Duty

Chapter 10 As common as they get

It was already late in the morning when Eudemas woke her. Vara groaned when the sunlight hit her eyes and turned around on her other side.

“No my lady,” Eudemas scolded, “it’s time to get out of bed. Didn’t I hear you say last night that you would read to master Caius?”

“I lied,” Vara admitted, “I couldn’t go on that ride. It’s hard enough to act normal around Cyrus. If we’re not careful we’ll ruin the alliance. Things with Tireze are fragile enough as they are. We don’t need anymore trouble.”
Slowly she sat up and looked at her friend. “What am I to do, Eudemas? Cyrus doesn’t seem to care, or even notice, that he is insulting the house Tirzé. And I can’t keep avoiding him. It will raise suspicion.”

Eudemas sat down on edge of the bed. “The wedding will take place soon,” she said in a comforting tone, “all will calm down once the party of Tireze has returned home.” She pressed Vara’s hand.

“You are a good friend, Eudemas,” Vara said, but she knew it wouldn’t be that simple.

She climbed out of the bed and sat down in front of the mirror. Quietly she started brushing her hair while Eudemas picked out a gown for her.

“Have they been gone long?” Vara asked after a while.

“A little after dawn,” Eudemas confirmed, “they took luncheon with them, so they should be gone for a while.“ She stood behind Vara. “Perhaps you should visit master Caius after all. What if the prince should confront him? If they find out you lied, questions would rise.”

Vara sighed and put down the brush. Her fiend was right. She nodded and let Eudemas help her put on her gown.
“Thank you,” Vara said. She turned to the servant girl. “Please find lady Euridice and tell her I’d like to have breakfast with her.”

Eudemas smiled amused. “It’s closer to lunch.”

“Lunch then,” Vara decided.

Eudemas curtsied and left the room.

Vara turned to the mirror again and let out another sigh. “The things I do for you,” she muttered and left the room.

***

The villagers of Dalós were bustling about when the company approached from down the Northern road. A handful of children came running down the hill to inform the village’s elders of the large group.

By the time an appropriate welcome had been hastily prepared, the group had already reached the edge of the village.

Eunice put down her bucket with grain she had been carrying and straightened her back. She  shooed the chickens out of the way and walked towards the side of the house to watch the prince and his entourage. Perhaps Vara would be there. She needed to talk to her fried desperately.

An unfamiliar man was riding next to prince Cyrus. He had an air about him and he looked like a foreigner. He must be one of the visiting lords from Tireze.

There were soldiers riding along for protection and a carriage not far behind the prince.

Eunice frowned at it confused. Where was Vara? Was she in the carriage? That wasn’t like her. She would usually ride alongside the prince.

But maybe, because of the delegation, the king had requested she behave more like a lady.

The company halted in the town square and the prince dismounted. Immediately, one of the village boys came up to hold the reins and water the animal.