the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 19.  Please consider sending Tribute to the Web Mistress to help her in chocolate and coffee.

 

The weather had indeed held.  The debris had been cleared and a small tent had been set up for Falmir and his guest.  There were servants scurrying about in the dark blue and grey under the bright and hot spring sun.

Laun could see what she thought was her room from where the tent had been set up.  She had watched the servants bring out the tent in the early morning, setting it up quickly.  There was a path made on the grass from the footfalls of the servants bringing the furniture out for placement under the tent.

Her escort had arrived after she had eaten some small fruited rolls with her milk.  She was in the linen dress again with the green caplet.  She had sent down a request for something else, but the only thing that came back up did not fit.  She had wanted something else as what she had needed to be cleaned, and the cut was starting to rip further on it’s own.

Falmir met Laun and her escort in the hall just inside the Palace entrance.  Falmir was dressed in lighter colors and had his crown on his head.  Their masses of servants and others melded and flowed as Falmir took Laun’s hand and helped her balance through the grass to the tent.

Laun liked the feeling of the sun on her and wished she did not have to wear clothing.  She wanted the sun on her skin, not the material covering it.  Part way to the tent, Laun stopped and kicked off the slippers.  She was able to reach down and get one before one of the servants was able to retrieve the other one.  She tossed the one she had to the servant and reveled in the cold and warm and damp feeling of the grass between her toes.

Falmir looked at his own boots and shook his head.  “My boots stay on.  For… many reasons.”  He held out his hand again and they continued to the tent.

Laun was glad there was someplace for her to sit when she arrived at the piece of shade in the stretch of lawn.  It was great and grand being outside, but the walking was getting a bit much.  She accepted a mug of water from the hand of one of the servants, making sure to smile and touch her hand as she took it.  The water was gone in a few gulps and she asked for more.

The view of the Southern part of the Capitol City was about as impressive from the greens as it had been several stories up.  She could see more to the East and West, but the best part was being closer to the estates that were up against the Palace green.  She could see more details of the one estate that had caught her attention.  Still not as much as she may want, but still better.

Falmir was squinting into the bright day.  “I don’t think I have been out of the Palace for over a month.”

Laun nodded.  “It is easy to forget there is an outside when all you see is the inside, sire.”  She sipped on the water and looked at the few clouds trailing across the Southern sky.

There was no real need to talk for a while.  Just taking in the sun and the fresh air was enough.  Laun noticed that, at discreet distances, there were some of the groups of people that usually lurked in the halls of the Palace.  They seemed very out of place.  Laun was watching one of the groups that seemed to be swirling around it’s self when she spotted a lone figure slowly walking towards them.

Laun leaned over and said, “It seems the Ambassador has arrived.”

Falmir had been looking out towards the harbor, the masts of the tallest ships just visible.  He turned and noticed Ithian, and the other groups hovering around the periphery.  Falmir motioned and a stool came from somewhere.

Ithian bowed to them when he was about five paces away.  Falmir nodded and Ithian approached.  The stool was set in front of but to the side of Falmir and Ithian sat when a hand motioned to it.  He pulled his dark green tunic close as he sat, the red ribbon rosette glaringly bright on his shoulder.

“It is a very pleasant day, your Majesty.”  Ithian was ignoring Laun and focusing entirely on Falmir.

Falmir nodded.  “It is good to get out and see the city once in a while.”

Ithian leaned forward and put his elbow on his knee.  The smile on his face was there, but contained as he said, “Your nobles don’t know what to do in sunlight.”

Falmir snorted and Laun laughed behind her hand.  Ithian glanced in Laun’s direction and winked.  Laun slightly inclined her head and looked away.

“Your majesty, if I could trouble you for a word...?”

Falmir waved his hand and said, “No money until we have the Kingdom under control.”

Ithian lowered his head and shrugged slightly.  “Not what I was going to bring up, King Falmir, but I am glad it is still on your mind.  No, it is about your Daughter.”

Laun moved her head around a bit too fast and knew that reaction is what Ithian had been looking for.  Falmir raised an eyebrow and asked, “What about her?”

Ithian was very serious and the set of his jaw was tight.  “The Lady has been the center of a spreading trend and it was brought to my attention by the Merchant General at the Embassy.”  Ithian turned slightly towards Laun to include her in his statement, “Bathing essentials.”

