8The Fate of Memory
Chapter 1: A Single Request
It had been Lorelei Day in Rem-Decan when Peony IX had made his decision.
Just a few days before, he had sent something very important to the other main country, Baticul, namely a letter. It was entrusted to three people, and one of which was a very dear friend of his.
That didn't mean he didn't have a backup plan.
After eating breakfast, he called over one of his men.
"Sesseman," he said, "I want you to summon Lady Reiner. I'll meet her in my quarters."
"Is it important?" The older man asked, sounding a bit suspicious.
It couldn't be helped, as it had become a rather popular rumor that when he asked a lady to meet in his quarters that it meant he would try to bed her.
"Yes, it is. And don't give me that look. If I even thought of such intentions, Lord Reiner would have me hunted down."
"Very true, Your Majesty. I'll summon her at once."
"Thanks, man. She's in the family manor, here in the capital."
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After pacing the floor in his chambers, walking around his pet rappigs, the young-seeming Emperor sighed loudly. The woman didn't live that far from the castle, if she was home at all.
Don't tell me she's thinking the same thing Sesseman is...she's gotta know better than that!
Before he could even think of stepping out, the older man had returned.
"Your Majesty, Lady Reiner is here."
"Good. Send her in."
He nodded, bowed, then opened the door, letting himself out first.
The person that walked in moved with a spirited step, though her expression was one of surprise, curiosity and confusion.
She would be considered a bit tall, but not as much as the man that the Emperor considered his right-hand man...maybe a couple of inches shorter. She wouldn't be exactly slight or frail, though she had a somewhat slender frame. As she shook her head, her back-length ebony black hair, in a ponytail, swung back and forth a little. Today, what she wore was a conservative, summer-blue gown, complete with puffed sleeves. The sort of thing you would expect a noblewoman to be wearing.
"My, this must be important if you're summoning me to this room, amongst the rappigs, Your Majesty," she spoke as she bowed. Her voice was not quite what one would expect out of the Malkuthian nobility, as it had a slight lilt and seemed rather frank.
"Ahh, cut that out," Peony replied, "I told you before, when we're not in public, call me Peony. Or should I start calling you Lady Reiner?"
Her face, complete with a few freckles, scrunched up as she replied, "Ugh! I told you, I hate that. I hate it almost as much as my full first name."
"Yeah, sorry," he said with a laugh, knowing that it was a stalemate with her. "I called you in here for a reason, Cassa."
"In your room? You'd better not be doing what I think you're doing."
"You've got to be kidding me. Like I told Sesseman, your father would kill me if I even thought it."
She frowned, then said, "Okay, I'll let that go, for now. If it's not for one of your libido routines, what is it?"
Ouch, she sounds almost like Jade with that one.
He intentionally ignored it and put on a more business-face.
"As you may have heard by now, we had visitors here a few days ago, from Daath."
She nodded. "Yes. There were a lot of rumors about it, let me tell you. Who was it?"
"The supreme leader of the order of Lorelai, Fon Master Ion. With him was Fon Master Guardian, Anise Tatlin."
She raised an eyebrow at that.
"I've sent those two to Baticul, with a very important letter to King Ingobert VI."
"A peace letter? Or one of war?"
"Peace," he replied. "I've also sent one of my best officers with them, as protection. However...I've got a real bad vibe about all this."
"I don't doubt it. I heard from one of my brothers that the Order's been split into those two factions. Are you thinking one of them will interfere?"
"Maybe...or a malcontent in Kimlasca."
"Hmm. Okay, so what does that have to do with the summons?"
"I've got a big favor to ask you, Cassa."
"What is it?"
"I want you to take a letter to King Ingobert VI as well."
"What kind of letter?"
"The same one that the first entourage is carrying."
She frowned at him and asked, after a moment, "Your Hi-"
"Ah, ah ah!"
She blew out a breath and said, "Okay...Peony, why are you doing this?"
"If something does happen to the first bunch, this'll be so that the letter gets there safely anyway."
"Hmph. In other words, I'm a backup plan." She didn't sound amused at all with that.
"That's right. They won't be suspecting the daughter of one of Malkuth's noble houses bearing such an important letter. Plus..."
"Plus?"
"There's also the fact that you're a fonic sage."
That made her narrow her eyes at him. "Ugh. You sure like having the bases covered. That's not public knowledge, you know."
"Yeah, I know, thanks to your father."
She sighed again, then said, "Okay okay, I'll do it. I'll deliver that letter."
"Thanks, Cassa. I owe you one."
She cut in with, "I have one request, that'll make us even."
"What's that?"
"While I'm in Baticul, I want to make a slight side-trip. An old friend of mine lives in the city, a manservant of Duke Fabre. His name's Guy Cecil."
