Yay! Excerpt!
Nov. 4th, 2011 08:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missroseroseAfter three days of struggling along, I finally broke into the flow yesterday evening. I'm fairly proud of how this bit came out. Let's hope today I can continue it.
Feedback always welcome, positive or negative.
"As future queen, you have duties to the public. It is your duty to set an example of appropriate behavior. It is your duty to maintain your safety."
Eusebia was not the sort of woman who raised her voice. She didn't need to - between her iron-grey hair and regal bearing, she was the sort of person for whom a slight additional emphasis was far more effective. Rowena almost wished that she would, as it would make feeling resentful and petulant far more justifiable. As it was, she could only nod miserably, and wish desperately that her grandmother hadn't found out about her ill-advised midnight romp with Cassius.
"You do not rule yet, and therefore much of your time is still your own. However, you must remember that you do not have the luxury of anonymity that many of our citizens enjoy. Even in the middle of the night, there are always observers, and many if not most of them would salivate at the chance of catching one of the royal family misbehaving."
Rowena flinched - she'd never liked the word 'salivate', and something about hearing her grandmother say it made it even more unpleasant. "I'm sorry. It was just supposed to be a late-night ride through the streets. I had no idea he had stolen the horses. His family is wealthy, why would he need to steal horses?" She swallowed against the lump in her throat and fidgeted on the cushion where she sat cross-legged. "I was following him, we were riding along sedately, and suddenly he gave his horse the spur and started dashing through the streets. I...guess I got carried away."
"And as a result, the heir to the throne was spotted by multiple people dashing through the city on a stolen horse." Eusebia shook her head. "I merely hope Cassius' thoughtlessness was only that. We have returned the horses to their owners, and I doubt any permanent damage was done. But you must always be considering how things look, Rowena. Your image in the public can be your greatest asset or your greatest liability. If people think you flighty and impulsive, it will do great harm to your credibility as ruler; doubly so if they think you untrustworthy as well."
"I know." Rowena heaved a sigh and tried to remember not to slouch. Then something her grandmother had said caught in her mind. "What do you mean, 'only that'?"
Eusebia raised an eyebrow. "I am referring, child, to the inevitable spread of gossip following such an escapade. That Cassius is an ambitious sort has not escaped my notice. Certainly being seen in your company is good social capital for him, though the illicit nature of your activity certainly doesn't help his reputation as a rascal. I'm not certain what he might have to gain from the diminishment of your reputation, which is why I am willing for now to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I would watch him closely, were I you."
Rowena made a dismissive gesture with her hand, trying to imitate her grandmother's regal attitude. "Cassius and I have known each other since childhood. Besides, as you say, he's a well-known rogue, and a hedonist besides. I doubt he had any thoughts beyond a little clandestine fun."
"Perhaps." Eusebia's eyes examined Rowena, their gaze unflinching but not unkind. "Tell me. Why did you go with him?"
Rowena shifted again on her cushion. "I told you. It seemed harmless enough. I didn't realize the full circumstances or of course I'd never have accompanied him."
The older woman's gaze didn't waver. "You didn't have to leave with him in the middle of the night. You certainly didn't have to give chase when he dashed off. You're a smart girl, Rowena, and you know what's at stake. Why would you do something so rash?"
"I don't know." It wouldn't satisfy, she knew; she'd lost count of the number of times she'd heard her grandmother say 'You're the only one inside your head. It is your duty to know the reasons you do what you do, even if it is no one else's business.' "It's stupid, but...I hate that I have no control over my life right now. Everything I do is based around whether it's something the future ruler of Thessaly should or shouldn't do. No one asks *me* what *I* want to do. If nothing else, at least Cassius gave me an option." Rowena sighed. "Sometimes I'm not even certain I want to rule."
Eusebia's expression hardened. "You know that desire has nothing to do with it."
Rowena raised a hand. "I do, I do. The Empire needs me, and I need to live up to that need. Because there's no one else." Her gaze moved off to one side, then, as she looked over her grandmother's shoulder, out the window - the same one Lavinia had nearly fallen out of, all of a year earlier, though it felt so much longer. "I wish my mother had lived, and had more daughters. I don't feel ready to take the throne."
Eusebia's expression was a little wistful. "I wish that too, although not for the same reasons. But I will tell you the story of another ruler, if you wish."
"All right." Rowena was unenthusiastic, but it was better than being lectured.
"Some time ago, the woman who ruled Thessaly was named Eudocia. She was twenty-eight when she assumed the throne, well into her adulthood. Her entire life, she had been given exactly the treatment one might hope for their future ruler; an excellent education from the best tutors, lessons in diplomacy and deportment, exposure to visiting foreign dignitaries, and as she grew older, inclusion in the decisions of state made by her mother. She couldn't wait to rule, and often bragged that she had every intention of bringing a golden age of peace and prosperity to Thessaly's often-contentious political existence."
Rowena was interested despite herself. "And when she finally gained the throne?"
