#colem

There was no preparation anyone could have made to ready her for the sheer sound of a room full of sixty plus giants all speaking at once. Though it was nothing but idle chatter, the sound bounced off the walls and made her chest vibrate with the force of it. She was hesitant to admit it, but so many giants in one place made her very nervous. There were just so many of them and yet she knew not a one.  

They were dressed in such finery and jewels that they whole of them seemed to sparkle as they milled about. The marble floor had been polished to a high sheen and the Vhasshalan sigil hung from banners all across the ceiling. The entire room was red and gold and white and glittering.

...and very intimidating.

Long tables lined the edges of the room and were adorned with deep crimson table clothes trimmed with gold fringe. There were glittering white plates of bone china and crystal glasses with far more utensils then seemed necessary. To add to the extravagance of everything else, tucked away in the corner were literal stacks of wine barrels. However much wine sixty or so giants could consume over the course of a single dinner, Nenani was worried that by the end of the night that the entirety of them would be too sloshed to find their own feet. Let alone be sober enough to open their purses.

“You’d think that,” Jae told her with a grin, adjusting his sleeve over bulk of his split. His arm was healing very rapidly thanks to Yaesha’a careful ministrations and perhaps one or two healing tonics from Maevis, but he would still need a split for a little while yet. He was dressed in a very finely tailored doublet of a deep green brocade with silver embroidery and his hair was combed neatly across his scalp. To Nenani’s eye, he looked so very different then his normal self, but he presented very well and she had to turn away to hide her blush when he caught her staring. He very politely deigned to not notice. “But you’d be surprised how lose your purse strings become the more wine you drink.”

“I wouldn’t know,” she replied with a hapless shrug, playing with the end of her hair. It had been washed, brushed, and braided with intricate plats and the bottom tied with a small clip embedded with an opal. Not too dissimilar from from her fire opal, but an eighth of the size and more white than orange. “I don’t drink wine and I don’t have any money.”

Her dress felt very heavy, the sleeves alone seemed to weigh her down most of all. She had tried to sneak on her belt beneath her shift before she slipped into the dress, but the amulet created too distinct a bulge. And so the belt and amulet she was forced to leave behind. However, she was able to slip on her vambraces before either Lolly or her mother spotted her and just as she knew they would, the billowing sleeves hide them perfectly. They made her feel a little more prepared for what was to come. And though there was no physical battle ahead, it would still be a battle of sorts. She lamented that she could not find someplace to slip her dagger.

Never in her life had she worn so much...stuff. Any one piece of her garb was likely worth more than several months or even a year’s wages would bring to someone back in their fishing village in the Souhthlands. If tonight did not bare the fruit they sought, perhaps they could simply sell her dress. Surely it was worth a gold piece or two.  

……………..

The plan was simple enough. Once the wine had made its precursory rounds, Master Donal would announce the King and Queen and from there, they would make their formal entrance. Once they had been seated at the head table, Donal would then announce Oira’s entrance...

As Queen Aine Elaine Oira of Silvaara.

It had been the subject of much contention at the previous day’s supper, but eventually Oira agreed with Warren’s argument. If there was ever a way to get the Lord’s attention and quickly...it was the abrupt announcement of the restoration of the Silvaaran throne. Rumors had spread like wild fire among the gossipers and what was needed was a good splash of cold water.

It was from there that Nenani would make her official court debut. Ostensibly to create a sort of distraction from the reaction Warren knew they would receive by her mother’s entrance. Escorted by Jae, she was to walk all the way around the head table and bow to both King Warren and Queen Rosanna before taking her place beside her mother with her title and rank confirmed. Warren would then follow that with a proclamation declaring the Crown’s support in recognizing Oira as the true heir to the Silvaaran throne. In Nenani’s mind, having her mother recognized as Queen of Silvaara seemed much more important that her being introduced to the court. Lolly had much such a fuss about it.

The notion of presenting both the Queen and a living heir was apparently too strong of a lure, however. So much so that Rosanna argued for it vehemently.

“If there is one thing the Lords are beholden to beyond the allure of coin, it is the laws of inheritance and the value of of a healthy living heir. And with the little prince as a spare, any claim that your bloodline is too weak will have little to no standing. And don’t worry a bit about any claims the Princess is a bastard. I’ve heard such gossip and a declaration of legitimization is simple enough to have written up. If there is one thing being raised in the Ibronian court has taught me, it’s how to play the game of inheritance.”  

