Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Three: The Rose Tree

"A Slave must have written permission from its owner to obtain an apprenticeship or to participate in trade."

About an hour after Nadia was first summoned, she reentered Count Rallian's study with fresh, pitch-black hair and curtsied in front of her master's desk where he sat inscribing yet another letter. After a moment of silence, Nadia spoke up.

"I've dyed my hair like you asked me to, Master."

The count peered up from his scribbles. "Very good. Have a seat there."

He gestured to the same chair Nadia had previously sat in and she did as she was told. Behind the count, she spotted Rein in the window again where the curtains were now open. Rein stood to the side and listened in on the following conversation.

"I received a letter from Queen Ariana stating that the king has commissioned a search party for you," Count Rallian explained. "I had you dye your hair so that you do not match the description the searchers will receive. I have also had a new cuff made for you."

The count motioned for Alik to hold onto Nadia while Nazar removed her current cuff with a strange type of tool which could be best described as slightly resembling a set of pliers. Once he got the old cuff off, he replaced it with the new one.

"Your new name is Lila," the count continued in the meantime. "Everyone will call you Lila, you will introduce yourself as Lila, and you will respond to the name, Lila. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, Master."

"Good. So, have you learned much from your peers about this new life to which you've been introduced?"

"Not much yet, Master."

"Well, it'll all come in good time. Meanwhile, there was something else I wanted to discuss with you." Count Rallian gestured for his servants to leave and only continued after the door had shut. "We all have a heritage; we are all of different ethnicities. For instance, my daughter is part specter, elf, human, and sylph. Garnet is half elf, half limoniad. Mauro is half oread and half basajaun. And so on and so on. So, my question for you is, what are you?"

"I'm part elf, part dryad, and part napaeae." Nadia suddenly found herself thankful to her irritating eight-legged governess back in the Obsidian Palace.

"Good job," Rein whispered.

"Really? So how old are you?" asked the count.

"Ten," Nadia answered like the miracle worker had told her to. "I'll be eleven in a month."

"And how can I be certain that you are any of what you say?"

Nadia shrugged. "I don't know, Master."

"I see. Well, Lila. I'll have you know that I've been reading up on sea creatures: naiads, water sprites, mermaids, sirens, hydriads, nereids, and so on. I am convinced that they exist. Not only that, but I am convinced that some of my slaves are sea people. In fact, I have already found three mermaids among them. That being said, if you're one of them, I would highly suggest you tell me now."

"You've found mermaids among your slaves, Master?" asked Nadia, genuinely perplexed. There were more of her kind living on land?

"Indeed, I have," the count answered. He sat back comfortably in his seat, happy to boast. "I've learned enough to know how to spot them from a mile away. So, would you like to confess to me now if you yourself are from the ocean?"

"I told you what I am, Master," Nadia replied innocently. "But I do think it's wonderful that you are so well-read on sea creatures."

"How am I to be sure you're not lying? I know you seafolk wish to keep your existence a secret, and you're doing a fine job of it since you're still universally categorized as a myth. However, I know better."

"Why are you convinced that seapeople exist, Master?"

"Because there is an abundance of information on them! So many sightings! All these books that you see here discuss seapeople, and few of them contradict each other. They teach how to spot seapeople, and the three that I've found among my slaves have every tell-tale sign."

"H-how do you spot them?" asked Nadia. She tightened her muscles in an attempt to control her nerves.

"Turn around and reveal your back to me."

"Oh no," said Rein. What would happen when the count confirmed Nadia's ethnicity?

Nadia, too, felt as though dozens of bubbles popped in her stomach. She stood and slowly turned as she searched for an excuse to explain away the dotted designs which ran down her spine and the back of her arms. She lifted her shirt and could almost feel her master's eyes burning her skin as he studied the patterns.

"I suppose you're going to tell me those are not the markings of a mermaid?"

"They're not, Master," Nadia insisted. "These are mixed from a dryad and a napaeae."

"That seems highly unlikely, Lila." The count's tone grew dark. "I advise you to confess now for your sake, because if I must prove it before I can extract the words from your mouth, I will not be happy with you."

"You should just tell him then, Nadia," Rein whispered, hoping that somehow the message would reach her. Perhaps the best course of action would be to avoid the count's wrath now and figure the rest out later.

