Dancing with Death

Chapter Three

~Chapter Three~

MATAYA

Misanta was in the gardens when she received a letter from her brother asking if he would be allowed the pleasure of stopping by in Mataya. He was on an expedition around Casidia and was accompanied by his own family and the family of his wife. She could not refuse him; it would be considered as a great insult. Although Misanta had no intentions to cast him away, she was willing to welcome her brother with open arms. Although she didn’t feel as enthusiastic about welcoming her sister in law and her family.

          Hecuba, her brother’s wife, was the daughter of Odin and princess of Dussel. It was rumoured that her beauty could easily capture the hearts of enraptured men within minutes, and have them on their knees willing to serve her in any way possible. She used her beauty and charms to achieve what she wanted, when she wanted. Misanta only saw her as a self-centered, spoilt woman. Her good looks hid her true savage personality and Misanta felt that she was the only one who could see it.

          Her daughter, Eterna, had a completely different personality to her mother’s. Not equally matched in beauty, but she had a kind, gentle heart. Eterna was the nicest of the children of Odin and brought happiness wherever she want. However she was a shy creature, waiting to blossom into something incredibly wonderful. Each time Misanta saw her, she grew more beautiful; and Misanta knew she would look more dashing than her mother when she reached a certain age. She was the type of daughter Misanta had often dreamed about having. Hecuba did not know how lucky she was to have such a polite daughter. Words could not describe how this greatly vexed Misanta.

          Hecuba had one older brother; the two of them had lost their younger sister during infantry. Their mother died by falling from a window and their stepmother had been Misanta’s husband’s sister, but she bore their father no children before her death. The brother was called Lornan and had four children; Misanta found it strange that she could remember all their names. Rodran was the eldest son and the eldest of them all, Esolth was the second eldest and the eldest daughter, Constantia was the second youngest and the youngest daughter, and Patro was the youngest son and the youngest of them all. There was a one year difference between their ages. No wonder their mother was always tired when she was living, Misanta thought.

          To tell her husband Taram this news, she had to interrupt the council meeting he was holding in the Great Hall.

  ‘Forgive me, my lords,’ she said as she approached them. ‘I must speak privately with the King.’

          The lords mumbled among themselves as the exited through the grand wooden door; leaving Taram and Misanta alone. Misanta strolled over to him, her footsteps echoing around the hall. She thrust the letter under his nose and Taram grabbed it. His blue eyes scrutinized the words on the paper for a couple of seconds before lowering it from his face.

          ‘Your brother is travelling,’ Taram stated as if she wasn’t aware. There wasn’t a hint of concern or interest in his voice. ‘Why should this be known to me?’

  ‘If you read on, you shall see that he wants to stop by in our kingdom,’ Misanta told him as she slouched into a wooden chair with two comfortable red velvet cushions attached to it. Her husband’s eyes met her’s.

          ‘Sparas wants to visit Mataya?’

  ‘It seems so.’

  ‘Could he not wait for the next Kings’ meeting?’

  ‘What makes you think he comes to see you, my love?

          Taram hesitated and he could not resist smiling a little at what she had said.