While Ana waited in the Archigos’ outer room with Kenne and the other teni of his staff, she could hear them whispering the gossip and rumors, each of the statements wilder and more unlikely than the next:
“. . I’ve been told in confidence that it was a Numetodo servant who poisoned the Kraljica. Yes, I’m certain; my sister’s husband works in the palace and they all know it there. .”
“. . my vatarh told me that the Numetodo were planning to steal the Kraljica’s body and hold it for ransom. That’s why the commandant is so upset. .”
“. . No, they wanted the Kraljica’s body to desecrate it in a bizarre rite of theirs. I’ve heard that from four people who would know. .”
“. . what happened was that the Numetodo were caught using their sorcery to poison the entire drinking water system of the city. Several people have already died from it in Oldtown. That’s why they’ve been rounded up. .”
“. . I’ve heard that the Numetodo are rising up in all the cities of the Holdings in celebration of the Kraljica’s death, the bastards. Why, in Belcanto, they were running through the streets singing. .”
Ana could not listen to their chatter; she saw Karl’s face in each of the rumors.
The Archigos came out at last, leaning heavily on his staff of office, and as Ana and the others descended the stairs from his apartments, she could detect nothing in his glances to her. She wondered at that.
She wanted to ask him what he was thinking; she wanted to tell him that she’d rather he screamed his anger than to have this silence between them, but there was no time. They came out onto the square outside the temple just as the A’Kralj was being helped from his carriage, accompanied by the commandant and several of the city guards. The
early morning sun illuminated an orderly chaos-the a’teni all moving their own people into position for the formal procession; the press of onlookers past the ring of guards; the ca’-and-cu’ families awaiting their moment to view the body of the Kraljica.
“Ah, A’Kralj ca’Mazzak,” the Archigos said as the A’Kralj approached, the quartet of Garde Kralji with him pushing aside those citizens and teni between the A’Kralj and the Archigos. The A’Kralj wore a white, silken bashta over which hung a heavy cloak brocaded in gold filigree. Against the white, his dark beard and hair stood out in harsh contrast, the jaw jutting forward characteristically. Around his neck was a golden chain from which depended a pendant set with ambergris and a yellow diamond. His fingers were bare of rings, but Ana knew that later this night, before the public procession, he would take the signet ring from his matarh’s hand and place it on his own finger. Renard walked alongside him, carrying the A’Kralj’s gilded mourning mask should it be needed. The mask was to allow the A’Kralj privacy in his grief, but to Ana, the A’Kralj seemed more exuberant than sorrowful.
The commandant, accompanying the A’Kralj, nodded faintly to Ana. She shivered and gave no sign that she noticed. The Archigos
gestured, and his retinue bowed as one and gave the A’Kralj the sign of Cenzi.
“A’Kralj, I am so sorry for your loss, but I know you will follow her and take Nessantico to heights beyond even her dreams,” the Archigos said as they rose from their bows. He looked like a wizened child against the athletic bulk of the A’Kralj.
“Thank you, Archigos,” the A’Kralj answered in his high, nasal voice. It sounded like an adolescent’s. “I know Matarh appreciated your long service and devotion to her, and I look forward to the same service from you.”
The Archigos bowed again at that, though Ana knew that he heard the same lack of conviction in the A’Kralj’s words-ritualistic, too polite, and ultimately meaningless. The man’s deep-set eyes flickered across Ana’s face, and she thought his lips tightened with the glance.
The Archigos seemed to notice as well, for he motioned to Ana to step forward. “You remember O’Teni Ana cu’Seranta?” he said. “I spoke of her to you the other day, as we were discussing the arrangements for the funeral.”
“Matarh introduced us at the Gschnas, Archigos,” he said. He held out his hand and she took it. His eyes appraised her; she could almost hear the calculations inside his head. “Yes, I remember her, and I remember our talk, Archigos. Good to meet you again, O’Teni. I only wish it were in better circumstances.”
She realized that they were both waiting for her to speak. “As do I,”
she answered belatedly. “We all mourn your loss, A’Kralj. It’s a tragedy for the entire Holdings.”
Words vacant of true feeling, she knew. Like herself.
He nodded. “Indeed,” he said. He sniffed-a concession to congestion rather than grief, Ana thought-and looked her up and down once more. “The Archigos speaks highly of you, O’Teni, and my matarh did as well, when she was alive. They both seem to feel that you’ve been particularly blessed by Cenzi, and that it would be. .” He paused, as if considering his next words. “. . advantageous for me to know you better. I have always found that listening to the advice of those I trust is a good tactic, so I intend to do exactly that. Very soon. I trust you’ll be amenable as well? A luncheon in the palais perhaps, the day after tomorrow-Gostidi?”
Ana lowered her head. She could see no way to refuse politely.
“Certainly, A’Kralj,” she answered. “It would be my pleasure, assuming my duties to the Archigos do not interfere.”
“I’m positive the Archigos will make certain they do not,” he answered, and Ana could hear the Archigos grunt his assent, though she would not glance at him. “I’ll tell Renard to arrange it, then.”
“Arrange what?” a voice interrupted, and Ana lifted her head to see A’Teni ca’Cellibrecca and his daughter standing just behind the A’Kralj. The a’teni was smiling, but the expression on his daughter’s face was far less friendly.
“I was arranging to take luncheon with O’Teni cu’Seranta on Gostidi,” the A’Kralj said to ca’Cellibrecca.
“Gostidi?” ca’Cellibrecca asked. He pursed his lips over his doubled chin and tapped a forefinger on his cheek. “I must remind the A’Kralj-as the Archigos should know, too-that he has the Ceremony
of the Kralji that morning, and he and I were planning to discuss the disposition of the Numetodo in the Bastida afterward, and both will take some time.”
“I assume that I will still find sufficient time to eat, A’Teni,” the A’Kralj remarked. “Or would you deny the new Kraljiki his sustenance?”
“Of course not,” ca’Cellibrecca answered quickly. The expression on his face soured. “In fact, I could join you, and I’m certain Francesca would be willing as well. I hope to have some news from her husband by Mizzkdi or Gostidi, and. .”
“I think not,” the A’Kralj interrupted. “While the company of you and Vajica ca’Cellibrecca would be most agreeable, I would like to speak with the O’Teni more privately.” Ca’Cellibrecca’s mouth remained open for a moment as if he would say more. The A’Kralj raised his eyebrows, and ca’Cellibrecca bowed his head. His daughter’s dark eyes were reproachful as they stared at the A’Kralj, but he stared blandly back at her.
For a moment, the tableau held. Ana thought of ca’Cellibrecca and what he’d done to the Numetodo in Brezno, and she imagined Karl in the a’teni’s hands. From the roiling inside her, a flame of anger sent searing heat. She lifted her chin. “I would like to talk to the new Kraljiki regarding the Numetodo as well,” Ana said. “I think the Kraljiki needs to make his decision as well-informed as possible.”
The Archigos coughed as if startled. With the comment, both A’Teni ca’Cellibrecca and his daughter swiveled their heads to stare at Ana. She could feel the heat of their gazes and didn’t dare look at them. Instead, she kept her eyes on the A’Kralj, who laughed, suddenly and surprisingly. “There, you see, A’Teni? O’Teni cu’Seranta is not the quiet, obedient mouse you think she is, and judging by the look on the Archigos’ face, she has surprised him as well. I’m beginning to look forward to our luncheon, O’Teni, to see what other surprises you might have for me.”