… She queried the man who, up close, now looked like a giant.
It was Latin. Her mother had always had a weird obsession with languages, and Latin was one. She had grown up speaking several languages fluently.
Suddenly the hallway was filled with people. The commotion had attracted the attention of the gathering at the hall. Surprise was clearly written on their faces as they watched her interact in a language they could not understand.
Diane listened until the Solaria envoy stopped talking. She turned to face the once bewildered Duke, who now looked at her in surprise.
"Your Grace, he said their translator had suddenly met a sudden death on their way; they ask for your pardon.
"…And that they've come to seek you for the Solarian warship needs passage through your sea to the west. They are not entering Valerune."
Diane could sense relief from his expression at the last sentence.
"He brought a letter from the Solarian emperor to you." She added as she turned to talk to the envoy. He fished out a scroll from his bag and handed it to Diane.
She gave it to the Duke.
He opened the scroll, but after a few minutes he handed it back to Diane.
A second look at it, and she understood his hesitation.
It was written in Latin. She could not understand why a person would send a letter in a language that is foreign to the receiver.
"It says exactly what the envoy had said; also, it says here that there had been an age-old oath between the two nations. The agreement between the emperor's ancestor and Valerune allows for a peaceful passage if the need ever arises." Diane ended as she handed the scroll back to the Duke.
He looked furtively at it, as if trying to finally read its content.
I "I have never heard of such an oath. Valerune and Solaria have not had any need for such as far as I can remember," the Duke said, now staring at Diane to translate.
"It is true, what they say." The man whom the Duke had previously addressed as "Uncle" now stood beside him as he took the scroll and glanced over it.
"The oath mandates us to honour the Solarian seal." He added as he slightly pulled the Duke to the far end of the hall.
They talked for a long while.
When they returned, the old man was the one who spoke.
"Allowing a warship of that magnitude to pass through Valerune to another nation could spell trouble for Valerune. And while we do not run from trouble, there is no need to call for it."
He looked at Diane, signalling her to translate.
Diane gave a slight nod and spoke slowly to them. For even though Latin was a language she knew, translating some of the terms required extra care, or she would be disastrous.
"It has to be brought up with the crown; the magnitude of the decision makes it difficult for Ravenforth to take charge." He ended.
This Diane translated as best as she could. The envoy and their warship would get to the Valerune. The Duke offered to let them stay at the manor until then while he takes it up at the royal parliament.
They accepted this offer.
The Duke then motioned to Lucas Kail to show them to the guest house.
Facing Diane after the envoy had moved out of the hallway, Duke Kail with a smile gave a slight pat at Diane's hand as he held it.
"Lady Athea, you did great. That was unexpected."
The slight show of fatherly affection was unusual to Diane. She had no idea the perfect way to react to the praises and ended up nervously bowing slightly towards him.
He smiled in acknowledgement.
A young girl, whom Diane guessed to be around Athea's age, walked giddily and held Diane's hands while looking at the Duke in a childish manner.
"How did you do that, Athea?" She asked with a curious grin.
"Let her be, Elara!" He admonished.
But the girl would continue.
I have never heard of anyone in Valerune knowing the Solarian language, much less being able to speak it!"
Elara had heard the rumours of Athea losing her memory but also that she had gained her healing glow too. While it would take a long time from the point of gaining the healing glow to actually being a healer, Elara could not help but imagine if it had anything to do with her speaking an unknown language.
"It's a language I learnt a very long time ago," Diane said, trying to politely wriggle her hands free from the highly energetic girl.
"From where, how?"
"Elara!"
The Duke bellowed. This time she actually stopped.
"Help Lucas to ensure the guest residence is in perfect condition." He commanded.
The girl grudgingly let go of Diane.
She gave the Duke a slight bow and strutted off.
"Pardon her manners; it's my fault that she is a little ill-mannered. I literally spoilt her." The Duke pleaded in a tone that suggested he loved her.
Diane knew without being told that that was how it feels to be loved by a father. And for the first time in her time here, she bemoaned her loss.
"No, your Grace, she was being friendly." Diane replied with a smile plastered on her face.
A man who Diane recognised as one of the envoy came towards them.
He handed Diane something wrapped with a silk fabric.
"The general said he is grateful for your service." He said it curtly and was on his way back the next second.
Diane looked at the Duke, who gave her a nod of approval.
She removed the linen to find a tortoise staring at her. Diane gave out a loud shrill, almost knocking down the tortoise if not for Mira, who caught the animal mid-air.
The relatives who had perched around during the commotion with the envoys were laughing at Diane. Everyone except the Duchess.
Duke Kail excused himself to go check on his guests. Diane, amidst her unexpected shock, was worried about how they would understand each other. They will find a way, she thought.
Why couldn't they give her gold or something worth money at least? Who gives a tortoise as a gift? She asked as she looked at the tortoise now resting on Mira's hand.
Diane was made to go back to the hall; she could hear the mutterings all around. She had come to know that here, people gossip in your earshot.
"Where did she learn to speak Solarian?"
"Is that even possible?"
"Do you think she is a witch instead of a Lyselle healer? Another woman opined.
Diane had not thought about the ripple effects her action today can cause. There was no way to prove where and how she came about knowing Latin.
In the whole of Valerune, different languages were spoken mostly by merchants from other nations. But not the language of Solaria. It was not a place people travelled to on a whim. Not just because of the distance between the two nations, Solaria has always been a war-loving country.
It was not a kind place for strangers either.
"We don't have much time left; let's get to it, ladies!" The duchess who stood by the hall doorway said, motioning the women back into the hall.
She gave Diane a quick glance as she turned away.
Diane stood there for a while as she waited for Mira, who had gone to keep the tortoise. She suddenly noticed that someone was standing at her bed. She quickly turned only to bump face to face with Kaelion Kail.
The motion has her spiralling backwards in a fall, only but for the quick intervention of Kaelion.
"Sorry for startling you, milady." The perfect-faced man said smilingly. He smiled so broadly that Diane knew instantly that he wasn't sorry. He had done it intentionally.
Still, she played along.
"It's alright, milord, I should be thanking you actually." She plastered a fake smile as she attempted to wriggle free from his hold at her small back.
"Ooh, my bad!" He said, steadying her on her feet first before letting go.
He continued to smile, albeit mysteriously.
"I see that our lady here has more skills than she lets on." He bent slightly to meet her eye level. Diane didn't realise he was that tall.
"I don't remember hearing you've been anywhere besides Valerune. The Solarian language is not taught in Valerune, Milady. Is that not weird?" He ended.
"Well, my father was a well-travelled merchant. I'm surprised you didn't consider that fact in your analysis, milord." Diane snapped. They were alone in the hallway now.
"Mmm, I see; that is quite plausible."
"Come, I need to show you something."
He started walking towards a door. Diane followed him without a slight argument as if enchanted.
The door led outside, into a long garden of apricots, and as they continued walking, they slowly disappeared into a body of water.
This must be the Ravenforth manor lake, she thought.
He suddenly stopped and turned to face her.
"Do you remember what happened here that night?"