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relieved grin with
Tansy, whilst she made some final adjustments to her clothing,
smiling back. They had made it in time. Tansy opened her mouth to
say something, when a polite cough forestalled her.
    They turned
in unison, eyes wide, Mera’s lower lip already firmly between her
teeth. Tansy ’ s hand came to
rest on her arm, a warning made out of habit. At the other end of
the hall an older gentleman stood waiting and when Mera realized he
wasn ’ t someone she knew, she
let out her breath and took a closer look. He was old, grey
streaking the hair that brushed his shoulders, blending with the
warm tones of brown, copper, and chestnut. Hazel eyes squinted them
into focus from beneath a brooding brow. His lean frame stooped in
travel worn clothes that looked like they may have once been fine,
but now a good wash wouldn ’ t
even save them. His clean but crumpled white shirt seemed bright in
comparison, even with the large ink stains decorating the
sleeves.
    Tansy dropped
into a curtsy, her face lowered respectfully. She always behaved
proper in front of others, specially if they were nobles, or
guests. She only harangued her in private.
Tansy ’ s curtsy reminded her
that she was in the palace proper now and had to be a princess. She
tried not to sigh, stopped chewing her lip and gave a gracious
bob. “ Greetings, sir. I hope
we did not startle you, my maid had something to tell me. I am
Princess Mera, will you be joining the
festivities? ” That was
proper, she glanced at Tansy.
    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.
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
Death
     
     
    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