Anton & Paris -- in the boat.
Once Anton had gotten the boat underway and was able to turn some of his attention back to his passenger, Paris began to speak. Her attitude was serious. She'd been considering for days whether she'd get the chance to explain things to Anton. Now to her it was so clear that he didn't really understand all that he'd set in motion. Or maybe Cordelia had set it in motion. Paris wondered which way Anton would prefer that the responsibility - the blame - would fall. She herself would prefer that they both be innocent - but that meant that both would suffer, possibly grievously. But she did not want to think either had purposely created this imbroglio.
"Anton, I do not know whether you started your relationship with the Lady Cordelia - or whether she did. And I certainly do not know how involved your heart is in it. But there are some things that I am now sure that you do not know and that the lady involved apparently has not mentioned to you. Perhaps she does not know your history and so did not know to be on guard. Forgive me, but I must make you aware of the situation." Paris took a deep breath. "Anton, I have to tell you: when you showed Sir Rodric the kerchief with the arms of Eastgate on it, you made pretty darn sure that you would never be allowed to see Lady Cordelia again!" She continued, "I don't doubt you want to say something about that, but please hear me! I have never lied to you and am not lying to you now."
She paused momentarily to make sure that she had his attention. "Sir Rodric is one of the few people in the world who would recognized that not-oft-used symbol for Eastgate and, while I appreciate that you did it in the interests of the Quest, the fact that you have personally accepted such a symbol, such a favour, has gotten Lady Cordelia into an immense amount of trouble with her father and her brother. They love her very much and she loves them. I hope you would not have wished this trouble on her, if you had understood what you were doing."
"The Lady Cordelia will now not be allowed to see you. If her family even vaguely suspects that you will try to see her, she will be put under guard. If you actually try, what do you imagine her family would have to do to her? They are her legal guardians and they want what is best for her and what is best for their family. They all have their duties to each other."
"If you wish to go against her family, what do you thing they might do to you? To us? They are military people, from a long line of noble military commanders. It is possible that you or this boat will be lost to us or destroyed. And the Quest to save our world will fail because you will not be here to take me back to the others -- assuming that I am not destroyed along with you. I cannot make that assumption. In this, you are most critical to the Quest and the salvation of everyone in our world -- including Lady Cordelia."
"I tell you this so that you will understand the serious consequences of what you have done, even if you do not know what exactly it is that has happened."
"It may be hard for you to understand. But it's true. Let me illustrate why I know it's so...." She took a deep breath, stealing herself to revelation. "Anton, do you remember the first week I was in the knight candidate's class? You were studying in Duke Evan's library so we didn't see much of each other except on 7-day." She gestured towards the side of her face. "Perhaps you recall the bruise I brought home that first week?" [We did not make much of it at the time, Barry, but it was large and as colourful as bruises get. It disappeared at a normal non-magical healing rate. The Party could not help but know that Paris had gotten hurt somehow. Anton is finding out how now.] "It was part of the thrashing some of the young Nobles in my class gave me, which they felt I deserved for being a peasant trying to become something they thought I should not be. Had I not been under Prince William's protection, I suspect that I might have been done more serious injury." She paused momentarily. "Prince William knew so too, I now realize. That is why he sent me away whenever he could not stay in town. That was why, for instance, I could take Genelle back to Jouet: Prince William had ordered me to leave Westmore for my own safety. He considered being out fighting orcs safer than being a peasant in a noble's role. He was right. Later I learned that another Noble had ordered me destroyed. There is that strong a feeling amongst a significant portion of the Nobility, that Prince William should not have broken their rules and tried to bring me into their ranks. The major reason I am still alive is that I have good friends -- like you and the others -- and that I was under Royal Protection until I passed all the tests required."
Paris was blunt, "You are not under royal protection."
"Most of the Nobles believe -- they may not even know they believe it, it is so much a part of them -- that there is a line that separates the lives and customs of Nobles from those of other people. Whether or not you or I believe it exists, most of the Nobles do believe it, and that belief can be painfully dangerous. By ignoring it, you have caused Lady Cordelia to suffer the anger of those she most loves and owes respect to."
