December 26, 2011

In Which Ietrin Learns What Siblings Have in Common

July 16, 1177

Everyone was entitled to a fair trial at Castle Dea, but it seemed that the red countess's had not worked out in her favor. But what had she been expecting? She'd poisoned the duke, after all. Of course it was the gallows for her. Frankly, Ietrin wasn't sure what was wrong with the fairytale worlds of other children's doll sets, but Dea had little interest in anything less political than a loophole-peppered treaty. But no matter. An indelicate taste for the dealings of men didn't seem like the sort of trait to be actively discouraged in a four-year-old princess, not yet at least. She'd likely grow into more ladylike inclinations without any pruning from him. And besides--with any luck, she'd rub off on the new baby brother she'd have any minute now.

"The crown sentences you to be drawn and cornered next Monday!"

A hint of a grin played on her grandfather's mouth, probably the first one since he'd arrived. If anything, Ietrin found his smiling was even more unnerving than his usual arsenal of death glares. "Drawn and quartered, pet--but that's a gruesome execution for a noblewoman. Might I suggest a beheading? That would be a quick, merciful death that would also preserve what remains of her dignity; when one has squandered all other rights, dignity is all one can hope for."

Ietrin swallowed. Why had Octavius's eyes flickered his way as he'd said it?

Dea shrugged. "All right, Grandpapa. Beheaded next Monday."

"That's my girl."

"Just don't actually take her head off," Ietrin warned her. "Your toys are expensive, you know."

"Really?" For the first time in several minutes, Sparron looked up. "Is that what you tell Kaldar and Catherelle when they're a little less than careful with their toys?"

Ietrin swallowed. Dea's doll fell to the castle floor as she turned her head and frowned. "Who're Kaldar and Catherelle?"

"No one, love," Octavius insisted, his glare darting between Sparron and Ietrin. "Isn't that right, Ietrin?"

"Er... right." Well, at least Dea seemed satisfied--even if it was a lie, even if it had broken his heart to say it. "Um. Anyway. You think things are going well in there?"

Octavius tensed. Ietrin sort of regretted asking; it seemed his father-in-law hadn't quite gotten over the near miss of Jeda's last labor. "I told Arydath to alert me if they weren't. Awfully quiet, though."

"Well... maybe that just means they're done?" Not that Ietrin knew much about childbirth, but it seemed to make sense. Why scream if the baby was already out, right? And to think... maybe the heir he'd been dreaming of was just in the next room.

His father-in-law shrugged. "Maybe. I don't hear crying, but Dea was quiet too."

And how would you know? It was a bit hard to hear over all your yelling, remember? This was ridiculous. Ietrin was the crown prince and Octavius was only a baron. Why didn't he have guts to say it out loud? "I guess she and her brother have something in common already."

"Uh... Ietrin?"

Startled, he turned his head to see Camaline at the door--with a beautiful hazel-eyed baby in tow!

"Cammie!" God, he'd never thought he'd be so happy to see his bratty little sister. The stress of his in-laws forgotten, Ietrin sprung to his feet and looked the little fellow over, his smile swelling by the second. Healthy coloring... agreeable temperament... just the size a baby ought to be... "Oh, Cammie! Cammie, he's perfect!"

He was and she knew it. She must have. It was obvious.

And yet, her brow was practically halfway up her forehead. "Um... 'he'?"

...Oh.

NEXT CHAPTER:

6 comments:

Van said...

I don't know how many people follow that blog, but there's a very small, very silly, very non-canon Christmas present over at Scrawls and Scribblings that might appeal to any fans of Florian. Find it here.

Happy Boxing Day? :P

Anonymous said...

Yaaay!!!! Another baby :P
I'm glad its a girl, but it is sad about Dea not knowing about her half-siblings, and I think what's sadder is that she and her (full?) siblings are not going to be conceived in love, but because of political sh*t.
Sorry if I sound a bit odd today, I'm a tad groggy haha Happy Boxing Day :)

Van said...

Dea's a pretty smart kid, so I think it's only a matter of time before she realizes that Mommy and Daddy don't exactly love each other like Mommies and Daddies should--if she doesn't already. If she ever finds out that she has these other siblings from her father's affair with a woman he does seem to love, that would probably make things all the more difficult, even if she does keep her political savvy as she grows up :(

Here's hoping the rest of the holidays go well :)

Epi said...

In many ways I am glad it is a girl due to the kick in the face for Ietrin. In other ways (re: the need to conceive/birth another for Jeda and the fact that back then they blamed the woman for the gender of the baby) I feel bad for it.

Anonymous said...

It feels terrible to be so happy about the birth of a healthy baby girl because the fact that it's a girl means it's a kick in the teeth for Ietrin. BUT I AM!

And Ietrin, the reason why you are too afraid to stand up to Octavius is because he could kick your arse from here to next Tuesday, and you know it. Admit it to yourself and you might be able to deal with him better.

Dea's a pip, though! I think in some ways she's taken after her grandma and namesake. Now let's just hope she stays sane and combines Medea's sharp mind with Octavius's decency and Geneva's all-around awesomeness. :)

Happy Boxing Day!

Van said...

Epi: I seem to recall that Sparron would agree with you about it being a kick in Ietrin's face :P But yeah, this means that poor Jeda has even more stress on her now. That's gotta suck, being shamed for birthing a healthy, beautiful baby girl :(

Morgaine: Oh, Ietrin could use the kick in the teeth, for sure ;)

Oh, I'm sure Ietrin has no doubt that Octavius could kick his arse from here to next Tuesday, even if he won't admit it. However... well, there is still the rank thing. Octavius has to show some restraint because if he does kick Ietrin's ass, Roderick's not going to take that lying down--and with Holladrin being periodically unhealthy and in the middle of a risky pregnancy, and with the future of that line not entirely certain yet, the timing for getting in trouble couldn't be much worse.

That being said, there's got to be a point where all that would just be forgotten...

At least Dea's toys get a fair trial? ;) But yeah, here's hoping there's a happier fate in store for her than there was for her grandmother of the same name.

Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! :D