Laun burst out laughing.  Ithian sat back up straight and looked upset.  “Lady!  Trade is a serious business for Rosemond.”

Laun put her hand over her mouth but could not stop giggling.  She shook her head and said around the giggles, “I have done nothing.”

“Our sales of oils and such has dropped so low that it might as well be non-existent.”

“In four days.  I doubt it.”

Ithian’s tone was getting frustrated.  “Lady, you are the one who banished our goods from your bath and are only using plain soaps, right?”  Laun nodded slightly.  He motioned to the groups of nobles that were just within sight on the green.  “The servants told them and now they have just soap.  And now they,” he motioned down the slope to the estates, “are starting to get rid of our goods in favor of your damnedable Midlands soap.”

Laun stopped giggling and thought for a moment as Ithian steadily looked at her.  Before Falmir could say anything, Laun said in a quiet voice, “You didn’t seem to mind the soap, Ambassador.”

Falmir had a broad smile on his face as Ithian colored and turned his face to look out over the city.  “Now, Ambassador, please.  I am sure it is just temporary.”  He chortled and then said, “Though I do like the currying soap...”

Ithian’s face both fell and scrunched up in a suppressed laugh.  “Oh, your Majesty, not you, too!”

Falmir motioned to Laun.  “As you said, she started it.”

They all laughed for a moment.  Ithian held up his hands in surrender.  “That matter to the side, a nicer subject, at your pleasure, your Majesty.”

Falmir nodded.  “It is too pleasant of a day to talk politics.  Even over soap.”

Ithian smiled.  “Thank you, your Majesty.  I was hoping to ask if I may be allowed to be the Lady’s escort at the-”

Falmir’s face had dropped.  “No.”

Ithian looked surprised.  “But the Rosemond Council-”

Falmir had a heated expression rising.  “She does not leave her room.  No.”

Laun had watched the exchange and coughed.  They looked at her and she said, “Ithian, I do believe that what my Father wishes to convey is that, with my unexpected presence, it would be difficult to explain at such a gathering, even on your arm.  If my sire wishes me to stay in my room, that is where I shall be.”

Both of the men were speechless.  Falmir sat back in his chair and looked at Laun.  Laun smiled and tilted her head.

She had no idea what event or gathering they were talking about.  From their reactions, they thought she knew all about it.  Ithian a plain surprise on his face, Falmir a look that told her he had been keeping whatever it was away from her.  And Falmir was looking at her in a different way as they sat under the shade of the tent.

Ithian looked like he wanted to say something else.  His eye twitched slightly as he looked at Laun and then at her Father.  “Your Majesty.  I do believe it was an excuse for me to be in her presence.  May-”

“She can bed whomever she likes, Ithian.”  Falmir had a flat tone to his voice, but it was still scathing.

Ithian turned away and looked over the city, this time because he was getting angry.  “Falmir.  If you don’t use her properly, you are ignoring a resource.  I would give her free reign, if I were-”

“You are not me.  Since you are not me, get off my lawn.”

Ithian stood and bowed to them before backing up and turning.  He walked away just about as slowly as he had arrived and looked like nothing had just happened under the tent.  The groups of nobles were becoming bold and stepping ever so closer every few minutes.

Laun turned to Falmir and, with little expression in her voice asked, “Why did you come out with me today?”

“To keep an eye on you.”

Laun nodded.  “Are you satisfied that I am cowed to your will?”

He turned and glared at her.  “Never.”

Laun sipped on the water and wished it was milk.  “I don’t have anything to wear anyway.”

Falmir motioned and he had a tankard in his hand.  “I’ll make sure you are... occupied during the reception.  I have enough questions from you, I don’t need more from her.”  He took a slug of what was obviously not water.  His eyes were still narrow and on Laun.

“If I may, sire, I would like to walk a little.  I promise not to stray too far.”

Falmir nodded and Laun got up.  She stretched and walked out into the sunlight.  She looked up into the sky and reveled in being in the sun.  She turned to walk a little and she saw the groups of nobles scatter.  She shook her head and slowly walked a little down the slope.

There was a small blue flower that had been missed by whomever planted and tended the grass.  A lone blue flower in the midst of all the Spring-green grass.  Laun was tempted to pick it to take with her, but she left it so that it may have a chance to grow and drop seeds.

Her own seed had started to move.  Not really a kick, but move.  Laun rubbed her stomach and wished...  For things she would never get.

