CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Whatever I said to Mensonge, a part of me remained nervous. The two weeks passed in a spirit of uneasiness, although everyone tried to smooth things over with light comments and assumed nonchalance.

"I shall be quite glad to have this past," Pearl said one evening. She and I were alone in her room; she had been showing me a gift her father had sent up, a sort of flute carved from an enameled reed. "I don't hate Rochelle." She paused, then said, "I try not to hate Rochelle. But it will be a relief to see her face and judge with my own eyes what her intentions are."

"Do you suspect her still?" I asked. The flute was smooth under my hands.

"I can't help it." She sounded apologetic. "What she's done… she leaves little room for trust."

I nodded. "It seems a lot of trouble just for a broken betrothal. Although I guess I'd be pretty ticked off if anyone came in here and tried to run off with Mensonge."

A low laugh emerged from Pearl. "I imagine that's true."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Why did you do it?" She raised her eyebrows in a gentle question, and I shrugged awkwardly. "I don't want to sound all accusing or anything, but you did sort of come in and have an affair with someone else's fiancé."

When she spoke, her voice was thoughtful. "I knew Rochelle didn't love Ryne, not as I did. She found him handsome and charming, and he was all that. But she didn't love him. She loved the land, and the power. I loved him for himself, and that seemed a higher call than prior commitment." She looked absently at the flute and pressed one end against her fingers. "I suppose it wasn't completely ethical, but I didn't think at the time. I just knew that he was too wonderful to live a life with someone who cared less than I did."

"Oh."

"Do you think it was wrong?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Good."

"What are we going to do when she arrives?" I asked after a while.

"How do you mean?"

"Are we making a big deal over it, or is she just another guest?"

"A bit of both. She'll receive a special audience, of course, and a banquet will probably be held shortly after she gets here. No more or less than is due an 'old friend.'"

I laughed at the delicate phrasing. Pearl looked startled, then shook her head, smiling.

"I know, it's all ridiculous," she said.

"But such is royal life," I said. "I've figured that much out."

"Yes, such is royal life. I'm almost sorry to pass it on to you."

I shrugged. "Such is life, royal or otherwise."

She nodded. "Anyway, you shouldn't have to deal much with her. In fact, I think it's best if you avoid her company entirely, at least when there are no other people around." There was a deeply worried air about her face, but it soon faded. She slid off the bed; I handed the flute to her and she restored it to its case. "Would you like to learn to play?"

"I can't even play the piano."

"Then you're not trying very hard," she said. "Music is in your blood."

"The piano's not music, the piano is a lovely instrument made of wood and wire that requires far more eye-hand coordination than I've got to play."

She shrugged. "Maybe you'll have more luck with the flute, then. Father sent it for you, you know."

I hadn't known, but nodded.

"All right then," she said. "Oh, don't look at me like that. If you don't like it you don't have to, but at least try."

"I'll try. I don't promise to be any good."

"You don't have to be. Come on, it's time for dinner."

I woke up the morning Rochelle arrived with a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. Grethel, when she came in to help me get dressed, was overly talkative. I listened in silence.

"Her ship arrived in port," she said. "The harbor where most of the boats dock, you know the one?"

"I can see it from my window," I said, waving. I had watched the craft sail into view early that morning, and drop anchor some distance from the shore. Rowboats had been ferrying back and forth ever since, bearing trunks and people dressed in rich colors. I could see little detail, but one thing was clear: Rochelle was a pack-rat. Grethel went to the window and looked out. A moment later she came back, and began pulling clothes from my wardrobe.

"What are you doing?" I asked, after the fifth gown had been throw on my bed. Usually she came out with just one, or two to compare, if we were to have important visitors.

"It's important that you make a good impression."

These were not good impression dresses. The necklines were all low, a few lacked sleeves entirely, and several were designed to emphasize the bust in no discreet fashion. The jewelry she was pulling out to hold against the gowns was far too elaborate and wealthy for this time of day. I frowned.

"You're trying to make me look like a femme fatale."

"A what?"

"A seductress."

"I am not."

"You are. I'd fall out of that bodice."

Grethel pursed her lips. "I just think," she said delicately, "that it may do nicely to remind Rochelle that she's not as young as she once was and needn't try to impress us with her money or the king with her figure. We're well off as a country and our queen and a princess both have twice her elegance and beauty."

I laughed and hugged her. "Merlana's perfect the way it is, and I know Ryne won't so much as look at her. I'd rather everyone in the castle not be staring at me, though." I went to the closet and came out with a flowing white dress. When Grethel saw it, she laughed.

"Innocence."

She was awesome like that. I nodded.

I was summoned to the throne room for the formal audience. Rochelle entered in grand style, sweeping her gown around. It was velvet, far too heavy for this time of year and climate, and covered in heavy-looking jewels. Rochelle herself was ethereally beautiful. She had long blonde hair that flowed down her back in perfect waves and curls, large dark blue eyes, flawless skin, and a warm, friendly smile. She was also small, slender and petite with a figure I envied deeply, and looked scarcely older than myself. When she reached the throne, she swept a graceful curtsy. Everything about her bespoke elegance and refinement.

"Welcome to Merlana," Ryne said. She glanced up at him through lowered lashes.

"I am more glad than I can say to be here," she said. "It brings me great joy to see these shores again."