However, it was only the miracle worker's warning which repeated over and over in Nadia's mind. She swallowed her panic as she let her shirt drop back down and she slowly turned to face the count again.

"I assure you, Master. I am what I told you."

"Do you even remember what you told me?"

"Part elf, part napaeae, and part dryad."

Nadia could see her master fighting to restrain his rage. He wagged a finger at her in frustration.

"You'd better be telling the truth, young miss. I'm giving you a fair warning. Get back to your chamber, it's time to turn in."

"Yes, Master," she said with a curtsy.

Nadia was all too delighted to leave the count's presence. She breathed a sigh of relief when she emerged into the corridor and power-walked back up the stairs to the bedroom.

Rein wasn't very happy with Nadia's predicament. Clearly, her ethnicity wasn't going to remain hidden for very long, and the secret of her curse might also be at risk. Sir Rallian was quickly proving himself to be a very clever adversary. It was anyone's guess as to how long Nadia's secrets would remain undisclosed while Rein concocted a solution to free her from this newfound prison. Time was not on her side and once Nadia's weaknesses were exposed, getting her away from the famed Count of Helvetica would be next to impossible.

With that bit of information established, Rein took off and made her way to the coast and the cave in which Nadia had been left when she was sent to shore the previous night. She fluttered around inside, in search for any signs of a buried object. It was good to know that Nadia knew how to hide things well when it was of high importance, though at this moment it was a bit irritating. At last, Rein spotted a faint gleam beneath a rock. The water had washed away some of the sand so to reveal part of the golden ball. Rein struggled to bury it again and then placed a bit of seaweed over it, even though she knew her efforts were in vain. The ball would probably be visible again within the next hour. At this rate, Nadia would definitely have to return for her ball and find a more appropriate hiding spot for it if the chance ever arose.

                                                               ***

The next day was Princess Nadia's first day as Lila the Slave. After she had fetched water from the well in the rear courtyard, helped to prepare breakfast for the master and his daughter, and took part in cleaning the kitchen so to prep it for brunch, she began to scrub the silver and white tiled floors of the foyer with Garnet.

"We get paid today," Garnet told Nadia with a bright smile on her face.

"You do," Nadia corrected. "I don't."

"I'll split my pay with you."

"No, keep it. I'll get mine next month."

It was here when Mauro rushed over to approach the two girls in his black harem pants and dark purple vest which draped his bare, tanned chest. This was the second slave who was with Rallian and Garnet during the meeting with the queen the day before.

"Master has a bunch of trunks of things he doesn't want any more on stage!" he informed. "He says that when we go on break, we may take what we wish to keep!"

"Ooo!" Garnet exclaimed as she clapped her sudsy hands together. "How exciting!"

"On stage?" Nadia asked.

"There's a stage in the grand hall," Mauro clarified.

"If we finish the floors early, we can get third pick!" Garnet said to Nadia.

Nadia could hardly understand why Garnet was so excited to get third pick, but she had to admire her optimism. Despite her dark physical traits, there was always a bright smile on her face no matter the situation. Nadia hoped that Garnet's humble personality would rub off on her someday soon; it could help her to be more tolerant of this life she hadn't expected to live. After all, chances were that she would be here for quite some time if not the rest of her life. Perhaps acceptance of this fact would make her situation easier to endure.

Garnet hastened her scrubbing and her anticipation encouraged Nadia to do the same, if only to help her get her much-desired third pick of Master's unwanted things. In the end, they both finished earlier than they had expected, though they still only achieved third pick.

"Well, we can use what's left of Her Ladyship's old clothes to make into clothes for us," said Garnet. Then she looked at Nadia. "You should take them actually. You don't have any clothes yet."

Nadia took them without giving them much of a glance. However, she loved the feel of the silk on her hands, and now she knew where those faint traces of lilac perfume came from that hovered in the air.

"I haven't seen the countess yet," she reflected.

"She died two months ago of some unknown illness," Mauro explained while he rummaged through the trunks. "That's why Master's getting rid of all her things."

