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The gentleman
bowed to her.
“
It
’
s a pleasure to
meet you, Princess Meredith. I am Tomas. Yes, indeed I am going to
the festivities. Well, trying to.
It
’
s been awhile since
I
’
ve been to this fair city,
and I got lost trying to find the throne room. How, I
don
’
t know,
it
’
s not as if the oculus
isn
’
t big enough. Amazing
design
…
Er, I managed to find
a servant who kindly gave me
directions
…
only to end up,
well, here. Where I started.
”
He looked puzzled at the end of his greeting, his deep
voice rumbling to a close. His accent strange. Mera instantly him.
She smiled.

“
That
’
s not a
problem, we can just go to the Gardens from here, their
Highness
’
are now on their
way there anyway. That will be all, Tansy. You may find your own
fire.
”
She hoped Tansy could
see the gratitude in her eyes, and that the stable hand would be
waiting for her.

Tansy gave
one last, deep curtsy.
“
As
the Princess bids.
”
She
murmured, and left the way they had come.

Tomas offered
his arm, as if she were already a lady of court rather than a
child. She lightly laid down her palm, trying to imitate what she
had seen those ladies do. The top of her head barely reached his
chest.
“
It would be an
honour to escort you, Princess. It seems you are my saviour. I find
it impossible to be anywhere on time, and now to find that anywhere
at all!
”

He benignly patted her hand, and she led them
through the door, and out into the night. Towards the flickering
glow of bonfires, and tumult of excited voices.

Llew tried to
exude a calm exterior, tried to wear the polite mask that all
nobles wore, but it was a struggle. His body trembled with
excitement, this was what he loved. His countrymen out in fine
array, expensive clothes, perfumes fogging the night air, witty
repertoire thrown like steel daggers. All basking in his
father
’
s wealth, his
father
’
s palace, his
father
’
s power. King
Gaillardia of Danua. And they loved him. He looked around at the
smiling peerage, and as they looked upon his father their haunty
expressions slipped, revealing true warmth. Of course they looked
upon Llew like that, he knew he was the darling of the court, but
they even looked upon Queen Jessamine with fondness. They watched
his father and bond mother together and smiled. Smiled! He
didn
’
t understand. He
didn
’
t see what was so
special about her, what made his father so infatuated, what made
the nobles like her so much. Yes she was a noble in her own right,
a lineage as old as his he could perhaps begrudge, but before his
father married her all the court ladies vied for his attentions.
Some beautiful, powerful and not much older than Llew himself. He
didn
’
t understand why his
father chose her, and he didn
’
t understand why there seemed to be absolutely no
resentment amongst those he refused. They just whispered sadly of a
chance at happiness.

Carved wooden
chairs had been set upon a raised greensward for the royal family,
and there they sat now whilst servants busied about them, setting
cosies beneath their feet, offering warmed wine. He impatiently
waved them all away from him, staring at his parents as they waited
for Mera. His farther was a magnificent man, tall in stature, wide
shoulders and a barrel chest. Llew knew from some of the few
training bouts he had shared with his father that he was very
muscled, his arms as big around as
Llew
’
s waist. It made him
long to be a man.

A mantel of ombre fur was fastened about his
shoulders to ward to the autumn chill, coal black hair, shot with
silver wings, swept back from his handsome face, held in place by
the Rose Crown. Heavy gold and rubies glittered in the firelight.
He had a close cropped beard, split by a stern mouth. Laughter
lines framed soft brown eyes as he looked down at his radiant wife,
a tender expression on his face.

Llew hated
the fact they looked so good together. She was leaning into the
curve of his father
’
s arm,
laughing at something he was whispering in her ear. Her pale brown
hair pulling free of its elaborate coif, to float about her face
and she wore the consort
’
s
crown the gold bringing out lighter glimmers in her hair. Her gown
was a dusky purple, heavy silk, its watermark pattern shifting as
she moved. to reveal pleated underskirts in layers of maroon
taffeta. The waistline was cut high beneath her breasts, to allow
for her swollen belly, ripe with his
father
’
s seed. Llew still
wasn
’
t sure how he felt
about having a sibling. Well, a real sibling, not like
Mera.

He looked about him in discontent, the
earlier excitement forgotten. Where was she anyway? He wanted this
bit over with, it was so boring just waiting about. He wanted to
find some of the boys his age, perhaps Gosmore. They could hunt
down some of the knights, listen to their tales and debate amongst
themselves who they would want to be paged to. Though, obviously,
Llew always got first choice. He just had to remember not to act
surprised when he found out at the midwinter Solstice. His heart
beat faster at the thought, come spring he would finally start
training; to be a man, a warrior, a Knight of the Realm. No more
playing at it with the little boys.

He let out a
huff, and tried to get comfortable in the stupid seat. His coronet
was chafing his brow, and a strand of hair had got caught at the
back so it pulled every time he moved his head. He
couldn
’
t even stop it
because it would look weak and foolish to fiddle at himself like an
oaf. He didn
’
t suppose
warriors were bothered by a little hair being pulled, and nobles
wouldn
’
t deign to look so
common. He couldn
’
t fight
the scowl off of his face, he
couldn
’
t see Gosmore, or
anyone else nearby, he had no one to talk to and his wine was gone.
Where was Mera?

