Drawn in Ash, page 6
She took a moment to study him. He was Hinaen, which wasn’t a big surprise. He had probably been extremely fit in his younger years, but his uniform pulled around his middle. His most striking features, though, were his eyes, a shining copper. The duke must have had a bit of royal blood in his family tree.
“Uh... no. I just thought I... I thought I heard something and...”
“Sorry if I disturbed you.” And with that, the duke continued on his way.
Trule gave her a questioning look, but Everys shook her head and slipped back inside. Her finger trembled as she traced the last two runes.
Someone knocked on the door. “Blessed?”
Redtale’s voice! She had to hurry. As soon as she finished the last one, she quickly pulled the door open.
Redtale and Kevtho stepped inside. The head of her guard looked over the room, her face pinched in a frown. “Everything all right in here?”
As Redtale asked the question, Trule peeked into the room. Everys sighed and motioned for her and the other girls to come back in. They scurried past the guards and disappeared into the rooms beyond to do who knew what.
“Just wanted some privacy is all,” Everys said.
“Sounds like we’re going to have an easy day of it, huh? Tailors and decorators? Light duty.” Redtale shared an amused look with Kevtho.
That soured Everys’s mood even further. Such a fantastic use of her time, making such frivolous decisions, when she could be doing something far more important.
But then the thought occurred to her: Why stop with just one act of rebellion? Why not add another?
“What else is happening in the palace today, Redtale?” she asked.
Redtale pulled a scriber from her pocket. “Well, King Narius has his usual full schedule: briefings with the various ministers, audiences with some of the ethnarchs, strategy sessions, and such. Prince Quartus—” Everys couldn’t miss the venom lurking in her tone. “—well, he’s supposed to be at the Hall of All Voices.”
That caught Everys’s attention. “What’s he doing there?”
“Part of his duties,” Redtale said. “A royal or noble is supposed to observe the workings of the Hall when they’re in session. It’s the prince’s shift.”
“A royal?” Everys repeated. “Does that mean I could go?”
Redtale froze, her features pinching into a scowl. “That sort of thing’s never been done.”
“There’s a difference between ‘never’ and ‘can’t.’”
Redtale shifted her weight, the conflict clear on her face. That was answer enough for Everys.
“Let’s go. I wish to join the prince in his observations.”
“But what about the tailors and the decorators and all that?” Redtale asked.
Everys waved away her objection. “They can wait. I want to see our government in action.”
Or, more accurately, avoid a boring series of meetings. No matter how she described it, she felt it was a much better choice.
9
Technically, the Hall of All Voices wasn’t attached to the palace, which apparently caused some trouble. Redtale was obviously frustrated as she called for a transport. It was all ridiculous, though. Everys could see the Hall from her bedroom. She could have walked there in five minutes. But apparently that wasn’t dignified or appropriate or safe, so they had to wait three times as long while her guards made the appropriate preparations. Then they hustled her through the palace and to a waiting transport.
Thankfully, this vehicle was comfortable, with wide, thick windows. Not that there was much of a view, just tall stone walls on either side of the road, one belonging to the palace and the other to some other government building. But then they turned a corner and there was the Hall of All Voices. A thrill ran through Everys in spite of herself. The Hall was beautiful. Whereas the palace looked like an ancient fortress, the Hall was glass and steel, shimmering in the sunlight. Spires rose into the air, each one twisted like a seashell. The Hall was a work of art. And yet, as breathtaking as the Hall was, it carried a not-so-subtle message. The palace was larger, more dominant, perched higher on the hill. It was clear which institution existed in the other’s shadow.
The transport slid past the building’s main entrance, then descended a ramp to a covered entrance. The guards exited the vehicle first, looking around the area before Redtale signaled for Everys to join them. Then they hustled into the building, through hallways and stairs, past offices and doors. Occasionally, someone would emerge from an office, only to step aside as Everys and her entourage hurried past.
Redtale led her to an elevator and waved her wrist across a black panel. The car shuddered and rose quickly. As soon as they were underway, Redtale turned to her.
“Since the Hall is in session, Blessed, we should go over the ground rules. When we get there, you have to remain silent. Observer, not participant. Understood?”
Everys laughed. “Do guards usually talk to the queen this way?”
Redtale didn’t smile. “Not normally, no. But my job is to protect you. There’s only so much I can do when the harm isn’t physical. There are expectations for how a royal will behave in the Hall. Breaking protocol is one thing. Causing a disruption will be much worse.”
Everys’s smile faltered at Redtale’s grim expression. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea, not if she was going to stir up trouble. But then the elevator door opened with a sigh. After walking down a long hallway, they came to a single door that Redtale pulled open, revealing a small balcony with three plush chairs facing a larger room. Redtale signaled for her to keep quiet, and they slipped onto the balcony. As Everys did, she froze, transfixed by what she saw.
The balcony overlooked the Hall of All Voices, a cavernous room constructed out of marble and dark woods. It resembled a theater, with rows of benches facing a dais at one end of the room. Dozens of representatives were seated throughout the Hall, but very few paid attention to the podiums on the dais. There, an Ixactl glowered at the assembly, almost looking like a disapproving parent standing amidst her children’s toys.
