56, Lingonberries

Ayya stared at the stain. She didn’t feel any pain. Ayya touched it with her fingers and felt that the dress wasn’t torn or damaged. She put her fingers to her lips and smiled.

“It’s okay, Tenac, it’s lingonberry jam,” she told him. He kept staring at the stain. “Tenac,” she gently said, touching his hand. He looked up and met her eyes. “Lingonberry jam,” she said, and he nodded. “I’m fine,” she told him, he nodded again and seemed to switch back to his usual self, but he had taken a hold of her hand and didn’t let go as he ordered his men to make sure no one entered the hall. Zerden was giving out similar orders as Ayya turned around to try to find the king. He was a couple of steps away, trying to comfort his wife, who was still hysterical. He saw Ayya looking at him, and he stood up with his wife in his arms.

“We need to talk,” he said to Ayya.

“I agree,” she said.

“I need to get Victoria back to our apartment. Please join us. You will be safe. You have my word,” the king told her. Then he noticed the stain on her dress.

“Jam,” she told him, and he relaxed. “Give me one moment please,” she said. She turned to Tenac and her two friends. She could see that both Hinat and Firlea were shocked. “The king has invited us to his apartment to talk. We need to talk to him,” she said.

“Can’t he come with us to the tower?” Hinat asked.

“No, his wife is hysterical. She needs to get home,” she said. They all looked at the sobbing woman.

“I really think we should go back to the tower,” Firlea said. Ayya looked at Tenac. This was his area. She wanted to hear what the king wanted to talk about, but if he told her they should go to the tower, she would trust his decision. As he was about to speak, the two riders that they had sent to give chase returned. They reported that the two men had got away. The guards were mounting a search effort. But the riders thought it was best to return.

“Firlea, Hinat, take four riders and head to the tower. I’m sure they will spare a guard to guide you. Tell the other what has happened. Send six riders with the guard to the king’s apartment. Ayya and I will take four riders with us as we go with the king. But I want a heavy guard as we walk home,” Tenac told them.

“Should we split up?” Firlea asked.

“If Tenac says it’s okay, it’s okay,” Ayya told her friends and gave each of them a one-armed hug, as Tenac still hadn’t let go of her hand. She turned around to the king. “Tenac and I will go with you. My aari will go back and tell the rest of our party what has happened,” Ayya told him.

“Your majesty, we should go,” Zerden said.

“We will. The lady and her bodyguard are joining us. Keep them safe,” the king said. The four riders they took with them stayed in formation around Tenac and Ayya. A hoard of castle guards was surrounding them and the royal family as they hastened through the castle to parts where Ayya never had been. They were let into a large common room with a gigantic fireplace and comfortable looking furniture. Hunting trophies decorated the walls, and large windows showed the gardens.

“Thank you for coming. I’ll be right back. I’ll just get my wife off to bed. Zerden, please stay as well,” the king said and then took his wife deeper into the apartment. Ayya and Tenac walked up to the windows and looked out over the snow-covered gardens. They were still holding hands, and Ayya felt reluctant to let go. It felt safe. A while later, the king came back.

“Please sit down,” he said, gesturing towards the sofas and armchairs in front of the fireplace. Ayya sat down on the sofa with Tenac next to her. Zerden and the king each sat in an armchair. “First, I think I need to start by saying thank you for saving my life, lady Teeran. I have a feeling that if you didn’t push my chair back, I would have two knives in my chest,” he said. 

“Please, your majesty, I think it’s time you call me Ayya,” she smiled at him.

“Only if you call me Rick and my castellan, Zerden,” the king said.

“I can manage that. My bodyguard is Tenac,” Ayya said.

“How did you know the knives were coming?” Zerden asked.

“I saw them and reacted out of instinct. Tenac used to train me for this situation years ago. I used to scold him for it, telling him I never would have use for it. I guess you proved me wrong,” she smiled at Tenac.

“Told you,” he smirked.

“How do you train someone for this? Throw knives at them?” the king asked.

“No, kumquat melons,” Ayya told him, and she told him the story about Tenac’s training. “I spend the better part of my first year as trainee soaking wet,” Ayya told them. The king laughed. Zerden was sitting with his brow furrowed.

