Preparing for a night out

AN: Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. This chapter was meant to include dinner in the inn, but I’ve got stuck so I’ve decided to post what I’ve done and hope I get inspiration.

Timas wasn’t sure what he was meant to do; his father had not prepared him for this type of situation. Should he remain where he was or should he follow the King? He had just about decided to stay where he was when the King interrupted his thoughts.

“And Rider G’ladheon. I was not expecting to see you. In fact, I thought you weren’t coming back to this place.”

Timas looked over at the group by the door in amazement. The King recognised her, but it was more than that, he obviously knew something about her returning to school. He suddenly felt ashamed and embarrassed; but as his father had trained him he hid all of those emotions under the appearance of pride as he approached the group.

“Ahh, Lord Alton, have you met the new Lord Governor of Mirwell?” Alton bowed in his direction as the King continued “and Rider G’ladheon, you obviously know Lord Mirwell.”

There was something in the King’s tone of voice that made Timas look at him, and although there was no emotion on the King’s face he could see that Karigan had blushed even further and was looking at the floor and that Lord Alton was now looking at him more intently with a look of amusement on his face. They both knew. Or at least Lord Alton knew he’d beaten by a girl, the King’s comment was probably just in reference to the fact they were at school together.

“Sire, I was under the impression that we were meeting now.” He said pulling Zachary’s attention away from Alton and Karigan.

The King looked at him for a moment before responding in a very dry tone, “And I was under the impression that we were meeting at 10 bells.” There was a pause before he continued; “Lord Alton has arrived on a matter of high importance, but hopefully there will still be time for our meeting afterwards.”

“Your Excellency, I actually have nothing new to tell you at the moment, I simply wished to announce my arrival. I will start my research in the library and leave you to your meeting with Lord Mirwell,” Alton said with a slight bow to Timas. “I intend to be here for a few days.”

“Perhaps both of you would like to join me for dinner?” The King said to Alton.

Timas felt a moment of excitement, he had not expected an invitation like that on his first meeting; wouldn’t his friends be impressed? But then Alton replied

“I’m sorry Sire, but Rider G’ladheon has already agreed to join me for dinner; with the other riders.”

Timas looked at the King expecting him to correct Alton’s presumption about who was included in the invitation and was surprised to see instead a moment of disappointment on his face, it was so quick he wondered if he’d actually seen it.

“Of course, Lord Alton. It is important she meets the other Riders”

“And I would like to remind you both, that I am not Rider G’ladheon. Once my examinations are finished I will join my father as a merchant, and I must go and prepare for those examinations.” After her sudden outburst Karigan turned and walked straight out of the hall.

Timas, could not believe what he was seeing. Karigan, merchant Karigan had been invited to dinner with the King, had turned it down due to an invitation with the heir to the D’yer clan and had walked out on the King after almost shouting at him without any bow or leave taking. And the King and Lord Alton were both just looking amused at the door behind her. What was going on? What was so special about Karigan? Surely the rumours couldn’t be true, had she’d really saved the King’s life? He was so busy with his own thoughts that he missed the King put his hand on Alton’s arm and say

“Alton, make sure she gets back safely”

“Of course, Sire.”

Karigan stood in her dormitory looking at her clothes. What was she going to wear tonight? She didn’t think her school uniform or her usual elegant dresses were appropriate. Looking at her wardrobe so closely she was surprised to see the proportion of green clothes had grown slightly, but she was sure that was just a coincidence.

She’d been busy working since her meeting with Alton so had not seen any of her classmates. As the majority of them usually ignore her she was surprised when a group approached her in the dormitory and started asking questions,

“Is it true, that was the heir to Lord D’yer you were walking with earlier?”

“Has he asked you out to dinner?”

“Is the Dean allowing you out with a man without your father’s permission?”

“What are you wearing?”

“He was so good looking, and his clothes were very fine.”

Karigan, turned to look at the group of girls with a sigh. How did she explain this? She really didn’t want to go into the details of her Rider exploits with anyone and particularly not with these girls. Besides, she knew they were interested in Alton and not her, but she smiled to herself as she realised they were only confirming her suspicions that the aristocratic girls at school would like him.

“Yes I was talking to Lord Alton, heir to the D’yer Clan earlier and he has invited me to have dinner with some of the people I met in Sacor city, including a Captain in the King’s service.”

“You met Lord Alton last summer?” they asked in amazement,

“Yes” was her simple reply as she returned to look at her wardrobe.

“What’s he like?”

“Is he betrothed?”
”Does he ride in a carriage every day?”

“hmm,” Karigan replied as she took out a simple skirt and white blouse, “On the few occasions that we met he was always very polite and friendly to me and he did suggest his family were looking for him to marry so I assume he isn’t currently betrothed.”

That was obviously what the girls wanted to hear as they started giggling and talking amongst themselves how they would like to meet him and how they would impress him. Wouldn’t their families be impressed that he and the King were both staying in the school, and their sisters would be so jealous, especially if they got to met either of them. Karigan couldn’t help smiling to herself as she wondered what their reaction would be if they knew the King had invited her to dinner. She was glad they were all distracted so had not asked why Alton was taking her to dinner or if she could introduce them, but maybe they weren’t so desperate to ask for the assistance of a merchant.

She turned to look in the mirror and was surprised to see the Green Rider brooch attached to her purple jacket, she did not remember attaching it. Oh well it could stay there as it was probably appropriate this evening.

“Is that what you’re wearing?” one of the girls asked with amazement in her voice, “do you not think you should be wearing a silk or satin dress?”

Karigan shrugged, “I am only going to the Drum and Harp.”

“No, you are going to the Drum and Harp with the heir to the D’yer clan”

“I am having dinner with several people who have been travelling for days. I think I would be over dressed in silks or satins. I’m sure Lord Alton only invited me as we met as he was walking to the library” Karigan replied keeping to herself that he had in fact been waiting in the stables for her.

“But that is a riding skirt”

Karigan looked down at the skirt, yes she guess it was a skirt for riding side saddle, but as she’d never mastered that technique she hadn’t had a reason to wear it, “Well then, I’m sure my dinner partners will appreciate it even more.”

She took one more look at herself and was satisfied she wouldn’t stand out in the inn and that apart from the brooch she did not look like a Green Rider.

When Karigan entered the inn she couldn’t see Alton, Captain Mapstone or any other person wearing green. Had there been a mistake?