As the entourage entered the Central Providences of Galtrum, they marveled at the rolling green hills and warm climate. Small villages became towns which melded into a large city.
Marley, Cosaria, and Tilda glued their faces to the carriage window, jaws dropped, as they passed by buildings taller than they ever knew existed. The lower half were made of sturdy brick, but the upper halves reached into the sky with wooden structures. They were multi-level tenement housing, as tall as ten stories high.
The carriage finally stopped outside an industrial building with gothic architecture. Nearby, large warehouse-like structures collected lawn art statues on their grassy green yards.
Gawking as they exited the carriage, the ladies noticed a familiar figure approaching them.
Tilda said, "Is that… Lady Finklehead?"
Cosaria greeted their acquaintance, "Lady Finklehead! What a pleasant surprise."
Finklehead curtsied in her usual stoic fashion, saying, "Tilda, Duchess. It's a pleasure."
Marley said, "And I'm Lady Garlickson."
Finklehead narrowed her eyes, "Hm. Yes. Nice to see you again Lady Marley. This building is the internal delegation office. You'll be staying in the luxury suites."
Cosaria clapped her hands, saying, "Oh, that sounds wonderful."
Tilda quietly said to Felux, "I guess the Duke has some big foreign connections, huh?"
A sly smile crept across his face as Felux said, "Aye. That's a way to say it. Now I've to take Beniter to check in our weapons. We'll meet back up with you later."
Tilda asked, "What about my weapon?"
"A sharp tongue doesn't count."
"I've got more than a sharp tongue," Tilda said as she pulled a small knife from her boot.
"I'd not known you carried that."
Tilda put the knife in Felux's hand as she said, "I'm full of surprises."
Addressing the group, Felux gestures to Finklehead and said, "She'll take care of you. We'll meet up later."
Tilda nodded as Felux, Beniter, and the knights walked in the opposite direction.
Finklehead said, "This way," as she began walking towards the embassy suites.
Marley hung back with Tilda, and with a quiet voice she asked, "How do we know Finklehead?"
Tilda said, "She was one of Lady Cosaria's lady in waiting candidates."
Marley gulped, exclaiming her usual worried, "Oh man."
Finklehead opened a door and held it open for Cosaria and Tilda. When Marley walked through, Finklehead looked her up and down, then scoffed with her nose high in the air.
Marley stopped dead in her tracks and said, "What was that for?"
Finklehead said, "I'm glad they picked you instead of me."
"What does that mean?"
"Whatever answer you're looking for, I'm not going to give it to you, so move along. We have somewhere to get to."
If Marley could have thought of a good reply, she would have said it, but unfortunately, she could not, and so, she said nothing.
༻✧༺
Heroic ancient artifacts rested on tables as portraits lined the walls of the luxury suite grand hallway. The men and women painted in the portraits wore a distinct flowing and open style. Much different than the constricting fashions of the Ragdor Kingdom. Some were painted in full armor, commanding at the head of a battle. Others wore plaid with tartan fabric drapes over their shoulders. A few different family portraits created an orderly line of rows and columns along one section of the wall.
Looking at the wall of portraits, Cosaria gasped as a certain picture caught her eye.
Marley asked, "What?"
Cosaria said, "Is that… Delrik?"
The group stopped in front of a family portrait. The parents looked strong and cheerful, standing around them were four kids. Two teenage boys of roughly different ages, both with blonde hair and confident eyes. A beautiful strawberry blonde girl stood in between the two boys. The last boy was the obvious odd-one-out. He stood next to the younger boy, with hair as dark as shadow and golden eyes. He may have only been a small teenager, but the resemblance was undeniable.
The soothing sing-song voice of an unknown character spoke, "Ye've found our family portrait."
The group turned to see an adult version of the strawberry blonde girl in the painting. She was a rare beauty with strong, defined facial features. She wore a traditional CPG outfit with the plaid theme and sturdy, functional fabric. The flattering fit allowed for easy movement while remaining covered.
The woman said, "I'd be Ofelia."
Cosaria fidgeted as she said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to assume. I just thought that boy looked so familiar."
Ofelia said, "Don't be apologizing fer being right."
Cosaria looked up, asking, "So then it is Delrik?"
"Delrik Arquix. That'd be him," Ofelia said. "Well, a younger version. It's an old portrait. See, there's Ma, Da, Jeffan, myself, Delrik and-"
"Felux…" Tilda said, recognizing the green eyes and rascal smile.
Ofelia glanced at the maid and smiled.
"Why is Delrik…?" Cosaria started to ask but trailed off without finishing her sentence.
Ofelia guessed she was asking why Delrik was in the picture. She said, "Why Delrik? He's family in all but birth. Like a brother to me."
"Oh," Cosaria said, "I didn't know he was so close to the CPG nobility."
Ofelia laughed, "Nobility? I dinna ken about that. I'm only Ofelia."
Finklehead corrected, "I think you mean the only daughter of the current Ishinni governor."
