“I know you’ve been asked several times already, but is this really what you want, Jenny?” asked Saorise as she stood with the women who were packed and ready to be Ladies Maids for Selene and Eloise in King Peter’s Harem.

Jennifer Ridgelam was one of the toughest and most unrestrained women Saorise had ever met. Saorise could hardly believe that Jenny had fully thought through what it meant. She understood Jenny’s loyalty to her sister, and her desire the keep her safe, but Harem life was not like life in the East. Even if she was not competing directly for the King’s attention, she would still have to compete, and without her weapons of choice.

“I’m sure,” said Jenny, “I’m not letting Ellie go there alone”.

Saorise sighed, “Then I wish you luck, and look forward to our chats over tea when I arrive”.

Jenny smiled, “It will be an honour, Arch Duchess”.

Saorise rolled her eyes, “If this is how he’s appointing lands, he’ll have to split Wendolan in three considering it’s population and land mass. I imagine his court is clamouring for the roles. Not that they’ll consider my position any higher than theirs when they face me”.

“The first Arch anything in the Wendolan Empire, quite the role you’ve gotten yourself, Lady Saorise,” Kaelia, one of Selene’s ladies, smiled her usual smile. The smile that spoke of things both secret and wicked. She had quite the formidable mask, one that even Saorise had a hard time reading at first.

“A shame we can’t be present in the Court when she makes her entrance,” Giselle sighed, she was Selene’s other chosen maid, “I imagine it will be quite the sight”.

“All those bumbling old fools won’t know what to do when one among their number is wearing a skirt,” Uma, Eloise’s other choice, added.

“A skirt?” Saorise allowed herself a smile, “I thought it best to show them what it means when a woman wears pants”.

The women around her giggled in delight, “Oh, it’ll be a story for the ages!”

Just then, the approaching boat came within a stone’s throw and the women calmed themselves, noticing that the King’s brother and several other uniformed men were filling the boat.

The Prince, Isiah Dane Westfold, alighted from the boat onto the dock, followed by eight men in uniform who stood behind him as he nodded his head to Saorise.

“Good Afternoon, Arch Duchess,” he said, “I am Prince Isiah, I’ve come by order of my brother, King Peter”.

“To escort four ladies in waiting?” asked Saorise, “It seems a role that could have been relegated to someone of less importance”.

Isiah smiled in amusement, “Oh, no, Lady. I have been sent to accompany you home and help you in your preparation for the move to Wesenhall with the Eastern Conscripts”.

Saorise attempted not to react. He’d sent a watch dog to her. She supposed she should be grateful it was not an entire contingent.

“I see,” Saorise stated, “Then I trust your horses and supplies are due to make the trip over the river shortly also?”

“Yes, Lady. They are being prepared on the far shore”.

“Very well then,” Saorise sighed, “I’ll have General Lowan find you a place to sleep for the night, though I’m afraid it will be quite simple considering much of the army has already packed in preparation for leaving tomorrow at dawn”.

“That is fine, Lady, no need to make extensive arrangements,” stated Isiah.

He was a lot more accommodating than his brother. Saorise had of course seen him before, but he’d always been silent, standing in his brother’s shadow. Looking at him, he was young, no older than Lyle was. To be given the reins of the Wendolan Army for so many months…either he was as gifted as his brother, or he had been the face where the nobles beneath him had driven the army.

Saorise turned to the women behind her, “May you be blessed by the Great Mother. Let the trees sing to you in your absence, and the wind guide you home”.

The four women bowed their heads to Saorise at the blessing before moving their things to the boat that the Wendolan men had vacated. The boat pushed off without delay, and Saorise watched them go before she turned to Isiah, “Come, I’ll introduce you to General Lowan”.

“He is the large warrior that accompanied you in the discussions, yes?” asked Isiah.

Saorise nodded, “He is”.

“It is my understanding that he was the Commander of the Eastern Armies?”

Was. Though she had to use the past tense terms herself, she was not yet accustomed to it.

“The Eastern Armies, when called to order that is, would often vote for their Commanding Officer,” stated Saorise, “They were never allowed to be of Noble Birth as that would mean that bias could impact on decisions. Roderick Lowan served the Caramorts for many years and was a renowned warrior. He was chosen to head the reserve forces at first, but was later promoted to Commander of the Eastern Army”.

“Forgive me for my ignorance, but to choose a commoner for such a distinct role…”

Saorise smiled, “Noble houses, like in Wendolan, all have their own forces. When the Armies are raised, the Noble houses must contribute at least 80% of their private forces to the armies to be under the command of the chosen Commander. The remainder of their forces remain private. The Commander therefore has to work with the Nobles in order to use those other forces effectively. The Commander distributes roles, but that does not mean he doesn’t take in the opinions and experiences of the Nobles”.

“Which is why you took the most prominent role in Negotiations?” asked Isiah.

“Yes,” said Saorise, “General Lowan knows that his strength does not lie in peace negotiations, and that the nobles would at least listen to a Caramort”.

“But your brother-”

“Is young and impulsive,” said Saorise, “Also not suited to peace negotiations”.

Isiah sighed, “Everyone says that the Caramorts are uncrowned Kings of the East. If such deference occurs in such situations, I find it hard to believe that your family does not have a crown or a throne”.

Saorise raised an eyebrow, “If my family’s goal was to Lord over the East, we indeed could have achieved it millennia ago. Instead, we remained in the same position we had always been, earning ever ounce of respect that Eastern people give us. We do not have a crown because it is a powerful tool for alienation. Those who wear one are forever destined to sit above those who do not. To be expected to be better in every way, and when those hopes are dashed…that is when Kingdoms fall and the people are forced to choose sides. If there is no crown, there are no sides, no upper and lower. No lesser and noble. Just one people”.

“But you still call yourselves nobles,” replied Isiah.

“Nobles are representatives of the people. Good nobles do not lord over their people, they protect them,” replied Saorise.

She spotted General Lowan in the distance and waved to him. He waved back and approached, eyeing Isiah and his party as he did.

“General, Prince Isiah has been sent by our new King to help in the recruitment efforts, please see to it that he and his men have a place to sleep tonight, their supplies will be coming over the river shortly I imagine,” stated Saorise, then she turned back to Isiah, “Apologies, Prince, but there is much to prepare for the journey still. I’d be more than happy to dine with you and your men when we arrive back at Caramort Keep”.

“I look forward to it,” Isiah looked somewhat taken-aback, but nodded politely before Saorise turned and left.