the Leathermines

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Three horses and three riders were at the gate of the Myrned Embassy.  The woman stepped forward but did not have to knock or pull on the rope beside the portal before it opened.

The people on the other side were not smiling, but they were not frowning, either.  There were bows and the guests were ushered in.  The late summer had not been kind to the trees within the walls of the Embassy, but the trees were still shading small plantings of the exotic flowers from the kingdom from the other side of the mountain range.

The yard was not desolate, but the envoy servants tried to bring the guests through as fast as they could.  The grand reception hall that was the center of the building seemed to go on for quite a ways, though if you were observant, you would have seen mirrors that helped with the illusion.

Ambassador Ouetal was waiting for the visitors.  He bowed to them and then offered his hand to the woman.  His eyes had already taken in the light tan colored dress and veil, unexpectedly plain, but set with her three pointed crown and some pearls and she seemed to outshine the brightest colored noble fashions he had recently seen.

“Princess, I am honored that you are here today.”

Laun curtseyed, her hand in his.  “The offer last night was so straightforward that I had to come.  I brought a friend whom you may remember from the reception last night.”  Laun turned and motioned to Erin while keeping her hand lightly in the Ambassador’s.

“You were not wearing your coronet last night, Baron Bedral.”  The Ambassador bowed again slightly.

“And my man, Evan.  I was not sure what would happen today and I hope you do not mind me bringing him.”

The Ambassador brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.  “I had expected you to bring more, no?”

Laun smiled and did not act coy or coquettish.  “I do gather people around me, don’t I, Ambassador.”

The Ambassador smiled and turned, leading them all through a side entrance to a covered area set with chairs and refreshments.  There were tall trees and a strip of well tended grass just outside the open walls, a few special vining flowers having been trained to wind up the columns.  Several of the Myrned servants in the black and gold livery were setting the last of the elements and stepping away as the Ambassador and his guests were through the door.

“Please, your Highness.  I wasn’t sure if you were going to eat before coming, so I had a few things made for you and your people.”

Laun followed his motions and sat in one of the chairs, Evan standing behind her and Erin choosing a chair that was opposite to the Ambassador’s chosen spot.  Laun accepted a cut glass tankard with a dark sweetened tea in it.  She had a sip and nodded her appreciation to the host.

There was a table set for playing Sticks and a stack of playing cards was beside the bag of Sticks pieces.  Laun noticed that there were little entertainments easily at hand in the area, from small hand drums to brightly colored juggling balls.  A place to entertain, and distract.

“I wish we had the luxury of playing a game instead of what we came here to do, Ouetal.”

The Ambassador looked at the games and nodded.  “Sometimes, it makes things go smoother, but I understand, with the nature of the visit today, your Highness.”

Laun motioned over her shoulder and there was a scroll case in her hand.  She opened the leather cylinder and pulled out the parchment that Falmir had given her to sign that morning.  Erin’s hand had also been put to it to make sure there were no quibbles.

“Ambassador, my betrothed’s brother and myself would ask that you accept this petition.  We believe that there is a person here that has caused us to loose someone because of her actions and we humbly ask that she be turned out from your lands so that we may pursue justice.”

The Ambassador took the parchment and read it.  There were a few times that he had to look closer at a word or re-read a portion, but he finished and made a decisive nod.  “Thank you.  It all seems to be in order.”  He looked between Erin and Laun and leaned back a little in his chair.  “Yes, the Lady Engrid, Baroness of Pearl and Ruby, has been within these walls for a while now.  I must say that I cannot believe that what this accuses her of is in her character.”

“If you wish to say so, I will believe you, Ambassador.”  Laun took another sip of the tea and looked at him straight, hardly blinking and not looking away before he did.

It did not take long for the older man to look down from her stare.  “We do not wish to create a rift between our countries, Highness.  It will take a bit to get the Lady and her people out, though some seem to have already left.”  He looked back up and saw a slightly amused look on the Princess’ face.

