Merees shrugged.
"My apologies, I acted in the heat of the moment."
The two girls were alone in Merees' bedchamber, the princess having dismissed her maid.
At the moment, Merees was seated on the edge of her bed, watching Risha slipping into the dress that the Princess had picked out for her from her wardrobe.
"Besides", she added. "You look great in that dress." I want you to keep it, to replace the one you lost."
Risha looked down at the dress she was currently wearing. She had to admit that it was pretty, with its pattern of silver-colored birds against a pale green background. Still, the lynx-girl couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret, as she looked at her old dress, which now lied in a pile on the floor. That dress had been a favorite of hers.
Of course, she reminded herself, that was not something that Merees could have known.
"Thank you, Princess", she said and, after a moments hesitation, curtsied.
"Think nothing of it", Merees replied. "More importantly, what was it you wished to tell me, that couldn't be told in the dining-hall?"
Risha took a deep breath to steel herself and then, she told Merees what she and Leorin had learned. The princess listened attentively without interrupting, though Risha couldn't help but notice that Merees eyes had begun to flare and smoke was streaming from her nostrils. Risha had barely finished before Merees rushed up from the bed and, to her shock and surprise, pinned her against the wall.
"Liar!" The Green dragon snarled.
Instinctively, Risha unsheathed her claws and swiped at Merees' face, it only brushed past the dragon's nose, but it caused her to release her grip for a moment, allowing Risha to slip past her.
"Princess", she said, in an imploring tone. "You must believe me. Why would I lie about something this serious?"
Merees glared at Risha and then, she curled up on the floor, hiding her face in her hands. Risha found herself unsure of what to do. At times when her brother felt sad, she'd hug him to make him feel better, but somehow, she wasn't sure if that was the appropriate thing to do in this case. Finally, she hesitantly reached out her left paw and slowly patted Merees on one of her head-spikes.
The gesture caused the Princess to look up, she swallowed and wiped the tears that were streaming from her eyes and down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry", she said, with a sigh. "Of course, there's no reason for you to lie to me. Its just
that...Argath has always acted so kindly towards me, despite our difference in age and she's our father's most loyal supporter, the one who will surely inherit his throne. Why would she want to kill him? Or any of us for that matter?"
Risha thought about this, she had to admit that her story sounded fantastic. Then, she remembered something.
"The fox who was with your sister".... she began.
"Princess", she said, in an imploring tone. "You must believe me. Why would I lie about something this serious?"
Merees glared at Risha and then, she curled up on the floor, hiding her face in her hands. Risha found herself unsure of what to do. At times when her brother felt sad, she'd hug him to make him feel better, but somehow, she wasn't sure if that was the appropriate thing to do in this case. Finally, she hesitantly reached out her left paw and slowly patted Merees on one of her head-spikes.
The gesture caused the Princess to look up, she swallowed and wiped the tears that were streaming from her eyes and down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry", she said, with a sigh. "Of course, there's no reason for you to lie to me. Its just
that...Argath has always acted so kindly towards me, despite our difference in age and she's our father's most loyal supporter, the one who will surely inherit his throne. Why would she want to kill him? Or any of us for that matter?"
Risha thought about this, she had to admit that her story sounded fantastic. Then, she remembered something.
"The fox who was with your sister".... she began.
"I know who you mean, what about him?"
"He said something about it being a shame that you'd have to die, since you were innocent." Risha's eyes became wide like saucers and she made a little gasp. "Princess, can something have happened that could have caused Argath to harbor a grudge against the rest of your family?"
Merees furrowed her brow in deep thought for a few seconds, then she shrugged.
"He said something about it being a shame that you'd have to die, since you were innocent." Risha's eyes became wide like saucers and she made a little gasp. "Princess, can something have happened that could have caused Argath to harbor a grudge against the rest of your family?"
Merees furrowed her brow in deep thought for a few seconds, then she shrugged.
"If so, it must have happened before I was born. I'll ask Keron about it when this is over. Perhaps he knows something."
"What will you do now?" Risha asked..
