For such a disciplined lot, the Paladinate were the messiest eaters in the oddest ways. Alice saw it every time she went into the Great Hall to oversee the last of the preparations for the feast.
While the table settings were left as they should be, with their candles and dinner ware precisely as they were required, the cloths unstained or even wrinkled by those who sat at them for their midday meals, she somehow found bits of crumbs and juices from small fruits along the walls. There were even remnants of straw for some reason. Grass, too. Always on the higher beams or behind the statuary that she had meticulously placed to hide the knots in the wooden walls or the more unpleasant parts of the construction. At one point, there was a group of worms that had slimed their way down from a windowsill. Worms!
Alice had the small staff move the King’s table forward a bit so that there was more room for his council to sit—minus Nina, who would be kept with the lesser nobility—and was having another table set in front of the platform for the food to be placed when it was time to be served. She counted the seats. More than enough for the local landowners and a few for the higher ranking members of the Paladinate.
“Only those with a hundred knights or more and a thousand acres,” Alice had told Enya, who laughed at her.
“So, no one,” was Enya’s answer between guffaws. “We don’t have lands, Alice. And we’re all knights.”
“Then, your highest ranking,” Alice had tried to compromise. Three points or more, whatever that means, was the agreement. That would be eight seats. And no armor. They had to be in proper attire. Ceremonial attire only.
“That would be armor,” Again, Enya laughed.
Alice wanted to claw her hair out. A king’s feast and it would be filled with armored soldiers as if they planned to murder their guests.
However, it was the next thing out of Enya’s mouth that had her taken by surprise like never before. “I will wear one of your dresses, though.”
Alice went to the King’s chair and took stock of the settings. The many members of the house staff stopped from adjusting the table settings and looked up to her. The floor was so bare without a mat to cover it, at least through the center. The dancing area would be much better if there were something to cushion it. The two banners strung by hooks and ropes from the beams—one being the periwinkle blue flag of the Kingdom of Alcalia and the other the white flag with a gold line of a fish for the Church with gilded ‘IHS’ through its center—were hanging even at least, side by side. The gypsy band were the only musicians she could commission, which may prove to be…interesting, but the woman they called Merethe had reassured her they would be capable of playing proper tunes. Their guests were commoners after all.
“Perfect,” Alice nodded. “Well done. Finish your settings and take your places. Inform the footmen that the guests will be able to enter once the King gives word. Any word as to when the kitchener is ready to serve?”
“He is keeping it warm for your command, Madame,” One of the new helpers called. A village girl, Esme’s older sister, Eleanna, if Alice recalled correctly. So many to remember in such a short time. She’ll know their names soon enough.
As they dispersed, Alice went to check on Esme and the seamstresses. When she had left them, they were unraveling the fabrics of a petticoat that had the deep green of Enya’s Order to accommodate her large figure. All the times that Alice had seen her, she had imagined that she had the figure of a man with broader shoulders and no hips or sign of a woman’s shape whatsoever. When she was stripped, she found herself gaping at how wrong her assumptions had been, and embarrassed that she could have thought so lowly of anyone that way.
The seamstresses were glad that all they had to do was extend their seams with the fabric reserved for repairs, usually kept within the layers in case there were stains, in order to fit her large form. She had wide hips, certainly, but the corset was only tightened enough to keep her large bust from spilling obscenely from her gown, and the bodice complimented her ebony coloring with its flowery embroidery. No need for a bustle, paniers, or anything. That would only take away from her natural perfection and beauty. Gilding made her look too much like a construct. Like a pagan goddess. Enya liked the flowers. And she actually gushed at the gown when it was brought over her thick shoulders with the pleated shoulders and sleeves that hung wide to narrow only at her wrists to keep from interfering with her eating.
What was truly amazing for Alice was that her hair was incredibly long and stiff in its curls. Clarissa had worn wigs to have curls that would stay as they began but Enya had those naturally. And with such wonderful coloring and a length that, when braided and pinned, made her look almost crowned by strings of gold and dark wool. There was a bit of convincing for her lashes to be brushed, but they were naturally long and had been so unkempt for a lifetime that Alice couldn’t allow for them to go on without it. Once they had colored her thick lips with a light rouge and her cheeks with a shade lighter brown so they seemed aglow, Alice was stricken with awe. By the look on Enya’s face when she stood in front of the mirror, so was she.