"Oh, how unfortunate." Nadia couldn't help the lack of sympathy which she felt for the count, but attempted a sort of pause that she hoped would make it appear as if she felt something. "Well we could also use some of these items to make our room look nicer. That way it doesn't feel so bland in there all the time."

"That's a good idea," Garnet agreed. "Here, we can put the things we want in this trunk."

She dumped the contents of a nearly empty trunk into another and Nadia helped her fill it with what they wanted. By the end of their break, and with Mauro's help, the girls' bedroom no longer appeared dull and empty. They had hung red lace curtains over their window, used two of the countess's many bed spreads for each of their beds, hung candles on the walls, laid out a black and gold rug on the hardwood floor between their beds, and draped a cream-colored cloth over the table by their window. The final touch was an empty lavender vase placed on top of the table.

"I'll pick flowers for it tomorrow," Nadia offered.

"I really like it," Garnet said, wringing her hands with glee.

"What do you think Master's going to do with the items nobody wants?" Nadia asked.

"Probably toss it," Mauro answered.

"Do you think he'd let us sell them in the market?"

"I doubt it," Mauro snickered.

"I don't see why not," said Garnet. "All he has to do is give us written permission."

"Exactly," said Mauro. "What are the chances? Besides, we don't know how to sell things, make price tags, or even price the stuff."

"We can ask Miss Mirriot for help," Garnet offered.

"Who's Miss Mirriot?" Nadia asked.

"She's the oldest slave here," Garnet answered. "Usually when you get too old to work, your master puts you down because he no longer has a need for you. But Master wanted to keep her because she's pure human, and humans are the wisest creatures in the world. He uses her for occasional pieces of advice."

"Well then let's ask for Master's permission when you get paid today," Nadia said. "If he says yes, we can go to Miss Mirriot for help with actually running the stand."

"I'll let you do the asking," said Garnet with a nervous giggle. "I don't usually like to ask Master for more than he's already given me."

"Why? Does he get mad?"

Garnet shrugged. "I don't know, I've never tried."

"I see."

                                                               ***

At the end of that day, all of Count Rallian's slaves lined up in front of the servant who looked over them to be paid their monthly allowance, and as stars equaled about twenty-five cents, the total amount added up to be around ten dollars. Nadia had no reason to be anywhere near Alik, her superior, and found her master sitting in the grand hall where he enjoyed some fresh fruit while a group of finely-dressed women performed a delicate dance on stage. Nadia approached the blue marble steps to where he sat and she knelt into the slave bow which Garnet had taught her: kneeling on her right knee with her hands and forehead rested on her left knee.

"Lila," said the count. "Your stipend isn't due until the end of next month."

"Yes, Master," Nadia replied. "I know. I only had a question to ask."

"What is it?"

Nadia rose. "What do you plan to do with the rest of the late countess's things?"

"I have yet to decide. Why?"

"I was wondering if Garnet, Mauro, and I could sell them in the market?"

"For you three to profit off it alone?" the count asked.

Nadia hadn't expected this question. She worded her response carefully. "Unless, of course, you wanted some of the profit."

"What if I wanted all the profit?"

Nadia couldn't hide the disappointment from her face. "Well, there's really nothing I can do to stop you from taking it all, I suppose."

"Well they are my things, are they not?"

"Of course, Master."

"What did you plan to do with the money acquired from selling my belongings?"

"I have no clothes, Master. Garnet has been kind enough to let me borrow hers. Perhaps some blankets for my bed when winter comes. Other necessities."

The count took a moment to consider. He couldn't tell if Nadia was brave or ignorant to ask this of him. Either way, he didn't know what to do with the rest of his late wife's belongings, and indeed Nadia required some daily provisions.

"Very well, you may sell the items and keep the profit. However, if your chores are not completed correctly and on time even once, you will not be allowed to sell anything in the market again. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Master. And thank you."

"I'll have your permission forms filled out for you on the eve of next Market Day. I am only doing this for you because I realize that you do require necessities. Don't get used to this generosity."

"Of course, Master."

"Good. When you finally decide to purchase clothes, see Alik before you leave. He will provide you with some extra crescents in case your profit isn't sufficient. That money will be for clothing purposes only. Since you primarily work inside, I want you dressed elegantly. Understood?"

"Yes, Master."

"You may go."

