For Tenyo's LMS contest. Apologies for the spacing. YWS is weird about that. Enjoy!
Word Count; 963, approx.
Chapter
Fifteen
Amara
was trying to get the
girls into fresh clothing when they knock on the door came, startling
them all. She exchanged a glance with Etana, then Baraz and gestured
for the door to be answered. Etana answered it with Baraz looming
over him. A messenger stood back from the door, looking harried.
Amara crossed over to doorway with a frown.
"What's
this?" she asked, peering down at the boy with the too big tunic
on. The messenger presented her with a neatly folded piece of paper.
She glanced towards Baraz before taking it and flipping it open.
"His
Highness sends his regards and requests a luncheon with Her
Highness," the messenger boy said, head lowered. He stood
stiffly, like he was hurt but refused to show it. Amara had to wonder
what had happened to him, and considered sending Etana after him to
find out if he was injured and how it had happened.
Amara
flipped the note open and blinked. "It's a summons," she
announced, squinting at the elegant script. "His Highness
requests myself and one other." She offered the servant boy a
smile. "Thank you. You may go now. Tell him I'll join him."
The
boy ducked his head and straightened him. He blinked at her and then
turned on his heel, rushing out of the room without a word. Amara
stared after him thoughtfully before closing the door. It had been
nearly a week since the assassination attempt on Arjana, and the
palace had been rather subdued. She didn't blame them. Two
assassination attempts within a month? Any noble would be concerned
that they were next.
She
peered down at the note in her hands again before closing the door
and walking towards the roaring fireplace set in the outer wall.
"Well," Amara said, tearing the note up into little pieces
and tossing those pieces into the flames. "I suppose I best
answer his summons, don't you?"
Baraz
grunted in response, casually leaning against the nearest wall.
Mylitta and Shala hovered near the bed, eyes darting between her and
the other two. Amara sighed and looked towards Etana, who was still
staring at the closed door, his expression thoughtful. Amara's frown
deepened as she watched the Ethei think.
"I
imagine this luncheon would be in a formal setting?" Etana
queried, still looking at the door thoughtfully. After a moment of
silence, he turned to face Amara and flushed, glancing down. "I
apologize for my outburst."
Amara
chuckled and waved a hand at the statement. "It's fine,"
she replied, turning away. She considered the idea for a moment, then
what the note had said and nodded. "Formal, yes. Why don't you
pick out something suitable for lunch with a royal, Etana?"
Etana
was only too glad to help find something appropriate, and within the
hour, Amara was heading down a hallway with Baraz and several palace
guards. They were far too glad to show her to the way, but Amara
didn't mind. It left her time to think. Being a guest in the palace
was much more pleasant that being a prisoner, but she still wasn't
really a guest. Amara knew she was still a prisoner. It was just a
matter of time before she went from prisoner to something else. What
that was, she wasn't sure, and dreaded the possibilities.
"Your
Highness?" one of the guards said, dragging Amara out of her
thoughts. She offered him a smile when he gestured towards a set of
doors already held open for her. Amara glided through and waited
until Baraz was also in the room before gesturing for the guards to
close the doors. She turned her back on the now firmly shut doors and
her smile grew when she saw Arjana already waiting for you.
"Amara,"
he said fondly, returning the bright smile. "Please, sit. Lunch
will be served momentarily."
Amara
took a seat at the table, smoothing out her bright blue skirt. She
waited until Baraz was settled by the door before meeting Arjana's
gaze. The Tahirnan prince met her gaze steadily, still smiling. Amara
caught a glimpse of someone behind him and frowned. Rindal stood
against the far wall, leaning causally in the doorway. She frowned at
him and leaned forwards.
"I
thought this would be a private lunch," she said in a low voice,
keeping an eye on the lecherous man. "What is he doing here?"
At
first, Arjana appeared confused, but then he turned to fix Rindal
with a dark look. After a moment, he heaved a sigh and turned back to
face her. The prince looked concerned. "He's standing in as
bodyguard for Kaiser until Kaiser wakes up....or dies."
Amara
nodded curtly and leaned back in her seat. "Very well," she
muttered and fell silent.
Only a few minutes later, several
servants entered the room bearing trays. Lunch was served. The
servants laid out a nicely presented selection of season meats,
vegetables and fresh fruits. Once it was all laid out and the
servants were gone, Arjana and Amara began to eat and talk--of
course, they discussed meaningless things. Amara was wary of
discussing their other plans with Rindal present, and Arjana seemed
to pick up on it.
They
were halfway through the fruit when a harried servant burst into the
room. Arjana was on his feet before the door hit the wall. Amara
twisted to stare at the intruder, confused. The servant took a moment
to catch his breath before he straightened and looked to the prince.
"There
is news, Your Highness," he panted, eyes wide. Arjana gestured
for him to continue. "The Emperor is dead."
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