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The Glass Horse:
The Suitor
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482
The Summer Palace
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Two summers after my coronation I went on progress. Now that I had settled into my role as the Queen of Tortall, I wanted to keep my grandfather's tradition of touring the realm. Mother insisted that I was overworking, and to pacify her I agreed to spend a few weeks at the summer palace at the end of my parade.
My brother, Kazuhiko, was in his last year as a page. He underwent his Big Examinations at the end of April and became the squire of our uncle, Prince Jasson. Once Kazu was settled, I took to the road.
My traveling party was small. I brought two ladies as my special protectors. Lady Helanni of Meron was a few years older than me, and an excellent swordswoman. The other was my dear friend, Sarralyn SalmalĂn. We had grown up together, and though we were parted when I became a page and she learned to further nurture her wild magic, we had fallen back together easily after I was crowned.
We also traveled with two squads of the King's Own, assigned to protect us during the journey, a few clerks to help wherever needed, and a representative from the advocate group that worked for the crown. Wiliem of Masbolle was fair and hard-working, if a bit shy. He was two years out of his apprenticeship and had only just become a barrister. Only the masters outranked him in his firm.
I traveled northeast and then followed our northern border back to the coast, visiting some of the old outposts and towns that had been most effected by the war with Scanra twenty years before. I was pleased to see that these places were thriving now. The towns were completely rebuilt, the people relishing in the peace that had come after the war and that had been further bolstered by my uncle Liam's marriage to the Scanran princess Embla and the births of their five children.
The progress lasted throughout May. At the end we turned and followed the coast south to the Summer Palace. From there the Own and the clerks left to return to Corus, but I had invited Barrister Wiliem to stay. I planned to relax, but I also planned to work half-days so that I would not be overwhelmed when I returned home.
By the time when rode into the gates of the summer palace, I was ready to be out of the saddle for a while. An entourage from the palace had arrived two days before us. As she had promised, Mother had sent books and clothes ahead of my so I could travel lighter on the progress. A herd of young noblemen and noblewomen also arrived with my things, there to fill my social hours. I had worked hard on the guest list, trying not to offend anyone, but also not to invite people that would not allow me to relax.
I hadn't been to the Summer Palace since my grandfather brought us six years before. I had forgotten how open and light it felt compared to the royal palace in Corus. My rooms had been cleaned of dust and every window was propped open, allowing the salty ocean breeze to air out the bedcurtains and rugs. My bed was as soft as a cloud and there was a reading nook in one of the window seats that I immediately knew I would use.
My wardrobe was already settled in the dressing room. I noticed with dismay that it was mostly light-weight summer gowns, and I pulled a face. Mother was always after me to dress "more queenly," as she put it. She hated to see me running about the palace in tunic and leggings, but I opted for comfort and practicality. The gowns and petticoats and laces were too much for day-to-day happenings. At least most of these dresses were simple affairs.
I had to enter through a sitting room to get to my bedroom. Helanni and Sarralyn also had rooms off of this space. A larger doorway was propped open to reveal a balcony. I also had a private office, filled with more books, a magically protected case for important papers, my favorite writing kit, and a note from my mother not to work too hard. On that first day, I set that note and the little glass horse that had once belonged to my father on the ledge of my desk as a reminder of her words.
When I came out of my office Sarralyn was lounging on the ledge of a window, eating grapes and looking over the sea. She grinned at me.
"I do like it here," she said.
I fell into an easy routine. I rose an hour after dawn and took breakfast in my room. Then I would adjourn to my office and read the correspondence for the day, responding to anything that could not wait until I returned to Corus. Next, I'd meet with Barrister Wiliem to go over the most important paperwork. After lunch it was time to socialize with the young people. It was always different- chess matches, lawn games in the garden, even an archery contest. Supper was an informal banquet, during which I rotated which table I ate at. After supper, I retired to my room to read myself to sleep.
I passed a blissful three weeks that way. Helanni and Sarralyn took turns guarding me and spending time with my other guests. One morning in late June, Lady Helanni went out with the other nobles on a hunting party. Sarralyn opted to stay with me.
"Can we stay here forever?" she asked as we settled on the balcony. There was a small table surrounded by four comfortable chairs. Sarralyn settled into one, sitting sideways with her legs over one of the armrests.
