by animefan78 » Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:20 am
Knowledge is power
Mara was slowly beginning to adjust to life at the castle, a surprisingly rewarding life that she honestly could never have imaged before. The life of a maid was more exhausting than being rich man’s trophy wife, yet it was infinitely more rewarding than being Mrs. Crispian Bonner ever could have been. Here she was actually helping people, whether it was making sure the guards were well fed, or helping clean the stables, or trying to fix the crumbling castle. Her favorite, aka the one she messed up the least on, was taking food and drink to the guards. It was simple and straight forward not like working with the animals or worse cleaning the crumbling castle. A it was drafty and cold. B the cleaning just left her lost trying to remember what goes with what, and feeling a little stupid compared to her fellow maids. Not mention all of the different types and ranks of maids, she thought a maid was a maid, but no there were whole ranks of maids depending on the job. As Stella’s lady in waiting Bell was obviously the highest ranked maid, then there was Elizabeth who she was pretty sure was the housekeeper of sorts at least for the castle. Then there were maids specific to nearly every room in the place, but the kitchen had its own hierarchy of maids. Then there her own title as a between maid or maid who also served the staff. Which was confusing enough already before considering the divided loyalties of the place. Yet, she was smart enough to realize that not everyone on the staff was a supporter of Stella if the lack of flowers in their hair was any indications. Their gossip however sealed the deal because Stella said that gossip was just a tool to distract people who have nothing better to do from feeling jealous of those few of us still remaining with noble hearts.
“Hey anyone know why some idiot put seashells in the bloody treasury,” one of Sarah’s maids asked walking down the hall with a bag in her hand.
“I dunno,” her friend replied. “Maybe it’s some crazy heretical magic thing Stella’s doing,” she added with a shrug. “That or she’s just dumb enough to take seashells as payment.”
“Stella’s not that dumb, and how did money cowrie end up all the way up here. Those are only used in Alkebulan,” Mara thought looking up from her scrubbing floors.
“All I know is that I have to walk it out to the dump, and it is bloody freezing out today,” the maid said.
“I could take that for you,” Mara’s soft voice called out to them.
“Ugh it’s one of Stella’s maids,” the woman groaned.
“What do you want tweeny,” her friend added.
“Just that it’s cold out, I have to go there anyway, and as a tweeny I do serve other maids from time to time,” Mara said.
“And I care because….” The woman said.
“I will save you a trip out into the cold and snow,” Mara said as a particularly stiff draft blew down the hallway.
“Fine by me,” the woman said tossing Mara the bag before continuing on her way.
“I didn’t take you for a suck up,” one of the maids working with Mara replied.
“I’m not,” Mara said softly.
“It sure doesn’t look like it,” the girl said
.
Mara checked the hallway making sure the pair were long gone. “Look you know that I used to be married to Crispian Bonner,” Mara whispered waiting for the girl to nod. “The philandering piece of shit that is my ex-husband was also running a number of scams and illegal deals. One of them was studding horses, and on one occasion a rich prince from the southern continent tried to pay him in shells the translator called money cowrie.”
“Did he take it,” the girl asked.
“No, Crispian only thinks of two things coin, and women,” Mara replied. “So even a noble from a distant land trying to pay what was several thousand gold coins with a handful of seashells was too much for him. Of course, given who we are taking about I think the noble won out in the end,” she explained as the girl giggled.
“Go, get that to Stella, I’ll cover for you,” the girls said nodding towards the bag.
“Really,” Mara replied.
“Yes,” the girl whispered. “You are just taking out the trash and will be back.,” she said giving her a thumbs up.
“Thanks,” Mara said tossing the bag into the bottom of her bucket and heading out of the castle.
Break
“You look like the cat that just caught the prized canary,” Bell said as Mara entered the stables no longer able to hide the grin on her face.
“I need to talk to Stella right away,” Mara blurted out.
“And why do you need to do that,” Bell asked. “And for the love everything, do not say it’s complicated.”