The more Nenani learned about how a court operated in general, the less and less it seemed to make sense. So she chose to see the night not as a party, but like Jae and Farris both told her: It was a dance. A game of chess or a deck of cards. Everyone was a skilled player and all vying for the winning hand.

Farris’s last warning to her before she went to get ready that morning seemed very apropos.

“Don’t expect a drop of truth from any damn one of them,” he said. “Most of those fuckers in that room will be the same Lords and Ladies who backed the Blood King in his path to genocide. They ain’t yer friends, Dumplin’. Keep yer wits about ye and be smart. Be safe.” He had paused and gave her an encouraging smile, pinching her arm teasingly. “And try not to light anyone on fire.”

She refused to make good on any such promise.

...........…………

Master Donal was dressed much in the same manner he always seemed to be and Jae confirmed Nenani’s observation with a grin. “He’s always dressed to impress. If you thought Lolly was strict on decorum and manners, she’s got nothing on Donal. The man has a pair of socks for every day of the week, plus back up, and a spare. Just in case one gets a hole and throws his entire rotation off. And he always wears black. For the longest time I thought he might be a widower and was just in forever morning, but nope. He just liked to wear black. His wife lives down in the village. Met her a few years back. Really nice lady.”

Nenani and Jae stood a little off to the side of the small waiting room. The royal couple stood close to the doors, waiting to make their entrance and Rosanna was fidgeting with the collar of Warren’s doublet and adjusting is sleeves until she was satisfied. Oira stood alone in the back of the room, silent and staring off into space. She was dressed in a long gown of silver velvet and gold silk with sleeves that far surpassed Nenani’s. The high collar hid most of her scares and gave her a very regal appearance. There had been discussions of whether or not she should wear a wig, but ultimately it was Oira who decided not to hide her chopped locks.

“Let them stare,” she had said. “I will at the very least have their attention.”

In the end, they settled for a subtle distraction in the form of a diadem of white gold studded with an enormous ruby. A small, thinner diadem was chosen for Nenani with single pearl emerald that hung down from it at the center of her forehead. If she shook her head, it jingled and she found it a useful way to distract herself in the long hours of quiet beforehand.  

Standing there alone and lost in her own thoughts, Oira failed to hear Warren call her name until the third time and her head jerked up. “Y-yes?”

He gave her a patient smile. “Are you ready, m’lady?”

There was a world of weight to those words and everyone in that small room felt it. Nenani picked nervously at the edge of one of her vambraces under her sleeve.

“Yes,” Oira replied, her chest rising and falling as she took several quickened breathes. “I am.”

Warren nodded and then looked to Master Donal who gave a small bow of acknowledgment. Two footmen passed them and each took hold of one of the doors, opening them wide, and the sound from the great hall spilled inside. Master Donald stepped out and all at once the droning sound lessened as dozens upon dozens of eyes turned towards him in heightened expectation. He stood to the side of the door and in a loud, firm tone said, “His Majesty, King Warren I and her royal highness, Queen Rosanna.”

Arm in arm, the King and Queen of Vhasshal entered the great hall as one and there came a great rustling of clothes and hard bottom shoes on marble as the whole gathering of lords and ladies bowed deeply as their liege entered. The forms of the royal couple disappeared from Nenani’s sight as they turned to take their places at the head table and there was a long pause before Donal turned his gaze to Oira, a silent question on his face. Nenani watched her mother straighten her shoulders and look towards the door and it was then that she understood it was not just her that was viewing that night’s event as a sort of battle. Her mother was too and if her stance was anything to go by; she was ready for it.

Her mother gave Donal a curt nod which the Steward returned with an almost encouraging smile. But when he turned back to the room, his face was placid and neutral. Oira turned to look at her daughter and for a moment they simply stared at one another. Inexplicably, Nenani had a thought and she smiled.

Papa would be proud of you.

Almost as though she heard it, Oira gave her daughter a taught smile, eyes shinning, and then Donal’s voice rang out.

“Her royal highness, Queen Aine Elaine Oira of Silvaara.”    

They did not break eye contact as her title and name were announced and only when the giants beyond began to murmur and whisper did Oira turn away and begin her march. Beside Nenani, Jae gripped her arm. “It’s gonna be all right. She can do this. And so can you.”

