Part 10 (2/2)
”Countess Eupraxia.” She curtsied. ”Please come in.”
”The Empress would like to... speak with you, Demoiselle.” The countess's plump cheeks were red and her full bosom heaved, as if she had run all the way through the palace. ”If you would be so good as to accompany me...”
A private audience? Celestine glanced at Jagu and he gave a brief nod of a.s.sent. ”I am honored to accept the Empress's invitation,” she said and followed the countess out into the lofty, echoing corridor.
”You sang so beautifully,” Empress Astasia said, smiling warmly at Celestine. ”I felt utterly transported.”
”Your imperial highness is too kind.” With velvety eyes that appealing, I wonder if the Emperor can refuse her anything. With velvety eyes that appealing, I wonder if the Emperor can refuse her anything. Celestine was reminded of her first royal patron and friend, Princess Adele, now married to Ilsevir of Allegonde. Was this imperial audience merely a gesture of appreciation... or did the Empress have an ulterior motive in inviting her? Celestine was reminded of her first royal patron and friend, Princess Adele, now married to Ilsevir of Allegonde. Was this imperial audience merely a gesture of appreciation... or did the Empress have an ulterior motive in inviting her?
”Please, come and sit beside me,” said Astasia in Francian, gesturing to the blue-and-white-striped sofa.
”Your highness speaks our tongue like a native,” Celestine said. ”I had a Francian nursemaid, didn't I, Praxia?” ”Indeed you did,” said the countess, nodding fondly. ”Would you like some tea, Demoiselle de Joyeuse?” Celestine nodded. ”That would be most agreeable. Thank you.” While sipping a cup of strong tea sweetened in the local fas.h.i.+on with jam (”the damson is delicious”), Astasia suddenly turned to Celestine and said, ”I have a request to make. I do hope you'll be able to accept. You see, Karila, my little stepdaughter, hasn't been very well. She doesn't have a strong const.i.tution. And her eighth birthday is very soon.” From the look of sadness that clouded the brilliance of Astasia's eyes, Celestine realized that, unlike some stepmothers, she genuinely cared for the little girl.
”I wondered if you would consider giving a recital for Karila at the Palace of Swanholm? There's to a be a masked ball there soon-a Tielen custom, my husband tells me-to celebrate the midsummer solstice.”
It did not escape Celestine's notice that Astasia blushed when she said ”my husband.” Was theirs a love match? There was a difference of some sixteen years between Eugene and Astasia, yet all the court gossip throughout the quadrant had regarded the partners.h.i.+p as merely a marriage of convenience and political necessity. She could not help wondering how the young Empress felt about her husband's terrible injuries; perhaps she had nursed him back to health after he was burned by the Drakhaoul...
”Thank you; it would be an honor to sing for the little princess,” Celestine said, carefully setting down her empty teacup on its delicate saucer. Her mind began to whirl with the possibilities such an invitation presented.
As Celestine and Countess Eupraxia left the Empress's rooms, they pa.s.sed a portrait, half-draped in black. Celestine stopped, recognizing the charming, confident smile and distinctive violet-blue eyes.
”Isn't that a portrait of the Empress's late brother, Prince Andrei?” she asked.
”It is.” The countess's eyes filled with tears. ”It's many months now, but she's still not over his loss, none of us are. Such a tragedy...”
Celestine nodded, caught up in a vivid memory of the first time she had been presented to Andrei. His ready, infectious smile had instantly dispelled her nerves, putting her completely at her ease.
”Lost at sea,” said the countess, dabbing her eyes, ”in a terrible storm in the Straits. Such a waste. That dear, dear boy...”
And yet, Celestine wondered but did not dare say aloud as she followed Eupraxia to her waiting carriage, would Eugene have found it so easy to conquer Muscobar if Andrei were still alive?
”We've been invited to perform at Swanholm Palace,” Celestine told Jagu as the amba.s.sador's carriage jogged back toward the emba.s.sy. ”Swanholm, ”Swanholm, Jagu!” Jagu!”
”Well, that's a great compliment, but I can hardly see why you're so excited.” Jagu looked distinctly unenthusiastic. ”A journey to Tielen and back is going to take at least six weeks out of our schedule. What about our concerts in Allegonde? And suppose the Maistre wants us back in Francia?”
