Flauvic's remark about scholarship, I decided before the day ended, was a kind of double-edged sword. When I discovered my ancestor Ardis was not so much prominent as notorious, my first reaction was a snort of laughter, followed by interest--and some indignation.
The queen's memoir, which was replete with gossip, detailed Ardis's numerous and colorful dalliances. Her ten-year career of flirtation came to a close not long after she became engaged to a Renselaeus prince. This engagement ended after a duel with the third Merindar son--no one knew the real reasons why--and though both men lived through the duel, neither talked of it afterward. Or to her. She wound up marrying into a minor house in the southwest and passed the rest of her days in obscurity.
She was beautiful, wealthy, and popular, yet it appeared, through the pages of this memoir anyway, that the main business of her life had been to issue forth in the newest and most shocking gown in order to shine down the other women of the Court, and to win away lovers from her rivals. There was no hint that she performed any kind of service whatever.
In short, she was a fool. This made me drop the book and perform a fast and furious review of my conversations with Flauvic. Did he think I was a fool? Did he think that I would find Ardis in the records and admire her?
Or was this some kind of oblique challenge? Was he hinting that I ought to do more than my ancestor--such as get involved in a fight for the crown?
The answer seemed pretty obvious. I decided not to communicate with Flauvic about my foolish ancestor. Instead, I'd use his idea but find my time period and historical personages. A much more elegant answer.
The queen's memoir, which was replete with gossip, detailed Ardis's numerous and colorful dalliances. Her ten-year career of flirtation came to a close not long after she became engaged to a Renselaeus prince. This engagement ended after a duel with the third Merindar son--no one knew the real reasons why--and though both men lived through the duel, neither talked of it afterward. Or to her. She wound up marrying into a minor house in the southwest and passed the rest of her days in obscurity.
She was beautiful, wealthy, and popular, yet it appeared, through the pages of this memoir anyway, that the main business of her life had been to issue forth in the newest and most shocking gown in order to shine down the other women of the Court, and to win away lovers from her rivals. There was no hint that she performed any kind of service whatever.
In short, she was a fool. This made me drop the book and perform a fast and furious review of my conversations with Flauvic. Did he think I was a fool? Did he think that I would find Ardis in the records and admire her?
Or was this some kind of oblique challenge? Was he hinting that I ought to do more than my ancestor--such as get involved in a fight for the crown?
The answer seemed pretty obvious. I decided not to communicate with Flauvic about my foolish ancestor. Instead, I'd use his idea but find my time period and historical personages. A much more elegant answer.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
www.QuoteSweet.com