Terah Edun - Sworn To Transfer

He had been known to invite authors, artists, military officials, and even diplomats to speak on the various topics and host discussions surrounding their chosen fields. That being said, many of the attendees came to the soirée to see and be seen. Intellect was a fashionable accessory in the high courts, education being highly favored by the emperor, but you didn’t have to be smart to be able to repeat intelligent phrases. As they swept down the long colonnade to the outdoor gazebo where the event was being held, Ciardis fought the distinct urge to tug on her dress—a bad habit she’d been trying to break since she arrived as a trainee at the Companions’ Guild. It wasn’t that the dress itched or was uncomfortable; merely that she was nervous and needed something to do with her hands.

As they approached, Ciardis could see that they were using the Swan Lake gazebo. Located near to the empress’s rose garden, it was actually built on a mage-made island in the center of Swan Lake. A thankfully short line of people waited before the single crossing onto the island—a charmingly carved bridge that arced over the water. As Ciardis walked forward in her fine gossamer dress the color of struck silver, she took in the richly attired guests. The woman two people ahead of her wore a small tiara with inset rubies that matched her mage robes. In contrast to Ciardis’s hair, which was pulled up into a messy ponytail with curls scattered haphazardly around her face and down her neck, most of the women wore elegant hairstyles including buns and elaborate twisted curls with hats. Ciardis had tried to improve her last minute hairdo, but there was only so much she could do with the bouncing curls in so little time.

As she eyed the full gazebo that she drifted ever closer to while in the line, Ciardis saw two distinct clusters of people alongside several smaller groups of individuals chatting. The first cluster surrounded the older Duke of Carne as he raised a wine glass and exuberantly talked about some topic. Another cluster surrounded another figure that Ciardis couldn’t quite see, but the conversation looked just as animated.

When they reached the gazebo, Ciardis wanted to head straight to the corner where the duke held court. Terris convinced her otherwise, that she must mingle before approaching the host and his guest of honor. So talk she did. She tried polite chatter and was managing it for some time. Until the second cluster parted and she finally got a view of the central figure. It was none other than Sebastian. With surprise, Ciardis noted that she hadn’t felt him when she’d entered the gazebo. It was large, but not that large, and she should have been able to sense his emotions from across the bridge in an area this small. Weird. Taking a glass of wine, she walked forward. Sebastian turned just slightly and caught her eye. She couldn’t read his expression and couldn’t feel his emotions. Did he want her there?

Halting with uncertainty, Ciardis prepared to quickly melt back into the surrounding crowd before the courtiers around the prince could see that she was approaching. And then he turned fully and held out a hand, palm up, with a welcoming smile. Gingerly, Ciardis walked forward and took his hand in hers. He tugged on her hand gently so she moved to his side, and he turned his smile back on the man in front of him.

“Lord Admiral Kanter, may I present Ciardis Weathervane, Companion Trainee.”

As Sebastian spoke, she felt him in her mind, as well. Relief and worry colored his thoughts.

“ Ciardis, I’ve heard some disturbing news. My uncle, Duke of Cinnis, is not pleased with you.”

“Yes, I know ,” she replied.

“ This isn’t the time to be flippant. It could mean your life.”

Before she could explain further, Lord Admiral Kanter smiled and spoke. “Miss Weathervane. It’s a pleasure. I’ve heard that you were in our courts but am delighted to finally meet you in person.”

He reached out a hand to take Ciardis’s and she had no choice but to release Sebastian’s and hold out her left hand as protocol demanded. Lord Admiral Kanter smoothly bent over and laid a chaste kiss on the back.

Smiling, he said, “Are you enjoying your time in the courts of Sandrin?”

“Very much so,” she said politely, dipping into a curtsy.

They exchanged further courtesies, and she turned to see Prince Sebastian was now engaged in a heated conversation with a man who looked nothing like the surrounding nobility. Curious, she turned to move forward into that conversational sphere. But then she halted in surprise. She’d just caught a glimpse of the duke’s guest of honor. In a floor-length silk gown the color of the forest, with bronzed hair and dazzling green eyes, she enchanted all of those who stood around her. Now that Ciardis was focused on her she could pick out the woman’s laughter ringing out over the low conversations in the crowd.

Who is this beautiful woman ?

When a gap opened in the crowd Ciardis decided that now was an appropriate time to approach the host and his guest of honor. Nervously, she appeared before the duke and curtsied.

His Grace stared at her surprise. “Ah, little Weathervane. I didn’t realize you were coming.”

Ciardis blushed crimson, but before she could say anything, his wife intervened. “Ciardis Weathervane?”

Peering over her ornamental glasses, she looked at the girl curtseying before her. As Ciardis nodded hesitantly in confirmation, the Duchess clasped her hands together in excitement.

“I’ve been quite interested in meeting you,” she said, her blue eyes twinkling in delight under a halo of white hair. “It’s been so long since a person with your esteemed talents has graced our courts.”

“That is true,” the duke said thoughtfully. “How are you adjusting to your new position, Mademoiselle Weathervane?”

“Fairly well,” Ciardis said, lying through her teeth.

He snorted. “Yes, of course. Your mother was the same way. She wouldn’t ask for any help until she was neck deep into whatever adventure she’d thrown herself into.”

“She was adventurous, then?”

“Oh, so adventurous,” exclaimed the duke’s wife. “I was older than her by a few years, but the stories she told of her nights out, and the escapades . Oh my word.”

Her voice dipped into a theatrical whisper. “You know your mother was very fond of...well, dare I say... commoners .”

Does this woman know where I come from ? Probably just doesn’t care.

“Now, Leah, there’s nothing wrong with a dip on the other side now and then,” said the duke.

“Oh?” said his wife, her tone noticeably cooler. From the look they exchanged, Ciardis got the feeling there might be some history between the duke and the ‘other side.’

A short while later, Duchess Leah excused herself to grab a glass of wine, leaving Ciardis with the duke and his guest. The woman had been noticeably silent during their conversation, merely listening in.

Turning to her courteously, Ciardis asked, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madame. From where do you hail?”

The woman raised a curious eyebrow and flicked an amused glance at the duke of Carne.

He chuckled.

“You do not recognize me?” the woman purred with a noticeably foreign accent. Ciardis glanced between the two of them, waiting to be let in on the joke. She noticed the woman’s eyes then. They weren’t a normal green – neither the color of a new spring meadow nor the dark of a deep forest. What’s more – Ciardis could swear she had flecks of brown or maybe gold in them. A brilliant and captivating mixture.

“My dear,” the duke said gently to his guest of honor, “Your people are so rarely guests in Sandrin. Many of the young have forgotten.”