The Rugged Edge

Grey Dragons - Chapter 8: Thankful Hearts

Present

August 10, 791

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"Oh, there they are!" exclaimed Bessy.

From the height of Rokenfort's wall, the cook and I could see the queen's small procession riding along the road on horseback. As they neared, I could make out Ise's golden hair, reflecting the afternoon sunlight so that it gleamed, and Geraint's brown head. He seemed to be laughing. It didn't really surprise me.

"Who is that, right behind them?" asked Bessy, trying to make out one of the followers with her aging eyes.

It didn't take long to find the bright red head just behind Geraint and Ise.

A long crimson braid fell down the youngest back. On an uplifted face, a constantly working mouth could be seen.

"It's Mauve!" I said.

The twelve year old must have been very excited to come to Rokenfort. I was sure it was her first time. I could easily imagine her talking about it - with abundance.

We watched the group nearing the front entrance, and we waved when they looked up.

Everybody waved back, including the small group of guards following them.

Then the two of us hurried down one of the defense towers' staircases and into the front courtyard in expectation.

Once the procession had entered the castle and dismounted, leaving their steads to be led off by Arlie, the stable boy, I ran forward and hugged Geraint.

"Hello!" he said cheerily. "Did you miss me?"

"Oh, terribly," I said happily, turning to hug Ise. It appeared that the fact that she was the queen didn't affect me.

It didn't affect Bessy, either, as she also greeted Ise wordlessly.

"Hello," said another voice, which was conjured right next to me.

"Mauve!" I said.

"I came along to see Rokenfort," she said quite matter-of-factly. "I'm so excited!" She looked up at the high stone walls of the castle with an expression that proved this.

"But how will Vereniva survive without you?" I asked.

Mauve laughed. "It'll be fine. Nevaeh will just have to do more chores."

"How are Ma and Pa?" asked Geraint.

"Oh, fine," I said. "Ma's so pleased with the flute you gave her, Ise."

Ise smiled. "Tell her, you're welcome. What have you been up to?" she continued as we walked through the entrance to the Great Hall and into its brightly lit interior.

"Not much," I said. "Helping around the house and in the market. Doing a bit of writing. Ma's teaching me how to play the flute."

"Oh! Brilliant," said Geraint.

"Quinnie!" exclaimed Mauve, as if she'd just remembered something. "You can teach me how to play the violin, right?"

I sighed, mostly with amusement. Every day I'd spent with Mauve, she'd asked to be taught the violin. I'd really meant to do it ever since I met Mauve, but hadn't had any time, what with the tour and the wedding.

"That sounds like a really good idea," I said. Now was a fantastic time to do it.

"And Quinnie, you have to tell me about the Queen's Tour," Mauve continued.