Pages 15 and 16
"Well, I think it's funny."
"Good for you, then."
Keldf continued to make faces behind Floans' back. It was doing a good job of relieving the stress that made him want to kill this man.
"Anyway, Iyana, have you heard the news?"
"Do you mean about the war in the Southeast when Solinka broke the treaty and Matrice waged war? No, I hadn't heard anything about it." She lounged in her chair and tried to hide her smile again.
"It's coming this way, you know."
"A few days, maybe a week is all we have. I know." She coughed that told Keldf that he should stop making those faces.
"My castle is safely away from it all. I am offering you safety from this soon-to-be holocaust.
"That's--that's a very nice offer, Floans." Iyana looked to Keldf for a moment, then back to Floans. "But I can't. If you had asked me three days ago, I would've probably agreed. But now... Things have changed, Floans."
"I understand. I just thought we had a future together, that's all." They both stood up. "If you don't mind, I'd like to speak to Keldf privately for a moment."
"Of course." She smiled at them both and then went outside to stand with the guards, closing the door behind her.
"Keldf."
"Yes, your highness?"
"I know you were the one that changed things. Iyana would be my wife tomorrow if I had asked today--that is, if you weren't here."
"I am just a servant."
"You're damn right you are!" Floans kicked Keldf in the stomach; not an easy feat considering Keldf was at least a head taller. "And you'd better remember it!"
Keldf doubled over. Had Iyana not been responsible for him, he would have hit back. "Do you get pleasure from beating servants, Prince Floans?"
"No." Prince Floans kicked him in the shins. "Just you."
Now Keldf was on his knees because Floans had kicked his shins right out from underneath him. "If you try to kick me again, I will have to fight back."
"Oh no you will not! You have to endure." He began to kick again, but Keldf grabbed the man's leg and Floans fell. He was so stunned that he just sat there.
"I said I'd have to defend myself." Keldf held out his hand to held Floans up, but the prince stood up without any help.
"I'll remember this." The prince straightened his garments and then walked out proudly. Outside, as far as Keldf could see, Floans kissed Iyana, smiled, and then walked away.
Iyana rushed in as Keldf was standing and the guards closed the door.
"Are you all right?" Iyana asked. She offered him the support of her shoulders.
"It's just a few bruises..."
"It was good that you did not fight back. Otherwise you could be sentenced to jail again."
"Well, I sort of did fight back. When he was going to kick me a third time, I caught his leg and he fell. But I had warned him that I would have to defend myself if he went after me again and he didn't listen."
"A third time? Where did he kick you the first two times?"
"In my stomach and on my legs; I'll be all right."
"I'm so sorry about all of this, Keldf. But you know, I can't do anything to stop it. Prince Floans is so much more powerful than I am..."
Keldf smiled. "You know that if he was really hurting me, I would have fought back and he would think twice from now on about even looking sideways at a servant!"
Iyana barked a laugh. "Floans is a coward. He seems brave if you just listen to him, but he doesn't have to guts to back up his words."
"He said that you would've been his wife had he asked before I came." The moment he was done saying that sentence, he regretted it. Now why was he bringing that up? He knew the prince must've been lying to get Keldf mad enough to attack so he could use something against him. There was no way Iyana would pick a prince like that!
"That's probably true, though I've only met him a couple of times before this."
Keldf was stunned. "Really? Why?"
Iyana shrugged. "Because he's the best of the princes I've met and my parents want me married. And, being a princess, I have to marry a prince."
There was a long silence. Or, rather, it seemed like a long silence.
"So." Keldf was trying to fill the quiet. "What do royals do on downtime like this?"
"I usually play Cassonette with some nobles who are after my money. I usually win, though. And even if I don't, they don't ask for payment since I'm so 'young and vulnerable'."
"Cassonette...?"
"It's a really boring game. Don't worry; you're not missing anything."
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," said Iyana as she turned to face this new arriver.
It was a squat man carrying so many scrolls, he looked as if he was made of only that. "Please forgive my disturbance, but you have been summoned." Then he gestured for them to follow him out.
Iyana nodded to Keldf and they followed the short man through the hallways to the King and Queen.
When they finally came to the room they had been summoned to, two guards posted themselves at the door and the messenger let them in before leaving himself.
"There is a banquet tonight," the King began when the door had closed all the way. "and I wanted to know, Iyana, if Keldf would be joining us so we can have proper clothes made for him to wear."
"It is Keldf's decision, father. Not mine."
The King faced Keldf. "Well?"
"I would be honored, your majesty." He bowed low. "But if I may ask, what is this banquet in honor of?"
"Our alliance to Solinka during the war."
Keldf's mouth nearly hit the floor. It was a lot closer than he had thought! "If I may have permission to speak my mind and to speak frankly, your majesty."
"You may, as long as no insults--to me or anyone--are used, curses, or inappropriate behavior in general is displayed."
"Thank you. Sir, Solinka was said to have provoked the attack by Matrice. Now, I am guessing, but will there not be a lot of guests form Solinka at this banquet? That would be a perfect time for Matrice to strike and--pardon the analogy, your highness--kill two birds with one stone." He paused before continuing. "Also, your highness, what if Solinka would lose? You could lose everything by getting involved in their fight. But you won't get anything for winning since the only thing they are fighting about is breaking a treaty of some sort."
"You make good points, Keldf. And you seem to know a lot about this subject--not only strategies, but also the current events. You would be a good strategist, but what is done is done and the past cannot be changed. You may go to the seamstress to get your new clothes made."
"Thank you, your majesty." He bowed again.
The Queen gasped. "Who gave you that hideous bruise on the back of your neck, Keldf?" She was obviously talking about the one Prince Floans had given him.
"It is not important, madam." He smiled.
