I stopped midbow at the insult, but Laurel merely raised a brow, then beckoned the server over to him. After taking a glass for himself, and then a sip, he nodded back. “Lord Chause.” He smiled, showing his excellent teeth, and the people nearest us who had been leaning in to hear over the music, suddenly leaned back out again (a few musicians scooted their chairs away without missing a beat). Into the suddenly cleared space around us popped a couple, the man blond and the woman dark, and both as plump as Festival geese.
“I give you good evening, gracious sirs! Hello, Rabbit! I’m your cousin Teram and this is my lady wife, Isalde!” Suiden and I both had been reaching for a glass off the server’s tray, but stopped and bowed to my Flavan cousins.
The server started to edge away and Suiden, still in his bow, moved to block him.
“Quite a little gathering here, eh?” Lord Teram continued. He grabbed two glasses of wine also, handing one to his wife who held it with a limp hand. “Too bad our grandpapa isn’t here to meet you, cousin, but he’s in the country on a repairing lease—gout, you know. He refuses to give up his port!” Teram beamed at his grandda’s excesses and took a large gulp of wine. “I must say that it’s good to see you again, Javes. I had heard that you were reassigned to Freston, of all places! I didn’t quite believe it until tonight when I saw your uniform. It must be nice to get back to civilization!”
Javes did his silly ass smile. “Yes, what?” He indicated the Turalian ambassador and Suiden. “I’m sure you know Ambassador Sro Kenalt, but have you met Captain Prince Suiden?”
“Yes, but I was a little nipperkin and I daresay he doesn’t remember me.” Teram turned his beam on Suiden as he bowed. “Are you glad to be back in the City, Your Highness?”
Suiden murmured to the server to leave the rest of the wine on the food table. He then nodded at Lord Teram. “Yes, my lord. Coming to Iversly is always an adventure.” He picked up a glass and drained about half.
“Though it’s a little thin of company right now,” Lord Teram said, casting his eyes over the packed hall. “Hardly anybody’s in town, isn’t that right, Maceal?”
“Yes,” Lord Chause said, curling an aristocratic lip at the crowds.
“Is your wife in residence?” Lord Teram asked.
“Our son is a little under the weather and she decided to stay home with him tonight,” Lord Chause replied.
“I hope that he’s all right!”
“Oh, yes. More female crotchets than anything else.”
“Good, good! I will have Lady Isalde call on her then!”
For the first time I understood clearly why my parents ran away. I caught Captain Suiden’s eye and he shook his head very slightly, so I started thinking about asking Sro Kenalt to introduce me to his tailors.
“If you will excuse me, honored folk, I wish to speak with Chancellor Berle,” Laurel rumbled. He gave a general bow, pressing his paws together, holding his staff in the crook of his arm.
“I will accompany you, Ambassador,” Captain Javes said, while I placed my still full glass down on the table.
“You don’t have to run off, do you, Rabbit?” Lord Teram asked.
Maybe I could get something to wear to the theater in Freston. “I’m sorry, uh, Teram. I am assigned as Ambassador Laurel Faena’s liaison.”
“Oh! Well, perhaps you can come by tomorrow, eh? See the rest of the family!”
Boots too, I thought, or some of the light footwear I’d seen around the city.
“Indeed, Rabbit, I was thinking to invite you to dine with us,” Lord Maceal said. “As soon as my wife is persuaded to leave the nursing to the nursemaids.”
On the other hand, both canvas shoes and sandals would be entirely impractical in Freston.
“Yes, my lords, though it’s up to my captain when I’ll be off duty.”
Laurel nodded his head once more and started walking away, Javes with him, and I bowed and hastened to join them. Captain Suiden made to follow but Sro Kenalt grabbed his arm. “Oh, no, cousin. We’ve a lot of catching up to do.” The ambassador’s grin was evil. “Besides, I’ve got all kinds of messages for you from Her Highness, your mother.”
I turned away from the look of panic, then resignation, on my captain’s face. Laurel chuffed quietly as we walked along the path that magically appeared in the crowd. “I didn’t think I’d ever see the honored captain so easily and thoroughly routed.”
Javes gave an exaggerated shudder. “Mothers. I’m still terrified of mine.”
I thought of how my own mother, with one eye slit and one brow raised, tore with frightening efficiency into the heart of any misbehavior. “Uhm, yes.”
Laurel chuffed again, though I noticed that his tail was tucked. He saw me looking at him. “To keep it out of the way, Lord Rabbit.”
“Uh-huh.”
It was a kaleidoscope of people who, while not as colorful as Sro Kenalt, were dressed extravagantly with flowing dresses and elaborate coifs on the women, and formal coats and trousers or embroidered robes worn by the men. And everyone wore flowers, interwoven in hair, pinned on bodices, collars, lapels, and in chains looped around necks and wrists. The air was sweet with their perfume—and from the beeswax candles lighting the rooms. I caught the reflection of candle flames in mirrors and windows, off the polished marble floor, in the bright jewels worn by the guests as they moved in a dance of conversation and laughter—and I thought of the faeries’ castles that floated over enchanted lakes.
We caught up with Foreign Chancellor Berle, who wore white roses against the russet of her hair and pinned to the gold of her gown, and she smiled as she bowed. “Grace to you, Ambassador Laurel, Lord Rabbit, and”—she knit her brows—”Captain Javes, right? Welcome to Ivers Palace.” She did her wry smile. “I have promised the king that, however tempted I might be, I would not talk business tonight, but allow you to enjoy the reception.”
We plunged into the swirling colors, and were handed off to lord to advisor back to the chancellor, then to ladies (widows, Javes murmured, who didn’t have husbands to tell them what ideas to have) and back to the chancellor again—who started us on a new round. Once, during our third circuit of the room, I saw Lord Gherat holding a mini-court, which included my newly introduced Cousin Teram and Uncle Maceal, and a man in uniform who Javes said was the Royal Garrison commander, Loel ibn Dru. Gherat looked up and met my eyes, then deliberately turned away. A moment later they all burst into laughter and I started to think about his mother, but Laurel whacked my shin with his staff.
Most of the people we were introduced to were fascinated by the mountain cat, some (once they were sure he wasn’t going to bite) even running a hand over his fur. After the first couple of times, Laurel politely smiled and offered an arm or shoulder, and lords and ladies both would stroke fingers over it, their own smiles full of childlike wonder. Even those who eschewed petting him were transfixed by the picture he made: a large cat with beads, feathers, and staff in one hand, and a glass of sparkling wine in the other that he sipped from time to time.
Some of the guests also spoke to me about my parents. “Your mama was so beautiful at her presentation,” one woman said, her hand forgotten as it lay on Laurel’s arm, “and all the rest of us poor debutantes were jealous.” She smiled at her memories. “But I always attached myself to dear Hilga at balls, as her dance card filled up fast and I would have a chance at the ones who weren’t quick enough.” She sighed. “We weren’t surprised at all when she caught Beau Rafe’s eye.”
“ ‘ Beau Rafe,’ hah!” Her husband grinned at me. “Ask your papa next time you see him about an ale keg and the night watch.” I blinked, as my da was the soberest of men. The lord’s grin widened. “Old Mops led them on a merry chase.” And despite the king’s injunction on business, the advisors and other politicos asked questions about the Border.