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Before us, the double doors suddenly swung wide open and General Rapskal had to skip aside to avoid being struck. “There is no need for her to produce a note when I am here to welcome my guests.” King Reyn stood suddenly in the open door before us. The manservant who had fled us was two steps behind him, wringing his hands. “Welcome. Please come in. And you, too, General Rapskal. Did not you also receive my invitation? I see that Kase and Boxter are here. Excellent. I summoned all of the keepers, I believe.” He focused himself on me. “Four children await you. As I told you, there are not many, but these four need your aid the most.”

“My lord, these people are dangerous. Especially the woman.” Rapskal’s followers moved to form up behind him.Advertisement

Reyn sighed. “General Rapskal, the ‘woman’ is Lady Amber, long known to my queen, since before our war with Chalced. She was an artisan in Bingtown in those days, with her own shop on Rain Wild Street. She made beads and charms carved from wood. Later she served aboard Paragon, and was instrumental in the recovery of Igrot’s treasure. Her generous loans from that wealth helped rebuild Bingtown and helped the Tattooed begin new lives in Trehaug. You will treat her with respect.”

Rapskal’s glare met Reyn’s flat stare. I sensed a power struggle in which, perhaps, we were no more than pawns. General Rapskal would not be the first military leader to believe he could rule better than his king. After a moment, Rapskal replied, “Of course I will.” His words said one thing, his tone another. Quietly he added, “I will be proved correct,” and preceded us into the room.

Reyn’s facial expression did not change. He stepped aside to allow the general passage and then with a sweep of his arm gestured that we should enter. I heard a swift tapping of boots behind me and risked a quick glance. Lant and Per were hurrying down the corridor. Both were red-cheeked and smiling. They’d enjoyed their outing in the wintry streets of Kelsingra. I could not stop them from running into the same snare that held us.

I spoke calmly to Amber. “Ah, here are Lord Lant and young Perseverance come to join us. They look as if they’ve had a lively morning.”

“Oh, sir!” Per was gasping from his excitement as well as his pace. “The magic of this place is everywhere. The things I’ve seen this morning!” His grin widened. “And Motley is fine! I was worried for her, but she came and landed on my shoulder. She would not stay. The city makes her uncomfortable, but oh, sir, it’s wonderful!”

“Later,” I warned him in a kindly voice. “Compose yourself and show your best Six Duchies manners, boy. Just as Foxglove taught you.” They both gave me puzzled looks. Puppies. Little more than puppies. I could do nothing to make my warning plainer, and neither Lant nor Perseverance wore a blade, I noted. At least not one I could see. I had two small knives concealed on my body. I hoped we would not be searched.

Rapskal’s guard fell in behind us as we entered. King Reyn had gone ahead of us and was already speaking to Malta while General Rapskal stood nearby, scowling and shifting. I took in the details of the hall as quickly as I could. There were rows of the false windows down both sides of the chamber. No escape there. Not many folk were gathered. I estimated there were fewer than twenty Elderlings and about the same number of folk who bore the marks of dragon change without the beauty the Elderlings possessed. The serving man who had escorted us was moving hastily about the hall, gathering other servants and escorting them out. I led my small party down the center of the room. Malta was already seated in a tall chair on a modest dais. She regarded me with a tentative, hopeful smile. To the right of Reyn’s chair but not on the dais, Ephron sat on a simpler chair. He grinned at us. Among the onlookers, a child coughed and then began to cry noisily. I heard a father trying to comfort it. All fell silent as the doors closed behind us with a thump. We were the only humans left; all around us Elderlings lined the walls and looked at us. Reyn hastened to take his place. This was our formal welcome to Kelsingra, and as one who had seen many royal occasions, I did not find it especially impressive.

“I cannot see,” Amber reminded me in a soft whisper. Her hand on my arm was trembling slightly. I wondered what she imagined. A horde of armed guards ready to sweep us off to a torture chamber? I was not entirely certain that would not happen. At her words, Spark began a hasty and whispered description. I was grateful.

At what I considered a respectful distance from the dais I halted our party. “Now we make our courtesies,” I told them in a low voice.

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“Not too deep a bow. You are a prince,” Lant reminded me. A useful thought. pqdm.com