In The Name of Love

The Royal Carriage carrying the Princesses of Aethyrozia breaks through the trees at the crest of a hill, providing Fifi with a sunset-washed view of the village of Lonyr and the manor house of the Earl of Lyrnola. Her breath catches in her throat and it’s all she can do to keep her leg from jiggling in her skirts with impatience and excitement. This is where Kai grew up. The forest we just came through might be Sigurd’s forest, the place where he learned Cybarein, she marvels, but she dares not voice such thoughts aloud. Minna sits next to her, seeming engaged by the view out her own window, but Fifi doesn’t want to take unnecessary chances. Her sister poked a little too close to the secrets she has been keeping during yesterday’s travels, and though she feels guilty for hiding things from her closest friend, Fifi intends to keep her promise to Kai and keep him safe, no matter what the cost.

“This manor house looks more comfortable than our lodgings last night, at least,” Minna mutters to Fifi as the carriage bumps along the half-cobbled, half-dirt road.

“That wouldn’t take much,” Fifi replies. The Baron of Besnuth was not prepared to host their entire retinue in his dilapidated home. The two princesses decided during their supper in his smoky, drafty hall that they would be more comfortable sleeping in their carriage than in whatever poor beds he had to offer, and so they did, despite the protests of their servants and their guards. As a result, both princesses are stiff and sore, but Fifi at least is grateful for the experience. How much worse might sleeping in the woods be? she worries, twisting her neck to look back at the forest behind them. The movement aggravates her aching back, and so with a wince she returns her gaze to the road ahead, to Lonyr and the manor house.

Fifi’s heart sinks as they get closer. The villagers seem worn down, and they eye the Royal Procession with silent wariness. Some of them even seem hostile, to Fifi’s surprise. Uncomfortable, she lets her window curtain fall shut and turns to Minna.

“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” she asks.

“The people look miserable here,” Minna replies in Syazonian. “Besnuth wasn’t like this, nor other places we’ve driven through so far.”

“Do you think it’s because Father hates the Earl of Lyrnola? Do you suppose—”

“I think it has more to do with that.” Minna points out her window, and Fifi leans on her sister to look past her finger. Beyond it, the manor house of Lyrnola seems to shine in the light of the setting sun. The wall and what they can see of the grounds around it are well kept, with no signs of disrepair or suffering anywhere—a stark contrast with the pockmarked roads and weathered buildings of Lonyr.

The contrast only builds as their procession makes its way through the gates into the courtyard of the manor house. On the steps to the front door stand a couple in lavish clothing, presumably the Earl and Countess of Lyrnola.

Kai’s father and stepmother, Fifi realizes, and she sees at a glance why her father hates the Earl. His calculating gaze reminds her of one of Minna’s more despicable suitors from The Questioning, and his dark, well-groomed beard that has been carefully sculpted into a point reminds her of villains from the storybooks she read as a little girl. The Countess seems to be dripping with jewels, and the gilt lace adorning her sleeves and skirts seems more fitting for a Queen than someone of her station.

“Violation of sumptuary laws,” Minna remarks under her breath, still in Syazonian. She nods towards the Countess, who mistakes it for acknowledgement and smiles and waves with a syrupy smile.

“What?” Fifi asks, also in Syazonian. Despite the bustle of the courtyard as the procession halts and begins to unload, she senses a need for discretion.

“Jewels and clothes like that are reserved for Dukes and royalty. She shouldn’t have them, and they shouldn’t be able to afford them.”

“That’s why Lonyr is so run-down and the people are so weary. They must be taking too much in taxes, or something….”

“I think the same. I’ll write to Father tonight about it, and send a messenger back to Adelhyod when we depart in the morning.”

Fifi nods her assent, but a servant is opening the carriage door for them, so she dares not say more, not that she can think of more to say. What will that mean for Kai? she wonders. The way he’s spoken of his family, she doubts he will mind much if they get into trouble with the king, but she also doubts that King Ansgar will exclude Kai and his younger brothers from whatever punishment he might mete out.

Where is he? Fifi almost asks aloud, but she bites her tongue to keep the words in. Although he left Adelhyod with their procession, Kai rode ahead to make sure that everything would be ready for their arrival at his father’s house. But as she glances around the busy courtyard, she sees no sign of him.

“Welcome to Lyrnola,” the Earl greets Minna and Fifi with an over-stylized bow. “My family and household are completely at your service.”

“It is such an honor to have you stay with us,” his wife twitters, waving a gilded and bejeweled fan in front of her face as though she might faint from the excitement.

“Just flaunting her impropriety,” Minna mutters to Fifi before turning her attention to the Earl and Countess. “Thank you for your hospitality. Our journey is yet long, and we would be most grateful for a good meal and a comfortable bed for the night.”

“And you shall have both, as soon as we can manage it,” the Earl assures her, bowing again before clapping twice to summon someone inside his manor house. An elderly man dressed in well-worn butler’s clothing shuffles out right away, as though he has been waiting for this cue. “Albin, please show Their Highnesses to their rooms.”

“Yes, Your Lordship,” Albin answers. His voice is hoarse, his back bent, his face weathered and lined. Surely a man this old ought to be able to rest, rather than working and waiting on others? Fifi reasons, her heart aching for Albin. She and Minna follow him, with their maids behind them, into the manor house and down a corridor lined with paintings in gilded frames and highly polished weapons. The stone floors have been well-swept and scrubbed, and sweet-smelling herbs are burning in censers at regular intervals.

“This house is beautiful,” Minna compliments as she glances around them.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Albin replies. “We have worked very hard to make her look her best.” He lays a hand on a doorframe with an affectionate smile.

