What followed was a bewildering labyrinth of corridors, stairs, and rooms until eventually we stopped before a set of oak double doors. Hawkins turned to my mother and bowed once more.
"I hope the chambers are to your liking Lady Isabelle. I prepared them myself."
"That wasn't necessary, Hawkins. You work too much as it is!" she scolded. I could clearly see, however, the small, warm smile she wore. Hawkins could too apparently and smiled fondly in return.
"Well I shall bid you adieu M'lady."
Turning to us children he said,
"And to you as well young sirs and ladies."
With that he was gone, leaving us to explore our new home.
Just the sitting room alone was larger than our entire house back in Agave. Thick rugs were spread over the floor and delicately upholstered sofas, ottomans, and arm chairs were nestled to the sides of the room. Opening the adjacent doors one by one, my sisters and I found 5 luxurious bedrooms, each furnished with a four-poster bed decked in silk sheets, enough for each of us to have our own room with Mother and Father, and Jenny and Sparrow sleeping together. Further perusing revealed both a dining and dressing room. However none of these discoveries could compare to the awe-inspiring luxury of the washroom. It had three separate sources of running water: a large ceramic basin, a round brass washtub, and even a fully functioning toilet with a chain hanging above it. I cheered at the thought of no longer having to deal with either an outhouse or a chamber pot.
Half an hour later I sat soaking in the richly decorated bathtub, comfortably held in place between Amber's knees. She was currently scrubbing suds into my hair using the fragrant soap that she had found in the washroom dresser. I had never smelled anything like it but was pleased to find that it lathered into a smooth bubbly foam. Now that her violent motion-sickness was gone, Amber's mood had improved considerably and she'd volunteered to bathe me while Mother took the unenviable task of handling Jenny and Sparrow - simultaneously. I sighed contentedly and curled into Amber's stomach as she massaged my scalp.
"You know, you could actually wash yourself mister, rather than forcing your poor older sister to do it!"
She poked my ribs in reprimand.
"And why would I do that when you're so weak-willed to a little pouting?"
I cackled evilly and looked up at her with wide eyes, face the picture of false innocence.
It was true however; Amber's aloof facade that she wore in public and maintained unwaveringly for any flirtatious boys, melted like warm butter the moment she was in private with her own family. She sighed with exaggerated exasperation.
"I've half a mind to toss you from this tub young man. I have a feeling my generosity is being taken advantage of."
She glared at me with mock furor.
"Let us then strike a deal." I responded, faking desperation. "In return for your gentle tutelage in the arts of personal hygiene I solemnly swear to bathe independently the moment I reach 10 years of age."
Amber's mask of righteous indignation finally slipped and she burst into laughter.
"You've been making that same oath for three years running."
"And each year I've held to it…"
"By bathing a singular time on your own!"
This time it was my turn to giggle bashfully. Our shared mirth was cut short by a brusque knock at the door.
My father's voice came from outside,
"You two need to expedite your washing. The King is holding a banquet in three quarters of an hour and I don't think you're eager to miss it."
Amber and I looked at each other, paused, and then squealed with excitement. A royal banquet in the greatest city in the world. It seemed surreal.
Back in Agave three quarters of an hour might've seemed like all the time in the world with which to prepare for a dinner but in the palace of Aema each outfit was a hellish puzzle in of itself. Our quarters were in chaos as each person attempted to dress themselves while simultaneously answering others' calls for aid. Amber and Evan had it the worst. While Jenny, Sparrow, and I were young enough to dress in relative simplicity, adults were expected to follow the sadistically complex fashions of the royal court. Evan was in a state of panic affixing a bow-tie while Amber had nearly reached the point of tears as she struggled with the many laces of her cream-colored dress. I could only watch helplessly with barely contained laughter.
My parents seemed to be faring somewhat better, having clearly had some previous experience with such ridiculous outfits. Eventually we were acquitted in a manner that would, if not do us proud, at the very least not humiliate us. It was at this time when I realized that I had not the faintest idea of how to reach the Grand Hall. Luckily Father led us through the winding passages without a moment's hesitation. A small part of me wondered how he knew the layout of the royal palace so well but I chose to ignore that when I heard a bell toll in the distance signalling five minutes to the hour. We hastened our pace and managed to arrive at the entrance to the hall just as the last of the guests were trickling in.
An abundance of tables had been brought in for the banquet, each neatly arranged and, from what I could tell, containing a different social sect or division. Mother gestured the five of us children toward a table before taking my father's arm and heading further to the front of the room.
I quickly lost sight of them in the throng and instead focused on finding a decent seat at my designated table. My options for seating were further limited by the fact that Sparrow had subtly - but resolutely - attached herself to my arm. I knew she would firmly refuse to sit on her own, and furthermore I didn't exactly relish the idea of leaving my six year old sister to her own devices in a crowd full of strangers. Eventually I managed to procure an adjacent pair of seats and we both sat down. Glancing around at the table, my best guess at its organization seemed to be those without a title of their own. Those sat here were likely wards, squires, and children of nobles and dignitaries, invited as part and parcel of the actual guests but not important enough to warrant seating at a higher table.
Surprisingly, while most of the people at my table were children around the age of my siblings and I, there were some that seemed to be as old as thirty yet still were relegated to the children's table. Then again, I could spot several mere toddlers seated proudly at higher tables so importance seemed to be the deciding factor rather than age. More immediately attention-grabbing than the sociopolitics was the vast array of food spread before me. There were at least a dozen different cheeses, flagons of every juice, alcohol, and milk, fried confections and pastries, sizzling pans of fried vegetables and meats, platters of exotic fruit, and more that I could barely identify. I reached forward to seize a bread roll but was stopped by a hand grabbing my wrist. I turned to Sparrow questioningly and saw her shaking her head furiously. I quickly realized why.
I had been so entranced by the cornucopia before me that I hadn't noticed the entire room going silent. Another moment revealed the cause as a man at the head of the central table stood.
'That must be the King.' I realized, blushing furiously at the gravity of the faux pas I had almost made.
The man stood before us looked rather plain yet still managed to give off an imposing air, commanding the entire room with apparent ease, doubtless mastered by decades of practice. He was shorter than my father by a little; the man still stood significantly taller than average, Father simply towered over most men. Craning my neck I could see an elegant looking woman to his right that I could only imagine was the Queen. To his left was a young girl who appeared to be of an age with me. Before I could analyze any further however, my revery was brought to a grinding halt by the King clearing his throat.
All was still.
"On this day I wish to raise a toast to one of my oldest friends. We were raised together, bled together, and trained together. He has saved my life more times than I can count and I daresay I have saved his hide a few times myself. After serving as Captain of my guard for nigh on a decade the bastard just up and leaves for the countryside!" at this the King burst into laughter "But now, after 20 years, the prodigal son has returned to me in my time of need. That's enough of the talking however. I want you all to raise a glass for the man of the hour. Abrel Ghilthaine stand your sorry ass up!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and, from his place at the King's table, my father stood.