Chapter 16
“Thank you for the escort, Blinkem. I won’t hold you but a few more moments,” Rosemarie said, settling into the settee in the sitting room of her private apartment.
Blinkem cleared his throat nervously before taking a sip from the glass Rosemarie had offered.
She turned to the footman standing at the door.
“Bernard, before you are excused, tell me, when did my husband summon his niece, Princess Languidere?”
The guard shot a look at Blinkem. Was it mistrust?
“He will remain discreet, I assure you,” Rosemarie said, having seen the same uncertainty in the guard.
“He sent the albatross for her after you had informed him of your guests’ arrival,” the guard said, with another look to Blinkem. It was polite of him to refer to them as guests.
“That will be all,” Rosemarie said with a nod, settling further into her pillows. As the guard clicked his heels, turned and left, she looked to Blinkem.
“I know something of hiding in plain sight,” she said calmly. “I’m the Queen of Ev, and a witch. Which, as you know, is forbidden here.” Blinkem nodded. While the mainland of Oz now allowed for a witch to be regent, Ev, along with many of the other territories, maintained the old traditions.
Rosemarie continued. “But why you withhold your station is intriguing to me. But do not worry, I won’t reveal your status to your mysterious, and very lovely, travel companion.
Though you’re going to have to confess to her before you return to the North.
” She smirked as if reading his thoughts.
Though Blinkem felt a small sense of relief, he remained sharply on guard.
“You are lucky the king is clueless of any matters outside of Ev, or he would have ousted you immediately, driver.” Blinkem grinned respectfully at the jest.
“Who is she?” Rosemarie asked bluntly. “Is the girl one of Tattypoo’s refugees?
” She squinted discerningly, and Blinkem nodded.
Though he hadn’t seen her since he was a boy, Queen Rosemarie’s reputation of razor-sharp intellect kept well hidden beneath frivolous decadence remained true.
“It’s rather unorthodox for Tatty not to bring a refugee herself, is it not?
Especially given that this one is pursued by a host of chaos witches. ”
“She, Alice, is the first that I myself have brought to Oz,” Blinkem said, wishing Rosemarie would leave it there, but she shifted still deeper into her cushions, as if to settle deeper into questioning.
“I don’t know much more. I did not know any threat would follow her,” he said, hoping to forestall Rosemarie.
“Tattypoo assigned me to watch her until the time was right to bring her here.” Blinkem paused, waiting for the next round of questioning, but Rosemarie’s eyes were focused far from where he was.
“I’m curious, though. I get the distinct impression that Alice does not know that she is a witch?
Does she know that she is bound?” Rosemarie asked pointedly.
Blinkem wasn’t clear what Rosemarie meant by bound, and this must have shown on his face, for she went on.
“Her powers, Blinkem. Someone has bound her, and with the energy I sense from her—someone has hidden something quite singular. Does Tattypoo know who has bound her?”
“I truly know nothing of this. Tattypoo would be able to answer your questions. All I know is that it is of utmost importance that I return to the North and bring Alice to Tattypoo. I will have Tatty contact you immediately, once I am there.” Blinkem hoped this would satisfy, as the line of questioning made him anxious.
Rosemarie nodded skeptically. “When did Tattypoo contact you last?” He tried to recall. It had been some time. “I’m worried,” Rosemarie said, her eyes drifting. “I have not heard from her. And Death has returned to Evna.” Rosemarie fixed her eyes on Blinkem’s. “Has it reached the mainland?”
Blinkem’s pulse quickened. His body tempered the panicky urge to bound from the room. He had not expected this question, nor the fear that it brought. “I have not heard anything of the sort.”
Rosemarie nodded, her disappointment evident as she adjusted a pillow behind her back. “A dozen cases in Ev in the past few weeks alone. It would seem the land, or something below the land, has begun to sever what it provides—again.”
“I have no knowledge of any instances in the North,” Blinkem replied, his mind racing.
Though he did not say it, he hoped this was an isolated occurrence, and that the mainland of Oz was protected.
The last return of Death had rid Evna of nearly all its elder folk, including Rosemarie’s father.
He did not envy her position; she had been so young when she was seated, with no one to guide her. Though this he understood.
“We mustn’t speak any more of this. Thank you for your discretion. Now, I would recommend that you make yourself scarce around Princess Languidere until we can get you and Alice out of here.”
“Of course,” Blinkem said, grateful for her discretion and apparent protection, though he felt little relief.
He wished he could comfort Queen Rosemarie, for the weight that she held was surely staggering, but he knew not what to say.
Instead, the two sat quietly, each swirling in the catastrophic potential that Death reemerging would have in their respective lands.