"Well, Uncle Kiin did promise he'd fix Fjordell revertiss. Besides. after what I've learned today. I don't think I can sit here and listen to Iadon's judgments much longer. I'm liable to start throwing paints if he makes me much more angry."
Lukel laughed. "That probably wouldn't be a good idea, princess or not. Come on. Kaise is going to be ecstatic that you're coming. Father always fixes better food when we have company."
Lukel was right.
"She's here!" Kaise declared with an enthusiastic squeal as she saw Sarene walk in. "Father, you have to fix lunch!"
Jalla appeared from a nearby doorway to meet her husband with a hug and a brief kiss. The Svordish woman whispered something to Luke] in Fjordell, and he smiled, rubbing her shoulder affectionately. Sarene watched with envy, then steeled herself with gritted teeth. She was a royal Teoish princess: it wasn't her place to complain about the necessities of state marriages. If Domi had taken her husband before she even met him, then He obviously wanted to leave her mind clear for other coneerns.
Uncle Kiln emerged from the kitchen, stuffed a book in his apron, then gave Sarene one of his crushing hugs. "So you couldn't stay away after all. The lure of Kiin's magical kitchen was too much for you, eh?"
"No, Papa, she's just hungry," Kaise announced.
"Oh. is that all. Well, sit down. Sarene. I'll have lunch out in a few moments."
The meal proceeded in much the same way as dinner had the night before,
Kaise complaining about the slowness, Daorn trying to act more mature than his
sister, and Lukel teasing them both mercilessly-as was the solemn duty of any
elder brother. Adien made his appearance late, looking distracted as he mumbled
some numbers softly to himself. Kiin brought out several steaming platters of food. apologizing for his wife's absence because of a prior engagement.
The meal was delightful-the food good, the conversation enjoyable. Until, that was, Lukel took it upon himself to inform the family of Sarene's painting talents.
"She was engaged in some sort of new-abstractionism." her cousin proclaimed with a completely serious voice.
"Is that so?" Kiin asked.
"Yes," Lukel said. "Though I can't quite say what kind of statement she was trying to make by representing a flower patch with a brown smudge that only vaguely resembles a horse."
Sarene blushed as the table laughed. However, it wasn't over-Ashe chose that moment to betray her as well.
"She calls it the school of creative misdirection." the Seon explained solemnly in his deep. stately voice. "I believe the princess feels empowered by crafting art that completely baffles one's ability to distinguish what the subject could be."
This was too much for Kiin. who nearly collapsed from laughter. Sarene's torment was soon over, however, as the topic of conversation met with a slight change-the source of which was of some interest to the princess.
"There's no such thing as a school of creative misdirection," Kaise informed them.
"There isn't?" her father asked.
"No. There's the impressionist school. the neorepresentational school, the abstract derivational school, and the revivationist school. That's it."
"Oh, is that so?" Lukel asked with amusement.
"Yes." Kaise pronounced. "There was the realist movement, but that's the same as the neorepresentational school. They just changed names to sound more important."
"Stop trying to show off for the princess." Daorn mumbled.
"I'm not showing off," Kaise huffed. "I'm being educated."
"You are too showing off," Daorn said. "Besides, the realist school is not the same as the neorepresentational school."
"Daorn, stop grumbling at your sister." Kiin ordered. "Kaise, stop showing off."
Kaise scowled, then sat back with a sullen look on her face and began mumbling incoherently.
"What's she doing?" Sarene asked with confusion.
"Oh, she's cursing at us in Jindoeese," Daorn said offhandedly. "She always does that when she loses an argument,"
"She thinks she can save face by speaking in other languages," Lukel said. "As if that proves that she's actually more intelligent than the rest of the world."
With that, the torrent of words from the small blond girl's mouth changed directions. With a start, Sarene realized Kaise was now muttering in Fjordell. Kaise wasn't done, however: she topped of the tirade with a brief, but biting, accusation in what sounded like Duladen.
"How many languages does she speak?" Sarene asked in amazement.
"Oh, four or five, unless she's learned a new one while I wasn't looking," Lukel said. "Though she's going to have to stop soon. Svordish scientists claim that the human mind can only maintain six languages before it starts to jumble them."
"It's one of Iittle Kaise's life quests to prove them wrong," Kiin explained in his deep, scratchy voice. "That. and to eat every morsel of food to be found in all of Arelon."
Kaise stuck out her chin at her father with a dismissive sniff, then turned back to her meal.
"They're both so… well informed," Sarene said with surprise.
"Don't be too impressed," Lukel said. "Their tutors have been covering art history lately, and the two of them have been working hard to prove they can outdo one another."
"Even so." Sarene said.
Kaise, still displeased at her loss, mumbled something over her meal. "What was that?" Kiin asked with a firm tone.
"I said, 'If the prince were here. he would have listened to me.' He always took my side."
"He just sounded like he was agreeing with you." Daorn said. "That is called sarcasm, Kaise."
Kaise stuck out her tongue at her brother. "He thought I was beautiful, and he loved me. He was waiting for me to grow up so he could marry me. Then I would be queen, and I'd throw you all in the dungeon until you admitted that I was right."
"He wouldn't have married you, stupid," Daorn said with a scowl. "He married Sarene."
Kiin must have noticed the way Sarene's face fell when the prince's name came up, for he quickly hushed the two children with hard looks. However, the damage had been done. The more she learned of him, the more Sarene remembered the prince's soft, encouraging voice traveling hundreds of miles through the Seon to speak with her. She thought of the rambling way his letters told her of life in Arelon. explaining how he was preparing a place for her. She had been so excited to meet him that she had decided to leave Teod a week early. Not early enough, apparently.
Perhaps she should have listened to her father. He had been hesitant to agree to the marriage, even though he knew Teod needed a solid alliance with the new Arelish government. Though the two countries were descendants of the same
racial and cultural heritage, there had been little contact between Teod and AreIon during the last decade. The uprisings after the Reod threatened anyone associated with the Elantrians-and that certainly included the Teoish royalty. But with Fjorden pushing the boundaries of its influence again-this time instigating the collapse of the Duladen Republic-it became obvious that Teod needed to either reacquaint itself with its ancient ally, or face Wyrn's hordes alone.
And so Sarene had suggested the marriage. Her father had objected at first, but then had bowed beneath its utter practicality. There was no stronger bond than that of blood, especially when the marriage involved a crown prince. Never mind that a royal marriage contract forbade Sarene to ever marry again: Raoden was young and strong. They all assumed he would live for decades.
Kiin was talking to her. "What was that, Uncle?" she asked.
"I just wanted to know if there was anything you wanted to see in Kae. You've been here a couple of days; it's probably time someone gave you a tour. I'm sure Lukel would be happy to show you the sights."
The thin man raised his hands. "Sorry, Father. I'd love to show our beautiful eousin around the town. but Jalla and I have to go discuss the purchase of some silk for shipment to Teod."