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“
Ah,
Ambassador Salvias, if it is charms you are after, Danua has much
to offer. Shall we go speak with my father? Perhaps you could take
the opportunity to look closer at our skilled dancers? Then to the
feast table I think.
”

Ambassador
Salvias laughed once more, and Llew was pleased that he was happy
with his hospitality.
“
For
one so young you do have a fine wit. But I always say it is good to
start young, as such innocence beckons like the Honeysnares,
yes?
”

Llew
didn
’
t understand that last
at all, but thought it best just to smile and lead his guest
forward. Llew hated admitting to ignorance. He left the boys
behind. He could always find them later to brag about his new
friend.

“
My prince,
do call me Salvias, it would honour me.
”
The ambassador murmured as they made their way
through the throngs of laughing Danuans.

As Tomas entered his rooms dawn was tingeing
grey at the windows, hanging sharp and cold on the brisk breeze. He
went to one such window closing it tight against the odd trill of
laughter, tired in the morning light, as some lingered before
seeking their beds.

He looked about himself taking note of the
furnishings. This was to be his new home, he supposed. King
Gaillardia had given him a suite of rooms, a parlour large enough
to hold a seating area about a hearth, a study area complete with
an antique desk and bookshelves, and a much rougher work bench as
requested. Though he must ask for more bookshelves, he doubted he
could even put up what he had brought in those provided. And he
knew he would inevitably collect more curiosities during his stay
and there was more in storage to blow the dust from. A small eating
table and chairs stood on a raised dais, framed by stained glass
doors which led to his personal balcony. He smiled to himself, it
was too large a space to be called a balcony, but he supposed
balcony would do.

Two doors led from the parlour, one leading
to the privy and wash room, where he even had his own copper tub.
The other led to the bedroom and that enormous bed, big enough for
four people, surely. Though it had been many years since he had had
company of such a nature. The rooms seemed far too large for him,
empty and echoing. He sighed, he had been on the road so long it
would be good to rest his weary bones.

Tomas
rummaged in his travel bags, still left by the seating area as he
had told the serving lad. He liked to unpack his own things, it was
his own ritual he observed wherever he stayed. He enjoyed handling
his possessions, enjoyed to slowly establish himself into a place.
Maybe vestiges of the territorial instinct? Or maybe you
can
’
t teach an old dog new
tricks. Ah, this had been what he was looking for. He pulled out a
full bottle of Aumorran Brandy, lovingly wiping road dust and lint
from its yellow label. Aumorrans may be an insular bunch, and had
no doubt had their troubles with Danua, a long and bitter feud, but
they did make an excellent brandy. He got a glass from the drinks
cabinet, ignoring the bread, fruits and cheeses set out, and took a
seat by the hearth. He sunk into its cushioned softness, allowing
his back to relax in increments. Taking a sip of the dark brandy,
he sighed with contentment.

He thought of
the children he would be teaching, they were not entirely what he
had expected. They lived up to all he had heard, and he detected
that they both had some basis of intellect. For which he was
grateful. He
’
d had scenarios
before where he had agreed to teach a
noble
’
s child (for bread and
board and an opportunity to examine some fascinating texts about
said family
’
s
ancestor
’
s dealings with the
Utahan) and had found it impossible. The parents
couldn
’
t understand why
their little darling wasn
’
t
improving, and he didn
’
t
have the heart to tell them it was because he was stupid. Luckily
the boy had an uncanny affinity with horses, and he had told the
parents to encourage this skill. Now they were renowned for the
best bred horses, fast and sleek.

The girl, Meredith, he had expected to be
reluctant. From all he had heard she was a free spirit. This idea
had been confirmed when he found her and her maid obviously getting
up to some mischief, the look on her face! She wore her emotions
plain to see, chasing one another like clouds scudding over the
sun. But she had not rallied against the decision, nor been rude.
He had watched her during the night, noting she was a solitary
creature, and had a willingness to learn, listening to him, and
engaging in lively conversation. If still yet with some immaturity.
At odd moments she would gaze upon something and become lost in
deep thought.

He conjured
the image in his mind
’
s eye,
closing his real ones, and sipped the brandy. A grassy stage had
been cleared outside, the priests and priestesses standing on the
edge, some in the centre enacting the passing of the Consort from
his full bellied Goddess and the priestesses of Life, to his role
of Lord of the Underworld and the Priestesses of the Dark. It was
when the High Priestess of the Dark had come to stand by the Lords
side that Meredith had suddenly sat forward a look passing strange
across her face. Intrigued he had puzzled over it since. She must
have seen this ritual many times, so what had suddenly caught her
interest? As of yet he could not find an answer.

Ah, and the
Prince, Llewellyn, Llew. He knew that the boy would be difficult,
he was foppish and vain. He had noted the gloating smile that had
lit up his face when he thought that Meredith was being chastised,
but he had also seen the boy
’
s grasp of court politics and his pride in his country.
Tomas knew it would be struggle to get him to sit for a class, knew
the boy was eagerly anticipating becoming a knight. He made a note
to himself to tailor his lessons to those desires, a hands on
approach. Maybe he could talk to some of the knights to combine
history with strategy? Use those oversized maps and markers
military men were fond of. They boy had great potential.

He also
rather suspected that the boy had taken an instant disliking to
him, though he didn
’
t know
why. He thought he would have been keen to learn from someone his
father held in regard. Perhaps he should have put a little more
effort into changing his clothes, he must have looked drab compared
to that leech. Salvias had been quick to insinuate himself with the
boy, and to feel out ears sympathetic to the
Empire
’
s
overtures.

