Curia Dolum (part 1)

 by Marcella Haddad

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            Denidre took her emerald ring off and turned it over in her hands beneath the table, tracing her finger over the intricate design as she listened to her father’s speech. She had a strong sense of having been here before—but of course, she couldn’t have.

            They were in Kadorna now. She had to keep reminding herself as she stared up at the elaborate tapestries surrounding her. They were so much like those of the great hall back home—there was the goddess Res, slaying the demon Au. If she stared at it long enough, she could almost convince herself that it was the same one hanging in the corridor outside her room.

            Almost.

            It seemed to Denidre that every time she accompanied her father on one of his peace missions, he always had to make a speech.  Fortunately, there were more upsides to this feast—such as the handsome distraction that had caught her eye.

            She gracefully turned her head so as not to dislodge the huge feather pins fastened in it (these people had such strange customs…) to look at the boy sitting only a few seats down from her, at the right hand of this castle’s lord. If that wasn’t enough to determine his standing, he was wearing almost all gold—a royal color. But his white-blonde hair and striking yellow eyes bore no resemblance to this lord—surely he was not a member of this household. A visiting embassy, perhaps.

            It might have been that her neck was at a strange angle, for Denidre felt a sudden pain near the base of her hair, as though someone had stabbed her with a small knife.

            She gasped and quickly whipped her head around, involuntarily reaching a hand to touch the spot, and forgetting the fact that all eyes were trained on her.

            “M’lady?”

            It was a serving girl. She was standing right behind Denidre, innocently holding a plate of grapes and looking at her strangely.

            Denidre let out a breath. There was still that constant pain—could it be one of those damn feather pins?

            She forced a smile that looked somewhat real, after years of practice.

            “I shall…be retiring to my chambers early tonight, if you would show me the way.”

            The serving girl ducked her head shyly in the direction of Dinedre’s father, who was still speaking. She flashed a knowing smile.

            “With or without the knowledge of your father, miss?”

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            Hulian watched her get up from the table. So, this was his target. It was almost an insult to his intelligence. This was the third soft-bred lady of the courts he had been assigned to this year—surely master couldn’t hate him this much?

            He was standing to the left of her, not seated with the other nobles, but blending in with the other servants who were standing attentively along the edge of the hall, though he certainly looked more like a noble than any of them, with his midnight-dark hair and expensive jacket.

            He watched her, moving instinctively into the shadows as she walked past with a serving girl. She was rubbing her neck—ah, a telltale sign.

            Hulian grinned. Finally, his search had not been in vain!

            His dark blue magic crackled around his fingers as he watched the two turn a corner. With a few whispers he sent a few tiny balls of light after the lady of the courts, so that they might latch onto her person and he might find her again.

            There was nothing more for him to do tonight. She had magic, surely. But there was much more to discover before he could prove it to Master.

            He leaned against the cold stone, running his hands over it. The castle was humming with energy from the feast, and he felt rather than heard his charges footsteps retreating down the corridor.

            He needed this job done right. To have finally found one, after all this time parading about in courts, all for nothing—at last he had found something for all of his troubles.

            Though he still had to make an appearance at this ridiculous feast. That was part of his assignment, for getting on good terms with this lord would surely help him in his endeavor.

            He brushed the last traces of magic from his fingertips and returned to his charade.