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“I am Lord Regent of Beledon, Hadregeon, the King of Landolstadt and all subservient

territories!” Hadregeon corrected in high airs.

“Yes, of course,” Aldric conceded. “How could I forget?”

“Aldric,” Garrick warned him by name, and the Lord of Egolstadt stifled what was poised to fly from his lips.

As Loric moved to ease himself into his seat amidst hostile neighbors, Hadregeon stated dryly, “I did not know there were any lords left in Belgandost. I had thought that Garrick had taken up proprietorship of that region.”

“Lord
Garrick,” Aldric reminded the King of Landolstadt.

The man ignored Aldric and asked Loric, “What area do you govern? Taeglin, was it?”

“Loric is not originally from Taeglin, in Belgandost,” Aldric smoothly interjected on his behalf. “And neither has he come to inherit his lands in Shimmermir,” he continued. “Loric was sent away to Taeglin at an early age to learn the way of the farmer, in the hope that he could enrich his own province with alternative techniques. It just so happens that our paths crossed as he started upon his journey hither, whereupon he begged me to teach him the way of a combat knight.” Aldric smiled proudly. “He learns well. He will make his father proud when he finally returns to him.”

“Excellent,” Hadregeon commented quietly and without sincerity.

Loric thought he detected disappointment in the man’s tone, but he could not be sure of it.

He added, “It is as his lordship says, Lord Regent of Beledon, Hadregeon.”

Hadregeon seemed satisfied that Loric had attempted to answer for himself, and doubly pleased that the squire had made use of his chosen title in so doing. He turned to Aldric and questioned most pointedly, “How soon do you intend to test your pupil’s skills in battle?”

“That depends upon you, Lord Regent Hadregeon!” The answer had come from Garrick at

the head of the table.

A cold stare ensued between those rivals. “Certainly you did not invite me here to threaten me with war, Garrick,” Hadregeon stated icily, without the barest hint that he had asked a question.

The frigid eye contact between those men endured for two full measures of the harpist’s song. Everyone at the table remained as tense as the leading lords were, while the tune continued its relaxing pattern of fingered strings. At length, Garrick erupted into raucous laughter.

Hadregeon instantly joined him. Said Garrick, “Of course not. My enemy lay to the east. I only seek cooperation from you and yours in the west, good neighbor.” Garrick raised his open palm to a continuation of that conversation, explaining, “Enough of such talk on empty stomachs.”

Lady Elena lacked genuine feeling, as she asked, “Where is your lovely niece, Lord Regent Hadregeon? I fear if she tarries any longer she shall miss the feast.”

Hadregeon’s smile mimicked the curve of lemon rind, and it hinted at similar sourness, as he answered, “That is the way of my niece, Lady Elena. Fret not over her. She thinks dancing can sustain her in place of food. She will come round when the music livens. I promise.”

Elena frowned.

Garrick called aloud for everyone in attendance to hear, “Let us feast in honor of our welcome guest, Lord Regent of Beledon, Hadregeon, the King of Landolstadt!”

A cheer arose to support the recommendation, and food came forth from the kitchens in overwhelming abundance. Every kind of livestock was represented on many tray-laden carts servants wheeled out of the kitchens. There were servings of fishes that were of lengths to rival men. Those were imported from the coasts to help Hadregeon feel at home. Native-grown vegetables and fruits were set beside the main entree. There was no lack for variety in cheeses, and there were biscuits, rolls and loaves for all.

Conversation was short and pleasant during the meal. By contrast, the eating was hearty and heavy. Only when knives and forks began to slow, and some had ceased moving at all, did conversation take on a serious note. Lord Garrick regretfully delayed the impatient Lord Regent of Beledon once more to call for desserts. Those also came out of the kitchen in wide varieties and large portions, and utensils moved with great zeal to help
unburden
servants from their heavy trays.

