Found Heritage

Chapter 8

Guy opened the door and Delaunay stepped out first. Then I emerged. Being the silently acknowledged legitimate daughter granted me some privileges that placed me above my foster siblings. Only by a little. Then Phédre and Alcuin emerged. In the roughly two weeks, perhaps a little less than, summer had officially begun and the front doors of the House were wide open. I smelled lavender and another scent I couldn't name. In nearly every niche we passed, musicians played. And there adepts groping in what seemed like very corner. Melisande surely must be wealthy to pay a night's fee for every Cereus adept.

Delaunay must have seen my longing gaze, because he said, "No, Morgan. Keep yourself tonight."

So, I resigned myself to merely watch and yearn. In the Great Hall, a number of people all pomped out for the party Granted I hadn't had as much training my adopted siblings had, but I heard laughing and flirting mixed with music. Even from where we stood before reaching the footman, I could smell the food. My stomach growled at the smells. I had barely eaten before coming. The footman announced us and a handsome blond man pulled himself from the throng and approached us.

"Phédre, welcome back," he greeted her. I noticed a chain around his neck with the seal of Cereus House on it. He turned to Delaunay. "And you Lord Delaunay, welcome. And you are Alcuin nó Delaunay." The unknown man shook Alcuin's hand briefly. The he turned to me. "I do believe I haven't heard of you."

"Morgan Donna," I said, shaking his hand. Delaunay had advised me to retain my true name until the courts approved it. "Lord Delaunay had decided to foster me when he caught me picking his pocket."

"Welcome to Cereus House. If you feel lacking in anything, ask for Jareth."

"I will." I spotted Delaunay and Alcuin disappearing into the crowd. I left Phédre so she could speak with Jareth and managed to catch up with Delaunay and Alcuin. I heard murmurs when I passed by. "Who is she? Who did she come with?" "That must be the only dress she has." And more The question of who I had arrived with was answered when I reached Delaunay. On the dais, it was more chaotic than when the Homecoming Queen was announced. A man, who looked to be in his early twenties sat in a chair with an obviously unpleased woman in his lap. Two men shared his table, guards most likely. One had a female in his lap. The other had a boy at his shoulder serving as an attending to refill his wine glass.

The prince lounged in his chair and looked at me, then to Delaunay before speaking. "Well, well. Messire Anafiel Delaunay. I hope you've repaired your quarrel with my kinsman, the Comte de Fourcay. He has so few friends after all. Come, what have you brought me? A charming pair of bed servants and a serving maiden?"

A surge of anger rose in me. I was treated like a slave for a day at my...Kay's home, but never was I called a serving maid for some arrogant Prince of the Blood to take.

"My Prince will have his jest." Delaunay bowed and the three of us followed suit. "Alcuin and Phédre nó Delaunay and Morgan Donna of my household. Please accept our most sincere wishes for a joyous natality."

Alcuin handed Delaunay the Prince's gift: a silver filigree pomander that held a fragrant lump of amber. Delaunay took it and presented it to the Prince. He accepted it, sniffing then shook it next to the adept's ear, producing a sweet ring.

"Very nice," Baudoin said. "You have leave to enjoy my party, Anafiel. You and your little playmates. I swear my mother spoke truly of you. Only you would bring whores to a pleasure-house."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alcuin blush. Of course, the unencumbered recognized Phédre before we could leave. "I know that one; look at her eyes. That's Delaunay's anguissette. The one that likes being hurt." He drew the sword I assumed he carried for protecting Baudoin and managed to get the tip under Phédre's gown skirts and began raising them. "Come, lets have a look." He laughed and Baudoin's interest was piqued; pushing the adept off to a side and leaned forward.

I didn't know Delaunay could move so fast. Driven back mainly by the surprise of it, I stepped back and heard steel on stone. The guard was shaking his hand and the sword under Delaunay's boot. I looked to Delaunay to Baudoin, then back to Delaunay. I looked to the Prince, sure that I had a look that told him he messed with the wrong person.

"My Lord," Delaunay began. "May I remind you that these members of my household are your guests and here by invitation by your lady."

Baudoin waved his hand. "Alright, Delaunay, your point's made. Give Martin his sword. Boys, with all of Cereus House at your disposal, there's no need to trouble messire Delaunay over his playmates."

With his casual manner, Baudoin did have a measure of command. Delaunay returned the sword with a stiff bow. The silence held while Baudoin emptied his glass, banging it on the table. His gaze fell on Phédre. "A true anguissette, eh?" I watched Melisande lean in and whispered something to him. My face contorted enough in my wonder in what Melisande was saying. "You're without peer." Then he waved his hand in our direction. "If you serve my will, go now and make merry. Your Prince commands it."

