Drums of War by Nick Storming

Author:Nick Storming [Storming, Nick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fractured Press
Published: 2019-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

We in the North rarely hold to ceremony but the sharing of salt, bread and hearth is an ancient tradition. One that I hold dear. For to accept and outsider into your home, behind your walls and defenses. To make yourself vulnerable to them must be marked by some ceremony. A reminder to them and to yourself that the decision comes with responsibilities from both parties.

So it was, that I found myself passing bread and salt back and forth with the imperial princess and her retinue. I, grandmother and a half dozen of our higher nobility all performing the ritual same as had been done for centuries.

That evening was the first full dinner meal with King in attendance and the chefs, bakers and kitchen help did not disappoint. It was considered the gravest of sin to their god, if one was to touch a female not one's wife in the Empire, especially an IMperial personage. Wishing to give no offense or test the boundaries of my our nations friendship I took care when leading the princess over to the High table and pulling out her chair, directly to the left of my own.

“Your majesty does me a great honor.” The princess said as she took her seat.

Seated beside one another we made for an odd sight I am sure. The newly crowned king, tall and young. Probably glowing with my own arrogance and pride at that point, as any young king would. And the Imperial princess swathed from head to toe in black cloth. Her servants sat just below us with my upper nobility. They were enchanted by grandmother and her winsome smile and adroit conversation.

“They can not hear us from here you highness,” I said, motioning around to the surrounding walls and buttresses. “A trick of a clever engineer. All sound here at our end of the high table is reflected back into the walls behind us.”

“That works until they have a lip reader.” The princess replied in a quick riposte.

I held my glass up before me about to take a sip, “I trust you to know your surroundings well enough for that not to be a problem Jasmine.” I glanced from her eyes where I had held my gaze down to the mask that covered her face. To my surprise Jasmine barked a sharp laugh at that either at my joke or my familiarity, either way I welcomed the show of humanity from her.

“You are bold young king.” It was a hard statement of fact devoid of mirth from a moment before and I once more had to revise my opinion of this woman. There was something to her mannerisms that nagged at the back of my mind.

“Those are three words that when placed together, history would tell, spell doom for that kingdom.” I leaned back regarding the Princess with a keen eye as the fish course was served. A delicate white fish poached in a lightly flavored broth with small salted meat dumplings.

The princess took her time eating, with small delicate bites that she drew back under her veil.

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