Fantasy novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The gown was heavy cotton with frilly trim everywhere.  This dress was one that she usually saved for the most special occasions.  She also had the dressing maid help her with her hair that she seldom took the time to fix.  When she was through she was the vision of a proper lady.  Her dressing gown was as slightly different color that her new gloves but she decided to wear them anyway.  She headed to the dining hall feeling like a fake but knowing she could pull this off.

As she sat in the drawing room awaiting the other dinner guests she flipped through the pages of a book.  “The basics of abilities.”  This book was an unusual book to have in a drawing room and she wondered if her mother had accidentally put it out or if she had done it intentionally because of her questions.  She read titles of chapters detailing the author’s knowledge of powers that most knew about.  She wondered if literature such as this would be banned if the decree was passed.  While she was pondering the silence was broken by the arrival of the guests.  Giselle was indeed accompanied by her parents and  all were escorted into the drawing room.  She tucked the book into the folds of the chair with the intention to retrieve it later.  She could use this to help her prepare for this time in her life.

“Giselle, it’s so good to see you,” she lied.  Just then Rachaella walked into the room.  Her gown was a red satin gown she had worn only a hand full of times.  At nine years of age he fashion sense had long surpassed Audreena’s. 

“What a stunning little lady you are!”  Giselle said to her.  “Look philleep, isn’t she a gem?”

Philleep looked in her direction and stared but said nothing.  Philleep was a year older than Racaella and had been coming to play with her his whole life.  He seemed unimpressed by her display of fashion.

“Thank you Giselle.  I wish you would come to call more often.  It is nice to have another around who appreciates fashion.”

“We have all been so busy planning the upcoming events there has been no time for visiting.  But I am here now.  What do you plan to wear to the countess’s tea party?”

“I have a lovely gown designed by my tailor.  It is exquisite!  I am so excited.”

They faded to the back of the room and talked of gowns, lace and all of the upcoming events.  Dinner was announced and everyone filed into the dining room joined by Audreena’s mother.  The meal was amazing and when it was through the girls were instructed to keep watch on their younger siblings.  Giselle was drawn to Rachaella and seemed content on visiting with her.  Audreena tried to draw young Philleep into a conversation but nothing she could think about seemed to interest him until she mentioned the merabird eggs. 

“You have collected them before?”

“Yes, I got a clutch of four last night.  We are to have them for breakfast.”

“You mean there are merabird eggs in this house right now?”  His eyes lit up and he looked around like there was something fantastical about it. 

“Would you like to see them?  I am sure Julibia wouldn’t mind.”

“I have never seen a merabird egg before.  I heard they are beautiful.”

“Let’s go to the kitchen and see if Julibia would get them out for you to see.” 

“Oh let’s do!”  He popped up and bobbed as if he had a string pulling at him.  Audreena laughed just a little and she walked briskly as Philleep bobbed towards the kitchen. 

“They aren’t that rare.  They are all over in the forest.”

“Yes but my mother and father won’t allow me to go anywhere by myself.  Even if I knew how I would never be allowed to hunt for them.  I have a very boring life you see.”

“I don’t know how it can be boring.  Giselle is always planning something or the other.  Your house must be bustling with guests all of the time.”

“Yeah but that is what makes it so boring.  My life would be great if I were into tea parties and balls.  The flood of snooty girls is tiresome.” He paused and looked around.  “OH don’t tell ma I said that she would be angry.”

“Don’t worry; I won’t say anything.” She laughed.  “I guess if you put it that way, I would think my life boring as well.  I was a willful child and didn’t listen when I was told no.  I got into trouble all of the time but I could not have survived if I had to live the way my mother dreamed I would.  I would have felt just like you.”

They arrived at the kitchen and Audreena presented Julibia with the request of the merabird eggs.

“Let me get this tea out to your mother, and then I will fetch them for you.”

As she went through the door she left it cracked.  Audreena could hear the conversation between the adults. 

