Page 35 of The Faceless Mage

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Before anyone entered her room the following morning, Leisa took care to have all incriminating evidence of her late-night wanderings concealed in their original hiding places. And once her three maids did appear, it took something in the neighborhood of forever for them to bustle around setting up tea and pastries, applying cosmetics to conceal the evidence of her mostly sleepless night, and then doing something unspeakable to her hair.

By the time Lady Piperell arrived, Leisa was almost presentable. But only because she’d insisted on one of her own gowns—a green one for her royal visit. The dress they’d originally intended for her to wear had been… as unspeakable as her hair.

Lady Piperell smiled when she saw the results. “That gown suits you,” she said simply. “I’ve brought your schedule for the day, if you’d care to look over it. Should there be anything that you wish to discuss or amend, I would be happy to be of service, as it will be part of my duties to oversee your daily activities.”

“How very… formal,” Leisa said wryly. “But I would very much prefer it be a part of your duties to explain to me what I am to expect. My visit here can hardly be said to have been planned for my own amusement.” She caught a hint of chagrin in the older woman’s glance, but it was quickly buried.

“Of course not,” Lady Piperell responded hastily. “As soon as you are ready, I will go over each of your appointments to prepare you for the people you will most likely meet and the expectations that will accompany your presence.”

“Is…” Leisa almost asked about the Raven, but stopped herself. A princess would probably not normally express such interest in the life of a bodyguard, so she would simply have to wait to see for herself whether he was still at his post in the hall outside her rooms.

Glancing over the list that Lady Piperell handed over, she noted one glaring omission.

“I believe someone has overlooked my first responsibility—to oversee the departure of my retinue for Farhall.” Not that Leisa had expected differently, but on this point, she was unwilling to budge. Giving ground on the matter of Farhall’s sovereignty over her own citizens was no way to begin an alliance.

When she saw an uncomfortable look cross Lady Piperell’s face, it didn’t take much imagination to figure out what had happened.

“They’re gone, aren’t they?”

Lady Piperell folded her hands, dropped her eyes, and nodded.

And after Leisa had specifically stated her intention to bid them farewell herself. Was this King Melger’s way of gaining his revenge for her minor victory the night before?

Princesses did not grind their teeth together—or so she supposed—nor did they take out their frustration on persons who were not in the least to blame. But she did need some way of making Farhall’s displeasure known to King Melger.

Ah. The first meeting of the day. Evaraine was to attend the king in his council chambers to discuss the details of the marriage agreement. How fortuitous. After that, she was scheduled for a stroll through the gardens with Prince Vaniell, then a formal luncheon with Queen Portiana. During the afternoon, she was to be allowed a brief rest, then was expected to endure a dissertation on Garimore’s economy from the Minister of Finance, followed by a dress fitting for a formal ballgown. The evening would be occupied by a private dinner with the royal family and culminate in a masqued ball.

If she had actually been Evaraine, she would never have been able to manage such an exhausting parade of events. Leisa wasn’t sure she could manage it herself.

“Very well,” she said, forcing a smile. “Perhaps we should make haste. It appears His Majesty is expecting me shortly, and I would like to get a better idea of the layout of the palace on our way.”

Lady Piperell appeared relieved that her charge did not intend to argue or press the issue of her retainers’ overhasty departure.

“I would be pleased to escort you to the council chamber by way of several of the palace’s most popular sights,” she said, coming to her feet and smiling graciously. “The sculpture hall and portrait gallery are quite impressive, as is the mosaic of the founding of the Five Thrones.”

“Perhaps we should settle for seeing just one.” Leisa rose from her seat and shook the wrinkles from her green satin skirt. “I fear I become exhausted easily and wouldn’t wish to ruin the day by missing any of my appointments.”

They left the room, and Leisa felt a brief, odd surge of apprehension as they stepped out into the hall…

The Raven was still there. And suddenly she wasn’t sure whether she’d been feeling apprehension or anticipation. She almost reached for the necklace but kept her hands at her sides by gripping her skirt.

Leisa’s mouth opened to tell him where they were going, but she was saved from the error by Lady Piperell, who headed blithely off down the hall, assuming he would follow.

“He can’t guard me today,” Leisa insisted in a low voice as they walked. “He’s been awake all night. My own guards are very capable, so there’s no reason for him to be forced to remain alert for this long.”

Lady Piperell shot her an odd look. “I don’t… I don’t think he sleeps,” she said uncomfortably. “Or rather, I don’t think he sleeps very much. I’m certain His Majesty knows what his guard’s limitations are and will ensure they are not exceeded. Your safety is his primary concern, I assure you.”

So Leisa had erred once again. Most likely, Lady Piperell would expect a real princess, when confronted with a bodyguard who never slept, to express concern for the risk to her own safety rather than to her bodyguard’s health.

But in this case, Leisa didn’t really care whether the other woman approved of her concern or not. She was stuck with her bodyguard, and he with her. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t show him compassion—treat him as a reasoning being, with thoughts and fears and needs. Leisa couldn’t imagine the isolation of having spent years with everyone acting as though he were invisible. Maybe he preferred it that way, but it seemed wrong to make such an assumption.

And she knew all too well that a bodyguard couldn’t possibly be expected to subsist on little to no sleep. He would need to be awake and alert enough to counter threats to the body he guarded. When there were guests in the palace and she was the primary guard for Princess Evaraine, she was never expected to remain on duty for longer than six hours.

So while Lady Piperell might be sure of King Melger’s intentions—and her charge’s security—what Leisa was feeling was far from certainty. It was more like pity. Or at least concern. For a giant, scary, magical assassin who had dropped her on her head only… yesterday. That had been yesterday.

The next few weeks were going to last an eternity.

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