Loric forced himself to stop eating to keep from bursting at his middle. Garrick finally pushed his plate aside for the same reason, and the Lord of Durbansdan said to the harpist,

“Thank you for your lovely playing, Edsil. You are excused.” As the harpist bowed away from his lord with respectful grace, Garrick clapped his hands together and called, “Bring forth the visiting musicians!” Players with drums and lutes and tambourines entered and took their places to make tunes for a superb tenor. Once the singer was at full throat, Garrick turned to his noble guest to open negotiations, saying, “Lord Regent Hadregeon, how would you enjoy a reduction in the trade tariffs I have imposed upon your river flats? Would that seem like fair compensation for lessening the number of soldiers along our common border by half?”

Hadregeon laughed aloud. Garrick gripped the table with both hands, as if he might

suddenly toss it at the King of Landolstadt. “To the first: yes, of course. To the second: you already know that is not enough to purchase what you want, Garrick, or you would not have made such a poor offer,” Hadregeon answered with a condescending smirk. “Listen now to my proposal. It will take elimination of these unjust tariffs you have exacted upon my merchantmen
and
access to Anseldorn’s river markets to purchase what you seek. Nothing less will do.”

Hadregeon leaned back in his chair, with his fingertips forming a steeple. He looked confident that he held the stronger position in these discussions.

Loric thought Lord Garrick would strike Hadregeon down, for he rose up in fury. His face slowly lost its red hue. “You are bitterly cruel to bargain with, Hadregeon,” he rumbled in a low tone. A smirk twitched into the visiting king’s cheeks, even before Garrick sweetened his offer.

“The best I can yield is a fifty-percent reduction in tariffs. As for access to Anseldorn, your merchants may have it under Durbansdanian escort.” Hadregeon’s mouth opened in protest, but Garrick continued over him, saying, “That is my only sure protection against treachery, so my present demand is not negotiable.”

Hadregeon tightened his lips and paused, working his mouth in thought. “Make the

reduction sixty-percent and we are firmly agreed,” he shrewdly bartered.

“Ah-h-h…!”
Garrick vented his exasperation in a protracted gasp. He slammed his palm upon the table to make his blood hot. “If this will lower the number of soldiers crowding our common border by half, I will have papers drawn tonight,” Garrick yielded in frustration.

Hadregeon mimicked the pounding palm, and the two leaders shook hands, while their

hands were afire. Garrick settled back in his chair, his tension passing with his change in posture.

Meanwhile, Hadregeon lifted his goblet and toasted, “To cooperation.” His smile remained pleasant.

Garrick’s expression was reserved by comparison, but he repeated the sentiment.

The toast echoed all around the table and verbal terms of the agreement between

Durbansdan and Landolstadt washed down with blood-red wine. Lesser lords and ladies had begun to dance prior to Garrick concluding negotiations with Hadregeon, but the Lord of Moonriver Castle called aloud, “Dance, lords and ladies. Dance!”

All who were present obeyed the command. Lord Garrick took Lady Elena by the hand and led her to the floor to join the merriment. Even Loric participated in the reel, fumbling through the motions the best he could. The young traveler from Taeglin was pleased to see that a black-haired maiden with a lovely face was eyeing him with interest. Each time their paths crossed to where they might link arms, she smiled fondly at him and giggled as she twirled away to the next man’s arms. In fact, the dance ended with her and Loric arm-in-arm, so she gently coaxed him away from the dance floor, where they could talk.

Hadelia by name, Loric had happened upon a remarkable girl from Landolstadt. Although Loric truly enjoyed the lady’s company, he often found his gaze straying to Avalana and Garrett, whose fingers were interwoven as they moved to a slow tune together. Loric thought Hadelia might have noticed, judging from her flat, almost petulant expression. He apologized, “My lady, I do you discourtesy by letting my mind wander as I do. I fear all the excitement has made my attention short and I must make a poor part-”

Hadelia followed his body lean, which drew him toward the princess and the floor, and suggested, “You should dance with me once more. This song is long enough that we might still capture the mood.”

Loric hesitated, fumbling, “I-I could not-”

The lady grabbed his hand and tugged him along behind her with surprising strength, saying,

“Come on. There is no shame in having a little innocent fun with me, when
she
is your true heart’s desire, just as long as I know that up front.”

“I don’t know-” he started, unconvinced.

“Well, I do,” Hadelia cut him off with certainty. “You do not intend to let
her
have all the fun, do you?”

