Katie looked at her exsquisite white shoes in embarassment, feeling the blush spread across her cheeks. Herrimar's faith her had touched her so deeply that she didn't honestly know what to say.
I don't see the brilliant young woman you see Herrimar, she thought. How many of my 'achievements' have been thanks to others? Robin cheated Sissule and I certainly didn't beat Suki without help. I don't deserve your praise. But I'm going to try and earn it.
The Queen looked back up at Herrimar, her huge, soft brown eyes shimmering and smiled, a warm wonderful smile. She suddenly looked so beautiful, so vunerable yet strong this teenage monarch that Joador, on the verge of a sharp retort closed his mouth. "Thank you Herrimar, my dear friend," she said gently, taking her courtier's hand in her own. I'll try and live up to your view."
Himself deeply moved, Herrimar bowed his head an kissed her hand. When he looked up displayed a rather wonderful smile of his own, though he was not in truth a handsome man. "I am always your's your Majesty. Whatever you're choices I shall stand with you."
Katie turned back to Joador, who had been watching this expressionless as a sphinx. "Joador -," she began, but that was as far as got as a servant burst into the Circle Room. "Your Majesty! You Majesty! There as been an attempt on the life of Prince Kadisphoros!"
Katie felt her world spin and it was only the quick reactions of those bitter rivals Herrimar and Joador in catching her that stopped the Queen falling into a dead faint. Dizzily she stood back up astonished to discover that aside from shock what she felt most was grief and fear for Kadisphoros.
Whatever else he is my uncle... one of my only links to Mom.
"Is he-?" Katie was going to say 'dead?' but couldn't bring herself to use the word. "Is he ok?" To her great relief the servant nodded. "Yes your Majesty. His Highness was stabbed in a corridor by Lord Pasarius but the healers believe he will recover. Lord Pasarius is in the dungeons under heavy guard."
Both Herrimar and Joador stiffened when they heard the name 'Pasarius'. Herrimar in paticular turned pale. "Your Majesty, Pasarius is the same noble who tried to defend your honour when Kadisphoros called you a traitor [707690]; he is a known partisan of yours - the people might think you wanted the prince dead!"
Fri Feb 05 22:30:13 2010