62 Marseille's History

Macha's morning kept her busy. The servants gave her a bedroom near Freyr's and she met with his tailor to have her measurements taken. After she had gotten that out of the way, she met the park planner that Freyr talked about.

Alondra Ferrer heard the rumors that flew around the palace of the King's new girlfriend. She wondered what woman had spent the entire night with the King in his bedroom. In all her years working for the palace, she did not recall a single woman who was allowed to spend the night with King Freyr. There had been a few reports of women sneaking into his chamber, but they were swiftly removed from the palace. The palace staff celebrated because they hoped his Majesty would finally produce an heir.

Alondra knocked on the mysterious woman's door. She noted that the woman was given a room near the king's bedroom. When the door opened, she saw a small woman with almond-shaped eyes and black hair. The woman's height surprised her but she kept her composure. If this person became queen, she did not want to get on her bad side. "I am Alondra Ferrer, the park planner. King Freyr instructed me to come and talk with you about Sector 13."

Macha greeted Alondra with a smile. She felt excited to begin their meeting. "Come in. I was expecting you." After introductions and pouring tea, Macha sat down at a table. The room they assigned her seemed more like a hotel suite and she thought it was similar to the one Tyr had at the Valois estate.

When Alondra asked Macha what she envisioned for the park, she expected Macha to have a plan already. Macha's response surprised her. She came off humble and admitted that she did not know much about parks. She even requested Alondra's input and expertise.

After talking for a while, Macha took a sip of her flowery tea and explained, "I actually haven't spent much time in a park since coming to Marseille. I assume if the people in, err... Sector 13, preferred, they could go to the huge park we have already." Her voice lacked confidence, and she was trying to bounce ideas off of Alondra.

There was a small pause. Alondra understood what Macha talked about. The city park would be much nicer than the park they would plan for Sector 13. The funding and the effort put into the upper-class park were superior. "That's true, but the city park is far for the people on the outskirts of town. It's unreasonable to expect them to walk there."

Macha nodded her head, she did not consider that. "Should we make a smaller version of the city park or do you think we should make something different?"

Alondra did not want Macha to expect a mini-city park. There was not enough of a budget for that. She quickly suggested, "I think something different would be better. If it's different, it would have its own charm that could attract people to it."

Macha's nodded and her face lit up. "Since you suggested the park be different, then I hope it could hold musical events. If the park had a stage, maybe the community would hold events to enrich the lives of the people? I also thought a music-themed playground would be fun." She understood music helped with child development, so she wanted to give the children in Sector 13 something they might not usually experience.

Alondra considered the idea of a music-themed playground as interesting. She never imagined an idea like that before and wanted to try it. "I like your idea of a musically themed playground. I believe it would be a fun challenge for me. As for a stage, that's easy. Is there anything else you hoped for?"

Macha just shrugged her shoulders. "Trees and nature? You know better than I do about park planning. I was just bouncing ideas off of you." She did not learn the plant names in this world yet, or how they reacted with the temperature. She did not want to make any choices regarding the foliage.

Alondra gave a laugh. "Of course, we'll also put in foliage. Let me come up with a plan and get back to you tomorrow. I have to do a bit of research." She felt glad that Macha gave her flexibility with the plants. If possible she wanted slow growing easy to maintain plants for the low-income area. She was worried Macha would expect the same high maintenance plants that the city's main park had.

After Alondra left, Macha searched for Freyr. She wanted to report what she was planning to make sure he was fine with her decision. While she walked through the halls, she asked a servant where the King was. The woman gave Macha a wide smile and led her to an office. The servant seemed so pleased to interact with Macha that she felt uneasy. She did not understand why her presence would fill the woman with so much happiness.

A beautiful inlaid double-door entrance stood before her. She knocked on the door and opened it. Freyr had his forehead on the table and a paper on top of his head.

Hearing the door open, he looked up and watched Macha enter the room. He straightened up when he saw her face. "Hey Macha," he sighed. "How did your meeting with Alondra go?" Seeing her come into his office helped to reinvigorate him. He wished he could see her all the time.

Reaching for a hard candy that sat in a bowl, Macha took a seat and explained what they planned. She grew concerned for Freyr because he looked stressed. "What's wrong? Is there anything I can help with?"

Freyr had been going over some trade agreements that Phocée had sent. He did not agree to any of them. He knew tensions between the two countries would increase because he had to turn them down. Now he could only hope that his counter offers would satiate the Queen's goals. He clicked his tongue, "I just have to deal with some paperwork. If you finished, you can enjoy the rest of the day."

