Minerva took a deep breath and followed the boy through the wide doors. They opened up into a large hall with windows that peaked all the way up to the vaulted ceiling. There were blazing fires on opposite sides of the hall that took the sharp morning chill out of the air. All of the carpets and decor were a deep, cool burgundy that made it feel even warmer.
In a nook across the huge room was Rone, Bryant, and an older man with a heavy mustache that sat up straight even though he was slightly leaning his elbow on the armrest of the chair. His kind eyes were squinting a little at her as Rone and Bryant finished what they were saying to look in her direction.
Now in the spotlight, she began to feel at home again. She was made comfortable under the pressure of having to be presentable. It was alone when she found it difficult to find reason to keep it together.
“This is Minerva.” Rone stood to introduce her. “Minerva, this is King Archen. High king of all the Brier lands.”
King Archen came elegantly around the table to take her delicate hand. She gave a low curtsy.
“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Please, call me Archen. No need to have such formality here.” His deep voice was smooth and kind as he smiled at her and bowed, his towering frame bending like a young tree in a strong wind. “It is also an honor to meet you, Minerva. Your reputation precedes you.”
“Oh really?” This surprised her.
“Yes. I’ve heard of you long before now. I was wondering when we would get the chance to meet, although I hear it is not under good circumstances you have come.”
“Not remotely. I’m unsure what will become of me.” Minerva felt an ease as he kept her hand and brought her over to the chair next to him. His hair was longer than everyone else’s, showing he was not going into battle.
“You are more than welcome to stay. As a matter of fact, I hear your mother is still in Ghrathar?” The king’s eyes looked to Rone in confirmation. Rone only nodded.
“She is,” Minerva answered. “Her house is a few miles outside of the city.
“We will send for her right away.” Archen motioned to the boy who brought her in and he happily scampered away. “My grandson, Philip,” Archen grinned. He stood up again to look out at the vibrant morning lighting up the city below. Minerva caught Rone looking at her before Archen spoke again without turning around.
“I’ll speak with Minerva alone.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Bryant and Rone said in unison.
“Rone, you’ll see to it that everything for her is in order?”
“Of course.”
Minerva watched them go. Something was going on that she wasn’t being made aware of.
“So you fled from King Beau’s fortress yesterday morning?” Archen came back to his chair and crossed an ankle over his knee as he reclined.
“Yes.”
“You fled,” he repeated, concentrating on her. The wrinkles on his face were deepening.
She narrowed her eyes in question. “Yes. He was about to attack me when Rone intervened and got me out.”
“How was he so near with such perfect timing at such a critical moment as that?”
Minerva’s head tilted, wondering what he was getting at.
“Archen, Your Highness, I don’t mean to be rude, but why does any of this matter to you?”
“Rone is a quickly rising political figure in court. He has united many divided minds over the past year and a half, being only a secondary member… However, to become a primary member, similar to a position you held in Ghrathar, he must have a wife.”
The words hit her like the icy north wind.
“Oh?” she chuckled with a little nod. “I’m guessing he doesn’t currently have one.”
“Nope.” Archen looked satisfied. “I was wondering if you were aware, as I am one that prefers to keep clarity at the forefront of all of my business and the business of my people.
I apologize if it seems intrusive, but these people are the closest to me… I’m sure you of all people understand.”
“Absolutely. Thank you for telling me.”
“Now, I’m not saying that was the sole reason for him bringing you. As the story was told to me, it sounds like a pleasant coincidence.”
Minerva turned it all over in her head from the beginning. It was Rone who had told her to come away with him and get out of the kingdom. That was probably what Bryant had been growling about back on the ship.
“Sort of.” She tapped her fingertips on the table. The morning sun was shifting onto Archen, illuminating his familial dark eyes that seemed to match the burgundy surroundings.
“Bryant is married?” she asked.
He shook his head. “He is not. Our next court session of the season begins in one month. Whoever does or does not fit the requirements anymore will have to adjust accordingly. That means if Rone has a wife by then, he will be inducted into my closest council, which would not upset me in any way. He is bright and a ferocious warrior.” Archen put his fingertips together and basked in the light. “These are the rules of the House Assembly. Ours consists of roughly twenty men with five of them being petty kings ruling the distant lands of Brier. I have two very elderly men on my counsel with worn out ways. I’m looking for a new team for the new times.”
“There are no women on your council?”
“No. But I can get you on by stating that you are of special interest during a critical time.”
“Are we in a critical time?” she asked. Archen paused and gazed out the window. This time his smile had a melancholy hint.
“We are about to be. Change is coming fast. It’s going to be a race to see who can take as much as they can as fast as they can without collapsing or being taken over.”
