Riva pulled the drapes that covered the carriage walls away to peek outside. Everything looked bleak.
As if reading her mind, the composer who sat across from her said, “Don’t worry, you’ll be well taken care of.”
Riva chewed her lip and pulled her pouch up on to her lap, she shook the money out and picked out a silver. The composer’s eyes were trained on her, but he remained silent. With a smile Riva slipped the coin out the window and into the muddy street.
“You are throwing your money away!?” The composer asked incredulous.
Riva looked up at him and said very simply, “I no longer have any need for them.” She chose another coin and threw it out the window. In her mind she could see the beggars from her own capital and how they had gathered around her looking for money. Now she could grant a few wishes. Smiles would light their faces when they realized they wouldn’t go hungry for a while longer.
Another coin fell into the mud.
The composer shook his head in disbelief. “Bards... all about their music. Don’t understand the value of money...” He muttered under his breath.
Riva just picked out another coin. “What is the King like?”
The composer paused in thought. “He’s... determined, knows how to put on a good show. I’ll give him that. You don’t need to worry, he treats us very well.”
I meant as a ruler. Not as an employer. The more Riva saw of Sealidan, the more she saw poverty. The more she talked with people the more concerned she became. These people were just scraping by. She had thought Alsteare was in a bad spot, but these people had less than nothing. Everything they had once owned was given to the cause.
In her lessons, Riva had come to understand that a good community was one that constantly gave. Everyone had to give though or there would be no balance. Wasn’t that what ruling was all about? Giving to your people? Serving them so they could work to their utmost?
In the distance she could see the palace come in to view.
*****
Her first couple of days at the palace were uneventful. She was given quarters with the other female performers, they had all sort of instrumental players, acrobats, and other performers.One night she couldn’t sleep, she knew that Glen was somewhere in the building, but it had been made very clear they they weren’t to wander. Riva stayed in the servants quarters and poked her head into the lit rooms. In one man was in deep concentration working on the most beautiful dress Riva had ever seen. Audibly she gasped.
He turned and squinted to see who it was. “Who’s there?”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t sleep.” Riva stepped into the light and examined the dress. It was covered in tiny shining pieces that glinted in the light. “Those aren’t real diamonds, are they?”
The thin man chuckled. “Goodness, no. This dress is for a performer, not a queen.”
Riva snorted. “What kind of performer needs a dress this fancy?” Looking at the rest of the dress, Riva had to admit that the needlework was exquisite, the best she had ever seen. The material itself was high quality. A belt of fabric accented a thin waist and the breast, a square cut, with shimmering trimmings.
The balding man grabbed his stomach and began to laugh outright at Riva astonishment. As he wiped his eyes he replied, “I agree with you. This dress is probably worth more than a years wages, far too much work for a banquet. But the King does like to impress, he also likes to dote on his favorites. The Royal Composer himself vouched for the wearer of this dress.” He gestured to the entirety of the garment. “Who are you again?”
“Hmm?” Riva had been lost in thought, thinking that the King put a lot of force behind the word of the composer. “Oh, I’m Riva, I just got here with the Royal Composer. I’m a vocal performer.”
He grunted. “Well, I’m glad you appreciate your dress. Not many do.”
Riva gasped. “This is for me? It must have taken you days!”
“I started as soon as we heard you were coming.”
That had only been a week ago Riva whistled. “It’s beautiful, the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. I’d be honored to wear it.”
“And I’ll be honored to see you sing in it.”
They spent the rest of the night in silence.
*****
Riva spent the next few days working with the other performers and the composer. He had a few songs that he had written himself and a few that he had arranged. He ran Riva through several exercises and tested her knowledge and ability in language, music terminology, and had her sing through her repertoire.
Everything was the best of the best. Riva had never worked with such skilled musicians. It was thrilling to get up every morning knowing that together they were going to create glorious music. Together they strove for that higher sound, to be greater, better. Hours of sitting, waiting for their parts, learning the new music was rewarded when everything came together. The Royal Composer waved his arms with sudden energy, berating the performers and rewarding them with praise and a smile when they succeeded in performing up to his imagination.
