Little Sister

Dochia wore an elegant but serviceable dress as it allowed her to move freely in preparation for the afternoon's game.

Who knew Ladislaus Garay, one of Matthias' fiercest opponents, was fond of jeu de boulles?

Leave it to the worldly Peter to find out these juicy details, opening an unexpected opportunity for a private meeting with the otherwise unreachable Palatine.

Duncan and Palatine Garay were to join her for a game in the conservatory because of the chilly January weather. She checked the stake and the stack of balls. She would play the demure hostess while Duncan was to loose constantly but just barely so the Palatine will be in high spirits.

She heard steps and turned with a smile. She curtsied before Garay and graciously accepted a peck on her cheek from Duncan.

"Your grace, it is such a pleasure to meet you!"

"You met me before, my dear, you just don't remember it. I was well acquainted with Lady Stana's parents."

Dochia felt flustered for a moment, but a look from Duncan brought her back. They were supposed to do the flustering after all.

"Your grace, please do us the honor of throwing the first ball." Duncan changed the course of the conversation.

Ladislaus threw the ball expertly, within inches of the stake, and Dochia gave Duncan a worried look. He rose his eyebrows in self-confidence, took a ball from the stack and threw it within one inch of his grace's.

"Do you play, my dear? Your mother was very fond of playing at your age and even your sister, God rest her, took on the game at a young age."

"My sister, your grace? I am afraid I was too young when she died. I will happily play the next round." Dochia tried to change the subject as the discussion was getting too personal. However, Ladislaus would have none of it.

"Her health was already declining, but she insisted rocking you to sleep. Tainted blood cursed her kin." he sighed loudly, and picked up a ball looking pointedly at Duncan.

It was his turn to be flustered and look in question at Dochia.

"Do not worry my lord, she will give you healthy sons as Stana is not her mother. Her little sister knew it too, and still she vowed to protect her. From heaven I'll protect her, she said." his grace continued as he was talking about the weather while planting the boule precisely one inch away from his other one, in front of Duncan's.

This wasn't going well at all. Ladislaus succeeded in disconcerting them, throw two perfect balls, and they didn't even breach the subject of Matthias.

Dochia prayed Duncan will recover and anxiously awaited him to pick up a ball. While he knew she had a sister, she didn't tell him Stana and Ioannis were her adoptive parents because it would have brought up the question of her real parentage.

"How much did Ladislaus Garay know?" She blanched at the thought and felt for the bench behind her.

"Are you feeling well my dear? That healthy heir might be already on the way." his grace winked at Duncan, who couldn't stop the red creeping under his red beard.

Duncan grasped the wooden sphere until his fingers went white and focused on Ladislaus' second ball, determined to not be bested. At jeu de boulles, plotting or whatever else the Palatine might throw his way. Duncan's second boule went smoothly, about one inch behind its target as planned.

Ladislaus picked up a ball from the stack and prepared for the next round.

"Your little brother would love to know he is to become an uncle." his grace dropped the ball literally and figuratively.

"I know you wanted to talk to me about that brother of yours, and I might still be willing to support him... If..." he continued unperturbed by Duncan's stricken face.

"If you play the next game and win I'll support Matthias in his bid to become King of Hungary." he said, obviously enjoying rendering both his companions speechless.

"I... I thought you wished your daughter to marry my... brother." Dochia stammered.

"So I do my dear, and I will seek it from your brother. He will accept it but we both know he is already betrothed. You see, I am not decided yet, and the game will show me the way. "

Dochia raised up her head and pleaded silently: "Little sister, now is the time to help me." She stood watching Duncan stiffly returning the nail studded boules to the pile. Ladislaus threw an excellent first round then she took a ball from the stack and focused. She refused to look at Duncan afraid of what she would see and targeted the sphere near the stake. Her boule rolled, slowing down to pass his grace's by half an inch.

His grace's eyes sparkled with excitement while he readied for the next throw. He pitched and the wooden globe kicked hers away, leaving his two dangerously close to the stake.

Her feet gave up, and she dropped on the bench. Duncan's arm went around her shoulder, and his warmth enveloped her. Relieved, she stood and picked up another ball. It deflected on the closest ball sending it away from the stake and hit the second to stop in front of it.

Ladislaus frowned, and the levity left him. He could't hit her boule as his would be deflected too. He rolled the wooden globe, and it stopped an inch from the stake.

Dochia raised her head in prayer again, focused and threw. It slowed down to a near stop close to the other and Dochia held her breath. Suddenly, an unexpected draft kicked hers beyond his grace's, eliciting three loud gasps.

"Your brother will have my support, my lady." and he turned without another word.

Watching Ladislaus Garay, the Palatine, exiting the conservatory, Dochia looked again up, with her hands clasped in gratitude:

"Thank you, little sister."