“We should go to the meeting and voice our opinions.  If there are enough of us maybe it will make a difference.”

“But what if they decide to pass it anyway?  Won’t we be shunned for speaking out?”

“It doesn’t matter! Could you live with yourself if the decree passed and we had not tried?  The agony they will endure just for being who they are.  It isn’t right and you know it.”

“We have to think of our own children.  It’s not fair but it is a fact that the council will know who is against them and it will be harder to help the ablemen later.”

“Still I think we must try…..”

Julibia came back through the door and shut it. She could hear the muffled voices behind the door but could not make out the words that were being said any longer.

“Now about those eggs. I put them in the icebox.”  She walked over to the insulated pantry and came back with a basket of peculiar colored eggs. “There young master.  Merabird eggs fresh from the nest; collected by, none other than, Miss. Audreena herself.”          

“Oh wow!  They are so beautiful!  I have never seen a color like that.  I wish I could keep one.”

“You try that young master and it would explode in no time leaving a foul odor that you would never get out!”

“I know, but if there was a way!  They are so pretty.”

“We had better get back to the sitting room before it is noticed that we are gone.” Audreena said leading young Philleep to the door.

“Have you ever gotten hurt from climbing in the trees to get them Miss. Audreena?”  He asked.

“Well, I have got lots of scratches, but once I fell and hit my head pretty hard.  It made the forest spin, and my eyes blurry for a few minutes, and I had a large bump on my head for days.  But that was a long time ago when I was younger than you.  I was friends with a village boy who gathered them and sold them so he taught me what to look for.  It’s not so hard once you know.”

“I wish I had someone to teach me.  I would love to climb trees and collect beautiful eggs.  I would find a way to get the insides out and keep them.” He said beaming.

“Well we will work on that.  I know your mother would not approve, or I would teach you.  I have out grown doing as I please, and getting in trouble, most of the time.”  She was enthralled by this little boy who seemed so much like she had been.  She had hated the society that she was expected to be a part of and had embraced the ways of those with a simpler life.  Her friendship with Bayleen had happened because she had not stayed on the path like her mother had instructed her to, but instead had wandered through the thicket and had happened across him gathering kindling for his family.  She had helped him because it looked fun.  He was so grateful that he found her a few days later and showed her a special place in the forest.  And so her friendship with a common boy had become the only joy in her life.  “So Philleep, when you can gain your mother’s approval, I can help you find someone who would properly teach you to hunt Merabird eggs.  Or… I could do it myself if she would like that better.”

“Really?”  He was surprised at her offer and beamed from ear to ear.

“Don’t get your hopes up young man.  Your mother does not approve of me doing it, and I doubt she would let me teach you.  However, times are changing and she might allow someone else, a man, to teach you.  I know master Merabird egg hunters that would teach you; but, only with your mothers blessing.  There will be no sneaking behind her back to learn.  That would be wrong.”

“Isn’t that what you did?”

“Yes but I didn’t have anyone to tell me it was wrong until I already knew how to do it.  I am different and I never fit into the roll my mother expected of me.”

“I am different too!  I don’t fit anywhere.  The other boys they think I am weird because I don’t like to wear dress up clothes and dancing with little girls.  They are not nice to me because I would rather play catch the ball than croquet, and I am not good at it.”

“I know how you feel but it is wrong to disobey your parents.  I learned the hard way; you should not make the same mistake.”  They arrived at the sitting room where Rachaella and Giselle were busy sharing ideas for dresses, dances and tea parties that were coming up.  She was glad she had found a distraction from the boring subjects.  Philleep was in for a long road and she knew it.  She had been in his shoes once, and then she had met Bayleen.  She felt accepted and like she could just e herself when she was with him.  She longed for a way for Philleep to find the same joy but was not sure how.

“I just want to fit in but I don’t like those things.”

