The Court of the Swan

Chapter 4 The Wakening

"There you are!" snorted Myra, as she waddled into the kitchen carrying a basket of dried lavender. The heavy-set woman with her ruddy face and orange-coppery hair that ringed her face in an array of frizzy curls had been her mother's maid long before Iseania had come to Ronasruhe. 

Iseania gave her a startled look as she was in the midst of tearing apart of hunk of bread from one of the just baked loaves. "I was hungry."

"Don't give me that innocent look, young lady. Your Mother was worried to bits that you weren't in your room this morning when she went to see you. Threw apart half the keep looking for you, she did, until your horse and two birds turned up missing. Ian finally admitted to seeing you. He's in a right good spot now. Not his finest hour. He'll be mucking the stables for a long week, I'm thinkin'. She was about to send Dunnovar out to round you up but Father Arden convinced her not to, too busy, what with the Wakening and all. So many things to set up and here you are adding worry to this heap." Myra harrumphed for added emphasis.

Iseania knew there was no getting out of it, she would need to be contrite. "You're right. I should have told her. I needed to get out. A ride in the fresh air, that's all. I'll go straight away and see her, apologize."

It worked, Myra softened. "You do have more color to your cheeks, child. And I see you brought me two nice Ceramis cranes to add to the feast. Now, like you said, straight away to see my Lady."

Iseania grinned and raced out.

"And happy birthday, child!" Myra called out as she left.

Running the whole way, she was out of breath so she forced herself to slow her breathing as she neared her mother's chambers. It would do her no good if she told her story, her lungs gasping while she spoke. With her breaths more settled, she knocked and pushed the door open.

"Mother, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you I was going out. It was so early and I know I shouldn't have. But.. I'm better. The headache is gone, completely. And I've had no dizzy spells the entire morning."

Her mother was seated at her solitary desk. It was where she did her sums for the keep. Standing next to her was the ever-present shadow, Father Arden. He rolled up some paper and then tied it with a thin red ribbon. 

"Ahh, there you are, Iseania" his nonchalant words weakened by the clear relief the softening of his crowsfeet. Her mother, made no such pretense at decorum, pushing out her chair and rushing to hug her.

"Iseania! I was so worried! Where were you? Do you know that I had the entire castle searched, every little nook!" Her mother was a tall woman, taller than Iseania, and thin, her pointed chin digging a little into her neck as she hugged her.

"I know, I'm so sorry. Myra told me. I woke up early and couldn't sleep. I thought maybe if I just got a little bit of air outside it would help. My headache was gone when I woke up and I was hungry so I went down to the kitchen and I-" she stopped herself from spinning a tale. Her Mother had clearly been distraught. "It was selfish. I worried you so." Iseania looked down guiltily.

Lady Genevieve could sense she was holding something back, but she could also feel her genuine remorse. She tilted her head to the side, knitting her brows and held her at arms length "No headache? No more dizziness?" She squeezed her shoulders.

Iseania nodded as best she could with her mother holding her in her vice-like grip. Scepter, the woman still had her strength!

"And no more fever. Mother," she paused, " Whatever it was, I'm better. I swear it, on the Scepter."

Father Arden gave Iseania a disapproving look. Swearing on the Scepter was frowned upon, as well as unbecoming of a noblewoman's daughter. But he said nothing, and, for that, Iseania was grateful. Instead, he cleared his throat, "Err, Lady Genevieve, I need to be off to see that this gets to... well, to where it's supposed to go." He bobbed his head and scooted backwards towards the door past Iseania.