She turned to Jae and tried to smile, but suddenly felt emotions well up inside her. “...I’m scared.”

“I’ll be right here the entire time,” he told her. “You have nothing to worry about. No one’s going to want to risk their social capitol by making a scene and there will be guards all over the place. Besides, you’re a lot braver then you think.” Jae seemed to consider her for a moment and then leaned down to delicately plant a kiss on her forehead, just below the hanging gem of her diadem. When he pulled away, her face felt hot and she could meet his eye. “Sorry for teasing you earlier.”

Before she could formulate any kind of response, Donal’s voice rang out for a third time and the bottom of Nenani’s stomach dropped to the floor.

“Her royal highness, Princess Nenani, Duchess of Ravenwood.”

…………….

She did not remember much after hearing her name and title. Oh Gods, she had an actual title now. Ravenwood. Where the hell was Ravenwood? She was a Duchess. But also a Princess. How? How did that work? Why had she not bothered to ask? Oh Gods, it was too late now...

She remembered walking from the dim side room and into the blazing light of the great hall, the noise wafting over her like waves. Jae was beside her and gripping her arm as he escorted her, but then there came a point where he had to release his hold on her and she had to step out into the fray alone. Giant faces watched with giant eyes that stared as she stiffly walked to the front of the table and curtsied to the King. She did not remember looking him in the face and yet she recalled him smiling and gesturing for her to come join them. Jae was at her side again and he helped her up the steps and when she finally came back into herself she was sitting beside her mother who was saying something to her in a low voice, but she could not hear.

In the corner of her eye, she saw the King stand and she craned her neck to stare up at him, her mind still a thick fog of shock. Her mother stared too, but a hand reached back to grip Nenani’s and that seemed to bring her out of it. She stared at her mother’s hand and felt her trembling fingers.

She squeezed back.  

“My honored guests, Lords and Ladies: I hold no pretense to the truth of my intentions tonight. Many of you, most in fact, are well informed of a particular rumor. That of the resurfacing of a surviving member of King Haeral’s family; his youngest daughter Aine Elaine Oira. In my younger years I was happily acquainted with the Princess as she was an intimate of my dear late brother, the Crown Prince. He considered her a close friend and confidant and I too share that familiarity. So it is much to my pleasure I am able to confirm beyond all suspicion and conspiracy that the woman before you is indeed the same Princess whom loved and cherished Thadeus just as we all did and still do. And it is my interminable honor to stand here before you this night under the Gods’ watchful eyes and our great country’s sigil to declare that I, King Warren, recognize and welcome her majesty, Aine Elaine Oira; Queen of Silvaara.”

She was not sure what she had expected beyond this point. All at once, whatever planning had been made passed their initial entrances was lost to Nenani as both her and her mother stared out into the crowd of giants. They looked so different than the kind and friendly faces of the other giants she knew. The King said what he had said and then…what?

It started off with silence. A stunned silence. And then from the back came a loud hoot and several giants began to clap enthusiastically and slowly the rest followed until the only thing to be heard was the thunderous rush of applause and intermittent cheers. But between the smiling and cheering faces, Nenani could see some other dip down to whisper fervently between one another. And some did not bother to clap or hide the distasteful expressions from their faces. After nearly a minute, Warren held up a hand and the din ebbed away. Nenani’s ears were ringing.  

“A decade ago, Vhasshal and Silvaara were great allies with a thousand years of peace between us. Tonight, in the spirit of reconciliation and the restoration of the Silvaaran throne, I bid you all to drink and dine with me as we welcome her highness the Queen and her daughter and heir, the Princess Nenani to our court.”

Warren’s gaze met Nenani’s and with the eye facing away from the crowd, winked.

…………………………

It had been Nenani’s intention to sit quietly and allow the festivities to go one without her participation, but others seemed to have a much different idea. Several lords and a ladies made a beeline for her to introduce themselves though no real conversation was had beyond pleasantries. Their names were nearly all but forgotten by the time the next lord was waiting for introductions.  

Off to one side of the room, her mother and Warren were already in a deep discussion with a small group of lords and Rosanna was speaking to several ladies. But at last, there was a lull and Jae and Nenani were left to their own devices at the table and she was given a moment to breathe and relax. Or rather, attempt to. Though she was not a fan of it, Nenani had already drunk her entire glass of hippocras, hoping the mildly alcoholic drink might calm her nerves. It just made her tummy hurt and everything taste like cloves.

