Strangers in a Strange Land--A Pawns & Queens era novella--Chapter Two

[Evie]

Previous chapter: https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,3286.0.html


Strangers in a Strange Land

Chapter Two

June 15, 1457
Rhemuth Castle
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Late Evening

It took Alixa a brief moment to reorient herself after her arrival in Rhemuth through the Transfer Portal. For some odd reason she had the strong impression she had traveled through one before, although she had no memory of such an event happening, and it was such a curious sensation, she felt sure she would have remembered the exact occasion and circumstances at once if she had.

She was in what appeared to be a library room. Alixa's eyes lit up as she saw the shelves of books surrounding her. She was not the strongest of readers, but this many books represented a wealth of knowledge that had long been denied to her, for as much as she yearned to learn new things, her mother had only been permitted to teach her those matters her father had felt most crucial to getting her married off advantageously, thinking any other education would be wasted on a mere girl.

"Mon Dieu!" she whispered as she saw how many books there were. "Is it permitted that I can read these?" she asked Prince Camber, who had been the one to escort her through the Portal.

"Of course!" he said as he guided her off the Portal stone to allow Joss to come through with the chaperone. "Although you will need someone of the Haldane blood to bring you back into this room if you wish to visit it, and you should know that this particular collection of books is specifically about Deryni-related topics. But there are books on many other subjects in our main library that is connected to this one, and you will be able to visit that larger library whenever you choose. Is there some particular topic that interests you, my lady?"

Alixa's heart filled with wonder. Even this small room was larger than the entire library her father maintained at la Palais de Trebaçeaux! "Oh, I wish to learn all the things!" A slight shadow crossed her features as she glanced up at Camber. "Or at least whatever sujets are permitted for a woman to learn. I do not wish to presume."

There was an odd expression in the prince's eyes, though Alixa sensed he was sympathetic. His voice sounded strangely husky as he assured her, "You are permitted to learn whatever you wish, Alixa." He chuckled, looking away from her, his pale gray eyes scanning the shelves of books around them. "I mean, I wouldn't count on being allowed to go to university or to enter the priesthood, but no one is going to deny you the opportunity to read books and learn things just because you happen to be a woman. At least not here in Rhemuth Castle. I can't speak for every household in Gwynedd, but I think most girls and women nowadays who can afford any sort of education try to learn at least whatever basics might be helpful for their station in life."

"Quelle absurdité!" Madame Dardenay opined as she and the Earl of Lendour stepped off the Portal stone, causing Alixa to whirl around so fast she nearly grew dizzy. "It is not need to lire des livres pour to make les bébés! It is all you are need for! Merde alors, quelle stupidité, to education les jeunes filles! "

Camber's eyebrows shot skywards as he faced the chaperone with a look of warning. "This particular jeune fille is Gwynedd's future Queen! You forget your place, Madame!"

Madame Dardenay looked affronted to be censured in front of her charge. "Is all a Queen is, for to make les bébés pour le roi!"

"That is very much not the case here in Gwynedd! As Cinhil's consort and possibly his future Queen, his wife will be expected to assist him and sometimes even to advise him. She might even need to serve as his regent, should his duties take him away from Rhemuth on occasion."

Alixa stared at her new brother-by-marriage, not sure whether she was more thrilled by his championing of her, or terrified by the revelation that she might have such responsibilities in this strange new court. She might not be well educated, but she knew enough to know how woefully unprepared she was to take on the sorts of duties Prince Camber had just told her chaperone might be required of her someday.

