Fool's Proof by Eva Sandor

Author:Eva Sandor [Sandor, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction - Fantasy: Humorous
Publisher: Huszar Designs LLC
Published: 2020-08-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 27

The de Brewels had decided to have some tea.

“It will settle my mind,” declared Dame Irona. “I am still so agitated by this burglary, Elsie dear, I simply cannot tell you. It has been preying on my thoughts constantly, absolutely without cease.”

“Even when we played three games of lawn bowls?” growled Dame Elsebet, poking around with her toe to make certain that her fan was still under the brocade floor cushion she sat upon. “And when we watched your cat play with his magpie friend— who, by the way, came here with us— for a solid hour? And when we critiqued every last one of Kestrella’s drawings? And when...”

“Especially then, darling.”

“I won’t stand on etiquette any longer. Where is your Grand Constable, Irona? I wish to speak to him.”

Dame Irona blinked. “I imagine he’s at the Station House in the city.”

“I thought you said he was here!”

Donn Felip sensed a storm brewing and spoke up. “Cousin Elsie. I get the feeling that you are not altogether at ease. While the brazier is boiling, why don’t we discuss something pleasant? We’ve made plans for a wonderful tourney in celebration of Kestrella’s birthday. Eighteen knights will—”

Dame Elsebet could no longer restrain herself. She pounded the low table with one fist; the exquisitely rustic teapot and the charmingly mismatched ancient cups and the elaborately simple implements of the ceremonial rite jumped. “Where are my knights?” she cried. “I sent you ten of them, where did they go? Did any of you so much as see Doktor Lively? Does no one want to help me find out what happened aboard the Longwing?”

Fred had been admiring his teacup; for the very first time, he’d found himself doing so in sober earnest. He really did find the cup beautiful. He really did find the flames of the charcoal brazier to be fascinating, the massive block of ice in its carved jade holder to be touching— solid, yet transitory, just like life itself, he thought. Why had he never seen this before? Oh, right. Because he’d spent the best years of his life watching the young King fail to properly light the brazier, fail to properly pour the tea, even once stab himself in the thigh trying to use the ice pick. Thank my god, thought Fred, I’ll never have to think about him ever again. I’ll just tell Dame Irona and Donn Felip that I’m staying. But then Dame Elsebet pounded on the table and interrupted these pleasant thoughts.

She was on her feet now, a grave breach of etiquette during the tea ceremony, and pulling her fan and shoes out from under her seat cushion. She was thrusting her feet angrily into the shoes, thrusting the fan angrily into her sleeve, taking Fred angrily by the arm. He opened his mouth to protest, but Dame Elsebet was quicker.

“We bid you good afternoon, Irona, Felip. Or good evening, whichever it is by now. I desire that you call for my rowing barge to be made ready immediately— Brother Malfred and I are going to handle this matter by ourselves.

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