Delaunay motioned us to go before him. I grew isolated from them, but grew somewhat accustomed to milling about. I accepted a glass of cordial from a young male fosterling. It burned my throat on the way down. Granted I had a snack bar for breakfast, so I worked my way to the food tables. I listened to the different conversations. None made any real sense due to the fact I had been in the country roughly under two weeks. At that point, I remember July 4th was coming up. Though I couldn't help but doubt Delaunay would think of that.

"You shouldn't allow your mind to wander," I heard a woman said. "People would begin to think your head's nothing but air."

I turned to look at the one who spoke and saw some resemblance to Baudoin.I managed to recall her name as Bernadette. I curtsied to her. "Greetings, Princess. And why would people think that when they've named Lord Delaunay the Whoremaster of Spies?"

That caused Bernadette to laugh. "You've heard, I take it. People have had little chances to see you. You're exotic to an exotic people, Lady Donna. If only you haven't spent time with whores..." She left it at that and left.

I had little choice in the matter of living with whores. I grabbed a full glass of cordial and sipped at it. I decided to wander in the nearby corridors, seeing little point in staying at the party. One last sip of the cordial and set it aside before heading down the corridor. I heard a man's voice ahead and ducked into the shadows.

"Nor am I known to be an enemy!" I didn't recognize the voice. "Lady Shahrizai pays for information on the Stregazza. And they pay for talk on House Trevalion. Where's the harm in it? I'm a trader, sweet boy." It sounded like he went from being informative to near pleading. "Why will you not deign to ply your trade?"

There had been some shuffling then the answer. "I'm a Servant of Naamah, not a galley-slave, sir. Seven times I've agreed to your contract, and seven times you've stinted your offering." It was Alcuin. There was another pause before the unknown man spoke in a trembling voice. "I'll make you a patron gift. Any amount your name! Only say it."

I heard Alcuin draw a breath and his answer. "Enough to make my marque and the answer to Delaunay's question."

Question? What question. About what?

"You ask too much," the man answered.

"It's my price."

In the time I spent in Terre d'Ange, I learned that being a prostitute was a sacred calling. But I hadn't thought one would despise it so.

"If I pay it," the tremor was back. I had little training in covertcy, but I heard it twice. "I'll see you no more."

"If you pay it," I heard Alcuin say softly. "You'll see me once more. If you do not, you'll never see me again."

The pause this time was longer. I thought this time the unknown man was thinking. Or he left.

"It's too much," he repeated. "I'll think on it."

I heard the movement of clothes and ducked further into the shadows to avoid being seen. The unknown man walked past distracted. I didn't hear Alcuin move to leave and poked my head out to see Phédre in front of me and Alcuin kneeling before a small statue of Naamah in the niche. The light from the lamp reflected off his white hair.

"Forgive me, my lady goddess," I heard. "If I violate your precepts, it's only to obey those of our lord Elua. What I do, I do for love."

I had heard enough and made for a silent exit. For being a member on a marching band where our job was to be as loud as possible, I glided back to the party where no one seemed to have noticed my entrance. I didn't know if Phédre had seen me, and I didn't care. I went to the food tables and filled a plate with small portions.

"You should be careful on what you eat," I heard a man's voice say. "I hate to see your figure be ruined."

"What makes you say that?" I asked, turning to see the one who spoke.

"An attractive adept like yourself. Surely you enjoy your figure."

"I'm not an adept of Cereus, messire. I'm a member of Delaunay's household."

"A wonder I haven't seen you before."

I had to resist the urge to hit this man. But I had to remind myself where I was and that I was a guest. "I'm not one of Delaunay's whores. You'd be wise to learn before you speak." I sat my still full plate down and grabbed my glass. I turned and nearly walked right into Melisande. "Oh, my apologizes, Lady Shahrizai."

"Is something wrong?"

Just minor confusion. It's all settled here."

"One of Delauany's little whores won't oblige me," the man complained.

"Madam Donna is not one of Delaunay's. Nor does she call any of the Houses home," Melisande told the man. "She's being fostered by him when he caught her attempting to pick his pocket."

So she heard the lie I used to cover my presence at Delaunay's. Good, the more people that believed it, the better. I watched the man walk away then turned my attention to Melisande. "Thank you, my lady."

"Think nothing of it, child." She stepped in close so only I could hear. "Learn to keep your head down. It's too lovely to have it be lost." She pulled away with a smile then walked away. I watched her walk away and wondered what she meant by that.