“Lieutenant—” Suiden began.
“Lad—” Uncle Havram started.
“Rabbit,” Laurel said. He glanced at the others and then back at me as I looked over my shoulder. “We have two weeks to prepare for your appearing before the High Council.”
I turned back all the way around to stare at the Faena. “What do you mean?”
Laurel rose from his chair as he indicated Javes. “The honored captain was correct that this is only a reprieve until Kareste appeals the Fyrst’s decision before the Council. We have to show them that you do not need a master.”
“Won’t they care about the dead bird?” Suiden asked.
“The Magus has many friends on the Council,” Laurel replied. “Who knows how they will react.”
“Especially since they charged you, Ambassador, to bring his apprentice back to him,” Chancellor Berle said, her wry smile sweeping her face. “I know that it would irk me tremendously to have my directives so mangled.” She finished her fruit and, picking up a linen napkin from the table, wiped her hands. “What a fine line you’ve trod, promising something to everybody. Tell me, Ambassador, did King Jusson know about all this?”
“No,” Laurel said, his eyes narrowed on the chancellor.
“So succinct!” Chancellor Berle marveled. “It is amazing what you can find out with a simple question, and yet here’s another secret unknown by our illustrious king.”
“But you didn’t know either, honored chancellor,” Laurel said. She opened her mouth but Laurel spoke over her. “A ruler can only be as good as his advisors, and while your king may have been unwise in those he surrounded himself with in the past, I think that he has become aware of his, hmm, lack.”
The Faena bowed and in a couple of strides caught up with me, grabbing me by my arm.
“I have sworn a solemn vow to your honored sire and dam, Lord Rabbit, to see you home, safe.” He propelled me towards a doorway. “We have more than enough time before dinner for a lesson.”
“I’m not in the mood to bloody meditate,” I said, trying to free my arm. I dug my heels into the carpet and Laurel, letting go, turned an annoyed face to me.
“Do you want to be given back to the Magus?” he demanded.
“No—” I started.
“Go and attend to your lessons, Lieutenant,” Suiden said from behind me. “That’s an order.”
“Politics, sir?” I asked.
“Survival, Lieutenant,” Suiden replied. “Both yours and the kingdom’s.”
“But—” I began.
“Obey your captain, lad,” Uncle Havram said from where he sat. “Unless you have a better suggestion. Do you?”
I stared at my uncle, frantically trying to think of something, anything, but after a moment, I lowered my head and shook it. “No, sir.”
Laurel reached over and took my arm once more, and led me to one of the far end rooms next to the fireplace.
“Jeffen, go with them,” Captain Suiden said.
Chapter Sixty
We passed through a small antechamber to another curtained doorway into the main sleeping room. It was just like the rest of the keep, austerely elegant, with a massive four-poster bed big enough to sleep a village, draped with curtains to shut out the chill night air. There were more colorful rugs, a fireplace complete with its own peat fire and set of chairs in front of it, a table with a vase of flowers, a washstand, a freestanding full-length mirror, and a huge clothespress, which, when I opened it, revealed a pomander, many drawers, and a clothes rack. I turned back to the room and the thought went through the back of my mind as I stared at all the fine wood that the Fyrst of Elanwryfindyll was an extremely wealthy elf.
We sat at the table and stared at each other for a moment.
“So,” Laurel finally rumbled, removing the vase to the floor. “You did right in the Fyrst’s hall.” He reached into his pouch and pulled out a sack of small river stones. “Now let’s examine what you did, and how you did it.” It was the most grueling workout I ever had, even as a new recruit in His Majesty’s Royal Army. By the time we were finished, I was physically aching all over. During my lesson, haunts wandered in and out of the chamber, but Honor Ash, Basel, and the unicorn all stayed for the entire time as the Faena and I faced each over the table. The room had darkened and was lit only by the fire when Javes came in to call a halt.
“The chamberlain is come to tell us that the dinner hour is approaching, so give it a rest,” the captain said.
At Laurel’s nod, I had the candles relight and the circling stones drop into Laurel’s paw one by one. I then pushed away from the table, my legs wobbling like I had run up a mountainside carrying all my gear and my horse on my back. I stretched, working the kinks out, while becoming aware of the muted commotion out in the common area. Judging from the sounds and voices, Groskin and the rest of the ships’ officers had arrived, along with the embassy staff and our luggage. The curtain parted again and one of the keep’s servants entered carrying a large ewer of hot rose-water from the kettle out in the main room, followed by others carrying Groskin’s, Jeff’s and my footlockers.
Javes lifted his quiz glass at the steaming water. “The chamberlain was kind enough to give us a hint that we wash well, as the elves do not much appreciate the, ah, aroma associated with ripe humans.”
The first servant put the ewer down on the washstand and went out, followed by the others who then all returned with more ewers, basins and soap. One went over to the clothespress and, opening a drawer, pulled out towels.
“Yes, sir,” I said, stripping off my tabard and shirt. After I was dressed, Laurel gestured for me to stand before him. I stared at him, then down at the blue and white ribbons he held in one paw—the colors of the House of Iver. “King Jusson sent them.”
“Did he know that the Magus sent you?” I asked, still staring at the ribbons.
“No,” Laurel said. “He did not.” He gestured once more and I slowly moved to stand before him. He gathered up my hair and began to deftly braid it, weaving the ribbons into the plait. “He sent these to make sure that everyone here understood that you were his, sworn to his House, Lord Rabbit ibn Chause e Flavan.”
I didn’t respond and when he finished braiding my hair, he produced from his pouch sapphire cuff links. “From honored Moraina,” he murmured as he inserted them into my shirt cuffs. He reached back in and brought out a sapphire and diamond cluster that he pinned to my tabard, adjusting my braid to make sure the sparkle of the jewels was visible. “She also wanted to make sure that everyone knew that you had her favor, Rabbit Two Trees’son.”
“Smashing pin and links, Lieutenant,” Javes said as we joined everyone in the common room, the haunts tagging behind us.Captain Suiden said nothing, but raised his brows at me while Uncle Havram silently whistled and Lord Esclaur lifted his quiz glass.
“A dragon’s favor,” Laurel said.
“Will it matter, Ambassador?” Chancellor Berle asked, also appraising the jewels. Her brows came together when she saw the ribbons in my hair.
“Yes, it matters a lot, Chancellor,” Laurel said. “It shows who Rabbit is—and who is his.” He looked over at Honor, Basel and the rest of the haunts. “If you would please stay here, honored ones. Having the reminder of your murders follow us in to dinner could be—detrimental.”
I blinked as a ripple of nods went through the ghosts, and everyone else stared wide-eyed at the Faena—even Suiden. Lieutenant Falkin’s hand twitched as he started to bless himself.
Laurel gave a faint smile. “I’ve the earth aspect and so I can ask—as long as it’s only asking.” He cast a glance over us and then, satisfied with our appearance, bowed, indicating the chamberlain waiting patiently at the door. “If we are ready?”