In a slow, pleasant voice, Prince Alaerec asked mild questions--weather, travel, Bran's day and how he'd filled it. I stayed silent as the three of them worked away at this limping conversation. The Renselaeus father and son were skilled enough at nothing-talk, but poor Bran stumbled over half his words, sending frequent glances at me. In the past I'd often spoken for both of us, for truth was he felt awkward with his tongue and was somewhat shy with new people, but I did not feel like speaking until I'd sorted my emotions out--and there was no time for that.
To bridge his own feelings, my brother gulped at the very fine wine they offered. Soon a servant came in and announced that dinner was ready, and the old Prince rose slowly, leaning heavily on a cane. His back was straight, though, as he led the way to a dining room. Bran and I fell in behind, I treading cautiously, with my skirts bunched in either hand.
Bran snickered. I looked up, saw him watching me, his face flushed. "Life, Mel, are you supposed to walk like that?" He snickered again, swallowed the rest of his third glass of wine, then added, "Looks like you got eggs in those shoes."
"I don't how I'm supposed to walk," I mumbled, acutely aware of that bland-faced, elegantly dressed Marquis right behind us, and elbowed Bran in the side. "Stop laughing! If I drop these skirts, I'll trip over them."
"Why didn't you just ask for riding gear?"
"And a coach-and-six while I was at it? This is what they me."
"Well, it looks right enough," he admitted, squinting down at me. "It's just--seeing you in one of those fancy gowns reminds me of--"
I didn't want to hear what it reminded him of. "You're drunk as four skunks, you idiot," I muttered, and not especially softly, either. "You'd best lay it aside until you get some food into you."
He sighed. "Right enough. I confess, I didn't think you'd really get here--thought that there'd be another bad hit."
"Well, I don't see we're all that safe yet," I said under my breath.
To bridge his own feelings, my brother gulped at the very fine wine they offered. Soon a servant came in and announced that dinner was ready, and the old Prince rose slowly, leaning heavily on a cane. His back was straight, though, as he led the way to a dining room. Bran and I fell in behind, I treading cautiously, with my skirts bunched in either hand.
Bran snickered. I looked up, saw him watching me, his face flushed. "Life, Mel, are you supposed to walk like that?" He snickered again, swallowed the rest of his third glass of wine, then added, "Looks like you got eggs in those shoes."
"I don't how I'm supposed to walk," I mumbled, acutely aware of that bland-faced, elegantly dressed Marquis right behind us, and elbowed Bran in the side. "Stop laughing! If I drop these skirts, I'll trip over them."
"Why didn't you just ask for riding gear?"
"And a coach-and-six while I was at it? This is what they me."
"Well, it looks right enough," he admitted, squinting down at me. "It's just--seeing you in one of those fancy gowns reminds me of--"
I didn't want to hear what it reminded him of. "You're drunk as four skunks, you idiot," I muttered, and not especially softly, either. "You'd best lay it aside until you get some food into you."
He sighed. "Right enough. I confess, I didn't think you'd really get here--thought that there'd be another bad hit."
"Well, I don't see we're all that safe yet," I said under my breath.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Crown Duel ]
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