Chapter 14 #3
Still, I hesitated, remembering the dwarf’s words from earlier: there have been many heads removed because of a careless brush of a hand across the hilt.
The rumble of moving rock encompassed the room, muting the footsteps following us in the dark. The doors opened, and briefly, we saw King Inor and Maki, their faces pulled back like snarling animals as they stalked us in the dark.
As the light hit them, both men straightened, their postures returning to that of normal men.
From the doorway, someone spoke rapidly in Krustavian. I couldn’t understand the language, but after so long in Tallu’s court, I recognized the tone: supplication, but also just the slightest warning.
Saxu spoke that way when trying to make Tallu see reason, Nohe used that tone with me when I was being particularly frustrating. The Shadow King raised his chin, then turned, his cape fluttering behind him, the gemstones stitched onto the hem catching the light.
He strode back to his throne, stepping up the dais, the throne beginning to glow slightly and illuminate the room again. Maki slunk back, standing next to the dais, hands clasped behind his back.
Sagam and Asahi kept their gaze fixed on the king and the general. I let my hand fall back to my side and turned to see who had saved us.
In the doorway, a dwarven man stood. He was shorter than me by several inches, but in the light from the hallway, I could see his high cheekbones and plush lips.
There was something attractive about his face, and lines curled around the corners of his lips as though he was more used to laughing than negotiating with mad kings.
He bowed in the imperial manner, low enough to be a sign of great respect, but without forming a triangle with his fingers. When he stood, he hooked one thumb into his belt.
“I am Vostop of Badger Guild, Your Imperial Majesty. Very recently, I served as the ambassador to Krustau in your father’s court.
I apologize that I was not here to help my cousin, the king, with your negotiations.
The nuance of the Imperial tongue can be difficult, even for one who is fluent in it—as my cousin is.
” He made another, smaller bow, then looked at the rest of us.
“I recognize you, of course, Your Imperial Majesty, although you did not ever have any reason to speak to a lowly politician such as myself, but I find myself unfamiliar with your companion.”
Everything in his manner showed his experience with the imperial court—from the formal way he addressed Tallu to the bowing and the artificially humble way he described himself as a lowly politician.
He even acknowledged me while ignoring the very presence of the Dogs.
Despite his Krustavian appearance, I had no doubt that he had been very popular among the courtiers at the Mountainside Palace.
Or, based on how interested they were in my own “northern member,” perhaps his appearance had been something of a selling point.
“Prince Airón, formerly of the Northern Kingdom, now House Atobe.” I bowed just slightly, politely, but shallow enough to show that I was still his superior.
“Congratulations on your nuptials. Even here, so far from the imperial capital, we heard about the ceremony.” Vostop smiled, and it seemed honest enough, no barbed references to General Kacha trying to kill me, or the second attempt on my life at our one-month celebration.
“Thank you. We are very happy with our union,” I said, desperate for any idea of how to respond.
“Ah.” Vostop looked around, frowning as though he was seeing the room for the first time.
“Cousin, there is no food here, nothing to formally introduce the rules of hospitality. This is very easily mended. Empress Koque has just started her tea. I can take them there and have them break bread so that everything has been done correctly. With your leave?”
In Tallu’s court, such a question would have been followed with a bow. Instead, Vostop waited patiently, his smile not faltering at King Inor’s silence.
Finally, Inor nodded. “Take them. I would hate to violate the rules of hospitality myself by forgetting to offer them refreshment.”
Raising his arm in the imperial manner, Vostop gestured, his hand using the silent language of Tallu’s court to request Tallu follow him.
In a few steps, we were out of the throne room, which felt increasingly claustrophobic in the darkness.
Vostop led us down a long hallway in the opposite direction from which we had entered the palace.
As we walked, he narrated the rooms we passed, giving brief histories of this sitting room or that library.
A few of the rooms were dedicated entirely to planning future mining in the mountains, and a few more were for various guilds to formally trade goods.
At last, we reached a room at the end of the long hall. The door was decorated with gold, but unlike the throne room, it was made of wood. Vostop knocked twice and then opened it.
Inside, the most beautiful imperial woman I had ever seen sat at a low table with seating cushions clearly imported from the Imperium. Her skin shone like pearl, gleaming even in the low light. Her eyes were green, and her black hair had been pulled back, with two golden pins holding it in place.
At the sight of Tallu, her mild expression froze, and then something dark and venomous entered her gaze. “Well, Tallu, you have found me at last.”