"Do you have any proof of this, that we may present to my father?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Well, in that case, we can't accuse Argath directly. All we can do is try to prevent her plans, I'll speak to the Captain of the guard, telling him to double the security around my father."
"What if the dessert itself has been tampered with?"
"Somehow, I doubt that. Argath knows that my father won't eat anything that hasn't been sampled by his food-taster beforehand."
Risha had to concede that the Princess had a point there. Then, another thought hit her:
"Once Argath notices that her plans have been thwarted, won't she try again later?" She asked.
"Don't worry", Merees replied and for a moment, a flame burned in her eyes. "She won't get that chance, I'll make sure of it."
"I'm afraid not."
"Well, in that case, we can't accuse Argath directly. All we can do is try to prevent her plans, I'll speak to the Captain of the guard, telling him to double the security around my father."
"What if the dessert itself has been tampered with?"
"Somehow, I doubt that. Argath knows that my father won't eat anything that hasn't been sampled by his food-taster beforehand."
Risha had to concede that the Princess had a point there. Then, another thought hit her:
"Once Argath notices that her plans have been thwarted, won't she try again later?" She asked.
"Don't worry", Merees replied and for a moment, a flame burned in her eyes. "She won't get that chance, I'll make sure of it."
Risha swallowed, the Princess' word had an ominous ring to them.
"Are you going to kill her?" She asked, in a small voice.
Merees sighed.
"I'd much rather have Argath's treason exposed, but if that's not possible, than, yes, I would kill her.
Before she could do the same to me, or anyone I care about."
"Are you going to kill her?" She asked, in a small voice.
Merees sighed.
"I'd much rather have Argath's treason exposed, but if that's not possible, than, yes, I would kill her.
Before she could do the same to me, or anyone I care about."
Risha shuddered inwardly. For a moment, she felt glad that she was not a member of a family in which you could trust no-one, not even your own kin.
Suddenly, she became aware that Merees had said her name.
"Forgive me, Princess" she said, lowering her eyes. "My thoughts wandered."
"I noticed", Merees replied and put her hand on Risha's shoulder. "I want you to know that even though these revelations are painful, I'm thankful that you told me about them. Whatever happens, you and your brother will always have my gratitude."
Then, the female dragon did something unexpected; she leaned forward and gave Risha a quick peck on the cheek.
For a moment, Risha stood there, frozen on the spot. She could feel herself blush under the spotted fur. As if in trance, she brought her paw up to the place that, for a brief second, Merees' lips had been in contact with and touched it. It was than that she realized that she was alone in the room. Shaking her head to get her bearings, the lynx-girl hurried out the door, after the Princess.
Suddenly, she became aware that Merees had said her name.
"Forgive me, Princess" she said, lowering her eyes. "My thoughts wandered."
"I noticed", Merees replied and put her hand on Risha's shoulder. "I want you to know that even though these revelations are painful, I'm thankful that you told me about them. Whatever happens, you and your brother will always have my gratitude."
Then, the female dragon did something unexpected; she leaned forward and gave Risha a quick peck on the cheek.
For a moment, Risha stood there, frozen on the spot. She could feel herself blush under the spotted fur. As if in trance, she brought her paw up to the place that, for a brief second, Merees' lips had been in contact with and touched it. It was than that she realized that she was alone in the room. Shaking her head to get her bearings, the lynx-girl hurried out the door, after the Princess.
****
When the two girls returned to the dining-hall, Merees immediately signaled for a nearby guard to come over.
"Tell the Captain I wish to speak to him", she said.
"Tell the Captain I wish to speak to him", she said.
The Rhinoceros-guard saluted and went away, a moment later he returned with the Captain of the guard, a dignified-looking eagle, whose face was only marred by the dueling-scar that ran across it.
"I am at your service, Your Highness", the Captain said and clicked his heels together.
"Captain, there have been rumors from a reliable source that an attempt on the king's life will take place during the desert. I need you to make sure that this attempt is not a success."
"I shall double the security, Your Highness", replied the captain and after a quick salute, went to fulfill his task.
"There we go", Merees said. "Now, I don't think we can do anything but wait."
