Daughter of the Disgraced King (12 page)

The emperor sat back in his chair. “Ah. I think I must agree
with your grandmother on this.” He glanced over at Jathan. “I’m glad you’ve had
my son’s protection so far, but I may have to assign you your own body guard,
as well.”

Ailsa suppressed a grimace. Nothing at all had happened in
long enough that she’d been just about to ask her grandmother to let her go out
alone again. Not that she didn’t like Jathan’s company—at least when he wasn’t
making himself and her the center of attention—but she was beginning to feel
just a little restless, cooped up between her grandmother’s home and the
Institute. She’d hardly seen any of the rest of Terranion yet.

The emperor turned back to Ailsa. “Why does your father
stay? He must know he’d be welcome here.”

Ailsa wished she could tug on her braid. “He stays because
he loves Far Terra and still wants to do what he can to help.”

The emperor stroked his chin. “But if your father moved
here, none of you would have to concern yourselves with Ewart’s insecurities.”

Ailsa shook her head. “No. If we moved here, King Ewart
would only think that Papa was lobbying you to engineer his return to the
throne. Then Aunt Izbel and her family would be at risk. The king’s suspicion
doesn’t touch them much, now. Aunt Izbel is both a woman and a mage, so not much
of a threat to King Ewart’s position. And even though the king keeps an eye on
him, my cousin Perion really isn’t a contender for the throne because he’s
descended only through the female line. But if they left, too, Far Terra would
lose a much-needed water mage. Papa doesn’t want that. Far Terra desperately
needs mages. If those of us born there won’t do the work, who will?”

The emperor turned to glance out the window at the gardens. “Hmm.
A sticky situation all around. What about this Prince Savyon? Will he be a
different kind of king than his father do you think?”

Ailsa paused to think. What kind of king would Sav make? “Yes.
He certainly will not feel as insecure as King Ewart. I think things will
improve that way.”

The emperor’s eyes held hers like a vise. “I hear a ‘but’ in
your voice. What is it?”

Ailsa sighed. She’d been trying not to think too deeply
about this aspect, but the emperor deserved the full truth. “I’m not sure how
different Sav’s position will be relative to the mages. Not personally, but
politically. I don’t know if he’ll be able to overcome the barons’ desire to .
. . to keep the mages in their place, as they see it. To prevent the mages from
exercising any kind of power in Far Terra.”

“Hmm. Yes. It puts him in a difficult position. To
completely reverse that position—or even try to—would be the same as saying
that his father should never have been king, and so weaken his own position.”

Ailsa bit her lip. She hadn’t thought of it that way. How
much could Sav really do, even if he wanted to? Grandmama’s sunny ideas about
affecting change in Far Terra had some gaping holes in them that Ailsa hadn’t
spotted at first. Maybe she’d just wanted to believe it was possible.

The emperor sat back a little in his chair. “You’re friends
with this prince. Can you tell me more about him?”

Ailsa blinked. “What do you want to know?”

The emperor waved a hand. “Well, they say he’s somewhat shy.”

Ailsa cocked her head to the side. “No. Not really shy. More
. . . reserved. Sav doesn’t much like or feel comfortable at big public
functions or in crowds.”

The emperor’s eyes narrowed. “That could be a problem. Kings
and emperors don’t have much choice about that.”

Ailsa sat forward, eager to make the emperor understand Sav’s
good points. “But he does care about Far Terra. A lot. He doesn’t have his
father’s distrust of mages. He’s . . . he’s very serious about doing things
well.” Serious was a very good word to describe Sav.

The emperor rubbed his chin again. “Hmm. I think I may have
to arrange to bring Prince Savyon, Prince Cergio, and probably Prince Perion to
Terranion. I don’t like having a King of Far Terra that I’ve never met and
having to get my information second-hand—even from you. The treaty requires
that all potential heirs come here for at least part of their education for a
reason. Yes, before I make a decision, I need to know who I’m dealing with.”

Sav coming here?
Ailsa swallowed. To see him again so
soon. But . . . but she wasn’t ready to give him an answer yet. Not nearly
ready. She was supposed to have more time. She looked out the window. On the
far side of the rose garden, fruit was just beginning to ripen on a row of
fruit trees. She breathed out.
Oh, yes. It’s almost summer. Even the emperor
can’t bring Sav here any sooner than the autumn. No one but the imperial
couriers cross the desert in the summer.
She turned back to face the
emperor in case he had more questions.

Jathan had a deep furrow between his eyes and a more serious
look than she’d ever seen on his face. “Why do the barons
fear
mages?”

