The Elysian Affair-Chapter 01.
The Elysian Affair
Alexandrine of Ravynstone Abbey
NaNoWriMo 2006 Novel
Genre: Fantasy/Court Intrigue/Historical Fantasy/Fantasy Steampunk/Fantasy of Manners
2699 in the 65th year of Empress Cornelia’s reign, early spring
Palatine House, Aubine“Bored, bored, so bored!”, sighed the Priestess-Palatine Laelia as she looked over her clear desk with papers neatly stacked in trays, ready for her assistants to take them to their proper place. Tossing her braided hair back over her shoulder, Laelia stretched.”I almost would prefer going out into the field, rather than push paper, I’m so bored.” She said, fussing with the papers, making sure they were in neat stacks and all edges lined up. She turned her chair around to look out the silk draped windows and gazed out the window, ignoring the lushly landscaped garden below.A knock at the door made Laelia spin around to see who it was. Nobody was there but a folded piece of parchment lay in the exact center of the polished desk. She picked up the missive and read it quickly, then surged to her feet in barely suppressed excitement.
“Something different! Even if it is a small chore to do, at least I won’t die of boredom at my desk.” Her silver silk robe swished as she exited the room, making sure everything was in order before answering the summons. Laelia’s braid swung as she briskly walked to the Temple of Venetia and her appointment with the Lady, passing through the gardens just waking up from their winter nap.
Laelia entered the Temple and made her obeisance to the statue representing the lady, then turned to her right and exited the main chamber to make her way through the maze of hallways to the audience chamber where the Lady awaited.
She paused before the double doors intricately carved and embellished with gold and enamel and checked her appearance: hair still in braid, no food stains on her robe and uniform and that her robe wasn’t too badly wrinkled. Satisfied that she was tidy, Laelia pushed the doors open and entered.
The pale blonde woman sitting on the cushioned divan, with white silk draping over her pregnant belly smiled with recognition. “You are here sooner than I expected, Laelia, my dear. I hope I didn’t disrupt your tasks?”
“Oh no, Lady. I was finished with my morning duties when I received your summons.” Laelia bowed, then kneeled on a crimson velvet cushion.
“I received a request for your services as a Shadow Priestess. The Empress of Boratia requested the best Shadow priestess to help with an infestation of rogue daevas disrupting the celebrations of her 65th Jubilee. Would you be available? I know you have duties here in Aubine, managing the city, but she did request the best we have, and you will be amply compensated for your services and have the authority to back up any orders you may give related to your assignment.
Trying to suppress her eagerness, Laelia smiled. “It wouldn’t be an imposition, Lady. My assistants are well-trained and I do need a change in routine or else I fear I shall grow roots in that chair. I can leave by tonight, if that would be permissible.”
“Since you are leaving so soon, you will be the message. Wear your formal robe over your best uniform and iron your hair for court. They frown on braids. The Empress receives visitors to the Court in the mornings, so present yourself to the place by the third hour after daybreak to announce your presence in Boratia. Give your full name to the major domo. As for lodging, the Temple in Boratia will make a room available for your use.”
“Yes ma’am. May I be dismissed, so I may pack?” Laelia bowed again.
“Of course. Have a safe journey and we will expect you here after the Jubilee celebrations are finished.” Venetia waved her hand in dismissal, and Laelia rose gracefully, making sure not to catch her robe under her feet. She turned and left to go back to her rooms and prepare for her assignment.
Venetia watched Laelia as she left, and as soon as the double doors closed, a black cloud coalesced into the form of the Lord, Himalis, with a thoughtful look on his face.
“She seemed excited, my dear.”
“Yes, she was excited. I fear she has gotten bored with being Priestess-Palatine. The city runs so efficiently now, she has no challenges to keep her occupied. This assignment may be very good for her, but she is going to Boratia. She will find her family but I can’t see farther than that. She may decide to stay in Boratia or she may return.” Venetia rested her chin in one hand as the other one rubbed her belly.
Himalis laid his hand over hers and smiled. “She needs a family.”
“We’re her family!” Venetia cried.
“She needs more than what we can give her, my dear. Running a holy city isn’t enough, judging by how excited she was to get an assignment. Her skills and talents are being wasted here, Venetia.”
“Those four years she was in Zenobia was very difficult for her. Are you sure she can handle the Court at Boratia? They love the arcane rules and politics. Laelia hasn’t had any experience in that.” Venetia fretted, rubbing her belly where the new godling was kicking up a storm.
