The Old Lady

Siv sits awkwardly in the sitting room she was guided to. She eyes King Ronarld, then Queen Ylva. Brandt is there too, but he has been watching the rain out of the window. It seems that everyone is waiting for the old lady to speak.

'Who is this woman that everyone is nervous around?'

The lady takes another sip of her tea with closed eyes, she enjoys the taste. Siv has no idea what to expect, being here in the room is odd to her. What would they invite her to join them for what seems to be a family reunion.

"I have come as soon as I heard." The old lady starts. She puts her cup on the saucer and looks in the direction of the king and queen. "I have also been informed of the unfortunate recent events." The king shifts in his chair.

"Have you heard of Brandt's curse?" Queen Ylva ventures cautiously.

"Of course I have. I have heard far worse news."

"What kind of news?" Ylva asks. The old lady slams her cane on the floor, making everyone flinch.

"The kind that announces the Traditional Vying instead of my granddaughter's wedding."

'Her granddaughter? I wonder who that is.'

"I can explain, Your Grace." Brandt finally utters.

"You be quiet, boy." Siv's eyes widden. "I am speaking with your parents."

'Woah! Who is this woman?'

"A lot of unfortunate events have happened, Your Grace." Ylva informs her.

"I have already said that I am aware. Oh for Gods' sake, you know I hate repeating myself."

"Yes, Your Grace." King Ronald responds. "The Vying was revoked in a period of uncertainty and confusion."

"There is nothing confusing or uncertain about the engagement your own father had approved of."

"You are right, Your Grace." Ylva glares at her husband. "It might be a bit too late now to cancel it, though." Ronald continues. "It might upset the elders and the participant's families."

Siv watches with curiosity. A strange thought crosses her mind, but she dismisses it.

"It is a shame that you care more about the elders than a family's promise, Ronald." The king swallows.

The old lady turns to Siv who immediately straightens her back unconsciously. She studies her for a while, making Siv feel uncomfortable. But she doesn't show it.

"You have your mother's eyes."

'Huh?'

"You are also a troublemaker, like she was." The lady adds.

The thought that Siv pushed away earlier is back.

'Is she… Siv's grandmother?'

"I will be using my quarters in the guest palace, and my granddaughter will join me." She looks at the king for an affirmation.

"Of course." King Ronald nods.

As soon as the words leave his lips, the lady bangs her cane again, and pushes to her feet.

"Adequate. Let us go, child."

"Me?" Siv finally speaks.

"I only have one granddaughter, child, and that is you."

Siv stands and looks at the king, then the queen, but when they say nothing, she follows the old lady. For her age, the woman walks pretty fast. Siv falls behind a few times.

"Have a seat." The woman orders when they reach her quarters, and by quarters she meant a seperate, small villa built in the garden of the guest palace.

"I understand you don't recognize me." Siv shakes her head at the woman's question. "I am your grandmother." She starts. "I am the Dowager Duchess Salverson and the second cousin of the late king." Siv listens to her with wide eyes.

'Royalty? How did I not know that Siv has a powerful grandmother like this?'

"Now will you tell me everything that happened, which led to the bloody Vying being revoked?"

"There was a curse that affected Brandt's memory." Siv answers. "He has lost all memories of me."

"That confirms the information I have." The duchess says more to herself than anyone else. "And you have also been targeted, twice right?"

'How does she know that?'

"Y...yes."

'Can I trust this woman?'

"May I ask you something, Your Grace." The woman presses her lips in a thin line at the title Siv uses. But she does not say anything.

"What is it?"

"Why is this the first time I hear about having a grandmother?"

"Well, that you can blame you good-for-nothing father. After my poor Nanna passed away, he decided to marry that whore, and cut all ties with me." Siv blinks a few times at the woman's choices of words. "I have tried to contact you when you got older, but he didn't even show you the letters I have sent you, I presume."

Siv has no idea, but if she had known of her grandmother, Veda would have told her for sure.

"He probably wanted to take advantage of your engagement to Brandt in some way." The duchess continues when Siv doesn't say anything. "He has always been a bloody despicable man." Siv grins.

'I kinda like her.'

"Now." Siv's grandmother gets her attention again. "There is a lot of things that we need to discuss, Siv. But I am a bit tired from the journey."

"I understand, Your Grace."

"Oh for Gods sake, don't call me that, like you are some sort of a servant." The duchess bursts with annoyance.

"Should I call you… grandmother?" Siv feels a bit awkward since she had never met either of her grandmothers in her old life.

"Isn't that a given?"

"Yes, grandmother."

"Adequate." There is a hint of a smile on the old lady's lips, but it disappears faster than it had appeared. "Now, I have one question before I retire for a much needed slumber." Siv nods. "Have you been marked yet?"

"Marked? What does that mean?"

"Hmmm, it should be a blue mark that looks like a flame." Siv's eyes widden.

'Is she talking about the tattoo?'

"I take it from your expression that you have been." The woman flashes a big toothy smile. "Adequate. We will speak more later." The duchess stands and strides out of the sitting room, leaving Siv's mind in total chaos.

'I haven't told anyone, and I have been hiding it from Veda and Tove. How the hell does she know about the tattoo?'