"You have enough experience with Courtly Graces. You've heard enough stories of Noble Life, [Barry, Anton would know (assuming that he has some knowledge of traditional bardic tales) that many of the lais on romance end tragically because the circumstances of the lovers include rules that do not allow them to actually be lovers. Think Tristan and Isoult, Lancelot and Gweniever, Sigmund and Siglinde, etc.. Not that any are directly applicable. The lais always deal with noble's affairs; not noble-peasant affairs.] that I think -- if you think about it -- you can agree that there are customs and life-style traditions amongst the Nobles of this land that differ from those of non-Nobles. That differ from the traditions of Jouet. Particularly the rules for close friendships and marriage. What happened with the two different sets of banns for Princess Carline should be an indicator of that. Specifically, a noble does not always get to choose who he or she will marry. Thus a noble must take care about who he or she can allow him or herself to love. From tales, from observation and historical studies, from conversations with my classmates, I know that -- generally, a noble's family chooses his or her marriage partner -- from those of similar or greater family, financial, or political background. This is why Prince Louis would chose a Duke of the Isles for Carline, which would be his right if he were the eldest male in her family. But Prince Martin, as eldest male, approved the choice of Duke Evan. And Princess Carline acknowledged the eldest male's right to choose or approve for her."
"This is true for the Royals. It is true throughout the noble class."
"Yet, as kind parents, I think most noble parents choose partners for their children with whom their children will be happy. But they look for such partners from amongst people of the same background, training, and lifestyle as their children -- as that commonly brings the best chance of happiness. You know this. We've seen it even in Jouet. A town girl who marries a farmer and yet pines for the activities of town, for the things she is used to, is not likely to make that farmer happy. Your background is not that of a noble, is not equivalent to that of the Earl of Eastgate - who is considered next to the princes of the realm - or of a child of his. You were a citizen of the village of Jouet. You are a wandering minstrel-adventurer. Neither you nor I - much less the nobles of Tara and the Isles -- can consider those equivalent backgrounds."
"Do you now understand why the Lady Cordelia's family is so angry with her - and you? They think that she forgot what she owes her family and background and," Paris swallowed, "and led you on, led you to believe that your position in society could be greater than it is. Else they think that you have led the lady on into a position where you - and she - might be in danger from both noble and peasant who would see such a friendship as being a breakdown of the way things should be." Paris looked hard at Anton. "You know it is so. You have heard and see how Pyotr and Rhori - my friend from childhood -- both speak hard of me when I've had to do things 'the way nobles do them' or think about things 'like a noble.' You've thought hard things of me as well, I suspect. What the nobles think is even uglier. Anton, it is hard and lonely, crossing that line." Paris looked bleak, an expression that Anton had seen often before since The Change, but for which he had, probably, never considered the source. "I suspect it's possible only for such as Prince William was."
"I know you will want to do something. Just what may depend on how serious your heart is involved in this matter. If you don't mind ..." she looked at him inquiringly. "I have given a little thought to some possibilities. I - cannot promise anything. But I'd like to help."
"I'd happily take a letter from you to the Lady Cordelia when I go into camp to ask for her dog. I ask that you stay behind, hidden with the boat as before, please. If it is truth, I'd suggest you write and tell her that you did not mean to make trouble for her, that you did not understand before."
"Afterwards...? Well, that depends on you and Murphy and a great many things, I fear. The easiest thing would be if Prince Martin becomes king and decides to reward you by en-nobling the rest of the Party. Still... *sigh* Cordelia's rank is such that she could marry a duke -- or even, perhaps, a prince -- given the society's class-consciousness. At least an earl. Marrying a risen peasant would be almost as hard to swallow as - as - as a prince marrying me! We might be tolerated for our deeds, but we must then be overly aware every moment of our lives of the way we must behave and the responsibilities we have as nobles. Still, that would be a solution. A fairy tale solution." Paris looked sadly into the distance towards the east.
A moment later her attention was full upon Anton again. "Otherwise," she continued, "you - Anton - could consider studying strategy and tactics and applying such to the military use of magic. Then you could apply to the Earl for an opportunity to work with him, to set up a magic-using arm of his troops. I don't think that you could make knighthood via the route I had to use," she smiled at him without malice. "I don't think you'd want to." She gave a merry but wry grimace. "But innovation in the field of military magic (particularly to provide support for cavalry) would be seriously impressive. It might convince the Earl to sponsor you into the nobility. You're going to need a heavy-duty sponsor. Like the Earl or Prince Martin, I would think. It's never been done before. Then, of course, no one has ever made a woman peasant a lady knight before either." She smiled again. "And that has brought several chuckles to various old war horses." She frowned slightly. "Of course, one of the problems will be gathering and convincing appropriate mages to form a military unit...." She shrugged, "But that is the best idea I've had so far."
