Magic of the Marriage Market

Although it was April, and the whimsy of romance and spring filled the air Farran ignored it all to sit on the swing and read the papers left behind by the 'adults'. Alaric perused the business section, Blair featured in some of the scandals, Calvin knew all and said nothing, and Derbie was all twitterpated with Lady Ban. None of them were a real adult, at least not that Farran would admit. In two short years she'd be Debuting as an adult, and then finally be able to set off on the adventures she knew were out there waiting. Her magic may be domestic, but her heart craved the same thrill of the unknown that had made the Briggs Family famous. Her parents wee on an Exploration of the Northern Island, and Farran often dreamt about joining them.

If only she didn't get so disastrously sea sick.

The grass was wet underfoot, and Farran kicked off her shoes and stockings to enjoy the cold slick of it against her toes as she lightly swung back and forth. Alaric would have scandalized if he saw it, but her eldest brother was still helping his friend, Lord Wignell, after the previous Earl's funeral. Blair wouldn't care that Farran was flashing ankles and bare feet at the world, and Calvin would let her do what she wanted without hesitation. Before his Debut, Derbie would likely be out here with her, swinging in companionable silence, and Gavin was the child who's always slipped off his clothes, so he'd be barefoot right along with her.

Instead of any of them though, Farran spotted Hida outside, training in the rain while Farran was under a protected gazebo. "Are you still dreaming of becoming a Knight, Pinky?" she called out teasingly, eyes skimming over the gossip columns and business pages until something caught her attention.

"You could call it that," Hida answered after finishing her movements. Without a weapon in hand, it almost looked like her baby sister was dancing, but Farran recognised the combat forms. "Are you still searching for adventure that comes in any form but boat rides?"

Farran laughed, her seasickness all too well known. The Briggs Countship had a bustling merchant's port and they'd all taken tours of it, hers had ended before departure. Even just standing on the ship at anchor made her queasy, though Farran was by far the best swimmer out of the lot. "Anything can be an adventure if you try hard enough," she actually believed that, but it didn't stop her from still longing to go see what was beyond the next hill.

Hida splattered cold water as she flopped down onto the swing next to Farran's, and her strawberry blonde hair looked like Edwina's dripping paints for a beautiful moment. "What adventures do you have for us then?" her chin jerked to the gossip column displayed on Farran's lap.

"For those interested in knowledge," Farran read the article out loud, "and know knowledge is Power, it would behoove them to realize that a Princess is hidden amongst the Debuts this Season. More than just the lovely Colena Sikali, or recently adopted Banika Hatsune of the Duchies, the Archival Branch of the Information Bureau has a sealed birth record for Queen Akiyama's only half-sister. Long rumoured, almost forgotten, name and appearance deliberately hidden away; the Princess of Taroton is still the Heir apparent until Queen Akiyama is wed, and it might be impolitely said; bred. Given the rumours, it can be determined that this Princess is amongst the Debutantes, but we shall see who she really is. A Princess hiding as a Dukedom's princess? Or is she more securely obscured in a distant March or Viscounty? The young Ladies of this year's Debut are known, and now it is time to keep eyes peeled for there is a secret identity begging to be revealed."

"The author clearly thinks its Banika Hatsune," Hida frowned and looked so much like their father that Farran felt a twist of homesickness. "Why did she not just come right out and say it?"

Farran smiled at Hida's direct nature, "what if its not Banika though? Would the real Princess be amused or insulted? And why did you assume the author is a woman?"

"The knowledge is Power bit," Hida shrugged and got back on her feet, ever the restless spirit. "Only someone who can't depend on strength learns that Power isn't about might. Even after two generations of Queens, Taroton still has some... outdated habits."

A century ago, and Taroton was heavily unjust to women and a lot has been done to rectify it but there were always holdovers from a less civilized age. "Forgetting who the author may be, let's think about the candidates. Two Ducal daughters, Hatsune and Sikali. One Marquis daughter, Ruma. And three Viscount daughters, Ram." Farran was seeing it all laid out in her head like a map, "Hatsune is the most obvious for several reasons."

"The whole recently adopted bit did stick out," Hida's agreement was slowly as she moved her body in the rain again.

