Ethian caught Timur before he left after setting out his lunch. “Timur, I need you to send a message to Imre. I need to talk to my parents after the audiences today. Tell them Fallon will be with me. Then tell Fallon we are talking to father and mother, assuming Imre says they have time to speak with us.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.” Timur sent the messages and waited.
Ethian ate and by the time he was done, Timur had his replies. “What did they say?” Ethian asked.
“Imre said your parents are free this afternoon, so after you change go ahead and come to their suite. He will tell them you are coming.” Timur grinned. “Fallon’s exact message was ‘What did he do now?’”
Ethian laughed. “That sounds about right. I am running late, and I do not want to be later than I have to be. Get me changed please?”
“Of course, Your Imperial Highness.” Timur got him ready, and Ethian took the servants’ passageways to the hall outside the throne room.
“You are cutting it close.” Fallon gave him a hard look.
“I was a little late getting back inside.” Ethian smoothed down his hair and rearranged his coronet. “I will explain later.”
“Does this have to do with why you want to speak with father and Sayana this afternoon?” Fallon asked as they took their places on their thrones.
“It does.” Ethian nodded. Karis and Sayana entered, and they fell silent.
There was nothing in the audiences that required Ethian’s attention, though he didn’t allow his focus to fade. He listened and paid heed to what his father did and said. Karis ended the audiences after a couple hours and Ethian made his escape back to his rooms. He changed and made his way to the Imperial suite.
Fallon caught up with him a few minutes later. The two walked in. “All right, Ethian,” Karis settled onto the couch. “What did you want to talk to us about?”
“I met a young woman today,” Ethian began.
“That is not how I expected this to start.” Karis raised an eyebrow at his son.
Ethian sighed. “No matchmaking. We are just friends.”
“So soon?” Sayana asked.
“Can I explain please? Without side commentary?” Ethian asked with some exasperation.
“Sorry Ethian.” Karis smiled at his son’s frustration. “Go ahead.”
Ethian explained about his meeting with Verena, how it came about, and what he’d offered her. “I know we will have to have Demetrios do a check on her. I certainly do not know anything about her family, given she is from the lower court. But she seemed genuine.”
“Imre, could you send for Demetrios for me please?” Karis asked.
“I already did. He should be here momentarily. I sent for him as soon as Prince Ethian started talking.” Imre looked at the members of the Imperial family with a smile. Ethian should have known he’d do something like that. He was very good at anticipating his father’s orders.
“Thank you, Imre.” Karis nodded.
Demetrios arrived a few minutes later. “Hello, Your Imperial Majesty. Are you by chance looking for information on the lovely young lady that His Imperial Highness was speaking with today?”
“How did you know about that?” Ethian asked.
“One of your guards sent her name to me so I could do some research.” Demetrios pulled something up on his pad. “I had a full work up on her before the audiences ended.”
“Of course.” Ethian sighed. “What did you find out?”
“The young lady, as you have been told, is Lady Verena Kelcrag.” Demetrios consulted his pad. “Her father is Lord Mislav Kelcrag. Her mother, however, is not his ex-wife, Avalyn. Her mother was a courtesan named Damasci Illuvia, from Treolia Academy.”
“Treolia?” Sayana asked.
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.” Demetrios nodded. “Her contract was rather unique. It was a standard three-year timeframe, but it stipulated that there would be one child from their interactions. The child would be left behind when she returned to her academy at the end of her term. That child was Verena, though I doubt she knows anything about this. My sources tell me she believes Avalyn is her mother.”
“So she is the daughter of a courtesan.” Karis didn’t seem to find anything wrong with that. “Anything else?”
Demetrios consulted his report again. “Mislav is very wealthy, far wealthier than he admits to. He is wealthy enough to be an upper court lord, though he has not made any effort to ascend. It’s believed he will not do that until he can dispose of his four older daughters. Milisen, Nefari, Ismat, and Zdena are quite the notorious quartet in the lower court. They have slept with numerous men, earning them the reputation of being cheaper than paid companionship if you want short term sexual favors.”
“Verena told me about that.” Ethian thought Verena had put it a little more politely, but it all said the same thing.
“It’s died down in the past five years, since their mother was unceremoniously sent off by Lord Mislav,” Demetrios continued. “The rumor from the servants is that he’s taken to locking his daughters in their rooms. The older ones, that is. He doesn’t lock Verena in her room because he doesn’t believe he has to. She has been his unproblematic daughter all her life, other than the doctor bills.”
