Berg, Carol - Rai-Kirah 03 by Berg Carol

Author:Berg, Carol [Berg, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-30T15:34:24+00:00

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hand at Blaise, I hurried down the winding path, hearing the art of the master gardener in the changing texture of sound as I passed: a splattering fountain, a soft, hissing spray, a gurgling brooklet. In moments I was peering into the lady\a146s courtyard from behind a dripping wall. With no sign of watchers and only the one servant, the situation was as good as I could expect. And so, prepared for every reaction from tears to knife throwing, I stepped out from my hiding place, went down on one knee, bent my head, and cleared my throat. \a147Your Highness, I beg a word with you.\a148

The serving woman jumped to her feet. \a147Who are you? How did you get in here?\a148

\a147Ways lead both in and out of any maze,\a148 I said. \a147I bring an urgent, private message from the lady\a146s foreign friend.\a148 The

\a147foreign friend\a148 was indeed my own self, the designation Lydia had given me when we were working to save Aleksander from the Khelid and their demons.

Oddly enough, my words elicited a sharp in breath, not from Lydia, whose only reaction was a perfect, fragile stillness, but rather from the veiled serving woman, who quickly bent down to confer with her mistress. I did not spy on what was said, and I remained about twenty paces away, hoping to seem less threatening. As the serving woman retreated and settled herself at a discreet distance a quarter of the way around the pool, the Princess said,

\a147Come.\a148

I stood up again and moved a few steps closer. \a147May I speak freely, my lady?\a148 I said softly.

\a147The answer depends on what news you bring,\a148 she said, meeting my gaze. The fire in her great green eyes told me that her fragility was but an illusion. This woman was the Empress-in-waiting that I knew, Aleksander\a146s worthy sparring partner. \a147My waiting woman will signal us if anyone intrudes. But be warned. I do carry a knife.\a148

I crouched down beside her, speaking low so that no one could have heard us, save perhaps the brown and white hawk that now sat on an almond tree beside the pool. \a147He lives, madam.\a148

\a147And you think I care about the despicable, rock-headed tyrant?\a148

Only one who understood Lydia\a146s temper and her passion for her husband would have recognized the moment\a146s true emotion\a151the shallow breath exhaled, the quick swallow, the book tossed aside by fingers no longer clenched.

\a147Indeed, madam, I believe we yet share that particular affliction, although once I give you his message, your feelings may rightly change.\a148 I hated what the Prince had asked of me.

She hunched her shoulders under her capacious white shawl as if the day had grown bitter. \a147Then perhaps you had best get on with it, lest I be tempted to think his sending you, of all messengers, is one of his usual sneaking ploys to regain my favor. How many exiled wives are brought messages by one that rumor names

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