“If I had known that it might be this easy, I would have come to you before this.”  Laun drank a full mouthful of the tea and sat back, mimicking the Ambassador.

Turning to Erin, the Ambassador said, “I truly am sorry for your loss, Baron.”

Erin made appropriate gestures and said, “He is missed.  Many of the family have holes in their hearts because of this.  We hope that some of it will be put to right when Lady Engrid can be brought out.”

The Ambassador stood and offered his hand to Erin.  “My thoughts are with you.”

The men shook hands and a servant came forward to escort the Rosemond noble out.  Laun took a moment to stand, leaving the glass tankard on the game table. Erin had a glance over his shoulder as he went through the door.  “Ambassador, I thank you for your time today.”

He took her offered hand and perhaps lingered with his lips a little longer than protocol should have allowed.  “Highness, I am sorry that our business was concluded so quickly today.  May I ask that you perhaps stay, have a meal with me?”

Laun smiled and let her head drop slightly, a slight blush on her tanned skin.  “I feel honored, sir.”

He stepped slightly closer, her hand still in his.  “You are such a charming young woman.  I was hoping to get to know you outside of court and protocol.”

Her hand raised to his cheek and she had a slightly sad look on her face.  “Is it the right time for this, Ouetal?  Things are still in flux and need to be sorted out.  I do not wish for there to be any seemings of impropriety in our dealings.”

He turned his head and kissed her palm.  “I understand, Highness.  Perhaps once this matter has been dealt with?”

Laun nodded and smiled.  She had not said yes, but she had not said no.  He saw and heard what he wanted and she read a satisfaction of the moment in him.  He placed her hand on his again and escorted her out of the veranda and out to the gate it’s self.

The gate closed and a few voices could be heard from the other side, in tone but not in word.  Engrid and her people were not evident in the Embassy, but it was large enough to be able to hide many from view.  It was as evident that the scroll had no mention of Falmir or the Midlands in the petition, just the bereaved family seeking justice.  Once Engrid was off Myrned lands, they could do with her as they wished.

The horses were walked the block to the waiting squads.  Falmir was sitting on a camp stool outside of an Inn, a smallbeer in his hand.  When he saw the three come through the light crowd he stood, handing off his tankard to one of the officers at his back.

“That was fast.  Did he accept it?”

Laun nodded.  “I have a feeling that he was convinced last night at the reception and this was just a formality.  Now we have to wait for her to really come out.”

There were men stationed along all of the roads away from the Embassy.  Squads from the Fifth Armored, the Seventh Cavalry, and the Princess’ Fourth were waiting for the appearance of the Lady Engrid from the Myrned Embassy.  Those with the King of the Midlands were lucky enough to have been able to take over one of the local taverns and have refreshments of the Innkeeper’s self-made beverages.

Laun went inside and felt welcome with the squad from the Fourth around her.  The door opened and there wasn’t a call to salute, it just happened.  Laun made a crisp salute and found her way through to a cleared spot at a table in the middle of the common room.  She had cider at hand and a small slice of a molasses bread placed on the table before her without asking.  She smiled at the Private who supplied her and he smiled back.

Hunter was with the members of the Fourth waiting in the common room of the tavern.  Laun suddenly felt slightly crowded as Erin had set himself on one side of her and Hunter took the other side.  She did not mind being surrounded so completely, but she felt there was still tension between the two men.

“Love, do you think she will come out?”  Hunter was close, but did not take liberties, other than straddling the bench to face her.

Laun shrugged.  “We will have to see.  With her girl at the Midlands diplomatic corps gone, I’m not sure what other contacts she has that could try to help her on this front.”  Laun looked into the dark grey eyes of the large man and said, “We have to wait.”

It took two hours before there was any sign from the Embassy.  Ifahyd and several of his squads were able to join the wait, and have some cider with the ruling family of the Midlands.  Edgar and Fount were with other groups along potential ways Lady Engrid might try to go, Silar and Gem having chosen which of the men they were to be with in this hunt.  Dreng took another of the squads and escape routes, though he would have preferred an Inn to a cheese shop to hunker down in.