“So, ask your mom if you can have one hour every day to yourself.  Go into the forest and listen to the sounds.  Go bird watching; that is acceptable.  When you learn the birds you can learn to hunt merabird eggs easier.”  She leaned in close and spoke quietly so the sound of her voice would not carry across the sitting room to his sister.

“Oh Audreena you are wonderful!  Thank you.” He squealed in delight.  His smile was intoxicating and she smiled in return.

“No problem Philleep.”  Giselle turned towards them as Audreena gave the boy a sideways hug.

“What makes Audreena so wonderful brother?”  She asked warily.

“She was just telling me about bird watching.” Philleep said cautiously.

“I thought it might do him some good to learn to identify the birds near you home to occupy his mind.”  Audreena added.

“Oh you would suggest that.  Maybe he would be good at that.” She said snidely.

“Yes maybe he would,” Audreena retorted.  Then turning to Philleep she whispered, “Maybe the merabird egg hunting should be our secret for a while at least.”

“Yeah I suppose that would be best.”  He said discouraged.

“Chin up; you are going to be the best bird watcher in the province.”  She said to him ruffling his hair.  She promptly straightened it out again before his sister could comment.

The nanny came in to get Rachaella and assist her in her bedtime routines shortly before Gandala and Shirika arrived to shuttle Giselle and Philleep out the door to their home.  Audreena was in her room preparing for bed when she heard the commotion of her father’s arrival.  She had left her door slightly ajar hoping to catch more of what was happening.  She moved to the doorway to watch the scene unfolding below.

“What is wrong my darling?  Is one of the girls ill?  They would tell me nothing.”

“That’s because they know nothing.  Come let’s go to our chambers to talk.  Have you eaten?”

“No, I came home with haste just as you requested.  We did not stop for a meal.”

“I will have Julibia bring something up for you.”  Turning and going to the kitchen door she instructed, “Jilibia can you prepare something quick for the escorts and companions to eat they have not had a meal yet and brig something up for Gnobb.  We will be in our chambers.”

“Yes mam.  I have some pork I prepared for tomorrows meal that is still hot.  I will serve that and prepare another for tomorrow.”

“Ok, whatever is best for you?  Thank you Julibia.”  Turning back to her husband and taking his arm she headed for the staircase.

“Leave everything and come up now we must talk.”  When her parents entered their room Audreena moved to the hallway with the book she had taken from the sitting room.  She sat in the alcove off the hall that had good light.  It would never be questioned why she was there with a book, but she knew from past experience that if she was lucky enough for either of her parents doors to be left slightly open she would be able to hear most of what was said.  She was able to crack the door from her parents chamber leading into the alcove without being noticed and she settled into the settee’ to read the book.

“Darling I am sorry that I have caused you worry, but I have word of a decree that is to be passed soon that is so unjust even I can’t turn my head and pretend I do not know.”  He mother spoke cautiously and with great emotion.  Audreena wondered if there was behind it all.

“But you know how I feel about intervening in the council.  How could you think I would this time?” Gnobb seemed angry as he raised his voice at his wife.

“I know just hear me out.”  She sighed and then she went on. “The council is discouraged by the pilphering going on in other residences.  There are Lordships who are accepting payment from ablemen to not turn them in.  The council is very angry and does not trust the Lordships.  Not even those of us who have complied with their decree to turn in those that misuse their abilities.  They have been discussing a solution for some time now.  They have come to the conclusion that all people with abilities must be gathered into a camp near where the council resides or be murdered. You know about my grandfather and what that could mean for us.  What if one of the girls suffers from the abilities?  What if they are taken away from us?”  Audreena felt sick.  So her mother knew it was possible that she could get abilities and never told her!

“Oh my dear, don’t fret, everyone else has been lucky.  No children in your line have had to deal with it.  Greshton’s abilities were so slight that few knew.  I did not know, he hid it well.”

