The Prince's Bargain - K.M. Shea Page 0,13
a social translator?
Myth would have rather served as a government translator if things were really that dire!
Blaise rushed ahead and opened the door for her. “Do you know who you’re serving under?”
“Yes,” Myth grimly said. “His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Arvel of Calnor.”
Several hours later—and still in the throes of shock and disappointment—Myth kept pace with Translator Rollo as he strode down a long corridor in the palace and explained the situation that had landed her playing the role of social translator to Calnor’s crown prince!
“Because I’ve served in this position, I can personally assure you that this role won’t be as challenging as it sounds,” Rollo said.
Myth didn’t believe him, but she forced her expression to remain blank.
“Crown Prince Arvel has a couple of trade translators who directly serve beneath him,” Rollo continued. “So even though he’s involved in the trade partnership between Lessa and Calnor, you needn’t worry about that.”
I wish it was involved! I’m far more confident in translating numbers and copying out logs than I am in interpreting purely social situations. I wasn’t trained for this, or taught any of the social customs I’ll need to know!
“Although you’ll accompany him during his workday, you’ll mostly be translating during events—luncheons, tea, that sort of thing. Oh! And at least twice a week the royal families of Calnor and Lessa break their fast together.”
That tidbit caught Myth’s attention as the lone ray of sunshine in this storm. Did that mean there was a chance she’d get to see Princess Gwendafyn?
“The socials are more work than they used to be since there are more visiting elven nobles these days and fewer of us translators around to help, but you’ll only be responsible for Arvel, which will greatly simplify your workload as it means you won’t have to be keeping an eye on Benjimir, too.” Rollo grinned winningly up at Myth, as she was a few scant inches taller than he. “And while the amount of translation you’ll have to do is more than it was, it’ll still be easy for you. Most people only exchange polite niceties, and perhaps ask about one another’s families.”
Rather than frankly ask if the Translators’ Circle had lost their minds due to being overworked, Myth worded her concerns with the smoothness of a still lake. “I’m afraid you may be overestimating my abilities, Translator Rollo. I am a mere apprentice, and I was not trained for social translating work. Even if the translations are simple, I am not confident I know the proper protocol—or will even understand the nuances of Calnoric when it is used in a less formal setting.”
“Nonsense! All of us in the Translators’ Circle know about your friendship with the apprentice wizard Blaise, and that you meet with her for the sake of practice. Your Calnoric is nearly flawless—certainly better than your fellow apprentices’ accents. You’ll do fine, Translator Myth.”
Rollo turned up a hallway that Myth recognized as leading to the library. “The royal breakfasts can be a little tricky, but I’ll be present for those, so you can rely on me then!” he boasted. “And outside of the breakfasts, you can and should come to me with any questions or concerns you have. I’ll be happy to teach you anything you may not know.”
Yes, and I’ll have to interrupt King Celrin and King Petyrr to do so—no thank you! Myth pressed her lips together as she turned the issue over in her mind. I’m being placed in this position because the Translators’ Circle is short on help. If I go about making inquiries and interrupting everyone frequently, I’ll only slow everyone down, and you can bet my superiors at the trade workshop will learn of it. Even if this trial as a social translator will delay my progress as an apprentice, embarrassing my rule-abiding department will be even more detrimental to my career. I’ll have to be self-sufficient—which means I’ll need to go to the library at the earliest chance. It seems I’ll require books about Calnorian customs and manners…
Rollo stopped at a plain wooden door. “You’ll like Arvel. He’s a good lad—kind, and not prone to sarcastic remarks like Benjimir.”
It surprised Myth that he spoke of the royal princes so casually, but it also made her stomach sour because surely this showed just how far out of her depth she really was. She didn’t have the foggiest notion how nobles and royals addressed one another, much less how much friendship and formality was allowed between the royals and their