Eris #2
"I'm glad of it. What's your name, boy?" Merrick asks, scooting aside what's left of his dinner stew.
Verena pauses for only a moment before smiling slightly.
"Ishmael."
I don't understand why that makes the former chamberlain freeze. After a moment, he leans back in his chair, re-assessing the face of the shoemaker across from him.
I realize at once that Verena just gave herself away, somehow.
"What are you doing?" I ask, concerned. "What if he tries to harm you now?"
She doesn't respond to me, appearing confident in her choice.
Finally, Merrick nods slowly.
"I see that some of the rumors regarding you did not come from nothing, after all. Are you one of the witchfolk, my queen?"
"Maybe? Like I told you, I don't remember anything.
But I do know that up until now, the queen has been a self-absorbed deadweight," she adds, turning serious.
"Between her fucking around being useless, and no one but Schultz and the council running things…
the castle and the rest of the kingdom are probably a mess, don't you think? "
"I did hear you dismissed Schultz." Merrick dabs at his lips with a napkin before folding it neatly. "It's not my place to call your kingdom a mess."
"But it would be your place if you came back as the chamberlain. If you're interested, the position is all yours. Or just tell me I'm bothering you and send me packing. I'll understand, after what it sounds like the queen put you through."
He hesitates. "You speak about the queen as if she is someone else."
"I don't have her memories, so to me, she is."
I relax slightly. As much as Verena appears to read people quickly and make snap decisions about whom she trusts, it's good that she's still being cautious in some ways.
Perhaps she doesn't want to try explaining her otherworldly conundrum to another person who may not believe it, after what she went through with the faerie and the Huntsman.
Merrick is thoughtful as he examines the shoemaker's face. "Your Majesty—or do you still wish for me to call you Verena?"
"Verena works. Unless you think of a fun nickname. I still wish my parents picked something I didn't have to spell out for every teacher I had growing up," she grumbles to herself.
"Verena…being the chamberlain of Isenmere was the honor of a lifetime.
The late king, Leland, and I grew up together, with his royal parents and my noble family all quite set on my future position in Isenmere Castle.
It is what I prepared all my life to do, and I miss it dearly. I would like to accept this honor."
"Please tell me there's no but on the way."
"No, I truly would very much like to see the castle and my beloved homeland regain the vigor it has lost over these last ten years." He hesitates. "I only wonder why, without your memories, you selected me for the position."
"Well, for one thing, you seem qualified. But it also helps that you're one of the few people I've talked to in this world who hasn't tried to kill me yet."
Merrick is alarmed, sitting up straighter.
"Attempts have been made on your life? Who would dare try to harm the queen of Isenmere? Whatever fool has insulted our kingdom's royal family should pay the highest price for it!"
I see now why Verena is so sure he's a safe choice.
"You have no idea how refreshing it is to hear that after the last few days I've had," Verena sighs.
Merrick harumphs something about how far the castle security must have fallen before he nods firmly.
"I should like to come to the castle at once and put an end to such horrid nonsense.
Assassination attempts may be fine in Hamelnmark, or Turnstadt, or anywhere else—but they do not happen in Isenmere.
Ayna will only bless our kingdom if we are noble and comely, after all.
What will this world come to if we turn our noses up at the Thirteen Faeries? "
"You're so right," Verena nods. "Gotta mind those faeries. They're just so… baker's dozen, and all."
I snort. "I'm afraid you're not quite selling it."
Not that I blame her, after one of the nastiest faeries nearly killed her himself.
She starts to say something to me, but catches herself and instead smiles at Merrick.
"Do you know if the castle pays well? I want you to be well compensated."
"It pays quite well."
"Do you think it pays enough that Anika and Ingrid might consider working there?
If Ingrid is interested in being Snow White's lady's maid, that would be amazing, because I bet she could use one.
And given how sharp Anika is, I'd love to have her as an advisor.
I get the feeling you and I will have our hands full with the Privy Council, but those two seem down-to-earth. "
Merrick blinks rapidly. "You must not remember, but I'm afraid you forbade any women from working in the castle after one of your Favored…wandered."
"Seriously? One guy can't keep it in his pants, so all the women get punished? Stupid sexist queen," Verena grumbles. "Okay, that's the first thing we change. I want qualified women all over in that castle—advisors, chefs, maids, knights in training, whatever. What do you say?"
"I'm in favor, but I doubt everyone on the council will be so pleased."
"The council can kiss my ass. Now, there are a few upcoming meetings..."
As they discuss a few things, I abruptly realize we must be nearing the time when Verena's disguise will wear off.
I squint through the mirror glass. She still looks and sounds exactly like the plain shoemaker, but time is running out.
"Fairest," I prompt. "The disguise."
"Oh, right. I need to get going." She beams across the table. "How soon do you think you can move back into the castle?"
Merrick considers. "I can be there tomorrow evening, or perhaps the morning after. I'm afraid I have quite a lot of fine clothing that shall need to be packed and sent ahead. One cannot manage such a stately castle while dressed drably, you know."
"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
I'm sure she'll never bother explaining why she's calling him Louis.
Still, my fairest-in-disguise looks so damn happy that this was a success that my own lips curl up to match.