Nildan Laoren ushered Elvin Kushad in after my cousins left, looking distraught when I told him to leave us.
"I'll be just outside, Your Highness," he reminded.
Then he softly closed the doors after himself.
I turned to look at Elvin. We spoke at the same time:
"The Lion-Ant King--"
"The Lion-Ant King--"
He nodded.
"I guessed right,"
"It's dead," I murmured. He didn't flinch.
"As well as it's master will be soon,"
"How did you know what was going to happen?" I asked him.
He looked away.
"Her Highness needn't bother,"
"If you knew, why didn't you stop him?"
"It was too late." He replied.
"Too late?? But long enough for you to place an imprint on the Lion-Ant King?"
"Placing an imprint does not take time. Her Highness should know this,"
I looked away from him. I was cross.
To my surprise, he approached.
"Her Highness is safe at your home now, so you should be happy,"
Happy?
The only people I counted as family were separated from me, hundreds of miles away, at war. How could I be happy?
"You may leave," I finally said, "and call Nildan Laoren on your way out,"
He bowed and left. As if he had been crouching at the door, Nildan Laoren rushed in.
"Your Highness?"
"When are the troops leaving?"
"About this," he lowered his head, "since Her Highness had said you will lead them personally, Her Grace suggested that you leave in a fortnight,"
Two weeks. I could handle that.
***
I spent that night on the huge comfortable bed in my Palace of Tranquility, having finally changed out of my mage's tunic into a nice silly nightgown. Savitria hovered by my bed, taking me through the next day's itinerary. First I would go to the Royal Study, to pay my respects to the Emperor and Empress, then return with them to the Empress' Floating Paradise Palace for breakfast. After that, accompany the Emperor to the Central Court where the officials of the empire would meet me formally, while there, discuss how exactly supporting the Rebellion Army would benefit us....blah blah.
The more I heard about the itinerary, the less interested I was.
"I want to sleep now," I said to Savitria.
"Then I will be leaving now, Your Highness," the door creaked as the maids pulled it shut, leaving me alone, finally.
I randomly asked Ao-ye a string of questions as he followed beside my palanquin, much to Nildan Laoren's chagrin, who kept trying to interrupt and make me talk to him instead.
He answered my questions in a succinct manner, facing forwards at all times, never sparing me a glance. Noticing this, I also ceased to bother him. Humph! Hakorhi folk were prepared to throw themselves at my feet. If not that I pitched my tent right next to grandmother's and they couldn't come in the vicinity of the Matriarch's tent, there was no saying what would have happened.
It was the first time I was entering any building in the Palace, my Palace of Tranquility being the exception. The interior of the Royal Study was decorated with red and blue drapes; shelves as high as the ceiling stood at every few feet. Nildan Laoren explained that the Emperor's study was further in.
We left the shelves behind and came to a somewhat bare part of the study. A throne sat at the very back of the hall, with a decked table littered with memorials and reports before it.
The Emperor and Empress were not seated on this throne. I turned my head left, then right, wondering where their muffled voices were coming from. Presently, an eunuch emerged from between the shelves and loudly announced my prescence.
"Your Highness, we'll be outside," Nildan Laoren bowed, and exited with the other Three. My maids and guards remained, though.
Mother was the first to appear, a thick fur coat draped over her red brocade dress, with a delicate phoenix hairpin setting off her appearance. She scrutinized me from head to toe; I had protested that elaborate dresses were not my thing, so Savitria and Aunt Royan had hunted through the whole of Canolita before they found a short riding hood, matched off with boots buckled at the knees; my poison belt at my waist with the strap over my shoulder, and my dagger partly visible from it's 'holster', a weapon belt that sharp-witted Savitria had brought back for me.
Fortunately for Mother, she didn't say anything as per my get-up. It took her only two seconds to scrutinize me and during this time I'd already greeted her; lowering my head while cupping my hands, raising my shoulders so they were straight-- Aunt Royan had already taught me.
Mother moved a few steps forward and raised my head. Her touch was soft, a little chilly, and a draft of some sweet smelling lotion she used went up my nostrils.
I looked up at her in close proximity. She was very pretty, but looked nothing like me, except her complexion. But mine had been subjected generously to the harsh heat of the northern continent, so it was no surprise I was quite dark.
"How are you?" she asked, as her hand slid down my face and grabbed hold of my fingers. While waiting for me to reply, she slipped a diamond ring off her finger and put it on mine.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty," for whatever reason, this form of address seemed appropriate.
She used her fingers to rub mine over and over.
"You-- do you want to break this Queen's heart?" She looked up at me, those soulful eyes filling up, "yesterday, you called this Queen mother! Is it those clueless servants of yours who told you not to??"
I restrained myself from laughing, and shook my head.
"No, Mother,"
Her chest heaved a few times.
"Good! This Queen spent a good fourteen hours to bring you into this world! What will you use to repay this Queen? We don't ask for much; just call this Queen mother!"
"Alright," I said, smiling now, "mother,"
"Humph!" She turned to look at my retainers, who were all trying to keep straight faces, "scram!"
They bowed several times and retreated. Pulling me towards the throne, she blabbered on:
"You-- you still have hurt this Queen in another way,"
She plonked me onto the throne and stood over me menacingly.
"Why do you want to lead Our troops to the Rashar Plains??"
I knew it was coming.
"Hasn't Mother already said I'll be leaving in a fortnight?" I frowned and asked.
"Don't put such ugly expressions on your face!" She ran her hand over my brows, "when We first saw you, you were the prettiest! Now, look at you, look at you-"
The conversation was deviating again.
"You're pitiful! Our baby's all--" she didn't seem to quite know what I was 'all', so she dabbed at her face with a brocade handkerchief that materialized out of nowhere. A fiery heat came to her face. I knew where the conversation was going now. The sinner.
"I will--"
I grabbed her smooth hands before she could go on.
"Mother!"
"I know," she sniffed, "you don't want to hear about that--"
"Mother, it's alright. I'm here now." I stood up from the throne and plunked her onto it instead. She hooked my waist with her arm and made me sit next to her.
"But--but, let Us take care of you! Why are you running off again? I promise that We will send our best generals to aid the Rebellion Army! In fact, if you want your Father to go--"
"Go where?" The Emperor finally poked his head out from a shelf he was browsing. He wasn't that far away after all.
"Father," I made to rise and greet him, but Mother's hold on me was unfathomably tight.
"Humph!" she looked at me, "don't rise!"
I was flabbergasted and spread my hands in exasperation.
The Emperor finally approached, one hand holding a tome and the other gripping a short scepter rather tight.
He looked at Mother and I huddled together on the throne; or rather, Mother huddling against me, and smiled.
"Ginevra, I can see what you are doing,"
Mother harrumphed, still clutching my hand, but she still said;
"Does she really have to go?" almost with teary eyes.
Father placed the tome on the oak table and looked into space. Then he looked at me.
"Why do you want to go?"
I wanted to yell. How many times would I have to explain?!!
He noticed my reaction and placated me quickly.
"It's alright, it's alright. We will give you our unwavering support,"
Mother glowered at him, but patted my hand gently, knowing there was nothing they would say to make me change my mind.
"Thank you, Father, Mother," I did not slight them either. Mother reached out to run my flat stomach.
"Eeh, you must be hungry. Let's go eat breakfast at my palace," she said with a smile. Slim stomachs were not the fashion here. No wonder she thought I was starved.