Farran could dance, but she also enjoyed simply watching how breathtakingly graceful baby sister could be. "Go back further, the current Duke of Hatsune is Queen Akiyama's cousin. The late Prince Consort was first cousin to Duke Hatsune, making the Queen his first cousin once removed. Dowager Queen Ebani was already close to, and familiar with the Hatsune; it's easy to assume that her mysterious second daughter's father could also be from the Hatsune."

"That'd make the Queen and the Princess sister-cousins," Hida's disgust was evident and Farran laughed.

"You clearly haven't noticed how much questionable incest is allowed throughout hi온라인카지노게임. I swear if we look far enough back, every Noble is a distant cousin." Farran wondered if that was why she could never be interested in the romances everyone else flustered over.

"Do you think it's Banika Hatsune?" Hida was only a little taller than Blair but as she worked through the combat forms, Farran could believe she'd one day be a powerful Knight.

"I know its not Colena Sikali," Farran hedged, thanks to Gavin's friendship turned romance with Eniola Sikali the Sikali Family was well known to the Briggs. Deshay Sikali was one year Farran's elder and she'd thought about arranging an engagement just to spare the effort later, only she'd heard rumours that he had a bad habit at the gambling houses.

"And it can't be one of the Ram triplets, they're supposedly identical," the rain was coming down harder and nearly drowned out Hida's response.

Farran folder her paper up to try and save it from the moisture in the air, "so that narrows it down to just Banika Hatsune or Ban Ruma."

"It'd be fitting if it is Lady Ruma," Hida was serious, "Derbie would make a fair and stable Prince Consort."

"Is this more of your dreams about being a Royal Guard?" it was easy to tease Hida sometimes. In revenge Hida came over next to Farran and shook off water like a dog, splashing Farran deliberately. "You brat!" Farran cried out, jumping off the swing to run inside before she could get soaked, but Hida actually tackled her to the ground.

Her baby sister might be a full head shorter, but she had no problem picking Farran up like a sack of potatoes. And then Hida dropped Farran into a mud puddle and war broke out. Thunder rumbled in the distance, the preceding flash of lightning missed as Farran ducked a mudpie and neither of them heard the back doors open and an audience forming as they gleefully tried to drown the other in a mud puddle.

A sharp whistle pierced even the curtain of rain wrapped around them, and Farran felt Hida still next to her as they both sought the source of the sound. Looking monumentally displeased, Alaric glared at them both as if they were up to worse than playing in the rain. "Children, could you please come inside and clean up before you catch pneumonia and die," he demanded with concern.

"I'm an adult in two short years Alaric," Farran reminded, acting haughty despite the muck plastered to her.

"Act like it Farran," Alaric interrupted her, "please come inside and get cleaned up, I have invited Earl Wignell over for supper, so he doesn't have to eat alone."

"Ooops," Hida muttered and Farran fought the urge to laugh.

"Let's go," Farran retrieved the now wet but not ruined paper.

She headed to her room, laying the pages out to dry while she went to the bath and cleaned herself up. Edwina was preparing for her journey to the university, set to head out in May so it was no surprise to find her in the girls' bath suite as paint covered as Hida and Farran were muddied. "Did he scold you two as well?" Edwina asked with a put upon sigh.

"He called us children," Hida admitted without rancour, though as the youngest she was probably used to it.

"He called me a disappointment," Blair's voice from the entry announced her arrival. Unlike the rest of the sisters, she wasn't filthy, but Farran could smell her from across the room.

"Why do you smell like formaldehyde?" her nose was burning without proximity.

"Tried an experiment for the Alchemy Bureau; it was overwhelmingly successful. And I do mean overwhelmingly," Blair's eyes went wide with her insistence. "In fact, I'm not allowed to do that again without several precautions in place."

"I'm almost afraid to ask what you did," Edwina admitted.

"Used my magic to refill every container I could with formaldehyde. All at once. All of them." Blair sounded proud but Farran realized she was also a little unsettled. "Only I thought I was limited to cups, and it turns out I'm not. Somehow, I filled the old fountain with it too."

"Oh," Edwina sounded impressed.

"Oh, that's why you stink," Hida was already scrubbed clean.

"I stayed to help empty it all, but I have to do that by hand," Blair finally stripped off the foul smelling garments and began washing.

It wasn't everyday that all eight of the Briggs siblings were home at the same time for supper, and even with the lingering absence of their parents, Farran enjoyed the meal. She barely knew Lord Clayton despite his friendship with Alaric, so she excused herself after dessert and retreated to her room.