The call came, a whistle and then a shout.  Laun heard the whistle even within the midst of the men in the tavern and started to stand before the door opened and the call spread that the gates were opening.  The tavern was emptied in not so orderly of a fashion, a knot of men around Laun fending off the others as she went to and through the door to outside.

There were many people at the gate of the Myrned compound just inside the gate.  The swirl of black and gold servants carrying things almost hid the two still figures standing just within the sovereign lands of the other Kingdom.  Cases and chests were left in the road just outside the gate, the servants retreating into the tree shaded yard.

Laun watched Falmir and Ifahyd as Engrid just stood within the open gate.  They started to walk forward, several of the ranking officers following.  Laun trailed behind, much of the squad at her back.

The Lady seemed older than Laun ever remembered.  Yes, she was old, even older than Dreng, but she had never let it show.  She was watchful of the men who approached, venom coming from her eyes, though her face seemed calm.  There was a haughty air about her, her nose raised as if to keep an unfortunate scent from her.

Several paces from the wall and gate, Ifahyd stopped.  His men were behind him and a scroll was in his hand as he waited, a glare marring his face.  Falmir let the Rosemond King take the lead and stopped a little further away.

Engrid did not have to look down to know that one step and she was no longer protected by the Myrned lands.  The veiling around her neck kept those around her from seeing her swallow hard.  She moved, her girl at her back moved and the gate started to swing closed behind her.  She had to step further away to not get caught by the wooden portal as it came together.  A sound of a plank being set in place was a very final sound, the clench of the woman’s jaw could not be hidden from those around her.

The scroll was unrolled and Ifahyd started to read.  “Charges have been brought against the noble Lady Engrid Pearl, Baroness of the house of Pearl and Ruby, of a grave nature.  By my hand, I, Ifahyd Bedral, King of the sovereign Kingdom of Rosemond and the Island Principality, do take charge of Lady Engrid to bring her to the family she has wronged with her actions.  She will face justice and punishment...”

Lady Engrid stepped forward, making the King pause.  She looked at him and glanced around to the others before a hateful look was thrown at Laun.  “Boy, she has your strings well taught, doesn’t she.”

He knew what his Aunt was saying and tried to not look at Laun behind him.  “You will be brought back to Rosemond, Lady Engrid.  You will face the family of Ithian and you will be stripped of all your rank and lands before being placed in a cell to live out the rest of your natural life.”

“You would not dare,” her voice had dropped and was clearly threatening.

The scroll was handed back to Ifahyd’s officer and he stepped forward.  “Dare?  I think this is the first real thing I have done as King, and I have had the throne for over ten years.  You are the one who had the strings, Aunt Engrid.  They have now been cut. E’fatto!”  He waved his men forward, manacles in their hands.

Laun saw the look of the young assassin.  Her hand was in her sleeve and then on her shoulder as she crumpled to the street.  A blade clattered to the ground, picked up by one of the Rosemond officers.  Other weapons were taken from the girl before the manacles were placed on her, and then the officers turned to Engrid.

The woman held her hands out and the iron was strapped to her wrists, weighing her down.  Her head went down and she would not look at anyone as she was led to a carriage down the street.

Laun’s knife was returned to her, a salute and a nod as she took the handle of the cleaned knife from the General.  She had not been sure she was going to hit the assassin, let alone where she had aimed.  She was slightly proud of herself, but tried to not let it show as she stood leading her squad.

The Rosemond King seemed tired.  There was a flash of darkness in his blue eyes as he turned from the gate and looked for Laun.  With his generals and admirals vying for his attention, he went to the Princess of the Realm.

He held his hand out and she placed her fingertips on his fist.  Ifahyd kissed the fingernail of her index finger and then put her hand to his forehead.  Quiet went through the ranks of the Rosemond officers as they watched their King pledge honor to the girl with the three pointed crown.  He stood, putting his hand over hers for a moment before turning and going towards his horse down the street.