Nadia curtsied and left to share the good news with Garnet and Mauro. After she told her friends that they were permitted to sell their master's unwanted treasures in the market, they rushed straight to Miss Mirriot's bedroom for help. Her room was located on the first level of the castle in the west wing. It was singled out beside the kitchen and may have served another purpose before it was Miss Mirriot's bedroom. Nadia guessed a large pantry of some sort due to its location. Garnet gently tapped on her door.

"Miss Mirriot?" she called. "It's Garnet, Mauro, and Lila."

"Come on in, Children," came the voice of an old woman.

Nadia followed her friends' lead and entered when they did.

"What might I do for you three?" Miss Mirriot asked.

The old, fragile woman sat behind a large loom and stopped in the middle of what she weaved to consult with the children. Nadia glanced around the small room that Miss Mirriot shared with no one. It was decorated with the many blankets and afghans she had woven together over the many years she had been a slave under Count Rallian. These extravagant pieces of art beheld phenomenal scenes of Xyntriav and tall tales of legends and myths. They were dreamy and carefully created, and they left Nadia in a complete trance that was difficult to escape.

"We were wondering if you could help us run a stand in the market," Garnet said.

"You must get Master's permission first, Honey," said Miss Mirriot.

"We have, Miss," Mauro answered. "We're selling his unwanted things, and we get to keep all the money too!"

"Well that is splendid! How very generous of him. Now, how can I help?"

"Pricing, tagging, setting the stand up," Garnet explained. "Maybe even running it."

"Well then we best get started!"

                                                               ***

The next morning, Rein had returned to the Helvetican Palace in the hope of finding anyone who might be on Nadia's side throughout this ordeal, besides the king since his position was clear. For the past couple of days, the poor pixie had constantly flown back and forth between the palace and Aimonbay Estate, and she quickly grew weary of it. Upon waking this morning, Rein prayed desperately that Nadia's untimely setback would soon be resolved or otherwise the necessity to travel so frequently would diminish.

Being that it was spring at the time, Rein had abandoned her coat, long-sleeved shirt, and her leather boots in a pear tree on the count's estate. The warm articles of clothing had been a peace offering from Captain Tzatara during her voyage to Arcor where she rejoined with Nadia's mother. There, winter was only just ending, but summer neared on Noelle. Thus, it seemed wise to Rein to store the articles temporarily so that they remained available come winter. For this weather, the tube top over her fishnet shirt and the crimson leggings under her black skirt would do.

Upon arrival at the palace, Rein's attention diverted immediately to the palace gardener who hurried through the flowery courtyard in some sort of frenzy. She watched curiously as he rushed into the palace to address the king and queen of Noelle while they sat for breakfast with their three sons.

Hoping to satisfy her curiosity, Rein found a window that gave her an aerial view of the private family dining hall. It was slightly smaller than the grand dining hall, but not by much as it had been built for occasions when many members of family paid visits. This morning, it was only the two rulers and their three sons who sat together at the far end of the light oak wood table, which seated up to sixteen people including the king and queen.

The room beheld the crests of the royal family, Ariana's family, and other more distant relatives, rather than the kingdom's crest and other symbols of Noelle. A few trinkets which held sentimental value could be spotted on podiums and in a couple of cabinets about the room. These were all but forgotten the moment the gardener entered the hall with news that he somehow deemed important enough to interrupt a private royal breakfast. He stopped in the doorway where he was hit with the aroma of freshly ground coffee, and stood straight with his arms to his sides. Though he looked as if he'd seen a ghost, he impressively maintained a professional stance. Everyone at the table peered up from their eggs, toast, and roasted vegetables to address the panic-stricken gardener who almost didn't know what to say and how to say it.

"Your Majesties," he blurted out. "M-might I have a word?"

"Well we do happen to be in the middle of breakfast..." Queen Ariana answered.

"What is it, Wendell?" asked King Darren.

"It is about your Rose Tree, sire," the gardener explained. "Something is very... wrong... You must see for yourself."

"At this very moment?" asked the queen.

Wendell hesitated. "Please. There's something... frightfully wrong."