"Oh yeah, I heard of him. Okay, make your side-trip."
"Thanks a lot."
"One caution...en route, if you come across the Fon Master's entourage, I want you to cooperate with them. Got it?"
"Yes," she replied, "You mentioned that you had an officer with them. Who is he?"
"That would be Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division Commander."
Her eyes went wide, and her tone was one of surprise. "Aren't the 3rd Division Fonists? What's he look like?"
"He's a bit taller than you, gold-brown hair, red eyes. Wears glasses. Can't miss him."
"Glasses? Now you're putting me on," came her irritated reply. She was being serious, and the last thing she needed was for Peony, of all people, to be cracking jokes. "People with bad eyesight aren't allowed in the military. You know that."
"He's a special case. Seriously, that's what he looks like."
"All right. I'll go home long enough to change into more apropos clothing and get my 'staff."
"Great. I'll have the letter to the King ready to go by then, as well as one to Jade by the time you come back."
"Okay. See you soon."
As she took off, Peony groaned and muttered, "I swear...those two have never met, but Cassa can be just as exasperating."
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On the way from her manor, the noblewoman had stopped by the pigeon keeper and ordered, "Send this letter to Guy Cecil. Duke Fabre's residence, in Baticul."
"M-my lady? That's in Kimlasca, a-and..."
"Do it!" she ordered, "There won't be any repercussions. Unless, of course, you intend to disobey an order from House Reiner-"
"U-um, m-my lady," he stammered.
She continued on, "By not sending a letter that's been permitted by the Emperor..."
Now the pigeon keeper was as white as a ghost. ""O-of course not, m-my Lady! I-I'll send this out at once!"
"Good. See that you do."
The pigeon keeper went, got his best bird, and attached the letter to it, in front of Cassa, then sent it off.
She had a rather satisfied look on her face as she paid the man a bit more than normal, then left.
By the time that Cassa stepped foot in the palace, an hour had passed since she had left. By then, her appearance was very much different. Her hair was no longer in a ponytail, but now was braided, and the braid wrapped around her head, like a crown of sorts. She had traded the blue dress in for blouse, tights and leg-boots that were all wood-brown. Over the blouse was a green robe with blue and white lines across the shoulders and collar. At her side was a brown quarterstaff with black tips.
When Sesseman looked at the woman, he had to do a double-take.
"What?" she asked, "It's rude to stare at a lady, even if she's setting out."
"My apologies, Lady Reiner," he said, "I didn't recognize you for a moment."
"If that's your reaction, I'll take that as a compliment. I don't want it broadcasted that the eldest daughter of House Reiner is going to Kimlasca." After a moment, she asked, "The Emperor wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Emperor Peony is in the audience hall."
So this time it's all business, she thought. Fine with me.
"All right, then, lead the way."
The elderly man lead the way to the Audience Hall, even though both knew that Cassa knew the way there.
"Wait here," he said to her, then went inside.
"Your Majesty," he called out, "Lady Reiner is here."
"Good. Send her in."
The doors opened and the old man nodded the woman in.
Cassa went in as she normally would, then when she was a short distance to the throne, she bowed in respect.
"You called for me, Your Majesty?"
"Yes. Stand."
She did so, smoothly and quickly.
"Lady Reiner, I hear that you'll be going to Chesedonia, en route to visit a friend?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well, then. While in Chesedonia, and before you visit your friend, I want you to visit Aston, and give him a parchment from me."
"Certainly, sir."
A guard took up some items from Peony, then handed them to Cassa.
She took a quick look at the items. One was definitely a letter to Aston, to cover what the Emperor had just said. The second one was to King Ingobert VI of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, her real destination...and the other one was addressed to Jade Curtiss, if she ever ran into his group.
"By Lorelai and Yulia, I will make sure that what you gave me will arrive safely."
The guards and Peony raised eyebrows. After all, by adding, "By Lorelai and Yulia" to a statement, one was taking the strongest oath to ever be invoked.
The Emperor had no other reaction to it other than nodding.
"That will be all. Lady Reiner, may the will of Lorelai be with you."
She bowed again, put the letters in a very safe place, then departed the palace.
When Cassa reached the port, she bought a ticket on the Katzburt Ferry, heading for Chesedonia.
"One should be arriving within the quarter-hour, ma'am," the ticket seller said to her. Sure enough, within 15 minutes, the ferry had arrived.
The sage boarded the ferry, carrying only her clothing, a bag with necessary items and her quarterstaff. She looked back at the grand city on the water, knowing that she would be gone for some time.
After all, any journey was liable to have its setbacks. They all did, even the exploits of legend.