Mara pulled the bag out of her bucket. “One of the maids still loyal to Lady Sarah was ordered to throw out a bag containing about a 100,000 gold coins, and I saved it from the trash dump.”
A perplexed Bell examined her fellow maid closely. “Mara don’t take this the wrong way but I doubt you could hold a bag of a 1,000 gold coins let alone 100,000 coins.”
“That’s because it’s not in gold it’s in money cowrie,” Mara beamed. “Which if I recall can be up to 500% the value of gold at least according to the merchants my ex-husband dealt with.”
Bell slowly walked over to one of the support beams and began to slam her forehead into it. “What, happened, to, normal, around, here,” she grumbled before finally stopping but not before the sound carried all the way to Stella’s office. The lady of the stables closing the large book on her desk before marching out.
“Bell, we talked about this, slamming your head into the wall solves nothing and only brings headaches,” Stella giggled exiting her office. “Oh Mara, what are you doing here, I thought you were on floor scrubbing duty today.”
“I am, but two of Sarah’s maids were ordered to dump these shells the general found in the treasury in the trash because they were cluttering up the place. That didn’t make sense to me so I offered to take them instead and I think they are money cowrie which are worth 500 gold coins each I think,” she said shoving the bag into Stella’s hands. “Please don’t punish me it just seemed a waste to toss money in the trash,” she said with a deep bow.
Stella remained silent slowly opening the bag and looking at the white seashells with a shape reminiscent of conchiglie pasta. Carefully plucking out one of the small off-white shells with a greenish top she began examining it looking for imperfections or signs of it being carved from rock. Her eyes glowing faintly as she scanned the shell picking up the faint remnants of it once containing life. “It’s a real seashell,” Stella said softly turning her gaze on Mara. “But do people really use these as money?”
“Yes, my former husband tried to cut a deal studding Rocinante to a Prince from Numidia on the Southern continent. I do not know all the details but the prince was impressed by a mighty steed, probably Sleipnir offering 500 such shells which was equal to 250,000 gold but my husband laughed him out of the room,” Mara explained.
“I see,” Stella said turning and walking towards Sleipnir. “Did a prince from the far south ever visit here?” she asked her smile growing as Sleipnir nodded affirmatively. “Excellent!” Stella said clapping her hands.
“Ok, so the shells are real and……” Bell blurted out only for Stella to place a finger to her lips.
“Would you ladies fancy a ride,” Stella replied.
“Sure, why not,” Bell said.
“Um, really, I mean the last time,” Mara said softly.
“Just remember what I taught you,” Stella said.
“Um ok,” Mara replied as the horses were readied. “Good horse, nice horse,” she repeated over and over as she slowly approached the horses while Bell giggled at the woman’s antics.
“Bell…” Stella sighed at her secretary sitting side saddle on a magnificent white horse as it trotted over to Sleipnir.
“Oh, come on you have to admit it is at least a little bit amusing to see one of the great ladies of the kingdom struggling with a horse,” Bell whispered.
“I’d prefer to be a fly on the wall when Sarah finally realizes just how corpulent she’s become. There is only one dress left in that closet of hers that she can even remotely fit into these days,” Stella replied in a moment of brutal honesty as they left the stables.
“And that is,” Bell said.
“The one I left behind when the black mage visited,” Stella replied. “Complete with shoes, hair piece and apron,” Stella added with a bit of a smirk.
“You didn’t!” Bell gasped.
“Didn’t what,” a struggling Mara called out with a death grip on the reigns of her horse.
“I may have left an old dress of mine with Sarah so she has something to wear when her current wardrobe fails her,” Stella explained as they road through the countryside.
“Oh… that actually makes sense,” Mara said. “Stella is nice even to her enemies even ones that are giant fakers.”
“It does,” Bell replied.
