Pretender to the Crown, page 23
The other one was younger and watched Willow closely with bright green eyes that looked as if they wanted to ferret out her secrets. She had to be Giara, Janida’s suorena and therefore Kerish’s aunt as well as his majdran. This was a woman to be careful around. Willow returned her gaze without fear. Giara was no doubt intelligent and clever to be a member of the Serjian harem, but she couldn’t read Willow’s mind and Willow refused to be cowed by her.
A shadow in the hall resolved into Serjian Salveri, tall and bulky even in his fine crimson robe, who was immediately followed by Janida. She took her place at the end of the table next to Felix, and Salveri sat opposite her. “My lord, please welcome our guests,” she said.
“Let all find welcome here at this table,” Salveri said. His voice was deep, deeper than Rafferty’s, and it felt as if it should echo as if this were the vast stone entry chamber. “By law of hospitality we offer you refuge for three days. Please accept our gift as we accept the gift of your company.”
“We accept the generosity of the Serjian Principality,” Kerish said. “I am Serjian Kerish.” He nudged Rafferty.
“I am Giles Rafferty,” he said.
“Willow North.”
“Felix Valant.”
There was no murmur of surprise when Felix said his name, but, of course, everyone at the table no doubt now knew who’d come to the Serjian Principality last night. Janida said, “We accept the gift of your names. I am Serjian Janida.”
“I am Serjian Alondra,” said the pregnant woman, with another smile at Willow. Willow didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the introductions because she couldn’t help watching Alondra. What would it be like, being married to a man old enough to be your father? For that matter, what would it be like to share your husband with four other women? How under heaven did they manage not to tear each other’s throats out?
She glanced at Serjian Salveri, who was looking at Alondra with such tenderness that it made Willow embarrassed. Alondra didn’t seem to mind—in fact, she was returning that look with an expression that said he was, as far as she was concerned, the only other person in the room.
A covert examination showed that the rest of the harem seemed oblivious to this exchange. Kerish hadn’t indicated his father was so…partial to young women. Maybe he didn’t know, since Alondra hadn’t been around when Kerish was still living at home. Willow looked at Janida. Was she angry, that her husband cared for another wife more than he did for her? Or had he thrown her over for Alondra?
Rafferty moved to sit down, and Willow followed his example. She hoped no one had said anything she’d need to know later.
Servants brought out platters of food that trailed the heavenly smells that were making Willow hungry and set them at intervals along the center of the table. Willow observed Janida, who scooped rice onto her plate, then took a dipper and poured a thick yellow soup or stew over the pile. She took a piece of the flat bread, the cabra, and used it to scoop up some of the mixture and take a large bite—larger than Willow would have thought good manners.
Watching the intimidating woman eat lessened some of Willow’s anxieties about her own behavior. She helped Felix put food on his plate, then served herself. The yellow stew turned out to have chunks of lamb and savory herbs in it, and though it was hard to eat it with the floppy bread, she was relieved that Eskandelics didn’t use metal flatware, which was nearly impossible for her to handle without getting a headache and a bad taste in her mouth.
“Felix, don’t use your fingers,” she told him, seeing him push stew and rice onto his cabra with his hands.
“She’s doing it,” he said, nodding at Alondra, who was indeed using her fingers. It certainly looked easier than trying to push the mess around with the cabra.
“Then I suppose it’s all right,” she said, and resorted to her fingers herself.
More dishes appeared, fresh vegetables and a darker stew and chicken on wooden skewers—that was an Eskandelic dish popular in Aurilien, and one she liked—and finally dishes of something cold and creamy and delicately flavored that Willow fell in love with.
She sipped at her glass, which contained a rich, tangy fruit juice she’d never had before, and decided she was definitely not going back to Aurilien for a while. How expensive would it be to live like this in Umberan? Surely she could find work there. Rafferty had said there was a community of Tremontanans, so the language barrier wouldn’t be so hard—or maybe she could learn to speak Eskandelic? Maybe the harem would allow them to travel south with them. The idea filled her with unexpected relief that she chose not to explore. Easier to travel in a group, that was all.