“Doctor bills?” Karis asked.
“Her sisters use her to vent their frustrations, and they have left her broken and bloody in various corners of the garden many times since she was ten.” Demetrios unbent enough to look angry at that one. “Mislav threatened his older daughters with exile back to Henebore, but his brother who is Lord Governor keeps stalling him in being able to send them off.”
“What else can you tell us about the family?” Karis asked.
“It’s believed that Verena is Mislav’s favorite.” Demetrios read further down in his report. “A fact his older daughters resent. Mislav has a son who is older still than his daughters who also favors Verena. He is married with three children of his own. He is partially responsible for the family’s wealth, as both he and Mislav are incredibly business savvy. Verena herself is quiet, keeps to herself, is considered something of a scholar by the servants because she’s seen reading a lot of the time, and is very kind to everyone she meets. She’s even kind to her sisters, though they’re extremely cruel to her.”
“Is she a scholar?” Sayana asked.
“She had a private tutor from the age of ten to the age of sixteen.” Demetrios took a moment to search through his notes. “I have a copy of his reports to Lord Mislav. He’s very effusive in his praise of her intellectual skills. He does comment her mathematical skills are weak, but her knowledge in other subjects is quite high.”
“How interesting. It seems our passion for study is not unique.” Sayana looked at Karis.
“No, it is not.” Karis sighed. “I could wish some of our upper court nobles would be more intellectually inclined. Thank you, Demetrios. How were you able to pull all of this together after only a few hours?”
“Lord Mislav is incredibly open with his servants.” Demetrios smiled. “Also, mention his name to key people in the lower court and they will fill your ear with tales of his older daughters. Very few people had much to say about Verena, though. Most of what I know about her came from the servants, or from Astera’s two sisters because she talks to them constantly about what goes on with the Kelcrag family.” Karis dismissed him and he left.
“Her family sounds problematic.” Sayana frowned.
“Not necessarily, my heart.” Karis looked thoughtful. “The sisters are a problem, but it sounds like their father is trying to do something about it. He just has to put his foot down with his brother. Verena is the one I am most concerned about, and she sounds like a genuinely good person.”
“This is why I offered Verena the safety of the garden. To give her some peace from her sisters.” Ethian hoped his parents wouldn’t make him rescind his offer. He was very worried about Verena’s safety.
“I approve, and I will pass the order along to the Imperial Guard Captain.” Karis looked at Imre, who nodded and sent the message. “She can enter. Her sisters are to be driven off, at gunpoint if necessary, so she can have some peace.”
“Thank you, Father.” Ethian was relieved.
“Have you warned her we use the garden?” Sayana asked.
“I did. I do not think she expects to see you in there though. She barely managed to accept that she was talking to me today.” Ethian smiled at the thought of how panicked Verena had gotten when he’d told her his name.
“It will be interesting to see her reaction if she encounters us.” Karis looked faintly amused.
“She will probably put herself at risk of a beating and attempt to leave the garden.” Ethian realized the problem with the situation. “I have convinced her to stay in with me, I can probably keep her in with Fallon around, but she is going to be absolutely terrified of doing something wrong if you two are around.”
“She is that sensitive?” Sayana asked.
“She is lower court, my heart.” Karis looked at Sayana. “Lower court nobility are acutely aware that they are not permitted to speak to us except when they come to petition us at the audiences. It is a tradition that carries back to when the two courts split.”
“It is still hard to get a newly ascended lord to speak to us even after they are settled in the upper court.” Fallon shook his head. “I know it was made difficult to ascend on purpose, and those that want to be in the upper court have to really work for it, but sometimes I wonder if they realize what they are getting into. It is damned hard to ascend in the first place, and even when you do you still have to make money to climb through the ranks in the upper court just like you did in the lower court.”
“What about the high lords?” Sayana asked.
“The bar to reach that rank is even higher.” Ethian took up the thread. He and Fallon had looked into all of this when they first entered the court as crown prince and his shadow. “They see a new member enter their ranks roughly once every few years, but it is very hard to stay there. You have to maintain a fortune of at minimum of one hundred and fifty million credits. Some reach that status and fall out again within a year. Others remain. The number of high lords fluctuates even more than the upper court does.”
“Going back to this Lady Verena, I am interested in meeting her.” Fallon gave his brother a look.