“Yes,” Mara beamed. “It’s the first and sixth principle of hospitality. By leavy Sarah some clothes she is showing her respect and courtesy,” she explained as Bell continued to give her a curious look as Stella smiled. “Everyone person regardless of who they are deserve a basic level of respect and courtesy. In the case of Sarah that means clothes that she can wear so she doesn’t have to walk around naked.”
“That’s not how I would put it,” Bell thought.
“Very good Mara,” Stella replied causing Mara furiously blush.
“And as much as I loathe Sarah, even I don’t want to see her running around stark naked like some over fed swine,” Bell added mentally. “As much as I like a good ride, why are we coming all the way out here,” she asked as they entered the Arduina.
“One I wanted to go for a ride, two this conversation requires a degree of secrecy, and three each of you deserve a reward for your hard work,” Stella replied.
“Ok,” Bell replied. “But please tell me we aren’t performing a blood sacrifice.”
“No, we are not doing something so monumentally stupid as ritually sacrificing animals to appease the gods,” Stella replied as they continued through the thick forest.
“But I thought that was a common pagan practice,” Mara asked.
“Not exactly,” Stella replied.
Bell sighed. “Let me guess, a bit of revisionism from the Nazoreans.”
“Sort of,” Stella replied. “In my rather limited knowledge, there are such things as blood sacrifices but those are uncommon, intricate, and notoriously dangerous.”
“Limited knowledge,” Bell and Mara muttered in trepidation.
“Yggdrasil is the king of trees and is more familiar with naturism than animism,” Stella replied. “However what I know more about is animal sacrifices which were more common.”
“Aren’t they the same thing,” Bell asked.
“No, animal sacrifices like the blot are done to appease the gods by offering them a tasty meal, blood sacrifices are far less benign. The only one I am familiar with is the all father Odin sacrificing his eye to the well of knowledge, and then committing ritual suicide to gain knowledge. So, trust me we are not messing around with that sort of thing,” Stella replied.
“Then what are we doing,” Mara asked with a slight tremor in her voice.
“You’ll find out, but I promise on the trees that it is nothing bad,” Stella replied.
“Why does that not fill me with confidence,” Bell muttered.
Break
“Fuck Stella, fuck her magic, and fuck that monster horse she road in on,” Sarah growled sitting in a cold damp cellar beneath the castle frantically flipping through an ancient tome if the fragile nature of the pages and binding were any indication. A book she’d discovered buried in an old section of the castle library normally kept under lock and key. The sort of book that would be a great bargaining chip with the mages, or get her paraded through town on a cart while being stoned to death. Despite the danger Sarah continued to read through the pages like she had for several nights since the utter indignity of being forced to wear that degrading barmaid outfit. Even if it was for just a bit of sexual play, sexual play she did all the work for and received none of the pleasure, it was still beneath her status as a princess. However it did do one thing and that was highlight her increasing lack of power, with the Chancellor hanging on due to the bishops impeding arrival which was delayed by some moron getting lost in the forest dumping him back in Germania after taking the wrong path through the Arduina. A fact that didn’t mater now as she stared at a well-worn page in the book.
Sacrifice of Odin
Unlike a blot meant as an offering to earn the good will of the gods, the Sacrifice for knowledge is not to be taken lightly. For this is not an offering of good will to the gods but a petition for knowledge of the arcane. Knowledge of the forces that created the world, knowledge of how the world works, knowledge of how to bend those forces to your will. Knowledge that must be earned by sacrifice. To ignore this is to walk with the wolves of Odin snapping at her heels.
“I am a princess, and those stupid spirits will do what I say,” Sarah grumbled skipping the rest of the warning to find the ritual itself. Which at first glance was surprisingly simple just toss an eye into a well, and the castle just so happened to have a hidden one in the dungeons.
“And there is no way I am plucking out my eye like some kind of masochist,” she said tossing a pigs eye into the well. “A pig’s eye is more than enough for a spirit of knowledge,” she said watching it sink into the well before turning back to the book.