No one spoke more than a few words during the whole meal, and most of those were requests for someone to pass a particular dish. A serving woman appeared between Willow and Felix with a bowl of cool water and a towel. They followed Janida’s example and washed their hands and Felix’s face. Then they sat while the dishes were removed and waited for some indication of what to do next.
Willow watched Janida, who was impassive again and looking directly at Salveri. Willow glanced toward that end of the table. Salveri was less impassive but every bit as focused on Janida as she was on him. It was like watching a couple of mountains come together, each refusing to give ground, though Willow couldn’t imagine what conflict they were having wordlessly. They didn’t look angry, but they certainly didn’t look like friends.
Finally, Janida stood, which was the signal for everyone else to rise, Alondra with some help from Catrela. “We will speak further with our guests,” she said. “Please follow me.”
She took them out of the dining room down another of the white halls decorated with elaborate carvings. Willow was fairly certain they hadn’t seen it before, but she wasn’t willing to bet on it. She felt Felix touch her hand, then withdraw. Did he realize he needed to behave like a King now, and not a child who could hold her hand for reassurance? The thought made her heart ache a little, and she cursed Terence Valant silently for doing this to his nephew, who might have gone years without having to take up this burden.
Ahead, Janida strode as if she had no doubt they were all following her. Willow understood now why Kerish had been so certain his mother could help. If they could convince her. She suspected Kerish would have to do a lot of talking to enlist her in Felix’s cause, whatever that turned out to be.
Two girls flanked a wide door at the end of the corridor. Unlike the others, it was finished wood that hadn’t been painted white, though Willow couldn’t identify the tree it had come from. Both girls bowed low before Janida, and one of them opened the door for their procession. Janida kept walking as if she’d have walked through the wood had they not opened the door, paying no attention to the girls, which irritated Willow. If she was the kind of person who didn’t acknowledge those in her service, what was the likelihood of her caring anything for the welfare of one fugitive King whose powerful uncle was trying kill him?
The door opened on the courtyard Willow’s windows looked out on. The air was damp and cool despite the brightness of the sun, and Willow breathed deeply and felt comfortable for the first time in weeks. Many weeks, if you counted summer in Aurilien, where the streets soaked up the sunlight and radiated it back like a baker’s oven.
A wide verandah covered by a tiled roof surrounded the courtyard, and low sofas covered in bright, jewel-toned fabrics stood in small and large groups that invited comfortable conversation. The fountain splashed and bubbled cheerfully over the quiet rushing sound of the little streams flowing to it, which was clear from the white stone of the channels. Felix took a few steps toward the fountain, and Willow put a hand on his shoulder, hating that it was necessary. She wanted to swish her hands in the water too.
“Please sit,” Janida said, lowering herself onto a red sofa that coordinated perfectly with her silvery-violet robe. Her hair was even redder in the indirect sunlight and today she wore it piled at the back of her head in a tight roll that gave her a severe beauty.
Willow looked around, hoping for some kind of guidance, and felt Kerish nudge her toward a sofa covered in deep yellow linen. She sat gingerly on its edge. It probably made her, in her dark blue robe, look like a blotch against the brightness, but nobody would be looking at her. Felix sat between her and Kerish with his feet dangling. She realized for the first time that his feet were bare and just a bit dirty, and she hoped his shoelessness was intentional.
The other members of the harem disposed themselves at intervals on the sofas, none of them sitting very close to one another. Observing covertly, Willow guessed this was for comfort rather than because they disliked each other. They reminded her of Rufus and his lieutenants, who showed their respect for each other by not intruding on each other’s privacy. Though Rufus could learn a few things about controlling a room from Janida, whose choice of seat, Willow suddenly realized, wasn’t just about color-coordination. She had a perfect view of everyone sitting in their little group and needed only to turn her head to address any one of them.
