Araman

  Raliena was awoken that afternoon by a small knock at the door. Rubbing her eyes she used one of her bed posts to pull herself to her feet and answered it.

  “Sa Raliena.” Said a small girl, using the official address of an Araman. “The King requests you to meet him as soon as possible. His Highness is in the study.”

  “Thank you, Tace.” Raliena made sure she learnt all the names of the servants who lived in the castle, she thought it only fair as they all knew hers and she enjoyed seeing the surprise on their faces. Or the delight that now showed in Tace’s expression as she bowed and hurried away.

  Swiftly, Raliena washed herself with the cold water that had been left in her room. She changed into something less mud stained and patting her hair down, made her way to the study. She decided to have a proper bath as soon as possible and hoped that this meeting would not take long, though she doubted it.

  The study was on the floor below hers and along a dark corridor. She greeted the guards stood waiting outside and they nodded to her politely but maintained a serious expression; to let people know they would strike at the slightest provocation.

  Knocking politely on the door, she waited to be given admittance. Surprisingly the King himself answered the door, opening it wide with a huge grin on his face.

  “Sa Raliena.” He said. “Come in, please sit with us.”

  In front of the large open fireplace were a small table with wine and fruit on it, and three grand armchairs looking warm and inviting. King Baynil sat in the grander to one side of the table. There were two others laid out to his right.

  The only available seat left was next to Dergen who looked at Raliena expectantly. She tried to ignore his disturbing smile and stood instead next to the fire away from him.

  “Zea Dergen tells me that General Kassen is in much better health.” Raliena commented, using Dergen’s formal title in the King’s presence.

  “Yes, indeed.” The King replied. “Of course I had no doubt he would be, after Lady Nanerter was sent so swiftly to his aid.”

  Raliena could see, in the edge of her vision, Dergen staring at her with a knowing expression. She tried to ignore it and brushed off the feeling he knew something about the true manner of the General’s revival.

  “I was correct in sending my most skilled healer.” Baynil continued. “The Kingdom owes her gratitude; it would have been difficult to achieve an alliance with Attashar otherwise.” He smiled triumphantly. “Although, of course I am sure Sa Raliena herself could have done so with the proper instruction, capable as she is.” The King smiled affectionately at Raliena, who smiled shyly back.

  “We have no doubt of that.” Dergen added in a smooth voice, picking up his glass of wine from the table. “But we could not very well have our Araman travelling out across the country, when she is equally as important to this alliance.”

  He took a drink of the blood red wine and leant back in his chair. Raliena could feel his eyes on her again but kept her own attention on Baynil. Dergen, however, had noticed how she tensed at his contribution to the discussion.

  Fortunately the King had not realised that it was not only Dergen’s presence that made Raliena tense, but also what he had said. She was almost certain now that the advisor knew something, and should have realised it when he caught her in the hallway that morning. But there was no possible way he could know the nature of it, only that she had left the castle.

  King Baynil looked from his Advisor to the Araman. She still had not looked at Dergen and Dergen had still not stopped his unnerving stare.

  “Raliena, will you not sit?” Baynil asked.

  “I thank you, my Lord, but I would prefer to stand.”

  “Perhaps she would rather sit closer to the fire.” Dergen said pointedly. “It is a little colder beside me.”

  The King looked at both of them.

  “Have you two fallen out of agreement again?”

  “I do not think so, my Lord.” Dergen replied finally, turning his gaze momentarily from Raliena. “Unless the young Araman has somehow been offended by me without my proper thought.”

  “Well, has he done such a thing, Raliena? I am sure it can be resolved.”

  Both men looked at her. Dergen with a satisfied smile and Baynil with an expectant expression, knowing that Raliena and Dergen were hardly ever in agreement and Raliena frequently avoided the King’s advisor.

  “Not at all, my Lord.” Raliena replied after a while and sat rigidly in the chair next to Dergen. “I did not realise I would be in company long enough to have the need to sit.”

  The King seemed convinced by this and grinned broadly; like a young boy whose new kitten gets along splendidly with his dog.

  “I am glad to hear it as you and Dergen will be spending much time together with the General, showing him around Verxia and making him welcome.” Raliena tried to show no emotion at the news of having to work closely with Dergen, though it made her stomach turn. “It would not do to have you two fighting in the presence of such an important guest. He is, after all, King Dagerten’s son.”