As Macha sucked on the lemon flavored sweet, she made a slight from when she heard Freyr give her the rest of the day off. She did not believe she earned the wardrobe she would receive yet. Unsatisfied, she shook her head, "It doesn't seem right taking the rest of the day off. Let me help you. I can do small tasks or deliver papers." She thought she was taking advantage of their friendship if she received an entire wardrobe for a short conversation with a park planner.

Freyr did not want to burden her. He struggled to find another task he could give her that would be fun. "I remember you said you trained daily. Do you still do that?"

"Of course!" Macha loved training. It helped her feel like she had control of her life and helped to relax her at the end of the day.

Freyr rested his chin on his hand. "How about you train with me tonight after I finish up. It will help me relieve some stress." He wondered how Macha's fighting improved since he last saw her fight at the tournament.

Macha believed this was more like work for him than for her. "Are you sure? I'm not strong. I won't be much of a challenge at all. Also, you don't think Tyr will be back?"

Freyr did not want to talk about his cousin, who was still missing. "I do not mind if our skills are different. You can check out the library, for now, it is three doors down. I will join you for lunch." He felt guilty about skimming over the question of Tyr. None of his men found Tyr's body, so Freyr still hoped that his cousin was alive. Every hour that passed increased Freyr's worry and he continually hoped Tyr would send word that he was fine.

Macha let the topic go. If Freyr wanted to train, then the exercise would be a good way for him to relieve his stress. She left his office and went to the library. It had large double doors with heavy golden handles.

When Macha opened the doors, the entire room lit up and its beauty amazed her. The library was three stories high with a beautiful fresco painted on the ceiling. The painting depicted a war; Tyr, Luna, Krystof, Freyr, and the others fought in a battle against an opposing army. The scene consisted of water and land fights and was painted in bright colors.

Macha walked around the rows of books. The first row she came to was a history section. Tyr never talked about Marseille's history with her before, so she wanted to read about it. The only thing she knew was that it had been a newer city-state when Tyr was young.

As Macha read through the book, she found out that Marseille used to be a part of Phocée. Marseille fought for their independence because of the taxes Phocée imposed on them. After a few riots, Freyr and Tyr's family led the rebellion. Macha learned that Freyr's family did not want to take the crown, but the people insisted. It surprised her to find out that Freyr had a sister, Frigg, who had sacrificed herself during the war to save many of the citizens. This, along with the Montfort family's battle achievements raised their status in the eyes of the populace.

Macha read about the Valois family's achievements as well. The Montfort family seemed to favor battling on land while the Valois family was in charge of the naval battles. She read about some battles that Tyr and his family fought. It amazed her that he and Luna seemed so down to earth when they had such an amazing past.

The history had been so interesting, that she lost track of time. She did not hear Freyr enter the library. He looked at Macha laying on the floor reading through one of the history books. She read slowly and dangled her feet in the air, swishing them back and forth leisurely.

"I brought lunch." He held a large platter on one hand. He covered it with a lid that glowed with a red light. As Freyr put the platter down, the red light faded. "Careful it is still hot," he warned.

Macha sat up and put the book aside. She found it hard to believe that her friends, who all seemed so caring, were actually hardened soldiers. "I was reading about Marseille's history. No one ever told me about it."

Freyr took a sip of his soup. "It is not something we enjoy talking about. You would not have wanted to be there when the war was going on. The incessant fighting found a way of draining a man of his morals and sense of self." He thought of the endless battles and hoped Phocée did not want to go to war again.

While Macha talked with Freyr, she realized he always spoke so proper. "Freyr, why don't you contract your words?" She wanted to know if there was a reason she was not aware of for talking the way he did.

"People expect me to talk like this," Freyr looked away. He was bitter from having to hide his real self from the world. Growing up, his father explained that being the King, entailed hiding who you are and being the man the world wants you to be.

Macha's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't. You might have to talk like that for meetings, but with friends, you should be you. Please, don't think you need to put on airs with me. You're my friend." She did not want him to feel like he had to hide his true nature from her. As his friend, she wanted him to know that she accepted him as himself.

Macha's easy acceptance caused a lump to form in his throat. Her words were something he longed to hear from people throughout his life. Not even Luna or Tyr told him he could relax around them. His voice cracked slightly, "All right. Thanks. I'll let my guard down around you."