Risha agreed and so, the two friends went and took their seats at their royal table. As they sat down, Risha turned to look at Leorin. For some reason, her brother seemed to be in a bad mood, he sat with his arms crossed and his ears laid flat on his head.
"What's wrong, Leo?" She asked.
"I couldn't warn them", the kitten said in an angry voice. "Both mother and father were to busy talking and when I tried to tell them about what we heard, they brushed me off."
"That's too bad. Well, cheer up, little brother, you did what you could."
"I guess. So, how did it go for you, sis?"
Before Risha could answer her brother's query, King Sharan rose from his chair and, with a gesture, demanded everyone's attention:
"Everyone", the king said. "I hope that you saved some room for dessert."
"What are we having?" Someone among the guests called out, the mood in the dining-hall was at this point sufficiently relaxed, that no-one no longer cared about this breach of etiquette.
"I'm afraid I can't answer that", answered the king. "However, I've been told that our esteemed head of the kitchens, Master Bureno, considers it his master-piece. Well, I imagine that all of you are as excited as I am to see what he has created. So, without further ado, let's bring in the dessert.
King Sharan snapped his fingers and immediately the doors opened and the kitchen staff paraded in, as if they had been standing outside, waiting for the right moment. In the front walked a large boar, upon whose head the kitchen-master's high, white hat sat like a crown. This was, of course, Bureno himself. After him came his assistants and sous-chefs, all dressed in their white uniforms and wheeling in front of them, trays loaded with coffee, tea, spoons, plates and cups, which they proceeded to set the tables with. Finally, the dessert itself came and when they saw it, a collective gasp came over the guests' lips:
The dessert was a large cake, made out of marzipan, chocolate and meringue, depicting various important events in Vinoli's history.
"Look, dear!" Nasari said to her husband, pointing at the cake. "You are on it!"
Indeed, a tiny, marzipan version of Jeraddin, leading a small group of soldiers, made out of the same material, could be seen on the cake. Of course, the general was not the only one represented in this way; at the very top of the cake, a younger version of Vinoli's monarch could be seen, striking a majestic pose.
"Magnificent, Bureno" said King Sharan with a nod of appreciation. "It almost seems a shame to eat it."
The head of kitchens beamed, looking as proud as a peacock.
"Oh, but your majesty, I have poured my very soul into this cake. It is my magnum opus, so naturally, it tastes even better than it looks."
The King could not help but chuckle at Bureno's lack of modesty.
"Very well", he said. "You may begin serving it."
Bureno bowed and went to the task of cutting a large slice of the cake, which he elegantly placed on the king's plate. King Sharan was just about to bring a spoonful of the sweet delicacy to his mouth, when a voice interrupted him:
"Father, are you not forgetting something?"
The King slowly put the spoon down and turned towards the speaker.
"And what would that be, Merees?"
"Why, aren't you going to let your food-taster try it first? Just to be on the safe side?"
Upon hearing these words, Bureno stiffened visibly and glanced at the princess with the look of wounded pride written all over his broad face.
"Your Highness", he said, "I assure you that I myself have prepared this cake with my own two hands. There is nothing mischievous about it."
"No-one is accusing you of anything, Bureno" the King said. "However", he continued, looking pensively at the slice of cake sitting in front of him. "As you may know, Telias here has the finest taste-buds in all Vinoli, It would be a shame if he missed out on your masterpiece."
With those words, the king waved for the food-taster to approach. Using a tiny spoon of his own, the hare chipped off a small piece of the King's cake and brought it to his mouth. Around the table, everyone's eyes were focused on the food-taster, as he savored the small piece, rolling it around in his mouth, before swallowing it.
"I am at your service, Your Highness", the Captain said and clicked his heels together.
"Captain, there have been rumors from a reliable source that an attempt on the king's life will take place during the desert. I need you to make sure that this attempt is not a success."
"I shall double the security, Your Highness", replied the captain and after a quick salute, went to fulfill his task.
"There we go", Merees said. "Now, I don't think we can do anything but wait."
Risha agreed and so, the two friends went and took their seats at their royal table. As they sat down, Risha turned to look at Leorin. For some reason, her brother seemed to be in a bad mood, he sat with his arms crossed and his ears laid flat on his head.