"Quite right," another voice said, and Alixa turned to see a woman had entered the room from what appeared to be a warded doorway she had not noticed earlier. "My son is absolutely correct, here in Gwynedd a Queen's position commands respect, as does the position of a Princess and the consort to the Heir." Belatedly, Alixa realized this woman must be her new husband's mother, the Queen of Gwynedd. She dropped into a low curtsey, wondering how long the Queen had been standing there and what she had overheard. "If it is the custom in Joux to treat your Queen or your princesses of the blood as mere brood-mares, then you shall need to learn new ways of thinking, and very quickly, Madame," the Gwyneddan Queen said as she held out a hand to Alixa with a smile, acknowledging her curtsey before directing her attention back towards Madame Dardenay. "For example, it is expected that you shall curtsey to my daughter-by-marriage whenever you enter and leave her presence, est-ce que tu comprends? So, let us see you practice this." The Queen of Gwynedd gave Madame Dardenay a very pointed look until the woman grudgingly complied.

Giving the chaperone a brisk nod, Alixa's new mother-by-marriage turned her attention back to Alixa. "Bienvenue à Gwynne. Je suis ta belle-mère, Soraya de Fianne, la reine de Gwynne."

Alixa felt quite awed by this gracious queen's presence. "Bon soir, Votre Majesté."

Soraya raised a dark brow. "We are family now. Among family, you may call me Maman."

#

June 15, 1457
Rhemuth Castle
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Night


The Queen had walked them to the other side of the castle, where a small apartment had been prepared for their use. It was not the one adjoining her husband's chambers, for Her Majesty of Gwynedd informed her that those rooms were still being prepared for her use, but just a temporary accommodation until the following day, when hopefully Prince Cinhil would be sufficiently recovered from his recent health setback to meet his bride.

"I am certain you must be wondering what has happened to prevent your bridegroom from showing up at his own wedding," Soraya said apologetically as she escorted Alixa and Madame Dardenay across the bailey. "Cinhil was set to depart for Joux yesterday morning so he could arrive in the evening before your wedding today, but when he was participating in a training exercise on the practice field the afternoon before last, he had a breathing attack and collapsed." At Alixa's confused look, she repeated her explanation in Jouvian, in case the princess's lack of fluency in Gwyneddan was to blame for her lack of comprehension. "He takes a daily medication that is meant to help prevent such difficulties, but unfortunately sometimes it becomes ineffective and the dosage must be readjusted. Unfortunately this was one such time, but fortunately the setback happened here at home rather than abroad where medical assistance from a trained Healer might not have been readily available."

Alixa understood that much, at least. "Mon père has Healers at Trebaçeaux, Maman. But it is good he was here where your own Healers are already familiar with his condition." She risked a tentative look at her mother-by-marriage. "And what is my husband's condition?"

Soraya stared at her. "Your father didn't inform you?"

"Non, Maman." Alixa felt vaguely guilty, thinking she ought to have known somehow, that surely her father must have told her but she'd been stupid and had forgotten. But she was fairly certain her father had said nothing of it. Alixa had known her new husband had missed the wedding due to being ill, and she'd gathered from the Gwyneddan ambassador's explanation that her husband had some sort of recurring affliction, but she still was unaware of what sort of chronic condition he was afflicted with.

"Oh! Well...Cinhil has a health condition that affects his heart. The humours build up in his body from time to time, faster than the body can get rid of them, and the imbalance can cause breathing difficulties as well, but the medication helps with that. It isn't able to address the root cause of the issue, however."

"I see. And what is the root cause, Maman?"

Soraya sighed. "No one really knows. It is a known type of disease, but it more often affects older people. It isn't something one can catch from another person, so there is no need for you to worry about that. But I am afraid I must inform you that the Healers do not know how long Cinhil is likely to live with this illness. Their best estimate is that he has somewhere between ten to fifteen years of life left at most, if he is careful and if their occasional dosage adjustments continue to work."

"Oh." Alixa didn't know how she felt about that. She felt sorry for the young man who was unlikely to ever see his middle years, much less old age. But at the same time, there was a slight sense of relief, for not having even met him yet, she had no idea if she would even like being married to him or not. If she ended up liking him, then certainly she would hope he could live as long as possible, but if not, then at least she would be free of her marriage while she was still a young woman. But would that necessarily be a good thing?

