Chapter No.10 Congressiō

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Tara rubbed her hand along the fine robin-egg blue silk gown that neatly lay on her bed. The material felt smooth and tingly, the same way her entire body felt when she dreamed about dear Timka. She so longed to see him again that she was unable to think of anything else. Despite her carefully orchestrated inquiries, she had been unsuccessful in arranging a meeting with him again. Fortunately, she had a plan, and she turned to smile solicitously at her faithful servant Gimna.

A young woman with a full but well sculptured face, Gimna was only a year older than Tara and knew that the smile on her lady's lips meant that she was going to be asked to do something dangerous or illicit.

She tilted her head, a sign that she acknowledged the impending request.
"I need a favor, Gimna," Tara said as she allowed her faithful servant helped her into a lacy petticoat.

"I am at your disposal, my lady," Gimna said with a knowing grin.

Tara held the gown up to her body, posturing frivolously in front of a mirror. "I would like you to arrange a meeting between me and Sir Timil's son."

Gimna's eyes grew. "Ah, you refer to Master Timka?" She got an energetically playful nod. "You choose well, my lady. He's a fine young man."

"No, dear Giman, he's deliciously handsome."

Gimna laughed. "You'll get no argument from me." When she calmed down, she twisted her mouth. "I'm not sure that I can do as you wish, my lady. The Timil clan is excessively private."

She received a pout in reply. "Surely, there must be some ploy you can use to gain advantage."

Gimna's face distorted with intense concentration. "Perhaps a message could be surreptitiously slipped to one of Tamil's servants, but it will require cautious phrasing, my lady. The reason for the meeting must have substance."

Tara rushed over to an ornate secretary and began rummaging for parchment. "I will expedite such a message, dear Gimna."

Gimna smiled. "Your industry is most expeditious, my lady."

She got a smirk in return.

###

Gimna projected her best enticingly delicious smile at the young man. He was dressed in leather shirt and breeches with a yellow sash around his waist. Of normal height and build, the subject of her charming flirtations had a bony but friendly face. He gave her a questioning stare with his dark eyes for a few minutes before flashing a cursory smile back at her. He had no idea why the maidservant to Baron Alain's daughter had taken an interest in him. He was a simple stable hand for his Lord Timil on a mission to the open markets of Attlelon, the only village within reach of both Tamil and Alain's castles and very few women of note take note of him.

Dunsle gave Gimna a courtesy nod. "You're Lady Tara's servant."

She returned his nod and added a nice smile. "I had no idea my reputation had wide broadcast, sir."

"You would be surprised how much is known of those in attendance to royals."

Gimna tilted her head. "I'm not sure that is a good thing."

"In what fashion?"

"Well, I have a favor to ask of you and I would prefer that it remains discreet."

He frowned. "A favor?"

She averted her eyes for a moment before turning back to him. "I wish you to deliver a message to Lord Timka's servant."

Dunsle smiled. "Ah, you wish me to be a courier of love."

She frowned. "That would be presumptuous. Let us say that this is a message of communion. Love is not necessarily presumed."

"I would be the last to presume. I will gladly deliver your message."

She smiled. "Good." She slipped him a round tube. "My lady and I will be most grateful."

He nodded. "Perhaps, I can take payment of this gratitude."

"That can be arranged," she said with a subtle smile.

That bubbled a grin up on his face. The grin broadened when he watched her flirtatious departure.

###

Tara sat quietly on an ivory chair in a garden directly off her rooms. Red and white roses in an elevated stone planter circled the terrazzo patio that she occupied. She often comes here to enjoy the out-of-doors, especially as the day wanes. A gentle breeze complimented her melancholy.
She had no idea how successful her message to Timka had been. Gimna had informed her about what she was going to do, but the outcome was out of her control. She so much wished to see him again, to be able to express her interest in the hopes of establishing a relationship with him that would bear fruit, but the battles of love are often capricious.

"You seem contemplative, my lady."

Tara turned to fill her eyes with her love wish, but she had to shield them from the descending sun that framed his beautiful visage. "This place encourages contemplation, my lord. I enjoy its solitude as often as I can."

He sat down in an opposing chair. "It also provides for discreet conversation."