“Next impale….” she said struggling to read the next part turning to the pig restrained in the corner. “A pig should be fine….” She huffed picking up a spear her arms struggling with the weight of the weapon. “Because there is no way I’m wasting a one of my prize cows or horses on some spirit,” she said stabbing the squealing pig in the flank. “Ugh why won’t you die,” she grumbled as the pig continued to squeal as she tried stabbing it again this time hitting it’s foot.
Break
The trio’s trek through seemingly endless wall of trees ended as they found themselves standing at the edge of a stream. It’s water crystal clear all the way to the bottom of its gently flowing current. “Bell, Mara, I present to you the Kormort,” Stella said motioning to the large stream.
“I’m afraid I am not familiar with that river,” Mara said softly while nervously fretting with her hands.
“Relax, I am just as in the dark as you are,” Bell replied.
“Indeed, you would be as this was nearly choked off by the Cuthberts in their quest to control the Arduina, and it was the same river that Sarah had her accident trying to jump,” Stella explained.
“Why are you showing it to us then,” Bell asked.
“The Koromort is the river that judges if you are worthy of seeing Ygdrassil,” Stella explained. “No, it’s more like the first spring which feeds the moat, but this is an off shoot of the moat so it works just as well,” she babbled much to their confusion.
“Lady Stella are you going to baptize us as members of your cult,” Mara asked.
Sliepnir gave a snort of laughter as Stella reeled back. “By the flowers no, you are free to believe what ever you like as long as you keep an open mind, and it is my gift to you. I know that you are worthy so you need not fear being judged, but certain protocols must be followed before meeting Yggdrasil, and the water will do wonders for your skin and hair. Think of it like going to a salon before taking your honeymoon,” Stella added.
“My what!” Bell yelped nearly falling off her horse.
“You thought you were sneaky, eloping to the coast to get married, so instead of throwing you a fabulous wedding I am sending you on an all expenses paid trip to see the continent, and I am not taking no for an answer,” Stella said to a frozen Bell.
“The answer is yes,” Mara giggled in Bell’s ear.
“Yes, but why,” Bell finally blurted out.
“One because I can, two because you work hard, and three you can take the money cowrie and pay off the countries debts with the southern city states,” Stella explained.
“Four, it gets you out of her hair for a while,” Mara whispered.
“Don’t think I didn’t hear that Mara,” Stella deadpanned.
“Meep,” Mara squeaked.
“Stella, thank you I don’t know what to say,” Bell said still in shock, she’d never even left the country. Hell traveling to Scheldt to get married in secret was more than she’d ever traveled before and now she was going to be touring the continent.
“You’re welcome and you earned it,” she said turning to Mara. “Mara, you have been working hard and the castle guards sing your praises making the rounds to make sure they are well cared for while on shift. Not to mention your recent discovery has helped the kingdom tremendously and I do reward hard work.”
Stella’s kind words and praise so stunned the noblewoman turned maid that she fell right off her horse into the creek with a splash. “Gah cold!!!!” she exclaimed as she broke through the surface of the water. “Wait it’s not…. cold…. Lady Stella why isn’t the water freezing.”
“Because I asked the healing springs to help out so you wouldn’t catch a cold from bathing in freezing water in the middle of winter,” she said before Sleipnir nudged Bell into the water with a splash.
“Princess could you not,” Bell sputtered as she surfaced.
“No,” Stella laughed before joining them.
“Now relax and enjoy yourself for once,” Stella said.
Bell dramatically rolled her eyes. “That’s the pot calling the kettle black.”
Break
“Finally,” Sarah sighed as the pig finally died after stabbing it more times than she could count flopping into a chair as she began to wait tapping her foot on the old stone floor as she waited for something to happen. “Great, if I knew I had to wait for some spirit to appear I would have brought a snack with me,” she grumbled staring at the wall.
“Patience brings wisdom into our lives,” a elderly male voice said from the shadows.
