The air between them was awkward as the tea was served. A maid in a charming uniform poured the hot beverage and then quickly returned with three plates of cookies and biscuits.
Lady Delmont motioned to her as she lifted her own cup. "Please, help yourself."
Aliya took a cautious sip of the tea. She'd had hot tea only a few times with Tate over the years. It wasn't something that came in their supplies often. When it did Tate always held tea just like his mother was doing now. He always had Ms.Marge make it in the early afternoon and had the kitchen make special cakes or cookies to go with it. He'd taken those times to try to teach her the basics of tea etiquette. She made sure that she was holding the teacup correctly but after all this time that was about all she remembered to do.
Lady Delmont must have seen how uncomfortable she was because she smiled at last. It was an expression that transformed the older woman's face. If Aliya had ever wondered why Lady Delmont was considered a great beauty, which she never had doubted, this smile proved why.
"Aliya, may I call you Aliya?"
Aliya nodded, hesitantly lowering the cup.
Lady Delmont's smile got even brighter. "Please be at ease, Aliya. I'm very happy to have you here today and I do not expect you to sand on ceremony or remember all the tedious rules of high society. Please, call me Kira."
Aliya shook her head violently. "My Lady, I couldn't."
"Okay, then Lady Kira if it feels better to you, but I insist on you using my given name. You meant a great deal to my son and it was one of his wishes that I take you in. I fully intend to do so if you'll allow it."
"Take me in?"
"As a...well let's call it a protege. I'd like to look after your welfare. What I mean to say is in Tate's place, please let me know that you are doing all right. I'd also like to assist you in the capital's society if you ever feel you need that kind of help. I don't know what the Emperor's plans are for you but what I am sure of is that he does have plans. If I can be of any help in lessening that burden, please. I want to help."
Aliya was a little overwhelmed by such kind words. "Thank you, but are you sure? You don't even know me."
"Tate knew you, he couldn't stop singing your praises when he first returned to us. I felt that I knew you then and I had planned to invite you to visit straight away. However, so many society events happened all at once, and then Tate was..." She broke off her smile falling like the last leaf of autumn. The older lady fidgeted and looked at her hands. With a deep sigh, she forced a smile back on her face. "Anyway, I apologize that it has taken this long for you to receive the invitation that had always been yours. Had I known what was to happen I would not have put it off so long."
Aliya shook her head. "Please, don't apologize. I'm just honored to be thought of by you at all."
Lady Kira's smile eased a little. "Thank you, child," she paused and looked her over, "you're very beautiful. The way Tate described you I had been picturing you as a child but you are almost a woman after all."
Aliya chuckeld a little. "I don't think Tate's vision of me ever grew beyond that little girl he took off to Nourii Castle."
"Was that where you were?"
Aliya flinched. "Yes, was that still a secret?" She hoped that she hadn't just done something wrong in revealing their location.
Lady Kira shook her head. "No, it shouldn't be it's just Tate nor my husband ever got around to telling me that fact. I've never been to the Western Sea, was it as beautiful as they say?"
Aliya nodded. "It was a wonderful place. I miss it very much."
"Did Tate enjoy his time there?"
Aliya didn't quite know how to answer. "I'm not sure. I don't think it was a horrible experience for him. At times, I flatter myself, I think he was even happy even if it was just to be with me and Kilnik, my dragon," She supplied, "but other times he looked very tired and lost. Especially right before we left to return here. He was not himself those last few weeks."
The lady nodded her head. "I don't know how much you know about this subject, but I can see that being the case. The Emperor had always had tasks and designs for my sons but none of that has ever been something they'd decided on themselves." A strange and urgent light sparked in the lady's eyes and she suddenly grabbed Aliya's wrist and pulled making Aliya lose her balance just a bit and fall forward over the table between them until she was able to catch herself with her hand.
Lady Kira leaned close never letting go of the captured hand. Close to her ear and in the softest whisper imaginable the Lady Delmont said. "Please whatever you do don't get too involved with the Emperor. It never ends well."
She let go and leaned backward grabbing her teacup in one elegant movement that left Aliya leaning awkwardly over the table by herself. Lady Kira sipped her tea and glanced out the window as if nothing strange had just happened at all.
She suddenly perked up which startled Aliya. "Oh, before I forget I do insist that you take a look at the garden out back before you leave today. I have an appointment after this but it would be a shame to come here and not see it. We are one of the few houses here in the capitol that actually has something resembling the gardens you find in the country. I'd say our grounds, meager as they are, are only second to the Palace."