“It seems to be going all right so far,” Jae commented lightly, sounding pleased. “No outbursts. Everyone seems to be behaving themselves.”

“There’s still a lot of wine left to drink, though,” Nenani replied. “That might change.”

“All that wine,” Jae grinned and leaned back into his chair. “It must be killing Keral not to be here.”

“Oh, aye,” said a voice from behind them. “It’s just plain murder...”

With a start, both Nenani and Jae turned in their seats and stared in shock to find Keral leaning against the wall just behind them. He was dressed not in his blue ranger’s coat, but a gray jerkin with black trousers and his hair was neatly brushed and pulled back into a loose queue.

Jae barked out a laugh. “Did you brush your hair?”

The ranger raised an eyebrow at him. “As a matter ‘a fact, I did. I see they brushed yer’s fer ye.”  

With a frown, Jae raised his hand up to run his fingers across his hair. “Her majesty the Queen doesn’t believe I’m capable to brushing my own hair anymore.”

“I’m inclined to agree with her,” Keral chuckled.  

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in normal clothes before,” Nenani said with a smile.

“Hard to believe I own anything else, eh?” Keral asked. “Had to dust this old thing off. Surprised it even still fits. Haven’t worn it since before I became a ranger.”

“What are you doing here anyway?” Jae asked and then added with a cheeky smirk, “Tryin’ to sneak some of the good reserves?”  

“Unfortunately no,” he sighed. “I’m workin’.”

“Working? Doing what?” Nenani asked.

Keral regarded her with an amused smirk. “Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you two. You attract trouble like flies to honey. And there’s quite a lot of flies buzzin’ ‘round in here.”

“Hey,” Jae frowned. “We resent that.”

“Oh I’m sure ye do, lad. I’m sure ye do plenty,” Keral chortled, his shoulders shaking. He looked passed them, a sly glint entering his eye, and he pushed off from the wall to gestured out towards the crowd. “But I’ll leave this particular fly to ye. Since I know how much you must’ve missed his company.”

“What? Who?” Jae asked and turned back towards the front just as Keral walked away.

She heard Jae cursed.

“What?” Nenani asked, turning back around as well and catching sight of a giant making his way towards the table.

  She knew Lord Colem before he even opened his mouth to introduce himself. Just as Jae and Queen Rosanna had said, his garish yellow coat was a startling sight and was visible from half way across the room. The yellow was faded and slightly greenish as though the fabric itself was feeling ill. The cuffs and collar were lined with black bear fur and the buttons were made of brass and polished to a high sheen. It was a long, ugly thing that billowed out around his knees and his white linen and lace cravat puffed up from his collar, pushing against his pointed chin and smartly groom goatee. The whiskers of his mustache were waxed and twirled, making it look as though he had fine tusks protruding from under his nose.

And to further his eccentricities, instead of walking across the room he...more or less danced. Or rather, his steps were so flowing and exaggerated that Nenani wondered if she was supposed to laugh. She regretted Keral’s departure all the more.    

“Oh no,” Jae grumbled and leaned over to whisper at her. “Abandon your dignity, Princess. It’s about to be stripped from you.”

Nenani felt her entire body stiffen as the prodigal lord approached the table.

As he closed in, his entire upper body dipped into such a deep bow that for a moment, he disappeared beneath the edge of the table before sweeping back up with an expression of pure delight. “Princess, it is my deepest honor to make your acquaintance. I am Oliver Colem, third Duke of Westchester, at your grace’s eternal survive.”

He held out his hand, index finger out, and Nenani was struck dumb with how to proceed. Jae jerked his head and pressed the back of his hand to his lips and Nenani frowned. But she turned back to Colem, who did not looked put off at all. Rather he looked highly amused. Carefully, placed her hand onto his offered finger and his large head dipped down and kissed her hand. Her entire hand. And most of her wrist. When she pulled it back, moister than before, she shuddered.