Cosaria said, "I don't understand."
Finklehead stopped herself from releasing an exasperated sigh. She said, "How do I put this in Ragdorian terms? In the CPG, it's like she's equivalent to the daughter of a Duke."
"Wow," Cosaria said, "A Duke's daughter."
Finklehead thought, She's such an idiot, but she said, "Except the CPG doesn't use a caste system."
Ofelia said, "We're a Jock Tamson's bairns."
Marley asked, "What does that mean?"
Ofelia said, "Mean's we're all equal."
"Oh," Cosaria said.
Tilda asked Finklehead, "So, if they don't use a caste system, what do they use to differentiate power?"
Finklehead thought, Finally, someone with a brain. She said, "Power here is more based on a meritocracy system."
Tilda asked, "And where does Ofelia fall in that system?"
Finklehead said, "She's running for a treasurer position in the Verona Providence, as well as being headmaster at a secondary education center."
"Wow," Tilda said. She didn't know what all that meant, but it sure sounded impressive.
Finklehead said, "I know right! She's incredible and it's not because of her family's status."
Tilda asked, "What's her relation to Felux?"
At this point, Ofelia had been listening in and couldn't resist joining. She said, "Felux'd be my wee bitty brother."
Marley and Cosaria gasped while Tilda had her suspicions confirmed.
In a quiet, somewhat frustrated voice, Tilda said, "He never told me."
Ofelia asked, "He never told ye about his big bear sister?"
Tilda said, "He never told me his family was rich."
Ofelia laughed. "He'd always been the most private of us bairns." She winked at Cosaria. "Except Delrik of course."
Curious, Cosaria asked, "Can you tell me more about Delrik when he was young?"
Ofelia linked arms with Cosaria and as they strolled off, she said, "It'd be my pleasure. But let's be heading ye ladies to dinner. A feast's waitin."
Following behind, Tilda again turned to Finklehead and asked, "Lady Finklehead, where does Felux fall in this meritocracy system?"
Finklehead snorted, saying, "A master swordsman, a master archer, a top member of the brotherhood of knights, and a proven strategist skilled in foreign relations and connections. Not to mention his reputation in the tournaments. To say it simply, he ranks highly. Very highly."
༻✧༺
Ofelia had taken her time escorting the group through the hallways of the embassy. Every so often she would stop and go on a lengthy description about an artifact on display.
Tilda was fascinated by the tale of a battle musician whose only job was to play an instrument and fire up the troupes. When his unit lost, the enemies executed him for creating an unnecessary frenzied warfare. His instrument lay behind a glass case, along with his bloodied uniform.
Just as they were moving on, Felux turned the corner.
Seeing her brother, Ofelia said, "Felux, my wee bitty birdy."
Felux said, "If it isn't my big bear sister."
Ofelia asked, "Where's Delrik?"
Felux responded, "Business."
"Figures."
"Tilda," Felux said, gesturing the opposite direction, "You'll be this way with me."
Ofelia started to follow Felux and Tilda when Cosaria asked, "Are we to come as well?"
"Naw," Ofelia said, "Lady Finklehead should be enough company fer ye."
Felux said, "Dinner's ready, Beniter's already there. We'll catch up with you."
Tilda flashed Marley a thumbs up while Marley repeated the gesture. This would be the first test.
Marley said, "My Lady, let's go eat. Oh man, am I excited about what kind of foreign food we'll get to try."
Cosaria said, "I didn't realize the food in this country would be foreign!"
Marley said, "It is! We might have to learn a whole new way of eating, you know!"
Cosaria said, "I can't wait!"
With desperation, Finklehead thought, Don't leave me alone with these idiots! As she watch Tilda, Felux and Ofelia disappeared behind a corner.
They were gone.
༻✧༺
As they walked down the hall towards their destination, Ofelia gestures to Tilda and said, "So this'd be the burd would it?"
Felux said, "Aye."
Elbowing Felux, Ofelia said, "She's a fine lass, far as I can tell."
Tilda asked, "What's the 'burd'?"
Felux said, "The woman I'd be courting."
"I'm glad it'd be ye." Ofelia said as she linked arms with Tilda, "The other two looked like dunces."
It surprised Tilda how touchy this woman was. Was this a cultural difference, or just an 'Ofelia' thing? Tilda said, "You don't mean Lady Cosaria and Lady Marley."
Ofelia said, "Aye, that Cosaria especially seemed to have a few screws thrown out the window."
Tilda was shocked at how informal Ofelia talked about the Duchess. Tilda said, "She may not be the brightest, but she's one of the kindest, gentlest souls this world could produce."
Ofelia threw her hands up in surrender, saying, "I'm not sayin she's not a good heart. I'm sure she does, and it's sweet of ye defendin her. What I'm sayin is that she's not a good head."
Tilda wanted to disagree, but found she had no evidence against it. After a brief internal search, she said, "I have no idea how to respond to that."
Felux laughed.