“I never thought,” Enya gasped, fluttering at herself. One of the seamstresses wrapped a sash around her waist that was a lighter shade of green and another that went over her shoulder that held the steel sheath for the sword they had leaning against the wall.
“You look wondrously beautiful,” Alice grinned into the mirror at her. “I’m glad that you allowed me to finally do this for you.”
“I am too,” Enya held up the petticoat and looked down at it. “Who knew?” Then, worry across her face, “Do you think the sword will make him not ask me to dance?”
Alice crooked her brow at her, “I thought the sword was required. I recommend leaving it, but you are in a position that does place it as proper for you to have it with you. I leave it to you to decide.”
Enya regarded her image again. “I want him to want me. Men don’t like women stronger than them.”
“If that were true,” Alice shook her head, “There’d be no husbands.”
“Truth is truth, as they say,” Enya chuckled.
“If I may ask, who do you intend to draw the affections of?”
Another worried glance at her reflection. “Pierre.”
Alice nodded thoughtfully. “I doubt he would ask you if you were the most beautiful woman in the world who haunted his dreams in the night and his vision in the day, unfortunately.”
Enya’s posture slumped.
Alice straightened. “But he’ll dance with you tonight. I’ll make sure of it,” a mischievous smile grew, “I seem to recall an ancient tradition where the Administrator is obligated to dance with the unmarried member of the high council in the first dances.”
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“Really?” Enya pursed her brow.
“No,” Alice laughed with a tap to the side of her nose. “But I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“Thank you,” Enya beamed. Then, with a return to that worried expression, “I have to ask that you do break a tradition I know exists, though. The King and Aurie must not dance.”
“That isn’t possible,” Alice stiffened, lifting her chin. “They must and will have the first dance. It is not only tradition, but it also is integral to presenting their bond as King and her ranking as the highest nobility of the court. I am aware of his disposition as a married man and will ensure that the dance is a proper one for them, as he will be presenting her as eligible to the rest of the court.”
“Not this time,” Enya was twisting and turning, even lifting her heels to see her backside in the mirror. “You will keep them separated. The first dance can be the King presenting the Princess, but he will not be within arms’ reach of my trainee.”
“Your place is as commander but you do not—”
Enya spun on her with a hardness that Alice had seen only once before and it sent chills crawling her spine. “Test me on this. I will end that feast in a way that will remind you your place quicker than the Baron. This isn’t a request. They will be kept at arms’ length and no amount of tradition will be used to place them any closer. Your seating better reflect it. Make sure your husband understands.”
Alice swallowed dryly, “I will make the adjustments. I didn’t mean to overstep my station, Commander.”
“You didn’t,” Enya softened. “They’re in need of our help is all. We must be vigilant so they can be vigilant.”
“She waited so long…”
“And she must wait longer,” Enya frowned. “As does he.”
Alice told Valmond, who only let out a long sigh. “That is unfortunate.”
“All this preparation is for naught,” Alice wanted to curse in frustration. “I’ve been pressing her for weeks. If she isn’t matched to the King, then what will happen to us once he is wed to another? I will be in Alcer with her and you here? And our places will be just as precarious as they were before. She will be in more danger and so will Maud. We must do something.”
“I’m not certain that would be wise, my dear,” Valmond shook his head. “I will double my efforts with Leo and resign when Aurie goes to her seat in Alcer.” The warmth of his hand on Alice’s cheek made her heart steady. “I’ll never leave your side again.”
“He needs you,” Alice wished it wasn’t true. “The Baron outwitted him and the other nobles will attempt the same. I can’t let you leave him to the wolves. We owe him more than that for what he did for me. And Aurie…the poor woman will be heartbroken. She’s finally willing to cast off those dreadful colors. She’s wearing the lilac dress and I made sure it fit her perfectly. It has a rounded neckline and I even had a pearl and diamond choker made to cover her scar.”
“We will do as we must,” Valmond ran his fingers through her hair when he kissed her.
What we must, Alice let the words repeat in her head as she returned to the Hall to see the landed file in through the doorway, one family at a time. She put on her polite smile and greeted each, without letting them see that those words were draining any hope from her.