"If...if I am a widow, can I still live here with you, s'il vous plaît? Mon père a dit I just have to bear a child for your House first." Alixa looked at the Gwyneddan Queen with pleading eyes. "Ten years is enough time to make a child, non? I will do my best to be good, so you will not wish to send me back, Maman!"

"I should think you will have several children by then," said Soraya, appearing a bit shaken, though Alixa wasn't sure why. "At least let us hope so." They reached one of the apartment doors, and the Queen reached for the chatelaine hanging from her belt, selecting a key from it and unlocking the door for them. "I will have Camber and Joscelin bring your trunk in a few minutes–they've just gone back to Coroth to fetch it–and then you two can catch up on your rest. Tomorrow morning, after you've been brought your breakfast meal, I shall stop back by to collect you so that we can go together to see Cinhil."

#

The prince and earl had come and gone, and Alixa was rummaging through the trunk to select an outfit to wear the next morning when Madame Dardenay caught her attention by yanking her arm so sharply, she was forced to face the older woman. "You have been very wicked today!" said her chaperone. "You must pay pour tes péchés." The woman yanked a linen veil out of the trunk, spreading it out on the floor and then pouring out a pouch full of dried beans onto it. "Kneel and fais ta pénitence."

"Please...I'll ask to speak to a confessor tomorrow...." Alixa pleaded to no avail. Madame Dardenay dragged her to the pile of hard, dry beans, forcing her down roughly to kneel upon them.

"Hold out your hands!" Madame ordered. Alixa, knowing it was useless to argue unless she wished to make her punishment worse, complied, holding her arms out to her sides like Holy Jesú on the cross, except with her palms facing up. Her chaperone placed a Book of Hours on one palm and another tome of devotional readings on the other. While the books were not particularly heavy in and of themselves, Alixa knew from long experience that the longer she knelt there with the hard beans digging into her kneecaps and the weight of the books pushing down on her palms, the more the punishment would hurt if she were made to remain in that position for any length of time. She bowed her head, hoping that Madame would be tired enough to not wish to prolong the ordeal.

"Now confess your sins," her chaperone commanded sternly.

"I spoke with two men without permission," Alixa whispered.

"Go on."

"I was disobedient and insolent."

"And?"

Alixa tried to think back on her words and actions earlier that day, wondering what else she might have done that Madame Dardenay would have taken exception to. "I disagreed with you."

"You contradicted me, oui! And what else?"

Her knees hurt, and her arms were growing tired, making it difficult for her to focus. "I can't remember, Madame."

Madame Dardenay crossed her arms, glaring down at her charge with a smug smile. "Then you shall remain there until you do."

#

June 16, 1457
Rhemuth Castle
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Morning

Alixa had finally been allowed to rise half an hour later, after she realized the reply Madame Dardenay was waiting for was "I tried to rise above my place." She dared not point out that as the bride to the Heir to Gwynedd, her position had changed in the world. To Madame's thinking, she was still the King of Joux's recalcitrant daughter who had to be forced to submit to authority by any means necessary. Unable to walk properly, she half crouched as she shuffled off to bed, curling up in the fetal position under the cover, which was at least soft, as was the down-filled mattress beneath her. It had taken a while for the pain to subside and for her muscles to relax, but eventually she managed to fall asleep despite Madame Dardenay's stentorian snoring.

Fortunately the promised breakfast had not been brought in right at the crack of dawn, so Alixa was able to sleep until shortly before Terce, allowing some of her achiness to subside. The chambermaid arrived with their tray of food, which Alixa was extremely grateful for. She had partaken of some light travel fare during her journey from Joux the evening before, though she had not eaten much for fear of not being able to keep it down during the sea crossing, and while they were awaiting the arrival of their trunk of clothing, the Queen of Gwynedd had called for a tray of small meat pies to be sent up from the kitchen. But after the trunk had been brought upstairs and the Queen had left for the night, Alixa had not been permitted to eat any of the pies, for by then she was on her knees doing her penance. Even had she not been repenting of her wicked behavior, she doubted Madame Dardenay would have allowed her to eat any of the pies, since they appeared to contain dark meat, which Alixa was not permitted to consume. But this morning meal of soft spreadable cheese flavored with herbs and spread onto bread, served with apple wedges, would have met even her stern father's approval as food fit for a woman's constitution.