Aliya felt like she'd suddenly been dropped into another house, another conversation. "What?" She blurted but Lady Kira kept going as if she'd never said anything.
"Also, I want to apologize for my son earlier. I hope he was civil with you. He's been having a hard time since, well you know."
Aliya shook her head subtly feeling like she needed to clear cobwebs away. The conversation had changed so quickly and abruptly that she didn't know what to say.
"Would you mind telling me more about your time at Castle Nourii? I'd like to hear all your stories, selfishly I'm very interested in the ones that involve Tate but I'd also like to hear anything you'd like to share. I'd like to get to know you better after all."
Aliya somehow managed to gather her thoughts at this question and spent a pleasant quarter of an hour telling Lady Kira about a few of the antics she and Tate had gotten up to when they were not focused on training.
At last, a maid came into the room and bowing to her mistress said, "My Lady, you must depart soon if you don't want to be late."
Lady Kira nodded and then she turned and clasped both of Aliya's hands, thankfully this time she didn't pull her off balance. "I apologize to be leaving first, normally this would be considered very improper for me to leave my guest but this was the only time I could schedule this meeting, and our tea had already been arranged when I found out the meeting was possible. You're not offended I hope?"
Aliya shook her head. "Not at all, thank you for inviting me over today. It was wonderful to get to talk to you at last."
For a moment it looked like Lady Kira might shed a tear as she continued to smile. She patted Aliya's hands before letting them go. She stood and Aliya remembered to stand as well since her host had stood.
"Well, I will send you another invitation soon, hopefully for a dinner. I'd like you to officially meet my husband and my eldest son."
Feeling shy for some reason Aliya bowed her head and smiled. "Thank you, I'll look forward to it."
As she walked out of the room. "Do go see the gardens, I insist I'll ask you what your favorite flower was next time. When you are done the same carriage will take you back to the Academy." Then with a jaunty wave and quirk of her lips, the lady disappeared around the doorframe.
Aliya was happy, bewildered, and confused this was not at all how she'd imagined her first meeting with Tate's mother. Yes, they'd talked of Tate and a little of herself but it was the odd interjections that she couldn't get out of her mind. What did Lady Delmont mean by her warning about the Emperor? If someone else had overheard such a statement it could have been considered treason. Even now a part of her felt uncomfortable having even heard the words, it felt like someone would be able to look into her mind and find her at fault for even hearing such things.
She walked to the door and a maid was waiting there. "I'll lead you to the garden, my lady was quite anxious for you to see it on your first visit."
"Thank you," Aliya mumbled, what was with the garden? Why on earth was Lady Delmont so fixated on her seeing it?
The maid opened the door that appeared at the end of a long hall to the back of the house. When she opened it Aliya couldn't help but gasp. It was indeed something splendid. She'd never seen anything like what appeared before her. The garden was actually a small space, she could see the perimeter from where she stood at the door. Ancient looking stone walls separated the grounds of the house from its neighbors. She looked up from where she stood and other grand homes towered over her, their different stones and bricks making the surroundings surprisingly colorful. Inside the stone wall of the garden sunlight managed to find its way down and cast the whole place in an otherworldly green glow. More of the vine she'd seen outside the front were everywhere here. Flowerbeds were artfully arranged and divided by species. The most impressive piece was some sort of canopy made by artfully bent white metal poles over wich more vines grew. The structure was in the shape of a cross and in the direct center of the garden creating the only space where there were parts that were not visible.
She coudlnt help walking towards it to get a closer look. It was bigger when you got closer and she saw that in the crossroads of the canapy was a large fountain that featured a dragon with water coming from it's mouth. It was beautiful and had to have been created by a master. Before she knew it she was standing entranced in front of it. She'd never noticed that the maid hadn't followed her but had closed the door behind her. She listened to the faint sounds of the city beyond the walls and surrounding buildings. More prominent here were the familiar sounds of insects and birds, sounds she'd almost forgotten about in recent months.
Her hand reached out to catch some of the water as it fell down. Something grabbed her left wrist and something else wrapped it'self around her thorat and covered her mouth. It was a second or two before her brain caught up and realized that these were two hands.
"Shhh, don't be alarmed." A man's voice hissed into her ear.