Asea talked smoothly and well. She had a courtier's poise and a diplomat's gift for courtly language that Rik could only envy. The small talk concerning her majesty's health and other matters did not seem to bother her. The Queen expressed pleasure at her upcoming coronation and then surprised Rik by requesting that he talk in private with her. That caused quite a stir with the long-nosed chamberlain and the bodyguards. Only Asea and Azaar gave no sign of surprise, and he wondered if they had planned this between them. Eventually, Kathea over-rode the protests of her followers and he was shown into a small antechamber. Light filtered in from tiny barred windows, and he realised that even here, high up in the Palace, they were concerned with security. A small couch was placed under the windows and before it, in the light, was a table with a book on it and some refreshments. Not quite sure what he was supposed to do, Rik waited for a cue. The future Queen surprised him by sighing loudly, dropping onto the couch and removing one shoe.
'They pinch,' she said, when she saw his expression. It was not what he had expected.
'The shoes, Your Serenity?'
'The shoes, Rik.' She poured a goblet of wine for herself. She seemed to take pleasure in it. He doubted she got much of a chance to do such things for herself. She took a sip with evident relish and then said, 'Where are my manners? Would you like some?'
'I think I should pour that, Your Serenity,' he said, more because he thought it was the thing he should say, rather than because he wanted to.
'Don't be silly.' She poured him some wine, and offered it to him with her own hand. He took it and thanked her.
'In another few months, I won't be able to do anything like this again. It will be beneath my queenly dignity, so I may as well take my chances now.' She spoke regretfully as if this was something she would miss. Rik felt quite taken off guard.
'In a few months you will be crowned, Your Serenity.'
'It's not something I need reminded of, Rik. Everyone conspires to do that constantly except for your Lord Azaar. He seems like a nice old fellow.'
That was not quite how Rik would have described the General, but she was most likely seeing a different aspect of his personality than Rik ever would.
'May I ask why you wanted to talk with me, Your Serenity?'
'I wanted to thank you for saving my life.'
'It was my duty, Your Serenity, as well as my pleasure,' he lied glibly. It had been a time full of fear and desperation.
'It was an act of true heroism and I am grateful. You were very brave. It’s just that I don't remember much about it myself. It all happened so quickly. Did I behave badly?'
So that was what all this was about, and her nervousness too. She wondered what he was telling others about her behaviour. He thought he understood now why he made her so nervous.
'Your Serenity's behaviour was never less than queenly,' he said. 'There were times when only your bold example let me maintain my own composure.'
'I thank you for the compliment.'
'It was nothing less than your due, Your Serenity.'
'Lady Asea tells me you are a young man of discretion.'
'You may rely on that, Your Serenity.'
'Then you may rely on my gratitude.' They exchanged complicit smiles. Rik felt like they had reached an agreement, like two thieves in Sorrow's bazaar deciding on what to tell the Watch if they were caught.
She rose from the couch and placed her glass upon the table. He did the same. It was obvious the interview was over. She gestured and he held the door open for her. They emerged into the throne room and the chamberlain showed Rik from the room, leaving Asea with the future Queen and the General.
Rik strode for a corner, and stood waiting, his face a bland mask of composure. As he did so a tall old Terrarch nobleman, a beautiful Terrarch woman and a group of their followers swept over to him.
'I understand that you are the young soldier we have to thank for saving the Queen's life,' said the noble. His manners were very smooth, his small smile measured and polished like the gems on the pillows in a jeweller’s window. Rik wondered who he was and what his position was at court, and whether this was some test set by Kathea to see what he would say after their interview.
'I merely performed my duty,' said Rik. 'And the Queen did far more to help herself than I did to help her. Her grace under pressure was exemplary.'
The beautiful lady's smile widened, she looked him up and down in a measuring fashion that was frankly sexual. He met her gaze blandly.
'Perhaps you would care to tell us about it,' she said. Rik suddenly felt as if he did when sneaking into a well-guarded manor with dogs and sentries and all manner of sorcerous alarms. Putting a foot wrong here could be fatal.
'This is not the time or the place, I fear. I feel I should ask Her Serenity's permission before discussing such matters. The tale, after all, is hers to tell.'
'Discreet as well as heroic. That is a useful quality in a young man,' said the Lady. Her eyes made it clear that discretion could cover a lot of matters. The old nobleman smiled.
'My wife is correct,' he said. 'I hope we encounter each other again soon. I am Lord Sardontine.'
'It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.' They bowed and curtseyed to each other. As they did so, Lady Asea emerged from the audience chamber.
'If you will excuse me,' said Rik bowing again. 'I must attend my patron.'
'Of course,' said Lord Sardontine. 'One forgets how lovely Lady Asea is. It has been over a century since last I talked with her. Please give her my greetings.'
With another bow, Rik disengaged himself. A moment later he found himself sweeping along beside Asea as a liveried servant showed them out.
'I see you encountered Lord Sardontine,' she murmured.
'He sends you his greetings.'
'I accept them with pleasure.' A look and a sweep of a fan told him that this was not the place to discuss such people. It was not something he needed telling. He felt a surge of gratitude as they mounted the coach and left the Palace behind. As they swept out into Parliament Square he felt like he had just had a narrow escape from a nest of snakes.
“What happened back there?” Rik asked. “Did you discuss anything interesting with the Queen?”
“I did. I have been granted apartments in the Palace. You will join me.”
“We are leaving our tents? That will be nice.”
“It’s a sign of royal favour and I think she finds your presence reassuring. I am not surprised after you adventures together in the Serpent Tower.”
Rik kept quiet. That was one reason why Kathea might want him near but he could think of others. In the Palace he would be in easy reach if she decided to get rid of him.
Chapter Five
Sardec sat at the table and scribbled another figure on the parchment before him. It was hard writing with his left hand. His script lacked the flowing grace with which he had once formed his letters with his right hand, but he was determined to master writing once more. It was a necessary skill for an officer in the Queen's Army.
The lists in front of him made for depressing reading. A lot of new soldiers had been transferred in, and all of them needed a place to stay and food and pay. His company had lost fewer men than he had feared in the siege of Halim, particularly compared to the disastrous excursion into Deep Achenar, but nonetheless fatalities had occurred. A lot of the deaths had been among the newer men, but some of those who had followed him into the buried city of the Spider God were gone as well. It was a soldier's lot to die for the Queen when duty called for it, but Sardec was surprised how much it pained him to see the names on the parchment. Those men had been in his
