Chloë (11 page)
Anna
closed her eyes and smiled, saying nothing. Chloë rolled with it
for a moment and then panicked, “Don’t you die on me! Not after all of
that!”
Anna
opened her eyes slightly, “Sorry, my little princess, I didn’t mean to cause a
fright. It is just that I’m conflicted: you are old enough to know, and
you
ought
to know. But I fear if I tell you, you may do something
foolish or dangerous.”
“Foolish
and dangerous we have covered,” beamed Heather.
Anna
laughed in spite of herself and cringed from the pain it caused, “Please, oh
please, lovely Highland girl, careful with the jokes. A laugh is good for
the soul, but it hurts the flesh horribly right now.”
“Ah!
So there we have it. Answer Chloë’s questions and I won’t be forced to
tickle you!”
“You
have found quite the live wire for a friend, my little princess. The
room—is it secure?”
Chloë
looked around, the door was open but the security guard stood there keeping
others at bay. She walked to the door, “Um, is it okay if we close the
door?”
“Of
course, Princess Chloë. There are two call buttons in the room if you
need help. The red button summons the doctors, the black summons more
security. Take all the time you need. I assume you still wish to
keep Raymond clear or did you wish to invite him up?”
“Oh!
Um, please keep him clear a little longer please. Thank you!”
“Glad
to be of help, Lady Amsterval.” The guard smiled broadly and closed the
door for Chloë.
“You
still love your mother, don’t you,” began Anna.
“Of
course I do! What type of a question is that?”
“It
has been so many years…”
“The
only truly happy thoughts I ever had at the palace were with my mother.
Time has not changed that.”
Anna
nodded. “And you were such a good daughter too… Your mother, she
spoke out against your father’s plans for you. She would not have you in
a loveless marriage and she definitely was opposed to marrying you off
early. If any of the parents object at the wedding, then it is called
off. You father was not about to have your mother upset his plans and
political ambitions.”
“He
didn’t have her killed did he?” asked Chloë suddenly horrified. She knew
how determined her father could be and was well aware that those that opposed
him were often dealt with severely.
“No,
oh heavens, no. For one, he couldn’t risk further offending your uncle,”
sighed Anna. “She was sent to live with your grandmother on Bervik
VI. She too was under house arrest, but at least they are
together.”
“Why
is Grandmama under house arrest?”
“Because
she protested your mother’s marriage to your father. You see, your mother
had already been through a political marriage. There was no way she was
going to let that happen to you.”
“Mom
was forced to marry Dad? That isn’t right!”
Anna
smiled, “Forced was a strong word. She was guilted into it, more
accurately. All those long speeches of duty and honor and doing the best
thing for the various Houses. Not like the men of those Houses ever had
to make sacrifices: married and had a mistress. Such devotion!” snarled
Anna. She regretted that! The snarling—it hurt as she tensed her
ravaged and mangled body. Between the anger and the pain it took a while
for her to regain her composure. “There was no way she was going to let
what happened to her, happen to you.”
“So
she had you help me escape…”
Anna
smiled, “She had one last supporter: Earl Kevin. He… he helped me escape
with you. He arranged to have a security drill with all the cameras and
electronics off. Trying to recreate the panic from the Hands of Kali was
his story. With all the confusion and so many systems off line, I was
able to escape, taking his ship. He was supposed to join us. He
couldn’t be there in time so he sent me on alone.”
Chloë
grinned, “Did you have something going on with the Earl?”
Anna
grinned, “Hush, girl, none of your business.”
Suddenly
Chloë was nervous again, “Um, do they know he helped us escape?”
“I
have no idea. None. Getting you out safely was my primary concern.”
“And
so you left your lover behind?”
“And
I was able to rescue the daughter of my best friend. I was able to keep a
promise from ten years ago. Sometimes there are no good choices, only bad
and worse choices.” Anna took a breath and turned her attention to
Heather. “You cringed at the ‘Hands of Kali’ comment. Are you Penn’s
daughter by chance? You have his eyes…”
“No,
ma’am,” replied Heather somewhat surprised, “but close. I am one of
Llewellyn’s daughters. You knew my uncle Penn?”
Anna
smiled, “In passing. One of the other court ladies had a major crush on
him. Back before that dreadful night, they saw each other from time to
time. She was young but devoted…”
“Elsabeth?”
asked Heather curiously.