I sat across from her, setting up my inkwell and parchment on the table. "I don't suppose it would feel much like rest and recreation if it was like this every day," I told her. "It is nice not to hear my mother going on about eligible young men, though."
"Oh yes, The List," Sarralyn said with a laugh. Over the last few months there had started to be vague conversations among my council members regarding who I should marry. The only thing that had been decided was that since my aunts and uncles had made so many diplomatic marriages with surrounding nations, my husband should be Tortallan. My mother, eager to help, had begun to put together a list of acceptable matches, considering age, rank, and other factors. "Have you read it yet?"
"I told Mother that I would look at it when we get back to Corus," I said. "I'm not sure about it, though. It feels weird to pick a husband off of a list. I always thought that I'd know who I was supposed to marry when I met them."
"Perhaps you shall," Sarralyn said. "Your Mother is the last person who would force you into a marriage that you don't want."
"I know, and I appreciate her trying to help. I also know that I can't put marriage off forever. There's the succession to think about," I said. "I'm grateful every day that my grandparents decided to have a large family. It takes some of the pressure off, since I have so many heirs."
"You have plenty of time," Sarralyn agreed. "Now, what are we working on today?"
"I'm starting with answering this letter from my brother," I said. "Then there are reports to see to."
We were working on the balcony when Barrister Wiliem joined us that day. Well, I was working. Sarralyn had started out writing a letter to her own brother, but it quickly turned to daydreaming and watching the odd bird fly over the sea.
The third time she sighed dreamily, Wiliem and I both looked up from our work. "What is it?" I asked her.
"I was just thinking that it's been ages since I've been out flying," Sarralyn said, eyes roaming over the ocean.
"You don't have to stay cooped up on my account," I told her. "I'm quite fine here."
Sarralyn gave my stacks of paper a look of distaste, glanced quickly at the barrister, and then met my eyes. "If you're sure," she said at last.
"I am positive," I assured her.
"Okay then," she said, standing to move to the edge of the balcony. She jumped, shedding her human form (and dress) as she transformed into a gull. My friend soared out towards the sea, allowing the warm breezes to lift her higher and higher.
Wiliem looked after her, his jaw hanging visibly open. "I'm sorry to stare. I have not seen wild magic that close before," he said at last. "That was amazing."
"Trust me, it's less amazing when it's a snake crawling into your bedroll on a camping trip," I said, recalling one of the many times Sarralyn had playfully tricked me as a child.
"That does sound rather unpleasant," he agreed. He looked back down at the document he was holding. "I just need your signature on this one, Your Grace. It's the final copy of the renewal of the taxing schedule we were working on last week. It's been accepted."
Three documents later, I stopped to stretch. My hair had been falling into my eyes as I worked, so I took a moment to gather it at the back of my head and stuck an unused quilt into the mass to hold it in place.
I could feel Wiliem's eyes on me, and it occurred to me that while I had been working with him for nearly two years, I knew very little about this man. Not that I had any reason to think he wished me harm. My adopted Auntie Kel was his actual aunt by marriage, and she had given him glowing praise when she found out his advocacy firm would be serving the crown.
Before I could ask him anything, a maid interrupted, bowing to me. "Excuse me, my lady, but will you be taking lunch out here or in your sitting room today?"
"Here will be fine, please," I said.
"And will the barrister be joining you?"
I turned to Wiliem. "Would you care for some lunch?"
"Yes, please," he said, bowing his head at me and then the maid.
"Thank you, Anneta," I said to the maid.
"What's next?" I asked him. "I'd like to get a bit ahead. Tomorrow is the Midsummer Ball. I don't think I will have much time to work."
"The last sheaf is mostly invitations for you, your majesty," Wiliem said, adjusting the spectacles that perched on his long nose.
"What sort of invitations?" I asked. Anneta returned and placed stew and bread before us and I thanked her again.
While we ate, Wiliem and I poured over the invitations. They were for christenings, festivals, weddings, even Midwinter parties. They came from all corners of the kingdom, from families both noble and common-born. "I don't understand why there's so many. Surely they know I can't be there for all of them," I said as he helped me sort them into piles of things I could attend, things to send representatives to, and things that could be answered with a note of thanks or token of congratulations. "At least the people seem to be accepting a girl queen."
