silver, and a matching silver-studded belt. A short cloak completed the outfit, and the servant smiled at the assassin as he straightened from placing a pair of narrow, polished black boots on the floor under the rack.
Blade ran a hand through his rumpled hair and sighed. 'Does the Queen expect me to wear that foppish outfit?'
'Yes, sir.'
The assassin slid from the bed, clad only in a pair of baggy grey flannel shorts that almost reached his knees. The servant's lips twitched as he suppressed a smile, and Blade went to splash his face in the bowl of water provided.
'Well I will not,' the assassin declared. 'Definitely not that garish shirt, and that tunic. Bring me something less gaudy.'
'The Queen insists, sir. You must wear it for the ceremony today. A great feast has been ordered, with entertainment and dancing.'
'And am I to be the freak on show? Take those things away and bring me my clothes.'
'I cannot, sir. The Queen would be angry.'
'I do not care. I will not wear that outfit.'
'Very good, sir, I shall inform the Queen.' The man bowed and headed for the door.
'Wait! Why should the Queen concern herself with such trivial matters? Bring me my clothes!'
The servant turned in the doorway. 'I am sorry, sir, but these are her orders. Today she concerns herself greatly with your ceremony.'
Blade gave an angry snort and opened his mouth to berate the man further, but found himself alone. A search of the wardrobe found it empty, and he cursed the servant as he sat on the bed and frowned at the clothes. Evidently the man had absconded with Blade's apparel while he had bathed the previous evening.
The door opened, and he turned to vent his displeasure upon the returning servant, then grabbed the sheet to wrap around himself as Minna-Satu sailed in, followed by Chiana and several handmaidens. Blade stared at her before lowering his eyes to the hem of her gown.
'My Queen, this is unseemly.'
'Indeed?' Her brows rose, and he was surprised that she did not comment on his failure to bend a knee. 'This is my palace, and I go where I will in it. Come, I have seen naked men before. I may be a maiden, but I am not an innocent.'
'But -'
'I am informed that you refuse to wear the clothes provided, which I selected myself for your ceremony.'
Blade glanced at the outfit. 'I… they are too bright. I am unused to such ornamental garments.'
'Then it is time you changed your ways. You are to retire, you need not skulk in the shadows now.'
'I have never -'
'I wish us to be friends, Blade. I hope to count you as one of my closest and most trusted advisors and confidants after your elevation.'
'I had not planned -'
'I do not bestow these rewards lightly, or upon the undeserving.'
'I -'
'Furthermore, I do expect to be at least patronised in this matter, for I shall not present a man to my court who is not decently attired.'
The assassin raised his eyes to her face, knowing that if he opened his mouth she would interrupt him again. The challenge in her eyes was clear. She would brook no opposition, and a reluctant smile tugged at his lips. For the first time, she impressed him. Her regal bearing and demand of obedience, so at odds with her slender form, brought a twinge of respect.
He nodded. 'Very well, but not the shirt.'
Minna gestured to one of the girls. 'Fetch another, a paler colour.'
'Grey,' Blade stipulated, and the Queen nodded. The maiden hastened out, and another two came forward. They sat beside him and started to brush his hair, freeing it from its leather thong. Minna settled on a pouf, smiling.
Blade glanced at her. 'Surely you do not mean to supervise?'
'I do. I must speak to you now, since yesterday you were too tired and rude.'
'What about?'
'The ceremony. It is short, but complex, and I must warn you, given your nervous nature, not to be alarmed by the weapons that will be used in it.'
'Are they to be thrown at my head?'
She laughed. 'No, certainly not, but they will be in close contact with your person, and I would not want you to think yourself in danger.'
'And who will be wielding these weapons?'
'I shall.'
'I see.' He winced as one of the girls tugged at a knot in his hair.
'Have a care, Terril,' the Queen remonstrated.
'I am sorry, My Queen,' the girl replied, 'it is like combing a horse's tail.'Blade cast her a sideways glance, and the maiden dimpled, adding, 'Though finer hair I have seldom seen, and certainly not on a man.'
Minna giggled as the other maiden produced a razor, and Blade leant away from her, eyeing it sceptically. The girl ignored him as she trimmed the ragged edges of his hair at shoulder length.
'You have nothing to fear from my maidens,' Minna said. 'They will not harm you.'
'She could cut my throat with one slip.'
'She will not slip, I assure you. Now, as to the ceremony. It will take place at noon, in the audience room, before my assembled court. When the usher gives the signal, you will enter through the side door and approach the throne. There I will make the award, and afterwards, you shall sit beside me at the banquet.'
He looked aggrieved. 'Must there be all this pomp and ceremony?'
'Yes. You came forward to claim the reward I offered, and this is it.'
The maidens finished brushing and cutting his hair, and plaited it into a tight braid.
'What title are you giving me?' he asked.
The Queen shook her head. 'I promised to teach you manners when you returned, and it is customary to refer to me as 'My Queen' every so often. It is a sign of respect, you understand?'
His slight, sweet smile belied the cold grey of his eyes. 'What title are you giving me, My Queen?'
'You will find out soon enough.'
The maiden returned with a dark grey shirt as the other two finished braiding his hair. Minna studied him. 'You have a noble face. You will look well in my court.' She clapped her hands, and the maidens rose, filing out. Chiana, who stood by the door, smiled at him as Minna rose with a rustle of skirts.
'No weapons on your person, if you please. This once, you will not need them.'
He looked up at her. 'As you wish.'
The Queen frowned at his easy acceptance. 'I suppose you are just as deadly with your bare hands?'
'Yes.'
She shivered, turning away. 'We will leave you to dress now. The manservant will help you.'
Blade dressed himself, then ate a hearty breakfast of poached neleggs and smoked ham before settling down to wait for the allotted time. When it came, the servant returned to fuss over Blade's clothes, straightening, tugging, and brushing at invisible specks of lint. Blade bore it until the man had had his fill, then followed him into the corridor that led to the audience chamber.
Outside the open door, they stopped before two guards, one of whom came forward to search the assassin. Blade wondered at the need for this, but shrugged it off as he studied the scene through the door.
In the vast golden room, the Queen had just settled upon the throne, sceptre in hand. She wore a gown of silver and gold thread, a high fish-spine collar framing her head. Her coiled hair dripped gold and jewels, and her
