Dark Armor: The Hedge Maze

The next path led around the back of the hill, curving under the branches of an ancient and massive oak. A pair of marble benches had been placed in the shade of its branches, and were currently occupied by a trio of court ladies so deep in their own conversation that they failed to notice the new arrivals until the path curved in front of them, at which point they suddenly cut off, then rose and made courtesies. The High Magister offered a nod of acknowledgement, and after a moment the ladies returned to their gossip. 

Pallian had caught only a little of it, but they seemed to be discussing a potential marriage match for someone named Ethrinelle; nothing that would matter to him. 

"It is a lovely place," said High Magister Tamirya, just loudly enough to be overheard.

"Thank you," said Pallian. "I have always found it so."

"I must say it does my heart good to know that the House of Teres cultivates such beauty beside its gloom," Ashmiren said. "Especially if I am to live here."

Pallian glanced at her and nodded. "I hope I will find someplace suitably gloomy in Edrias, where I can take similar comfort."

"You think your father will accept our offer, then?" asked the High Magister. They were far enough from the tree now that the question wasn't indelicate or awkward; one of the ladies might perhaps use an Initiation to listen in, but anyone sophisticated and bold enough to do that would also be wise enough to keep to themselves anything they learned. 

"I do not know my father's mind," Pallian said, "and dare not presume to speak for him." He made it sound like a platitude, though it was more than true. "Still, in the face of an Emissary we must stand united -- and for that we must be able to trust each other. I do not see how that is possible without, as you put it, guarantees."

The High Magister nodded thoughtfully. Second-princess Arwidden opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, and then asked: "What is that?"

"That," said Pallian, "is the hedge maze."

The walls of the maze began dozen strides from the white-pebbled path. They were twelve feet high, neatly trimmed, and solid as a castle wall. Ahead of them, a sidepath led to the entrance.

Arwidden frowned. "Are those thorns?"

Pallian nodded. The thorns that guarded the walls of the hedge maze were as long as his fingers, jagged as lightning, and wickedly sharp. "My great-grandfather had very strong feelings about people trying to cheat the maze by forcing a way between the bushes."

"Ah." Arwidden looked impressed, and more so the closer their progress brought them. "Have you ever gone through it?" 

Ashmiren looked at her mother and raised her eyebrows; her mother gave a slight shake of her head, and Ashmiren feigned a momentary pout. It occured to Pallian then that the House of Edrias knew each other and liked each other a great deal better than his own family did. It took him a moment to shake that off and turn to the second-princess, but he said, "Several times, in my youth. The grotto was substantially less intimidating."

"I can imagine," Ashmiren said. "Down there you'd only have to worry about haunts and cave-creatures. Those thorns, by contrast, are scary." 

Pallian smiled. The third-princess might make light of it, but he thought she understood. "The grotto is lit with small enchantments, and holds a small waterfall in its belly. I always found it soothing. The hedge maze was for when we were feeling adventuresome or testing each other's courage. Of the two, well, you know which is my favorite path."

"Just so," Ashmiren said, and smiled in a way that made him want to make her smile more -- smile, and laugh, and relax. 

He caught himself just in time. It would be rude to focus his attention on her to the exclusion of her mother and sister, and he would not be rude to the Royalty of Edrias -- especially in front of Lady Vathira. He turned to the High Magister and said, apologetically, "I do not believe I could lead you through the maze without some risk of becoming lost, and in any case doing so would take us out of the sun."

The body servant gave a very slight nod at that. For all his height and bulk and leonine features, he was discreet; he'd followed and remained silent so long and so well that Pallian had almost forgotten he was there.

She nodded, and once again exchanged glances with her daughters. "Well taken," she said, glancing into the entryway of the hedge maze as they passed the side-path. "Let us continue on, then."

"If it pleases you," said Pallian, though in truth he was relieved. "Lady Vathira, do I recall correctly that the section ahead is the topiary garden?"

"It is, your Highness," said Lady Vathira. 

"Would you be so kind as to offer us some insight as to its contents and their creation as we pass through, then? I find my knowledge of that area lacking." Please take over the conversation for a moment, in other words, but it would also allow her to perform her role as the Royal Steward rather than a mere follower of the royals around her. 

She nodded firmly and smiled. "Of course."