shindig

[come_midnight]

Iobel is barely related to the Countess. The Countess is her great-aunt, and there are several layers of not-very-close family in there: the Countess never much liked her sister, said sister engendered little fondness in her only daughter, and said daughter - well, Iobel liked her just fine, which only served to cement the distance between her and the Countess. Iobel supposes she is technically in line for the title, but only if a rather intimidating number of cousins from that more prolific branch of the family all succumb to mortality first.

So Iobel lives in a little flat above a little store and under the old landlord and his wife, and she cohabits with her cat, and she sells hexes and custom spellcharts and consults on other people's spells in progress. It's a decent living even though she buys nice, quality things to lay the hexes on, and it's fun, and she has lots of spare time for personal research and reading since she taught the cat to operate the cash drawer and speak the few Marlese words necessary to tell customers "thank you" and "my spellbinder will be back in an hour" and convinced him to actually use those words instead of his choicer acquisitions.

But she is still noticeably related to the Countess, and when the Countess holds a big shindig, when she wants to fill up that manor house and all the gardens with eight hundred people, then Iobel gets an invitation.

So she goes, because why not, it's a holiday party and the shop's getting no business on the Equinox Revel anyway. She brings Cricket the cat along and takes the ferry up the canal to the estate and is offered a little guest room in the back wing and subtly insulted into borrowing one of her great-aunt's old dresses for the duration of the party. And then she loiters, cat at her heels making rude private-language comments about everyone they see, and she eats the hors d'oeuvres and lets some cousin teach her a simple dance because she finally managed a spell to cure her clumsiness the other month and this is as good an opportunity as any.

Comments

[aestrix]

"I've met them both - I don't know if you'd care for me to give an overview or not?"

And hear her opinions on the subject.

[come_midnight]

She shrugs. "Sure, why not. I'd like to know something about whoever's going to wind up on the throne, I live here."

[aestrix]

"Zevros is a talented young swordsman who is remarkably straightforward and to the point," says Natariem. "But he has a wicked temper, no respect for authority, and little foresight. If he ever does take the throne I'd want to wait a decade, so he's had some time to grow up."

Natariem considers the firstborn prince something of a failure. He's got admirable qualities, surely, but it's unlikely that Zevros will do much to leave a lasting effect. Not the sort of thing Natariem's hoping for.

"Most of the smart ones are hoping Zevros abdicates in favor of his brother, though. Rather standoffish and cold, but he's no fool and has a sense of honor and fairness about things. I suspect there are a few changes to the country that are his doing, but I couldn't give specifics as to what."

It's a lie. He could explain what he's up to, exactly, so easily. He keeps a close watch on Edarial - he has high hopes for the boy. He's very much his father's son, patient and thoughtful and clever. The boy still needs to have some of his more starchy morals driven out of him, but as an heir to the throne, he's a good choice.

[come_midnight]

"Does Zevros seem likely to do that?"

[aestrix]

"Anyone's guess. I think he might just to avoid getting married, but I could be wrong. He's volatile and somewhat unpredictable."

[come_midnight]

"He can't find anyone he wants to marry, I suppose?"

[aestrix]

"... There are rumors of a few of his habits," says Natariem delicately. "They do not include women."

[come_midnight]

"Oh, I see. It would be more convenient for everyone if adopting heirs was an accepted practice, wouldn't it?"

[aestrix]

"It would, quite a lot. Just pick someone that would be a reasonable king or queen and put them in charge."

Natariem would like very much to be in charge, but it's not happening. He's got no personal claim to the throne.

[come_midnight]

"There could be trial periods, essay tests..."

[aestrix]

"Small-scale problems for them to handle to see if they can handle crises when the stakes are low - I wish for it too. But, alas."

[come_midnight]

"Alas. Hereditary monarchy. You think Edarial will do okay if he gets ahold of the big chair?"

[aestrix]

"I think so, but he could always use suggestions for what things need doing."

[come_midnight]

"Are you some sort of advisor, is that why you know them well enough to speculate?"

[aestrix]

"Sort of. Not officially, but I like to keep my eyes and ears open for things that involve the future of this country, and ways to help it along."

[come_midnight]

"You realize that makes you sound like you're a spy."

[aestrix]

He snorts. "Definitely not. I just try to pay attention."

By employing spies. He's not, technically, one himself.

[come_midnight]

"What brings you to this party, anyway, are you a friend of my great-aunt or what?"

[aestrix]

"Count of the Northern Isles. Also an acquaintance of your great-aunt, though I wouldn't call us friends."

[come_midnight]

Iobel nods.

[aestrix]

"Why," teases the man, "were you worried that I was beneath your station?"

[come_midnight]

"No, I just wanted to know what brought you into the princes' orbit, since you are apparently not a spy."

[aestrix]

"Counthood has its benefits. I'm trying to see if they will be a good fit for Marlatia, or cause the country to - worsen."

[come_midnight]

"If they do worse than the late queen I might pack up and move to Lathalind."

[aestrix]

"Indeed. That's what I'd very much like to prevent."