place ablaze and the guests slaughtered as Uthor's hell-creatures overran the city, but everything appeared calm and peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
On the second day after Conner's return, Aber and I breakfasted with Prince Marib at the palace. His Majesty's invitation had been extended to me through Aber, and although I suspected it originally might have included our father, by the time Aber delivered it, it only included me. I was delighted to accept, however. It wasn't every day I got to dine in a palace, and I planned to pick up ideas for our own castle's construction.
The prince sent a covered carriage for us at eight o'clock in the morning. Aber and I stepped up into the cab, the driver whipped up the matched team of white geldings, and off we raced up the streets of the city.
“Is there anything I should know about the prince before we meet?” I asked Aber in a quiet voice.
“He's quite a lot like you.”
“Short, bald, and middle-aged?” I said, raising my eyebrows. “I've seen his statues…”
Aber laughed. “Idiot… not physically alike. But he did remind me of you. You both have an annoyingly noble streak. You're always thinking of everyone else, rather than just yourselves… the greater good, I guess you'd call it.” He shrugged. “In his case, he's thinking of his whole principality. Trade with us will make everyone here rich, if they handle it right, and he knows it. He doesn't want to screw that up.”
“That's the mark of a good ruler,” I said. I looked out the window at the passing buildings. Merchants were already opening their shops, rolling down bright canopies and rolling out barrels of fruits, vegetables, and other items. Children laughed and darted here and there, playing games. A few old women scrubbed the sidewalks on their hands and knees. They all seemed happy and well-fed.
Aber said, “Everyone seems to like him, both personally and as a ruler. You have that talent, too.”
“I think you overestimate me,” I said. “Mostly I just want us all to survive.”
“And thrive,” he said.
“Well, yes.”
He smiled. “If we get to pick our king, you've got my vote.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Dad's first in line. He's the king.”
“Uh-uh.” He shook his head. “He's a creature of the Logrus, like the rest of us. The Pattern is yours alone. Besides, he doesn't have the skills of a leader—or the interest. He'd rather putter around his workshop, inventing things and playing with his magical toys. He can't organize a whole new world. You've been doing all the work. You deserve the title.”
“Maybe…” I frowned. I had always assumed Dad would be our leader. And yet, what Aber said made a lot of sense. Dad had made more than his share of bad decisions over the years, and he didn't exactly inspire loyalty.
“And,” Aber continued, “you have the military experience to protect us. That has to be more important than anything else right now. I don't want to get slaughtered in my sleep. Dad—”
“We'll talk more about it later,” I promised, as the carriage rolled through the high marble gates of the palace. “Right now, we have a prince to impress.”
Prince Marib, looking splendid in a brilliantly feathered crown and robes of deep purple trimmed in gold, greeted us in a garden located at the center of his palace. Tame monkeys laughed and chattered from the intricately trimmed trees around us as his steward ushered us to cushioned seats around a small glass table.
I bowed graciously, and Aber did the same.
“Please, be at ease,” he said, smiling cordially and motioning for us to sit. “While we acknowledge the formalities of the past in Selonika, we don't cling to them. Your brother has told me you come from the far-off land of Chaos. Please observe whatever customs are usual to your people. I am eager to learn more of them.”
“You are very kind.”
I sat to his right, and Aber sat to his left. At his gesture, beautiful women began wheeling in trays of delicate pastries and sweetmeats. They served us on glass trays, then withdrew.
Marib began to eat at once, but lightly. We followed his example.
“I understand you are pioneers,” he said. “I will do whatever I can to assist you. However, doubtless due to my own shortcomings in education, I do not quite understand the magics Aber mentioned, and neither do my ministers. Can you tell me more of this place called Shadow, where you will dwell?”
“Of course,” I said. I explained quickly about all the worlds—the Shadows—and how they existed side by side. No need to go into the Pattern with him. Then I told him how my family had the ability to travel between these worlds, and after a conflict with a
“And who will rule there?” asked Prince Marib.
“Oberon will,” said Aber.
I shot him a warning glance. “That has not yet been decided,” I said.
Marib leaned back in his cushioned seat. “Oh, I think it has, my friend. If half of what Aber has told me is true, I see in you the seeds of a great and noble ruler.”
I pretended modesty. But I could not help but feel flattered. And I wondered: maybe I
Prince Marib extended his offer to assist us in whatever way he could, and we left soon after breakfast ended by exchanging vows of friendship between our peoples.
On our way back to the inn, I said to Aber: “You were right. I like him.”
On the third day after his return, Conner was up and about, with new color in his cheeks and new flesh on his bones. Now he looked merely thin rather than emaciated. Still Freda and Blaise plied him with food at every turn.
“At this rate I'll weigh four hundred pounds by the end of the month!” he complained to me.
I laughed. “You need to distract them with something else. Right now, all of their maternal instincts are focused on getting you well.”
“You keep telling me about this new Shadow,” he said. “How about taking me there? I'd like to see it. I assume you and Dad are going back today.”
“Yes. I think so. But keep in mind that it may affect you. Blaise did not react well to it.”
“I'll take that chance. And if not, I can always return here. Dad gave me a Trump of my room.”
I nodded. “Very well. We'll make a day of it, then. I know Freda wants to see it, too.”
Quickly I called down to the kitchens, and they set about making a picnic lunch for us. Nor was the manager content to pack us off with a simple basket. He insisted on a full complement of waiters and chefs, a portable grill, ice chests for the selection of wines, plus tables and chairs and sufficient linens. Our simple meal rapidly became a vast and complicated endeavor.
I sighed. At least I wouldn't be organizing it. Cold roast beef sandwiches and beer summoned through the Logrus would have been much simpler.
Chapter 16
It was nearly noon by the time our vast entourage got underway. Sixteen wagons strong—with horses for Aber and me—left the city. Our company had swelled to eighty-six. Twenty of them were early surveyors sent by the architects, who would begin making all of the preliminary measurements and sketches. The others included various servants who would set up tents and an advance camp, cooks, waiters, a wine steward, and a dozen others whose purposes remained a mystery to me.
Only Dad elected not to join us, saying he had errands of his own to run. Mysterious and secretive to the last. Well, we didn't need him right now, and I had a new Trump of him courtesy of Dad, so I could reach him whenever I had to.
It took an hour to reach our future home. The wagons slowed us down considerably. But as the familiar hills and forests came into sight, I felt a quickening of my blood and spurred my horse. Aber hurried to keep up, and side by side we ascended a mountain and gazed down at a pristine beach below.
“This is it!” I said.