“Yes,
indeed. That was her name.”
“There
is
an
Elsabeth, an offworlder that is Second Mother to House Merryfield
of Clan Silverglade. Soft brown and white fur coat…”
“With
long streaking rosettes,” finished Anna with a pleasant sigh. “I’m so
glad to hear she did finally get her man.”
“Wow!
I had no idea she was from the Bervik lands. I knew there was
some
story going on there. That is so sweet!”
“And
now my concern is to make sure there is a sweet ending for this young lady,”
countered Anna as she gestured to Chloë. “But I fear all I have done is
accidentally sent you back to the very lands we escaped from to see your
mother.”
“Oh,
come on! Chloë doesn’t want to
see
her mother,” began Heather with
a grin, “she wants to
rescue
her!”
Chloë
glared at Raymond across the hotel lobby. It had been two days and every
day he had requested to see Anna, and every day Chloë had forbidden it.
Now Raymond was requesting an audience with Chloë. “You have ten minutes
to speak your piece, and then I don’t want to see you again.”
“With
all the publicity, I think it is obvious your father won’t be trying anything
overt. I think you should relax, Princess Chloë,” began Raymond.
“He just wants to talk with you.”
“No,
he doesn’t want to talk. He wants to marry me off to the Estherdales.”
Raymond
nodded, “I do believe that even your father realized that a match with the
young Duke Estherdale was not a good match. But there are a multitude of
others he would like you to meet.”
Chloë
stared at Raymond and grinned with her teeth showing. “Before I will talk to
that
man
, I want to see my mother, here.”
Raymond
gulped, “It might be easier to arrange visiting her back home…”
“I
don’t believe I care how easy or hard it is; my mother, here.”
“But,
my lady…”
“Did
I stutter?” asked Chloë with teeth flashing.
“No,
my lady. It is just… well… complicated.”
“Well
then, you had best be getting after it then. It is not an unreasonable
request, to see one’s mother. You are
dismissed
.” Chloë
glared at Raymond until he finally got up, bowed, and left the room. As
soon as he was gone, Chloë melted into her seat. “I’m not cut out for this,
Heather.”
“Hey,
you did fine!” beamed Heather as she hugged Chloë. “It was a practical
request even if it may be politically complicated. Like you said, you
just want to see your mother.”
“Heather?
Can I ask a favor of you? Would you teach me how to fight?” asked
Chloë. “I need to do something to help build my self-confidence and that
seems like an excellent choice.”
“Of
course!” beamed Heather. “One condition, you teach me how to speak
Tisamarir.”
Chloë
grinned, “That’s more than fair. Just don’t get any wild ideas about
going off to the Bevrik lands.”
“Never
even crossed my mind,” replied Heather, echoing Chloë’s grin.
“Whatcha
writing?” asked Chloë as she sneaked a peek over Heather’s shoulder.
“Too
curious a thought gets your tail in a knot!” grinned Heather.
“Oww,”
laughed Chloë. “Some idioms don’t translate well.”
“Well
that, or they were lame to start with. Writing to my Second Mother.
The family is all happy that I helped you, but Second Mother let me know I
still have a week and a half to go in Edmundshire. Either that or find a
job in the lowlands. Not too keen on the latter, I have to confess.
I miss the trees!”
Chloë
laughed, “My first two days, wandering the Highlands in the rain, I started to
hate trees. Once I was dry and had a full tummy, however, I started to
love the trees.”
“Bleah!
Yeah, cold, wet and hungry can really put a damper on even the best of places.”
“I
have a question for you, and your letter seems to suit the question well…”
“Spill
it girl; Second Mom is psychic, not me!”
“Why
don’t we head back? Anna is starting to give me grief about ‘wasting my
life at her bedside’ and all that. I figure we pop back over here for a
couple days every month or so until she gets better. I think she wants to
at least visit the Highlands when she is better, but that will be Spring
easily.”
“That
sounds like an excellent idea and would make all parties happy in addition to
being practical. I’ll tell Second Mother that, and that we’ll leave here
in just a few days. Sound like a plan?”
“Sounds
like an excellent plan,” agreed Chloë. “Speaking of plans, how about we
go shopping this afternoon?”
“Oh,
no! Don’t twist my tail!” grinned Heather. “Sounds like a wonderful
idea. But whose money are we spending?”