Madame Dardenay allowed her to consume two of the small slices of cheese-slathered bread topped with two slices of apple, keeping the other four bread slices and the remaining apple slices for herself. Once Alixa had finished eating, her chaperone ordered her to stand. "Walk across the room and back," she told her charge.

Alixa complied. She still felt a little stiff and stifled a wince as the pivot to walk back towards Madame caused one of her knees to twinge, but she felt mostly recovered from the previous night's ordeal. Still, her chaperone frowned and pursed her lips in thought. "Viens ici."

Alixa approached Madame Dardenay, standing before her as the woman touched her hands to her brow for a moment, then raised the hem of her chemise to touch each knee. She felt the achiness subside, not completely eradicated but alleviated enough to allow her to walk without any external signs of discomfort. She was aware that her chaperone had done something within her mind as well, but she was uncertain what had been done there. In fact, now that she considered the matter, she was not at all certain why her knees had ached earlier. Perhaps she had tripped and fallen on the hard floor? Yes, that was likely it.

"You will be meeting your husband today," said Madame. "You will do as he commands you, and will do nothing to shame your House. You will be properly meek and docile, with no opinions aside from the ones he will allow you to have. You will not be impertinent, nor seek to question things you do not understand. If he feels you require any explanation, he will give it to you."

"Oui, Madame."

Madame Dardenay pursed her lips, studying her for a long moment before rummaging through the trunk to pull out a folded gown, holding it up to her. "This one, I think."  Alixa was careful not to react. The gown was a bit too austere for her personal preference, deliberately cut a little too loosely to display many feminine curves even when it was fully laced, and in a shade of gray that had too much of a yellowish undertone to be appealing, but at least it wasn't the dull black of her wedding gown, and aside from the slightly unflattering cut, it was at least in the latest Jouvian fashion, and also cut from velvet, which up until now Alixa had never been permitted to wear. "You will wear it with this chemise," Madame ordered, handing her a fresh undergarment. Alixa could see why she had chosen it, once she had freshened herself up at the basin and then pulled the clean garment over her head. It was cut extremely modestly, concealing any hint of cleavage and nearly covering her collar bones. The fabric was thin enough to wear under her gown, yet thick enough to avoid showing any hint of skin beneath it. She was certain even the strictest of nuns would find nothing to object to in the garment, on the grounds of indecency anyway.

Once she was fully dressed, Madame grunted her approval. "Let us do something about your awful hair," she said, tugging the ribbon off the end of Alixa's braid and running a comb through the strands before starting to rebraid it even more tightly.

"Am I not meant to wear it down?" Alixa asked timidly. "He will be expecting to see a bride, after all."

"You were married yesterday," Madame Dardenay said. "Today you are meant to look like a respectable married woman." She pulled the braid as taut as she could, coiling it up behind Alixa's head and securing it with multiple pins to ensure it wouldn't come tumbling down before covering most of her hair with a linen coif, pinning a veil onto that. Alixa was certain now that she had seen nuns who looked less austere.

There was a knock on the door.  "Entrez!" said Madame, and the door opened to reveal the Queen of Gwynedd. "Bonjour, Alixa!" Queen Soraya began before stopping just inside the entrance, appearing slightly dismayed. She recovered a scant moment later, plastering a bright smile onto her face as she held out her hands to her new daughter-by-marriage. "Come, cherie! I think before I introduce you to your husband, we will make a little stop along the way to meet his sisters. They are all longing to make your acquaintance, and I think my eldest daughter has a little treat in store for you that might please you."

