honorary daughter

"Your highness, I would like to briefly discuss one matter with you. It has been distressing me for some time."

King Arthemis scanned his throne room for a short period before replying. His loyal band of peace keepers were shifting their attention between the King himself and the man speaking - Jonathon, a thirty-something treasurer who often considered himself of a much higher importance than he actually was. Most recently, the eight other men in the room knew all too well, he had taken to sticking his nose in where the King's children were concerned.

"Jonathon, do you have something worthy to report?" King Arthemis finally asked.

Jonathon puffed out his chest and, in what was his most important sounding voice, began his speech.

"It's your son," a low groan sounded around the circular table, to which Jonathon raised his voice and continued, "I'm feeling awfully troubled. Keenan has spent little time this past week acting as he should be."

"You understand that I appreciate the concern, Jonathon, but the duties of my young Prince are few and far between, and he has been fulfilling them all most enthusiastically." King Arthemis smiled briefly and then turned to the man on his left. "Is that all the business for today, Master Kronid?"

"But you see," Jonathon interrupted loudly, "it is more the activities he does in his free time that worries me. I often see him wandering about the lower chambers, your highness, where the horses and dragons are fed and cleaned. What sort of business must a young Prince have in such a sooty area of the kingdom?"

King Arthemis laughed light-heartedly.

"Are you suggesting he's in danger of getting dirty? Now that really is a dreadful misfortune."

"You don't understand." Jonathon sighed. "It's this girl. She's not a noble. She's not even middle class. I don't know who she is, but she's almost always dirty, and never wearing decent attire. Do you really want your son hanging around a servant?"

"I think my son can judge for himself who he chooses to spend his time with, don't you, Jonathon?" King Arthemis arose. "Tonight's recount is over."

"But-"

"This topic is especially over." the King interrupted.

The man to King Arthemis's left, Kronid, nodded around the table at the rest of the men. Each of them stood and made for the door. At last, Jonathon assumed defeat and followed them out the door.

Arthemis relaxed back in his chair.

"Kronid, call her in." Arthemis requested.

"Of course."

Within moments, the door opened. Brieya walked in and helped herself to a seat near the crackling fire.

"And what did you get up to today, my girl?" Arthemis smiled in a fatherly way.

"Groomed the horses again, they look fantastic with their sleek, smooth coats." Brieya replied. "And the dragons. Rufus is beginning to harness his fire. He startled himself today by breathing a bit onto Paco's mane."

"I hear you've had some help as of late." Arthemis added. "My nosy treasurer thinks you're spending too much time with my son."

"To hell with you're nosy treasurer."Brieya replied in a disgruntled fashion. "Come on, Arty, you know I'd do that job ten times better than he is."

"Oh, yes, I do, Brie." Arthemis nodded. "But there are much more important things that you would be better suited for."

Suddenly, the door flew open. "Your highness, I simply must discuss further with you this issue-" Jonathon stopped when he realised who he had just walked in on. "Of course, your Highness, you know that I agree with your sorting out this little problem between Keenan and the servant girl, but you needn't actually converse with the peasants. It's filthy work. I think you should speak with-"

"Right, Jonathon. Sit down." Jonathon did as he was told, quickly sitting opposite Brieya on the circular table almost as fast as Arthemis stood, looming over him like the powerful figure he was. "There are a few things we need to get straight. I will not sit idly by and have you call young Brie a peasant, nor will I allow you to accuse me of treating anyone in such a poor fashion."

Brie rebelliously kicked her feet up onto the table, to which Jonathon gaped before the King continued.

"Brie is a brilliant young girl. She is the daughter of my dearest friend, who was sadly killed when Brie was just a baby. She is treated with the utmost respect from all of my loyal party and you will be no exception, Jonathon."

Brie pulled her feet off the table and helped herself to the leftover nibbles that had been provided for the earlier business meeting.

"Brie does spend a lot of time with the horses and dragons. You're right. But she does it on her own free will, and she keeps them in pristine condition, so you just be grateful instead of commenting on her dirty clothes. You could not find a nicer, sweeter, more bright and helpful girl so how dare you suggest that she isn't good enough for my son -" the King turned swiftly toward Jonathon again- "Whom she has been dating for over a year now, by the way."

Brie laughed.

"What's funny?" Arthemis asked, turning to the girl with a smile.

"I think his jaw's about to detach." she replied.

The King smiled again and looked back once more at the bewildered treasurer.

"You may go now, Jonathon, and not another word."

Jonathon stood. His jaw opened and closed several times before he decided to keep his mouth shut and he stumbled out the door.

"You're such a liar." Brieya immediately responded in a playful voice.

"And you're cheeky." Arthemis added.

"Dating for over a year?" Brie smiled. "Honestly, Arty."

"Well, you may as well be wed, the way you two act. Anyway, you were deliberately trying to make him as flabbergasted as possible. Can you imagine, Treasurer to the King, watching some girl he thinks is complete trash, putting her feet all over the royal table and eating from that plate?"

"I almost threw in an "Arty", just so you know." she pointed out.

"You should have." he laughed.

Brie took one last piece of food from the plate and stood. "Right, I'm off. Got to try and train Rufus again tomorrow. He's getting better, sort of."

"Still as mischievous as you, though." The King said.

"I swear he'll harness his fire soon." she smiled. "Anyway. Good night." she shared a brief hug with the King before heading out the way she came.

It took less than a minute to reach her room. Brie knew the castle like the back of her hand, shortcuts, secret passageways, the works.

"Nice meeting?"

Brie looked around and smiled. "Fantastic. I've never seen that nosy Jonathon so startled."

"Jonathon? Since when did he attend your meetings with Father?" Keenan popped out of the shadows and strode over to Brie. They were silent for a moment, as he stroked her face gently with his knuckles and she closed her eyes, relishing the moment.

"Just wait till I tell you about it." She smiled. "It was a hoot, you'll love it."