Subsistent Lies

After the tourney mami had reprimanded me for disguising myself as Colin and participating in the tourney. After telling her that we had been invited to the Kings ball all was forgiven and forgotten. We had spent the rest of the day buying new dresses for all of us, despite my objections. So the night of the tourney that was exactly where Isabella, Zaria, mami, and me were, at the Kings ball. After being reintroduced to the unnerving Ambassador of Vespar, Duke Gabriel Giovanni, introducing my sisters and mami, reliving the loss of papi to King Arthur, and promising him that me, my sisters, and mami would save him a dance I was whisked away by the Kings daughters and their ladies-in-waiting. I thought at first they only wanted my company so they could look down at me for my acts; I was shocked when they praised me for my acts. As everyone does I enjoyed the praises at first, but after answering the same questions and hearing the same thing (Weren’t you scared? Who taught you how to fight like that? Where did you train that horse of yours? Why did you do it? How can I be like you? You are really brave I would never dream to do something like that.) I quickly grew bored. I was thankful when Darius Harte came to excuse me from their company with Blaine Jacqui’is in tow. “Excuse me ladies, but if you don’t mind Count Jacqui’is and I would like to have a word with the greatest swordswoman in Anevia.” Darius said bowing at the ladies. Blaine did the same, not once looking at me. “That is if Lady Gabriella would like a new change in company.” Darius added turning his gaze on me; Blaine still would not look at me.

All the women turned towards me to await my answer. I looked between the infuriating Blaine who stood looking everywhere, but at me, to the adoring horde of women contemplating who’s company I would want to be in. Smiling graciously and curtsying I said, “I would very much like that.” The women looked at me shocked.

I shook my head and watched as the women walked away their tongues wagging as they looked back at me. In this time of age, it was inappropriate to be in a man’s company if you weren’t married or had a chaperon with you. It was no wonder that none of those ladies would ever dream to do what I did at the tourney. With their close-minded thinking and growing up in the castle I didn’t find it shocking. I sighed as I turned my attention to Darius and Blaine, I didn’t really care what the women of court thought of me. I have been unchaperoned and alone with a man I wasn’t married to before and nothing happened. What difference would being alone with two men in a crowded ballroom make? I am Gabriella Fairavard, I never follow the rules and I am a big girl who can take care of herself; as I’ve proven at the tourney. I thought as I looked from the kind Darius to the brooding Blaine. At least I don’t have to worry about one of the men I bested doing harm to me. “I thank you for relieving me of their company, but I must say you two were the last I expected to come to my rescue.”

Darius took my hand and kissed it. “It is my duty to come to aid all damsels in distress, especially if the damsel is as beautiful as you are. Besides it was an honor to have been bested by a beauty with your talents. It just shows I still have a lot of training and learning to do.”

I looked at Blaine who finally decided to look at me, but he looked away from me. “You flatter me, it is too bad your friend doesn’t feel the same my lord.”

Darius turned to look at Blaine who looked as if his head was a million miles away. “Don’t mind him, his pride was hurt ‘tis all. He will get over it in due time.”

“If you ask me a little more pride hurting will do him some good.” My words hit their mark.

Wherever Blaine’s head had been, he came crashing back to reality eyes black as night. Darius laughed at Blaine’s reaction. “Beautiful, talented, and has wits. Yes, you are very much different from the ladies I have encountered. A fine addition and change to the usual court of ladies don’t you think Blaine?” Darius asked clapping Blaine’s back.

Blaine didn’t answer he just stood there staring me down. I smiled sweetly back at him and then directed my full attention to Darius. I talked with Darius for a little while longer since Blaine wasn’t contributing anything, until he excused himself from my company. Before leaving he whispered something in Blaine’s ear which made Blaine soften a little and then bowing he left me in the company of Blaine. I looked at Blaine for a second, his expression had softened, but his eyes were still black. I decided to leave his company. I did not wish to spend the rest of the night in the company of a man who couldn’t get over my comment about his pride, no matter how true it was. “Please excuse me my lord, but I would very much like to find the company of my sisters and mami.” I curtsied and was about to turn to leave when he grabbed my arm, not so lightly. “Please unhand me sir.” I said staring at him head on as I tried to yank my arm free. “We are not in the square where I can give you a good tongue lashing without having us become the talk of the court come the ’morrow. So unless that is your good intention I suggest you let me take my leave.”

Blaine stared at me and then smiled his hand letting my arm go and his eyes turning back to their gentle blue color. Taking my hand he bowed and kissed it. It must have been the first time he showed some sort of decency to me since after we met in the square. “Please forgive me my lady for my actions this night and for my actions in the square. I am not a man to take having my character and pride trampled all in one day by one person, especially when the person is a woman of your grace, talent, and wits. Like Darius, I too am honored to have been bested by a woman of your demeanor. Better you than Colin or worse his dishonorable brother Calib.”

For some reason Blaine saying this took a different effect than when Darius had said it. “So I wasn’t the only one to see that during the tourney.”

“If you mean falling off his horse by the tiniest of hits then no you weren’t.”

I smiled. “And to think me and my sisters looked up to him growing up.”

“You know the Gulliver Brothers of Archepald?”

I nodded. “Aye. They are long time friends of my family.”

“How do beautiful ladies such as you and your sisters get associated with the likes of the Gulliver’s?”

“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t be so harsh with them. Aside from Calib’s cowardice and Colin’s tough exterior, Colin and Calib are actually really nice. They took my sisters, mami, and I in after our papi died and left us with nothing.”

Blaine’s face showed remorse for my loss. “Forgive me my lady. Allow me to show my sincerity by granting me the honor of having this dance.” He said bowing and holding out his hand.

Should I? Maybe this is some kind of trick. Maybe he wants me to think he has gotten over his defeat by me so he can humiliate me. I was skeptical at first, but curtsying I took his hand and walked onto the dance floor with him.