Mentally, I shook my head, not quite able to make sense of what I was hearing.
<I’m sorry, but I really don’t understand,> I admitted after a moment.
<As I told you before, my mother’s family rules the Fleodin Demesne. As a member of that family, you are considered a Fleodin Royal and have a number of formal titles.>
That came as something of a surprise. I mean, I’d known about my great-grandmother’s family being the Fleodin governing authority, but I had never thought about it in the context of positions or titles. Before I could respond to my grandmother’s comment, however, Nobaxlin spoke – interrupting the telepathic conversation between me and Indigo.
“I’ve been given to understand that you visited Caeles recently,” he said. “What did you think?”
His question caught me flatfooted, and I didn’t have an immediate answer ready. The truth of the matter was that my sojourn to Caeles had resulted in me being stripped of my powers, accused of treason, and almost dying. However, I thought it prudent to give a more tactful – but equally candid – response, so I concentrated for a moment and then stated, “I enjoyed my time there for the most part. The food was delicious, the people were congenial, and the architecture was inspiring.”
Nobaxlin harrumphed. “Well, if you were impressed with those mudhuts they call castles and that swill they brazenly label as food, then you’re going to be awed by what you encounter in the Demesne. Wait until you see it. You’ll love–”
He stopped abruptly, and I noticed Indigo giving him a piercing stare along with a subtle shake of her head. No words passed between them, but I suddenly had a strong indication of the arrangements my grandmother had made for leaving Earth.
Nobaxlin cleared his throat. “Please forgive me. I tend to go overboard when discussing the highlights of Fleodin society and can be a bit boorish in that regard.”
Indigo laughed. “You’re always boorish, but I’m glad you stopped short of completing denigrating my homeworld’s culture, since we have another Caelesian royal present.” She inclined her head towards Myshtal, saying, “This is Princess Isteria, the quint-child of Queen Dornoccia.”
My brow creased slightly, as hearing Myshtal addressed by her first name sounded odd to me. That said, it struck me as appropriate under the circumstances, as this was a formal introduction.
“Pleased to meet you,” Nobaxlin stated, gesticulating with his hands in a manner that I recognized as a Caelesian greeting.
Returning the gesture, Myshtal said, “Actually, we’ve already met.”
A look of surprise crossed the Fleodin’s face. “We have?”
“Yes,” Myshtal insisted. “Years ago, when I was much younger, you came to Caeles as part of a trade delegation when I was visiting the queen.”
A fervent but faraway look came into Nobaxlin’s eyes – as if he were staring at something on the horizon that was close enough to be seen, but too distant to be made out clearly. You could almost see the wheels turning in his mind as his brow wrinkled in concentration. After a moment, however, the look of intensity vanished and he gave Myshtal a bright smile.
“Blue dress with a white sash,” he said. “Along with a black-and-silver tiara.”
“Good memory,” Myshtal admitted, obviously impressed. “That’s exactly what I wore when we previously met.”
Nobaxlin laughed. “My recollection was likely helped by the fact that you’re one of the few children I ever met on Caeles – certainly the only one I ever encountered in the presence of the queen. The next time you see her, please give her my regards.”
“I certainly will,” Myshtal assured him. “Especially in relation to our swill and mudhuts.”
Nobaxlin blinked, clearly taken aback – and then exploded into riotous laughter. A moment later, the rest of us joined him. I had been worried for a moment, but it was pretty clear that the Fleodin prince could take a joke.
“I like this one,” Nobaxlin announced once he could catch his breath, smiling at me while pointing at Myshtal. “She’s a – what’s the Terran phrase? – a keeper.”
I sobered almost immediately, Nobaxlin’s innocuous comment making me keenly aware of the fact that Myshtal was my titular fiancée. Given what my grandfather had said earlier, I didn’t need anyone entertaining the notion that we actually made a cute couple. (Moreover, I knew that Electra would go completely bananas if she ever found out I let a remark like that slide by without comment.) Thus, I spent a few anxious seconds trying to think of an appropriate response that would set the record straight in an unobtrusive manner. I came up empty, but fortunately, my grandmother came to my rescue.
Shaking her head, Indigo teased, “Nobaxlin, you’ve always had a gift for languages, but in this instance your use of local idioms leaves something to be desired.”
“Oh?” Nobaxlin muttered, raising an eyebrow in surprise. “I was certain I had it right.”
Indigo laughed. “You can regale my grandson with your mastery of Earth colloquialisms later. For now, I want you to come say hello to my husband and daughter.”
With that, she looped her arm into Nobaxlin’s and began leading him away. He spared a short wave for Myshtal and me before being dragged into the sea of bodies present.
“So,” Myshtal said after my grandmother and her cousin vanished into the crowd, “you’re a Fleodin royal?”
“So it appears,” I answered dispassionately.
“You don’t seem particularly pleased about it.”
“To be honest, I’m still digesting the news. I mean, I’ve had enough on my plate just learning the ropes in terms of being a Caelesian prince. I don’t even want to think about having a separate and distinct regal role right now.”
“Well, why don’t we do something to take your mind off it?”
“Such as?”
She made a Caelesian gesture that was the equivalent of shrugging one’s shoulders. “I don’t know. How about a tour?”
“With pleasure,” I said with a smile.
Chapter 19
Over the next twenty minutes, I took Myshtal on a quick jaunt through my father’s mansion. I didn’t want to be away from the main party for
