Chapter 25 A Clever Ally
Chambers of Lady Marisela.
Danilo had written the false message and sent it with the royal page to the stone nest. He also sent a written message ordering that no Pegasus could fly without written permission from the high priest. With Antonio in his post in the corridor of the door to the royal chambers and guards blocking every entrance to that area, the secret remained hidden for a time. Danilo set out in search of Lady Marisela. She was the widow of Lord Leopoldo and was designated to serve as regent of Colinas Gemelas until the king decided which family would be chosen as her successor. Sbe was known as a formidable woman who until recently was often reclusive. Many had noticed that she smiled more often in recent months.
Danilo spoke in a lilting voice: Is the lady here?
Page: Yes, High Priest. She is having lunch. I can knock on the door if you must disturb her.
Danilo: Yes, I do need to bother her. Please extend my apologies.
The page bowed with the elegance of old nobility. The Lady was the last member of a lineage older than the kingdom. Her servants learned their genuflections perfectly and directly from her. If a page or maid was unable to do them gracefully, she would reject them. He tapped three times with just the knuckle of his middle finger in perfect rhythm: tap, wait a second, tap, wait a second, tap. The boy was glad that the older custom of scratching with a long nail of the pinky was no longer used.
Marisela inside the room: Enter with loyalty and without hesitation in your duty.
The page entered and closed the door with precise movements that resembled the steps of a dance.
Marisela smiled at the young man: Permission to speak is granted.
Page: High Priest Danilo of Colinas Gemelas awaits your pleasure, Lady Marisela. He apologised for his poor timing.
Marisela: Thank you, Page Francisco. How is your mother? Do you have a new brother?
Francisco: Yes. She is recovering well. My mother requested that I should ask your permission to use the name Leopoldo for him. She greatly admired your husband.
Marisela beamed. The woman was thirty years old, with long, pitch-black hair. Her eyes were like shadows at midday. Her lips were naturally red like the rouge a prostitute uses.
Francisco was thirteen years old and when the lady smiled, his body felt different in a way he could not explain.
Marisela with pleasant intonations: Tell your mother it is an honor to grant permission to a loyal and kind family. Please bring the high priest inside.
Antonio bowed again and opened the door. He stood at attention and clasped his hands behind his back.
Antonio: Enter as a friend.
The priest entered and waited for the lady to speak first. The page left with precise and elegant movements.
Marisela: High Priest, it is a pleasure to welcome a man from the peninsula of my birth. Tea?
Danilo spoke with care: It is always a pleasure to see my Lady of the royal house of Colinas Gemelas. Yes, please. Your hospitality is beyond question.
A beautiful and elegant maid silently moved the chair for the priest. When he nodded, she poured tea into a silver cup. She lifted the bowl of honey and upon seeing a second nod, mixed some into the hot tea. Marisela made a very small gesture with her hand and the maid leaned so that her ear was in front of the mouth of her lady. She listened for a few seconds and left the room with a tray of dirty dishes.
Marisela change to a serious voice: Something important has happened. We enjoy our gossip, but it is only amusing when others can hear it. I have never shown any romantic or sexual interest in you. You are not a man who wants to waste my time. But you are alone in my room when you could talk to me at the banquet this evening.
Danilo laughed: The king once told me that you are a woman without intelligence, my Lady.
Marisela smirked: You are very kind. The king said that I am a stupid cunt. And he is right. But unlike him, I have been careful to keep my brain in my head and not in my sexual organ.
Danilo breath deeply: The important thing that happened is what happened to the king. This morning King Aloisio of Costa Lunas passed away.
Marisela guarded her expression: Did the king suffer?
Danilo: I think so.
Marisela: Who can I extend my thanks to?
Danilo: The wine makers from Colina Alba.
Marisela spoke quickly: What do you need? You know there are not many knights in my service, and my men-at-arms are fishermen.
Danilo: We want your support for Olivia as queen. She is half royal. Valero only has a few drops of royal blood, and Aurelio even less. Both are in love with war and bored by peace.
Marisela: Who are the members of we want?
Danilo: Count Esteban, Lady Tatiana and me. I need to speak with priest Emiliano.
Marisela: Your group excludes the man with the most soldiers, the richest man, and the man who has more spies among the servants than I do.
Danilo tried to appear confident: If most of the royal court supported the bastard, one of them might not want to live under the reign of King Aurelio.
Marisela: Guillermo is a man who yearns for power. If the queen were to offer him the position of Prince of the Isles or Puerto Blanco, it would be possible.
Danilo: Puerto Blanco would rebel.
Marisela: Good. I hope they kill him for the queen.
Danilo: Do we have your support?
Marisela sharply: Countess and succession of my children. If there is an alliance with Octavio, my support is lost.
Danilo: I understand.
Marisela: Danilo, if Aurelio wins, he will execute you and Esteban for the things the king did not know. You know this.
Danilo: Thank you, my lady.