“You’re late,” an unimpressed Sarah said her voice dripping with annoyance while watching as a walking dichotomy stepped out of the shadows. From the grey hair, beard, and wrinkles on the mans face he was clearly old, but his body and stance were one of strength and vigor. What she missed was the wisdom hidden behind his one eye as the other was hidden beneath an eye patch.
“I thought patience was considered one of the heavenly virtues,” the man replied.
“Virtues are for the weak,” Sarah scoffed flipping her increasingly ratty looking hair back.
“Virtues are what makes a person strong,” the man replied.
“Power is what makes a person strong and why I went through the trouble of summoning a pagan spirit,” Sarah replied standing while the old man slightly raised a single eyebrow. “My name is her royal majesty Princess Sarah Cuthbert, and you will grant me the power to control the flames of rage.”
“You make demands of me,” the man said coldly.
“Yes, you are not my god, and I am a princess, what more do I need to make demands of some spirit I summoned, and can dismiss on a whim,” Sarah replied.
“I believe your religion has a phrase,” the man said.
“And what would a pagan spirit know about the glory of Nazarene,” Sarah scoffed.
“I know many things girl,” the man said his eye glowing slightly as he released a fraction of his power. The shear sight of the glowing eye enough to make Sarah take a step back. “I know that you are the last in a long line of people who tried to destroy a tree sacred to my people. A tree being healed by one you so despise.”
“Stella, you bitch! I will see you hang…” Sarah growled.
“Impudence,” the man said cutting Sarah off.
“Shut up old man, Sarah snapped only for a hand to lash out grabbing her by the throat slowly lifting her into the air.
“My name pike, is Odin, the wise high father of the Æsir,” he said calmly continuing to stare into Sarah’s eyes. “Called here by….”
“Me, so do what I say,” Sarah choked out.
“Had you shown even a shred of the self-sacrifice I had in my quest for knowledge I would had, but you sullied the spring of wisdom with a false eye from a pig, and doubled down on that by butchering a pig in a wasteful display. Knowledge of the world requires sacrifice Stella put her body, mind, and soul on the line braving the dark hell you sunk the remains of Yggdrasil into. What have you done while sitting on your throne of lies. Stella Selvan risked life and limb to save people that so derided her, while you ran screaming like a girl. So tell me Sarah the Sow why should I give one scrap of knowledge to a liar and a cheat who barely deserves the knowledge she has,” he said his words cutting deeply into her soul.
“I am a princess and….” Sarah whispered.
“Shall be punished for your deception,” he said magic flowing into her. “You sought to fool a great wise one in search of knowledge and power. knowledge is power and power you shall lose,” he said staring into her eyes as the spark of intelligence began to leave them. Literacy, mathematics, public speaking, dance, fashion, manners, all the courtly arts flowed out of Sarah’s mind. The process stopping only when she had the intelligence and knowledge of your average woman.
Break
“This now the strangest thing I have ever seen or done,” Bell sighed floating in the river staring up at the fluffy white clouds passing lazily overhead. The water’s current slowly unraveling her brown hair letting it trail out behind her. The dark brown motley strands slowly changing to a rich shimmering chestnut slowly being drawn out by the water.
“Really, a dip in a river is strange,” Stella replied treading water as her hair floated around her.
“I believe Bell is referring to the fact that we are bathing in a river, located in the middle of a forest that has a reputation for being extremely dangerous. A river that Lady Sarah believes tried to kill her,” Mara replied resting her head on a rock by the river bank while the waters soothed her aching muscles.
“That’s because Sarah is a dimwitted, impertinent, and salacious woman with the self-restraint of a toddler, who I personally believe is unfit to rule Heim, let alone a pig farm,” Stella said.
“Finally,” Bell and Mara said.
“Hu…. what do you mean…” a confused Stella replied.
“Do you have any idea how long we, and by we, I mean all of Tongeren, most of the castle staff, and now a good portion of Liege have been waiting for you to say that,” Bell explained.