She stamped her foot on the floor of the carriage, exasperated. ”Who else resides at Swanholm? In the laboratories especially designed for him by Prince Karl? The Tielen Royal Artificier, no less, Kaspar Linnaius. Kaspar Linnaius. We'll be able to spy on him firsthand. No one from the Commanderie has ever managed to get so close.” We'll be able to spy on him firsthand. No one from the Commanderie has ever managed to get so close.”
”Well, when you put it that way...”
He still seemed less than interested, so she folded her arms and stared out at the dark streets of Mirom, offended.
After a while he said with a sigh, ”We can't just take matters into our own hands, Celestine. If you act rashly at the Emperor's court in Swanholm, you could spark off a diplomatic incident, and that's the last thing we need. We must get word to the Maistre and await his instructions.”
”Fine! And while we sit around for days waiting for the Maistre's reply, we'll be losing valuable time. It's the Magus, Magus, Jagu.” Jagu.”
”And that's precisely the reason we need to proceed with caution. The man is very dangerous. You know that better than most.”
It was her turn to sigh. Why must Jagu be so insistent on following the correct protocol at all times? ”Very well,” she said grudgingly. ”We'll ask the amba.s.sador to ensure that our message is sent by the swiftest diplomatic post available.”
The trunks were packed and Celestine was waiting with Jagu in the hall of the emba.s.sy for their carriage to arrive. Claude suddenly appeared, walking stiffly as usual, carrying a folded paper on a silver tray.
”The amba.s.sador sends his apologies that he is unable to bid you farewell in person.” He bowed, presenting the tray. ”He's been called away on urgent business. But he left you this note.”
Jagu opened the letter and Celestine peeped over his shoulder to read it: Stay vigilant. I've yet to discover the reason why the Emperor left your recital so suddenly. His people are keeping something secret. Remember: Once you're in Tielen, you'll be on your own. I'll give you the name of one or two trustworthy contacts. If I've played my cards right, I'll be invited to the Dievona Ball at Swanholm. But until then, be on your guard...
The broad mouth of the Nieva was filled with wars.h.i.+ps. A great fleet of the New Rossiyan navy was under full sail, making for the Straits.
As the Dame Blanche Dame Blanche followed in their wake, Jagu and Celestine went up onto the observation deck to take a closer look. followed in their wake, Jagu and Celestine went up onto the observation deck to take a closer look.
”There's the Rogned Rogned again,” Jagu said, following the fleet with an eyegla.s.s borrowed from Captain Peillac. ”Where are they heading, I wonder?” again,” Jagu said, following the fleet with an eyegla.s.s borrowed from Captain Peillac. ”Where are they heading, I wonder?”
Celestine leaned out over the rail, straining to see. The wild salty wind whipped her hair into her eyes. ”Not for Francia, I hope!”
”Hard to tell. But what a formidable sight they make. Each man-o'-war bristling with cannons...”
”Is that a fis.h.i.+ng boat out there?” Celestine leaned out even farther. ”It's being blown into the path of the fleet! The fishermen haven't a chance!”
The sound of rending timbers carried on the fierce gusting wind. With it came frantic shouts for help. Two men were in the water, thres.h.i.+ng and bobbing in the wake of one vast wars.h.i.+p as another bore down upon them.
”They'll be crushed!” Celestine turned to the s.h.i.+p's master to appeal for help, but Captain Peillac had already summoned up a rescue party and the sailors were lowering a rowboat into the churning waves.
And then a feeling of dread overwhelmed her, as if she had been swept overboard into the dark tide. She began to s.h.i.+ver uncontrollably. As she helplessly watched the drowning men, the sea around them began to spin like a waterspout, funneling upward. Wings. Wings. Something was rising from the waves on great, beating wings that were blue-black as a starlit night. Something was rising from the waves on great, beating wings that were blue-black as a starlit night.
”Jagu.” Celestine clutched at Jagu's arm, pointing. ”Look. What in G.o.d's name is that?”
Jagu raised the eyegla.s.s he had been using to observe the Tielen fleet and focused it on the wreck of the fis.h.i.+ng boat.
”Whatever it is, it's not of this world.” He swiftly pa.s.sed her the gla.s.s.
”There were two men in the water. Now I see only one - and that that abomination.” abomination.”
The sailors had nearly reached the wreckage.
”The Angelstone,” she urged. ”Check the Angelstone.”
Jagu pulled out the crystal pendant from inside his s.h.i.+rt. The clear crystal had turned as dark as ink.
”A warrior daemon,” she whispered, ”from the Realm of Shadows. It's the Drakhaoul. ”
CHAPTER 6.
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