“He had to hide it or he would be shunned by those who loved him.  Lordships that have abilities are unheard of.  Now it is more than that.  Gredor told me that they will test everyone regardless of your station.  If you hide the knowledge of an ability…you, as a lordship, will be punished as well.  I know many who have abilities who choose to hide it but have slipped and I have noticed.  Because I grew up with my grandfather near I know what to watch for.”

“You are right of course.  We must try to intervene.  When is the meeting?”

“It is day after tomorrow in the evening.  The council will hold it in their chambers and it is open for discussion.” 

“I will prepare an escort.”

“We have to have a course of action as Lordships.  We must all meet at the Granger Inn beforehand if possible to discuss what we think the course of action should be.  We will have more luck if we come into this with a united solution than if we all come in with fractured ideas and un-thought out suggestions.”

“I have a wise wife.  I will delegate a team of runners to announce that we plan to have a meeting of the lordships to be held at the Granger Inn at lunch time tomorrow.  That should give us all plenty of time to get to the council chambers for the meeting.”

“Thank you Gnobb.  You know it will all work out somehow.  I just worry that one of the girls may be caught up in this decree.  It is not fair to anyone especially not the children.”

“Yes dear I know.  We must leave tonight to make preparations for the meeting tomorrow.  I will tell the runner to stop at the inn along the way and alert them that we will be arriving.  Start preparing to depart I will go set things in motion.  I still have my escort from Thwarptown they may be willing to accompany us as well as send a runner back to their lordships.”

“I have already begun to pack.  I will finish shortly and be ready to go.” At that her father went out the door.  She heard her mother moving around in the room gathering the belongings she would need for this journey.  She did not notice her mother standing in the open door at first.

“Audreena what are you doing here?”

“Reading mother,” She said holding up her book, and suddenly regretting her choice of books, “the light is better here than in my room.” 

“I know I shut this door tight, how long have you been here?”  Her mother looked at her knowingly and she looked at her bare feet suddenly ashamed of her behavior.

“I have been here a while, long enough to know you have a secret you should have shared with me.” Audreena said accusingly.  “I have the right to know I have an ancestor with abilities.  What if I got them and didn’t know what to do?”

“Sweetheart, I, wouldn’t know what to do if you got them. Why should I worry you with something that has so little chance of happening?”  Audreena knew her mother was right but she was still angry with her.  She could feel the warmth in her hands and took a deep breath.  She balled her gloved hands into fists and placed them in her lap so she did not repeat the episode with the tree. 

“Mother this is not right.  I heard you earlier with Gredor, I didn’t mean to listen but your chamber door was open.  I only heard part of the conversation.  I am afraid mother.  You know how I am; I want to know more than I should in all things but in this….” She paused not wanting to give away too much.  It would be better if her mother did not know just yet. “I have friends in the village with abilities.  I know honest people with them and they have never done any wrong.  I felt the need to know so I can protect my friends.”  Her mother had never discouraged her friendships from the village, but she hadn’t considered that her daughter would be exposed to young people with abilities until earlier today when she asked about them.

“Audreena you are a dear girl with a big heart.  I know, now that you know, you will never give up until you know everything.  I fear if I do not include you, you will get yourself in trouble.  What do I do with you?  You remind me of my brother greyton who died as a teenager.  He was so inquisitive and always was in trouble.  I will talk to your father, but I feel you must go with, if only to listen.”

“I cannot go without Bayleen,” She said suddenly without thinking.  “Mother he is my best friend and I have told him everything!  I cannot leave without letting him know why at least.  But this affects him more than me, if he knows I have gone without him he will follow me I know it.  He cares for me mother we grew up together.”  Her mother sat silent for a few minutes before speaking.

“Audreena you are an impossible girl.  Will his mother allow him to go?”  She said quietly.

“I do not know. He cares for his baby brother while she works.”  She looked at her mother in dismay. “But, mother he has to go.”

“Audreena you dream big, I will speak to your father.  That is all I can do.  Now go prepare yourself in case he approves of you coming.”

“Yes mother,” she said with tears in her eyes and she left the alcove for her room.