“The king and the barons have all—or nearly all—the
political power in Far Terra. A lot of the economic power, too. But it would
all evaporate without magic to keep Far Terra from fading back into the desert.
They need the mages too much. If the mages were just half as organized as the
barons,
they’d
be the ones in power. And the barons know it.
That’s
what they’re afraid of.”

The emperor nodded. “Thank you very much for your insights.
I hope you know that you can come here to me at any time. You deserve it in
your own right, but I could do no less for Sandor’s daughter.”

“Don’t forget the ball, Father,” Jathan said.

“Ah, yes. The traditional Solstice ball is in a few days. We’d
be glad to have you come.”

“You can be my dance partner again,” Jathan said. “I’ll make
sure my stepbrothers keep their distance this time.” He winked at her. “And you
can meet my younger sister, too.”

Ailsa hesitated. In her experience, it was dangerous to
refuse a royal—let alone an imperial—invitation, but . . .

“I guarantee my brothers will leave you alone,” Jathan said.
“With Father and Mother there, and my brothers, you’ll be just another guest.
You can have the kind of uninterrupted evening you should have had at the
student ball.”

Ailsa smiled. It really had been fun to dance with Jathan,
before his brothers turned up. “All right, then. I’d enjoy that.”

As she rode back to Grandmama’s in the carriage, Ailsa
reflected on the difference between King Ewart and the emperor. That must be
the difference between a man who didn’t have to question his power and one who couldn’t
stop questioning his. The first was definitely better. Papa would have been a
king like that. Would Sav?

Ailsa stepped out of the carriage and smoothed down her new
gown. Grandmama had insisted that the Solstice ball required something brand
new. This was a column of sea green lace over a lighter green silk that made
Ailsa
feel
taller. The lace made a pattern like rose leaves and a row of
perfectly formed silk roses bloomed along the neckline. She’d never worn a gown
that felt more completely
right.
She twirled once in place, watching the
hidden gores of the lace skirt and silk underskirt flare out so she could dance
freely.

As she came back around to face the broad marble stairs,
Jathan stood there smiling at her. He was all in green, too. A dark green
satin-trimmed velvet tunic and lighter green trousers that nearly matched the
color of the silk underneath her lace. Ailsa put her hands down, blushing
furiously.

Jathan bowed and held out his arm to escort Ailsa inside. “You
look fantastic. Let’s go put that amazing gown to its intended purpose and make
all the other ladies jealous that they don’t have your dressmaker—or your
figure.”

Ailsa looked down to hide her smile. Sav would never dream
of greeting her with such an obvious compliment. “You look very nice, too.”

Ailsa looped her arm through his and rested her hand lightly
on his arm. Jathan led her up the marble steps into a foyer that looked like it
was built to the scale of dragons, rather than mere humans. Everywhere she
looked was more marble—pale yellow marble on the floor, delicate rose-colored
marble in the pillars, grey marble on the walls. It was beautiful, but it all
felt so incredibly cold and lifeless that Ailsa had to struggle to suppress a
shiver.

“Don’t worry,” Jathan said. “The ballroom will be less . . .
stark. It’s meant to be impressive in a different way.”

Their footsteps echoed as they crossed the vast entry hall.
Music issued from an arched doorway on the left. Jathan guided her in that
direction. The arch was green marble and the floor beyond was made of marble
tiles in the same color. Ailsa hadn’t known there were so many different shades
of marble, though she definitely preferred the green. Hundreds of lamps with
multi-colored glass covers lit the hall. Swirling couples filled the floor.
Around the edges, though, were huge marble urns filled with flowering trees. Two
of the largest flanked the archway. Ailsa breathed in the perfume of the
flowers.

“Shall we?” Jathan asked, preparing to whirl her into the
dance.

“Don’t we need to pay our respects to the emperor, first?”
Ailsa whispered. She turned her head and realized that the dais was empty.

“Gods, no. He and Mother are out there dancing themselves. Why
would he want to sit up there and just watch?”

One side of Ailsa’s mouth twitched up, then the other. “I
have no idea. It’s just the way things are at King Ewart’s dances. You have to
go up to the dais and bow or curtsy to him, first.”

Jathan leaned close as he swept her onto the dance floor. “You’re
not in Far Terra now, Ailsa.”

Ailsa’s smiled wider. “I’m not, am I?” She took a minute to
let it sink in as it hadn’t at the Student Ball. She didn’t have to make
obeisance to King Ewart here. His piggish little eyes wouldn’t be watching her
every move. She really could just relax and have a good time. It was very
freeing.

