{"id":65,"date":"2017-08-11T13:40:40","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T13:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/?p=65"},"modified":"2017-08-11T13:41:20","modified_gmt":"2017-08-11T13:41:20","slug":"fourteen-walking-with-the-veiled-prince","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/08\/11\/fourteen-walking-with-the-veiled-prince\/","title":{"rendered":"Fourteen: Walking with the Veiled Prince"},"content":{"rendered":"

She missed the carriage immediately, but there wasn\u2019t such a thing going from Esteronzerai to the train station for at least two days. \u00a0In two days, if she made good time, Raizel could already be on the train. <\/span><\/p>\n

She and the Diamond Raven joined a small group of people leaving the fanciest hotel in Esteronzerai, all seeming to have the same thought she had. \u00a0It was a strange and mixed group, including a tinker with his cart and his apprentice, a furrier carrying what seemed like a whole forest of furs on her back, a woman who introduced herself as a librarian who was going to the capital to pick up some new books, she with a bodyguard, and a small retinue of courtiers gathered around a person wearing a broad hat ans swathed in veils. <\/span><\/p>\n

They were, one of the courtiers explained, from Mipodek to the south, and they were also travelling to the capital, although they were taking their time about it. \u00a0It was supposed to be a trip of exploration for their young Prince – which was something like a Tzarin – to learn more about the lands around Mipodek. \u00a0Their Prince, it turned out, was the one in all the veils. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Was he very pale? Raizen asked, because sometimes when you got too far north, you got people with skin that could not stand the sun. \u00a0\u201cOr very modest?\u201d \u00a0That, too, she had heard of from time to time. <\/span><\/p>\n

The courtiers tittered and did not answer, so Raizel turned to attempting to chat with the Diamond Raven. <\/span><\/p>\n

He, in turn, kept touching the very thin gold line around his neck. \u00a0\u201cI should go back,\u201d he told her. \u00a0If she had a sed for every time he had said that, she would already have her twenty forn twice over. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. \u00a0You should walk with me and keep up the pace. \u00a0You should be calm, if you can. \u00a0Because we are going to the capital.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to take me with you.\u201d \u00a0He eyed her sidelong. \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re not planning on dumping me<\/em> in a lake or down a deep, deep hole, are you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. \u00a0No, I\u2019m just getting you out of Esteronzerai for a little while. \u00a0It will be good for you. \u00a0Get some sun on your skin. \u00a0See other places, learn other things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know that a Yederya is powerless when bound, correct?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I know that a Yederya wizard can only be removed from a place when bound. \u00a0And that I signed up to remove you from a place. \u00a0So here I am, removing you.\u201d \u00a0She took his arm and gave it a little tug.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know she just wants to tear down the old chapel.\u201d \u00a0He moved along with the tug, not quite looking at Raizel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that the deity-touched said that it was fine. \u00a0I know that power resides in places, not buildings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t know that until the one that said they were god-touched told you that.\u201d \u00a0He tried to tug away from her grip – but, she noted, he didn\u2019t try all that hard. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt never said it was deity-touched. \u00a0I can see the power.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, you?\u201d \u00a0He sneered a little. \u00a0She resisted the urge to push him down a hill – or maybe a well. \u00a0She needed the gold cord around his neck, and she wanted her name on that new building. \u00a0Carved in stone. \u00a0That was a good way to be remembered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe. \u00a0Cursed by a pixie, blessed by a spirit, given a quest by not one but two touched by a deity, yes, me. \u00a0And all I want to do is get to the capitol.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen let me go!\u201d \u00a0He yanked away fruitlessly again. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you kidding? \u00a0<\/span>Twenty \u00a0gold forn. \u00a0<\/span><\/i>I might sell my own great-grandfather for that much – and he would tell me I was a clever girl for doing it, too!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou mountain people-\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStop with the mountain people nonsense!\u201d \u00a0Raizel glared at him in sudden fury. \u00a0\u201cWhat, like we\u2019re not still in the mountains?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you know? \u00a0When people say <\/span>mountain people-\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cPardon me.\u201d \u00a0The courtier who had spoken to her earlier, the one with hair like straw and freckles like a mountain person, tapped Raizel on the shoulder. \u00a0\u201cI was wondering, since you seem to know the area so well, if you might be willing to sing to our Prince? \u00a0He wants to know all of the local traditions, you see, and he\u2019d heard that, ahem, mountain people had beautiful songs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t do it,\u201d warned the Diamond Raven. \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re not a performing bird.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but you might be,\u201d Raizel countered. \u00a0She found herself struck with the urge to do it. \u201cFine. \u00a0I\u2019ll sing one of the mountain songs for your Prince.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

She missed the carriage immediately, but there wasn\u2019t such a thing going from Esteronzerai to the train station for at least two days. \u00a0In two days, if she made good time, Raizel could already be on the train. She and the Diamond Raven joined a small group of people leaving the fanciest hotel in Esteronzerai,… Continue reading Fourteen: Walking with the Veiled Prince<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-quest"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Tn4Q-13","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":54,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/21\/nine-yederya-wizard\/","url_meta":{"origin":65,"position":0},"title":"Nine: Yederya Wizard","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The woman studied Raizel. \u201cYou have skills I don\u2019t?\u201d \u201cWell, I can\u2019t design a building,\u201d Raizel admitted, \u201cor build one. \u00a0But in the last two days I\u2019ve been dusted by a pixie, blessed by a spectre, and kissed by what might have been a goddess.\u201d \u00a0Also by two whores, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/23\/ten-the-perils-of-ones-past\/","url_meta":{"origin":65,"position":1},"title":"Ten: The Perils of One\u2019s Past","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"She should have thought of it before she agreed, she supposed. \u00a0She might be stepping into some long-held family feud \u2014 their mountain had several of those \u2014 or maybe into the sort of thing where the city wanted to move someone whose home had stood in the same place\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/08\/16\/fifteen-singing-of-fire\/","url_meta":{"origin":65,"position":2},"title":"Fifteen: Singing of Fire","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"August 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Diamond Raven was fussing at her as she walked over to the veiled Tzarin - but he walked with her the whole way. \u00a0Raizel didn\u2019t listen so much to his words as she listened to his tone. \u00a0He wasn\u2019t happy with her, no, but he was also worried for her.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":72,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/08\/22\/sixteen-the-arrow-pulled\/","url_meta":{"origin":65,"position":3},"title":"Sixteen: the Arrow Pulled","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"August 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Tzarin and his people wanted to leave slow and late the next day, so Raizel and the Diamond\u00a0Raven left them behind, not without some relief. The Raven was quiet as they walked, which suited Raizel. \u00a0It was early, the sun was low and rising lazily, and she wanted to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/20\/eight-a-kiss\/","url_meta":{"origin":65,"position":4},"title":"Eight: A Kiss","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Raizel took breakfast in the inn\u2019s bar the next morning, feeling well-rested, content, and ready to face the rest of her journey. \u00a0Perhaps she\u2019d even hire a coach. The barmaid leaned over the table while she was refilling Raizel\u2019s mug. \u00a0\u201cThere are opportunities around here, you know, for someone as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":60,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/27\/twelve-watch-what-you-say\/","url_meta":{"origin":65,"position":5},"title":"Twelve: Watch What You Say","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The man who might or might not b the Diamond Raven struggled, but he couldn\u2019t seem to do anything about the cord around his neck and, rather than have Raizel tug it tighter, he followed her. \u00a0\u201cI have things I should get-\u201d he protested, but she didn\u2019t listen, and then\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/27\/twelve-watch-what-you-say\/#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65\/revisions\/67"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}