Heir, page 25
part #5 of Ressaline Series
“You’re being silly.”
She nodded. “Your father and I have been beating back the suitors.” At that, I groaned. “You’re going to have to entertain, Ahlianna. You would have to entertain, even if Gionna was a boy. I believe it was your intention to take your time, anyway.”
“It was.”
“You need more experiences. Your father has a few in mind. You are now an adult, and you’re going to be taking on adult responsibilities.”
“Good.”
“I agree. As for Gionna. Would you propose marriage if you could?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t know if she’d accept. It was… a rather singular trip, and I may be much calmer the next time I see her.”
“All right. Then for now, there is no rush.”
“No.”
“Good. Is my younger daughter a virgin?”
I stared at her. “Just toss that out there, why don’t you?”
“Is she?”
“Let me ask my own question, Mother,” I said. “Imagine I know the answer to that question, or believe I do. Imagine I believe the answer is ‘yes’, but a year from now, the answer has changed, and I tell you, ‘none of your business’. If I answer you ‘yes’, now, then a year from now you will know the answer has changed. But let me ask you another question. What is it she could possibly do that is a problem?”
“Letting me catch her.”
I laughed. “That’s what I told Allium.”
“Is she?”
“Letting you catch her?”
“Answer me.”
“Fine. To the best of my knowledge, yes, she is. I am never answering that question again. In the future, I am telling you, ‘None of your business’. However, I promise you she’s doing nothing that threatens a child.”
“They make children up there somehow.”
“And I understand it is a very deliberate act, which I know she’s not stupid enough to do. Mother, I’m almost certain you wouldn’t worry about this if she were a boy.”
“She’s not a boy.”
“She’s not doing a thing that can get her pregnant, and I am quite confident suggesting you don’t have to worry about that changing as long as she is two weeks away from any boys.”
“Do I need to worry about Gretchena casting an eye about while she’s here?”
“I doubt it. The Ressalines seem quite single-minded in their preferences.”
“And did you and she…” Mother trailed off.
“Mother, are you really asking that? Have you turned into a gossip?”
“Of course not.”
“The answer is no, we haven’t. They may think she’s an adult, but I don’t. Furthermore, I happen to know that she’s Darfelsa’s friend, and I wouldn’t intrude on that friendship. Mother, what has gotten into you?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I hated knowing what was happening, Ahlianna.”
“Well, that makes one of us. Okay?”
She sipped from her wine. I waited, and finally she said, “I’ll try.”
“Thank you. I want to offer you a bribe.”
“Oh, why are you bribing me?”
“Leave Gretchena and Darfelsa alone. If you think they’re doing something she should be smart enough not to get caught doing, turn a blind eye. Unless you can come up with a better plan for Darfelsa’s education, don’t interfere with her return to Charth.”
“You must have a very large bribe. I’m listening.”
“First, I’m going to have to ask your help. Do you remember a show? You took me perhaps five years ago. It is Charthan. I don’t remember it very well, but there is a song.” I began to hum the song.”
“Last Stand,” Mother said.
“That’s the name of the song.”
“No. That’s the name of the performance. That song is titled The Ballad of Despair. As I recall, you didn’t care for the show.”
“How much influence do you have?”
“Keep going,” she said.
“I want your help making a request. I want the show to appear on the right seasonal calendar.”
“I do not detect a bribe.”
“I want your help choosing whose calendar, but I am the one who will make the request.”
She laughed. “You do remember what happened last time.”
“And that is the bribe.”
She laughed again. “I think I like this bribe.”
“I want them to use an all-female cast, and I want enough warning to invite some of our Ressaline friends. They actually play that song for some of their events, but it sounds like they haven’t seen the show.”
“Is this a ploy to lure Gionna here?”
“Actually, this was Gretchena’s mother, but I imagine others would come, if invited.”
“So, next year’s season.”
“Yes.”
“All female…” She trailed off.
“Is that asking too much?”
“It would depend upon who we ask,” she replied. “I think we need to ask your father before we proceed, Ahlianna.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re not going to have some tiny role that takes ten minutes to learn. You’re going to need to be a real draw. Come see Princess Ahlianna as… I’m not sure what role.”
“I’m pretty sure people loved seeing me as a street urchin.”
“I know they did, but that was years ago. I’ll talk to your father, but we can’t do anything else until we get back.”
“There’s time.”
“There is,” she agreed. “Did you make promises?”
“I only said I could probably arrange it, but that’s as far as we got.”
“This is a big bribe, but I’m not sure it’s big enough, Ahlianna.”
“I’ll play,” I blurted.
“You’ll play… what?”
“Flute.”
“In public?” she asked.
“As I recall, there is a flutist in the show. I believe when we saw the performance, they used a pan flute. I’m fairly sure, as poor as I am, I’m still better than someone with a simple pan flute.” I smiled. “Of course, maybe they’d rather use a real musician.”
“Your bribe is accepted,” Mother said quickly. “No backing out.”