Laun felt herself flush.  It wasn’t because of the action of Ifahyd.  They had been much more intimate than that gesture.  It was the look she caught from one of the Rosemond generals, the disbelief plain of the military man’s face.  She watched as the Rosemond people cleared the luggage of the Lady from the street and mounted to take her to their Embassy.

It was time to go back to the Palace.  Laun was tired, the waiting having been filled with nervous energy that seemed to have been drained as the manacles went on the prisoners.  The squad kept to her flank as she went for her horse, a knee offered by one of the men to help her mount.  Laun had a hand on his cheek and smiled before she turned Grace and looked at her men.

Her men.  Not just Hunter or Erin.  The squad that came to attention and saluted.  She saluted her men, dismissing them to their duties.  Other horses were mounted, the chaos around Laun settling after just a moment.

They rode through the streets, a few people getting out of the way, some giving them odd looks.  Laun did not care what the populace of the Capitol City thought of her, but she saw double glances at her head to the three pointed crown as she went by, and then to the plain tan dress she was wearing and to Grace, the palfrey gliding under her.  Laun knew that she was not the Princess most would expect with the title.  She just hoped that she would still be herself when she was able to get back to Salam-Dir.

Erin pulled alongside and cleared his throat.  Laun tilted her head and looked at him slightly sideways.  “Highness.  I don’t think he has done that before.”

Laun heard uncertainty, and perhaps jealousy, in the mans voice.  “I don’t understand.”

Erin looked at the pommel of his saddle as he said, “Pledging his honor.”

Laun truly did not understand the concern in Erin’s voice.  “Others have made the same gesture to me before.  Even you...  What concerns you about this?”

“Do you not know...?  I keep forgetting that you don’t have the same training as the rest of us.”  He took a moment as the horses brought them closer to the Palace to decide how to say what he wanted to say.  He glanced at Hunter who shrugged, the motion telling Erin that he opened the subject, he needed to close it.

“Laun, it isn’t like a fancy hand kiss, meant to entice and seduce.  When a man does the gesture, especially in front of other men, he has pledged himself to you.  Not with blood oaths, but much more simply.  It is done with women who are already married, or cannot be approached otherwise.”

Laun blinked.  Falmir had done that gesture to her after he had installed her in the green room in the Palace.  The Admiral had done so, and Laun had purposely not slept with him.  And Erin.  Now Ifahyd.

Laun looked at her hands on the pommel of her saddle.  A flush went over her and her voice was barely over the noise of the city as she said, “There is still so much I have to learn.”

Hunter went into the silence between them.  “Highness.  Now that She is almost gone, you will have time to learn, if you wish.”

“I did read the etiquette book, but there was nothing about that.”  Laun rode for a while more, the green around the Palace approaching.  “Do I-”  Laun stopped and looked down again.

“Love?”  Hunter held out a hand and touched her thigh.

She looked at Hunter and then to Erin and back to her hands.  “Do I embarrass people with what I don’t know?”

Hunter laughed.  “Love, you have a habit of not knowing what to do and getting people to do what you want anyway.  Don’t worry about what you do or do not know.  If you need something, you know you can ask.”

Laun smiled but only looked ahead.  “And you, Erin?  What do you say?”

He pulled his mount up closer and said, “Until you pointed things out, I hadn’t known you did not have the training.  You catch on quickly.”  He chortled.  “And can make things up as you go that seem very appropriate.  Highness, everything else is detail work.”

Laun nodded.  “Thank you both.”  They were on the road that went to the front of the Palace.  Fount and Edgar were there, dismounting from their own horses.  They waited and helped Laun down from her bay palfrey.  A hand went to cheeks and there were smiles.

“I think I need a nap.”  Laun saw a few knowing smiles and smiled back.  “And some sleep.”

 

Onto Chapter 51  In conclusion...