Page 43 of House of the Raven
“This might sound like a strange question,” I say, “but have you noticed anything strange about Amira?”
I pay close attention to his expression. Does he seem surprised? Confused? Suspicious? Angry? Any of these emotions might give away his involvement in all of this. But today, it seems Emerito has taken a page from Guardia Bastien’s book. His features are impassive, giving nothing away.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,princess,” he says. “Unless you are referring to the grief over the death of her father or her concern due to her new role as queen.”
“Never mind,” I say. “Perhaps what I’ve noticed is simply a sister’s intuition. Perhaps it’s nothing.”
“I’m sure it is nothing.” He pauses. “A word of advice, don’t make trouble for her. Fulfill your duty. She has enough on her plate as it is without a spoiled brat making things harder for her.”
“A word of advice to you,” I say with an edge of threat in my voice, “don’t let your britches get too big for yourself.”
He looks me up and down with disdain. My threat means nothing to him because he feels he has climbed higher than me in Nido’s hierarchy ladder. And perhaps he has, and I’ve fallen far lower than I ever expected.
I turn to leave, invisible to the servants filing out with my luggage. I walk after them, but before I exit, Emerito has the last word.
“We leave in an hour, not a minute later.”
I don’t dignify his haughtiness with an answer, and instead leave the room in search of a strong cup of tea, something to fill my stomach. I don’t bother to go to the sunroom where breakfast is always served. Instead, I find what I need in the kitchen, then go in search of Jago.
On my way to his chamber, I drink half of my tea and eat half of my fig pastry. His door is locked, so I bang on it with my foot. When he doesn’t answer, I yell his name. He’s a heavy sleeper.
At last, I hear grumbling inside. He lets out some colorful curses and yanks open the door. His belligerent expression falls when he realizes it’s me.
“Val.” He ushers me in and wraps me in a hug. “I’m sorry. I wanted to go out there and help you. You don’t know how hard it was to do what you said.”
“You did the right thing.”
“Did I? It doesn’t feel like the right thing at all. It feels like I abandoned you.”
“If you had helped me, if they had seen you, I would not be able to take you with me to Aldalous. I’m sure Amira would force you to stay. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“Are you sure she’ll let me go?”
“She has to. I’ll think of something if she refuses.”
He nods.
“I’ll see you in my bedchamber in an hour then. I have to go see Nana. I’ve been avoiding it. Here.” I shove the cup of tea and pastry toward him. “Breakfast.”
He shrugs, takes it, and starts eating.
12
VALERIA
“If I regard it just so, it shimmers. See, by that tree branch. What manner of thing is this? Stay here. I shall climb the tree and inspect it more closely.”
Aldryn Theric – King of Tirnanog - 0 BV
Nana gets up early. Her joints get stiff overnight, and she wakes up before the sun comes out to sit by the fire. She says the heat makes her human again. So I’m not worried about waking her up when I rap on her door. Her gentle voice welcomes me inside.
“Hello, Nana.” As expected, she sits on her rocking chair by the fire, her gray hair falling to her shoulders, not yet pinned in her neat chignon.
She spreads her arms wide, and I can’t help it. I crash to my knees in front of her and bury my face in her lap. I thought I didn’t have any more tears, but Nana can always coax my emotions to the forefront with a simple gesture.
She smooths my hair, saying nothing. The chair rocks ever so slightly, a comforting motion. After several long moments, I pull away, dry my face, and rise to my feet.
“I’m sorry, child,” she says, her gentle brown eyes full of sympathy. “Your father was so young. He had so many more yearsahead of him.”