“Um...hello, my lord,” she replied, trying to discreetly dry her hand on her skirt. Her nosed burned from the strong odor of his cologne. “L-lord...Colem. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“I must tell you, your grace looks absolutely beautiful,” he said, placing a hand to his breast. “Yellow compliments you so very well. As you may have surmised, I am very partial to the hue myself.” He then turned his attention to Jae, his smile widening into an excited grin. “And young Master Jae, my dear boy. Look how much you’ve grown! And how smart you look in that brocade.” As he rambled, Lord Colem reached out and patted Jae on the head. Large fingers brushed against his carefully combed hair and made a quick mess of it. To add salt to the open wound of Jae’s shrinking tactile tolerance, Colem then pinched Jae’s face between two fingers and cooed at him, “Oh, I haven’t seen you in such a long time, you were just a little smidgen of a thing but only a few seasons ago and now look at you! Why you’re practically a man!”

“O-oh okay, that’s enough,” Jae said, red faced, and he pushed the lord’s fingers away from him. “There’s only so many ways I can tell you, Colem. No. Touching.”

“Such a miser you are, Jae,” Lord Colem pouted, but his eyes sparkled with good humor. “You use to be such an affectionate little boy.”

“Forgive me for giving you the wrong impression all these years,” Jae replied flatly as he tried to fix his hair. “Because I do not recollect ever enjoying being stroked like a lap dog.”

“Oh you wound me. Truly, I mean no offense. Just tell me off should I overstep my bounds.”

“Overstep?” Jae scoffed, still trying to brush his hair back down. “Colem, you danced across them.”

“Well then please allow me to make some amends,” Lord Colem said, turning his eyes back to Nenani. Though he was still smiling, there was a sudden serious tone to his voice. “It is my understanding that King Warren and Queen Aine seek to rebuild Silvaara. And to raise the capitol needed, you look to our house of lords as potential investors. Am I correct, your grace?”

Nenani nodded meekly and feeling quite out of her depth. “Yes. But...I’m not very good with all that.”

“Well, let me not overly complicate things, then,” he said. “I wish to contribute to your cause, Princess. But not as an investor.”

Jae was glaring at Colem with high suspicion. “As what then?”

“As a benefactor.”

“What?” Jae scoffed and crossed his arms. “So you’re just gonna what? Give us money without any expecting any sort of return?”

Lord Colem nodded, eye bright and grin wide. “Precisely! No expectations or strings or conditions.”

Jae blinked, squinting at the man, and then looked to Nenani who could only shrug in equal confusion.

“Wait? You mean...really?” Jae asked, the hard edge he showed to Colem softening slightly. He eyed the giant up and down. “...how much?”

“Fifteen thousand.”

Jae nearly choked. His eye were wide and he regarded Lord Colem with an unabashed bafflement. “You’re joking...”

“Oh, I do enjoy a good jape,” Lord Colem declared. “But in manner of business and money, I never jest. I am quite serious.”

“That’s...I mean...whoa. That’s...a stupid amount of money.”

“Indeed,” he agreed, placing a hand on his chin and nodding thoughtfully. “A handsome sum to be sure, but what good is money if you cannot spend it on that which you hold dear?”

Jae tilted his head as he seemed to look at the lord afresh. “Never realized you were such a Silvaaran sympathizer...y’know. Seeing how close your father and Captain Acker were and being such good pals.”

“Who’s Captain Acker?” Nenani asked.

“Before Keral was captain of the blue rangers,” Jae explained. “There was a man named Acker. Some people called him the Blue Wolf. He’s why the rangers have the terrible reputation that they do. Lord Colem’s father and he were good friends. His estate supplies the indigo dye used to make their coats. Without the Colem family, we wouldn’t have the rangers.”

Colem’s expression soured and he stood back to his full height. “I would prefer if we keep my family out of these conversations, Master Jae. I live for the future and what better things may lie ahead of us. Best we leave the past where it belongs.”

“Uh-huh,” Jae replied, not seeming convinced. “Well, you can understand why I would be suspicious of a man who readily gives a decently sized portion of his family’s fortune to forward a cause that is at complete odds with his father’s legacy and family reputation.”  

“Is it so hard to understand?” Colem asked. “As you pointed out, my dear boy; my father became a wealthy man under King Nethrin. And I to this day still reap the rewards of that plunder. But answer me this: how well might you sleep in a bed bought with coins earned through thoughtless killing and murder?”

“So is that why you’re giving so much?” Jae asked. “Guilt?”

  Lord Colem gave a shallow bow, his eyes growing distant. “I will only say this: His Majesty is not the only one who eagerly seeks to rewrite his family legacy.”

......................

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