Tomas had
heard the rumours of the new
Emperor
’
s wish to take a
wife, an alliance bought, and his plans to expand his Empire. He
had also heard that one of the reasons for
Salvias
’
visit was to offer
a trade alliance, with the prize of Sanguine. A curious change in
attitude; the last Emperor had kept the development of Sanguine
strictly to within the Empire, enriching nobles of his choice,
solidifying his power, and concentrating his efforts into the
mining of the substance. The Empire itself had not pushed its
boundaries for a generation, merely maintaining already established
footholds. It seemed this new Emperor, young and arrogant, sought
glory, sought to conquer.

And that fabled substance was his lure.
Sanguine. It was said to hold wondrous power, power to be
manipulated into whatever one wished. Each piece charged with that
intent, never to cease, never to expire. Salvias had demonstrated
that night, withdrawing a globe from a velvet purse, the size of an
apple.

“
Charged with
the power of the sun
”
he had
smiling said,
“
with the
ability to give off light and heat.
”
.

He had held
out his palm, gently cupping the globe, which began to suffuse the
air about it with a rosy glow. The light grew brighter, until it
reached a blinding white, the outline of the globe sitting in the
centre, a point of dark in that brilliant glare. Salvias abruptly
ceased, calling a young beauty from the crowd, bowing over her
proffered hand, laying upon it a kiss before gently resting her
fingers on the globe. After a moment she gasped.
“
It grows warm my Lord! Ohhh,
hotter and hotter!
”

Salvias had gently removed her hand,
informing the crowd that it could grow hot enough to cook with, or
with fuel to start a fire. He had then thrown the globe into the
air, to pulse and glow in patterns, and with a flourish it had
disappeared back into the purse.

Tomas
begrudged it was an eye catching demonstration, practical in its
purposes too. There was something about it, Sanguine, that caused
unease in him. He knew he was not the only one, others in the crowd
had repressed a shiver. Meredith had gone pale, abruptly leaving.
He didn
’
t know why it made
him uneasy, he knew slave labour was used to produce it, and though
he found that despicable it was something more. Something about the
Sanguine itself. Why could it only be found in the Empire? How was
it empowered, what breakthrough had the discovered to securely
harness this power? The answers to the nature of Sanguine were
closely guarded secrets, the Empire would use it to seduce but
they, the Emperor, would retain sole providence.

A thump awoke him, and he realized he must
have fallen asleep. His empty glass rolled on the floor. He bent to
retrieve it, moaning as his back protested. Would he never learn to
go to bed before falling asleep? One night back and already he was
exploring the intrigue. Sunlight was streaming through his windows
as he made his way to the bedroom, pulling heavy drapes closed
against the accursed light. His head started to pound as he climbed
between the sheets.

“
That was so
terribly boring and he
’
s not
even teaching us!
”
Llew
sauntered down the corridor sneering over his shoulder at
Gos.

“
I
know.
”
Who followed close at
Llew
’
s heels, dramatically
rolling his eyes.

“
I mean,
asking us what we know? How many lessons are we just going to talk
for? I think we already know everything anyway, it is our country,
he
’
s just some foreign
scarecrow man. I mean obviously.
”

“
Yeah Llew,
you
’
re right. It does seem
odd just going over what we do know, you would think
he
’
d actually teach us what
we don
’
t
know
…
obviously.
”
Gos
grinned.

“
And Llew,
Llew, did you see his rooms? They were a mess, my father would kill
me if I did that. Ha, it
’
s
like a scarecrow in a pigsty!
”

Llew looked
at the boy, Holver of Helianthus, thinking he was short and fat,
and stupid it seemed. He let what he thought show on his face.
Lantana threw her arm over Holver, plain boys clothes failing to
disguise the dusky beauty of the Dahlia clan that shone wicked in
her grin.
“
You
won
’
t find a scarecrow in a
pigsty mate. They belong in fields. Birds
don
’
t eat pigs, you
turnip!
”

“
I knew that!
I did!
”
Derisive laughter
echoed as Holver
’
s lips
wobbled. Llew reached the door first, framed by the harsh winter
light as Gos pushed it open, and surveyed the training yard. As he
walked out the frigid air gusted at his hair, pushing it onto his
forehead. He gave a negligible flick and grinned. Finally he could
be where he wanted to be, not stuck with pointless
lessons.

Holver
stumbled out blinking.
“
They
’
re still here,
I knew they would be, huh Llew,
didn
’
t I say? Look
there
’
s my brother! Holm!
Holm!
”
Gos grabbed Hovers
arm to stop him from waving and jumping, giving Llew a disgusted
look over his head. Llew made a face back, he
couldn
’
t believe what a baby
Holver was. Anyone would think he still stayed in his
nursery.

Sure, Llew had only just moved into his
apartments, he would have moved in sooner but they had to be
decorated. He would never admit it to the others, but that first
night had been strange. Those big, dark, silent rooms. No nurse, no
Meredith. Not that he needed them. He gave Holver a push to help
shut him up, and they made their way around the training yards. The
pages had already broken for lunch, or a lesson, a couple of them
lingering to rake the sand. They headed toward the next training
yard, currently being used by the squires. They were split into two
groups, one being taught archery; not really doing much, just
sitting in a tight group, eyes fastened on a tall green clad knight
who had a bow in hand and several others at her feet.