A Suitor Dilemma

The thunder is rumbling in the distance and the slow patter of raindrops on the hard packed earth reaches my ears as I sit at my writing desk, sipping on teressa cider, a delicacy in all of Krespania.

The fireplace is crackling warmly, setting the mood for a cozy atmosphere unlike the cold, dreary weather outside, and takes the chill from occupying the stone chamber floors and walls.

I have decided to write today, having been in a dull state and having no pending tasks of the government to be performed.

I did not have an idea to do anything else so I thought I would write the latest occurrences of interest here in LunaMara palace and Krespania.

It involves my lady-in-waiting, Meredith de Barra.

I have mentioned her in my other writings but have not really dwelt upon her in length as now is necessary.

More loyal than any other acquaintance or so called friend, she has been with me since I gained the royal position of queen in Krespania.

Her hair shines like the evening sun through autumn leaves in a brilliant red hue and is as flowing as the gentle ripples upon a lake. She speaks with a soft accent as one who hails from the north-western regions of Krespania, and is everything that is dignified in the way she talks and moves, yet she holds a mildness in her temper and a patience so far from pride or arrogance.

Having all these attributes in her favor, I could safely say that if I could hear the inner thoughts of all the ladies in the court, I would discover she is the envy of them all.

And it is also a fact that all the eligible young men of my court vie for her attention.

From this the problem comes forth.

As I said before her loyalty is so dominant that she feels it is her duty to remain at my side and do my bidding, never thinking about herself or her future. Therefore she feels that having any attachment would interfere with her task of waiting on me.

That was fine for me, until recently when a man in his early twenties came into the court.

He is from Natilia, a region in western Krespania, and his name is Luco Giovanos.

I met him officially when he entered the court, and found he is here on business, and by this had opportunity to observe him closely.

Luco has close-cropped brown hair, and his height is tall and stately.
He has eyes as deep blue as the Crustallum ocean in the winter, that hold an intensity in their gaze as if he can see right through to your heart.
He has a serious air about him and polite, though somewhat quiet, as if he does not desire to reveal much about his work or self, yet not suspicious, just reserved in his behavior.

Overall I found him instantly to be very charming and handsome but having a graveness like he had experienced all the cruelness this world could offer and been made harder for it, and skeptical. Skeptical because he now does not trust anyone easily for fear they will deceive him.
But when he smiles which is not too often, it is gentle and softens the hard look in his eyes, giving him an easy-going and handsome mien.

This is purely my own theory and observation that I have gathered and not fact, but I am fairly certain it is true in some ways.

Meredith's reaction to the attention of her admirers is what you would call indifference. She will be polite but does not encourage interaction or pursuit of her affections.

She is modest, and dislikes the attention, and would probably much rather be left alone, but that is not something that will occur.

Since the first time he visited I could tell Lucos took a liking to her, and after many meetings I find she might also be attracted to him. It is very hard to distinguish it in her but she tends to have a little more cordiality toward him, and I think I can take it as a good sign of attachment.

And what I meant in the aforesaid many meetings is that he seems to frequent the court more than usual for a man of business who has little reason to. And when he is there I catching him often with his eyes discreetly upon Meredith beside me, and when in conversation with me, he is too distracted to make any proper dialogue.

I think this is amusing to watch. First, because the court can be tiresome, and second because he, a man that seems to have little sentiments or feelings, actually is smitten by my lady-in-waiting.

It is sweet to be sure.

But the only thing I fear is that she is putting herself on guard against any of his advances that he has made and will not let herself love because of the notion of duty to me.

I have always said that she could marry any one of the noble men of her choosing if she wanted, which is far better than most could contrive, having status and wealth, but she is not effected by that fact.

Partly, I know, because she wants her marriage to be one of love and not of material gain, but I think she may also feel she is obligated by her duty to stay by my side because of her eternal loyalty.

But this loyalty may end her chances of happiness if she allows it. I can tell he is a caring and considerate man, who I think, she will be happy with, but if she continues to resist his effort he will surrender and leave.

Anyway, that is the problem, and I would never want her to be unhappy, especially on my account, so I shall try to encourage her about him, and perhaps concoct reasons to invite him to LunaMara more often for events of leisure.

I can be quite conniving when I want to be, and I think my brother Lennox can vouch to that fact.

I will think up a scheme, and deploy it with speed if all comes to worst.

-Emerald de Gavrillac

 Queen of Krespania

A Mysterious Enigma

I do not know how to begin this time.