"What's wrong, Leo?" She asked.
"I couldn't warn them", the kitten said in an angry voice. "Both mother and father were to busy talking and when I tried to tell them about what we heard, they brushed me off."
"That's too bad. Well, cheer up, little brother, you did what you could."
"I guess. So, how did it go for you, sis?"
Before Risha could answer her brother's query, King Sharan rose from his chair and, with a gesture, demanded everyone's attention:
"Everyone", the king said. "I hope that you saved some room for dessert."
"What are we having?" Someone among the guests called out, the mood in the dining-hall was at this point sufficiently relaxed, that no-one no longer cared about this breach of etiquette.
"I'm afraid I can't answer that", answered the king. "However, I've been told that our esteemed head of the kitchens, Master Bureno, considers it his master-piece. Well, I imagine that all of you are as excited as I am to see what he has created. So, without further ado, let's bring in the dessert.
King Sharan snapped his fingers and immediately the doors opened and the kitchen staff paraded in, as if they had been standing outside, waiting for the right moment. In the front walked a large boar, upon whose head the kitchen-master's high, white hat sat like a crown. This was, of course, Bureno himself. After him came his assistants and sous-chefs, all dressed in their white uniforms and wheeling in front of them, trays loaded with coffee, tea, spoons, plates and cups, which they proceeded to set the tables with. Finally, the dessert itself came and when they saw it, a collective gasp came over the guests' lips:
The dessert was a large cake, made out of marzipan, chocolate and meringue, depicting various important events in Vinoli's history.
"Look, dear!" Nasari said to her husband, pointing at the cake. "You are on it!"
Indeed, a tiny, marzipan version of Jeraddin, leading a small group of soldiers, made out of the same material, could be seen on the cake. Of course, the general was not the only one represented in this way; at the very top of the cake, a younger version of Vinoli's monarch could be seen, striking a majestic pose.
"Magnificent, Bureno" said King Sharan with a nod of appreciation. "It almost seems a shame to eat it."
The head of kitchens beamed, looking as proud as a peacock.
"Oh, but your majesty, I have poured my very soul into this cake. It is my magnum opus, so naturally, it tastes even better than it looks."
The King could not help but chuckle at Bureno's lack of modesty.
"Very well", he said. "You may begin serving it."
Bureno bowed and went to the task of cutting a large slice of the cake, which he elegantly placed on the king's plate. King Sharan was just about to bring a spoonful of the sweet delicacy to his mouth, when a voice interrupted him:
"Father, are you not forgetting something?"
The King slowly put the spoon down and turned towards the speaker.
"And what would that be, Merees?"
"Why, aren't you going to let your food-taster try it first? Just to be on the safe side?"
Upon hearing these words, Bureno stiffened visibly and glanced at the princess with the look of wounded pride written all over his broad face.
"Your Highness", he said, "I assure you that I myself have prepared this cake with my own two hands. There is nothing mischievous about it."
"No-one is accusing you of anything, Bureno" the King said. "However", he continued, looking pensively at the slice of cake sitting in front of him. "As you may know, Telias here has the finest taste-buds in all Vinoli, It would be a shame if he missed out on your masterpiece."
With those words, the king waved for the food-taster to approach. Using a tiny spoon of his own, the hare chipped off a small piece of the King's cake and brought it to his mouth. Around the table, everyone's eyes were focused on the food-taster, as he savored the small piece, rolling it around in his mouth, before swallowing it.
"Delicious", he said, his tongue sweeping over his lips.
"Have the whole piece" King Sharan said, magnanimously. . "I'll take another one."
"How are you feeling?" Merees asked the food-taster, somewhat brusquely.
"Perfectly fine, Your Highness" came the reply.
"Well, Merees" said the king. "It seems you owe master Bureno an apology. "
"You're right, father", the princess agreed and with that, she rose from her seat and looked at the head of the kitchens.
"Please accept my apologies, master" she said. There was a stiffness in her voice as she uttered these words, but Bureno either did not notice it or pretended not to. Instead he gravely nodded his head, showing that the apology was accepted.
