The voluntarily exiled sun, removed from the...
The voluntarily exiled sun, removed from the heavens it knew, from the lands and seas and people, bound to this alien peninsula by loss and grief and revenge decreedShe knew the King very wellHer life depended on thatShe did not often stray across the line that was always there, invisible but inviolateWhen she did it was likely to be over something as apparently trivial as thisIt was such a paradox for her how he could shrug off or laugh at or even invite her caustic commentary on court and colony, and yet bridle like a boy with affronted pride if she teased about his ability to run up and down a mountain in a morning
At such times he had only to say her name in a certain way and endless chasms opened before her in the delicately inlaid floor of the Audience Chamber
She was a captive here, more slave than courtesan, at the court of a TyrantShe was also an impostor, living an ongoing lie while her country slowly died away from the memories of menAnd she had sworn to kill this louis vuitton man, whose glance across a room was as wildfire on her skin or amber wine in her mortal blood
Chasms, everywhere she turned
And now this morning he had seen a riselkaHe, and very possibly a second man as wellFighting back her fear she forced herself to shrug casually, to arch her eyebrows above a face schooled to bland unconcern
"This amuses me," she said, reaching for self-possession, knowing precisely what his need in her was, even now"You profess to be pleased, even touched, by Solores's doubtlessly agitated query about your mountain runThe first thing she asked, you sayHow she must have wondered whether or not you succeeded! And yet when I, knowing as surely as I know my own name that you were up on the summit this morning, treat it lightly, as something small, never in doubt why then the King grows angryHe bids me sternly to have done! But tell me, my lord, in all fairness, which of us, truly, has honored you more?"
For a long time he was silent and she knew that the louis vuitton damier court would be avidly marking the expression on his faceFor the moment she cared nothing for themOr even for her past, or his encounter on the mountainsideThere was one specific chasm here that began and ended in the depths of the grey eyes that were now searching her own
When he spoke it was in a different voice again, but this tone she happened to know exceedingly well and, in spite of everything that had just been said, and in spite of where they were and who was watching them, she felt herself go weak suddenlyHer legs trembled, but not with fear now
"I could take you," said Brandin, King of Ygrath, thickly, his face flushed, "on the floor of this room right now before all of my gathered courtShe felt a nerve flutter beneath the skin of her wristHer own color was high, she knewShe swallowed with some difficulty
"Perhaps tonight would be wiser," she murmured, trying to keep her tone light but not really managing it, unable to hide the swift response in her eyes, spark to handbags louis vuitton spark like the onset of a blazeThe jeweled khav chalice trembled in her handHe saw that, and she saw that he did and that her response, as always, served as kindling for his own desireShe sipped at her drink, holding it with both hands, clinging to self-control
"Better tonight, surely," she said again, overwhelmed as always by what was happening to herShe knew what he needed her to say though, now, at this moment, in this room of state thronged with his court and emissaries from home
She said it, looking him in the eyes, articulating carefully: "After all my lord, at your age you should marshal your strengthYou did run partway up a hill this morning
An instant later, for the second time, the Chiaran court of Brandin of Ygrath saw their King throw back his handsome, bearded head and they heard him laugh aloud in delightNot far away, Rhun the Fool cackled in simultaneous glee
"Isolla of Ygrath!"
This time there were trumpets and a drum, as well as the herald's staff resounding gucci bags leather as it struck the floor by the double doors at the southern end of the Audience Chamber
Standing most of the way towards the throne, Dianora had time to observe the stately progress of the woman Brandin had called the finest musician in YgrathThe assembled court of Chiara was lined several rows deep, flanking the approach to the King
"A handsome woman still," murmured Neso of Ygrath, "and she's fifty years old if she's a day Somehow he had managed to end up next to her in the front row
His unctuous tone irritated her, as always, but she tried not to let it showIsolla was clad in the simplest possible robe of dark blue, belted at the waist with a slender gold chainHer hair, brown with hints of grey, was cut unfashionably short, although the spring and summer fashion might change after today, Dianora thoughtThe colony always took its cue in these matters from Ygrath
Isolla walked confidently, not hurrying, down the aisle formed by the courtiersBrandin was already smiling a omega speedmaster day date welcome