Sei’s third day in Ostomar begins much the same, except that it’s lightly raining. By mid-morning, Sei has finished exploring Marek’s quarters. While he could occupy himself with reading, meditating, or playing aerie with Osric, Sei would rather not.
Should Sei maximize his opportunities to interact with Marek? Maybe.
Is Sei hiding in Marek’s quarters because he’s nervous about venturing out? Definitely.
Sei needs to go outside before his nerves calcify into inertia. Besides, Marek clearly wants nothing to do with him.
“I want to explore the castle,” Sei tells Osric. “What’s an interesting place to start with?”
Osric stretches up from the bed, which creaks underneath him. He’s already fond of Marek’s comfortable furniture.The stone garden is good, but the roof will be closed for the rain. Plus, it’s in Her Majesty’s private wing, so we would have to sneak in.
“We don’t have to sneak. We could just ask.”
Pretend you don’t speak the language. It can be very convenient to get out of trouble.
Sei contemplates his closet’s array of boring coats. “Do you know what’s more convenient? Not getting into trouble in the first place.”
You would make a terrible cat.
“Good thing I’m not a cat, then.” Sei selects the cream coat that buttons up to his chin. It’s boring, but at least it isn’t dark and boring like the brown or navy. Grails are meant to serve, not to draw attention to themselves.
Most grails don’t have totryto attract their mage’s attention though. Maybe Sei should acquire a flashier wardrobe. Would Marek be more interested if Sei dressed up in sheer silk and gold chains?
Sure, and with what money? Marek’s? They haven’t discussed an allowance yet.
Osric bumps his head against Sei’s hip.Oh, I know where we should go. The laboratory.
“What laboratory?”
Radovan Ark’s laboratory. There are purple rats.
“Again, not a cat.” Sei ruffles Osric’s head. “But sure, lead the way to the purple rats.”
Sei can easily follow Osric’s guidance through the dark maze of a palace. Even so, he asks servants for directions along the way. It’s an excuse to add more names and faces to Sei’s growing stockpile of familiar people.
When they reach the correct corridor, Osric pauses.The door is open. I’ll go in first. You don’t have any scalestone on you, do you?
“No, why?”
Radovan was fussy about scalestone. Don’t jump on the counters either. It stresses him out.
“Why would I jump on the counters?” Sei’s eyes narrow. “Osric, you didn’t.”
Of course not,Osric says before slinking through the open door. Sei hurries after him, hoping Osric isn’t dragging him into trouble after all.
The towering hallway glitters with wonders. Sei has trouble focusing on any one thing. High windows only allow thin streams of light through the pattering rain, but myriad silver and brass lanterns encircle the pillars and balcony loft. Perplexing metal instruments rise between ribbon-tagged trees in terracotta pots. Shelves of jars and bottles crowd the walls.
There are living creatures too—a tall bird cage to the right, a tank of fish to the left. The rats Osric mentioned have the largest enclosure. Between the small animals and the rotating metal instruments, the laboratory is so full of movement that Sei almost misses the figure at the center of everything.
A black marble counter stretches down the middle of the hall. On the counter sits a small wire cage. Next to the cage sits Kazia Dire.
The prince appears intent on the cage’s contents. His long lavender hair is gathered in a high tail, falling forward to obscure his face. Without turning around, Kazia calls out, “What are you doing here?”
The hostility is so clear, Sei nearly takes a step back. “I apologize for interrupting, Your Highness.”
Kazia twists around to face Sei. Perched like a bird, he cocks his head. “That’s not what I asked you, grail.”
Sei’s stomach clenches. He’s been a grail all his life, but nobody has ever said the word like an insult before. “I wanted to admire the laboratory, Your Highness. Osric told me it was interesting.”