My thoughts are in disorder and confusion upon some recent puzzling, discoveries I have made, and I have yet to find a solution where they fit in. I have mulled over the clues, posed probable conjectures, but none with any success or evidence.

As for Kordana, they are still under siege. The little kingdom is putting forth a good struggle for their freedom, and I cannot blame them. I would do the same if I was in that predicament, gathering any means of defense against the enemy. But the Lorates are merciless, continuing to assault them without pause, and slowly bringing their shields down.

I am still in indecision whether we should take part in this war. I have not received permission, so I dare not make a move until I do, but I have been watching the conflict and monitoring their movements even so.

But I suppose you are desiring to know the source of my puzzlement and dislike your curiosity being so teased, therefore since I have no scruples, I will tell you the events in which my suspicions and mystification were born.

In the early hours of each morning I take a horseback ride through the peaceful countryside of Krespania. I ride in the forests spread throughout the land some days, over the hilly country farther East the next and down into the dales in the lowlands another.

And that was precisely what I did a few days ago.

I hope you do not pass it off as mere residential pride when I say that Krespania has the most lovely and peaceful lands; I easily find contentment and pleasure here, and it holds a special place in my heart.

I chose to ride through the wood that day, and it proved to be a glorious morning for it. The sun was shining brightly in the eastern sky, but the air was still fresh with the coolness of the morn.

I rode out into a grassy clearing, near the estate of my counselor, Lord Zakar Priseri's, when I was stopped by an odd observation.

From the distance I was situated in, I saw what seemed to be a small caravan heading down the grove of the estate, and it raised such curiousness inside, that I could not instantly depart from there without it being in some way satisfied.

It was highly unusual for him to be receiving so large an amount of merchandise or whatever it was, at one time. And where could it have come from, and what means was he getting it by?

“Is this not out of the ordinary, Meredith?” I turned to look at my lady-in-waiting beside me on her own buckskin colored steed. “What could the contents of the caravan possibly be?”

“Indeed, Milady, I would not know. Perhaps it is purchases he has made with the merchants in the port at Saundros.”

“Could be...” But I was not persuaded.

And then another instance occurred when, after hearing news of Kordana and how they were falling, I wanted to estimate how long it took before they did.

Being our ally, I thought we might have a map or something of their fortifications, and if we did, it would be in the archives.

The chamber where the archives were kept, was a medium sized room, and with no windows, it was lit only by candlelight. A dank, earthy odor that usually accompanies books and old manuscripts occupied the space, and articles of parchment filled cases running along the walls.

This was not a particularly enjoyable place to me, and yet it held information of various kinds and from knowledgeable sources. From historic events and records of the royal family, to details and reports of the buildings of the palace.

Anything I wanted to know was to be found here.

A scribe, dressed in a plain brown, woolen tunic appeared at my entrance and asked to be of assistance.

I promptly told him what I wished for, and he nodded before turning to search along the shelves.

“Here it is, Your Majesty, the fortification designs for Kordana.” He laid the parchment on the table located at the back of the room, and I sat down to study it.

The drawing showed their defenses to be well built, but how well they could withstood the forces of the Lorates I knew not.

“But these are not likely that accurate, is it?” I asked, as I looked it over.
I had never requested a survey of Kordana, therefore if we had any of their designs it must be from the time of my mother's reign, nearly two decades ago. 

“Accurate, Milady?” He looked confused.

“Yes, as in by now they have probably made more modifications.”

He shook his head, and it was my turn to be confused.

“I hardly think any alterations could be made since this time.”
His certainty was obvious, which made me wonder the reason for it.

I asked why he thought so.

“Naturally, they have not had time because of the siege of the Lorates.”

I started at this, and sat up straight to look at the man.

He was making it sound as if this was recent.

“What is the date on this document?”

“It was written a little over a month ago, after Milady sent the Krespania ambassadors to tour the kingdom, and bring back a report.”

I sent them? I did not remember requesting any such thing, which was very alarming, because they received orders from someone.

And a month ago. That would place it a little before they were attacked by the Lorates.

“By who's orders was this tour made, in my name?”

“Lord Zakar Priseri.” Came the unexpected answer.

Zakar? Him again. And it is not only my imagination or suspicious view of him this time.

The facts were right before me.

But why? That was not something I could answer, and I had not a clue or inclination to without sufficient evidence.

So I continue to keep my eyes about me for any further suspicious activity, especially involving him, and am searching for the answer to the contents of the mysterious caravan and the unauthorized survey of Kordana.

It is puzzling indeed, but I have confidence that I will uncover the truth soon enough.

-Emerald de Gavrillac

Queen of Krespania