Talia stepped down from the carriage and faced the palace courtyard for the second time in her life.
She remembered well her first time crossing it. She had been weak from poison, stumbling in her heavy and soiled Unarian clothing, but desperate to face the enemy on her own two feet.
Now, she walked with confidence in her Vezdan style gown, escorted by the Emperor's private guard before her and a line of white-robed Vezdan girls behind her. Every eye was upon her. There was no laughter from the nobles this time.
Judice and Mahet flanked her on either side, and the sisters took turns whispering information to her about the people they passed.
"That's Sir Yorbin of Hirkovist. He's on the Emperor's bad side right now- something to do with a tax scandal. He'll do anything to get back in the Emperor's good graces."
"That's Countess Dulsa, sister-in-law to the Duke of Yevin, the only member of their family still welcomed at court because she gave testimony against the Duke."
"That serving girl is one of Grieta's. She runs messages and errands between the court and the Imperial brothels..."
As Talia watched, the young, beautiful woman that Judice had pointed out as one of Grieta's girls, hurried ahead of them and slipped through the doors of the main palace.
She was reminded of Prince Mikhail and his relationship with the mysterious Grieta, but quickly pushed the thought from her head.
The Emperor's personal steward stood at the top of the steps leading to the palace and watched as she approached. His face gave nothing away.
"Emperor Grigori, the Sun of Unaria, greets the former ruler of Vezda, Princess Talia, and asks that you be escorted to your rooms so that you may rest and refresh yourself after your travels," the steward said. "We have prepared rooms for you in the east wing of the palace."
At this announcement, whispers and murmurs seemed to come from every direction at once.
"The east wing of the main palace is reserved for family and relatives of the royal line," Judice whispered quickly.
"If he thinks a few special favors will gain him the Princess of Vezda's forgiveness, he is going to be very disappointed!" Mahet hissed.
Saying nothing, Talia graciously nodded to the steward, and allowed him to lead her group into the palace and through the great hall.
The errand girl she had seen in the courtyard appeared to also be headed to the east wing. Far down the hall ahead of them, the girl was hurrying toward a tall set of doors.
Talia glared at the steward's back. The man seemed content to walk at the pace of a turtle, and now her curiosity was aroused. What business did the brothel owner's errand girl have with a family member of the Emperor?
When they walked through the doors, she scanned the area for the girl but did not see her. It was as if she had disappeared.
Talia glanced at Judice, hoping that she would have noticed the girl as well and would provide an explanation, but the dressmaker simply smiled reassuringly at her.
The steward led them past a row of tall arched doors and into a brightly lit foyer with a high vaulted ceiling. There was only one set of doors off the foyer, and as the steward stopped and turned to face them, Talia saw them open. The errand girl slipped out and raced past them without making eye contact.
Talia turned to Judice with a questioning look, but Judice seemed to be surprised as well.
"Princess, your attendants will be given rooms in the visitors' quarters beyond the east garden. They will be issued tokens to enter the east wing during the day to serve you, but in the evenings--"
"All private rooms in the east wing have an attached room for personal servants," Mahet interrupted him. "That was how it was in the days of Queen Ora. I do not think the palace has been remodeled since then!"
The steward scowled at the disrespect, but Talia paid little attention. She wanted Judice to ask why he seemed to be ignoring the fact that a brothel errand girl had just emerged from the room she was was about to be given, but Judice did not seem to be taking the hint simply from her facial expression.
"The attached rooms are already staffed with servants- Prince Mikhail's personal servants," the steward snapped.
"The Princess has no need of Prince Mikhail's servants. Dismiss them at once!" Mahet insisted, her tone fierce.
"You may ask the Prince to do so yourself," the steward replied to Talia, ignoring Mahet completely. "These rooms belong to Prince Mikhail when he is in residence at the palace. As a member of his household, you-"
"But I am not currently a member of his household," Talia corrected him. "I have traveled here on my own, unaccompanied by the Prince. I would prefer my own rooms, even if they are a good deal less grand."