“My
father’s. The embassy has forwarded a monthly retainer for my stay
here. I figure we goof off with some of it… I was going to donate the
rest to some charity, but I can’t. The account is technically in Ivy’s
name as far as this canton is concerned. She did take me in after all.”
Heather
laughed, “I’m pretty sure First Mother would be happy to donate the balance.”
“Sounds
great, especially if we can find some charity that would annoy my father…”
Heather
and Chloë looked giddily out the window of the monorail as they pulled into the
station to the local shopping district. Anything and everything of class
and style that was to be found lay spread out in a vast array of malls and
high-rises. Chloë was in her element as all things fine, refined, and
elegant lay out before them. Heather was new to this level of opulence
but enjoying every minute of it knowing where the money was coming from.
“Let
me guess, clothes first?” asked Heather.
Chloë
shook her head, “Nope. Not a chance. The things I got back at your
village were better tailored than what I can find here. I am after
fabrics!
”
Heather
laughed and smiled; it was fun to see that with all that was on display before
them, Chloë still prized the quality, workmanship and attention to detail that
the Highlanders held so dear. “You have no idea how many people back home
would paint themselves blue to hear you say that.”
“I’m
just curious what the vendors here are going to say when I request that their
wares are drop shipped to Highlands!”
“This
place is huge! Can I make a suggestion then?” prodded Heather.
Chloë
turned and laughed as the girls in unison said, “Food!” Chloë shook her
head. “I should have known you would say that! How can you eat so
much is beyond me!”
“Well
for one, I never stop moving!” countered Heather.
“Food
it is then. That should also give us time to sit with a map and
figure out where all we are going.”
“Planning!
Heaven forbid! Now let’s eat!”
The
girls wandered the upper levels asking various party’s opinions and quickly
settled on a restaurant one level down. It was early enough in the day
that they shouldn’t have to worry about needing reservations. Prices were
certain to be ludicrous, but they all took satisfaction that Chloë’s father was
paying. With the restaurant in question found, the only remaining problem
was getting a proper seat. A slight gnashing of teeth with the
maître
d’
was quickly resolved when Chloë flashed the diplomatic services identity
card which was quickly followed by a great many highly colorful apologies.
“
Princess
Chloë Amsterval
and
Lady Heather Stratford-Silverglade
, your table
is ready.”
“Should
I give them grief about your last name?” asked Chloë with a grin.
“Nah,
it’s close enough and it still gets the point across,” replied Heather,
honestly unconcerned. “They tried at least.”
Chloë
smiled, it was nice to be around Heather. Confident without being pushy,
direct without being snotty. Chloë suddenly wondered how different she would
have been if her mother had stayed around.
Much different!
Chloë sighed as she realized the obviousness of her mother’s removal; if Chloë
had had half the confidence and poise of Heather, there would have been
no
way
Father could have tried to ram the marriage down her throat.
Chloë
shook her head and tried to clear such thoughts from her head; she was here
with a friend to enjoy a nice meal. The beginning of a fun outing away
from it all. The
maître d’
soon had them seated in a back room with a
large window overlooking a private grove of fruit trees that served several of
the restaurants. It wasn’t nearly as enchanting as a wild forest, but the
greenery proved to be pretty enough to distract them from the omnipresent cityscape.
Menus gave way to
hors d’oeuvres
which in turn gave way to the first
course. The wait staff wasn’t as elegant as she would have expected from
such an establishment, but they were courteous and quick. Chloë was lost
in thought and for once was happy that Heather just let her be; she needed time
to think. So much was going on, so much was left to happen. Oh! How
she wanted to see her mother, but it was going to be on Chloë’s terms, not her
father’s!
“Heather,
do you think there is any way Anna could ever find a way to fit in there in the
Highlands? I would love to see more of her, but she, more than I, is a
creature of the cities.” Chloë sat there in silence gazing at the simple
trees below. “Heather?” Chloë turned to find out why Heather had
been so quiet: she was asleep with her head resting on the table. “Come
on girl,” teased Chloë as she carefully nudged Heather, “I didn’t wake you up
that
early in the morning. We can take a nap after shopping.” Chloë’s
humor faded to confusion as Heather remained asleep. The confusion turned
to panic as she stood and approached Heather’s chair: the room was
spinning! The more she moved, the worse she felt. Over and over the
room seemed to churn. Chloë tried to call out as the obviousness of the
situation hit her: they had been drugged!