“...but that is the point, isn’t it?” Her voice was a gravelly rumble. “While the Dynasty has indeed opened the door for many of us, we receive crumbs while the Xoniel keep the best on their table.”
Everys settled into one of the balcony’s chairs, drinking in the woman’s words. She understood those feelings all too well. She didn’t have to look at the gathered representatives to know there wasn’t a single Siporan among them. That used to be mandated by the Drywell Laws, but even with those repealed, no Siporan had ever been elected to the Hall. The other races had adopted the Dynasty’s prejudices. So long as they had their little scraps of prosperity, they didn’t care whose backs they stood on.
“So what does the representative suggest?” Zolkin, the speaker of the Hall, asked from his seat. “Independence from the Dynasty?”
Laughter rippled through the room. The Ixactl representative’s posture stiffened, but she waited until the noise died down.
“As if any of us could stand on our own. The Dynasty has seen to that, making us far too dependent on the king’s benevolence. And yet, we all know the Dynasty’s power is waning.”
Everys’s breath caught. How could she say that so openly? Her gaze twitched toward Redtale. Would the guards arrest her? But Redtale looked bored, not angry.
“We sacrifice our young to the voracious appetites of the Dynasty’s military. We pour our hard-earned money into their coffers. We submit to their laws. But why? Because their armies once defeated ours? Because the same family has sat on the throne for generations? Because that one family freed us from Siporan tyranny four hundred years ago?”
Everys pulled back into her chair. Had the representative seen her?
Instead, the Ixactl representative sighed heavily and shook her head. “We have all seen the rot taking hold. Once, the royal family was worthy of respect. Of honor. Of fear. But now? Is it any wonder the Dynasty has never fully subjugated the Cold Light? Is it a surprise unrest simmers in every major city and province?”
To Everys, this sounded just short of treason. Shouldn’t the representatives be scandalized? But most of them paid more attention to their scribers than what was being said on the dais.
“How can she say that?” she whispered to Redtale.
Redtale glanced in her direction and snorted. “The representatives have broad-ranging immunity when it comes to their speech in the Hall. They’ve said much worse.”
Everys blinked. They had? Why hadn’t she ever heard about that?
But Redtale didn’t elaborate. Instead, she leaned against the wall and jerked her chin toward the dais. “Besides, Mossglade doesn’t mean half of what she says. She’s posturing for the clans.”
“How can you be so sure?” Everys asked.
Redtale’s lips pursed into a thin line. Her left hand idly stroked the stump of her horns, then her frown deepened. “Don’t forget, you gotta keep quiet right now, Blessed.”
Everys ground her teeth, but she did as Redtale said.
After an hour, Everys wondered why she thought coming down here was such a good idea. Nothing exciting happened. One after another, the representatives came up to the podium and ranted about the Dynasty’s policies. They each urged their colleagues to take a stand. Yet no matter how passionate each speaker was, no one seemed to care. So what was the point of any of this?
She caught Redtale’s attention again. “Is this all that happens?”
Redtale shrugged. “People get into arguments every now and then. Those can be exciting. But for the most part, yeah, this is pretty typical.”
Everys gaped at her. “But this is supposed to be a way for the citizens of the Dynasty to shape their future. To participate in the government.”
“And it is,” Redtale said. “What they’re saying right now is being written down and the transcripts will be sent to the Ethnarch Parliament. They’ll review the record. And if they find something important, they can pass along the recommendation to the King.”
“But what they’re doing here doesn’t really matter. If the ethnarchs or Narius decide not to listen, none of what’s being said here matters.”
“I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.” From her tone, Redtale made it sound like what she was saying should have been obvious.
But it wasn’t. Not to Everys. While she didn’t pay close attention to the Dynasty’s politics, she had heard enough of the propaganda. The Hall of All Voices was the way for the common people to be heard by their government. And the Ethnarch Parliament too!
“But it’s all a lie, isn’t it?” Everys insisted.
Redtale’s jaw clenched, and her gaze darted toward the edge of the balcony.
“We might as well just shut down the Hall completely and send all of these representatives home because—”
“Who interrupts the proceedings of this chamber?”
The bellowed question smacked Everys like a physical blow. When had she stood up? When had she advanced on Redtale? She stood still, hoping no one would notice.
“Who is in the royal box? Prince Quartus, we have warned you against bringing... companions into these proceedings.”
Everys stifled a groan as she realized who was yelling at her. It was Speaker Zolkin. She considered trying to sneak out again, but that didn’t seem wise. Instead, she squared her shoulders and stepped to the edge of the balcony.
The angry expression on Zolkin’s face dissolved into one of recognition, followed by absolute dismay. He stammered at his podium before turning to the assembled representatives. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to, uh, introduce to you all Everen, King Narius’s new wife.”
Surprise rippled through the room. Everys cleared her throat, ready to correct Zolkin about her name, but then a hand tightened on her arm.
“We should go,” Redtale whispered. “Wave, then try to leave without causing a scene.”
Everys offered a limp wave, which was met by a smattering of half-hearted applause. Then she turned to go, only to run right into her chair. She almost fell over, but Redtale quickly pulled her back up to standing and hustled her out of the room.