Anton had a hard time keeping quiet at first, but eventually settled in and let Paris finish, his gaze darkening as he watched some clouds along the horizon, the waves on the sea, and people, moving below, small as ants.
"Paris, you and I have very different attitudes towards those who consider themselves "noble" and because of that, entitled to rule other men. In the course of our travels, I have met many of those who bear a noble title, and I find them, on the whole, no better and no worse than other men. There are those who are clearly good, such as Evan and Martin, who I would gladly follow, but equally there are those who abuse their power, such as Lewis and the White Church". When Paris glared at him, he said, "OK, the false White Church, or whatever you call it. And as to the theory that nobles derive their right to rule from the gods, I have yet to have evidence of this from any of the gods we have met."
Paris replied, "Anton, I have never heard the theory that Nobles derive their right to rule from the gods. History shows that the right to rule is Forte Mayne, force of strength. The man who leads, who is strong enough to carve a place for his people out of the wilderness, who protects and organizes the protection of his people, and who by so doing attracts others to his banner and service -- that is the origin of Nobility. It is an unwritten agreement between those the Noble serves by protecting and those who give service for protection. Between the Lord and the People."
"There are, of course, those who inherit such a responsibility and abuse or squander it. Such are not true nobles, in my opinion. If the abuse of the people and the land and the honour is too great, others -- the people and true Nobles -- rise up to bring the abuser down. As is happening in the current war, I pray."
"But the fact that some are undeserving of nobility does not take true nobility from those who honour their obligations to that unwritten contract. And it does not take away the rights that the true Noble has earned by fulfilling his part of that contract. A true Noble has publicly promised to protect, defend and succor -- that is some of the essence of the oath of fealty. He has knowingly taken upon himself the rigours and responsibilities of the land, it's produce, and its people. It is this that is acknowledged when obedience and respect is required in return. We have seen it in action time and time again. Duke Evan giving up all his gold and time to provide for the refugees that flooded Westmore; the Count of Dungeon and the Emerald Baron enduring week after week, month after month, of battle-field rigours to defend the wall against Fell; Earl Eastgate organizing evacuations and defenses for the people of the coast; Martin and William," she gulped, "leading the charge on Pelier and continuing, despite great personal cost, to unseat their heartless brother. It is an arrangement of Man, not of the gods."
Anton: "As to the Lady Cordelia, I will confess that I have sought her out when she warned me away, though she does not seem at all unhappy when our paths have re-crossed and when we have been able to spend time together. I must be absolutely clear that I have done nothing to stain her honor. We have had nothing but a few stolen moments of conversation that were not under the eye of others. The token she gave me was freely given, and I have worn it close to my heart ever since. It has comforted me through many dark places."
"Such warnings as Cordelia mentioned were vague and unspecific, there were always more interesting things to speak of. Nor does your account really give me much understanding about why her family would go to such lengths to prevent her from following her heart, if she truly knows it."
"As for me, I would say that all I have given her, I have also given freely, but that definitely includes my heart. She is my muse and inspires me as no other. If you like, I will play for you the song I wrote for her." [Pat - even though we never worked through the scene on Silver's ship, presumably Anton played for Cordelia the song he had promised her.]
"I am sorry that she has gotten in trouble over this - I had hoped that my participation in rescuing her and returning her to her father might have earned his favor." He paused for a moment, and his finger twitched on his staff. "I am not as those of Earth who drive through obstacles, I would seek a way around this, and would appreciate any assistance you can give. I do know the tales of forlorn love, but many of them also speak of the success of brave heart over obstacles, with the assistance of true friends. At the least, perhaps you can carry a letter to her. Since I know it will be opened and read, I give it to you unsealed."
Lady Cordelia,
I would wish you all the happiness of whatever you desire. I do not wish you to suffer on my part. If you are allowed, convey unto me any service or task I may undertake to demonstrate that my feelings for you are honorable and worthy, and I shall perform it. And if it is your true wish that we not be together, I shall bear that as my task.
Know that even if we cannot be together, I shall sing of you in my songs, and keep your name in my heart.
Anton
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