“Have you worked here a long time?”

“Aye, since I was a wee lad, when this Earl’s grandfather held his title.” The butler’s smile turns wistful, as though he’s remembering happier times. “We’ve prepared this suite for you, Your Highnesses. There’s a lovely view of the Young Lord’s favorite gardens through the windows, and the beds are fresh-turned. Someone will call you for supper once it’s ready.” Albin opens a door and holds it for the princesses to enter. Within they find bright woven rugs, narrow windows with wooden shutters open to let in the fading light from outside, and a fireplace attended by two wooden chairs with velvet cushions.

“Thank you,” Fifi tells Albin, who bows and takes his leave.

“Two bedrooms,” Minna observes, noting doors on either side of the fireplace. “Which do you want, Greta?”

“Oh, Your Highness, you know I can’t decide that,” the maid protests.

“I’m going to explore the gardens,” Fifi says, but neither Minna, nor Greta, nor their other maids seem to hear her as they debate about the bedrooms. Why would he mention that the gardens through these windows are the Young Lord’s favorite, if it wasn’t some sort of signal? she muses. I’m sure he meant Kai. He would have said it differently if he meant the twins. The windows are too narrow for her to climb through, and so she goes back into the corridor. The first two doors she tries are locked, but once she turns a corner, she finds a door with a stained-glass window in it that opens for her, letting her out into the fresh evening air.

The gardens are indeed lovely, with rosebushes in full bloom and shrubs carefully pruned into fantastical and exotic beasts. To her surprise, the gardens aren’t completely walled in; to her left, the garden turns to a field of wildflowers, which then becomes a wood perhaps two dozen paces from where she stands. Some of the noise from the main courtyard, where the Royal Procession is still unloading and taking care of their horses, floats over the roof, but it’s not loud enough to ruin the peace Fifi feels just from being outdoors and away from the trappings of her title. For comfort while she travels, she has traded her usual tiara for a simple circlet, and her dress is far less grandiose than the one the Countess is wearing.

“I wonder if they expect us to dress up for supper,” she wonders aloud.

“They might be,” Kai’s voice answers her, making her jump, as he comes into view around a topiary unicorn to Fifi’s left. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. But it doesn’t matter what they’re expecting. Your comfort is paramount above all, as guests in our house.”

“That’s all right. I’m the one who wandered out here uninvited.” They’ve come within two paces of each other and stop, tension filling the space between them. The look in Kai’s eyes reminds Fifi that she has a part to play, that they might be observed in these gardens by her sister or less sympathetic eyes. “Um…. Thank you, for your gracious reception here. I hope that riding ahead of us was not too strenuous for you or Varsel.”

“Not at all, Your Highness. I would think traveling in the carriage more tiring, and would have expected you to take advantage of the chance to rest in your room before supper.”

“I wanted to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. The carriage is stuffy on warm days like this. When I saw the gardens through our windows, I just had to get a better look, and so…I found my way here.”

“They are beautiful this time of year. Most times of year, actually.”

“Albin mentioned that they’re your favorites,” Fifi admits, her voice little more than a whisper.

“Oh, he did, did he?” Kai shakes his head. “Father put him up to that, I’d guess, or Birgitta.”

“Why would they—”

“I mentioned to them that I met you, during Princess Wilhelmina’s Quest for Favor, and they’re…rather fixated on making sure I have the best possible chances for success in…the next Quest for Favor.” He won’t meet her eyes as he speaks, instead looking at the darkening sky overhead.

Fifi bites her lip; Kai’s palpable discomfort is making it difficult for her to maintain an air of disinterested politeness and a decorous distance between them.

“Supper is likely to be a bit much,” Kai continues, his voice low. “They’ve done everything in their power to secure ‘food fit for the king’s table,’ in their words, and they’ve insisted that you and I must sit next to each other.”

“That won’t be so bad, will it?” Fifi’s voice breaks despite her attempts at false cheer. Playing her part is turning out to be more difficult than she thought it would be.

“Just…challenging.” Kai darts a glance at her, and when their eyes meet Fifi’s insides turn to warm jelly. She looks at the ground, casting about inside her mind for something else—something safer—to talk about.

“Um. My sister mentioned that…Their Lordship and Ladyship are in violation of sumptuary laws, dressing above their station. Were you aware…?”

“I suspected as much. Birgitta’s costume for today looks almost as regal as what I’ve seen Queen Ingrid wear. But she doesn’t go to Court. She’d prefer to play at being a Queen here, rather than having to act the part of a Countess there. Why do you mention it?”

“My sister will be sending the king a letter about it. I don’t know what he might do, if anything, but…I thought you should know.”

“Noted. Thank you.”

“I don’t know if there’s anything you can do to help the staff here, should something ugly occur, but I got the impression from Albin that they are overworked and underpaid and ought not to share in—”

“Your impression is accurate. I rode ahead to take some of the burden off of them,” Kai admits. “I will always do what I can for them.”

“Fifi!” Minna’s voice calls, and then her face appears in one of the windows of the manor house. Fifi’s blood turns to ice and she takes a few steps away from Kai, towards the window, but Minna’s eyes are already on them, registering surprise and irritation. “Princess Josefina, come inside! We’ve been called for supper, and I get the impression we’re meant to look our best.”

“Coming, Sister,” Fifi replies, and she rushes towards the door to go back inside without a backward glance. No matter what I do now, Minna won’t be convinced that I’m not interested in him, she realizes. Her heart thunders in her chest. How do I keep her from writing anything to Father about it?