Merrick had never seen the Grand Duchess like this. She was known for her martial nature, for being a crack shot, and for pruning out the members of the aristocracy who disagreed with her brother. None ever really dared to comment on her beauty.
In that moment Merrick was struck by even greater doubts. Maybe he had misread the situation. Maybe Zofiya was in no way interested in him—perhaps she only thought of him as a friend and confidant. She was a highborn lady, sister to an emperor, and daughter to a mighty king. Though he had some aristocratic blood in him, it was very minor compared to hers. What’s more, she was a dazzling dark star who could have any man in the Empire. What would she possibly want with him?
All these things ran through his head as he stood gaping up at her. Never had the Order’s archaic dress felt so dowdy. In his confusion he sketched a bow—a far too deep one. The Deacons were not exempt to showing deference to the royal family, but the form was the most fleeting of any rank. She smiled at him, and the look of it quite washed away the memories of her stern past.
On the airship back from Orinthal, they had both had their perceptions and attitudes turned all upside down—some for the better.
Then the Emperor Kaleva himself appeared at his sister’s side. With him was his new bride, the once Princess of Chioma, Ezefia. They were scarce a month married, and already everyone was looking to her belly for a child to secure the succession. She was a beautiful enough woman, darker of skin than the Emperor, with eyes of deep blue—but there was also a deep scar in her mind. It fairly blazed in the ether, so that even those not of the Order could see it. He had seen such things before; the result of a traumatic event. The new Empress had certainly suffered not just one—but many—of those. Her father had been killed and his principality had been lost along with him.
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on the point of view, Merrick had larger things to worry about. As long as his new brother, Lyon and their mother were safe he really didn’t mind that they could have had more. In his experience such jockeying for position only ended badly for the families.
“Deacon Chambers, indeed!” The Emperor’s smile did not reveal any ill will. “A pleasure to see you once more in our halls.” He shot a sideways glance at his sister. “We have become quite used to your presence.”
Zofiya did not move, but Ezefia flicked open her fan and began to wave it back and forth. Her eyes were fixed on Merrick with something that might have been a baleful look. “His presence did my father little good.”
The Emperor glanced at her and Merrick sketched a brief rune of Kebenar in his mind. It was another advantage of being a Sensitive Deacon—most of their runes did not require their talisman to be activated or even touched. Actives were considerably more flashy and less subtle. Kebenar unrolled before him, laying out the strains and stresses, the structure and the curvature of the situation. The russet air between the Emperor and the Empress spoke of a not entirely content marriage. Kaleva still had both of his favorites within the Court, and the lines that stretched between them were a fiery red of passion. His bond to his sister looked strained also, though still the soft, rose pink of affection. Hers in return was thicker, but the pink was slightly stained with green. A change was coming over her.
Merrick closed his eyes, dropped them away from Ezefia, which neatly concealed him pulling back his Center and letting the rune fade in his mind. “Forgive me, Your Imperial Majesty, but my partner and I tried our best to save the Prince of Chioma. He made a valiant sacrifice for his people—but it was a path he chose willingly.”
Zofiya turned on Ezefia. “Sister, you should honor his choice, and hold his memory dear. He did what all sovereigns should be willing to do.” The words were said pleasantly enough, but the look on her face was as sharp as a blade. The Grand Duchess was never unarmed, even when she carried no weapon.
“Ah, Little Wolf,” the Emperor interrupted, “you have such a sharp bite—even on the defenseless.”
His sister glanced at him, a flicker of a frown on her brow. She did not reply, but instead, turned to Merrick and held out her hand. “I have been told that the Order does not prohibit dancing. Do you know how, Deacon Chambers?” Then before he could answer, she whisked him away from her brother, up the stairs to the ballroom.
The largest and most ostentatious room in the palace, it looked even more so tonight. Exotic flowers were crammed in every vase, and filled the room with a cacophony of scents. Gaslights, so unlike the candles used at the Mother Abbey, reflected off every polished window and gleaming brass surface, while an orchestra of beautifully dressed musicians played on a balcony above the dancers.
Merrick found himself out on the floor with the best and brightest of the Empire, moving as agilely as he could to the Drevense quadrille. It was lucky indeed that the Order had taught the basics in Court etiquette for those living and working at the Mother Abbey. This had included two days on the favorite dances of the Court. He’d thought it quite the most useless class in the novitiate—but now he was extremely grateful for this passing acquaintance with dance. Even so, he was in deadly peril of squashing the Grand Duchess’ toes at every move. The strange thing was she was allowing him to lead—a totally unexpected turn of events.
“I never used to wear anything but my uniform,” Zofiya whispered, and smiled somewhat sadly, “but many things have changed since Chioma—my fashion and my brother for example.”
Her voice was so melancholy that Merrick couldn’t help pulling her a little closer. “He still loves and cares for you, Zofiya.” Her name just slipped out over his tongue.
It was the kind of error that she’d challenged men to duels for in the past. When she pulled back and stared at him, Merrick felt his throat grow a little dry.
Her smile was dazzling, but her eyes still darted around the room.
“Do you see him over there?” she whispered in his ear, as she danced a circle behind the Deacon. Aside from the words, the feel of her breath on his neck was quite distracting.
He had in truth almost forgotten her mission, in the turmoil of thinking of his own. As he turned to face Zofiya he managed to catch a glimpse of the person who had her so worried—and instantly his vague interest sharpened to something else. It was a face that he could not forget.
In the tunnels beneath Orinthal, Merrick had faced a group of people who wore the insignia of the Order of the Circle of Stars—the native Order of Arkaym. They had tried to take his mother from him, and he had only managed to recover her by using his own shameful and hidden wild talent.
The face of the other Deacon was burned into Merrick’s mind. He was not wearing the cloak of his Order, but the finery of a minor lord as he chatted amiably to an older lady over by where they were serving wine on a damaskcovered table. Merrick did not know his name, but he knew one thing—that he was here in the center of the Empire boded ill.
He glanced down at the Grand Duchess and feverishly considered his options. Should he tell her? Should he shout and point the finger at this man right now? What would Zofiya’s reaction be if he did anything like that? Merrick realized it would be his word against that of a member of Court.
So instead he spoke as calmly as he could manage, “I shall have to speak to him to find out.” Then, with his heart pounding in his chest, he worked his way toward the so-called del Rue. His coming did not go unnoticed. The gray eyes lifted from the woman and fixed on the young Deacon.