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He had perfected the façade of the powerful ruler who was carrying the mantle of leadership for the sake of his people and not for personal glory, and every move he made, every expression on his face, reflected that.
What a master manipulator he was.
As much as she detested him, she admired his skill.
Ani rose to her feet and bowed. "Good evening, Your Majesty."
He dipped his head in greeting and motioned for her to sit back. "Good evening, Ani. I was delighted to receive your invitation to dinner. It has been much too long since we dined together. How have you been?"
"I have been busy." She offered him a measured smile. "The Supreme Oracle and I were discussing a new and exciting project that is of the utmost cultural and historical significance."
"Oh yes. It has been brought to my attention that you have visited the temple more often than usual. I was worried that you were experiencing the malady of ennui and sought solace from the Supreme Oracle."
Ani's gut clenched with sudden fear. If El could prove that she was losing her mind or sinking into depression, as many of the old gods did, he could put her in stasis for the long sleep.
Was he threatening her?
"Thank you for your concern, husband, but nothing could be further from the truth." She flashed him a bright smile. "I amchampioning so many new and exciting projects that I barely have a moment to rest, let alone suffer from boredom."
"I am glad to hear that." He leaned back so a servant could spread a napkin over his thighs. "So, tell me about this project that is of utmost cultural and historical significance."
No one could accuse El of not being attuned to her every word, but he was like that with everyone. Hypervigilant and always aware.
"The other day, I read some of the prophecies etched on the columns of the temple, and it occurred to me that they represented only a small fraction of the greatest prophecies throughout Anumati's history. Also, most of our citizens will never get a chance to visit the Supreme's temple and read them, and that would be a shame. We need a comprehensive, written collection that will be available to any citizen. The compilation would not only serve as a testament to our rich heritage but also as a guide for future generations of Anumatians."
El looked intrigued but also skeptical. "Recording what is etched on the columns is a good idea, but that is just a small fraction of the greatest prophecies. Most are lost in time or bear no resemblance to the original."
She dipped her head in acknowledgment. "My thoughts exactly. That is why I asked the Supreme Oracle to dedicate an hour a day to retrieving those prophecies from the vortex of time. We will have a scribe present to record what she says, but we will choose only the most significant prophecies to include in the compilation."
El's eyes darkened. "You know how unpredictable an oracle's visions are. Sofringhati might be the most powerful oracle everborn, but even she often spits out nonsense. She will have to be asked very precise questions to pull relevant prophecies from the past. Also, some of those predictions are not for public consumption."
"I am well aware of that. This is why I will be right there with the Supreme, asking the relevant questions and deciding which prophecies will go into the public record and which ones will go into a private one that will be kept in the royal archives and accessible only to you and me." She forced her expression to soften and reached for his hand. "I pray to the Fates that you and I would never succumb to the dreaded malady of ennui, but it is inevitable that one day we will, and those prophecies will serve to guide our successors."
The king's gaze hardened slightly, but Ani could see the cogs turning in his mind. She knew him so well that she could guess precisely what he was thinking even without the little tells that betrayed his excitement.
What if she discovered an ancient prophecy that was lost in time but could benefit him in some way?
What if she could warn him of potential threats to his throne?
Finally, he smiled. "It is a marvelous idea. Knowledge is power, and those lost prophecies could shed light on opportunities and threats we could not even imagine. It is crucial, though, that the knowledge is safeguarded. I want to review every new prophecy Sofringhati pulls out of the vortex of time and personally approve which ones are suitable for public consumption and which should remain private."
Ani nodded. "Of course."
As the servant placed a bowl of soup in front of the king, he thanked him graciously and turned to Ani. "Our reign has always been guided by the wisdom of our ancestors and the predictions of the oracles. It is our duty to preserve these insights for the citizens of Anumati."
Ani inclined her head in acknowledgment, hiding the triumph she felt from her husband's keen eyes. "With your permission, Your Majesty, I will announce the project at the upcoming gala."
He nodded. "It is very fitting to announce such a scholarly undertaking at a fundraiser for the new university. Well done, Ani."
Ani inclined her head. "Thank you, El."
Frankie
With nothing to do until Dagor returned, Frankie sat on a stool and leaned her elbows on the bar. "The strawberry daiquiri was really good, but I've exceeded my alcohol allowance for this morning. Can you make me a virgin version of it?"
"Of course, mistress." As usual, Bob looked as if serving her was the greatest joy of his day, and she wondered what about his expressions and voice created the effect.
Was it the rounding of his camera eyes?