Eusebia chuckled. "It was a disaster. Eudocia wanted to be liked and admired, but had little idea of how to achieve such goals. She tried to please everyone, and when it became obvious that she couldn't, she grew increasingly selfish and erratic. She would refuse to sign the military's budget because of some slight insult the general had paid her the previous month. Her parties were wild enough to fill the gossipmongers' time for months, with whole towns' worth of tax money paying for extravagant entertainments and ridiculous foods. Parrot-tongue pie, indeed." Eusebia scoffed, and Rowena swallowed a bit of bile back.
"Gradually things deteriorated. Ionia has always had a contentious relationship with Thessaly, and no doubt their spies were keeping an eye on the state of our politics. With such a weak and flighty ruler on the throne, they started annexing our territories - and of course, with no formal military, we couldn't answer their overtures. If things had gone on much longer, the whole of the Empire might well have come apart at the seams."
At the pause, Rowena leaned forward. "That sounds awful. What happened? Did she choke on her ridiculous pies?"
Eusebia let the smallest of smiles play about her mouth. "Sadly, no. An opposing political faction arranged to have her assassinated." The smile abruptly disappeared. "Her sister took the throne in her place, at seventeen, with no experience or education whatsoever for the role."
Just as abruptly, Rowena understood. "That was you. Eudocia was your sister."
For the first time in their conversation, Eusebia's eyes lowered. "I miss her, sometimes. She was a sweet girl who never meant any harm. But her personality was not well-suited to ruling." She raised her gaze again. "It's one of the reasons I've been so pleased to see you grow, Rowena. You are far smarter than she was. The very fact that you don't feel ready to rule speaks well to your temperament and judgment. Politics can be learned. Temperament can't, and judgment only rarely. I feel far less anxious about my eventual passing, knowing that I leave the Empire in your hands."
Rowena flushed. Eusebia was always fair, but sparing with her praise. "Thank you, Grandmother."
A grave nod. "Come, then. It's time for our morning ride." The smile reappeared. "I promise that the horse wasn't even stolen."
Feedback always welcome, positive or negative.
"As future queen, you have duties to the public. It is your duty to set an example of appropriate behavior. It is your duty to maintain your safety."
Eusebia was not the sort of woman who raised her voice. She didn't need to - between her iron-grey hair and regal bearing, she was the sort of person for whom a slight additional emphasis was far more effective. Rowena almost wished that she would, as it would make feeling resentful and petulant far more justifiable. As it was, she could only nod miserably, and wish desperately that her grandmother hadn't found out about her ill-advised midnight romp with Cassius.
"You do not rule yet, and therefore much of your time is still your own. However, you must remember that you do not have the luxury of anonymity that many of our citizens enjoy. Even in the middle of the night, there are always observers, and many if not most of them would salivate at the chance of catching one of the royal family misbehaving."
Rowena flinched - she'd never liked the word 'salivate', and something about hearing her grandmother say it made it even more unpleasant. "I'm sorry. It was just supposed to be a late-night ride through the streets. I had no idea he had stolen the horses. His family is wealthy, why would he need to steal horses?" She swallowed against the lump in her throat and fidgeted on the cushion where she sat cross-legged. "I was following him, we were riding along sedately, and suddenly he gave his horse the spur and started dashing through the streets. I...guess I got carried away."
"And as a result, the heir to the throne was spotted by multiple people dashing through the city on a stolen horse." Eusebia shook her head. "I merely hope Cassius' thoughtlessness was only that. We have returned the horses to their owners, and I doubt any permanent damage was done. But you must always be considering how things look, Rowena. Your image in the public can be your greatest asset or your greatest liability. If people think you flighty and impulsive, it will do great harm to your credibility as ruler; doubly so if they think you untrustworthy as well."
"I know." Rowena heaved a sigh and tried to remember not to slouch. Then something her grandmother had said caught in her mind. "What do you mean, 'only that'?"
Eusebia raised an eyebrow. "I am referring, child, to the inevitable spread of gossip following such an escapade. That Cassius is an ambitious sort has not escaped my notice. Certainly being seen in your company is good social capital for him, though the illicit nature of your activity certainly doesn't help his reputation as a rascal. I'm not certain what he might have to gain from the diminishment of your reputation, which is why I am willing for now to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I would watch him closely, were I you."
Rowena made a dismissive gesture with her hand, trying to imitate her grandmother's regal attitude. "Cassius and I have known each other since childhood. Besides, as you say, he's a well-known rogue, and a hedonist besides. I doubt he had any thoughts beyond a little clandestine fun."
"Perhaps." Eusebia's eyes examined Rowena, their gaze unflinching but not unkind. "Tell me. Why did you go with him?"
Rowena shifted again on her cushion. "I told you. It seemed harmless enough. I didn't realize the full circumstances or of course I'd never have accompanied him."
The older woman's gaze didn't waver. "You didn't have to leave with him in the middle of the night. You certainly didn't have to give chase when he dashed off. You're a smart girl, Rowena, and you know what's at stake. Why would you do something so rash?"