The royal family traded glances with each other, but since whatever the gardener reported seemed to be an emergency of some kind, King Darren and Queen Ariana summoned for Lusi and Polaris to join them. They left the three princes behind to finish their breakfast and reluctantly followed their grim gardener to the Rose Tree.

Rein had been present the day the Rose Tree was planted in honor of Gerardo of Liko over three hundred years ago, and she remembered that it was located in the Royal Cemetery. She couldn't wait to see what was so terrifyingly wrong with the tree and decided to simply meet everyone there. Strangely enough, she couldn't find it. There appeared to be another tree in its place, which hardly made sense. It was a Noelle law that this tree in particular was not to be tampered with by anyone without special authorization appointed by the king himself. Even then, Parliament would have to approve the motion, on top of which the matter would have to be an absolute emergency. Thus, it would be difficult to legally remove and replace the sacred sapling. Could someone have successfully sneaked another tree in place of the Rose Tree overnight? Rein couldn't imagine it was likely without someone catching the perpetrator in the act.

Rein patiently waited in an adjacent tree for the others to arrive and hoped to get a suitable explanation from at least one of them as to what happened to the original Rose Tree. Perhaps this is what the gardener wished to show the king and queen, but what was the purpose of dragging Their Majesties into the cemetery when he could simply inform them that someone had removed the Rose Tree and replaced it with another?

Soon Rein heard the aggravated voice of Queen Ariana as she trod through the cemetery with her husband, the royal advisor, her lady in waiting, and the gardener. She lifted her lavender skirts high above her ankles so to avoid soiling the fine silk. However, there was nothing she could do about the dirt accumulating on her matching slippers.

"This is not how we desire to spend our breakfast," she whined. "The last thing we need is to trudge through the Royal Cemetery so early in the morning. Especially after yesterday's affairs, one could imagine that we are a bit stressed. There had better be something severely wrong with this tree, Wendell. Something life-threatening."

"For all we know, Your Majesty, it may very well be," Wendell replied forebodingly.

They finally stopped in front of what had replaced the Rose Tree and Wendell gestured towards it. "Here it is."

So, this tree really was the Rose Tree? Rein's eyes grew wide and she just stared at it, as if willing it to somehow explain itself. Then her gaze returned to the group and she could tell that Polaris was the only other person who saw the dilemma immediately.

"I don't understand," said Darren. "What is the problem exactly?"

The royal family must seldom give the Rose Tree any attention.

"Sire," said Wendell. "Rose trees have pitch black bark and vibrant, green leaves!"

"Well, what happened?"

Polaris approached the tree to examine it closer.

"I'm not sure, Your Majesty. That's why I brought you out here. I swear, just overnight the bark became pearl and the leaves turned as black as the bottom of the ocean!"

"You mean to tell us that the bark is literally pearl?" Queen Ariana asked. Her mood softened as she found this interesting indeed. "Not simply the color?"

"Well if you touch it, it feels exactly like pearl," Wendell explained with an exaggerated shrug. "So... I just assumed."

"Did you notice anything peculiar about the tree before it changed like this?" Polaris asked as he felt the bark.

"Well..." Wendell thought. "It seemed as though yesterday I had to water it again even though I had already watered it the previous day. Generally, rose trees are only to be watered on a monthly basis."

After he touched one of the black leaves, Polaris knelt in the dying grass and sensed the cracked ground around the base of the trunk. "It appears it might need watering again."

"Oh splendid! So now I must water it every day!"

Polaris pressed his ear against the trunk. "Did you notice it has a heartbeat?"

"Excuse me?" Queen Ariana squinted her eyes at the royal advisor.

"But rose trees have no dryads!" Wendell exclaimed.

"Even then, trees don't have heartbeats," Polaris added as he pushed himself back to his feet. He brushed his hands together and made sure not to get any dirt on the large burgundy sleeves of his angarkha.

"So, what does this mean?" asked Darren.

"Is it haunted?" Wendell asked.

"Don't be ridiculous," replied Polaris. "My first guess is that it might be an omen of some sort. Perhaps a warning."

"A haunting sounds more plausible," Ariana commented.

"An omen of what?" Darren asked.

"At this point, I'm not sure," Polaris answered. "I would need time to study it. My first assumption would be the possibility that this may have something to do with Gerardo of Liko. Perhaps he recently passed and this is the tree's response."

