“Your baggage is on its way up, my lord,” the steward assured Sen. “The lamps are lit, and there is wine, beer, and fruit juice for the children. I shall send servants to assist you straightaway.”
“My thanks, Karogi,” Sen replied. The steward bowed, and, quick as a cat, he departed.
The twins immediately clamored for permission to go find a bedchamber for themselves and Lani.
“Yes, yes, girls. Go ahead.” Amara wearily waved towards the staircase leading to the upper floors.
“Come on, Mariso, Jena,” Lani called. She shepherded the chattering girls upward, admonishing them to be careful and not to run.
“Where do they get all of that energy?” Sen muttered. Looking around, he spotted a sideboard upon which stood a couple of pitchers, a carafe, and an assortment of glasses and cups. He poured a glass of wine and handed it to Amara. Helping himself to a cup of beer, he then claimed the most comfortable chair in the room for himself and sat down with a grateful sigh. Amara settled on a couch set before the unlit fireplace.
“I’m sorry about what happened earlier, Jelena. Please forgive me.” Sen said. “I should have introduced you properly, as you deserve. Rest assured that it won’t happen again.” He raised his cup to his lips and took a long, deep swallow.
“If she insists on dressing like a servant, no one should be surprised that she’s treated like one,” Sadaiyo commented. He had also helped himself to the wine; he and Misune now sat on a smaller couch near the window, sharing the cup between them.
“I dress this way because it is comfortable,” Jelena replied, her voice low and hard. Sadaiyo sneered. She turned her back on him and went to pour a glass of wine for herself and a cup of beer for Ashinji. She briefly entertained the idea of throwing the pitcher at Sadaiyo’s head.
No. Why waste good beer on such filth?
“Comfortable though it may be, it is not suitable garb in which to go before the royal court,” Amara gently pointed out. “I think the new green outfit I gave you as a wedding gift should do nicely.”
“Yes, Mother. I’ll be sure to unpack it first thing,” Jelena replied.
A knock at the door signaled the arrival of the baggage, along with several servants bearing trays. With the efficiency of experience, the servers soon had a hearty meal laid out-turtle soup, cold poached fish, a platter of steamed vegetables, wheat cakes fried to a crisp, golden brown, several loaves of bread, and a small wheel of hard yellow cheese. Apples and berry tarts made up dessert.
The delicious aromas of the food set Jelena’s stomach to rumbling; however, decorum dictated that she, along with the rest of the family, must wait until Sen and Amara had taken what they wanted before serving themselves.
The food tasted as good as it looked. As they ate, Sen spoke. “I expect the king’ll have a lot to discuss with me, so most likely, it’ll be a late night,” he said between mouthfuls. “Prince Raidan will probably be there, too. Sadaiyo and Ashinji, you’ll accompany me, of course, though I doubt you’ll need to stay the whole evening.”
“The king will be calling the war council soon, don’t you think, Father?” Ashinji asked.
“Yes, when all of the lords entitled to sit in council have arrived, he will, but I don’t know who all is here yet. Jelena, I’ll need your ring. I intend to show it to the king this very night.”
“Yes, of course, thank you, Father!” With eagerness born of hope, Jelena pulled the ring out from its hiding place beneath her tunic and slipped the chain over her head. She presented the ring to Sen and returned to her seat on a floor cushion next to Ashinji.
Sen held the ring up before his face, where it swung gently, back and forth, like a fortune teller’s pendulum. Pensively, he examined the gleaming white band of metal for a few heartbeats, then closed his fist around it and shifted his gaze to Jelena.
“Jelena,” he began, “You know family means everything to us and-right or wrong-a person with no family can’t expect to rise very far in elven society.” He paused to look at Amara, who nodded in agreement. “When you married my son,” he continued, “you became a member of the House of Sakehera which, though no small thing, is not the same as knowing the house from which you came.”
As if sensing her anxiety, Sen smiled in reassurance. “It’s an understatement to say that your life has changed since you first came to us,” he said, “but it will be nothing compared to what could happen if your true father embraces you as his own. Are you ready to face that?”
“I’m ready for whatever happens, Father,” Jelena replied, but her bold words rang hollow in her own ears. In truth, she didn’t know which she dreaded most-acceptance or rejection.
“Are you implying, Father, that she could be the daughter of a noble house?” Sadaiyo asked, eyebrows raised. “That’s impossible! What self-respecting elf of good family would mate with a human? Her mother could have stolen that ring, or found it in a field somewhere. A marchland farm boy’s by-blow… Now that I could believe!” Misune laughed at her husband’s cruel words, her golden, lioness eyes flashing with mean-spirited amusement.
“Shut up, Sadaiyo!” Ashinji growled, rising halfway from his seat, hands knotted into fists. Jelena reached out to restrain him.
“What’s wrong, Little Brother? Can’t stand to hear the truth about your precious little mongrel?” Sadaiyo retorted, rising to his feet in anticipation.
“That’s enough!” Amara cried. Before anyone could react, she sprang from the couch and launched herself at her eldest son. Planting her hands against his chest, she shoved Sadaiyo hard. He fell backward into Misune’s arms where he lay, staring up in shock at his mother’s face. Amara stood over him, rigid with fury. “Sadaiyo, you have no idea who and what this girl is, none at all!” She spat her words like slingshot bullets.
Sadaiyo flinched as if struck, and all the color drained from his face. He swallowed hard and bowed his head. Misune wisely followed suit. Jelena had never seen Amara so angry nor Sadaiyo so cowed, and she found the vehemence of her mother-in-law’s outburst disturbing.
What does she mean, who…and what…I am? Is she talking about my father…or something else?
“You will never again speak to Jelena in so disrespectful a manner. Need I remind you that you insult your father and me each time you insult her? She is our daughter-in-law now, and we were the ones who gave our consent to her joining our family.”
“Please forgive me, Mother,” Sadaiyo murmured, his proud head still bent in submission.
“Don’t ask me for forgiveness. I’m not the one to give it to you!” Amara retorted. Sadaiyo opened his mouth as if to reply, then apparently thought better of it and remained silent.
“Your mother is right.” Sen spoke up, his own voice razor sharp. “Like it or not, you are all family, my family, and by the One, you will behave like it! Things are going to be very different soon, you mark my words!”
No one moved or spoke for several heartbeats.
Sen finally broke the tense silence.
“We’re all tired and filthy from the road, but that can’t be helped. The king has commanded my presence, so I must go. You two, c’mon.” He jabbed an index finger at Sadaiyo and Ashinji, then gestured toward the door.
With a soft “I love you” whispered into her ear, Ashinji kissed Jelena on the lips and followed his father and brother out of the apartment. Without saying a word, Misune fled up the stairs, leaving Jelena and Amara alone in the sitting room.
Jelena’s mind whirled with unvoiced questions.
You have no idea who and what this girl is…
“Mother, what did you mean…what you said to Sadaiyo just now?” she asked.