Gardener

Chapter 3

Poison

                   
"Gardener Lyssa?" I glanced up from dusting off my trousers to find Mei and Junghwa standing in the shadows of the double doors leading into the ballroom. I straightened my sleeves waiting for one of them to explain the solemnness of their expressions. They shared a look before Junghwa stepped forward. "Gardener Lyssa, her Majesty would like to speak with you in private before the feast begins."

"Of course," I followed them through the palace until we reached a door I had never considered opening, after all one did not enter the Queen's study without her permission. Junghwa knocked, three than two than three again. I noted it but did not comment.

"Come in," Mei twisted the doorknob and pushed waving me forward, I entered without preamble Mei closed the door behind me.

"Gardener Manoban," The Queen stood facing the window on the left side of the room, the cool night air gently caressed the dark locks of her hair, causing her gown to billow around her ankles as if she were dancing despite the fact she hadn't moved at all. It was a transfixing sight.

"Majesty," I countered from where I stood just inside the door.

The Queen chuckled softly before turning to face me with eyes even more shockingly lighter than her daughter's brown, yellow almost to the color of hazel. "Anyone else called to a meeting with the Queen so late, just after insulting her own son, the Prince, would be afraid and yet you stand here Gardener Manoban and you challenge me. You challenge me with a word. My own title no less."

"I gave your son the respect he deserves, the same respect all men like him deserve." Her Majesty stared at me then for a long moment, face a solemn mask, she stared into my eyes looking for something I could not name. Perhaps she found it perhaps not she closed her eyes sighing softly.

"You're suggesting that my son, a man that could have, if the Gods willed it, one day have sat the throne, deserves less than no respect. You poured out an entire glass of the most expensive wine in all of Angileri." The Queen's voice while filled with exasperation, and I think not directed at me but her son, held no true malice.

"Let us thank the Gods then that he will never sit the throne," the Queen gazed at me shocked that I had the audacity to speak so plainly and then she laughed startling me slightly at the completely unexpected sound. Much like her daughter's voice had when I first heard it, the Queen's laugh was a pleasant shock to the system. I smiled softly while she covered her mouth eyes crinkling with mirth as she laughed heartily before turning away to calm herself.

"I should not find it so amusing," Her Majesty said by way of apology, "But your words conjured up the look of frustration on his face that he could do nothing because in essence you had done exactly what he'd asked from showing him your magic to giving him the respect he'd requested." The Queen turned back to me, "You put my son in his place and I do not plan on punishing you for doing it in the most respectful and yet blatantly disrespectful way possible. Truly if I had a glass I'd raise it in your honor." She tipped her head in respect by way of compensating for the lost opportunity. I tipped mine in turn acknowledging her respect.

"If I am not to be punished, then why am I here?" I questioned finally getting to the point of this impromptus meeting.

"I wanted to meet the woman who inspired such awe in my people in just a matter of moments no less." She gazed at me with smiling eyes though her face remained serious.

"What happened in the ballroom was a team effort..."

"Dara's speech was very heart warming and perfectly timed but I know the feel of her magic. I know the feel of Ryu's, of Kalini's and Amida's..." She stepped towards her desk removing the crown that I knew sat heavily upon her brow despite the lightness of the metal it was created from. "Once upon a time I could walk into one of the palace garden's and name whom had worked there that day simply by the feel of their magic. I still can, Dara's in strongest, Ryu's despite his large stature is gentle, Kalini's is vibrant like she is and Amida's is delicate as if it will break at the most opportune moment and reveal something startling but wonderful."