Page 52 of The Ragpicker King
Lilibet had already begun to step forward, smiling, when she caught sight of Sedai. A genuine expression of surprise crossed her face; Kel could not help a small feeling of amusement. Mayesh, ofcourse, changed expression not one whit as Sedai came to a halt and Anjelica rose to her feet. She wore brocade slippers, Kel saw, and exquisite chains of gold and silver circled her ankles. Without a glance at him, she stepped out of the basket and made a chirruping noise: Sedai lashed her trunk backward and circled the Princess’s waist. With a gentle motion, she lifted Anjelica and deposited her on the grass.
Anjelica bowed low to the Queen. Kel could not hear her greeting; he was busy scrambling off the elephant’s back. He made a less elegant job of it than Anjelica had, as Sedai did not seem inclined to help him out. Fortunately, he managed a safe enough landing to keep his dignity.
Already the Arrow Squadron were pouring through the gates, making their own ring around the courtiers and the Bloodguard, who stood at Sedai’s head, motionless.
The Queen glanced over at him for just a moment before returning her attention to Anjelica. “Welcome,AyakemiAnjelica. A lovely name,” she added, smiling as she held Anjelica’s hand between her own. The Queen resembled a calla lily today, in a dress of green-and-white silk, draped in heavy folds to show the richness of the material. A rope of pearls dangled from her throat, and more pearls, worked with white gold, circled her brow. “But not Kutani, I think?”
“I was named for a musician my mother adored. Anjelica Kjell, of Hanse.”
“Lovely, lovely,” said the Queen, patting Anjelica’s hand and releasing it. Behind her, Kel noted Mayesh turn to whisper in the ear of a Castelguard, who took off running. “I would love to take you on a tour of the Palace and grounds, my dear,” Lilibet said. “I recall seeing Marivent for the first time myself as a girl, knowing I would be Queen of the place. It was not something that could be forgotten.” She sounded wistful.
Anjelica smiled. “That sounds wonderful,” she said. “Perhaps tomorrow. Today I would like to speak privately with my betrothed.”
The Queen glanced sharply at Kel, as if to say silently:What are youdoing?After all, the plan of action had been decided on already. Kel was meant to slip away while the Queen guided Anjelica about the grounds, allowing Conor to take his rightful place and join his bride upon her return from the tour. “But it has all been planned for you, my dear. A tour of the grounds, and afterward a small supper, only ten courses—”
Anjelica’s pleasant expression did not change. Nor did the tone of her voice. It was the same measured music as she said, “I must admit, I am smitten with my Prince. I yearn for private counsel with him.” She gazed limpidly at the Queen. “Surely you understand.”
Lilibet looked utterly baffled. She turned stiffly to Kel. “Conor, dear,” she said loudly, rather as if Anjelica were not there. “The Princess—”
Kel smiled so widely that it hurt. “Ought to have anything she wishes. I shall of course accompany her to her rooms and speak with her there. Bensimon, will you lead the way?”
“I truly hope,” said Mayesh, “that you have an excellent explanation for what has just transpired, Kellian.”
Kel and the Counselor were walking a few yards behind Anjelica, headed in the direction of the Castel Pichon. Anjelica was flanked on either side by her Bloodguard; Kurame seemed interested in the layout of the Palace and was pointing out towers and gardens to Anjelica as they passed them.
“I have an explanation,” said Kel. “But I cannot promise you will find it to be an excellent one.”
Mayesh gave Kel a hard look. “She guessed who you are, didn’t she? Or did she already know?”
“She knew. She seems very well informed,” Kel said. He wondered if he should confess his mistake with the walnut but decided against it.
Mayesh sighed. “Kutani is infamous for the quality of itsspycraft. I suppose they must have been diligent in investigating Castellane after the... previous events. What does she want with you?”
“She doesn’t want anything from me,” Kel said. “She wants to talk to Conor. Alone.”
“That’s all she requires? For Conor to join her in the Castel Pichon?”
Kel nodded. “She knows her mind,” he said. “If I had refused her request, she would simply have told Lilibet she knew who I really was and demanded to speak with Conor regardless.”
They were crossing the wide lawn in front of the Castel Pichon now, the green shafts of grass muddled with the small white flowers that had appeared after a recent rain.
Mayesh gave a grunt. Kel sensed the Counselor had been surprised, and he did not like to be surprised.
“She was anxious at the harbor,” Kel added, “when I told her Aden might put in an appearance. But she is not fearful or delicate. She may look like a flower, but I saw iron in her.”
“There are different kinds of iron. There is the iron that binds and strengthens. And there is the edge that cuts.” The old man looked sideways at Kel. “Which is she?”
“I cannot say yet. But Conor must meet her as she is.” He glanced at Mayesh. “Tell him to come with his defenses down.”
Mayesh grunted again and turned away, cutting back through the grass, headed for the Castel Mitat.
Kel put on a burst of speed to catch up with Anjelica and her brothers. He reached them as they arrived at the front door of the castle, a low square building with small towers at each corner of the roof.Castel Pichonmeant “Little Palace,” and it was traditionally the home of visiting royalty. Luisa d’Eon of Sarthe had stayed here for the brief time she had been at Marivent before the bloody slaughter that had claimed her life. And the life of her bodyguard, Vienne d’Este, who had been sworn to protect her and had died trying.
Kel forced himself to shake off these thoughts. He greeted theCastelguards posted at the red door of the Little Palace and led Anjelica and Kurame inside. (Isam and Kito, her other two brothers, had remained outside to chat with the Castelguards.)
A short, tiled hallway gave onto a massive set of carved doors, and beyond those doors were the apartments that would be Anjelica’s. As he filed in with Anjelica and Kurame, Kel experienced a peculiar, untethered feeling, as if he had fallen asleep and woken up in a foreign place. He was not Conor; he was not even Kel Anjuman. He was a commoner. He had no business entering the private apartment of the Princess of Kutani. Yet here he was.
Anjelica was silent as she gazed around the rooms. To Kel’s relief, Lilibet had clearly redone the chambers since Luisa had occupied the space. In fact, they were not just redone, they wereoverdone,in just the way Lilibet loved. The walls were hung with saffron silk tapestries, and every surface had been upholstered in silk or satin, all in shades of orange, yellow, and red. A massive couch in dark-red velvet ran along one wall, and a carved daybed groaned under the weight of brocaded pillows.
