57Okay I reposted this chapter because it's been corrected & improved by siromygod...Enjoy, and review!
Chapter 6 Court Decoration
The sound of Raishon's steady hoof beats did not penetrate my brain the whole morning. I stayed deep in thought, thinking about all the possible repercussions my actions could have. I could not have my plans ruined now, and I was horribly aware how the girl in my arms could be the end of the beginning. Use weak players as sacrificial pawns. My father's words rang in my head, of a long ago played chess game. I shivered unconsciously, was I capable of using the same principle in real life? I was abruptly shaken out of my dangerous trance by a whimper in front of me, it seemed my prisoner was going to wake, I felt a jolt of anticipation at talking with her and I ignored my brain's warning asking me what why on earth that would happen.
'Bran?' she murmured so weakly I could hardly hear her.
A rush of guilt such as that I had only experienced in my mother's presence shook me, and it took a second to answer in a hesitating voice, a voice trying to be jaunty.
'It desolates me to disappoint you, but your brother is not here.' I couldn't help adding, 'Despite two really praiseworthy attempts to rescue you.'
I waited with baited breath for her answer, scared the shock would make her even weaker, but as usual I was surprised with her:
'Glad… at least… you're desolated.' She retorted.
I smiled. I couldn't help it. I was out of her view anyway.
'I must add, when your hill rebels get truly riled, they do fight well. We didn't catch any of 'em. Several dead, but they're no use to anyone. And they accounted for rather more of us than they ought to have.'
I felt, more than saw, her shiver while she gloated without enthusiasm: 'haha'
I emptied my voice of anything as I continued, trying to make her understand her position without telling her. What was wrong with me?
'Your hat disappeared somewhere the other night, and it did not seem appropriate under the circumstances to request someone in our army to surrender a replacement.'
She answered loftily: 'It's of no consequence-' but did not finish as she whimpered in pain. I nearly apologized. And then was so shocked at myself I stayed silent as she started looking around from her position. I knew exactly what she was doing but I didn't have the heart to tell her that there was no chance of escape. We stayed in silence as night slowly approached. Finally I couldn't bear her muffled whimpers of pain every time my horse misstepped and stopped at a glade I remembered from studying countless maps of the terrain. Without a word I dismounted and firmly picked her off the horse. As usual she weighed less than nothing; I put her on a patch of grass, all while her large blue eyes watched my every move without a sound. Feeling unnerved I turned around, tending to Raishon, methodical as always. I then built a small fire; I knew it was a risk, we were still in enemy territory but I couldn't have her die on my hands. Once the fire was crackling merrily, I examined the tear in my sole. Meanwhile Mel- no the prisoner, started inching herself to the fire. I immediately dropped the wood as I said, 'I can carry you.'
She waved her hand dismissively as if we were in court and I had just asked her for a dance. 'I can do it myself.'
I should have just taken her without asking her permission. I hesitated in doing just that but by the time I had made up my mind she was right next to the fire. I could not for the life of me think of a topic of conversation so I stayed silent as I toasted the simple supplies I had been provided with. Once I had divided the food, I asked her on impulse, 'want tea or just water?'
'Tea,' she replied tersely, of course she would say that, but a quick glance at Raishon confirmed my assessment, she would never reach the horse fast enough on that foot, even if my horse would let her ride him. I quickly filled the kettle at the stream. By the time I returned Mel-the pris- no, just Mel, had already eaten her share of food. I blinked in surprise and put my share in front of her. I was never hungry much.
'That's yours' she said in a small voice as she eyed me, eyes wide.
'You appear to need it more than I do, go ahead I won't starve.'
She extended a small bruised hand as she took the bread and cheese hesitatingly. She didn't seem to want to say anything so I turned to my saddle bags but her clear voice piped up, 'well, does it matter if I starve? Or do Galdran's torturers require only plump victims for their art.'
I stopped rummaging in the packs and stared at her blankly. Did she still think he was going to torture her? Well it might be true, but I couldn't let her keep thinking that. So I said cautiously, 'you must perceive how your value has changed.'
She flushed at my tone, shame? Anger? I would never know.
'He will try using me against my brother,' she said flatly. So she had realized her fate.
'I rather suspect he will be successful. In the space of one day your brother and his adherents attacked our camp twice. It would appear they are not indifferent to your fate.'
I tried to gauge the bond between the girl in front of me and her only remaining family. Maybe I could use it as blackmail lat-I shook my head in disgust. How despicable. When I had become such a monster?
'Do you know who was killed?' Mel asked quickly, worry and care for her companions in her every line.
'You know them all don't you?' I thought out loud.
'Of course I do. And you don't know or you won't tell me for some rock headed reason.'