#

June 16, 1457
Rhemuth Castle
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Late Morning

We need to do something, Queen Soraya spoke directly into her eldest daughter Miranda's mind as she entered her daughters' apartment. I can't bring poor Alixa to meet Cinhil looking like this, nor is her outfit at all suitable for the Mass at the Cathedral later today. But we will need to offer her a different outfit in a way that will allow her to save face, and just as importantly, ensure the change of clothing doesn't appear to be at Alixa's request. I don't know what crypt King Renier dragged the girl's chaperone out of, but she's perfectly ghastly!

Miranda didn't hesitate for an instant. Swooping in to gather her new sister-by-marriage in a swift embrace, she welcomed her to the Court at Gwynedd while her mother performed the requisite introductions, taking great pains to ensure that both of the new arrivals were aware they were meeting the future Queen of Orsal as well as the two younger Haldane princesses. For once, Miranda didn't resent being reminded that she was promised to the Hort, for in this case she realized that the old biddy of a chaperone would not likely dare to contradict any notion suggested by the affianced wife of her own King's suzerain. If she must marry Adémar,  at least she could use her new rank and station in world affairs to good purpose.

"We are so excited about your marriage to our darling Cinhil!" Miranda gushed as she steered her brother's young bride towards one of the inner chambers of the apartment, all the while doing a swift visual assessment to see if the girl appeared to be closer to her own size or Richeldis's. "Come, I have a wedding gift for you!  My future husband the Hort had it sent from his homeland a few months ago, but unfortunately I had already outgrown it by the time it arrived. I would hate for such a lovely gown to go to waste, but it will be just the thing for your wedding Mass later today." As Alixa attempted to demur, she continued, "No, I absolutely insist! The expense would be totally wasted if no one is able to wear it, and I would love to be able to assure the Hort that his gracious gift was put to good use. And what possible use could be better for it than to adorn a beautiful royal bride?" Under such persuasions and the heavy application of the Hort's title, even Madame Dardenay had been forced to give Alixa's timid look of appeal a grudging nod of consent.

Several minutes later, Alixa stared at herself in the mirror, fighting the urge to burst into tears of gratitude for fear of spoiling her appearance. Miranda had wrought a miracle, exchanging her frightful yellowish-gray gown for one that brought more color into her pale complexion with its rich plum hue, the velvet fabric lightly skimming her feminine curves without being indecently tight. The neckline was high enough for modesty, yet not so high as to make her look like some ancient crone, and the surcoat worn over the gown was cut from a dark emerald and gold silk brocade. The colors set off her red hair beautifully, which had been unbraided and combed until it looked like a shimmering veil of auburn silk cascading over her shoulders and back. "I know you are technically a married woman now," Miranda had explained, "but your husband has not yet seen you, nor have our people, so the noonday Mass will be the first glimpse they will have of you. And now you can stand before them looking like a proper royal bride and maiden."

"They will not think me unseemly for wearing it down?" Alixa asked.

"Of course not! Everyone will be expecting you to look like a virgin bride, not a married woman or a widow, and what young virgin goes to her bridegroom with her hair up? It is your crowning glory, after all!" Miranda smiled reassuringly at the younger woman as she put away her comb. "You look beautiful. I think my brother will be well pleased."

#

June 16, 1457
Rhemuth Castle
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Late Morning

Prince Cinhil gave his crimson surcoat a nervous tug as he adjusted the pleating yet another time, causing his brother Nicholas to chuckle. "Leave off, already! You're going to wear off all the pile from that velvet. You look fine."

"I don't feel fine," groused the Heir to Gwynedd. "What if I pass out again?"

"I thought Healer James managed to stabilize that for you?" his younger brother asked.