The children of the harem had stayed behind—that reminded Willow she hadn’t seen Posea, who would be about Felix’s age. Salveri hadn’t joined them either. Kerish had told her his father rarely joined the harem for initial deliberations on an issue, and that his participation in later discussions was unusual among princelings. “Many harems simply tell their Princes what to say in Conclave,” he’d said, “which I think is strange given that Mother says it adds to the strength of a principality for the Prince to be informed about the issues.”
“I’m surprised any strong man is willing to be bossed around by anyone,” Willow had said, “or maybe that’s just me being Tremontanan. Here, it’s all about the respect you earn, man or woman. If you’re powerful, you don’t give that up.”
“Many Princes enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and don’t care much for participating actively in politics. They vote the way they’re told and spend the rest of their time in leisure activities. Since a disobedient Prince can be divorced by the harem, it’s in their best interests to obey. But harems benefit from a strong Prince who can negotiate with his fellows and bring information about other harems’ strategies to his wives.”
Remembering the way Salveri and Janida had faced each other down, Willow wondered whether a Prince might ever be too strong for a harem to control. What did they do if that happened? She focused her attention on Janida again. It wasn’t her problem, because he wasn’t her family. But she couldn’t help being curious.
“Felix Valant,” Janida said. “You claim to be King of Tremontane.”
“He is the—” Kerish began.
“You were not addressed, Kerish,” Janida said. “Well?”
“Hilarion taught me about being a good King,” Felix said, sounding slightly nervous. “He said I would be King someday because my father was King. And my father is…is dead.”
“You think an eight-year-old boy qualified to rule is?”
“I know I have to have a regent to help me until I’m fifteen.”
“And who will that be?”
“I don’t know. I wanted Willow to be my regent, but she said she couldn’t. But I think she and Kerish will help choose someone.”
Janida’s sharp eyes flicked to Willow. “And who are you, such a decision to make?”
“I’m no one,” Willow protested. “I’ve helped take care of Felix, that’s all, and he trusts me. But I don’t know anything about politics. Felix just…there are things he still doesn’t understand.”
“But he has been trained decisions to make,” Janida said. “Do you suggest that his judgment poor is?”
“He’s still just a child. Like I said, he has a lot to learn.”
“Then you believe he a poor choice is.”
“I didn’t say that. Don’t put words into my mouth,” Willow said, leaning forward. “Felix can’t be worse than Terence Valant. He murdered his way to the Crown and he broke the law that says an Ascendant can’t rule. He’s selfish—Felix is generous. He’s arrogant—Felix is humble. The other things can come in time.”
“Depending on his teachers, on his regent,” Janida said. “Weakness begets weakness. Do you believe you competent those things to choose are?”
“Willow teaches me things too,” Felix said. “She’s a thief, but she’s a good person and she’s smart. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
Catrela sucked in a breath. Giara murmured something to Maitea, who was impassive. Alondra had a very intent look on that lovely face. “You bring a thief into our home, Serjian Kerish?” Janida said.
“She’s…Willow wouldn’t steal from us,” Kerish stammered.
“You trust—” Janida began.
“Stop,” Willow said. “Kerish came to me because without my skills—my illicit skills—Felix would have been captured and killed. Yes, I’m a thief. It’s what I do to survive. But I sure as hell wouldn’t steal from anyone who gave me hospitality. Though to be honest, I haven’t seen anything here portable enough to be worth taking. If you want to revoke your hospitality, I’ll leave and I wouldn’t even blame you for it.”
“No!” Felix shouted.
“Strong words,” Janida said.
“I’m not going to apologize for them.”
“No, you should not.” Janida folded her arms across her chest. “You make no excuses.”
“I chose this life. I’m not ashamed of what I do.”
“Janida,” Catrela said.
“I know,” Janida said. “You would defend this boy?”