She lowered her eyes and smiled briefly.

"You know, my lady, that it is not customary for ladies to summon lords."

She looked up at him with apologetic eyes. "I am not known for custom, my lord."

"As I have heard."

She frowned. "I hope that my duplicitous reputation will not be an impediment to our friendship."

"Is that your wish, my lady: to develop a relationship?"

"I don't think I can be more obvious, my lord."

He lowered his head, an action that made Tara's heart skip.

"Our friendship will have delay, my lady. I must leave for Terra on the morrow."

She turned her face away to hide her disappointment. "How long will you be there?"

"I have no idea. I've been assigned to look after my father's business. It may be of long duration."

She sighed deeply. "How ironic. You are going to the very place I long to see."

"Despair not, my lady. I will maintain correspondence."

"It appears that my life is being lived through the quill. I so desire to be where life is exciting and interesting. Terra would be as a heaven to me."

"Heaven is not an accurate description of Terra, my lady. The seat of the Empire is a dangerous place. Justice is pernicious and many avaricious people reside there."

"Possibly," she said, thinning her lips. "But the social amenities are far more evident than they are in this godforsaken place."

He chuckled. "You speak the truth, my lady. Attlewood is as far from civilization as is possible in this Empire."

"Perhaps, I may be able to arrange a visit."

"I would welcome it, my lady."

She watched him get up, bow, and then walk away. She allowed her eyes to feast on his departure, but her momentary pleasure quickly transformed to despair.

###

Baron Alain saw that his daughter was melancholy and listless of late. He assumed that this was the lot of young females, but she seemed more depressed than his previous experience dictated.

"You toy with your food, my daughter," he said in his usual deep bass. "I trust that your appetite has not taken leave."

She looked up at his pudgy, fatherly face and sighed. "My appetite is a victim of the morbidity of this place. I need the sustenance of excitement."

"Excitement has a habit of expulsing sustenance."

She cracked a weak smile. "Sustenance for the soul cannot be expulsed. Excitement can be both dangerous and exhilarating, but danger and exhilaration are the sustenance of life."

He reacted with a rare smile. "Perhaps you need a change of scenery."

"I have had my fill of scenery, my lord."

"I have been called to Terra," he said. "Your attendance would be welcome."

Her face exploded with joy. "Oh, I will attend, my lord."

"As I thought," he said with a grin. "Make your preparations. We leave on the fortnight."

She gave him a daughterly kiss and ran to her rooms.

###

"Oh, Gimna, I have wonderful news!"

Gimna could see that her Lady was excited in a way that she was not accustomed to.

"My ears await your news, my lady."

"We must decide what we will take. I have no idea what I should take. I need help, Gimna."

"Calm down, my lady, or you will swoon. Where are we going?"

"To Terra," Tara said, her eyes glistening wild with excitement.

"How soon, my lady?"

"A fortnight. Oh, Gimna, how will I manage?"

"Do not despair, my lady. I will manage for you."

Tara hugged her. "I love you, dear Gimna."

Gimna looked into Tara's eyes with eyes that oozed both surprise and affection. "No one has ever told me that, my lady."

Their eyes remained locked for several moments before Tara pressed her lips against Gimna's. Gimna's easy compliance encouraged Tara. Her hand instinctively moved up to Gimna's breast.

Gimna pulled her lips from Tara's and took a long breath. "Do you wish me to undress?"

Tara's eyes widened. "I . . . I'm sorry if I . . . I would never impose on you because of your . . . your station."

Gimna smiled. "I suffer from a deficit of love as you, my lady. Your imposition is most welcome."

"We have no time. We should prepare for the trip," Tara said, her eyes filling with shame.

"We will have lots of time to pack, my lady. Let's enjoy ourselves for the moment."

Tara looked around at the door to her quarters. "We have need of discretion. My rooms are too public."

Gimna eyes swiveled around wildly before settling on her lady. "I know of a place where we will not be disturbed."

"Where?"

"There is a chamber deep in the bowels of this castle that has not been used for a long time."

"What kind of chamber?"

"It must have been a dungeon, my lady."

Tara smiled. "How fascinating; a place of suffering will be our place of pleasure."

"An interesting irony, my lady."

They both laughed.