Had she just insulted me? I blinked, and then smiled, I couldn't help it. 'Your determined bravado is refreshment to the spirit. But if you know them all by name, then the loss of each is immeasurably greater. Why did you do it? Did you really think you could take a few hundred ill trained village people into war and expect anything but defeat?'
She opened her mouth, color high, yes, speak, I thought silently. Make me understand you. But she closed it abruptly and glared at me with her stunning eyes mutinously instead. So I continued to goad her, 'or did you expect the rest of the kingdom to follow your heroic example and rise up against the King?'
Of course she couldn't help herself, 'so they sit like overfed fowl and watch Galdran Merindar break the covenant by making secret packs to sell our woods overseas?'
I stopped smiling suddenly. 'Break the covenant? How did you know about that? I don't recall you've ever been to court.'
How could she know this when even I had just found it out a few weeks ago? Her eyes hardened into frozen blue, I really was thinking about her eyes too much, as she replied, 'I just know. That's all you need to know. But even if it weren't true, Debegri would still go up to take the county of Tlanth by force. Can't any of you court people see that if it happens to us, it can happen to you. Or are you too stupid?'
See? I had seen this years ago, while you were still a babe, my dear Mel. But I somehow couldn't help but continue to goad her. 'Possibly. It's also possible your… somewhat misguided actions are inspired by misguided sources, shall we say?'
She stared at me resignedly. 'Say all you want, it's not like I can duff in a huff if you're impolite.'
I felt reprimanded. 'I ought not to bait you. I apologize.'
I stopped myself from staring at her as I busied myself with the tea. I suddenly had an inspiration and added a few leaves of a natural relaxant into her mug. Beside me a soft sigh was let out. I passed her mug face blank.
'Are you very uncomfortable?' I asked worriedly. She wrapped her small hands around the mug, as she stared into the fire. The guarded mask dropped from her face and was replaced by immense fatigue.
'Does it matter?'
I took in a sharp breath and made my voice blank, 'whether it does or not, you shall have a better conveyance on the morrow. Drink your tea and sleep. We shall continue our discourse when you have had some rest.'
I saw her annoyed expression at being ordered, and she retorted, 'is that a promise or a threat?'
I smiled back gently, as guilt coursed through me at her fate, at what I was helping to do. I sat on the other side of the fire as I saw her fighting sleep, until finally she succumbed into a troubled slumber. I took out a summons-stone. My father had provided me with one, and I had to admit it had its uses. I immediately sent a message to the equerry from the capital. I needed updates on the situation. I played with the stone in my hand as I waited. The soft patter of rain was the only sound. Finally, the sounds of hooves could be heard and I knew it could only be my informer. The equerry slid off her tired horse as she bowed low, sending a dating glance towards Mel's tossing form.
'My lord,' she said breathlessly.
I stayed in the same position as I ordered, 'your report.'
'Baron Debegri has dispatched your orders about the carriage. It should be waiting at the Lumm-at-Akaeriki Bridge by green change tomorrow.'
'And our friends the Tlanthi?'
'Are silent, my lord. Your message was sent under white flag, and Lord Jastra said it was given in their hands. Nothing from that time until they left.'
Hmm, the message I had sent had been risky as I invited the Tlanthi to surrender and wait for the right time to rebel.
'Promising, it seems likely we'll be back in civilization well in advance of the spring festival after all. Return. Tell the Baron to be so good as to carry on as ordered.'
I heard the captain retreat as I went back to contemplating the stone. I could not risk falling asleep. Everything was of the greatest importance right now. Nothing could ruin my plans. I looked up in surprise when I heard Meliara say something from the other side of the dying fire, but her eyes were still closed. I narrowed my eyes as I realized she was sleep talking. And then curiosity overtook me as I silently approached. Even when I was right in front of her, I could still not understand what she was mumbling. The only distinct words I could hear were 'Bran.' I closed in my eyes against my own cruelty. Meanwhile, Mel was still restless, I thought for an instant she was acting but immediately dismissed the thought, it was too realistic. Suddenly her hoarse voice screamed, 'papa.' She was now really thrashing, her hand connecting with my knee. I was starting to get worried. I tried to wake her up quietly, 'Meliara? It's only a nightmare. Wake up, wake up now.'
But it was useless. She started shivering uncontrollably, still murmuring her brother's name. I quickly added wood to the fire. Then, reflexively, I took her into my arms, trying to stop her from thrashing. Resting her head at my neck she instinctively rolled into a ball, but continued trembling so hard, my body was racked with her shivers. I wondered if she would die here, in my arms, and felt my heart turn to stone, she couldn't die here. Suddenly I heard a rustle, and Mel still in my arms, I took out a knife I had slipped in my leather shoes, not sure on whom I was going to use it. Then I gasped involuntarily as trees started moving, the hill folk.
