Page 43 of The Exile's Curse

"You need me, sir?" she asked Honore.

A nod. "There's to be a smaller gathering for drinks and to meet Lady Katiya after dinner. You're invited."

“Invited” in this case seemed likely an order. "Me?"

Honore lifted an eyebrow. "We named you as one of the people attending all the formal wedding ceremonies, so yes."

Captain Theisse—or Gilles, as she should try to remember to call him at the wedding celebrations—had no title, but he and Honore were the senior members of the delegation, so it made sense that they would be included. Still, she hadn't expected the “navigating the court celebrations” part of the mission to start tonight. She could have used another good night's sleep and more time practicing her Andalyssian. But the ceremony was in five more days, and royal weddings waited for no woman, apparently. "Of course, Colonel."

"Apparently we'll be escorted once the king leaves." Chloe looked toward the high table. King Mikvel was holding out his hand to Lady Katiya. Chloe turned in place so she could, as protocol required, face the king and bow with the rest of the court. She turned back only to find herself face-to-face with Lucien.

Too close again.

Just like at Imogene’s ball, she could feel the heat of his body, and his scent—soap and man and the cool green cologne he wore—filled her nose. After the strange smoky incense that lingered over the court, it was like taking a lungful of clean, crisp air, and she wanted to move closer, take a deeper breath.

Her cheeks heated. She would do no such thing.

She stepped back hastily. Lucien's mouth quirked in a half-smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared, making her wonder if she'd imagined it altogether. But before either of them could say anything, a young woman clad in white and gray, the king's mountain embroidered around the collar and cuffs of her dress and the trim of the long vest she wore over it, arrived by Honore's side.

"Colonel Brodier," she said with a quick curtsy, "if you and your companions would follow me, I will take you to His Majesty."

"Thank you," Honore said.

Chloe saw Giane, still at the other table, watching them curiously.

"What's going on?" Giane mouthed.

"Business," Chloe mouthed back before Colonel Brodier said, "Let's go."

The servant turned, her pale blonde braid swinging, and they followed her out of the dining hall and down a confusing series of corridors—really, parts of the palace seemed to be modeled after a rabbit's warren—before they arrived at a doorway flanked by two guardsmen. The door was partially ajar, and the sound of voices speaking Andalyssian came from within. Not too loud, but enough to suggest there were quite a few people inside. After the delicious meal and long day, she'd rather return to her room than deal with protocol in a foreign language. But this was what diplomats did. They developed relationships and forged them into new or strengthened alliances. Sleepy or not, out of her depth or not, this was what she was here to help do.

Hopefully there would be tea.

The reception room was warm and not too large. A small fire burned in a grate in the far wall, but even near the door, the temperature was pleasant, making her think it must be warmed by the pipes as well.

There were only about twenty other people in the room, a mix of men and women of various ages. That much was a relief. Fewer names to remember after the inevitable introductions. And if these were people important to the king, it would be a head start on learning who was who in the court, putting faces to the names she'd been studying since being assigned to the mission.

King Mikvel stood with Lady Katiya near the fire, talking to an older man whose robes were a deep blue with pale green embroidery. The king looked over and smiled, beckoning them to join him.

They did so, which necessitated another flurry of bows and greetings. She hadn't realized how out of habit she'd grown with the niceties of a court. Somewhere along the way she'd lost the feeling that it was completely normal rather than an odd waste of time, even though the ritual and moves of it still came automatically. But she was going to have to get used to it again. Diplomats lived in protocol.

"This is my betrothed, Lady Katiya Uleniska,” King Mikvel said. "Katiya, here is Colonel Brodier, Major de Roche—also Lord Castaigne—Captain Theisse, and...." He paused for a moment, studying Chloe. "I believe this is Lieutenant de Montesse, also Lady de Montesse." He raised a brow at Chloe.

She nodded and curtsied again. "Yes, Your Majesty. An honor to meet you and Lady Katiya."

He smiled at her, his pale eyes warming. "Welcome to Deephilm, Lieutenant. I trust your stay will be enjoyable."

"It already has been, Your Majesty," she said.

Katiya smiled at her, which only made her more beautiful. Her eyes sparkled, as though she, too, found it all faintly ridiculous.

The king introduced the older man as Georg Uleniska, Katiya's uncle, but before they could start any further conversations, Lady Katiya said, "Lieutenant de Montesse, let me introduce you to some of the other women." Her Illvyan was nearly as good as the king's.

Startled, Chloe could only nod and, after Colonel Brodier offered no objection, followed Katiya across the room.

"My uncle will bend their ear for hours if Misha lets him," Katiya murmured as they walked. "It will be very dull, and tonight is supposed to be enjoyable."

Misha. That would be the king. And, if Katiya was annoyed by the serious tone of the evening so far, did that mean it wasn't entirely usual for the court? Was the matter of House Elannon causing additional tension? Hardly questions she could ask when she had just met the woman.

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