As if his
thoughts had summoned her, he wished it was that easy to get her to
do what he wanted, she appeared through the crowd on the arm, as if
she were already a lady grown he scoffed to himself, of what looked
like some scruffy beggar. The tall
man
’
s clothes were dirty,
the cut and style way out of date. You
couldn
’
t even recognized the
colours! Who was he and how dare he approach the king like this?
What
was
Meredith doing with him? He knew she was stupid, and
didn
’
t understand how the
Court worked, but surely she should know not to bring her urchin
friends here? He felt a smirk curve his lips. Surely now she would
get in trouble, she always got away with running wild, her mother
and his father
had
to notice now.

The King and Queen looked up at her arrival,
each settling into their own seats once more. At least they had
finally let go of one another.

“
Princess
Meredith, it is nice of you to join us. What has been keeping
you?
”
His father
asked.

Meredith
paled, what you could see around her mask. You
weren
’
t even supposed to put
them on till after the ceremony. He shook his head, she was so
ignorant. She stepped free of the scruffy man, the scarecrow Llew
named him, and folded into a deep curtsy, staring at the grass as
she spoke.
“
I am sorry, my
King. I thought I would wait here for you, and
then
…”

At the
‘
my king
’
his father had something that looked similar to
disappointment flash across his face. Jessamine reached across to
hold his hand, sharing the look with him. What did that
mean?

Scarecrow
stepped forward, giving the royals a quick bow, opening his mouth
before he had even been acknowledged.
“
King Gaillardia, Queen Jessamine,
Prince Llewellyn. My greetings to you on this fair night. Princess
Mera failed to mention that she found me wondering lost, fool that
I am, and was an excellent host, guiding me to your generous
celebrations. So truly any tardiness is my fault. I beg of you your
forgiveness.
”

This time he gave a deeper bow, with a
flourish. Who was this man? It annoyed him that he had used his
full name. Llew hated it, it was so girly and old fashioned.

The king
stood, smiling down.
“
Meredith rise, you have been a dutiful daughter. Come now,
greet your mother. Ah, Tomas old friend and never a fool, it is
good to see you again. It has been too long, and I thank you for
coming.
”

Llew gaped as
his father stepped down to clasp forearms with the scarecrow,
Tomas, clapping him on the shoulder like a war brother. Meredith
looked just as surprised, standing by her mother. So it was
n
o
t a ploy to curry favour
then.

The king took
up his throne once more, Meredith moving closer to her seat, which
mirrored his own, set slightly before and below the King and
Queen
’
s. His on the side of
his father, her
’
s on the
side of her mother. Jessamine
’
s hand on Meredith
’
s
shoulder stopped her from sitting down, keeping her by her side, as
she amplified her charm for those watching
…
even wasting a smile on Llew.
“
‘
Tis fortuitous
indeed that Meredith should find you. Time rolls ever onwards, our
children are growing, soon to be presented to the court in their
own right. Mera, it is time and past come for you to set aside your
childish freedom. Tomas has kindly agreed to stay and be your
tutor. He shall teach you such things a Princess of Danua, a
daughter of the Houses of the Samphire Straits and Rosalind should
know before you are sent to the Place of Budding
Blooms.
”

Mera had
stepped slightly away from her mother during her speech, clearly
trying to hide her horror. Llew fought not to laugh, at last she
was being put into line! His father spoke.
“
Tomas has also agreed to teach
you, my son. It seems to my Queen and I that our the Heir could
benefit from a tutor not solely interested in the themes of battle.
You need know of Dania's fruitful heritage, and the history of
those we inhabit this world with.
”

The laughter
was wiped from Llew
’
s mind.
The scarecrow was going to teach him? He thought it was going to
all be training, learning how to fight, how to battle, to seek
glory for his country, but
…
history lessons?! He didn
’
t want to be stuck in some stuffy room, reading parchments
and listening to this old man.

“
I am
honoured by your request, King Gaillardia. And look forward to
meeting the fruit of your court. Have no fear, my Prince, Princess,
I shall begin teaching as soon as this festival is over. You will
not have to wait till the spring, I shall take advantage of
winter
’
s embrace, and fill
your minds whilst we yet shelter by kindly
hearths.
”

The scarecrow looked positively happy at the
thought, or at least looked like he was laughing at something. Llew
had been looking forward to the winter, to a full court and
intrigue thick once more, his friends of the summer returned, the
games hall always full. Now that too had been taken away. He sunk
lower in his chair, not bothering too hide his displeasure. There
was tittering laughter from the crowds.

A priestess
moved to his father
’
s side.
She wore a long black vestment, leaving her arms bare to the cool
night air. Silver circling her upper arms, a white masque, like
bone, upon her face. She had a spill of dark hair down her back,
some few strands woven with silver. He found the Masques for the
Priestess of the Dark, those that symbolized the crone aspect of
the Goddess, sinister. Specially when he could tell, by her smooth
plump arms, that this priestess was young. She whispered to him,
standing tall in his presence, as was her right. His father stood,
raising each hand slowly upwards, a regal bid for silence. That
quiet spread from him, moving through the crowds, until all was
still. Even the town was silent, its usual distant hum muted, as
they too waited. He raised his hands slowly, never trembling, until
they reached high above his head. His fists gently uncurled, his
palms forming a cup. There was a pause, a moment that seemed filled
with pressure, then suddenly the moon tipped over the peak of the
oculus, framed by his father, full in the
King
’
s hands. The moon
bathed everything, everyone, stealing the vitality and bringing a
sharper focus to everything. The King slowly lowered his
hands.