“I figured you would be.” Ethian had known he wasn’t going to get out of Fallon meeting her. He took his role as gatekeeper very seriously.
“So am I.” Karis’ declaration startled Ethian. “When is she in the gardens?”
“In the morning. I encountered her after the council meeting. Speaking of which, I had better go get my paperwork done. I spent my time talking to her instead of working.” Ethian made a face. “The petitions are not going to answer themselves, even if sometimes we wish they would.”
“You should not have too much. It is a light day.” Karis smiled. “I finished mine in a couple of hours, and your mother only took an hour to do hers. I did not send either of you that much.”
“I finished mine in a couple of hours.” Fallon shrugged. “None of them were that difficult.”
“I should be able to finish before court, if I go now.” Ethian stood up.
“Go on then.” Karis paused as if remembering something. “Your sisters will not be at court tonight. Kaelea is feeling ill and Ismaeli does not want to go if she is not there. We allowed it.”
“All right.” Ethian made his way to his room. Fallon followed him.
“Is she pretty?” Fallon asked as Ethian settled in with his pad.
“Who? Verena? I think she is pretty.” Ethian hadn’t really stopped to consider if Verena was attractive. He’d just seen a lady in distress.
“What does she look like?” Fallon asked, dropping into a chair.
Ethian sighed and set the pad down. He’d work on the paperwork after court. Fallon wasn’t going to leave him alone. “She has black hair like mother’s, though she keeps her hair shorter than mother does. It looks like it is probably shoulder blade length, like most women in court. She has silver eyes. She has pale skin and a charming smile.”
“You are smitten.” Fallon gave him a hard look.
“Hardly,” Ethian snorted. “She is lonely, in danger, and in need of a protector since her own family will not do it. I can step in and offer her a little safety for a while until her father does something about those four monstrosities he lets beat up on his youngest child. Why should I not use my position to help a lady in distress?”
“Ethian, you have never shown any interest in helping any woman in distress, and there have been quite a few who have come to petition you for aid.” Fallon wasn’t going to let it go. “What is so different about this one?”
“She dared the ire of the Imperial guards by dashing past them into the garden when she was trying to escape her sisters. I do not think she even recognized they were there at first.” Ethian remembered how startled the guards had been when she ran past them. “She was that frightened. Those women who came to me for help wanted aid with petty issues that did not require much effort on my part to resolve. Verena needs a friend, and she needs a safe shelter from her sisters. I can do both without anyone knowing because where she enters is rarely frequented by anyone.”
“Where is that?” Fallon asked.
“The evergreen growth grounds.” Ethian looked at Fallon. “You know, that narrow opening that the guards seldom pay that much attention to even though there are two stationed right by it? That is where she came in.”
“She had to be desperate to run past them.” Fallon now looked more than a little concerned.
“If I were being hunted by four crazed maniacs – and nothing you tell me will convince me her sisters are not at least a little insane – I would look for the nearest place to hide.” Ethian shook his head. “I would not be paying attention to what else is in there. It was not until I gave her my name that she even realized who I was.”
“Did you give her your title?” Fallon asked.
“No.” Ethian tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair. “She introduced herself as Verena Kelcrag and I introduced myself as Ethian Valspur. It took a moment, but she mapped it out and was horrified to realize where she was. She would have run off right then and there, but I made her sit down. She was going to either collapse from fright or get mauled. Neither was the result I wanted for her. Then we started talking. I think we are tentatively friends now, though I think she is still reeling over how a woman from the lower court could possibly be friends with the crown prince.”
“I still want to meet her.” Fallon gave him a stubborn look.
“Join me in the gardens. You are likely to meet her eventually. I am certain she will be back.” Ethian sighed. “Her sisters will not leave her in peace for too long.”
“I will do that.” Fallon’s expression changed. “Do you think Kaelea is all right?”
“She is eleven going on twelve.” Ethian shrugged. “It could be something simple like an upset stomach. She could be getting her monthly cycle. She is old enough for that. It could be something more serious. If you are that worried, go ask Arken.”
“I will have Silvan ask him.” Fallon looked thoughtful. “Before I get ready for court.”
“I think I will have Timur do the same thing. I want to know as well.” Ethian was concerned about his younger sister. She would talk his ear off if he went personally and he’d be late for court, which was why he was having Timur ask him instead of going in person.
“Call Timur and I will go call Silvan.” Fallon headed to his room.