Ailsa gave herself up to the music. Dancing with Jathan was
like floating over the floor. At some point, they spun effortlessly past the emperor
and empress. The emperor smiled and winked at Ailsa, who grinned back. They
also passed the other princes, who all nodded to her, but made no move to try
to cut in. Ailsa was glad. It was so much more fun this way.

They might have been dancing for hours when Jathan steered
them over to a broad archway and out onto a long terrace overlooking the
gardens. Several other couples were standing at intervals along the balustrade.
“I don’t know about you, but I could use a short break.”

Ailsa wandered over to the balustrade, inhaling the scent of
growing things and allowing the cool evening breeze to blow across her heated
face. She inhaled. Something sweet-scented must be blooming in the gardens
below.

“The gardenia’s are blooming heavily this year,” Jathan said
as if he could read her mind.

“Is that what that is? We don’t have those in Far Terra.”

“That’s too bad. They smell wonderful, don’t they? Though I
do admit they can get a little cloying en masse.” He pointed at a bush a few
yards away, covered in white blossoms. “That’s a gardenia.”

“It’s beautiful.” She looked up at the night sky and her
brow furrowed. The moon had been rising when she arrived, now it was past the
zenith. “How late is it?”

“Oh, late. It must be midnight, at least. The dancers have
already begun to thin out—at least the older ones have. It’s not unusual for
the solstice ball to last until dawn.”

No wonder her mouth was so dry. She’d never danced that long
before, but Ailsa didn’t feel at all tired, especially out here above the
garden. Her feet still continued to tap along with the music.

“You’re not tired are you?” Jathan asked. “I could call for
your carriage, if you want. Though, I admit, I’d rather you stayed.”

Ailsa smiled. “No. I’m not tired. I should be. I am thirsty,
though.”

Jathan smiled. “Me, too. Stay there. I’ll be right back.”

Ailsa leaned on the balustrade, taking in the sights and
scents of the garden. It was very nearly all the refreshment she needed. She
was aware of someone coming to stand next to her and turned, expecting Jathan.
She took a step back. Not Jathan.

The man was wearing dark, almost black, but elegant clothes.
His hair was dark, too. And he was staring at Ailsa.

“Uh . . .” She started, uncertain who he was.

The man glanced over his shoulder once, as if looking for
someone. Then he turned back to Ailsa and leaned forward. “This is just a
friendly warning, Lady Ailsa. Don’t let all this hobnobbing with high company
go to your head. Dancing with princes—all four of them. Meeting with the
emperor. Sooner or later you’ll have to leave this behind and return to Far
Terra. Better if you don’t say too much about things that’re over your head while
you’re here. Understand?”

She swallowed and stared, not knowing what to say to this.
The man nodded and slipped down the steps to the garden, quickly disappearing
among the shrubs in the dark.

Ailsa jumped when Jathan appeared at her elbow, bearing two
goblets of iced wine punch.

Jathan’s smile wavered. “What’s wrong?”

Ailsa blinked as he handed her one of the goblets. She took
a sip of wine to ease her dry throat. “There was a man just now. He said . . .
he warned me not to say too much while I’m here. He . . . he knew I’d danced
with all four princes. That
had
to be the Student Ball. And that I’d met
with your father.”

Jathan’s head swiveled to take in the dance floor. “Where is
he now?”

Ailsa took another sip of wine to steady herself. “He went
down the steps into the garden.”

“Right.” Jathan set his goblet on the top of the balustrade.
He turned to pull a pretty girl in pink satin forward from where she stood just
inside the arch. “Ailsa, this is my sister, Princess Mayra. Mayra, this is
Ailsa. Stay with her for a moment, all right? Don’t let her out of your sight.
I’ll be right back.”

“Nice to meet you,” Ailsa said, unsure whether to offer her
hand or curtsy. Jathan hadn’t let her curtsy to the emperor himself, but that
was in private.

While she dithered, Mayra took her free hand and pulled her
into a brief hug. “I’m so glad to meet you at last.”

Jathan hurried off into the ballroom. Ailsa saw him
interrupt Arrigo’s dance. The two conferred briefly and then both dashed off in
different directions.

Ailsa turned her attention to Mayra. She was maybe a year
younger than Ailsa. Her hair was several shades darker than Jathan’s, but had
the same reddish tinge, and there was something in her eyes that reminded Ailsa
strongly of Jathan, too.

