Queensmen

Chapter 19

~His Majesty's Advisor~

Alone since dawn broke, Oris was left to twiddle her thumbs in the carriage-there was nothing much to do to pass the time. She had no doubt her plan would work but as more seconds ticked away, her uneasiness grew. Maybe going against her future mother-in-law wasn't the best thing to do but if she didn't strike while the iron was hot, she would probably miss the entire selection.

She didn't have a candle or sundial or pocket watch to estimate time with but she figured that the officials would soon be trooping towards the palace. That meant that soon Faeradaigh would be back to try to convince her to move the convoy elsewhere

Her maids had snuck out while the eunuch slept heavily in his own carriage to paste her letters somewhere public. It hadn't been too long ago but she expected them back anytime soon, either with a crowd of people or alone.

Soon the sound of horseshoes on the paved stone road reached her ears. Oris reached for her veil. She always wore it when anyone but her maids were with her. It was best if no one was sure what she looked like until after the selection. It was safer that way.

She shifted towards the curtain and peeked out of the carriage. A throng of horse-drawn carriages were slowly making there was towards the palace walls.

Well, here are the officials. Oris took in a deep breath and steeled herself. Just pretend that you haven't been on the road for days. You are back on your throne. You are Queen. You can do this.

She dropped the curtain and settled back down. There was no point looking as though she was seeking attention, that would only give the opposite result.

Again, there was a knock on the carriage door. "My Lady?"

"Faeradaigh, pleasant morning is it not? I just finished watching the sun rise."

"Yes, yes, My Lady," he answered automatically, not caring to continue the conversation. "Perhaps we should move out of the way, into somewhere with more shade. . ."

"And make The Emperor think we are insincere?" Oris let her voice rise. "I think not. We shall stay here as long as needed."

"But, My Lady-" he was cut off by a new voice, one from one of the approaching carriages.

"Ah, Faeradaigh, pleasant morning to you," it said. "Fancy seeing you outside the palace by this time. Does The Emperor have a message to be passed along or the like?"

"No, no," Faeradaigh said, his voice uncharacteristically deep. "The Emperor is in the palace now waiting for the morning court."

"Then why are you lingering here?" the voice asked. "Should you not be attending by his side?"

"I have a task to accomplish," Faeradaigh answered. "I cannot enter the palace without completing it."

"And do tell, does this carriage have to do with your uncompleted task?"

"Well-"

"Well? Faeradaigh, you know better than to hold your words with me. I could be of some assistance."

The eunuch's voice dropped a beat lower as he carefully explained the situation, taking care not to sound like he was accusing a certain royal.

"So this is the missing last bride?"

Oris took that as her cue and pulled the curtain back slightly. Finally she could put a face to the voice.

The man was slender like a willow and fair like a young maiden but the way his eyes flashed with intelligence scared her. As harmless as he looked, Oris felt like she was staring at a viper.