"I don't mean because of my heart problem." Cinhil turned away from the mirror, trying to remember what he'd done with his hat. "I don't even know this girl, and she's already my wife! What if we end up not well suited after all? What if, despite my best efforts, I'm not able to make things work out with her?"

Colin had no ready answer for that. In truth, he felt a lot of sympathy for his eldest brother. His own relationship with his beloved Mellie might be fraught with other problems, but not being well suited to each other was not one he had ever had to worry about. "You know, she's probably feeling just as nervous as you are," he reminded Cinhil. "Especially since she's not just having to get used to the idea of a new husband, she's also got a whole new kingdom to adjust to."

"True." Cinhil took a deep breath, finally finding his damn hat and putting it on, checking the angle in the mirror. There was a discreet knock on the door, and his senior page William announced, "Prince Camber has arrived, Your Highness."

"Thank you," he replied. "Send him in."

Camber entered, his gray eyes sweeping up and down Cinhil's elegantly clad form. "Well, don't you clean up to look almost handsome?" he joked, shooting his brother a cheeky grin as he found an empty seat.

"Make placating noises," joked Colin. "I think poor Cinhil is on the verge of losing his breakfast on his shoes."

Cinhil attempted to glare at his brothers, but the effort failed on a stifled laugh. He shook his head at them both before turning to Camber. "You've met her, at least. What is she like?"

Camber rested his steepled fingers against his lips, trying to gather his thoughts. "She's pretty, so you needn't worry on that score. Her chaperone is a bit of a harridan, but once you manage to get it into her head that the princess is properly wed now, hopefully that problem will sort itself out. If not, just throw Maman at her. The Princess herself seems very sweet and curious, but I think it might be easier for me to just Show you my impressions of her rather than trying to tell you."

Cinhil's mind filled with a flurry of images and impressions from the hours Camber had spent with the Jouvian princess on the previous afternoon and evening. He pondered the information thoughtfully. "She is sweet and pretty, if rather anxious looking, but bloody hell, does she even know what she is getting into with this marriage? What was Renier thinking?!"

"Oh, are we going with the notion that Renier actually thinks now?" Colin asked drily.

"I know what I'm thinking," said Camber grimly. "I'm thinking he deliberately denied her any form of knowledge or education that would give her the slightest sense of self-worth or authority. Heaven forbid a mere daughter should feel she has the right to be anywhere near the same sphere as his precious heir and paragon, Rémy! Fortunately she doesn't seem at all stupid. I think she understands how much has been withheld from her and genuinely wants to learn. But I don't envy Maman the task of helping her get up to speed."

Cinhil took a deep breath and blew it out. "Well, she's here now, and properly wedded, if not yet bedded. Renier made sure of that; he was most insistent his daughter was not to leave Joux without a properly witnessed wedding first. So I suppose we'll need to make the best of things."

"True." Camber considered the matter. "In theory it's not too late for an annulment, if you can find some proper pretext. But I would hate to see the poor girl sent back to her father. Can you imagine how he'd react to that?"

"I'm not about to send her back to Renier's tender mercies," Cinhil assured his youngest brother. "So I guess it's left to me to figure out how to make this work and how to give my bride a proper 'consternation' that won't terrify the poor girl into leaping off the nearest tower!" He shook his head tiredly. "Damn Renier to the ninth circle of Hell!"

Next chapter: https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,3289.0.html

[revanne]

The sooner Alixa is rescued from Madame's clutches the better.

I still keep thinking of her as Madame Défarge from a Tale of Two Cities sitting knitting in front of the guillotine.

[DerynifanK]

I agree with Revanne. The sooner this nasty chaperone is returned to Renier the better. They are obviously two of a kind. I think Soraya is equal to putting "Madam Defarge" in her place. I hope they send her back to Joux by sea and she is sick all the way.

[Evie]

The sooner Alixa is rescued from Madame's clutches the better.

I still keep thinking of her as Madame Défarge from a Tale of Two Cities sitting knitting in front of the guillotine.