Pearl said something in welcome, and Rochelle replied pleasantly. I paid little attention to what was being said and focused wholly on watching. Behind the smiles, everyone was guarded. Rochelle and Pearl were sizing one another up, Ryne's shoulders were tense, and Rochelle kept flicking glances over towards me.

"This is our daughter, Princess Marina," Ryne said. I extended a hand, palm upward, as Desviadan culture dictated. Her eyebrows raised slightly --- in surprise, perhaps, that I knew the etiquette for the situation --- and she placed her hand, also palm up, in mine. The gesture was symbolic of having nothing to hide; rather ironic, I thought.

She had dinner with us that night. She and Mensonge had greeted one another quite civilly, if they were a bit formal. He paid extra attention to me, in what I took to be a show of moral support. Afterward, Rochelle, claiming tiredness from the journey, retired to her rooms, and Mensonge and I went out to walk along the beach. He looked vaguely silly in the wilder outdoor setting, although perhaps that was simply because I was used to Eran, who melted into the shore like a grain of sand. Mensonge was too upright and courtly for somewhere so untamed, and claimed that the wind irritated him. Still, he knew I loved the spot, and I loved him for it.

"You behaved beautifully," he murmured into my ear.

"How did you expect me to behave?" I asked. I pretended a sort of indignant air, although I was glad to hear the words. Caught up in observing Rochelle, I had been unusually clumsy, almost spilt my soup twice, and fumbled greatly for conversation.

"Oh, like a princess," he said. "But your grace under pressure always amazes me." He slipped his hand around my waist. We stopped and looked out at the sea. I looked out, anyway; he was looking at me.

"I… like her," I said finally. "She seems… well, I don't know her very well, and I know there have been problems in the past, but I think she'll be quite tactful about the whole thing."

"No doubt of it," he said. He kissed the nape of my neck.

"She seems very proper, anyway."

"Of course." He'd moved to my shoulder and was trying to push down the sleeve of my gown. I shifted away; he wasn't particularly deterred.

"She's beautiful," I said.

"Not half as lovely as you," he said. He'd managed to get the one sleeve down; I twisted away and pushed it back up.

"You don't like it?"

"Of course I like it," I said. "Just… not now. And especially not here."

"Just this, then," he said, and kissed me on the lips. The same honey taste and warmth that always filled me were there, and I let myself be wrapped up in his arms.

The next few days were highly charged. I avoided Lisette as much as possible, for every time she managed to get me alone she either started warning me against being alone with Rochelle or muttering about how it wasn't for her to say, not at all, but she rather would have thought there would be more security measures put up. I appreciated the thought, as it all stemmed from concern about me, but the affection got wearing after a while. Pearl was also a bit obsessed with the subject, constantly reminding me to tell her of anything suspicious and to avoid Rochelle's solitary company, although, of course, there was probably nothing to worry about and perhaps Rochelle really had mended her ways. Ryne shared their solicitousness in his own way.

"Don't do anything stupid," he advised me, and let it drop.

I found myself breaking these warnings about a week after her arrival. I had wandered into the library, trying to find a book on phoenixes for some homework Nereida had assigned, and, turning into an aisle on the way to my destination, almost ran into Rochelle. She glanced up from the book she had been looking at and smiled. It wasn't unfriendly, but I was guarded.

"Sorry," I said. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

"Oh, nonsense," she said with a light laugh, waving a slender hand. She closed the book and replaced it on the shelf. "Such a lovely collection."

"Yes, it is."

I backed up, remembering the warnings of all three of my parents. "If you'll excuse me," I said hastily, "I've got to find a book. I was supposed to have it out days ago, but you know how it goes." I doubted that she did, but she nodded.

"Of course." She turned back to the shelf, gave it a cursory glance, and I slipped away, murmuring some vague farewell that she returned. I almost thought she had been as glad as I was to see me go. I left the library in haste. The homework might be late, but Nereida could deal with it. I was following the king and queen's orders; the fact that I had let it wait till the last minute was totally irrelevant. Mensonge was coming into the library as I was leaving; I gestured toward where Rochelle was just visible, and he gave me an understanding look and nodded.

A/N: This is probably redundant by now... but I'm sorry this has taken so long! Life, as usual. (It bears noting that actually falling into like with someone makes writing about being in love ridiculously difficult. Don't know why, but it's a bit of an inconvenience, methinks.)

Piratess of Summer: Your apprehension is probably well-founded... ;)

teenchic2004: Lol, you've got it mostly right on there. There will, of course, be further complications.

porkypick: Good advice, which I intend to follow. Thanks!

Allyp: Aren't the trees fabulous? I like them... You're reading Marina completely right... or maybe you just know me too well, lol.

Bingo7: A spell? Ah... Ahem. ;)

Audra Laudargue: Thanks much!

Weirdness Rocks: I'm glad you like it! Hopefully I haven't scared you off with this long absence... I'm normally more prompt. :)

kirstiemuggins: Thanks! And ditto the above about scaring you off, hehe.

InChrist - Bilios: Thanks for all the wonderful comments! The one about screaming vs. fainting in particular made me laugh, lol.

slipshod: You shouldn't trust Mensonge, I love the trees too, and I'm definitely going to keep writing this!