"Not more rigmarole," Blade groaned, allowing himself to be steered down a hall.
"Just a great deal of food, My Lord."
A vast table, draped with a gilt-edged white satin cloth, dominated the centre of the banquet hall. An amazing variety of food covered it, laid out in crystal bowls, translucent jade plates and golden platters. Feathers and flowers decorated the steaming spread of succulent fowl, game and fish that jostled for space between jugs of rare herb sauces and dishes of vegetables. Many smaller tables surrounded it, set with alabaster plates and golden cutlery.
The servant led him to the high table at the far end of the chamber as nobles wandered in, talking amongst themselves. Many stared at Blade in a hostile manner, but his glare made them look away. The ceremony had, by now, started to annoy him, and he growled at the servant when the man tried to guide him to a chair.
"For God's sake, leave me alone!"
The man bowed and retreated, leaving Blade standing beside the Queen's table. Before he could decide what to do, a mocking voice spoke behind him.
"So, your deeds are rewarded, and quickly too, I must say."
Blade swung around to find Kerrion grinning at him. The Prince went on, "Usually these things take days to arrange. It seems your queen knew in advance of your success."
The assassin scowled at his former captive. "So, they let you out of your cage."
"Oh, yes, I have already dined with the Queen and spent many long time-glasses talking to her. She is a little naive, but no more so than any other young woman. She wants a peace treaty, as I suspected. You will not be allowed the satisfaction of adding me to your tally."
Blade shrugged. "Life is full of little surprises."
"The Invisible Assassin, hmmm? If only they knew."
"I have never left anyone alive to tell my secret before."
"Well, I am sure it will make fascinating dinner conversation tonight." He chuckled. "Perhaps you will give a demonstration?"
Blade stepped closer, his demeanour threatening. "I should have killed you."
"Too late now. Lords do not kill princes."
"One word from the Queen, and I will stop your flapping tongue forever."
"You will be disappointed, she plans to send me back."
Blade turned away. "She may yet change her mind."
"I doubt it. She wants peace too much. I would say that she will do anything to achieve it."
"But since you do not, you are quite useless to her, are you not?" The assassin faced him again. "Perhaps your brother will be more amenable, especially to threats upon his life. Now that he has seen that he is vulnerable, as your father was, he may wish to protect himself."
Kerrion looked put out. "Lerton's ego is too big for him to give way to such threats."
"You do not sound entirely confident of that."
"My brother will not leave the city."
"That is supposed to daunt me?" Blade smiled, and Kerrion glowered at him.
"Your queen will not sanction it."
"If you co-operate, I doubt it. But if you do not, you may well end up dead, and your brother may find himself faced with a choice between peace and death."
"You have a high opinion of your abilities," Kerrion growled.
"Surely you cannot be such a fool as to doubt me?"
The Prince met Blade's eyes, and the assassin knew that Kerrion would find in their wintry depths the chilling certainty that to doubt him was folly. Blade went on, "Tread softly, Prince, and listen well to the Queen's suggestions. Your life may depend upon it. Killing you and all your kin will give me more pleasure than lands and titles."
"One word to the Queen, and you could find yourself on the gallows, assassin. I doubt that she takes kindly to her minions threatening the man with whom she would negotiate peace."
Blade affected a startled air. "Did I threaten you?" He smiled. "I never kill without a client, but she may grow weary of your foolishness yet, and decide to take another course, such as the one I have suggested. And since I now have her ear, I may suggest it to her myself, especially if I should find myself at all annoyed by certain disclosures regarding my occupation."
"I will not be blackmailed," Kerrion declared. "I will judge the negotiations upon their merit, and not be swayed by your threats."
"Bear it in mind, nonetheless."
By now, the hall had filled, and the Queen arrived with her retainers to seat herself between the assassin and the Prince. Blade found himself on her right hand, with Chiana just beyond him. As soon as all had taken their places, the meal was served, starting with the Queen, then her guests. As soon as the servants moved away, Minna turned to Blade.
"So, My Lord, how did you like the ceremony?"
Blade's brows rose. "You call me 'My Lord'?"
"Of course. That is now your title. Any who do not address you thus are rude, and you may chastise them, if you will."
"Really?" He glanced at Kerrion. "I will have to remember that."
"You did not answer my question, Lord Conash."
"The ceremony? I could have done well enough without it."
"I could tell." She smiled. "Nevertheless, it is now official. You no longer have to prostrate yourself to me. Not that you ever did, but a bow is all that is required of you."
He sampled the sucking pig and steamed vegetables in a spicy sauce. "And these lands that are now mine, when may I see them?"
"For now, you are required here. When I can spare you, you may travel to inspect them. They are administered efficiently, at the moment."
"What do you need me for, My Queen?"
Minna shot him a quelling look, and Kerrion commented, "You obviously have no knowledge of protocol, Lord Conash. It is not polite to question the Queen."
"What would you know of queens, Kerrion, since you have none in Cotti lands?" Blade shot back.
"I treat them the same as kings, of which you have no experience, either."
"I would not say that. I know that they bleed like any other man, and their blood is red. They die just like commoners, too."
Minna frowned at Blade. "This is not a subject I wish to hear of, Lord Conash, and both of you will stop sparring this instant."
Blade smiled and turned his attention to his meal, ignoring Kerrion's furious glare. The two did not speak to each other again after that, and Minna-Satu divided her attention between them for the rest of the meal. When at last the feast ended, Blade had imbibed a great deal of excellent wine, and felt quite expansive. He had not been so drunk, he reflected, for several years. To do so was dangerous. It slowed his reflexes and interfered with his reasoning. This night, however, at the Queen's side, he was confident of his safety.
The assassin's wariness of becoming inebriated had never stopped him from drinking, for that had always been one of his few pleasures. Usually he only allowed himself to reach the point of being comfortably numb, when many things became amusing, and he could laugh. This night he had not laughed, but quickly passed to the point where he could no longer think clearly, whereupon the manservant helped him to his rooms. Blade flopped down on the bed and fell asleep as the servant removed his boots. A short while later, he snapped awake, his heightened senses warning him of a presence in the room, even in his drunken state. Minna sat on the edge of the bed, regarding him with deep concern.
He relaxed. "You should not be here, My Queen."
"Why, pray tell?"
"It is not seemly for you to be in a man's bed chamber."
Minna smiled. "With you I am safe."
"Still, rumours may grow from this. It is not right."
"What will they say? Most know of your… misfortune, though I have only told Chiana, for she was too innocent to see it. I think she was greatly disappointed."