The Little Fawn Slave

CH.2

King Meirion’s court room was prepared for the celebration of the Odhran victory. Banners with his praised generals’ crests were hung along the walls, tables set with beautiful flowers and the nicest linens, and a platform before the throne was prepared so that the King could offer his generals their gifts with extravagance.
Nobles filled the courtroom quickly, muttering among themselves about who the new War Duke would be. Each Duke and Lord had their idea and hope for they know that next to an heir the War Duke would hold great power and a chance for the throne, and King Meirion had no heirs due to his specific sexual interests which explained the harem full of young men.
The generals arrived and sat with somber faces. Just back from war where their friends were killed before their eyes, they were hardly in the mood for a party. They sat at their assigned tables, were polite with the nobles who came to greet and congratulate them, and drank deeply from their wine glasses.
Finally, King Meirion arrived with all the fan fare as was expected for the ruler of the land among his most prominent nobles and officials. He was seated at his throne and all was calm again.
“Welcome Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Counts and fine women of Cagatay! Welcome my honorable generals who have brought is victory over Odhran! Thank you for celebrating with me on this day when I wish to show my respect for those men who keep my kingdom of Cagatay safe.”
There was an applause and the gift giving began. Chests of gold, rolls of the finest cloth, boxes of the best parchment, bottles of foreign perfumes and spices, and a blushing maiden jeweled and perfumed were given to each general. Each girl was given with her own servant and a box of things that would help keep her pleasing and beautiful along with her papers of ownership signed by the king’s merchant.
After given their gifts the generals were applauded by the nobles and the lords that heralded over that general’s estate added his own gift of some priceless object, another maiden, or a Lordship. Servants took the gifts to the general’s transport and the general was seated back at his table.
“Finally, what you are all obviously here for,” the King began, “I will name my War Duke.”
Each ear was alert and eyes wandered over the group to see which general had nto yet been given a gift but none was seen. A murmuring was heard like a vibration in the walls.
“General Ceadda Mael, please come forward,” King Meirion smiled and stood.
From the shadows the general stepped forward and a silence settled on the room.

Sir Columba and Damhnait stood in the archway of the waiting room where they could see the guests and the goings on in the court room. “I told you that you would be given to the War Duke,” Sir Columba grinned. The King’s merchant and two of his advisors had sorted the gifts, deciding what was suitable. They set Damhnait aside immediately, seeing what a gem she was immediately.
When the King called on General Mael the silence confused Damhnait who could not yet see the general. When the man stepped out he frightened her. Sir Columba touched her shoulder in almost a protective manner.
Caedda Mael was a tall, broad warrior who had seen battle since he was a boy. His skin was sanguine in tone and like sun-kissed pale leather. Damhnait thought his face was like a wolf’s in it’s fierceness, his bright blue eyes piercing as steel. A thatch of red-blond curls was tied back in a barbarian’s braid tied with a leather thong. Instead of formal attire General Mael wore a new battle uniform of supple leather and blue plaid wool.
“I cannot say I’m entirely surprised,” Sir Columba murmured, “But the Lords will never back a Barbarian if the King dies and leaves Mael as his Heir through War Duke.” He turned to see the fear in Damhnait’s eyes and petted the back of her neck. “DO not fear Little Fawn, never judge a book by it’s cover. I know General Mael fairly well and he is not so fearsome as he looks.”
Damhnait did not believe him.

“Caedda Mael, my friend,”The King greeted then embraced the general who returned the embrace full-heartedly. “You have been a brother to me in our youth and are an honorable warrior in my army now.” The King turned and looked to his nobles, “I proclaim Caedda Mael my War Duke!”
Applause filled the room but the faces were not happy.
The King returned his attention to the man next to him. “I have a few gifts for you as well.”
Chests of gold, bolts of fabric, fine armor, deeds of land, and on and on were carried out and shown to the guests and the new owner. The servants removed the gifts after they were seen and taken to a carriage in the docking area of the palace.
“And, we present you your Majesty and War Duke, the fairest maiden in Caragay,” the advisor announced.
Sir Columba smiled at Damhnait and too her arm in his. “Remember what I told you,” he whispered then lead the way to the platform. The lords and ladies turned and smiled upon her, noting her beauty and her short form that noted her as an outskirt of Caragay, perhaps a barbarian, perhaps a wild girl who would suite the barbarian War Duke well. The King smiled on his gift and pushed Ceadda forward to view his gift better.
Damhnait was gestured forward by Sir Columba to step on the platform and kneel at War Duke Mael’s feet. She shivered under the gaze of those around her, practically naked and alone. A hand touched her cheek, her chin, lifting her gaze so that her liquid brown-gold eyes met steel blue.
Letting go of Damhnait’s chin Ceadda turned to the King, “Thank you, My King.” He then knelt at the King’s feet while King Meirion took a mantel form his servant that held Ceadda’s crest and laid it on his Ward Duke’s shoulders.
“Rise War Duke Mael,” King Meirion announced. Applause rose as Ceadda stood at the King’s side. The nobles smiled at him and whispered through their teeth about what they were going to do, how the King had to have an heir now that the barbarian was next in line.

In the commotion Damhnait was ushered off into the side room again with a beaming Sir Columba.