"The people love you," Wiliem said quietly.
"Do you really think so?" I asked. It was one of my biggest worries, becoming queen so young and so suddenly, especially given that my grandfather was beloved by many.
"I do. The realm was in an absolute shambles at the start of your grandfather's reign, with all the damage that was done by the usurpers. Folks paid attention when King Jonathan and Queen Thayet pulled together to make things better for everyone, not just the rich families in the palace. They watched them learn how to live with immortals when the barrier fell, and after that war. They watched first your father, and then you, grow up at King Jonathan's side. You learned how to get your hands dirty and dig into a problem, all while balancing the wants of the nobility with the needs of the everyday man. Sure, there are some old Conservative men that think it will be easy to manipulate you because you are young and female, but you won't let that happen, and your people know it. They love you."
I blinked at the barrister. It was the most I had ever heard him say in two years of working with his advocate group. "Forgive me if I'm being too forward, but I know you doubt if you are making a difference," he continued. "You truly are. Keep following your heart, Your Highness." His words echoed something the Goddess had said when she'd visited me after my grandfather's passing.
I met Wiliem's eyes as I thanked him, but I felt a blush rise to my face and I looked away quickly. I had never felt so understood before. It felt odd for a moment, but then I reminded myself that we had seen each other on at least a weekly basis for the past two years. With that realization, guilt set in that I didn't know very much about Wiliem.
"I fancy a break," I said suddenly, jerking to my feet. "Would you like to join me for a bit of fresh air?"
"What's fresher than an outdoor office?" he asked, eyes twinkling.
"A walk on the beach?" I suggested, starting to gather up the stacks of paper.
"Sounds good," he said, helping me clear the table.
A few long minutes later, I led the barrister out of the palace and down the twisting, uneven stone staircase that had been cut into the rocky hillside. At the bottom we shucked our shoes, Wiliem rolling his stockings up neatly and placing them in his shoes, while I simply stuffed mine into my slippers. I bundled up my skirts and secured them in a knot, knowing full-well I'd hear Anneta lament the embroidery on my nice things.
Summers in land-locked Corus could be unbearably hot, but here a salty breeze lifted off the sea. The sun soaked into my skin, the sand gushed between my toes, and the warm ocean water tickled my ankles. I felt lighter than I had in years.
"So, besides walking on the beach, what other sorts of things do you do for fun?" Wiliem asked.
It was a simple question, and I felt pained to realize that I didn't know how to answer it. "I read a bit," I said at last. "And I used to spend a lot of time with my brother, and Sarralyn."
"I suppose being the Queen doesn't leave you with much leisure time."
"Not really. I'm told I could ask for more help, but there are a lot of things I feel like I need to do myself. I couldn't bear the thought of signing my name to things that I haven't taken the time to properly understand," I said honestly. "I do appreciate everything your firm does for the crown, but it seems as though every time we get one parchment off of my desk, it's replaced with six others."
"I know that feeling well," Wiliem said. "I don't think I've taken an actual break for lunch since I made barrister. There's forever an apprentice coming to me with a new scroll. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. The firm has been very appreciative of the crown's favor."
I saw an opportunity to learn more about him. "Tell me, Wiliem, did you always want to be an advocate?"
"I always wanted to help people. As a younger son, no one expected me to become a knight or a warrior, which I'm glad for. I've no real skill with any weapons. My father made me take lessons as a child, but he gave up on that after I nearly impaled myself on my practice sword."
I chuckled. "Surely you weren't that bad." Conté
"I have the scar to prove it," Wiliem said. "I started out pursuing academics at the University. After my first year there, I spent the summer with my aunt and uncle at their townhouse in Corus. It was right around the time that they got married and had their daughter, so they both wanted to update their wills. They gave me coppers to run messages to Master Gavvin's advocate firm. I was there a few times, and I got to talking to some of the apprentices and scriveners, and I realized that if I joined them I could affect real change."
"That makes sense," I said with a nod, bending to pick up a small white shell. "So you left the University then?"
"Well, I had to persuade my family first. They are quite staunchly conservative, you see," Wiliem said.
I gave him a look of disbelief. "Your uncle is married to a lady knight," I reminded him.