I had read a few tales about them but it said they never came into contact with humans. But sometimes children saw them. I looked back defenseless as they stood there at the outskirts of the trees surrounding us, human in form, yet not.
Suddenly from all around me, music could be heard. I felt like crying at the beauty of the tune, a haunting melody that told me of mountains and roving eagles. In my arms Mel suddenly stopped trembling and sighed a peacefully. I clasped her even tighter. An overheated bundle that was suddenly sleeping quietly. The melody continued until the first rays of dawn pierced the trees and then with a sudden shuffling they were all gone. No sign of them having ever been there. I looked down at Mel, a small smile was there on her face she slept. I realized she was still tightly locked in my embrace and wondered what she would say if she woke up right now. Probably have a fit as I laid her gently on the grass. I stretched, the warmth of her body still on me as I prepared Roisham for the ride today. Finally, as I had finished preparing tea, she stirred. I saw her slowly stretch like a cat she sat up but immediately had to support herself with her hands.
'Drink,' I said simply as I gave her a mug of tea. She took it without complaint and drank it quickly, seeming to gain a bit of strength. Finally she looked around her surroundings. I wondered if she remembered anything from the night.
'You seem to know who I am, who are you?' Aaah, so she didn't remember anything from last night.
'Does it matter?' I asked, unconsciously replaying her words.
Annoyed at my answer, she wrinkled her nose adorably and said, 'I'm as unlikely to blab our secret to an anonymous flunky as I am to a court decoration with a reputation as a gambler and a fop.'
'Court decoration?' I repeated. Well it seemed my act at court had worked if even the Tlanthi had heard about it. But suddenly, unexplainably, I didn't want her to think I was a gambler and a fop.
I continued staring at her while she said pleased, 'Yes, my father's term.'
I tried to suppress my laugh, 'you've never wanted to meet…a court decoration yourself?'
'No.' But then she granted me a small smile showing her pearly white teeth as she continued, 'well, maybe when I was a child.'
I grinned, and gave a half bow as I said, 'delighted to make your acquaintance, Lady Meliara.'
She sniffed. She seemed calm enough so I tentatively broached a subject. 'And now that I've been thoroughly put into place, let us leave my way of life and proceed to yours. I take it your revolt is not engineered for the benefit of your fellow nobles, or an attempt to reestablish your mother's blood claim though the Calahanras family. Wherefore is it then?'
She looked at me in surprise. 'There ought to be no mystery obscuring our reasons. Did you not trouble to read the letter we sent to Galdran Merindar before he sent Debegri against us? It was addressed to the entire court and our reasons were stated as plainly as we could write them. And all our names signed to it.'
Of course I had, but I wanted to hear it from her, especially her intentions towards the crown. 'Assume, the letter was somehow suppressed, can you summarize its message?'
'Easy, we went to war on behalf of the Hill Folk, whose covenant Galdran wants to break. But not just for them. We also want to better the lives of the people of Remalna, the ordinary folks who've been taxed into poverty, driven from their farms, or sent into hastily constructed mines, all for Galdran's personal glory. And I guess for the rest of yours as well, for whose money are you spending on those fabulous court clothes you never wear twice? Your father still holds the Ransalaeus principality – or has he ceded it to Galdran at last? Isn't it also taxed and farmed to the bone so that you can outshine all the rest of those fools at court?'
As she talked, my smile slowly left my face, so that was what she was thinking of me. 'Since the kind of rumor about court life that you seem to regard as truth also depicts us as inveterate liars, I will not waste time attempting to deny or defend. Let us instead discuss your eventual goal. Supposing, supposing you were to defeat the king. What then? Kill all the nobles in Athanarel and set yourselves up as rustic King and Queen?' I finished more harshly then I intended, and I saw her avoid my gaze, sinking my heart.
Then she said softly, 'we didn't want to kill anyone. Not even Galdran, until he sent Debegri or break the covenant and take our lands. As for ruling, yes we would, if no one else better came along . We were doing it not for ourselves but for the kingdom. Disbelieve it all you want, but there's the truth of it.'
I could well believe it of the loyal, passionate, idealistic girl in front of me. The type of person who ends up being the sacrificial pawn. I noticed the way she said we including her brother in all her beliefs. I wondered what it was like to be so close to a sibling. I had Savonna, but even we shared differences in opinion sometimes.
I turned around. 'Finish your tea. Before we find our way to a more comfortable conveyance, I am very much afraid we're both in for a distasteful interlude.'
I reached into the saddlebags for the bandages and required leaves. She didn't seem to understand until I turned around. When she saw the bandages, her expression turned rebellious as she pouted and said in a voice of iron, 'oh no you don't.'
I sighed, what had I done to deserve this?
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