Coming of Age Part 4 – Kind words

Sarine saw Lacos dancing at the edge of her field of vision. The small movement of her eyes was enough to give away what she was looking at to Tolfin. “Looking at your scaled servant?” He asked in a quiet, controlled voice. It was loud enough for only her to hear through the melodies of the music.

Denying it would have been useless. “Yes.” She responded in kind. Tolfin took a sudden step to the right. Sarine followed with grace. “I hear he is an unbeliever.” “He has his own god.” “A heretic then.” Tolfin said disapprovingly, “What kind of light will this shine on you in Alxer’s eyes, Princess?” “What kind of light does the betrayal of once own brother shine on you, Regent?”

They took a turn, feet sure on the ground, eyes staring into each other. Expressions unmoving. A moment of silence. Sarine decided that it was time to de-escalate the situation. “His heresy aside he gives good advice.” She said. Tolfin’s stone mask softened a bit. “Is that so? I wonder what he advised you on regarding today.” “That makes two of us.” Tolfin blinked but dropped the topic of Lacos for the moment.

“What have you decided upon?” He asked directly. “Are you not willing to wait like the rest of them?” Sarine said with a slight nod towards the surrounding nobles. Tolfin didn’t answer. “My decision has not wavered since I got here, none of your ploys will work on me.” Sarine said, Tolfin’s eyes narrowing.

“You know what will happen if you defy the peoples will.” Sarine smiled drily, “The peoples will or yours?” She asked but before Tolfin could answer, she continued. “Let me finish in my speech and I assure you that my answer will please you, Regent.” As she said that the last note echoed through the room, hands departed and people bowed. So did Tolfin and Sarine. The Regent looked at her through calculating eyes, now robbed of his opportunity to answer in secret.

Sarine smiled and walked away, ignoring the request to dance of lesser nobles and calmly denying those of influential ones, she made way to the table of Lacos. The Draconoid had not yet returned and as she sat down, she hid her trembling hands under the table.