Page 51 of The Exile's Curse

“Tscherov,” the Andalyssian in the Chloe's brain suggested, meant something like twine or braid or string. Which left her none the wiser.

"It wasn't mentioned in any of the information provided by the Elenian ambassador or the Andalyssians," Honore continued. "Which means it's probably something they weren't expecting us to be involved with. But the invitation was for us to watch, so hopefully we can't go too wrong with that." She looked across at Chloe. "You spoke with Lady Katiya last night, didn't you? Did she mention this?"

"No," Chloe said. "She was very kind though. And seemed interested in Illvya." Her memory of the previous evening was slightly blurred thanks to the kafiet, but she was certain she hadn't forgotten an invitation.

"Well, you must have made a good impression," Honore said. "Well done, Lieutenant. Of course, the other possibility is that they're throwing us into something complicated to see if we will make idiots of ourselves, but let's hope that's not it."

That thought hadn't occurred to Chloe. Time to begin thinking like a diplomat. Katiya seemed unlikely to play political games—though appearances could be deceptive—but Sejerin Silya or one of the Ashmeisters might try. "If they wanted us to do that, surely it would be one of the important ceremonies they'd try to sabotage?”

"Depends whether they wanted to get rid of us or just embarrass us," Honore said. "But let us take the optimistic view for now and assume Lady Katiya is merely being welcoming."

That gelled better with the impression she'd formed of Katiya and Irina. Irina was obviously headstrong, but Katiya also clearly loved her sister and had been, as far as Chloe could tell, quite genuine in her gentle curiosity about Lumia. Chloe had spent enough time with noblewomen to have a fair sense of when one of them was faking friendship or kindness. "Perhaps one of the Wardmeister's staff could tell us more about the ceremony?"

"There's no time for that. We will just have to see what happens." Honore pushed her chair back. "So, keep your wits about you."

The tscherovwas held halfway across the palace. There had been little chatter as the ten of them followed the servant through the hallways. Chloe had focused on spotting landmarks along the way that might help her find her way back again should the need arise.

Some of the hallways had windows that gave glimpses outside. The palace was built into the mountain in tiers, and the outer edge of each was given over to gardens and terraces. A clever way to give the inhabitants access to outdoor spaces. There seemed to be more small trees and shrubs than flowers, some of them turning gold and red, some bare-branched already. In such a cold climate, flowers might be difficult any time other than high summer.

Maybe Irina would know more about that. Chloe was looking forward to seeing her again. She and her sister had, so far, been the bright spots in the trip. They were strangers, yes, but it had been pleasant to speak to women who didn't know her history. Or at least showed no sign of it. As the servant showed them into a small but airy sunny reception room, she hoped she would get to speak with them again, diplomacy or not.

Despite the sunshine, the room was cool. The far wall had two glass doors leading out to a garden, and one of them was partially open.

The cold didn't seem to bother the Andalyssians. Katiya sat on a dainty gilded chair in the center of the room with about thirty other women milling around her. A number of them wore the blue and green that Irina had worn last night—including Irina herself. Her copper head was easy to spot amongst all the blonde. She stood with an older blonde woman who looked enough like both Katiya and Irina that Chloe assumed she must be their mother.

Some of the other women wore the silver and white of the royal family and the rest a mix of other house colors. Three or four of them were younger girls—maybe fifteen or sixteen—and one of the women in yellow and pale green held a baby wrapped in a white cloth embroidered with flowers in the same colors.

No red though. No sign of any seers.

But given the small size of the gathering, maybe the women were those Katiya actually liked rather than people she was obliged to include. Which begged the question why she'd suddenly decided to involve the Illvyans. In their uniforms, they looked like a flock of crows amongst the colorful Andalyssians. The women’s dresses were less elaborate than the court robes, but the long vests they wore over their dresses were still embroidered with intricate patterns.

Tables laden with covered baskets flanked Katiya, but Chloe couldn't tell if they held food or something else. Katiya rose with a smile as they approached.

"Colonel Brodier, welcome." She flashed a brilliant smile at the rest of them. "Ladies. I'm pleased you could join me this morning."

She was going to make a good queen. She seemed to like people. And had the knack for making them feel comfortable.

"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Katiya," Colonel Brodier said. "I will confess I am intrigued."

"We're just waiting for the seer," Katiya said. "Then we'll begin. This is a less formal ceremony, a blessing of the bride, as it were." She paused, as though struck by an idea, then turned to call over her shoulder. "‘Rina, come over here."

Irina's bright head lifted, and she bounced over to join them. "You bellowed, sister dearest?"

Katiya reached out and tweaked one of the blue-ribbon ends hanging from Irina's braids. "Queens do not bellow."

"You're not queen yet," Irina said. But then she bobbed a curtsy. "Colonel Brodier, it's nice to see you again."

"Would you mind standing with the ladies here until it's your turn?" Katiya said. "You can explain to them what's going on. I'd better go back before Mother has a fit. If Sejerin Neni doesn't arrive soon, she's going to go on the warpath. The schedule is tight today."

The woman Chloe thought was Katiya's mother did look tense, though she was mostly hiding it. She, like her daughter, appeared too palely pretty to ever go on the warpath, but Chloe knew better than to judge a woman on looks alone, and this one had raised a daughter who was going to be a queen.

"Yes, yes," Irina said. "Shoo on back to all of them." She made a small “go away” gesture at Katiya, who just laughed, kissed her cheek, and made her way back over to the chair.

As she settled her skirts and vest around her, the door opened and a short plump woman with hair the color of a cloud on the edge of sunset curling around her shoulders came bustling through. She wore white and a vest like the others. But hers was embroidered with runes in red, the way the sejerin's robes had been last night. But against the white, they looked cheerful, not ominous.

This, then, was the Sejerin Neni who Katiya had mentioned.

She hurried over to Katiya, bent to kiss both her cheeks, then straightened. "My apologies for being late. There was a—" She broke off. "But no, that explanation is too boring, and I'm sure it will be more fun just to begin."

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