Page 13 of Skysong

‘Yes, my lady,’ Oriane said, wrenching her attention back to the moment. ‘He said that it would be something you in particular might enjoy.’

‘Did he,’ Hana murmured. It wasn’t a question. For a moment, it seemed as if she were staring at something invisible in front of Oriane instead of her face. But then the veil was gone. ‘So you’re a skylark,’47she continued, leaning forward a little in her seat. ‘Theskylark. Our mother told us bedtime stories about you when we were little.’

Oriane blushed. Tales ofher, told to royal children? The notion was absurd.

‘What is it like?’ Hana went on. ‘To be … what you are?’

Oriane didn’t know quite how to respond. She had never been asked that before. It was like being asked what it was like to sleep or breathe. ‘It is an honour,’ she replied eventually, ‘to carry on my mother’s legacy, and ensure the day keeps dawning …’

‘Oh, no, I meant – to be a bird.’

‘Oh.’ Pushing aside her embarrassment, Oriane pictured it: transforming, taking wing. ‘Well, I don’t stay that way for very long. I usually just change and sing and change back, really. But being a bird – flying … It’s wonderful, I suppose. It makes you feel … light. And surprisingly strong. And free.’

The look on Hana’s face turned strange again, then, and her eyes returned to the window. The moon seemed to have grown brighter since Oriane last looked. She could almost see its tiny outline reflected in Hana’s eyes.

The princess stared, unmoving, at the portrait of night, until Oriane wondered whether Hana had forgotten she was there. She began to feel she was intruding, bearing witness to some private moment of reflection. As unobtrusively as she could, she began to rise from her seat.

‘Hana?’

A man emerged from behind the nearest bookshelf. Oriane recognised him: Kitt, the king’s physician, his elegant frame and dark skin rendered even more handsome by the moonglow and gentle lantern light. He didn’t seem to have spotted Oriane yet. His eyes were fixed on the princess and filled with concern.48

‘Hana, are you—’

Oriane rose fully, the movement catching Kitt’s attention. His eyes widened slightly in surprise. ‘Lady Oriane.’ He gave her a small, graceful bow. ‘I did not realise you were here. Are you well?’

Oriane nodded. ‘I was just leaving, my lord. I do not wish to intrude—’

‘The intrusion is mine. Forgive me. Do you want for anything? I trust that you have found your chambers comfortable?’

Oriane almost laughed. ‘If by “comfortable” you mean the most luxurious accommodations I could have possibly imagined, then yes, they are comfortable.’

Kitt smiled back at her, and the warmth of it lit his whole face. ‘I am pleased to hear it.’

Hana finally turned around, as if she had only just remembered there were other people in the room. She had the half-dazed look of one who had just woken from a dream. She opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by yet another voice.

‘My lady? My lady!’

It was Andala. She had come rushing through the library doors, her dark hair swinging over her shoulder in a silken sheet. She ground to a halt beside them, out of breath again, as if she had run there through the halls. ‘You were not in your rooms – I thought—’

‘Is everything all right?’ Kitt asked, glancing between Andala and Oriane.

‘Yes,’ Andala said, before Oriane could speak. Strangely, her tone made the word sound more likeno. Andala visibly composed herself and gave a curt nod to Kitt. ‘I had taken water to the lady’s chambers – I thought she would want to bathe after such a long day. But she was not there.’49

‘I was wandering,’ Oriane put in apologetically. ‘I hope I have not done the wrong thing.’

Kitt smiled her way. ‘Not at all. You are quite free to go where you wish. Though the hour does grow rather late – might I escort you back to your rooms?’

‘I can do it,’ Andala said, almost impatiently. Oriane looked to her in surprise, but Kitt merely dipped his head graciously.

‘Of course. Goodnight then, Andala, Lady Oriane. I look forward to seeing you in the morning.’

‘Thank you, my lord. It is lovely to make your acquaintance.’ Oriane meant it. ‘And you, my …’

Her words trailed off. She had turned to bid Hana goodnight, but the chair where the princess had sat was empty. The only remnant of her presence was a single white-gold hair, bright against the blue velvet like a strand of starlight.

‘Did you change your mind about calling me by my name?’

Oriane trailed after Andala as they made their way back to her rooms. She had to hurry to keep up with the pace the other woman set. Andala marched through the halls as if she had some urgent appointment.

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