“Bell you can’t be serious,” Stella replied. “My own rebellious thoughts of overthrowing the Cuthberts and returning Alfheim to it’s former glory is one thing…”
“Princess for once in your life please stop being so obtuse,” Bell replied.
“I am not obtuse,” Stella replied.
Bell swam over to Stella, looking her in the eye. “Lady Stella you are a true Calen Sage once lost to the annals of history. By your blood, sweet and tears you and you alone have brought new life to Yggdrasil the king of trees. I do not believe I am being truculent, when I say that the people of Alfheim would support your noble cause in purging the barbarian Cuthberts from the Arduina,” she said as Stella watched her secretaries eyes changed the muddy orbs turning a sparkling light blue. Growing brighter as the light of wisdom entered her mind. “And why am I talking like this …. Stella what did you do?” she asked grabbing the woman’s shoulders with a growing sense of panic.
“Um, all this was supposed to do was supercharge your hair and skin,” Stella replied pausing to look at the river. “But sometimes Yggdrasil and his springs like to go above and beyond,” she said looking at the water. “Now did you give Bell some extra knowledge,” she said narrowing her glowing eyes at the flowing water.
“The Urðarbrunnr and Hvergelmir lack that particular ability only drinking from the Mímisbrunnr can do that, and it’s power is still sealed beneath the Castle Heim,” Odin said.
Bell ducked under the water, while Stella wrapped her long ebony hair around her as the old man stepped out of the woods. Mara took a more direct approach hurling a stone at the mysterious old man. “Pervert, how dare you peep on the princess,” Mara snapped as the man caught the stone with a resounding thud as it impacted his hands.
“Good arm, I like this one. She will make a fine Valkyrie one day,” Odin chuckled.
“The name is a Mara, and how dare you peep on Princess Stella,” Mara shot back as the water from the spring of Urðarbrunnr responding to her desire to protect Stella. The swirling waters slowly burning away more of Mara’s soft fatty flesh.
“Mara, don’t argue with mysterious strangers who walk out of the woods,” Bell hissed while Stella expanded her senses while carefully examining the old man.
“Oh, great and wise Odin, what can this humble human do for you on this most blessed day,” Stella said.
“Stella is that a pagan god,” Bell muttered her words muffled by the bubbles she was blowing nearly fully submerged in the water.
“I don’t care if he is a god or not, turn around right now you naughty pervert,” Mara snapped soft limbs growing firmer as she fired off another stone only to be caught again by Odin but with a louder impact. The old spirit smiling at the woman’s tenacity and spirit.
“Yes, Odin is the chief deity of the Northmen,” Stella explained.
“Then he should have better manners than my ex-husband,” Mara growled launching two stones at the interloper hiding one in the shadow of the first one. The first impacted his hand while the second slipped past impacting his chest with a thud.
“It’s been a long time since anyone let alone a mortal has slipped anything by me Miss Mara Wagner,” Odin replied. “Such a feat is worthy of a gift.”
“Then turn around before the next one takes out your eye,” Mara growled moving in front of Stella.
“Hahahahahaha, you have truly found a shield maiden worthy of Vahalla Stella Selvan,” Odin chuckled turning his back to the ladies.
“Indeed Mara while Mara may be a bit impulsive at times she has a good heart,” Stella replied. “Now what brings the great wise one to see my humble self?”
“Sarah the Sow,” Odin replied.
“May I ask what that ill-bred swine herder did to up set you oh great wise leader of the Æsir,” Bell asked. “Oh, come on why am I talking like some haughty noblewoman.”
Odin laughed while Stella giggled at her friend’s exasperated antics. “Sarah, attempted the sacrifice for knowledge hoping to bypass the sacrifice by using a common pig as a substitute. Then in an act of hubris bordering on insanity she tried to command me to obey.”
“What might I do to appease you great Odin,” Stella said.
