Chapter 20 Hinedere (1/2)
It didn't take too long for Roderick to come back. ”The Madam agrees to your terms and is waitin' for you in the study.” He said as he entered the room and gave a courteous bow to Ariana. ”Good. I will leave after Cayden has been attended to.” Ariana said as she settled herself more into the chair.
She watched as a vein appeared under Roderick's right eye. ”Be beggin' your pardon youn' Miss but it best not to keep the Madam waitin' too long.” Ariana looked at him indifferently and then moved her gaze to Cayden. ”He's waited long enough, move him then I'll move.” She said coolly. Charles chuckled to himself as he moved. ”Calm down Roderick, I will move the boy.Young Miss please do not anger the Madam by making her wait. I promise to take good care of the boy and our Miss, so please leave them in my hands and attend to the Madam.”
Ariana gave a deep sigh before she started to move from the chair. She stood up as Charles lifted up the rag like body from the floor.His head hung back, as his golden hair gently swayed with every step Charles took.Satisfied Ariana walked towards Roderick, until she was toe to toe with him.She looked up and matched his gaze. ”Well?You said your Madam is waiting, why are you not moving yet?” Roderick flushed a deep crimson red before he turned.”Follow me then!” Ariana looked back for a second and allowed her body to relax when she saw that Charles had laid the boy gently onto the fold out bed.
Ariana took a deep breathe as she steeled her nerves again and took a step forward, following Roderick out of the room.They both walked in silence as the walked down the hallway, down the stairs and made their way into the study.The lights were turned off, a fire was still roaring in the fireplace, Countess Drake was sitting lazily in a giant crimson wingback silhouette chair with a diamond-tufted detailed pattern. Each button was done in gold and the frame of the chair was done in mahogany.
Countess Drake was wearing a light green, shear lace bodice night gown and a light green, satin over coat that hung loosely around her shoulders. Her hair was down, she had a glass of red wine in one hand and she absent mindedly watched the flames dance in the fireplace. ”Madam, the young Miss is 'ere.” Roderick said as he bowed to her silhouette that extended towards the ceiling.”You may leave.” She said indifferently as she waved her free hand in the air.
Roderick raised his head and straightened up his back. He gave Ariana a dark look before he exited the room and closed the door. Ariana kept her eyes fixed on the Countess, who was still sitting in the slightly turned chair. ”I won't attack you, so speak freely.” She said casually as she took another sip of her wine. ”Fine.” Ariana answered with hostility as she approached the chair. ”My... aren't you a ball of fire.Don't you ever tire of suspecting everyone child?” Countess Drake asked with a laugh. Ariana furrowed her brows as she looked into the woman's face. ”Don't you ever tire of pretending to not care for your children?”
Countess Drake allowed a sly smirk to appear on her face. ”Are you trying to tell me you are wiser then your age or are you trying to get on my nerves? Do you think I would explode and what? Reveal my most inner thoughts? Ha! I run a tight ship in my yard, it doesn't make a difference to me whether it's my home or the military camp, I will not yield to a child.”
Ariana started to inspect the ends of her hair, completely indifferent to the Countess. When she was satisfied that her hair's health she allowed the locks to slip between her fingertips ad she looked up to see the Countess's face. The corners of her lips tugged up and turned into a bright smile. ”Really now? I would say there is no one in this world that can hide their intentions entirely....” She decided to sit on top of an ottoman that was close to the Countess. She brought both hands up, balanced her elbows on her thighs and cradled her head.
”You flinched when you saw the colour of my eyes, you wanted to keep your daughter close so you imprisoned her within your estate under the pretense of meeting the council tomorrow and even now you agreed to meet with me just because I asked? You have nothing to talk with me about, you haven't even tried to interrogate me and try to act like your indifferent.Who are you trying to fool?You're a mother who loves her family and doesn't know how to show it, you my dear soon-to-be grandmother seem to be a 'hinedere' and that has peaked my interest.” Countess Drake clutched the neck of the wine glass as she started to fix her posture in her chair.
”What is a hinedere?” She asked coolly as she stared down at Ariana's beaming face. Ariana giggled as she brought her knees up higher and swayed them back and forth. ”Do you want to know?” Countess Drake threw her cup of wine towards the fireplace as a scowl produced on her face. ”Of course I want to know!What have you called me child?!”
Ariana dropped her knees and removed one of her hands from under her chin.She brought her index finger up and started to wave it left then right.”We need to trade information my little hinedere or else how are we to benefit from one another?” Countess Drake eased up her glare on Ariana and leaned back into her chair.She brought up one leg and crossed it over the other as she created a temple with the tips of her fingers.”You want to exchange information?”
Ariana couldn't hide her excitement as she watched Countess Drake. ”Oh yes, but for equal information though.I'm not going to ask you anything too complicated or personal.”Countess Drake raised her eyebrow and brought her hands down on to her lap. ”What do you want to ask me?”Ariana started to grin and she brought up her legs and crossed them on top the ottoman. ”The cuff that Cayden is wearing, what is it exactly?”
Countess looked confused for a second, she allowed a few moments to pass by before she cleared her throat.”Are you sure this is what you want to ask me?” Ariana nodded her head vigorously. ”Why?” Ariana's body tensed up, she wasn't expecting the Countess to want to know her reason and even if she was curious she wasn't expecting her to ask, Ariana turned her head to the side, brought her fist to her mouth and coughed. ”He's my friend…” She answered in a small voice.
The Countess nodded her in understanding. ”It's a magical item made of holy gold and platinum.A scale from the Thunder Bird is then ground up and infused with the platinum and acts like a barrier between people so mind control can be eliminated while the holy gold can block the slave markings from harming the body.You see we have been trying to capture the Thunder Bird for some time now, we want to tame the beast so that it stops creating destruction to our land and utilize its abilities for the betterment of everyone within our kingdom.”
Ariana's eyes startled to sparkle as she sat silently and listened. ”So you are showing your kindness in a round about way?”She said when the Countess became silent. ”You may believe whatever you want, kindness, compassion or whatever weak emotion you choose to label me I have no opinion.All I want to know is what this 'hinedere' is.” The Countess said coolly as she shot Ariana an icy, cold glare. Ariana started to giggle and jumped off of the ottoman.She lunged onto the Countess and gave her a giant kiss on the cheek as she wrapped her arms around her neck.
”I'm sorry I called you a hag and a prune, now that I know you're a good person I will speak more respectively towards you.” She said as she let go off the Countess's neck and walked towards to door. The Countess snapped out of her initial shock and clutched the arm rests of the chair as she pulled herself forward. ”Wait! What about our deal!” She demanded as Ariana placed her hand on the door knob. She looked back after she opened the door and smiled angelically. ”I love you grandmother! No matter how arrogant your attitude is, no matter how cynical and sarcastic you are with that people are around you, you are still a big old softy deep, deep, dee-eep down inside. A true hinedere but a word of advise. If you want to repair your relationship with my mother be more honest, remember she is someone you love.” She said and quickly made her escape, leaving a very dumbfounded Countess alone in the study.