By the night of the banquet Riva was dying for someone to hear the results of their effort. They were placed in a box high above the tables, at first the music was calming easy to carry a conversation through. Riva bided her time, butterflies thumping around in her stomach. As the courses ended and the guests began to rise, Riva’s heart jumped to her throat choking her.
The composer motioned for her to stand. Weakly, Riva got to her feet and took a deep breath, steadying her trembling legs. In her mind she imagined just her and the conductor. If she kept her eyes on him, she wouldn’t forget a single beat. He raised his baton and the small group began the introduction to her solo. Still taking deep low breaths Riva prepared for her entrance. It was particularly difficult, soft and steady.
The composer ushered her into the song and Riva began. The butterflies flew away and her legs steadied. Gradually the song grew and the passion became more and more apparent. Riva let the emotion carry her, letting it suck her into a different world.
All at once, it was over. The last note hung in the air, ringing in the silence. Applause broke the magic and Riva let out a deep breath. The conductor grinned at her encouragingly. She smiled back. The instrumental group launched into a dance tune and the guests were soon spinning and clapping as the dance directed.
Throughout the night Riva would stand and sing, confidence building with every song. By the time they were done with all of the songs Riva was to sing, her voice was happily exhausted. The conductor handed off his baton and offered her his arm. She took it and he whispered in her ear. “There is someone I want you to meet.”
As they made their way downstairs and struggled to keep her expression one of polite awe. From the box, the hall had seemed big, but from here it was massive. The walls were painted with vibrant colors and plated with gold. Riva recognized some of the food as delicacies, most of it she didn’t recognize at all.
Following the Royal Composer’s lead she picked up a goblet and sipped. It bubbled and fizzed in her mouth.
“May I introduce tonight’s singer, Miss Riva, your Majesty.”
Riva turned to find herself face to face with the King of Sealidan. He was tall, well built and muscled, a ornate sword hung at his side, his blond hair was swooped away from his defined face as if he was facing the wind. Blue, sparkling eyes examined her.
Remembering herself she curtsied deeply, but remained speechless.
The King chuckled, a deep rumbling sound. “Well, she certainly knows her manners.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “It is an honor to meet such a beautiful young lady. I must tell you, you sang like an angel tonight. My Composer has yet to let me down.” The Composer bowed slightly graciously accepting the compliment. The King still had Riva’s hand in his, he held it at arms length and gazed at her figure. “The dress fits wonderfully, I know that Micheal was concerned about it.”
Riva felt a blush touch her cheeks. She had thought that the King of Sealidan would be an older man, like her father. This man was... nothing like her father. Doting, they had told her. Hmmm.
The King smiled charmingly, seeming to sense her discomfort.
The Royal Composer seemed to find her reaction amusing as well. “Riva? Are you all right?”
She jerked from her inner thoughts. “I’m fine! I just- I’m just not used to being complimented by royalty.” True enough. Riva thought to herself.
The King smiled his white teeth showing.
Riva’s mind was in a whirlwind, thoughts jumbling over each other and confusing any order she’d had. For just a moment Riva considered killing him here and now. It wouldn’t take much. He’d be dead and she could go and save Glen. They could flee the city and be free.
But reality crashed down on her. The guards would never let her leave and there were too many for her to take alone. She’d likely be killed on the spot. Besides she wasn’t a killer and he didn’t seem like a bad person, not necessarily a good person either... but still.
The King led her to the floor. With a flourish he stopped in front of a tall mirror. “You see? You deserve every compliment.”
It had been months since Riva had seen herself in a mirror. She had lost weight and her body had been toned from constant exertion. Her braided and extravagant hair was bleached and her skin more freckled and much darker from exposure to the sun. Her green eyes seemed huge, the whites contrasting against her skin. Micheal’s dress fit her like a glove, hugging her in all the right places, the light color accented her skin tone. She stared into her eyes, examining the differences between now and then. Everything about her was hardened, tougher.