Funny you should mention that, since I nearly mistyped her name that way a time or two early on in the story.... 

I agree with Revanne. The sooner this nasty chaperone is returned to Renier the better. They are obviously two of a kind. I think Soraya is equal to putting "Madam Defarge" in her place. I hope they send her back to Joux by sea and she is sick all the way.

That's one way to return her, sure. Or they could just stick her in a pine box labeled "Return to Sender." I'm sure you'll be even more eager to dream up ways to send her home before the end of the story. 

[DerynifanK]

I agree with Cinhil, Damn Renier to the ninth circle of hell and The chaperone along with him. Neither has a single redeeming feature

[Evie]

I agree with Cinhil, Damn Renier to the ninth circle of hell and The chaperone along with him. Neither has a single redeeming feature

Here's the one redeeming feature. Renier accepted the betrothal offer, which allowed his daughter a chance to escape to freedom and eventually discover love. Granted, that was an unintended consequence, but it was still the one right thing he ever did for Alixa!

As for Madame Dardenay, it's a bit harder to find a redeeming feature for her, but it's very likely that her presence as chaperone at least managed to protect Alixa from Remy, so there's that.

[DerynifanK]

Do we really have to keep the witch Dardenay till the end of this story. I keep wanting to put my hands around her throat and strangle her. It would be justifiable homicide.

[JudithR]

i suspect that the young Haldanes may sort Madame D out - with scrupulous, icy, politeness.

I wonder how long it will take for one of them to cotton that Madame is Deryni and using her powers to control and humiliate Alixa?

To use an expression from my childhood.  Madam D is a real piece of work.

[revanne]

i suspect that the young Haldanes may sort Madame D out - with scrupulous, icy, politeness.

Assuming that Gwynedd is a bit like Britain, be very very worried when people are icily polite to you.

[JudithR]

i suspect that the young Haldanes may sort Madame D out - with scrupulous, icy, politeness.

Assuming that Gwynedd is a bit like Britain, be very very worried when people are icily polite to you.

Exactly

[Evie]

Do we really have to keep the witch Dardenay till the end of this story. I keep wanting to put my hands around her throat and strangle her. It would be justifiable homicide.

Well, we shall see. Things tend to happen to my "baddies" in stories that end up being well deserved, at least once their usefulness to the story plot has been served.

i suspect that the young Haldanes may sort Madame D out - with scrupulous, icy, politeness.

I wonder how long it will take for one of them to cotton that Madame is Deryni and using her powers to control and humiliate Alixa?

To use an expression from my childhood.  Madam D is a real piece of work.

Might not be too long, given that she's in an entire household of Deryni now who are even better trained than she is, though she might also be trying to actively hide things from them, since she would realize that Alixa's mind contains secrets it would be best for them to not know about.

i suspect that the young Haldanes may sort Madame D out - with scrupulous, icy, politeness.

Assuming that Gwynedd is a bit like Britain, be very very worried when people are icily polite to you.

Exactly

Madame might find Rhemuth to be the most frigidly courteous court in the Eleven Kingdoms at this rate. 

[Demercia]

It's lovely to be introduced to Soraya at her best as Queen of Gwynedd.

[Evie]

It's lovely to be introduced to Soraya at her best as Queen of Gwynedd.

Yes, and in addition to being a good hostess and caring role model for Alixa, she can play the "We are not amused" card brilliantly when she needs to. 

[Laurna]

It's lovely to be introduced to Soraya at her best as Queen of Gwynedd.

Yes, and in addition to being a good hostess and caring role model for Alixa, she can play the "We are not amused" card brilliantly when she needs to. 

Yes, I noticed Queen Soraya is showing her best side. I like that. She and Miranda will straighten that Madame Dardenay out in no time. I think I can count on that. Love seeing Cinhil nervous, and I am so happy that Miranda got Alixa into a much prettier gown with her hair down, as befitting a bride.