"The Princess of Vezda is a prisoner of the Empire, and as such must remain..." the steward paused as he considered his words. He had obviously been ordered to treat her with respect but was quickly becoming annoyed with both her staff and herself. The man smiled taunting before he finished his sentence: "under the protection and care of our Emperor's brother, Prince Mikhail."
"Protection and care indeed! She's lucky to still be alive after all the protection and care he's shown!" snapped Mahet.
Talia held up her hand to silence the woman. Although she had hoped that gaining a strong ally would mean she could now distance herself from the Prince, it was clear that the Emperor wanted to remind her that she was still a prisoner of the state. If she wanted freedom from Prince Mikhail, she would have to bargain for it.
Besides, Prince Mikhail had gone to the far north and had been unreachable for more than a week. By the time he returned and realized where she had gone to, she would have her own rooms.
She could reside in his rooms for the time being, and if she, by chance, happened to come across a note or a package that the brothel girl had left for the Prince... who would fault her for opening it or reading it?
"I suppose this will have to do for the time being," Talia frowned.
"Very good," the steward replied hurriedly. "You will be served the evening meal in your room. You have also been granted a public audience with the Emperor in the smaller court in a few hours time. Someone will be sent to escort you at the proper time."
He turned to knock twice upon the door, and it was opened immediately by a servant wearing the sun emblem of the Emperor.
Talia frowned. All of the Prince's servants were likely men. She did not relish the idea of staying alone with only the Prince's manservants. She should insist on at least one of the sisters staying with her.
"I would assume that among the Prince's servants, there are no ladies maids?" Talia asked, an edge of frost to her voice.
"That is... uh..." the steward mumbled. The thought had clearly not occurred to him.
"If that is the case, I am afraid I must insist that my girls-"
She was interrupted by the door opening wider to reveal Prince Mikhail himself standing just beyond the threshold.
Talia gasped in shock, forgetting entirely what she had been about to say. The Prince appeared to have arrived only recently. Strands of his long black hair had escaped the leather thong that bound them and hung down his hair and chest. His boots were filthy and his clothing dusty from the road.
His face seemed thinner than before with shadows beneath his dark eyes, and though his tall and powerfully built frame was as intimidating as ever, his shoulders were slumped in weariness.
"You... you're... here..." Talia managed at last.
The Prince stared back at her in silence for an awkward moment before turning to the steward.
"My people are arriving from Bludston in the morning. I have no need for palace servants. Please see that their quarters are cleared to make way for my people immediately," he ordered.
"The Princess has requested-"
"The Princess's maids will arrive tomorrow with the rest of my people. There is no need to House her hired girls." The Prince answered dismissively. He turned toward the leader of the palace guards.
"Please escort these ladies to the office of the chamberlain and see that they are paid double a day's wage, and the cost of the Princess's dress as well," he ordered.
The guard stamped the butt of his spear on the floor to acknowledge the order and turned to face the group.
Though he had not spoken a word of threat, the implication of it was clearly expressed on the guard's face and in the tension of the silence that followed. No one moved.
Talia glanced over her shoulder at Mahet, who was always quick to talk back, but though she scowled at Prince Mikhail, she said nothing.
They were waiting for her to decide, she realized.
"Your assistance and kindness have been invaluable to me, and I shall not soon forget it," Talia said, turning to address the sisters.
"If you have need of us, princess..." Mahet began.
"I know where to find you," Talia finished for her. "I may visit you again soon."
Mahet and Judice nodded, but both gave her uncertain looks as they turned to leave with the other girls. Talia smiled reassuringly.
When all had gone, Talia finally turned back to face the Prince, who still stood silently in the doorway.
"I thought you were in the North," she remarked dryly.
"I was. I've only just arrived," he replied.
Talia found it difficult to meet his gaze. He was staring so intently at her, and yet she did not know what thoughts were behind those dark eyes. It was somewhat uncomfortable.
"Why are you here?" she asked, staring determinedly at the floor.
He did not answer for a long moment, which caused Talia to glance up at him. He was still staring intently at her.
"I'm come... to build...my side of the bridge," he said, his deep voice low and quiet.