"I don't know." It wouldn't satisfy, she knew; she'd lost count of the number of times she'd heard her grandmother say 'You're the only one inside your head. It is your duty to know the reasons you do what you do, even if it is no one else's business.' "It's stupid, but...I hate that I have no control over my life right now. Everything I do is based around whether it's something the future ruler of Thessaly should or shouldn't do. No one asks *me* what *I* want to do. If nothing else, at least Cassius gave me an option." Rowena sighed. "Sometimes I'm not even certain I want to rule."
Eusebia's expression hardened. "You know that desire has nothing to do with it."
Rowena raised a hand. "I do, I do. The Empire needs me, and I need to live up to that need. Because there's no one else." Her gaze moved off to one side, then, as she looked over her grandmother's shoulder, out the window - the same one Lavinia had nearly fallen out of, all of a year earlier, though it felt so much longer. "I wish my mother had lived, and had more daughters. I don't feel ready to take the throne."
Eusebia's expression was a little wistful. "I wish that too, although not for the same reasons. But I will tell you the story of another ruler, if you wish."
"All right." Rowena was unenthusiastic, but it was better than being lectured.
"Some time ago, the woman who ruled Thessaly was named Eudocia. She was twenty-eight when she assumed the throne, well into her adulthood. Her entire life, she had been given exactly the treatment one might hope for their future ruler; an excellent education from the best tutors, lessons in diplomacy and deportment, exposure to visiting foreign dignitaries, and as she grew older, inclusion in the decisions of state made by her mother. She couldn't wait to rule, and often bragged that she had every intention of bringing a golden age of peace and prosperity to Thessaly's often-contentious political existence."
Rowena was interested despite herself. "And when she finally gained the throne?"
Eusebia chuckled. "It was a disaster. Eudocia wanted to be liked and admired, but had little idea of how to achieve such goals. She tried to please everyone, and when it became obvious that she couldn't, she grew increasingly selfish and erratic. She would refuse to sign the military's budget because of some slight insult the general had paid her the previous month. Her parties were wild enough to fill the gossipmongers' time for months, with whole towns' worth of tax money paying for extravagant entertainments and ridiculous foods. Parrot-tongue pie, indeed." Eusebia scoffed, and Rowena swallowed a bit of bile back.
"Gradually things deteriorated. Ionia has always had a contentious relationship with Thessaly, and no doubt their spies were keeping an eye on the state of our politics. With such a weak and flighty ruler on the throne, they started annexing our territories - and of course, with no formal military, we couldn't answer their overtures. If things had gone on much longer, the whole of the Empire might well have come apart at the seams."
At the pause, Rowena leaned forward. "That sounds awful. What happened? Did she choke on her ridiculous pies?"
Eusebia let the smallest of smiles play about her mouth. "Sadly, no. An opposing political faction arranged to have her assassinated." The smile abruptly disappeared. "Her sister took the throne in her place, at seventeen, with no experience or education whatsoever for the role."
Just as abruptly, Rowena understood. "That was you. Eudocia was your sister."
For the first time in their conversation, Eusebia's eyes lowered. "I miss her, sometimes. She was a sweet girl who never meant any harm. But her personality was not well-suited to ruling." She raised her gaze again. "It's one of the reasons I've been so pleased to see you grow, Rowena. You are far smarter than she was. The very fact that you don't feel ready to rule speaks well to your temperament and judgment. Politics can be learned. Temperament can't, and judgment only rarely. I feel far less anxious about my eventual passing, knowing that I leave the Empire in your hands."
Rowena flushed. Eusebia was always fair, but sparing with her praise. "Thank you, Grandmother."
A grave nod. "Come, then. It's time for our morning ride." The smile reappeared. "I promise that the horse wasn't even stolen."
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no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 05:25 pm (UTC)I like the characters a lot. My only thought at the end of this was, though, does Rowena not take lessons in history? It seemed a little odd that she wouldn't know the name of the ruler that was only three (two?) rulers back, and that it was her great-aunt.
And then really minor niggly things - if it's an Empire, shouldn't they be Empresses? ;) And then in your second paragraph, you have "the sort of person" Eusebia is used twice. (Obv. with NaNo I'm not going to suggest deleting words, but I'd recommend it on a rewrite. :)
no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 06:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 06:24 pm (UTC)Good points, and thanks for the nitpicking. I'll definitely keep it in mind for the rewrite. :)
no subject
Date: 2011-11-04 08:01 pm (UTC)I also like Brian's idea of a nickname, or poaching the idea wholesale that rulers take on a new name when they start ruling a la the Pope, so the "great-aunt Gertie" to "Eudocia I" track isn't quite so obvious, especially if Eusebia never talked about having an older sister (and it sounds like she might have been dead before Lavinia came on the scene), which would make it easier.
Looking forward to more of it, anyway. :D
no subject
Date: 2011-11-05 05:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-05 05:19 am (UTC)I Really Like This!!!
Date: 2011-11-07 06:49 pm (UTC)Re: I Really Like This!!!
Date: 2011-11-08 02:33 am (UTC)