of the lunch. Her name was Lyra, she told me, and she lived at the castle with her mum and papa, who was a knight. Everyone else ignored us, although I couldn't tell if that was because Lisette was keeping them busy or because they had nothing to say to me. I couldn't say I much cared, although if it was Lisette's doing, I intended to thank her later.
After an hour or so, Lyra slid off my lap. "I have to go," she said. I looked over to where she was looking and saw her mother beginning to stand. I nodded.
"It was very nice to meet you," I said. She curtsied. I almost laughed.
"The pleasure is all mine," she said. The words were ridiculous coming out of that tiny person, but I maintained a solemn expression and thanked her for her company. She grinned at me --- her smile sent her eyes crinkling up and her mouth to the far edges of her face --- and scampered off to her mother, the lace on her dress bouncing.
"She's cute," said Grethel. I nodded. She added, "I think Lady Lisette's taking you to meet your tutors now." Why did everyone know my schedule but me? "But I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good," I said. It came out sounding emphatic. She laughed, patted my shoulder, and departed with several of the other gauze-covered ladies.
"She's right," said Lisette. She had come up to stand behind my sofa. "Come on."
I stood reluctantly --- seriously, you would think the whole princess deal would come with no school, at least --- and she straightened my hair. Pearl stood.
"I suppose I won't see you again until dinner," she said. "I'm sorry I can't take you to meet your tutors myself, but I've got a delegate from Olympus that I have to meet with. Zeus wants to organize some sort of trade alliance. It's tedious business, but it must be dealt with." She smiled and swept away, leaving me blinking behind her. Zeus. Right. Groovy.
Lisette took my arm and guided me out the door. "You did well," she said after we were out of anyone's earshot. "If I were more cynical and didn't know you so well I'd have thought you did the entire thing with Ariana's daughter just for show."
I laughed dryly. "Right. Political motivations, that's what it was."
"Either way, you've made a good impression," she said. "Here." We stopped in front of a dark door. It swung open before Lisette touched it, into a gorgeous room filled with plants and butterflies and thick trees. The ceiling was made of domed glass, with enormous open windows. As I watched, a colorful bird flew through one.
"This is incredible," I said, turning around to take in the full scope.
"This is one of your classrooms."
"Natural Sciences, Biology, and Herbology," said a disembodied voice I recognized. I smiled as Nereida came out from behind a tree with waxy green leaves, a bird perched on her finger. "Pardon me, Your Highness, I won't be a minute." She disappeared again, and far before I had got my fill of looking at the room, came back, rolling her hands in a stained cloth. "You'll have Art here sometimes as well, but I don't teach that." I wondered briefly what she'd be like as a teacher, but the thought was cut short as she ushered us through a canopy of leaves.
We walked through the room, along stone walkways over which hung vividly green trees. A snake crossed our path, and she hissed something at it. She showed me to my desk --- a polished stone table, carved with vines --- and then ushered us out, saying that Nessie needed to be fed before she started trying to eat the birds.
"Who's Nessie?" I asked as we were almost pushed out the door.
"You'll find out tomorrow," she said shortly.
The next teacher was of English, which would entail essays, fiction, playwriting, formal letters, declarations, and any number of other literary forms. I was rather frightened of the writing mistress --- she was an angular woman with a tight bun and sharp black eyes, dressed in a dark green Victorian gown that looked vaguely like something the goths at my old school might have worn if they'd been able to afford it. She had no mere pretensions of mystery, however --- the raven perched in the corner of her dusty classroom was altogether real, and when she spoke to it, there was little doubt that it understood her.
Math was taught by a round old man in suspenders, with round glasses perched on his red nose; Science by a tall, thin man in an old-fashioned vest and suit; Art by a willowy woman with large eyes and flyaway hair; Music by a quiet-looking woman who had no distinguishing features whatsoever; and History by a young man with a nervous air. There would be other subjects, Lisette informed me, languages and magic and etiquette, but these lessons would be less formal with no regular teachers until I found ones that I had rapport with. This I thought considerate, and said so; she said it had been Ryne's idea, as he had been forced to take magic from an old man he despised, and consequently learned very slowly and with little enthusiasm. Personally, I thought that any lessons in magic would be bound to be interesting, but then, I was hardly an expert on the subject.
Lisette left me at my room when we were done. I asked her to stay, but she had already arranged an engagement on the other side of the island with an old friend, and reminded me that she would see me that evening. As a consolation prize of sorts, she told me in lowered tones about a certain sliding panel in the hallway that led to a secret hallway down to the kitchens, hinting that Mabelle was a good person to go to in times of boredom. I didn't go down. I needed air, not the companionship of yet another acquaintance of two minutes. The ocean beckoned to me from the windows, gentle blue and far removed from the uncertain curtsies of the palace.
The way outside was not difficult, but getting away without being noticed was. I didn't know if I was allowed out to the beach alone or not, but I suspected that it would be frowned on, since I did have an archvillain after my royal hide and all. But Pearl had said the sea was on our side, I reasoned. Rochelle wouldn't be led to me so easily. It'd be a good excuse if I was caught, anyway. Maybe.
The courtyard was busy as it had been yesterday, full of glittering people in glittering gowns carrying on glittering conversations. I slipped out the front door --- I knew of no other exit --- and tried to blend in. It was difficult, for I felt like a gawky child, but somehow or other I managed to get to the side of the palace without notice. It seemed too bold to go out the front gate, as it was closed, but I thought that there must be a side door somewhere. I was right. The first one I came across had a small lock on it, but the lock seemed to serve no purpose, as it unhinged at my touch. After glancing around to make sure no eyes were on me, I slipped out and found myself on a small winding path into the trees.
After some time, the ocean spread out before me. I slipped down the grassy hillside beyond the forest until I came to the beach. It was a vast expanse of white sand, deserted and probably the most beautiful thing I had seen all day. Here, I was almost totally blocked from the palace, which was synonymous in my book with being almost totally free. I kicked off my slippers and ran down to the water, sat down at the edge of the surf, and let it caress my feet. The sun was hot, too hot, and nothing short of wonderful.
After some time --- a commodity I was very consciously not keeping track of --- a hand dropped onto my shoulder. I sighed and turned, expecting to see Lisette, come to give me a lecture. Instead I saw a stranger, far too close for comfort. I hesitated a brief moment and then screamed.
A/N: First off, I'm very sorry this was so late --- I've had the flu, ACT crash studying, rehearsals for a variety show (tonight, and I'm Elphaba from Wicked, woo-hoo...), and a mild case of writer's block. The next chapter should be up much sooner. :)
teenchic2004 - Thanks! You're right --- she's not liking this at all.
Scoutcraft Piratess - Thanks --- I'm glad it managed to be interesting and still convey the boring stuff. It's a delicate balance!
Allyp - Hi! Glad you're liking it. No, I don't have stuff pre-written --- I'm making this up as I go along. Which is kind of scary, when you think about it... "'Dragons...Virgins...the physics alone just boggles the mind.'" dies laughing What's that from?