The Golden One by Deborah Chester

Author:Deborah Chester
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781572972780
Publisher: Ace
Published: 1997-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER•THIRTEEN

The Kaa shifted on his high-backed chair and sighed. Kneeling at his feet, Ampris dared steal a quick peek at his face, then quickly looked down again. He looked so bleak, like a stranger. With all her heart she wanted to ask about Israi, but she dared say nothing. Without turning her head, she tried to look toward Israi’s bed to see how her friend was doing, but the angle was all wrong.

“Ampris.” The Kaa’s deep voice made her jump. “This is a terrible day.”

Gaveid prodded her again with his staff, and Ampris bowed lower until her head nearly touched the floor. “Yes, sire,” she whispered. Because she was Aaroun and not Viis, she could not call him Imperial Father as the others at court did. “A very terrible day.”

“You are beloved of the Imperial Daughter,” the Kaa said. “For her sake, we will allow you to tell us what occurred on the side of the mountain.”

Although stern, his voice held no anger, no accusation. Relieved, Ampris looked up. “Will she be all right? Is she badly hurt?”

The Kaa’s rill lifted, and Chancellor Gaveid cleared his throat in hasty warning.

Ampris gulped and lowered her eyes at once.

“It is the Imperial Father who asks the questions,” Gaveid told her. “Not you.”

She nodded, keeping her gaze down. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, trying not to whimper.

Silence fell over the room, and the chancellor sighed. “Perhaps another approach is needed, sire.”

The Kaa gestured assent and leaned his head back wearily against his chair.

“Ampris,” Gaveid said in a gentle voice, “why did you and the Imperial Daughter avoid the main trail?”

It was easier to talk to the chancellor than the Kaa. In relief, Ampris turned to Gaveid. “The shortcut is quicker and more fun.”

“It is dangerous.”

Ampris shrugged. “We’ve been up it before.”

The Kaa made a faint sound but gestured for the chancellor to continue.

“Was it your idea to take the Imperial Daughter up this trail?”

“No,” Ampris answered honestly. “We were trying to hurry to avoid Lady Lenith. We were going on a picnic, you see, and she would have had us spend the afternoon doing needle art or something boring.”

“Why did the Imperial Daughter not take her guards as she was supposed to?”

Ampris backed her ears, wondering how to explain the obvious to an adult. “We were pretending,” she said at last. “It’s hard to do that with them along.”

“Why did you urge the Imperial Daughter to keep climbing when Lord Fazhmind called out to her to return?”

“But I didn’t.”

Gaveid’s cynical yellow eyes grew quite cold, and he inflated his air sacs. “On the contrary, cub,” he said very gently. “Lord Fazhmind witnessed you doing exactly that.”

“I didn’t.”

“Denial does not alter what he has said. The Imperial Daughter walked before you up the trail, as was proper, until Lord Fazhmind called out. Then you pushed ahead of her and pulled her onto the rocks after you.”

“Oh, that,” Ampris said, comprehending now. “We were wearing these silly old costumes, as part of our pretending, but they were too long and awfully in the way.

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