I laughed. “Can you get me the music?”
“Of course.”
“Before we leave tomorrow?”
“You’re doing this intentionally! You want me too busy to check on my daughter and her friend.”
I laughed. “Can you?”
“I do love a challenge. Maybe. Daughter, whatever does Darfelsa have on you that you do this for her?”
I laughed again. “I want my right hand to learn what she needs to learn.”
“Try again.”
“She doesn’t have a thing,” I said. “I’m doing this for several people. Okay, I hadn’t thought about offering to play until I blurted that out, but I already knew I’d have to agree to appear in the show.”
“You could have asked me to arrange this.”
“I could, but it’s not your favor. Tell me you don’t love the idea.”
“I absolutely love it.”
“And our friends will enjoy it. Maybe even Father will come. But Mother, it only counts if they agree to an all-female cast.”
“I heard you,” she said. “I need to do something about finding music. Do you think you can find your flute?”
“I don’t think that will be hard.” I pointed to it, sitting on the shelf. “Will you work with me like we used to?”
She kissed my forehead. “I would love to. What would you like me to bring?”
“Whatever you like. I’m going to make Darfelsa bring her clarinet.”
“Then I’ll bring my violin,” Mother declared.
“Pick some music for us, too.”
“I will. Oh, you are very naughty, Daughter.”
“I know. See you at dinner.”
She laughed.
* * * *
I found Darfelsa and Gretchena in Darfelsa’s room. I didn’t wait for an invitation but slipped past my sister. Gretchena was in one of my summer dresses and looked far more comfortable. “You look nice.” I handed a glass to each of them and poured some of Mother’s wine. “You two owe me.”
“For bringing Gretchena with you?”
“You paid for that already,” I said. “No. For keeping Mother off your backs.”
“How did you do that?”
I told them. Halfway through the telling, Darfelsa’s jaw dropped. “No way,” she whispered. When I finished, I said, “Admit it. You owe me.”
“We owe you.”
“I’m glad you agree,” I said. I sipped some of the wine. “And I’m even going to tell you how you’re paying me.”
“I have to pay you?”
“You agreed already,” I said. “Two things. Non-negotiable. One. Whatever the two of you do, don’t get caught. Don’t make it impossible for Mother to ignore you.”
“What is it you think we’re doing?”
“Don’t know; don’t care. Two. You’re bringing your clarinet, and you’re playing as much as Mother wants.”
“Hey! I’m not the one who agreed to play in public.”
“Or I can march down, call it all off, and spill my guts.”
She offered a half-hearted glare. Really, she was capable of far more. “I’m not playing a recital or anything like that.”
“Mother is bringing her violin. I’ll have my flute. You’re bringing your clarinet, and you’ll practice. If you don’t have any reeds, make sure we pick up a supply tomorrow morning. I will be decidedly unhappy if you beg off.”
“I have reeds.”
“Check.”
“I don’t have to check. I was playing yesterday. I have reeds.”
“Wait. You were playing your clarinet? What did Mother hold over you?”
“I decided I want to bring it with me when I go back to Charth.”
“Seriously?”
“Why are you so shocked?”
“Because you didn’t take to lessons any more closely than I did.”
“Maybe that was a mistake. Or maybe I used my older sister’s bad example as my model to follow.”
I laughed. “Then I apologize.”
“Good. You should.”
“I want to hear it. Two promises.”
“We won’t let Mother catch us doing anything that will shock her,” Darfelsa said. “I heard you earlier, you know.”
“I was stressing the situation,” I said.
“And I’ll bring my clarinet. I want to practice, anyway. Will Mother help?”
“Try to stop her.”
“That’s good, then. I’m not doing concerts. I’ll play with you and her, in private.”
“Hey! I want to listen.”
“You can listen,” Darfelsa said to her before turning back to me. “But I’m not a performing monkey, and if I hear just once, just once, ‘Darfelsa, play for our guests’, I’ll never play again. Warn Mother.”
“I will.”
“Do you think anyone cares if we have slumber parties?”
“No. Do you remember the last time Mother knocked before entering one of our bedrooms?”
She laughed. “No.”
“Have I made my point?”
“Yes.”
“All right, then,” I said. “Gretchena, I am going to offer advice. Either Mother or I will be paying for whatever we buy tomorrow. The only proper response is to say, ‘Thank you’. But you’ll be stuck wearing whatever we buy, so don’t be shy speaking up if you don’t care for something.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Perfect. Darfelsa, did you talk to her about curtsies?”
“Yep. I taught her the difference between curtsies.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know, the kind she gives Mother and Father, the kind for the crown princess, and the kind she offers to me.”
“You are such a brat,” I said with a laugh. “You know, what I deliver, I can return from whence she came.”
“You could not!”
“Oh? Mother. I’m sorry, I was so wrong. You wouldn’t believe what they were doing!”
Darfelsa’s jaw dropped halfway to the floor before she began to sputter. “You wouldn’t!”
