AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The confused expression on Master Gorgos’s face gave way to a flush of zeal. He parked himself in the center of the path, as far from the roses on either side as he could get. “Anthros’s diligent farmers and Kyria’s devoted gardeners have succeeded in uprooting Hespera’s corruption wherever it is to be found in Tenebra.”
“Esteemed Master,” Cassia said delicately, “with respect for Tenebra’s faithful, we are guests in our neighbors’ home. When we meet with the Second Princess tonight, let us join together in thanking her for her hospitality by offering her our compliments on her impressive garden.”
Lio bowed. “You are very kind, Lady Cassia. Allow me to offer my gratitude to all of you for your forbearance. This garden is the pride of our Second Princess and a source of great joy to all the royal family. I know the sight of these flowers, an illegal and feared symbol in your own lands, puts you to the test, but surely all our gods must smile that we manage to maintain order amongst ourselves and turn our thoughts toward peace.”
Lio started forward again, and the unsettled embassy followed his lead.
From the back of the group, Lord Adrogan’s low voice reached Lio’s ears. “Shame anything so fine is illegal. What a waste.”
“I have to agree with you, for once.” Benedict sighed. “If only there were a way to reclaim such a lovely flower into the mother goddess’s garden.”
“Don’t waste your tears,” came Chrysanthos’s voice. “They smell just like any other weed when they’re burning.”
A flinch went through Cassia’s aura. Lio gritted his teeth and walked on.
Skleros laughed at Chrysanthos’s remark, and the odor of one of his smokes befouled the fragrance of the garden.
To the toll of fourth moon, the embassy arrived at the princess’s door. Steep front steps led up to the towering entrance covered in gargoyles and statues of Hesperine heroes. The princess was as renowned a patron of the arts as she was a rosarian. The Tenebrans all but cowered, trapped between the threat of stone beasts and the temptation of harlot’s kiss. The Cordians seethed. Cassia seemed to find amusement in their distress, and Lio tried to find some consolation in her aura.
A pair of initiates stepped into sight on either side of the double doors. They made an elegant but unnecessary gesture with their hands, and the entrance swung open.
In the doorway, Konstantina stood waiting, beautiful and majestic in her wrap of ceremonial Imperial stripweave crafted from Orthros silk. Lio was not sure what he regretted more: that the Summit did not have her support, or that it caused her to suffer fools tonight.
“Guests from Tenebra,” she greeted them, “I am Princess Konstantina, Secondgift of the Queens, who sees their Will done in all ways. Tonight I shall be the first of the princes and princesses to show you royal hospitality. Here at my residence within my mothers’ House, you will experience the finest of Orthros.”
Chrysanthos chose that moment to reassert his authority. Was he feeling emasculated, perhaps? Before Cassia could respond to the princess, the war mage came forward and propped a boot on the first step. He launched into the Divine Tongue, reciting age-old, elaborate formalities without stopping to accept a reply.
Konstantina gazed down at him with a disinterested expression while he talked at her. Did the Dexion think to aggrandize himself beforeherwith the language of Cordium’s scholarly circles? She had mastered that school under the tutelage of Hypatia, one of its founders. And that was only a fraction of Konstantina’s education. She commanded respect in every university and royal court in the Empire, her mortal homeland. She spoke more languages than there were circles in the Dexion’s Order.
When she smiled, Lio knew the mage had already lost the debate.
She broke into the Dexion’s monologue with a customary rhetorical reply, her rich voice and Hesperine diction lending the ancient words beauty and nuance. The mage’s consternation was gratifying.
She let him get a word in, only so she could deliver a rebuttal that directed their exchange toward the discourse she preferred. Did he realize she had taken command of the conversation?
While the mages listened with rapt attention or self-important nods, the Tenebran lords watched with a range of dumb stares and wary gazes. Cassia wore her court mask, while her aura sharpened with attention. She told Knight to heel and eased closer to the dueling mage. It appeared she was ready to make her move and form Konstantina’s first impression of her.
Lio stayed close by her, ready to assist. Eudias was not so swift, and Cassia had to beckon to him. He gave her, then the Dexion a worried look, but followed her.
Lio hoped this confrontation wouldn’t get out of hand. He and Cassia could not have planned for the unexpected contest between the princess and the mage. Lio had to admit, since last night, he had devoted rather more energy to Cassia’s budding Craving for him than to their duties.
Cassia lifted her gaze to the top of the steps. Between one of Chrysanthos’s volleys and the next, she inserted herself into the exchange.
“I stand amazed! What an auspicious meeting this is, Second Princess and Honored Master. The likes of me are seldom so privileged as to witness lofty discourse between such significant personages as yourselves.”
The war mage half-turned and, for the second time that night, stared in surprise at the female who had interrupted him. Konstantina looked down and studied Cassia’s attire.
“Basilis,” Chrysanthos quelled her, “allow me to convey His Majesty’s message to the Hesperine royal family in their own tongue so nothing is lost in translation.”
“How expert you are at translating the king’s words from Vulgus into Divine. While our Hesperine hosts certainly understand both, as do our own mages, Tenebrans like me face the disappointment of having to forgo your edifying discussion. Those of us who speak only the king’s Vulgus would not wish to miss a word of his greetings.”
Did Chrysanthos realize her compliment had just destroyed his entire argument? With one blow of politeness, she had declared him unqualified to be the spokesman for the king who had formulated his statements in Vulgus, and she had pointed out the irony that the words would lose nothing in translation unless the mage expressed them—or rather, warped them—in Divine.
Chrysanthos dismissed Cassia with one of his smiles and opened his mouth to get in another word before Konstantina had a chance to reply to his last.
Cassia hastened to address Konstantina. “I am merely the daughter of a king, and not a princess. But I would do my part to bring your words to my people, so that they receive a full understanding of your people, who are so fortunate in you, their eldest princess and Queen’s champion. Might the ambassador and Apprentice Eudias translate the proceedings for me?”
With her hand on her heart, she gave a curtsy, echoing the heart bow that all Hesperines made before the Queens to show their devotion. Konstantina’s expression defrosted a measure.