She kept her head down as her guards hurried her back to the waiting transport. As soon as they were under way, Everys took a deep, shaky breath. “Well, that could have gone better.”
Redtale fixed her with a withering stare.
Everys shrank in on herself. “Was it really that bad?”
“A queen breaking precedent, disrupting the Hall, and suggesting it be dissolved?” Redtale grunted. “I can’t imagine how anyone would see that as a bad thing.”
Everys swallowed a groan. Great. Just perfect.
10
The doors to the queen’s quarters banged open. Everys winced. She’d expected a reaction but not this quickly.
“What were you thinking?” Paine stormed into the room. “So on your first full day in the palace, you decided to force your way into the Hall of All Voices and loudly denounce it as being ineffective?”
Everys’s cheeks reddened. She wanted to argue, but that was unfortunately accurate.
Paine’s face twisted into a snarl, but then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A calm mask descended on his features, one that made Everys distinctly uncomfortable. She glanced toward Redtale and her other guards, but they had all taken a step back and clearly wouldn’t intervene.
“The story of what you did is already spreading through the Dynasty’s holdings,” Paine said. “We can no longer introduce you properly since you have created a political scandal that could upset the delicate balance of your husband’s government.”
Challix rushed into the room, clearly out of breath. Her gaze skipped from Everys to Paine, and then her cheeks flushed red. “My apologies that I was not here, Vizier, I—”
“And where were you?” Paine whirled on her. “What task was so important you left our new queen unsupervised?”
Challix’s gaze dove to the floor. “M-my pardon, Vizier, I was working on a schedule of appointments for the queen. Tailors, interior decorators, and—”
“Indeed. Leaving the queen to her own devices?” Paine crossed his arms. “Perhaps we promoted you too quickly. Shall we send you back into the public relations ministry so you can write fluff about our domestic initiatives?”
Everys bristled at his condescension. “Hey! It wasn’t her fault.”
“But it was.” Paine stalked past Challix and up to Redtale. “And not hers alone. I expected better of you, guard.”
Redtale snorted. “I don’t answer to you, Vizier.”
“That excuse won’t defuse this. There will be consequences.” He turned back to Everys. “Do try not to cause additional scandals before your husband and I can untangle this one.”
In a flurry of robes, Paine started for the door.
“Is Narius mad?” The question slipped out of Everys’s mouth. She didn’t even know if she cared. But given what happened the night before and now this, she wondered if he had been pushed too far. Why else wouldn’t he be here?
Paine paused at the door but didn’t turn to face her. “He is currently meeting with Speaker Zolkin and a number of representatives who were offended by your conduct. I doubt he’s had time to be angry. That isn’t Narius’s way. But I would be careful not to tread where you do not belong. Are we clear?”
Everys’s cheeks blazed. From Paine’s tone, he clearly wasn’t just talking about the Hall. Had Narius told him about what happened in his bedroom?
With that, Paine left the room, but he didn’t take the anger with him. Everys felt it simmering as Challix glared at the floor. Everys took a tentative step forward, but Challix speared her with a glare.
“If you wanted to visit the Hall, you could have told me,” Challix whispered. “We could have done it right.”
“It wasn’t so much that I wanted to go to the Hall as I... well, didn’t want to be here.”
“Picking out new clothes and furniture is that bad?”
“I guess? Honestly, everything Viara left is so much better than anything I’ve ever owned. I’ve learned to make do with what I have. It seems like a waste of time and money.”
Challix looked ready to argue, but then her jaw clicked shut. She scrutinized Everys’s face.
“I suppose that’s true, isn’t it?” There was no malice in her voice. “But we do need to get you a new wardrobe. Reusing the furniture is one thing. The nobility will notice if you wear Queen Viara’s clothes.”
Everys made a sour face, one that elicited a chuckle from Challix. “But then, if that is not something you would enjoy, I suppose we can find a way around that. What would you like to do with your time instead?”
The question caught Everys by surprise. She hadn’t really expected anyone to ask what she wanted. So far, everyone expected her to be a decoration.
“Something... significant? Something that could actually make a difference.”
“What do you mean?”
She waved a hand at her surroundings. “Tell me what you see.”
Challix turned a slow circle. “Your quarters?”
Everys shook her head. “You may see a room. I see enough space to house two or three families. I see enough money spent on decorations to feed those families for years. I see—”
Challix held up a hand. “This isn’t an election speech, Blessed. Are you suggesting that we just give the money to the poor?”
“Why not? You said I had an annual budget of what again? A million blades?”
“No, you have 1.7 million blades left. Your annual budget is closer to three million blades.”
Everys’s knees wobbled. But she quickly steeled herself. “So who says I can’t spend that on something charitable?”
“Well, Minister Masruq, for one. He has control over the budget and how it’s allocated. And the funds you’re talking about are specifically earmarked for your personal living expenses.”
“So can’t we un-earmark them?”
“Not really, no. There are expectations, Blessed. Those funds are intended for the maintenance of your personal living quarters, for your wardrobe, and for giving gifts to worthy courtiers. Using them for any other purpose would be frowned upon!”