“Laelia has always been a quick learner, and isn’t she Boratian anyways? I think that political intrigue is in the water in Boratia.” Himalis mused, walking back and forth in front of the divan where Venetia held court daily, kicking the cushions across the room.
Venetia frowned at her husband’s antics and hoisted herself out of her seat. Arranging the folds of her gown, she then tidied up the room with a flick of her hand. Turning towards Himalis with hands on her hips, she shook her head. “I will insist that she return for the delivery.”
Laelia held the hem up of her robes as she rushed back to her rooms in the Palatine House. As she wound her way through the hallways and garden paths, she listed everything she would need: extra uniforms, her formal robes, her correspondence box, a letter of credit from the bank in Aubine so she wouldn’t be broke while working, her vanity box so as to not offend and a few of her favorite things to make the austere Temple rooms seem a bit more homey. The front door opened just as she hit the front steps and she passed one of her assistants, a rather pretty young man with his long brown hair pulled back into a braid and wearing the black robes of the Brotherhood of Death, an order devoted to Himalis, and called out over her shoulder, “Sorry! Must run! I have to be in Boratia soon and I simply must pack! Everything that needed my signature today is in their respective trays and you are in charge until I return, Damien.” He watched her rapidly disappear up the stairs leading to the private areas of the House.She skidded to a stop in front of her dressing room, puffing a bit from her dash, then entered. Laelia dragged a well-polished black leather trunk bound in polished nickel and popped open the lid. She carefully packed her things, taking care not to crush her formal robes, already layered together, and added a few of her favorite books and other necessary items. A few words and a shimmering portal opened up, and the trunk was pushed inside.
As she left her dressing room, another one of Laelia’s assistants, a Light priestess, Octavia, hurried to intercept. “Laelia! Please wait!”, she cried.
Laelia turned, and paused, waiting for Octavia to catch up. The younger priestess stopped, panting a bit from the stairs.
“Damien told me that you were leaving, Laelia. He said something about Boratia?”
“My services were requested by the Empress to clean up an infestation of rogue daevas. There is nothing pressing here, so the Lady gave me permission to leave. Damien will be in charge as he has had more seniority and you are to be second in command.”
“Yes ma’am. Are all the papers in order, then?”
“You can find today’s paperwork in the signed tray and there is nothing else on the agenda today.” Laelia smiled. “I must leave now, Octavia, so keep things running the way I would and I’ll be returning after the Jubilee is over in Boratia unless the Lord or Lady recall me sooner.” Laelia turned and went outside to find the door to Boratia which was west of Aubine.
Boratia, Capital City of the Empire of Boratia. Night
2nd hour of the fifth day of the fourth week. (4 hours before daybreak)She arrived in the Temple courtyard and startled the sleepy guard dozing at the gate. She showed the guard the symbol of her rank, flashed into her Night Sister uniform and leapt over the gate, going into the city. Laelia scanned the roofs, learning the layout of the vast city. She paused in a shadowy alley, opening onto a wide avenue, still bustling with people even at this late hour. Indulging in a rare impulse, she unashamedly gawked at the steam-powered vehicles puttering up and down the streets and the gaslights illuminating the avenue and even the bright marquees over some of the buildings. She turned and disappeared back into the darkness. Laelia’s passage was noted by a young man standing outside a large white house with all its windows ablaze and music spilling out into the early spring night.
Elsewhere, later that nightHe unfolded the twenty-year old letter, scanning the contents.
To the Lady:
Greetings. I write this in hopes that you will be merciful and grant my child, my youngest, the infant Princess Laelia Frederica Iulia of Boratia. My late husband, Prince Frederick of Zenobia and I were ambushed on our way back from Caranthia and his Highness passed in the defense of me and our child. I, Laelia and Messalina fled for our lives. Before we fled, I overheard the brigands talking about how a ‘very important person’ in Boratia wanted myself and my female children dead. I beg you to protect Laelia until she can defend herself. She was born on the 21st day of the first month of the year 2679, and is already entered into the Iulian clan rolls at the Genealogical Institute of Boratia. Laelia is my heir and as such is entitled to my rank and wealth on my death and should be educated in an appropriate manner suiting her station in life. Princess Victoria Emilia Iulia Noddington, Crown Princess of Boratia, Princess Frederick of Zenobia28th day, sixth month, 2679
“So she has returned to Boratia. Let the games begin,” he smirked, folding the letter and returning it to its intricately carved box.