  This news took Raliena by surprise but she noticed she was the only one that this was news to. She knew that King Dagerten had two children by his wife and Queen. Princess Sherin and Prince Derend. She was also certain that the young Prince was due to take the throne after his father.

  “But if this is true, then why is General Kassen not Prince Kassen?” She asked.

  “It appears the King had a love child before he married the Queen.” Baynil replied casually as if it was to be expected.

  “So he is illegitimate?”

  “He is.” Dergen answered this question and took another sip of wine. “But it would seem that the bastard son of Attashar is very much treated as royalty by the King.” His expression was unreadable but Raliena thought she had heard a small tone of malice in his reply.

  “It does not matter either way; I just thought you might want to know.” Said King Baynil.

  “It is interesting news.”

  “Yes I thought so too when Lady Nanerter told me.”

  “May I ask how she discovered it?” Raliena asked curiously.

  The King pulled a scrunched up scroll of paper from his pocket and unrolled it. “Her letter said that ‘the Princess was very clear that if anything was to happen to her brother, she would order her Knights to bring me directly to her, and proceeded to describe explicitly what manner of things she would do to me thereafter.’” King Baynil laughed heartily and Dergen smiled in cruel amusement.

  “She has a tongue on her, this trainee Queen.” Baynil laughed.

  It was clear that the healer and Princess Sherin were less than favourable towards each other. Raliena was almost sorry that she had not had the chance to meet the feisty young girl, as she herself did not always find the healer’s proud demeanour affable.

  The conversation turned to trivial things such as the possibility of lowering the taxes so as to encourage more trade into Verxia and which room the honoured guest should be given. Raliena was used to being summoned by the King for casual talks such as this. Since his wife and child had died he made sure there was always time to just sit and talk. Raliena thought that it must be a fear of being alone, one she could understand.

  Although she did spend much time thinking on her own, she yearned for someone to share her secrets with, mainly one large secret that could one day become a big problem. If someone that she couldn’t trust found out about the healing powers, they may try to use her for personal gain. She also did not want that kind of attention.

  Yes, she had spent much time thinking on the subject. She longed to be able to use her gift to heal people in the villages and towns all over Fardonmeria, but it was not possible and she had not yet come up with a reasonable explanation for how she had acquired the power to heal humans and animals alike.

  She had even once caused a
dying flower to bloom when she first started experimenting with the gift, but had since forgotten how, despite her powers growing stronger each day.

  It was late evening when King Baynil finally decided it was time to retire to bed. They had finished a large meal that Baynil had ordered two servants to bring up to the study and the King had drunk wine with Dergen heartily. Raliena had water as always. It was better that she had her head clear.

  “I do believe the pleasurable company has led me to lose track of time. Do forgive me but I shall take my leave as I think I may need to lie on solid ground.” Baynil got up and almost collapsed back in his chair with a boyish giggle, unbecoming for a man his age. He called for one of his guards to help him and left the room, bidding Dergen and Raliena good evening and taking the guards with him. Raliena was left alone with Dergen; much to her distaste.

  Raliena rose from her chair without looking at Dergen. He rose too and walked around the opposite side of the chairs to get to the door. Dergen was there first and blocked Raliena’s way. She was forced to meet his unwelcomingly dark eyes.

  “May I escort you to your room Sa Raliena?”

  “That is perfectly alright, Zea Dergen. I know my way back.” She tried to get past him but he took a step backwards, further blocking the door.

  “I am sure you do but you never know what might happen on such a dark, cold night.” His voice made a chill run up her spine and she tried to hide her discomfort, refusing to let him think she was unnerved by his hidden threat.

  Still, she found something small in his expression that made her a little less sure that the threat of the King’s wrath would stop him from doing whatever it was he was capable of.

  Despite this intimidation, Raliena raised her chin; almost challenging him to see if he dare try something. “And I am sure I will be perfectly safe with your absence.” She replied meaningfully.

  They stared at each other for a moment. Raliena held his gaze, no matter how she hated it, she would not yield. A strange sensation washed over her that she usually felt in his presence, an uncomfortable push, pull feeling towards him, like trying to escape when chest high in flowing water.

  Finally Dergen moved.

  Raliena tried not to flinch as his tall imposing body moved a little towards her, but he was only moving aside slightly to open the door with a gesture of his arm for her to vacate the room first.

  Leaving the study and walking back down the unlit hall, Raliena said nothing to Dergen and did not look back. Not even when his voice echoed down the hall towards her, making it sound as if he was still stood beside her.

  “Sleep well, Sa Raliena.”