The Duchess of Anticlere - 3

The Duchess of Anticlere - 3

May 08, 2022

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In silence, Eldaline's staff watched her have a most awkward breakfast with the Duchess of Anticlere. The Shining Knights were still looming and clearly had no intention of looming any less.

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Even Skavild had never seen the Second Archivist struggle in conversation quite as badly as now. While it was true that when she wished to be left alone, she was disagreeable, she had agreed to have the Duchess along only to use all her most difficult personality traits. Yet, it appeared they had never met before.

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"I was just thinking, Your Grace, how surprised I was that you were walking and not riding."

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"That is a marvellous coincidence." said the Duchess. "But the same thing surprised me of you."

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Skavild helped, or so he thought. "Eldaline doesn't like horses, Lady Malvilda. She's got a gryphon but half the time I think she'd rather employ him than ride him."

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Malvilda, the Duchess of Anticlere, gave a very polite and unnervingly barbed gasp. "Well, you know, I don't care for them either. Far nicer to wander on legs. I am delighted to have attached myself to your party. What a jolly troupe you have, Second Archivist Eldaline Alkinour of Sunhold."

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"Second Archivist," said Very Junior Archivist Linvel, once she had shuffled around behind Eldaline for long enough. "Aranwen has filled my luggage with rocks and I am no longer capable of lifting it. Am I allowed to remove the rocks?"

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"Junior Archivist Linvel," said Eldaline. "sit down here in my chair and eat my breakfast for me. I am taking a brisk walk."

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"... You have followed me." Eldaline remarked, in the dark stone corridor of the Keep.

"But of course I did." said Lady Flyte.

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"You really did not have to." said Eldaline.

"Of course not. But I thought that I would."

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"Who are you, and who do you work for?"

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"What a magnificent question." said the Duchess.

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"Are you going to answer it?" said the Second Archivist.

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"But of course. 'Who are you' is a question invariably pursued by a lie, no matter our station or understanding. I am the servant of my beloved people, citizens of the Duchy of Anticlere, and I work as hard for them as I can be bothered to."

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Eldaline demanded, "What do you want from me?"

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"Your unending devotion." said the Duchess.

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"Are you sure?"

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"Yes, I am. I have always wanted to tame Second Archivist Eldaline.

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You naughty, naughty Thalmor."

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"Skavild!" Eldaline cried, as he appeared at the Duchess' shoulder. "I am so happy to see you! I need you to help me remove some rocks from a bag."

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"I'm sorry about her, Lady Flyte." said Skavild. "She's very bad with new people if she wasn't expecting 'em."

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"Oh, gosh. I am frightfully sorry." said the Duchess. "Nobody expects me."

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All the rocks extracted, the somewhat expanded party left the settlement after breakfast and made for the coast road.

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But it was as Agent Aralina was harmlessly enjoying the sun as it glared through the mist that the Duchess did something very strange. She sidled up behind her and said,

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"You will never be a qualified Escapologist. Not without cheating."

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"They're hard to talk to, aren't they, Lady Flyte?" said Skavild, who hadn't heard. "I saw Aralina running off without a word when you talked to her. That's normal, I should tell you."

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"Charming. They are charming Elves." said Lady Flyte. "My Knights of the Shining Phalanx are quite wild about them too. I cannot wait to tell Cousin Elisif what frolics were had on the way."

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Although Agent Aralina had been ordered to guard the rear, she now made a spirited attempt to hurry forward through the ranks, saying "... Second Archivist Eldaline, the Duch..."

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"Don't bother the Second Archivist, Agent Flopsy, I mean Aralina." said Ondolemar. He too had been peculiarly concentrated since the previous day. Concentrating was hard for him and sometimes he collided with trees.

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Still not a sound had been heard from the Shining Knights.

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As they passed the sign for the coast road, another strange thing happened.

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"Your father knew well that you never learned your lightning spells." said Lady Flyte.

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But only Aranwen heard.

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continues

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