Who was Falmir talking about?  Who was the ‘she’?  The way it was said, he was leery of her, perhaps frightened.  As leery as of the servant of the black and red tabard?  Hazalam had only brought back that he saw two with the black and red livery by a suite near Falmir and the other servants in the household were not allowed in.  He was not able to get more than that.  Or, at least was not telling her more than that.

A noble who had an apprentice assassin as a servant.  High ranked to be able to afford that.  Perhaps paranoid.  Perhaps in the greyworld with connections and contracts.  That frightened Laun with her fake clapperless bell tied around her ankle.

Laun turned and looked at Falmir.  He had his eye on her and nodded when she waved.  She saw the flowing servants behind the tent, both active and waiting.  And she also saw someone else who had the courage to approach the tent.  Laun knew many questions would be answered soon, and many more left hanging.

Laun turned so it was not obvious that she was looking at the woman and her servants as they walked towards the tent.  Not walked, glided.  Laun regretted the lump throwing her back out for she could not walk like that any more.  The Lady was older, but had one of those presences that told you that it didn’t matter how old she was, or you were, she was powerful and in control.  She wore immaculate layers of tunics and a long sheer veil, all in various shades of blues, though the large ribbon rosette on her shoulder seemed out of place with it’s glaring red.

The servants she had behind her all seemed to be women, and all dressed as men.  Laun could see the one blonde that had been in the kitchens.  Dressed the same and even at ten paces saw the glint of an oddly visible assassin’s dagger.

The Lady walked directly to Falmir.  She did not curtsey, she did not stop.  Laun turned away as her chair was sat in.

Laun was far enough away that she could not hear even the tones between the two as they spoke.  It would be obvious if Laun were to walk back, so Laun circled around towards the entrance hall of the Palace.  She did not go too far, but she had something slightly different to look at.

The baby kicked right before she heard someone behind her.  One of the red and black servants was stepping within a few paces.  Laun turned and waited.  The servant motioned for Laun to follow and Laun had a flash of not going.  Laun instead smiled and walked slowly back with the servant leading the way.

Falmir was not happy.  He was trying to seem civil despite the rage that was under his collar.  Laun sat on the stool that Ithian had been on without being asked.  She smiled and felt a chill go through her as the Lady looked her over.

“Lady Laun, please meet the Rosemond Council General, her excellency Lady Engrid Pearl.”  Falmir’s voice had a guttural quality beneath the calm.

Laun bowed slightly forward.  “It is an honor and a privilege to meet you, your excellency.”

The voice that came out was beautiful and soothing but that made Laun even more nervous.  “Lady, I have heard of your coming into the Palace and I was pleased to hear that your King had allowed you use of the greens today.”  Laun tried to keep the smile on her face as the Lady continued with, “I was certain he was trying to hide you from me.”

Falmir was uncomfortable, but looked like he could not do anything about it.  It looked like he was trying to come up with something to say, so Laun jumped in and tried to be diplomatic.  “It is a difficult circumstance, as I was unexpected, and there has been friction.”

Falmir looked slightly relieved and just took another sip from his tankard.  The Council General had an amused look on her face and her voice flowed out over them as she said, “I hear you are from one of the hold-out households.”  Laun just nodded.  The Rosemond lady waited for Laun to say something and when she didn’t said, “It is unusual for your King to treat an enemy so.”

Laun looked down at her hands and then up again, saying, “Lady Engrid, I would like to point out, most humbly, that Lord Falmir, though of the Royal family of Hawkwell, is not my King.”  Laun felt a rock anchoring her as she spoke, keeping her voice quiet and level.

Lady Engrid nodded once and smiled.  “Artfully said, Lady.”  Her eye went to Falmir who was showing a calm front, but was terrified of the two women under the shade with him.

Laun also looked at Falmir.  “If I may...  It is an old tradition in the Kingdom of the Midlands to honor one’s enemy if that enemy has shown himself, or in my case herself, to be not just skilled in the conflict but honorable while within the conflict.  Am I right, sire?”

Falmir nodded.  “The Lady is right, your excellency.  It is a tradition that had been put to the side until now.  I would not treat one of my family with anything but honor.”

The older woman’s face lit up.  “Ah!  So the rumors are true?  She is yours?”