“You needn’t worry child, despite what the old laws of Hospitality might say Sarah’s sins are not your own,” he said causing the ladies to breathe a sigh of relief.
“As she sought knowledge through deceit and trickery, knowledge was the price she paid as I removed all of her courtly arts and learning. Scant as it was such knowledge should not be wasted and I thought your emissary might put such knowledge to better use than that pathetic excuse for a woman,” Odin explained.
“Um, thank you…. I think… but I’m not a….” Bell stammered in shock.
“True, but that does not make you any less worthy in my eyes, and if you are not allowed to pass into paradise there will be a table waiting for you in Valhalla should you prove yourself worthy,” Odin stated.
“She is worthy, they both are,” Stella said as a statement of pure fact.
“High praise from the Gyðja of Ygdrassil. The norns themselves would be impressed by what you have done,” Odin said.
“You can thank me after I have restored the king of trees to his rightful place,” Stella replied her eyes burning with determination that Odin didn’t have to turn around to see.
“Such determination also deserves a gift of knowledge,” Odin said holding up a hand to stop Stella from protesting. “The final spring, Mímisbrunnr the well of knowledge lies somewhere inside Castle Heim and this well can only be broken by sacrifice, a sacrifice that signifies new beginnings, and one that can be undone by the test of time,” he said before vanishing.
“Foreboding much,” Mara said.
“It is what it is,” Stella replied as the forest began stirring again.
“Mara the next time you find the urge to throw rocks at ancient spirits,” Bell said.
“Yes,” Mara replied.
“Please don’t,” Bell said stepping out of the water the weight of her hair much more than usual. “And what happened to my hair,” she gasped half turning to see a chestnut hair trailing down her back nearly to her hips.
“It’s much better this way,” Stella said exiting the water, raven hair trailing down to her ankles. “Long hair is a symbol of health, wealth, femininity and social status,” Stella said. “Not to mention I think it is peak beauty,” she added pulling Bell’s hair into a simple but elegant ponytail using a flower as a hair tie.
“Who is Frigg, and why would she give us new clothes,” Mara asked putting on a dark blue dress with a white lace trim that displayed some of her thick but firm thighs. The midsection hugged her stomach that was firmer and lacking the ring of flesh that used to spill over her hip bones. Arms firm with just a hint of muscle as she moved while flaming red hair fell in delicate curls to the small of her back.
“Frigg is Odin’s wife and this is for you,” Stella said handing Bell a new outfit. A flowing white dress with a second more form fitting blue dress to be worn over top of it. That combined to create a graceful elegance that would be the envy of any noblewoman. While the men would be envious of her husband for having wife such an enticing bustline.
“That makes sense,” Mara replied.
“Lady Mara I envy your ability to remain as calm as the waters of a frozen lake after meeting a great old one,” Bell replied her voice surprisingly soft and soothing. “And please don’t tell me I am going to end up talking like a stuck up noble all the bloody time from now on,” she grumbled trying to reign in her flowing dress.
“No, but I would hope that my ambassador would do her best to display the grace and elegance the people of Alfheim are known for as she travels the world. The Cuthberts have turned us into the sick woman Europa, a farce that could not be further from the truth. So please show all that you come across that Alfheim is returning to it’s rightful place under the protection of Yggdrasil once more,” Stella said.
“And if they do not,” Bell asked.
“Then you have my full support to render a suitable punishment to correct their behavior,” Stella added.
“Princess it would be my honor to act as your ambassador,” Bell said kneeling before Stella.
Stella smiled gently touching a sprig of an ash tree to Bell’s shoulders. “Then rise Duchess Sturlson, emissary of Ygdrassil,” she said softly looking down at Bell before turning bright red at her own actions. “I can do that right, I mean I have the power to do that right,”
“Yes,” Mara and Bell replied.
Stella let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness….”
Author's note- A bit of a long one here that I hoped you all enjoyed and as always let me know what you think.