Thankfully, the paper was fully dried, though it was brittle and some of the ink had faded. Farran carefully read the official announcements page again.

Peace Treaty with Cador Kingdom Signed, the Royal Taro Family called upon any and all brave explorers who may wish to volunteer for the Exchange. Please note that the Exchange can become permanent unless a Royal recall is issued. Those that are interested can write to the Diplomatic Bureau, marked Exchange Project.

Farran let her mind wander over it, letting her hands get busy with needlework. If she wanted to, she could turn the handkerchief she was embroidering into something indestructible, but right now Farran was just enjoying a favourite pastime. She knew the volunteer request was for adults, and it was in a Noble's newspaper so clearly it wasn't recruiting laymen, but its wording didn't exclude anyone. Alaric would never agree to let her go, he only saw her as a little girl despite being only eleven months younger than Edwina; and he'd agreed to let her go to gallery at the university. But this felt like a sign of her dreams; Farran wanted to go explore Cador and she wouldn't even have to take a ship to do it.

She chewed her lip as she set aside the needlework to go to her writing desk. She was a child, yes, but more importantly she was a Briggs. And Farran was an adventurer, just like her parents and ancestors were.

To the Diplomatic Bureau – Attention the Exchange Project.

I would like to both request additional information regarding the Exchange and volunteer myself for it immediately. I declare this, knowing that it is unlikely that I'll be selected for the Exchange initially due to factors beyond my control. To be part of this project is a great honour, and not solely due to the role one will play as a representative of both Queen Akiyama, and our Taroton Kingdom. It's an honour to be trusted with the difficult task of viewing a new culture and way of life with open eyes and an accepting heart. It's a privilege to be given the chance to make friends with people I would never have otherwise met. And it's a gift to have the opportunity to learn more abouts myself even as I share my Taroton ways with others.

My eagerness and enthusiasm are great contenders of why I should be selected to go, but I will be honest with you about why you may deny my initial application. I have not discussed this matter with my Family, and I am still considered a child. But at 17 and with a solidly stable magic to support me, I believe I can excel as a representative. If I may be so bold as to suggest, a younger volunteer such as myself may even have an easier time adjusting to Cador as we have literally had less time to build purely Taroton habits.

I would beg of you ro consider me if I felt that an emotional appeal would work, but instead I will simply state that I will proceed as if I am selected; I will write to the Cador Kingdom's Diplomatic Bureau and encourage them to consider me as well, I will pack my travel bags and ready my heart for farewells.

You should permit me to be a part of this Exchange; adventure is in my blood and nature, and I am ready.

Farran Briggs

It was a bold letter, and an unprecedented move but Farran signed and sealed it. And as she promised, her next letter was intended for the Cador Kingdom. Only this time Farran had to pull out her study book and look up the persons she could address it to. One of the courses she'd completed had a list of noble Cador Families and how they connected to the King; ostensibly for trade reasons but now Farran wondered if it was a pre-emptive move for this very alliance.

Any letter she wrote to the King would be discarded so instead Farran planned to be a little sneaky about it. 'Here, you'll do," Farran found a cousin to the King, a Duke Vellan Dorland. She stared at the strange first name, fascinated to see it begin with a V; so unlike the naming conventions of Taroton. From her course she knew that there was no such tradition in Cador, and it left her curious at how his name had been selected.

Duke Dorland,

You are likely surprised by this letter, mainly because you couldn't have the first clue who I am. I would like to rectify that. I am Lady Farran Briggs, of Taroton; sixth child of the Countess and Count, and hopeful volunteer for the Exchange Project between our two Kingdoms. If you have not heard of the Briggs name, I can only assure you that even now my parents are a part of the Expedition to the Northern Island. I too am an adventurer at heart, though I have yet to participate in any such journey.

And thus, why I have decided to extend a presumption attempt to convince you to become my ally in my endeavor to be selected. I've volunteered to my Queen on my side, but I also hope you may pass my application along to your King. You may be reluctant to do so just yet, so I promise only that if you write back, I will answer any questions you may have about my candidacy.

Thank you for reading my letter, and I sincerely hope to receive one back soon.

Farran signed and sealed this letter as well, feeling a discordant mix of elation and exhaustion at her daring. If this worked, she'd be leaving home for several years at the very least, but other than her Family Farran was untethered to Taroton. Having the chance to explore Cador would giver her a first of hopefully many adventures to experience.