Falmir took a calculated risk and leaned forward to take Laun’s hand.  Laun put hers on his and they grasped hands in plain sight of anyone on that side of the greens.  “She is my daughter and a landed noble in her own right.  We disagree on many points, but I have welcomed her into my home.  As I have you, your excellency.”

The Lady had a half-smile.  She saw that Falmir had not just grasped Laun’s hand but that they were comfortable enough with each other to hold hands past his acceptance of her to the visiting noble.  She made a note of the over-arching plans and how this whelp had been missed.  A flash of a nasty thought went through her excellency’s mind, but she did not let it show on her face.

“Shall I see you at the reception, Lady?”

Laun shook her head slightly and said, “There are many reasons, and we were just discussing them.  I believe that I will be in my room for the gathering.”  Laun did not elaborate any further than that.

Lady Engrid was not satisfied, however.  “King Falmir, you cannot hide your charming daughter away for such an event.  You promised a reception with all the notables at hand.”

Falmir wanted to say no.  Desperately wanted to say no.  “It would be my pleasure to have her there, Lady Engrid.”

Laun squose Falmir’s hand and dropped it, leaning back slightly and rubbing her stomach.  “It is a very noble honor, your excellency.  But I would not wish to embarrass either myself or my Father...”  She saw the look on the other woman’s face and it was only there a second before Falmir’s face started to color.  “I am afraid that the baby has made my wardrobe scant and the resources-”

“Nonsense.”  The Lady’s hand was up and one of her servants was at her side.  “Unpack the green and blue cothardie and the two matching tunics.  Have them sent to our Lady’s room.  Oh,” her servant stopped in mid step, “and the white and blue veil with the lake pearls.  Wait up at her room.”

Falmir was fuming.  He glanced at the servant as she ran off and then his eyes were back on Lady Engrid.  “That was a generous offer, your excellency.  I hope she will be well enough to attend.”

Laun nodded.  “I am unaccustomed to such gatherings, your exc-”

“Engrid.  Not Lady, not excellency.  If we are to get to know each other, call me Engrid.  I shall call you Laun.”

Laun bowed her head slightly.  “Thank you, Engrid.  As I was saying, I was brought up outside of the court, for many reasons.  Because of that, I hope that I do not cause you too many problems.”

There was a smile on the older Lady’s face that Laun had seen on her own lips on occasion, reflected by a window or the eye of one of her lovers.  “I have ways of dealing with trouble, Laun.”

Laun’s stomach fell as the baby kicked in multiple places at once.  “I hope that your attentions for me are warrantless, Engrid.”

An eyebrow went up.  “Your name does have a note attached to it, as a matter of fact.”

“I am glad that water now has a source, though now more of a pebble as the circumstances have changed.”  Laun tipped her head slightly and saw a little twitch in her adversaries jaw.

“Yes, things have changed.  Though you have become an eddy that has created problems here.”  Lady Engrid leaned to the side a little.  “And perhaps not as minor as I thought.”

Falmir had to step in.  “All this talk of water has put my mind on the privy.  I think it is time to head inside.”  He turned to Laun and said, “The hour was up a while ago.”

Laun nodded, her eyes going to her hands on her lap.  Falmir stood and turned to Lady Engrid, bowing to her.  “Please, enjoy the greens.”  He held out his hand to Laun and helped her off the stool.

Laun used the stability of his hand to make as deep of a curtsey to Lady Engrid as she could, and get back up again.  “I thank you for your gracious offer and hope that you will deign to spend a little time with me at the reception.”

A small breeze flipped Lady Engrid’s veil slightly and Laun saw that she was older than she presented.  Her neck was thick and had the texture of the wattle of one of the roosters at Salam-Dir.  “Laun, I am sure I will have you at my side the entire evening.”  Laun had a rush of fright go through her.

Falmir and Laun were trailed by several of the blue and grey servants as they made their way back to the front entrance of the Palace.  Hazalam had appeared at some point and had stayed with the other Palace servants to look after the tent, and to find out information about the grand Lady.

Laun leaned over to Falmir as they were walking and said, “I am glad I had started to read the etiquette book...”

Falmir chortled at that.  “It gives you the motions, but not what it has behind it.”  He looked at Laun and said, “You give me nothing but problems, Thorn.  But at least I will be able to keep an eye on you.”

“Yes, sire.”

 

Into the next chapter, where The Ambassador oversteps.  Please consider Tribute to keep the Web Mistress writing.