"Every herd has a black sheep or two. For the Masbolle clan, that's Uncle Dom and myself," he said with a shrug. "Anyways, since Master Gavvin is also devoutly conservative, my family agreed to the apprenticeship, and here we are."
"And you've risen to barrister now," I said. "Are you happy with that, or do you have higher ambitions? Will you work towards your mastery?"
He nodded. "Eventually when I've saved enough, I'd like to start my own firm so that I can choose what projects I work on."
"What kind of projects would you pick?" I asked, genuinely curious about his answer.
"I have several ideas in mind. Mostly, I'm tired of seeing common folk that need help turned away because they can't pay the advocacy fines. Not to speak poorly of my master, mind you. I know I can't represent every person for free and still make a living, but I could at least help some of their voices be heard."
"That sounds wonderful."
"What about you?" Wiliem asked. "If you could do anything you like, without anyone else shoving their opinions at you, what would it be?"
"Actually, since things seem to be settling down for the first times since the coronation, I've been thinking about spending time on something a little different. My father would have called it a 'passion project,' like when Grandmother began opening schools so that everyone could learn."
"I like that term, passion project," Wiliem said. "What kind of passion project do you want to work on?"
"I'd like to make training for healing magic more accessible. The University is wonderful, but if we're truly honest, most Gifted people can't afford it. I'd like to have smaller schools, or even mages who would be willing to travel and help others learn."
"Now that sounds wonderful," Wiliem said. "Real people would benefit from being able to get help when they need it."
"With all of my duties, I probably won't get around to more than making plans any time soon, but it's fun to dream about it."
"There! We just discovered another thing that you do for fun," he said joyfully. "More work! A woman after my own heart."
This demeanor from the normally stoic, quiet barrister caught me off guard, and I wanted to surprise him back. The ocean flowed around our calves as we walked, and I reached down and splashed him with the salty water. "Is that how you speak to your queen?" I asked, adopting a fake high-and-mighty tone that didn't match my grin in the least bit. He beamed back at me.
"I thought that you might appreciate a reminder that you are overworking yourself," he said, moving a little deeper into the water to splash me. The saltwater soaked into my dress as I chased after him. Words were lost as we splashed back and forth. Soon we were both drenched, and the splashing gave way to swimming.
It had been ages since I'd swam in the ocean. "I had forgotten how peaceful and refreshing this is," I told Wiliem. He tried to get to his feet to come closer to me, but a wave crashed into him and knocked him under the water. He came spluttering to the surface a moment later, coughing and rubbing his eyes.
"Yes, quite refreshing," he said, spitting out saltwater. "Be careful- there's a big slippery rock just there."
I did not hear the warning in time and my foot slipped across the rock. I went down sharply, though I managed to keep my head above the water. Wiliem helped me to my feet, and as he did I noticed that his blue eyes, the ones that were common to the Masbolle clan, were the same color as the sea. The beach sun was hitting him, lighting his wet brown hair with a hint of golden fire.
Wiliem smiled softly at me and started to say something, but he was cut off by the call of a seagull. We both looked up and saw the gull diving towards us. Just as it reached the ocean, it transformed into a small, striped shark. It was Sarralyn's way of reminding me that I was, in fact, still being chaperoned. Whatever that moment had been between Wiliem and me, it was over now.
Sarralyn swam three laps around us and then turned human, her head popping up out of the water. "This looks like fun," she asked innocently. Wiliem turned red, and I realized that he had noticed that my friend was not wearing any clothes. Sarralyn pretended not to notice. "Are you having a nice swim?"
"It was a little nicer without all of the teeth and fins," I told her.
"I just wanted to see if you were coming back up in time for supper."
"Is it that late already?" Wiliem asked, recovering his voice. He looked everywhere by at Sarralyn. I gave her a pointed look, and she transformed her body back into a gull's, floating next to us on the ocean.
"The hunting party has just returned," she said. "I assume you want time to change before the banquet."
"Yes, you are right," I said, wading to shore. Wiliem offered his hand to help me avoid the slippery rock.
"Anneta is going to have kittens when she sees you in that state," Sarralyn told me.
I looked down at my wet, sandy skirts. "I can't walk through the palace like this. I'll leave a beachy trail behind me with these blasted skirts." I glanced at Wiliem with envy. His tunic, shirt, and leggings would be mostly-dry before we reached the top of the cliff, and he'd be able to brush the sand off and move on with his day.