Loric readily yielded to such a logical argument, made by such an attractive young woman, who could so gently make proper use of good footing from which to apply her strength. Before he could reconsider, he and Hadelia were locked hand-in-hand and eye-to-eye, with their bodies pressed together. Loric regarded the lady’s face more closely now that she was not bounding at the pace of the fast-moving reel.

A pair of blue eyes looked back into his green orbs, and he marked that as a second

difference between Avalana and Hadelia, besides their obvious contrast in hair color. While it was true that both ladies had blue eyes, those of the princess were warm and friendly, but Hadelia’s gaze was stern and steady. Her shiny black hair did not hang straight down her back, but instead dangled well past her shoulders in a thick shimmering rope, with its entire length adorned in silver ribbons. One yarn-thick lock hung down in a curl to either side of her narrow nose, depending on which way she was tilting her head in a given moment. Presently, the clustered strands were swaying to the rhythm of her steps, mostly brushing against her lightly painted right cheek. So subtle was her use of make-up that the mild pink tint seemed natural and fitting to Loric, even when measured against her otherwise pale skin. Her cherry lips held their pleasant smile, which occasionally broke wide enough to reveal predominately-straight teeth.

Fully aware that she had Loric’s undivided attention, Hadelia whispered into his ear, “See? I have not hurt you, and neither has my company affected you adversely.”

Loric forced himself to keep his focus on Hadelia, but he let her hear his questioned, “Yet?”

She smiled sweetly. The expression evaporated into a serious countenance as she ordered him, “Kiss me.”

“What?” Loric asked incredulously.

Hadelia laughed delightedly, as if Loric had spoken in jest. She tossed her head slightly to the side, letting it circle back near his ear before it stopped, and she hissed, “Do you wish to catch her or not?”

“Yes, of course,” Loric replied. “I think I do,” he added uncertainly.

Hadelia smiled again. Her eyes flashed with something she hid too quickly for Loric to read it. She encouraged him, “You must cast your net.” To his dumbfounded expression she

answered, “Kiss me and she will be drawn to you.”

“But....” Loric began, risking a glance toward Avalana, who seemed unaware of his

presence.

“But what of me?” Hadelia asked for him. “I shall regard myself as a doer of great kindness, who has already accepted her just reward--a kiss from a courtly gentleman, and a handsome one at that.”

When Loric showed no sign of doing as Hadelia had asked, she clutched the bottom of her chin as if it suddenly pained her. The traveler from Taeglin took her hand into his own, to move it away for a closer look, which would allow him to uncover the source of her discomfort. He was surprised to find that she had lured him near enough for a kiss, but her lips actually initiating contact with his proved the greatest shock of all. Loric was caught off his guard, so that the soft peck did not register until she was sweetly smiling at him from six inches away once more.

“A casual glance should show you the truth of my words,” Hadelia told him, smiling as if a fox slinking from a henhouse after it has done with the chicks inside.

Loric was equal parts pleased and ashamed when he caught sight of Avalana, with her eyes flaring wide and her mouth a small open circle framed by tightly drawn lips.
What must she think
of me?
he wondered.
I do not know what to think of myself,
he concluded.

With such thoughts still lingering in his mind, a crafty young woman who had stolen Loric’s first kiss led him away from the scene. He could not help but wonder what else she had taken from him unbidden in that moment?

****

Avalana.
Was it so terrible?
was his weakly argued defense of his kiss from Hadelia. His line of reasoning gained momentum as he asked himself,
Was it Hadelia’s intent to deceive me or was it
to rescue me from a dangerous situation?
His inner voice provoked him to self-vindicating thoughts, as he scolded himself,
Hadelia seems to have two interests at heart: my happiness and
me. Meanwhile, my friendship with Avalana has only brought me heartache and pain.

Wrapped in the twisting twine of such tangled thoughts, Loric failed to notice the woman pacing in front of his door. A harsh whisper caught his attention just in time to keep him from knocking Avalana to the floor, as they clumsily bumped into one another.

The princess placed a hand to her chest, as if it could slow the tempo of her heart. She first excused herself, but then her mouth soured, as from the tartness of lemons. Her words were bitter with distaste, even as she gasped, “You startled me, Lord Loric.”