“He’s my King,” Willow said, “and…I love him. If you turn us down, we’ll find another solution.”
“You, silent man,” Janida said to Rafferty. “Would you, too, serve your King?”
“I’ve been opposed to the Valants my whole life,” Rafferty said, “because they give privilege to Ascendants who abuse their power. This boy has a chance to do something different and I’ve already given him help. So I consider him my King.”
Janida pursed her lips. “Kerish,” she said, “you served Terence Valant.”
“You know my magic is really only useful in Tremontane,” he said. “I care about maintaining the country’s stability, and I thought Terence wanted what was best for it.” He let out a short, bitter laugh. “He probably does. He’s just wrong about what that is. And if I’d known he was willing to murder to take the Crown, I never would have taken employment with him.”
“Is that an excuse?”
“It’s how things are. I think Felix will be a good ruler when he grows up.”
“If he grows up,” Maitea muttered.
“I’ve sworn to make sure that happens, majdran.”
“So you have a choice for his regent?” Janida said. Kerish looked down at his feet. “No regent, no teachers, no support among the Counts and Barons of Tremontane, no army. Did you expect us a miracle to work?”
Kerish raised his head to look her in the eye. “I did,” he said. “And I don’t believe that’s unreasonable.”
Janida and Maitea exchanged glances. Alondra cleared her throat and said, “Eskandel should not go against Tremontane to war.” She had a soft voice as beautiful as her face.
“War?” Kerish said.
“What did you think would happen?” Maitea said sharply. “The pretender to the Crown of Tremontane controls a large portion of the army as well as Ascendants who an army might in themselves be. He will not give up power because Felix declared King is.”
“If it’s impossible, why are we talking?” Willow exclaimed.
“Because there are other possibilities,” Janida said.
“Which we should discuss privately,” Giara said.
“I think it harms no one to share what common knowledge is,” Janida said. “Tremontane is on the brink of civil war. Terence Valant’s attempt to wrest the Crown for himself resulted in uprising among the provincial rulers. Several Counts and Barons have their own standards raised and made claim to the Crown. The return of the Valant heir not so far-fetched is as one might think.”
“Though they will see him as a tool,” Maitea said.
“That is something else we privately should discuss,” Giara said.
Janida held up her hand. “True. Felix Valant,” she said, standing and taking a few steps until she loomed over him. “What will you do the Crown to regain?”
Felix had to tilt his head far back to look at her. “I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know what’s possible. But it’s my responsibility, so…everything I can.”
Janida remained silent, staring him down. Felix didn’t flinch. Finally, Janida said, “Leave us, and we will talk.”
“Not the woman,” Catrela said.
“Yes. Willow North, you will remain,” Janida said.
“Mother,” Kerish began to protest, then rose from his seat and bowed. “Thank you.”
“You have the freedom of this house,” Janida said. “Ask, your Majesty, and if it is within our power, we will serve you.”
“Thank you,” Felix said in a small voice. He and Rafferty stood as well. Willow didn’t turn to watch them leave; her attention was on the harem. She leaned back and discovered the seat was deep enough to make her feel swallowed by the yellow cushions, as if she were being consumed by some strange tropical plant.
She scooted forward again and sat not quite on the edge of the seat, crossed her hands in her lap, and took a look at each woman in turn, not bothering to conceal her scrutiny. Catrela, to her immediate left, still had that avid, fierce expression, as if she were a bird of prey and Willow was a desert mouse who’d incautiously left her burrow.
Alondra looked uncomfortable. Well, she was pregnant, and rather heavily so, and Willow had a few acquaintances who’d told her pregnancy in the middle of summer was nearly unbearable.
Giara was leaning back in her seat, and either that sofa wasn’t as deep as Willow’s, or she had some supernatural gift for reclining without being engulfed. Either way she looked contemplative rather than awkward, though what she was contemplating Willow couldn’t begin to fathom.
