Heirot

Tenara listened with a smile. "I'm good..." she replied. "I need a hat too. Can I have a hat like that grandmother?"

Tenele hurried up. "I'm sorry," she whispered to Sinead. "Come on Tenara. She's busy." The Queen's Maiden took her daughter gently and rested her on her hip.

Vlad had to greet a few faces in the room. They seemed a bit surprised by his cordial behavior, surprised enough to not return it with their usual spite. One night of understanding from Tenele had placed him in a blatantly less caustic mood toward Sinead's stodgy court members. He pulled up alongside his wife and child a few minutes later. Sinead and Drajek were off speaking privately again, with one of Sinead's royal guard close at hand. That must be the chosen escort for the visit. Vlad studied him critically, doubtful he was worthy of the job he'd been passed over for. "Well," he asked Tenara, "What do you think of him?"

Tenara wrinkled her nose as she stared at the man. "I don't like him," she announced, without really giving a reason. But, in reality he reminded her very much of the boys that had killed her lizard.

Tenele pressed a kiss to her daughters cheek. "Don't judge him, dear. We don't know him very well. He is from some place different and far away, like Papa. He is different from us, but that doesn't mean he isn't a good man."

Vlad crouched in front of her with a secretive glance. "What don't you like, snack?"

Tenara frowned, glancing across the room at the man. "His hat is weird," she murmured to her father. "Am I impolike (aka: impolite), daddy?"

"Vlad..." Tenele warned sternly. "Don't do anything to pester the man. Ighten has been out of war for three years, let's keep it that way."

Vlad glanced over at the ambassador with a long, speculative look. "Okay. Let's go toward the great hall. There will be a brunch reception in a few minutes, and the whole court is to attend."

He took one more look at Drajek as he herded his family toward the door. It wasn't like Tenara to openly claim to dislike somebody. Even with the boys who had bullied her yesterday, she hadn't used those particular words.

Tenele took a seat at the table next to her husband and rested Tenara on her lap. "You look so pretty today, Tenara," Tenele told her daughter, adjusting the bow in the child's hair and fiddling with her dress.

Tenara wiggled in her mother's lap, watching the strange man while he spoke to her Grandmother.

The brunch was long and tedious. Vlad abided it by slipping into the calm, diplomatic manner he'd developed and used while serving in Atul's court. It had been half a year since he'd used it, but for the first time in a long while, he felt it might be worth it to prove his social competence existed when he wanted it to, even if the demeanor was only surface-deep. He wanted Sinead's approval. He wanted to be trusted again, before he missed an opportunity more serious than this one.

After two hours of finger foods and speeches, he felt much the same way he'd felt after a full day on Atul's throne during his recovery. His civility muscles were out of practice. As soon as the close speeches were given, they were free to do as they pleased. Vlad was in the mood to be around only two people at the moment. "What will we do with you afternoon, Tenara?" he asked his daughter. Afternoons were traditionally his with the girl, and he'd begun experimenting with letting her choose her own agenda, even if that meant climbing in bushes and talking to reptiles.

Tenara pushed the food around on her plate as she contemplated her father's question. "I don't know," she replied. "Can we swim in the water thing?"

"The water thing?" Tenele asked.

"The thing in the garden," Tenara mused, wiggling again.

"The fountain?" Tenele laughed. "I don't know dear, we aren't supposed to swim in the fountain. How about we go to your room and get some toys and play in the garden. We can go to the beach tomorrow and go swimming if you want."

"Okay!" Tenara yelped happily.

Vlad set his focus on his family and tried to put the queen's visitors out of his mind. He wasn't sure why it was nagging at him. Probably nothing...probably just frustration at being blocked from such a well-suited responsibility. A half hour later, the vampire was carrying an armful of toys in one arm and holding Tenara's hand with the other as they made their way out into the gardens.

Tenara was humming the song she liked to sing when she was happy and everything was great. She skipped along next to her father, her alert gaze looking up into the trees and watching all the birds and squirrels flutter from one limb to the next.

"Here!" Tenara said, finding a nice grassy patch in the midst of the trees where the sun pooled warmly. She plopped down, her pretty dress pooling around her in a wash of pink. "Where's mommy?"

"She's taking care of some things at court," Vlad said. "She'll meet us again at dinnertime."

Vlad paused, holding Tenara's hand a bit more firmly as he heard someone approaching. After yesterday's events, he was a bit on the defensive against bullies and intruders. He was surprised when Sinead stepped out, unescorted. The vampire's posture changed, immediately straight and alert. "Queenie," he addressed with a cordial bow. "Don't you have guests?"

Sinead seemed equally surprised to see them. "Vladimir and Tenara," she said fondly as she approached. "I thought I'd get some air before this evening's schedule." She made herself comfortable on a bench near where Tenara had staked her spot. "This is a good place, isn't it? Quiet and sunny," she told the little girl.

Tenara smiled at her grandmother and nodded as she took a few toys from her father. She played with her dolls in the grass, smiling and humming her little song. She played there for a moment and then got up from her spot and took her doll to Sinead. She clamored up onto the bench and wiggled to get situated. Her balance got thrown off and she started to fall backwards off the bench.

"Whoah there," Sinead smiled, placing a gentle hand on Tenara's back before she could topple over. She picked up Tenara's doll and smoothed back her hair, looking thoughtful.

"Enjoying your guests?" Vlad inquired sarcastically.

"Yes," she mused. "A lot can be achieved during this visit."

Vlad cocked his head. She didn't seem focused on the conversation. He assumed things must be on her mind, and he knew better than to inquire.

"Of course, if I were escorting, you'd have a much more interesting week," the dead king scoffed. He gave the queen a meaningful stare.

"Yes..." she murmured. Her gaze wandered back in the direction of the castle. "It's time." She stood slowly.

Something went wrong. Her legs gave up her weight when she was halfway up, and she sank back into the bench, tumbling backwards almost the exact same way Tenara had.

Vlad materialized behind her before she could fall ungracefully to the ground. "Queeny?" He peered at her in confusion. Her eyes looked dilated as they met his. The vampire lost all sense of amusement as he realized she wasn't well. Supporting her back with his right hand, he stepped over the bench and crouched in front of her. "What is it?"

Sinead blinked. "I'm not sure...just disoriented," she murmured.

"Grandma," Tenara asked curiously, crouching on the bench next to her. She curled her fingers in the queen's dress. She turned her gaze to her father, and then back to Sinead. "Hold," she told Sinead with a smile, handing out her doll. "Milly makes me feel better."