"I have some clothes in the garden shed. I'll meet you there," Sarralyn called, resuming the rest of her gull form and taking wing. She had spent our first afternoon stashing outfits around the palace; she often hid spare clothes around so that she could transform at whim and be able to dress afterwards.
Wiliem and I retrieved our shoes and made our way back up the staircase. "I'm sorry about Sarralyn. She likes to push boundaries sometimes," told him as we climbed.
"Don't be sorry. Quirky people are the best people. She just caught me off-guard," he said. "Besides, Sarralyn loves you and is up to the mark to protect you."
"I am very fortunate to have her as one of my guards," I agreed. "She's a good friend."
We had reached the entrance to the gardens, where we would part ways. "Thank you for the walk and the swim, Your Grace," Wiliem said, taking my hand and kissing it gently as he bowed. He was gone before I could react.
I found Sarralyn in the garden shed, wrapped in a cloak. She had set out a shirt and leggings for me.
"Thanks," I said, shedding the outer layer of my dress. Sarralyn situated herself on a workbench in front of the window, making sure no one would see while I changed.
"How was your afternoon?" she asked, kicking her feet happily.
"It was pleasant. The water is perfect today," I said, knowing full-well that she wanted to hear more about my swimming partner, and less about the temperature of the ocean.
Sarralyn was not dissuaded. "The Masbolle boy seems nice."
"He is," I said, smiling softly.
"You like him, don't you?" she asked playfully.
"Well, I've been working with him for two years without asking his master to send a replacement," I said.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it," Sarralyn retorted. I sighed softly, pulling the last of my wet clothes off and tugging the clean shirt over my head.
"I know," I said.
"Maybe you should marry him," she suggested. "He's kind and hard-working- you could do a lot worse."
"I doubt he's on The List," I said, rolling my eyes.
"I don't see why he couldn't be. His family is in the Book of Gold. He has relatives- both by blood and by marriage- who have done great services to the realm. He's handsome, and sweet," Sarralyn said. "He even got you, My Queen, to laugh and play."
"It's not as simple as all that," I told my friend. Now fully dressed, I came and sat beside her on the workbench. "For me, marriage isn't about falling in love. When I marry it means that I have judged someone to be worthy of being the king-"
"King-Consort," Sarralyn interjected.
"Nevertheless, it's a big responsibility to choose someone for that role, and I take it seriously."
"I never said you shouldn't," Sarralyn said. "I just don't think you should discount Wiliem, is all. You looked truly happy with him, and not just now. Did you realize that you smiled when he agreed to come here instead of going back to Corus when the progress was over? And it was a real smile, not that one you save for court functions or your most insufferable nobles."
"Wiliem is here to work, Sarralyn," I reminded her. "That's all."
"And that's why you two were frolicking in the ocean just now?" I didn't answer her, and she nudged my shoulder gently with her own. "I liked seeing you so happy. It reminded me of the Princess Lia I knew when we were little, before your father died."
"Gods, I miss him," I said. "Everything was so much simpler then."
Sarralyn nodded. "He was a good man- a lot like Wiliem, actually."
"I wonder if our barrister friend knows that you are his biggest supporter in our hypothetical romance," I told her, remembering his words as we'd walked back from the beach. "He said some nice things about you, by the way."
"I like him all the more now," she said with a grin. "Look, Lia- don't have a panic over all this. I think you are right when you say you'll know who you're meant to marry. I'm just trying to help, is all."
My thankful reply was lost when Sarralyn dropped her cloak. Since I was wearing her extra clothes, she had none.
"You really must stop that," I said to her with a chuckle. She shrugged.
"I was going to fly back up to the balcony to get my clothes, but I could walk up with you instead."
"Naked?" I asked.
"Sure," Sarralyn said with a grin. "Or I could wear fur," she said turning into a chipmunk. I rolled my eyes but picked her up and let her settle on my shoulder.
After I delivered my wet things to the laundry and my chipmunk friend to the balcony and her clothes, I went to change for supper, ignoring the odd feeling in the pit of my stomach.
If only I had known that walk on the beach was the last time I would truly feel relaxed during this trip.