Page 7 of A Court of Masks and Roses
“Of course, my lord.” I school my voice to a professional calm. “Though I will require extensive makeup to reclaim Lady Lianna’s face.”
The king produces a large box from beneath his desk.
Opening the lid, I find everything I need and more. “Thank you. If I might ask you to turn around while I disrobe?”
Firehorn lets out a short, unamused laugh. “A self-conscious spy? Is that not a contradiction? Like a modest whore?”
My self-control snaps like a bowstring, sending blood boiling through my veins. My nostrils flare. I lock gazes with Firehorn, my eyes burning my fury into his.
The king meets my assault with an icy gaze. “Let me tell you one more contradiction,” he says quietly. “Useful cripple.”
Leaf.The word rings in my ears. No amount of warning or preparation is enough to hear such a threat spoken so brashly. I swallow.
Firehorn nods and lets the silence deafen me for several more moments. Somewhere beyond the window, a child squeals with delight and a playful wind rattles the shutters. With another humorless smile, the king pulls out his desk chair. “I’ve little trust in people, Kalianna. And less in spies.” He sits, tenting his fingers. His voice is firm, matter of fact. “For you to be useful to me, you may learn more information about the kingdom’s affairs than I trust you with. So I’d like the rules of our engagement to be clear up front. And I have... insurance. In case you find your loyalty wavering. Do you understand?”
I nod, not yet trusting my voice.
“Well then, Kali,” Firehorn says, opening his palms, “I would very much like to meet Kal, if you don’t mind.”
I want to run, but I gather my courage and meet his eyes instead. “Kalianna,” I say, quietly but firmly. “Or Lady Lianna. Or Kal. Or anything else you wish. But not Kali. Never Kali.”
A hint of a smile curls one side of Firehorn’s mouth. “Verywell. Now that both sides are clear with the arrangement...” He lifts a brow expectantly.
I strip.
The clothes fit. The fabric is of good quality but plain. The kind a son of a wealthy merchant might wear. It takes some time to clear my makeup, but once I’m done, I slouch a bit and stick my hands into my pockets. “Kal, my lord,” I say, lowering my voice and bowing. “At your service.”
Firehorn circles me, his face alight with pleasure. “You look a bit younger as Kal.”
I nod. With hints of curves hidden, my slender body best passes for a boy of about sixteen.
“Impressive,” Firehorn says finally, more to himself than to me. “I watched you change right before me, and yet I’d swear before the Goddess herself that the face has changed. You can keep this persona as long as necessary, I presume.”
“Of course. And as the persona of Kal is the one more likely to engage in strenuous activity, I wear no makeup while in his skin.” I open my palms. “I would be able to answer your questions better if I understood your needs. Might you enlighten me as to my mission, my lord?”
“To make yourself useful to me,” King Firehorn answers, drawing a fortifying breath before proceeding. “The Drought is bringing our Kingdom of Dansil to its knees. I believe we need Everett blood to mix with ours to end this rash of stillbirths. Thus, I need the Everett alliance. And I need you to discover anything that threatens that goal.”
“You want me to tell you what you don’t know,” I say.
Firehorn nods. “Look, listen, do what you do, and tell me what enemies I face—from within the Everett delegation, from the people in the palace, from the Viva Sylthia terror mongers running amok in my city. And you will also tell me whether anyone is so much as looking wrong at my heir. Plenty offertile ground for your talents, I should think. Make the most of it.”
“Yes, my lord,” I say quietly.
“I’ve arranged for the appropriate placement of both your personas. Lady Lianna, my beloved niece and temporary ward—conveniently of an age with the Everett delegation’s Princess Raza—will accompany me to functions with the Everett delegation in attendance. That will give you a sufficient platform to evaluate the high-society motives. As for the lower ranks, I’ve arranged for Kal to replace a recently deceased trainee in the Royal Guard. With both top and bottom covered, I expect that you will find yourself in an appropriate situation for whatever I might require. Do you have any questions?”
“How did the guard I am replacing die?” I ask.
“Killed in a mugging outside a local pub. Anything else?” This time, there is no mistaking the finality of the conversation.
Not being suicidal, I shake my head.
“Excellent. Then go be useful.” Firehorn’s smile doesn’t touch his eyes. “And one other thing, Kalianna—allow your identity to be discovered, and I will personally escort you to the dungeons.”
5
KALI
“Don’t you look handsome?” Leaf adjusts the collar of my new royal guard uniform and runs her fingers over the trim marking me a trainee. Standing in the middle of Lady Lianna’s plush suite a few hours after my meeting with the king, I look like a dressed-up doll. At the far corner of the room, the lit fireplace crackles companionably. It’s warmer in Delta than it was at the estate, and the small flame heats the two-room suite easily, while the baskets of tulips that the servants brought in fill the air with a delicate perfume. “Kal is all grown up and off to training at the keep.”