"Well", said King Sharan. "Now, that we've cleared things up, I'd like to try the cake myself. You may begin serving it, Bureno. Again."
Bureno did as the King ordered and soon everyone was enjoying the cake, praising its taste and the skills of its creator. No, not everyone; around the royal table sat four guests who did not partake of this treat.
"Have the whole piece" King Sharan said, magnanimously. . "I'll take another one."
"How are you feeling?" Merees asked the food-taster, somewhat brusquely.
"Perfectly fine, Your Highness" came the reply.
"Well, Merees" said the king. "It seems you owe master Bureno an apology. "
"You're right, father", the princess agreed and with that, she rose from her seat and looked at the head of the kitchens.
"Please accept my apologies, master" she said. There was a stiffness in her voice as she uttered these words, but Bureno either did not notice it or pretended not to. Instead he gravely nodded his head, showing that the apology was accepted.
"Well", said King Sharan. "Now, that we've cleared things up, I'd like to try the cake myself. You may begin serving it, Bureno. Again."
Bureno did as the King ordered and soon everyone was enjoying the cake, praising its taste and the skills of its creator. No, not everyone; around the royal table sat four guests who did not partake of this treat.
One of these four was Keron, who, not having a taste for sweets, had politely declined his slice and was now sipping contently at his coffee. The other three were, of course, Risha, Merees and Leorin, whose slices sat untouched on their plates. It wasn't so much that the cake didn't look appetizing to them, but rather that they were too tense to enjoy it: Argath's assassins, whoever they were, could strike at any moment. Risha looked around the room, there seemed to be more guards in it, than before. Hopefully, they would be enough.
At that moment, the general revelry was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a chair being pushed back. It was none other than the King, who, standing up, leaned on the table with one hand, while clutching his broad forehead with another.
"Is something wrong, father?" Merees asked, with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"I..I don't feel so well", the King replied. "I think I need to go and lie down for awhile".
He reached out for his cane, but as he was about to grab it, a choking sound erupted from his throat and he fell to the floor, red foam appearing in the corners of his mouth.
At once, every guests were on their feet, the dining hall filling with a multitude of voices:
"Your Majesty!"
"Father!
"What's going on over there?"
"Something's happened to the King!"
"Where's the court physician?"
"There he is!"
"Move aside! Let him through!"
The royal physician, an aging griffon wearing a pince-nez on his beak, made his way up to the royal table.
King Sharan, meanwhile was not the only one who was in need of medical attention. Thekros, too, had collapsed on the floor, with the same symptoms as his father. The doctor crouched down on the floor and began to examine the fallen monarch.
"What's wrong, doctor?" Merees asked, anxiously. "You must save him!"
The Doctor's only response was a sigh and then, he turned his head upwards and looked at the princess and the others.
"There's nothing I can do, Your Highness" he said. "His Majesty is beyond any help I can give."
At that moment, the general revelry was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a chair being pushed back. It was none other than the King, who, standing up, leaned on the table with one hand, while clutching his broad forehead with another.
"Is something wrong, father?" Merees asked, with a sinking feeling in her stomach.
"I..I don't feel so well", the King replied. "I think I need to go and lie down for awhile".
He reached out for his cane, but as he was about to grab it, a choking sound erupted from his throat and he fell to the floor, red foam appearing in the corners of his mouth.
At once, every guests were on their feet, the dining hall filling with a multitude of voices:
"Your Majesty!"
"Father!
"What's going on over there?"
"Something's happened to the King!"
"Where's the court physician?"
"There he is!"
"Move aside! Let him through!"
The royal physician, an aging griffon wearing a pince-nez on his beak, made his way up to the royal table.
King Sharan, meanwhile was not the only one who was in need of medical attention. Thekros, too, had collapsed on the floor, with the same symptoms as his father. The doctor crouched down on the floor and began to examine the fallen monarch.
"What's wrong, doctor?" Merees asked, anxiously. "You must save him!"
The Doctor's only response was a sigh and then, he turned his head upwards and looked at the princess and the others.
"There's nothing I can do, Your Highness" he said. "His Majesty is beyond any help I can give."
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