She tried to think of something to say, but her mind seemed
to be scattered to the four winds. There was something . . . something she
should remember.

Mayra smiled at her. She pointed to Ailsa’s goblet. “You
should drink some more. It’ll probably help settle your nerves.”

“I’m sorry . . .”

Mayra patted her arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. A thing like
that would unsettle anyone. And right here in the palace, too. Father will be
furious. I foresee a week’s worth of drills for the imperial guards on duty
tonight.”

Ailsa took another sip of the wine. “He . . . he seemed to
be dressed for the ball. Just . . . all his clothes were dark, almost black.”

“They’ll find him. If they have to search the whole city.
Don’t worry.”

Ailsa drew a deep breath. It was true. “Thanks.”

Mayra cocked her head and smiled at Ailsa. “I had just
twisted Jathan’s arm into introducing us. I don’t get a chance to meet very
many other princesses. It’s all boys here. We just have to be friends.”

Ailsa choked back a laugh. All her life until she’d come
here, her friends had been Sav, Cergio, and Perion. “It’s all boys where I come
from, too.”

“See, we should be friends. Almost like sisters,” Mayra
said.

Ailsa smiled back. There was something very calming about
Mayra’s presence.

“I don’t think we’re going to get a very good chance to become
better acquainted tonight, though,” Mayra said with a sigh. “Probably wouldn’t
have even if this hadn’t happened. Not at a ball. Do you like to ride?”

Ailsa’s smile grew into a grin. “I love it.” Her grin faded.
She missed riding, but she missed Pearl even more. “But I left my horse back
home in Far Terra.”

“Of course you did. I’m certain we could find a horse for
you in the imperial stables. It won’t be the same, but at least it’ll give you
a chance to get out. And give us a chance to talk. Come tomorrow. Please.”

“I’d enjoy that.” Ailsa looked into the ballroom, where the
dancing was going on despite the conspicuous absence of all four princes and .
. . and the emperor.

Jathan appeared in the archway, returning to them. He
offered a half-smile. “The guard is still searching, but we’re reasonably sure
that man isn’t anywhere on the palace grounds.”

Ailsa’s eyes widened and she drew in a sharp breath.

Jathan took her hands in his. “You’re safe now.”

Ailsa shook her head. “It’s not that. I just realized what
it was I couldn’t remember. It was the same man. The . . . the one from the
coach.”

Jathan’s lips thinned. “So. He
is
an agent of someone
in Far Terra. I’ll let Father know, just as soon as he comes back to the ball.
He’ll make sure the guard leaves no stone unturned.”

One side of Ailsa’s mouth twisted up in a half-grimace. “I’m
going to have to have body guards whenever I go out after this, aren’t I?”

Jathan squeezed her hand. “You’ve had a body guard ever
since your meeting with our father.”

Ailsa blinked. “I . . . I have?”

Jathan smiled. “Arrigo excepted, they’re usually pretty good
at making themselves inconspicuous—unless they’re needed.” He frowned slightly.
“Would you like me to call for your carriage after all? I understand if this
has frightened you too much to keep on dancing.”

“I . . . do you think I should go home?” Ailsa asked.

“
I
most certainly don’t,” Mayra said. “You can’t let
this . . . well, whoever he is spoil your evening.
That’s
only letting
them win.” She pulled herself up regally. “The proper thing for a princess to
do is rise above it. Show them you’re not afraid of them.” She relaxed
slightly. “Even if you are.”

Ailsa swallowed another sip of her wine punch to give
herself time to think. Mayra was right. King Ewart had ruined every ball she’d
ever been to in Far Terra. He or whichever of the barons had sent that man
weren’t going to ruin her fun here in Terranion. She stood up a little
straighter. “You’re right. I’m not going to let King Ewart have that kind of
control over me. Not anymore.”

“Atta girl!” Jathan said. “Would you like to dance some
more? I assure you, there’s no place safer than the dance floor of the imperial
ballroom. Especially now, with guards posted at every door.”

Ailsa jerked her chin up. “As a matter of fact, I would.”
She let Jathan lead her back through the arch and onto the dance floor.

“See you tomorrow afternoon,” Mayra called after them.

The music was slower now and there were fewer couples,
nearly all younger, on the floor. Dancing with Jathan was just as effortless
and delightful, though.

“What’s tomorrow?” Jathan asked.

“Mayra invited me to ride with her.”

Jathan’s smile was slightly secretive. “Good idea.”

She had no idea how much longer they danced. Eventually, she
stumbled and Jathan had to catch her.