First was Gregor Vorner and Aurie’s sister, Leticia, whom she led to their place at the table where they would be joined by the next to enter, Gregor’s cousin Preston and his wife, Delila. After them were the Greshons of Alcer, who were twin brothers that were barely decipherable from each other but had lands that extended all the way to the edges of the watchtowers being built on the outskirts of the village. Thomen and his wife, Salene, both seemed pleased to be invited. His twin, Samuel and his wife that looked to be barely half his age, Ariel—second wife, if Alice remembered correctly—were dismissive of her. The Alcer Vorners were all the same way, dismissive and pretentious. She sat them opposite their distant cousins in exchange for where she meant to seat the Deschamps for that reason. Eleanna winced worriedly at first when she saw her new fiancé, Maurice Deschamps, sat with his family, until Alice motioned for her to go and get changed so she could join her mother and father at their table. The man had a sizeable farm south of the canal that would remove her from the castle once they were married anyway.
It was the moment that Balian Clevlan entered with his wife, Coralin, that Alice was dreading. But he greeted her with the humility of one who was returning to court after being chastised. There was no pride, no expectation of honor or entitlement, merely a somber gladness in his gratitude. His wife was awestricken as she followed to their table nearest the door.
So, this is the man who attempted to kill my Lady. Who would have murdered her husband. Alice had to concentrate not to spit in his face when he first set foot through the door. But the way that he willingly went to the lowest of seating, without so much as a scoff of protest, as if merely being allowed through the door was more than he deserved even in his mind, made her wonder. The man looked…broken as she felt when she had been brought to the gallows. He was ready for his execution.
The Clerics whom Enya had selected were announced by Valmond before they came through. Alice paid only the first few attention. She was concerned with the way the families were eyeing each other across the hall. There was little love between them. These were common landowners, many related to each other between the two townships, but they had the looks of bloodthirsty rivals.
“Oathed Cleric Olaf of the Six Points, Oathed Cleric Dimitriy of the Six Points, Oathed Cleric Francoise of the Five Points, Oathed Cleric Fleurie of the Four Points…”
Alice wondered if seating the families alternating between Alcer and Talkro was a mistake. She had never imagined that they had such animosity between them. There were glares. A few harsh warnings between husbands, catty remarks from wives that were loud enough for all to hear, and insults that were met by chuckles from one side and growls from the other.
The only one who remained silent even as his wife spoke in his ear, seated without another at his table, was Balian. He only watched with that same downtrodden expression that shifted from table to table and to the door. He knew he wasn’t welcome by anyone. For a brief moment, he met Alice’s gaze and fell away to the empty chairs that remained at the table.
“Rise for His Royal Majesty, King Dietrich Luminis and the High Princess Maudeline of the Glorious Kingdom of Alcalia!”
Alice expected chairs to scrape backwards in a roar. She expected them to leap to their feet. Instead, those from Alcer slowly stood as if it were an inconvenient requirement instead of something they wanted to do. The Talkro families were the ones who rushed to stand and cheered as Draka entered with Maud holding the crook of his arm in her flowing, gilded dress that matched the flag and her adopted father’s brocaded and tasseled outfit. There were eyerolls and yawns met with growls from their Talkro relatives. At least they bowed.
Behind them, Aurie and Enya entered side by side to the announcement by Valmond, “Paladin Dowager Regent Aurelie Clevlan and Paladin Commander Enya of the Five Points.”
No cheers. Only the Talkro families bowed their heads, except for Balian, who went down on one knee until she had reached the platform and taken her place behind her chair which Alice had moved way too far from Draka. The look on Aurie’s face when she noticed was enough to make Alice’s stomach churn with guilt and rage.
As the kitchener’s staff began bringing in the platters of food to the tables and the rack of the roasted pig with the apple in its mouth to the table, joined by all the rest that would be served to the royal council on the platform, Alice heaved a beleaguered sigh. This was not what she had envisioned as the start. Perhaps it will finish better.
She went to the gypsy musicians and said in Merethe’s ear, “Play something to calm them while they eat. Joyful, if you can.”
“I know just the song,” Merethe smiled.
