Radu arrived from the dome a few hours later to announce a dozen riders coming in from the south at a trot, so I sent him to let the cook know that the riders would be here for supper. A half-hour later, I stood where Grigore had stood to greet us, Ellie to my left, Oana to hers, and our ducklings arranged behind us. Our steward descended the steps as Lauretti and the rest dismounted from their horses, her lightly landing while the others of the Realm all moved with varying degrees of gracelessness. It appeared our reinforcements were not comfortable on a daylong ride. They were all dressed in rich-looking, local-style clothing. The Primori and his cavaliers all had dismounted behind the others and watched those of the Realm dismount with not well-hidden amusement.
Lauretti watched them, tight-lipped, then handed a small scroll to the steward as he bowed to her.
He began to read from the scroll. "I am pleased," he heralded, "To announce the arrival of Lady Lauretti, Weapons Mistress of the Realm, and her entourage."
Lauretti gave a slight curtsey at her name.
"Lord Reginar Manole of the Realm."
A beefy man her height with sandy hair, brown eyes, and a pale complexion stepped next to Lauretti and gave a slight bow. He looked similar in age to Lauretti.
"Lord Danus Masson of the Realm."
This man looked Native Indian, my height, but more slightly built. His silver hair seemed strange on his youthful face. I doubted he could be thirty, but he was decidedly saddle-sore from the ride.
After his bow, the steward continued, and Ellie gave a small squeak. "Lord Nathan Covali of the Realm."
That twerp, I thought with a smile. He grinned back as he bowed. He'd grown and looked to be a few inches taller than me now. Light brown hair hung below his shoulders, and he'd lost some of his gawkiness in the last three years. He moved and bowed more easily than either of the other two men.
"Lady Cornelia Deion of the Realm."
Somewhat plump, she stood taller than Lauretti, looking like she'd spent the last week on a tropical beach, darkly tanned with golden blond hair that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight as she curtseyed slightly. She didn't seem stiff from the trek here and appeared somewhat younger than Lauretti.
"Lady Tabitha Plesu of the Realm."
Short and plain-looking with mousey brown hair braided into a single plait down her back, she looked slightly older than me and moved painfully, though nothing like the last and youngest of the ladies.
"Maid Sinense Friso of the Realm," the steward announced, and she gave the barest of curtseys as she limped to her place in line. Definitely the youngest, maybe Ellie's age, even if she moved like an old woman right now. Her wavy hair was unusual, with streaks of white among the mainly brunette hair. Strangely buxom on an otherwise tall and slender body. Her fingernails glittered pink and blue, the first polished nails I'd seen since arriving here.
Next came the receiving line, Lord Regent Emil acting as host and greeting each in turn. He kissed Lady Lauretti's hand with a smile, then gave each of the men a forearm grip and a short bow and kissed the hand of each of the other women.
Lady Ralu briefly embraced Lauretti, then allowed each man to kiss her hand as she curtseyed, with brief embraces again to the women as they passed.
I did the same as Emil, keeping the smile I gave Lauretti on for the rest until Nathan had his turn.
"Dude, I'm finally here. These last couple of days were surreal. Did you know about all this and not tell me?"
I laughed and shook my head. "Not a clue, but we'll talk about that later."
YOU ARE READING
Wherever I Am
Ficção CientíficaCollege-age Kevin Covali and his family have lived on his uncle's estate for the last year instead of in the city. When he and his sister Allie are attacked on the road home from school, he finds out that there is more to his family than he ever sus...