“Truly amazing,” the king chuckled. “And you still talk to him?” he asked.

“Well, everyone kept telling me he was doing it for my own good, even my father,” Ayya smiled.

“Thank you for lightening the mood. It was much needed, Ayya,” the king said.

“Are we ready to get down to the serious things then?” Ayya asked.

“I think so,” the king nodded. “What I’m about to tell you, very few people know. If it came out, it would cause unrest in my country. I’m asking for your discretion,” he continued.

“You have it,” Ayya said without hesitation, and Tenac nodded.

“Thank you. For a while, we have suspected there was a plot to kill me,” the king confessed. “It started about six months after the coronation. At the moment, we are working from the theory that it’s a group of devout nobles that doesn’t like my more liberal approach to the church,” he told them.

“If they would succeed, who would inherit the throne?” Tenac asked.

“My nephew William,” the king said.

“Would he be more inclined to let the church get as it wants?” Ayya asked.

“He is only nine, so it would depend on his advisers. But if they could get devout men to be his advisers, not only could they secure the church’s position for now. But they could also influence him so that he will become the church’s lapdog even as an adult,” the king told them. Ayya nodded. That made sense. It would be easier to influence a child than an adult.

“They must be livid now that you have invited us,” she then said.

“I would say so,” he nodded. “I am sorry that I have put you in danger by inviting you here. I didn’t think they would do anything to harm you,” the king said.

“I’m guessing this means you will be returning home?” Zerden asked.

“No,” Ayya said.

“No?” the king asked.

“No. It complicates things and I might make Tenac’s life more stressful. But it doesn’t change why we are here. I won’t give in to intimidations. As long as Tenac tells me we can keep our party safe, we will stay,” she told them.

“Mary, that is not acceptable,” Zerden said.

“Who is Mary?” the king asked, looking confused. Ayya looked at Tenac. He nodded.

“You have been honest with us, so let me return the favour. I am Mary,” she told the king.

“I thought your name was Ayyanapia,” the king said.

“It is, but it’s not the name I was born with. When an aari gets a title, they also get a new name to honour the new path they are going to walk,” Ayya explained. “I was born Mary Group in the artisan quarters here in the city. My father was a silversmith. Both my parents were killed by the sickness. But the Lady found me and helped me,” Ayya told the king.

“You are the child that my father was supposed to watch over but put to work in the kitchen?” the king asked.

“Yes,” Ayya said, surprised he knew that.

“After you left, the council found out and there were those that argued it was grounds for removing him from the throne. It was also one reason many were hesitant to ask for help again, thinking we had angered the Lady,” the king explained.

“You are famous,” Tenac said.

“I didn’t expect that,” Ayya told him.

“And you know my castellan?” the king asked.

“Yes, we were friends growing up in the castle,” Ayya said.

“I see.” Ayya had a feeling the king would have questions for Zerden. Ayya had been surprised that Zerden hadn’t told the king about her background. “That is why they chose you to come here?” the king then asked.

“Partly. I was telling the truth when I said that I volunteered to come here. The sickness has affected me personally and if I can help, I will,” she told him.

“What are the other reasons?” the king asked.

“She is fluent in five languages, including old Urundi, her mother is an herbalist and has trained Ayya in the medicinal properties of herbs, she has been on several official ambassadorial missions, she is a top candidate to become the next Lady and she is probably one of the most intelligent aari we have,” Tenac said.

“Tenac!” Ayya exclaimed, blushing.

“That is quite a list,” the king nodded. “Wait, that just gives me more questions,” he said.

“Let’s hear them,” Ayya told him with a smile.

“You speak old Urundi? I have only met two people in my life that speaks it. Both have been over sixty with long beards and bad manners,” the king said. This made Ayya laugh. It reminded her of what the librarian that had taught her the language had told her.

“I enjoy learning new languages, and the library in the Sanctum is full of books in old Urundi. I just wanted to be able to read them. Next question,” she smiled.

“You said your parents died from the sickness. But you have said your father is the Lady’s bodyguard and now your mother is an herbalist?”

“I was adopted after moving to Salmisara. My father and mother wanted to make sure I knew they would always be my family.” Ayya smiled.

“So what happens now?” the king asked.