53. Shara
SHARA
Playing my part, I leaned heavily on Guillaume’s arm as we stepped onto the red carpeted walkway.
Leonie went first with Jenrade beside her.
Head high, she wore a bright, traditional African print in sumptuous jewel green and purple.
Jenrade had chosen to wear a black tux my guys had scrounged up for him, though he’d added a striped animal fur around his shoulders like a cloak.
The liveried man tapped his staff again. “Her Majesty Leonie Delafosse, daughter of Aisha Delafosse, daughters of Oya, Mother of the Nine.”
She curtsied to the two queens and then moved slightly to the left, making room for me to follow her.
The man announced me as, “Her Majesty Isabelle Vasconia, daughter of Eleanor of Castile, daughters of Epona, Protector of Equos.”
G let out a low grunt of surprise in the bond. :A distant relative of my first queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine.:
I allowed my knees to wobble, my body tottering in an awkward curtsey. Then Guillaume helped me shuffle to the side, breathing hard as if the short walk had thoroughly exhausted me.
“It’s so interesting.” Rosalind stared at me. “According to the rolls, you died years ago.”
Allowing the magic to flow and shape my behavior, I nodded my head sagely with a wide smile. “I’m grateful to still be alive, Your Majesty.”
Her eyelids flickered ever so slightly. She recognized Isabelle’s voice. She looked over at Guillaume, and I knew he looked the part of my elderly knight. He ducked his head in a sketch of a bow but didn’t say anything.
Rosalind turned her gaze on Leonie. “The last record I have of you is a visit from Isabelle back in the seventies. Surely she hasn’t stayed with you this long.”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, for not coming sooner to pay my respects to House Valois. Isabelle took ill during her visit, and I’ve been caring for her ever since.”
Skeptical, Rosalind glanced my way again. Trying to figure out which of us was the imposter. Or how we could both be imposters.
“I don’t believe this is the same Blood you had before,” she finally said.
“You’re correct, Your Majesty. Albin was killed several years ago.” Leonie’s voice barely quivered at all. I doubted anyone who didn’t know her well would have even noticed the emotional catch. “This is my new Blood, Jenrade.”
He bent at the waist. “It’s an honor to serve, Your Majesty.”
The air chilled, and frost spread from Rosalind’s chair. Our breath plumed in soft puffs.
“Perhaps you don’t know what I know.” Her voice crackled with ice.
“You see, the Dauphine used to sneak into my court wearing the veil. Even though I was her granddaughter and heir, she tried to infiltrate my own nest. It was a simple thing to add an alert to my blood circle so I would always know when she attempted to slip into my nest. So, you see, I know one of you is wearing a false face. Perhaps both of you. Though I’m not sure how that would work. ”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Leonie said. “But I do have orders from the Dauphine. ‘Chasser. Tuer. Mutiler. Ressusciter.’”
I raised Isabelle’s frail voice as much as possible to shout, “I am resurrected!”
“No, I am resurrected,” Leonie retorted, giving me a glare.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I drew myself up stiffly, releasing Guillaume’s arm so he could leap into action when needed. “You’re embarrassing yourself in front of our queen, girl.”
“Enough.” Rosalind’s voice sliced like jagged ice. “Marne, give me the Isador Blood now, please.”
Eyes wide, her mouth slightly open and curved as if she were thoroughly enjoying the show, Marne gave a nod to her side of the room.
Three men stepped out of line and started toward the queens.
I could feel the spark of magic in them as they approached. Blood called to blood. Isador blood.
When Lew had smelled my blood in Skye Tower, he’d known immediately who I was.
So would they.
:They won’t betray you,: he assured me. :Your mother prepared us well for any court intrigue. They’ll die in silence before they reveal the truth before you’re ready.:
The three Blood turned sharply, their steps in unison, marching forward to halt directly between the dais and where Leonie and I stood.
“The queen who killed the Dauphine knows exactly what fate the rest of her precious Isador Blood met in the swamps of New Orleans. A different fate awaits these Blood, though not the way the Dauphine intended. I have no intention of allowing my grandmother to be resurrected, even if that were possible.”
Rosalind lifted her right hand in a casual wave, and three of her Blood stepped away from the wall and came to stand with the other three Blood before her.
Paired up. Blades in hand. And I knew before her smiling, smug lips uttered the command what she intended to do. Power gathered inside me, bracing to attack. Though I didn’t let any hint of magic to flicker around me.
I didn’t have to look to see Xin crouched, ready to spring at Marne if she reached for her power.
Beside me, loose and stooped, Guillaume waited, ready to draw his blade and begin his attack. He only needed his target.
“I have a very close relationship with my goddess, you see,” Rosalind continued. “I know exactly what penalty my grandmother’s murderess paid. I also know how sentimental the murderess is, especially when it comes to her mother’s former Blood.”
She paused, smiling wider at me and then Leonie, trying to tell which one of us was veiled. “When these Isador Blood are killed before you, you must watch with full knowledge that they’re beyond your powers, Shara Isador. You can’t resurrect them. Not this time. Tuez-les.”
Her Bloods’ hands began to move.
And I released the death knell.