Ethian called his servant. “Timur, I will need you shortly to get me ready for court, but I need another favor first. Silvan is already doing this for Fallon. Can you ask Arken about Kaelea? She is unwell and Fallon is concerned. I am too, to be honest.”
“Of course, Your Imperial Highness.” Timur sent the message. He started getting Ethian ready until his pad beeped. He looked at the message.
“How is she?” Ethian asked.
“She will be just fine, Your Imperial Highness.” Timur laughed and showed him the message. “Kaelea was pleased to hear her brothers were concerned about her but annoyed you did not come in person.”
“She would be.” Ethian laughed.
“Lord Arken says to tell you it is just her monthly cycle getting ready to start and she will probably be unwell for a few days.” Timur read the whole message. “Once it is over, she will be back to having dinner with the court.”
Timur finished helping Ethian change, and he headed to the great hall. Fallon and Karis were waiting for him. “Your mother is running a little late.” Karis smiled. “She will be here shortly.”
Sayana appeared a few minutes later. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take so long.”
“You are not that late, my heart,” Karis reassured her.
“You two were the sensible ones.” Sayana smiled at the two princes.
“Sensible ones?” Karis looked at her.
“They had Timur and Silvan send Arken messages. That way Kaelea couldn’t talk their ears off. I went in person and had to remind her I needed to leave for court twice before I could make my escape.” Sayana laughed.
Karis laughed as well. “Let us go in before the court wonders if we are going to show up.” The four of them entered and took their seats at the high table. Everything was scanned and the meal began.
Ethian escaped back to his room after his parents retired for the evening. He changed and got to work on his paperwork. He finished it in just a couple of hours as his father had said he would. He called for Timur. “Yes, Your Imperial Highness? Are you ready for bed so soon?” Timur asked when he came in.
“No.” Ethian looked at his servant. “Can you call Demetrios for me please?”
“Demetrios, Your Imperial Highness?” Timur was startled.
“Yes, Timur.”
“Of course.” Timur sent the message. A short while later Demetrios appeared.
“Usually, it’s your father calling for me, Your Imperial Highness.” Demetrios bowed. “How can I be of service?”
“Demetrios, how did Mislav Kelcrag become a lower court noble? From what little Verena said, it did not sound like he has been one all his life.” Ethian regarded the intelligence minister with some interest.
“Ah yes, I didn’t cover that in my report earlier.” Demetrios pulled up the information on his pad. “Lord Mislav is third born out of eleven children. He was an ordinary tradesman, occasionally helping his brother Egil out when he needed it. Egil is the Lord Governor of Henebore. Then Mislav made a series of very lucrative trade negotiations that tripled his wealth practically overnight, boosted Henebore’s GPP by seven percent over five years, and brought in a nice tax windfall for Egil’s treasury. Egil decided to ennoble him, as Lord Governors are allowed to do for exemplary service, and send him to court to represent Henebore directly. He’s been here ever since.”
“Is he aware of the lower court’s ability to ascend?” Ethian asked.
“He’s aware, as is young Lord Niklas.” Demetrios again consulted his notes. “His servants have heard the two of them arguing. Mislav is firm in his commitment to not move the family to the upper court until his older daughters are dealt with, one way or another, so they do not ruin his reputation in the upper court.”
“Do his servants know what he means one way or another?” Ethian asked.
“A court marriage or being returned to Henebore,” Demetrios explained.
“Has he begun looking for a husband for Verena?” Ethian asked.
“Mislav and Niklas are hoping to find her a husband in the upper court, when they ascend.” Demetrios checked his notes for that as well. “They feel with their wealth and her beauty they should be able to attract one of the minor upper court lords.”
“What is their current wealth, Demetrios?” Ethian asked.
“Lord Mislav is currently sitting on a fortune of forty two million credits.” Demetrios showed Ethian the figure on his report. “Lord Niklas is currently closing a trade deal which will see the family net another eight million credits by the end of the month.”
“Starflare, they’re going to be up there with the mid-level lords in the upper court before they ever ascend.” Ethian stared at the figure in surprise. “No wonder he thinks he stands a chance of finding Verena a decent husband in the upper court.”
“Lord Niklas’ name is already known to two upper court lords as he has made trade deals with their brokers.” Demetrios was impressed by what he was seeing. “I did some more digging on the family after our earlier discussion. That family is on the rise, if they can rid themselves of the deadweight of the promiscuous daughters.”
“Thank you, Demetrios.” Demetrios bowed and left.
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