“Would I still have a position if I were to be married to Rone?” The thought spilled out of her mouth before she could have time to think a moment on it.
“That’s the interesting thing. It would present a conflict of interest.” His weathered fingers folded above his collar bone as he quirked an eyebrow at her. “I’m sure I could weasel around that rule, but that would be a tricky one… One that would not please the House Assembly. You would have to choose. Of course, being Rone’s wife would be extremely easy. He is a man of good character with a decent estate to his name. I imagine you could advise through him and have the benefit of absolute privacy in your own home. By not marrying him, you would be on my council directly, however you would live here in the castle. Of course it is safe, but there are always some kind of eyes and ears watching as I’m sure you’re accustomed to… If you had any interest at all in him, Minerva, I would pursue that.”
“You think I should?” Her eyes lowered, trying to think of the situation from all angles.
“It doesn’t matter what I think. My wife died fifteen years ago. I wouldn’t be mad at a smart, beautiful woman living here to liven the place up a bit. Someone I could discuss matters with. Walk in the gardens when it’s warm. Sit by the fire some cold evenings. Nothing inappropriate. Just a friend.”
“Well it seems simple. Why can’t I stay here a year, even, until I accept his hand?”
“War is coming too soon, I’m afraid. Nothing really gets done when it starts. I’m guessing Rone would like to secure his position beforehand so he can take advantage of more political freedom during wartime.”
“Hmm…” Minerva stared at the intricately decorated wood table.
“I’m sure he’ll bring it up with you,” Archen kind of chuckled. “Whatever you do, I respect it. I can personally say that Rone is a fine man.”
“Thank you,” she nodded.
“I have a servant on the way to show you to your room.” He held up a tiny round button that he returned to his pocket as he stood. “If there is anything you need, please ask.”
“I will.” She smiled and shook his hand.
A woman about her age entered and led her out. There were more people milling about, doing chores along with important-looking people hurrying around carrying papers or cases. The woman led her to the main foyer and up a wide staircase that climbed up to the next floor. Her room was on the floor above that and down a much quieter hallway.
Not many people were on the third floor. The air seemed to hang in perfect stillness as some sunlight reflected out of some of the rooms they passed. Hers was at the very end. Going in, she was blinded by full sun coming in. Her room faced south over the city. There was everything she would need. There was even a phone on the center table. The first room was the kitchen and living room with what looked like the bedroom over to the right.
“Is there anything you need, Miss?” the young woman asked blandly. Her hair was short. Almost the length of the men. Minerva knew she was going to sharply stand out among the Briers by her long hair alone.
“No thank you, this will do just fine.”
“I should think so,” the woman muttered. Minerva stared at her for a moment.
“Something the matter with me staying here?”
The scowling woman pursed her lips and turned on her heel.
“Are you going to be the one that comes up here if I need something?” Minerva asked.
“No.”
The door shut with a thud that was harder than needed.
Minerva only took a deep breath. She didn’t know how pleasant of a stay this was going to be if the servants held so much animosity for her. The only thing Minerva felt like was taking a shower to wash off the last few long days.
After her shower a different servant came in to bring her some clothes. She was a teenager that was much more willing to have conversation.
“If you don’t like any of these, Miss, I can go get different ones.”
“Oh these will be perfect.” Minerva held up a very long dress with a fitted bodice.
“My name is Emily. I’ll be helping you for your stay, as long as it is.” She also had short hair, but had it just long enough to be put into a tiny ponytail. She had a petite face with very
delicate features.
“My name is Minerva, but I bet you already knew that.”
“Oh yes, I did.”
“Who was the servant who showed me up here?” It was going to be quite necessary to learn who her adversaries were. Better to at least get to know the ones who made it obvious.
“That was Margret. She has her own… opinions.” Emily wrung her hands, not saying anything else. Minerva didn’t push it. She would build trust with Emily before asking questions about the people she knew.
“There will be lunch down in the dining hall in a few hours.”
“I will be down, thank you.” Minerva smiled and took the clothes into the spacious bedroom to get things organized.
When it was time for lunch, she found her way back down to the foyer and then into the next wing, where the dining hall was, however there was hardly anyone there. She walked over to the kitchen doors and found almost everyone in the castle was seated at two long wooden tables that ran through the kitchen. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Emily walking up to her.
“What will you have this afternoon, Miss?”
“Oh, whatever everyone else is having will work.”
Emily nodded and hurried off. Minerva started wandering to find an empty seat when she glanced up to find Rone watching her from down the table. A small smirk came to his face as he waved her over.