Black Oak Sword, Chapter 38

Prince Alexander stood as Princess Variana entered the room.

“Princess, it is a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said as reached out for Princess Variana’s hand. He leaned over and kissed the top of her hand.

“The pleasure is mine,” replied Princess Variana as she dipped in a slight curtsy.

The smile on Prince Alexander’s lips thinned. He gestured to Princess Variana, “Please, be seated.”

She stared at him for a moment. Then walked over and seated herself at the table.

After she sat, Prince Alexander sat as well. He clapped his hands. At the sound, servants entered the room bearing food and wine for the feast. They placed various platters along the table and scurried back out of the room. One servant remained at each end of the table, standing slightly behind and to the right of both Prince and Princess.

Prince Alexander nodded his satisfaction with the meal. “It looks delightful, as do you Princess Variana.”

“That is kind of you to say, Prince Alexander.”

“I can be found to be kind,” said the Prince. “To those who serve me well.”

Princess Variana’s cheeks colored at this pronouncement. “Do you think of me as a servant?” she asked.

“Never,” replied the Prince. “I only meant to say, I can be most kind to those I value.”

The two servants, nearly simultaneously placed bowls in front of the Prince and Princess. A third servant entered the room and lifted a tureen of squash soup. He ladled some into each of their bowls. The silence of the room was punctuated only by the sound of dishes and breathing.

Alexander gestured to Variana, “Please, enjoy your soup.”

Variana nodded as she reached for her spoon. “Do you value me?” she asked.

Alexander, in the middle of lifting his own spoon, stopped his hand in mid-air, the spoon pointing off into the distance. “What?” he asked.

“You said you are kind to those you value,” Variana said. “I was wondering if you value me?

“Of course I do, dear Princess,” said Alexander. He set his spoon back down on the table. “For this very reason I have come to court you.”

Variana took a small bite of the squash soup. It was spicy and hot; not at all to her liking. “You have come to court me while your father fights my father. You are courting me while brave men and women die as your father tries to take what is not his to take.”

Alexander laughed at this. He lifted his napkin and waved it. “I surrender to your wit, Princess. While it is true my father wages war on your Kingdom, it is not true he tries to take what is not his. In ancient times, all the lands of your Kingdom were part of the Kingdom of the North. For many years, the false belief in the Black Oak Sword gave your people great courage that kept the true order of things from being as they should. My father is merely trying to put things back to how they should have always stayed.”

Variana pushed her bowl of soup away.

“You do not like the soup,” asked Alexander.

Variana looked at Alexander. He was a handsome man and powerful. “I find it is not the only thing I dislike,” she answered.

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: You may notice I just substituted Ailith for Aella--I finally made the leap because I think the name fits her background and cultural heritage better.

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**All pictures used are labeled for reuse. They come from Pixabay

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