I smiled. “I think I’m going to bathe before dinner. Welcome to Barrish, Gretchena. I do hope you enjoy your exceedingly short stay.”
“Ahlianna!” Darfelsa squealed.
“After all, we’re heading south by lunch tomorrow.”
“Oh. I’m not the only brat.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
I headed for the door, but Darfelsa ran ahead of me then wrapped me in a hug. “Thank you, Ahlianna. Thank you, thank you.”
I bent my head so my mouth was near her ear. “Is this relationship more serious than I guessed?”
“No. It’s probably exactly as important as you guessed. Will you tell me about your First? I want to know everything.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to tell my little sister about sex.”
“Sure, you are.” Laughing, she released me.
“Tonight,” I said. “If Father doesn’t keep me away.”
* * * *
“Daughter,” the king said over dinner. “I would like a conference immediately after dinner.”
“Of course,” I said. I eyed Darfelsa. She shrugged. She knew how it worked.
Twenty minutes later, Father and I sat down in his study. He handed me a cognac, and we sat in two comfortable chairs. “Crown Princess,” he said, which was his way of telling me he expected a thoughtful response, “was it a mistake to let you go to Charth?”
“No,” I said.
“You didn’t hesitate.”
“Father, do you really think I haven’t thought about this?”
He inclined his head. “And your sister?”
“I bribed Mother to stay out of the way.” I told him of our agreement. He laughed.
“I do believe your mother will be successful luring me to see that particular show.” He sipped at his cognac. “Without repeating anything to shock my tender ears, I would like a more complete report of your experiences.”
“I want to ask you something first,” I countered. “Would you look unkindly upon the woman who held me during my First?”
“Should I?”
“No, but I agree with Queen Lisdee’s policy. It is impossible to truly understand their customs until offering oneself to them.”
He tapped his fingernails against the stem of his glass. It was a nervous habit of his, and I thought perhaps subconscious. Or perhaps it was quite deliberate, but was similar to people inserting unusual sounds in their speech to fill time while searching for the proper words. “You didn’t want to tell your mother.”
“You’re right, because while I’m not sure of your answer, I’m fairly sure I know hers.”
He smiled. “You may be right. She appears to have dropped it.”
“We’ll see if it sticks,” I said.
“I cannot be sure this is fully accurate, but I believe I can be somewhat less emotional than your mother on this topic.”
I inclined my head. “Lady Olivia, Princess Gionna, and Lady Ambassador Allium awaited me at the Verlies River. The ambassador met me on the bridge. We held a discussion, during which I talked to her about the distant future.”
“Ah. Go on.”
“We then traveled via carriage to Charth.”
I spent five minutes, skipping over a few topics. Then I paused. “Lady Olivia introduced me to several women she thought would be fitting for my First. I spent time with each and nearly removed one from the list, but in the end, I left it her decision. I believe Allium’s opinion weighed heavily.”
“You believe?”
“My First was with a woman Allium proposed, and she was the one I nearly removed.”
“I see. I think you need to explain.”
“I wasn’t sure it would be good for my relationship with my little sister if my First was with the mother of the woman she most befriended in Charth.”
“Ah,” he said. “Several pieces drop into place.” Then he laughed. “You have taken to bribing your family members. I assume your sister knows this.”
“She does, and yes, I used Gretchena as a bribe, although that actually wasn’t why I invited her.” I shrugged. “There was a point in the process I thought I was making a terrible mistake, but I was not in a position to do anything about it by then. That period was brief, a few minutes.”
“And something changed your mind?”
“Their magic is rather potent,” I said. “Father, the experience is everything Valsine expressed.”
“That is the report I have received from every direction.”
“After that, it followed as Allium said it would, including my period of recovery. I’m still working through some of it. I’m told that is normal. Father, I want all the duties you can give me, but perhaps be careful for a few weeks.”
“Should I be concerned?”
“No.”
“All right. That’s the second part of our conversation. Did Princess Gionna go through with her agreement?”
“Yes, as best I can tell. I witnessed her challenge with Allium. It was intentionally one-sided. Father, I debated telling you one more part, but I’d rather you heard from me than via rumor.” He nodded, and I paused. “I miscalculated, although I’m not sure it was a large mistake.” I told him about the Saturday event, and how I had responded on bluster. “Going through my First in such a public venue was a mistake, and Olivia cautioned against it. On the other hand, I stand by my reasons.”
“And so, something was more difficult for you personally in order to do what you felt was right as my heir.”
“Yes.”
“It would be difficult for me to fault you, Daughter,” he replied.
“That wasn’t the fault. The fault was having a plan and then changing it on a whim.”
“Was it a whim?” he asked. “You were faced with information you hadn’t considered before, and you adjusted your plan.”
“I did so without consulting anyone.”
He smiled. “And you’ve never seen me do that? Were lives at risk?”
“No, but if I had responded poorly, it could have damaged relationships between our countries.”
“True, but that’s just as true simply by, oh, I don’t know, inviting your sister’s friend for a visit.”
