| If they aren't, we'll have to think further on this
She nodded gratefully and watched him go, neat and trim, infinitely reassuring in his competenceShe finished her khav, looking out the windowIt was still dark outsideShe walked into the other room to wash and dress herself, doing so with some care, knowing it might matter todayShe chose a simple brown woolen robe, and belted it at the waistThis was an Ember Day, not a time for splendor of apparelThere was a hood to hide her hair; that too might matter
By the time she was done Scelto had returnedHe had a queer expression on his face
"They are running," he said"And Camena is not going to be executed on the wheel
"What happened to him?" she asked, feeling an instinctive dread"The word is being put about that he has been granted a merciful death alreadyBecause the actual conspiracy was from Ygrath and Camena was merely a victim, a tool"And what has really happened
Scelto's face was troubled"This may be a thing you were better not to know, my lady
It probably was, she thoughtBut she chanel jumbo xl bag had come too far in the night, and had too far yet to goThis was no morning for sheltering, or trying to seek shelter"Perhaps," was all she said"But I would prefer you to tell me, Scelto
He said, after a moment: "I have been told that he is going to be Rhun is growing old and the King must have a FoolIt is necessary to have one in readiness, and it can take a long time, depending on the circumstances
The circumstances, Dianora thought, sickenedSuch as whether the Fool-in-waiting had been a healthy, gifted, normal young man with a love of his home
Even understanding what the Fools of Ygrath were to their Kings, even grasping that Camena had forfeited his life by what he had done yesterday, she still could not stop her stomach from turning at the implications of Scelto's wordsShe remembered Rhun hacking at Isolla's body yesterdayShe remembered Brandin's faceShe forced her mind away from thatShe couldn't afford to think about Brandin this morningIn fact, she was better off not thinking about anything at all
"Have I been summoned yet?" rolex air king she asked tersely She could hear tension in his voice; the news about Camena had evidently disturbed him as well
"I know I will," she said"I don't think we can wait thoughIf I go out with the others it will be impossible to slip awayWhat do you think would happen if we two tried to walk down together now?"
Her tone was steady and calm; Scelto's face grew thoughtful"We can try," he said after a moment
Her fear was very simple: if she waited too long, or considered this too much she would be paralyzed by doubtThe thing was to move, and to keep on moving, until she reached a certain place
What would happen then, if anything, she would leave to the Triad's grace
Her heart beating rapidly, she followed Scelto out of her rooms and into the main saishan corridorThe first thin streaks of light were showing now through the windows at the eastern endThe two of them went the other way, passing two young castrates who were moving toward Vencel's roomsDianora looked straight at themShe was pleased, for the first time, to see fear spark in the eyes balenciaga bag of both of the boysToday fear was a weapon, a tool, and she would need all the tools she could find
Scelto led her, not hurrying, down the wide stairway towards the double doors that led to the outside worldShe caught up to him just as he rappedWhen the guard outside opened she stepped through without waiting for his challenge or Scelto's announcementShe fixed him with a cool glance as she went by, and saw his eyes widen as he recognized herShe began walking down the long hallwayAs she went past the other guard she saw that he was the young one she'd smiled at yesterdayToday she did not smile
Behind her she heard Scelto speak one quick, cryptic sentence, and then another in answer to a questionThen she heard his footsteps coming down the corridorA moment later the door swung shut behind themScelto caught up to her
"I think it will take a brave man to stop you today," he said quietly"They all know what happened yesterdayIt is a good morning to be trying this
It was the only morning she would ever be trying this, Dianora thought
"What prada handbag did you tell them?" she asked, continuing to walk
"The only thing I could think ofYou are going to a meeting with d'Eymon about what happened yesterday
She slowed a little, considering that, and as she did, the glimmerings of a proper plan came to her, like the first faint illumination of the sun rising in the east above the mountains
"Good," she said, nodding her headThat is exactly what I'm doing Two other guards walked past them, taking no notice at all"Scelto," she said, when they were alone again, "I need you to find d'EymonSay I want to speak with him alone before we all go out this afternoon for the end of the raceTell him I'll be waiting in the King's Garden two hours from now
Two hours might or might not be enough; she didn't knowBut somewhere in the vast expanse of the King's Garden on the north side of the palace she knew there was a gate that led out to the meadows, and then the slopes of Sangarios beyond
Scelto stopped, forcing her to do the same
"You are going to go without me, aren't you?" he said
She would not lie to omega constellation hi |
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