the valley green was so serene
Around noon or so on their fourth day traveling through a birchwood forest toward Sarsos, the Atan scouts report soldiers ahead of them--waiting, more than likely for the Queen's entourage and its small army. A quarter of a mile ahead of their position Mirtai's found a small hill, jutting up boulders covered in moss--Sparhawk's decision is ( Read more... )
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Maryani is not a noblewoman, damn it, she doesn't care what they do! ...no, she will not just accept that she's consorting with the highest of the high like a sane person, that would be silly. Kalten manages to come up with a list of reasons why this is a good plan, and finishes it off with what Maryani knows is the kicker: "The queen's safety is a lot more important than speed right now, wouldn't you say?"
So Sparhawk relents, though not without a dirty look Kalten's way. Engessa approves of the plan, and then Ulath suggests they break a wheel and move along with a skid instead--which distresses Emban slightly, but Ulath points out that as he's not the one riding in the carriage, he doesn't have to care.
Maryani makes a mental note to bother Ulath a lot more, she likes him, and that is the customary way of showing her affection.
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It's positively a courtly gathering on the hilltop, with a dozen or so of the Atanas joining their small group of noblewomen gathered under a canopy and Martel reluctantly persuaded (bullied) to take a seat with Stragen as vocal accompaniment to his lute. ("Any gentleman plays," Stragen had said of it, and the obligatory mockery of Sparhawk followed Ehlana's observation that he doesn't.)
The two friends match each other well enough that one might suspect previous experience, but Martel's far more interested in the discreet fortifications that Khalad is overseeing. Sometimes he does have to admit that boy isn't entirely objectionable.
Only sometimes, though. He turns his attention back to his 'audience' as best he can.
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Maryani thinks this is probably the nicest respite they've had in ages, even if it's for entirely calculated reasons--she's not really a fan of being indoors, though, so that probably adds to it. Also, she enjoys that the men are basically forced to entertain them...though she does notice Nourelle slip away to help Khalad with a certain task or two. He doesn't need her to carry those little tools, Maryani observes, but he's letting her.
She also wonders if Martel noticed that.
Meanwhile, toward the edge of the little shaded area they have set up, Maryani is fixing the knife-belt she wears on her lower thigh under her dress. This is apparently distracting for some of the younger knights, but she doesn't pay them much attention; it's practical as well.
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As there's no way he missed it, Martel's lack of a response is as calculated as anything else today. Certainly a young woman wouldn't be allowed near preparations if anything dangerous were planned--it's a delicately balanced thing, their life, when he can protect and manipulate as though there's no conflict between the two habits.
Stragen catches his glance and arches an eyebrow; Martel shrugs, picking up their pace and necessitating a switch in tune. The festivities will wear sooner or later, but they can do this for hours if need be.
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