The King bowed to her, “May I have this dance?” He held his hand up to her as smile playing on his lips.
Riva smiled her eyes crinkling in mirth. It had been a long time since she had played this game. It felt... good. For some reason she had hated it before. She took his hand and curtsied. “It would be my honor, your Majesty.”
For the rest of the night, Riva was at the King’s side. He introduced her to everyone and she accepted the constant compliments. Whenever they stopped to chat Riva found that she could hold her own in any subject thrown at her. She met many interesting people and got a feel for Sealidan government. As the night went on, Riva relaxed more and began to speak freely with the King and the guests. She found their conversation enlightening and different from the views of her tutors at home. Despite being in the heart of the enemy’s country, she found herself enjoying herself. The King of Sealidan was intelligent and had a very clear thought process, she liked debating with him, bringing up different problems with government and seeing his view.
Often he would look over at her, his blue eyes trained on her expression, just watching. Riva kept her own eyes trained on her target and pretended not to notice.
“I never knew Bards were taught about so many different subjects.” Sealidan murmured at one point, when they were alone sipping their drinks.
Riva shook her head. “We aren’t. My father made sure that I had a well rounded education. He sent me to Alsteare to study at one point.”
“Really? Were you in the capital?”
Riva nodded and pretended to boast. “I even got to sing before the King a few times.” All true. “He terrified me. Most intimidating man I’ve ever met.”
The King of Sealidan chuckled. “I can’t imagine.”
“I heard you’d defeated him, the King of Alsteare himself.” Riva kept her voice carefully void of expression. She just wanted to see his reaction.
Sealidan nodded. “Ambush. Arrow to the heart.” He tapped his chest indicating the spot. “Doesn’t matter if you’re King or soldier, a well placed arrow will still kill you.” Quickly he changed subjects. “Did you like Alsteare? or Sealidan better?”
Riva crinkled her nose slightly frustrated, but somehow relieved that he wasn’t gloating. “That’s not a very fair question. We all know that I should say I like Sealidan better.”
He laughed, it wasn’t a polite laugh like the ones he had given some of the dignitaries. It was a real laugh. He seemed to appreciate her honesty and ideas.
Riva liked making him laugh. It gave his eyes life. “Alsteare had it’s charms. My favorite were the operas.” Riva sighed wistfully. “Alstearians can write a mean opera.”
“You’ll have to sing your favorite for me sometime.”
Her face lit up. “You promise?” She had a specific one in mind.
“Of course! I’m a man of my word.”
Riva grinned in anticipation and took another sip. The sparkly drink was making her tongue loose. She’d have to watch how much she drank.
“What’s this?”
His finger traced a long scar that came across her shoulder and the front of her neck.
Her smiled faded and she pulled away, remembering why she was here and who he was. She couldn’t afford to get familiar with the enemy. Imad was still fresh in her mind. “It’s just... an old scar.”
He frowned and pressed gently. “It doesn’t look old. It looks recent.” His eyebrows twitched questioningly. “Is there something I can do?”
Riva pursed her lips, but didn’t answer, instead she changed the subject. “Surely you have other guests to attend to, your Majesty. You’ve spent far too much time in my company.”
His easy smile was back, “My other guests are not nearly as entertaining as you.”
Riva blushed as his eyes bore into her. Every bone in her body was telling her that this man was dead serious and very dangerous. “Your Majesty must excused me. I’m afraid I must retire.” She turned to leave but he caught her arm.
“May I escort you?” His concern was sincere.
Riva squirmed as she tried to think of a tactful way to decline.
He sighed heavily. “Forgive me, I’m not being very considerate.” He took her hand and bowed deeply. Far deeper than etiquette required. He straightened and kissed her hand. “I enjoyed your company, Riva. I look forward to conversing with you some other time.”
Riva bowed and fled for her life.
No comments:
Post a Comment