Princess Aravo Part 1

20

"So what was there?" the prince asked.

"We found the clearing and bodies were there... exactly two... but wild animals made their work with them. It was a very terrible sight... The poor girl having seen them in such state was awfully shocked. When we got to the clearing there was no sign of her. She was near the waterfall Call. There Miss Irbis was endlessly weeping. We needed time to persuade her to sit on her horse. She uttered absolutely no word and just sobbed. It was a hard blow for her."

"Where is she now?"

"I personally took her to her apartments. There she locked herself and even refused to let in her maid."

"What is with the bodies?"

"Oh... There is little of flesh left on them... the rest of it was scattered around the clearing. All crushed... Bones broken... They are so disfigured that their own mothers wouldn't be able to recognise them..."

"I mean, what have you done with the bodies?"

"They are brought to experts. Now you should just wait, Your Highness."

"All right, Borverd. You did your work well. Now you are free."

"I am glad to serve Your Highness!"

The man bowed to him three times and left.

"Has she not come out of her room yet?" the prince asked the Master Manager.

"Oh, Sire, she is like under siege. Also she refused to eat her lunch."

"Yeah..." sighed Tobro. "A poor dear... Dolly, can you at least send her flowers?"

"I am going to give her not flowers but something else."

*

"Miss Irbis," Nata rang the bell and knocked the door. "Please, may I have one word?"

"Nata, please leave me," was said through sobs behind the door. "I cannot see anyone now."

The Master Manager, who stood at the wall, made signs to the girl to continue.

"Miss Irbis, His Highness, wants to see you to give his consolations and also say something important."

The MM nodded to the maid approvingly.

"I am not ready..."

"Miss Irbis, let me in and I'll do everything for you to look respectable."

"No... You see, I can't..."

"Miss Irbis, the prince understands everything. He calls you not to a reception but wants to give an audience. It shouldn't be too long. Is it so hard for you?"

The door at last was opened. Irbis stood in a doorway. Her fair face was then grey and swelled and her eyes were red with tears.

"Be brave, miss," said the MM. "It is a great grief but you shouldn't die of it but bear it with dignity. Come, come! His Highness wants to see you."

They went to some spacious room. The prince sat in a rather modest chair and his noblemen were around him. When the girl entered they went aside to the walls and the monarch stood up and came up to her. She bowed to him.

"Please accept my consolations. It is a great blow for you."

She said no word and just lowered her head.

"By what you told us it is clear that the late man did everything for you what he could, and even more. He twice saved your life, he brought you up as his own daughter, and he taught you everything he knew... It is a great loss for you... But we all will die someday. Alas, the death of your father was too awful. He died to let you live so live worthily holding him in your memory."

The girl held a handkerchief to her face. Everyone in the room lowered their heads

"He is dead and you are alive. Live thus as not to shame him as a parent. Be brave and have valour in your heart. Your past life is over and the new one has begun. Now you should adapt yourself to it. Let me make you a present, Miss Irbis."

The girl looked at him. In a moment a servant came with a dog on a string. He let the dog free and it came forward to her.

"Let me give you this new loyal reliable friend. Be calm as he will never betray you. As I understand on hunting you feel yourself like at home. I decided to give this friend to help you with it."

"It is very kind of you, Your Highness."

Irbis squatted down and opened her arms to the dog. He ran up to her showing his tongue. He was of medium height for a dog. His fur was long and silky. His back was black; his chest, stomach and bottom parts of his legs were white and there also was brown on the borders of those two colours. He looked at her friendly with his intelligent brown eyes. She smiled to him and pattered his muzzle.

"What do you have here?" she said looking at it.

There was a white spot on his forehead.

"I think I'll call you Mark."

Among the noblemen was the known to us Evenrille. Having heard this, he suddenly became angry and wanted to go but other noblemen stopped him. They said to him that she just didn''t knew.

"What do I not know?" Irbis asked.

"You see," said Tobro. "The full name of that man is Mark Fillip, the Farlo of Evenrille."

The girl suddenly burst out with laughter. After that the amn couldn't stay there any longer and demonstratively left the room. Irbis addressed the dog.

"The dog has gone and a really good person stayed here," and she laughed again.

"I see you do not like the farlo but please. In memory of your father forget your battles!" the prince said in his commanding voice.

The girl became silent again.

"We have some more things to discuss. At first you have no normal name and everyone in Tinalden should have it. I was thinking about it. Tell me if such name as Sylva Widelzerin (in their language this surname could be translated as The forest lady) will satisfy you?"

"Quite well, Your Highness."

"Fine. Tomorrow you are going to make your documents As soon as your documents be ready you will open a bank account. Your money will be transferred to it. Then you may start working in the library."

The girl nodded.

"Also you should read the list of rules how to behave yourself in the palace. Everything will be given to you. I would also recommend you to learn the plan of this palace to go anywhere without needing an escort. Now you are free."