"Gerardo of Liko committed suicide before this tree was planted," Ariana reminded.

"Perhaps not. It's possible that the legends are true."

"Myths you mean?"

Polaris slowly grew irritated of Ariana's indefinite lack of faith in him. "At any rate, I would need to study the tree and conduct some research to gather the useful details before I could give anyone a solid answer to this occurrence."

"Well figure it out then," King Darren demanded. "I have more important matters to worry about. Come, Ariana. Let's finish breakfast so that I may begin my day."

"Oh, I've lost my appetite," the queen replied as she regathered her skirts. "I think I'll change and take a stroll through the labyrinth."

No more words were spoken as everyone left to return to the palace. Polaris gave the Rose Tree a second look-over and began to decipher how he planned to study it. When Rein glanced back at the royal couple, she saw the queen pull Lusi aside and whisper into her ear. Lusi nodded and the exchange was over. Rein leaned forward to scrutinize the two conspirators until they entered the palace, at which point Rein decided to follow them from the outside. She barely managed to keep them in her sight through the limited number of windows in the palace walls. The queen seemed to be in a hurry as she glided up the purple carpeted stairs and Lusi struggled to keep in step behind her. It wasn't long before Rein was forced to separate from them and she had to make the risky assumption that they were headed back to the royal bedchamber. There she stood just outside the entrance to the chamber's balcony and examined the room while she waited for the two women to enter.

Just like the rest of the palace, the walls of the bedchamber were absolutely coated in miss-matched mirrors. Koi ponds spotted the room, which reminded Rein of the daring dive she took into the koi pond inside the White Castle beneath Arcor. Ever since that life-threatening experience, she detested koi ponds and thus evaded those in this chamber. She eyed a white fur rug set between the grand fireplace and the magenta furniture in the sitting area of the room. Sheer pink curtains were draped around the large bed and directly across from it was the queen's silver vanity which held the largest mirror in the room. Rein prayed that she would quickly adapt to the bright colors which seemed to dominate this kingdom. At least the air here was filled with a light floral fragrance, the type of which she always immensely enjoyed. Finally, Queen Ariana burst through her double chamber doors with Lady Lusi who followed closely behind her.

"I found the message to Klaris just before we went down to breakfast," Ariana said after the chamber doors closed behind Lusi.

The queen darted straight for her writing desk and quickly took a seat in the chair so that the skirt of her dress wrapped gracefully around the silver chair legs. She continued to speak to Lusi while she constructed another letter.

"We were very fortunate to get a hold of it before it went to Saíd. Now, you are to take this directly to Sir Rallian. No response is necessary."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Lusi replied.

Rein wanted so much to read what the queen had written. She knew it could be nothing good. She watched with longing as Ariana sealed her letter in an envelope along with what she could only assume to be Darren's message to Klaris.

"Do you suppose there could be something serious happening to the Rose Tree, Your Majesty?" Lusi asked Ariana. "Like an omen? After all, Emperor Jorge did ask God to bless the tree. Perhaps God did more than bless it?"

"I was considering the same thought," Ariana admitted as she stood and held the envelope close to her chest. "But we can't let anyone know of our suspicions. We'll continue as we are and if something serious should actually occur, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." The queen held the letter out to Lusi. "Run along now."

Lusi curtsied in her dark green and gold sari and left the chamber with the envelope. Then Ariana slowly approached her many mirrors and rubbed her head with both hands. Then she peered deeply into her reflection.

"Don't worry, Mother," she said. "We will be stopped by nothing."

Rein felt highly confused as to why Ariana would speak to her reflection as if it were her mother, but deemed it the least of her worries. She flew onto the awning of the balcony and rubbed her face as she paced back and forth.

"So that was the letter that King Darren wrote to King Klaris about the first letter demanding the kingdom for Nadia's return," Rein explained to herself aloud. "Somehow, Ariana got a hold of it before it was sent to Klaris, and now she wrote another letter to the count putting the message that Darren wrote into the same envelope. God, I wish I could learn what's being written in these letters before they're sent to anybody! Clearly both Ariana and Rallian are responsible for this, but which one is initiating it? Who would want to start a war? I wonder if I could get a hold of those letters..."