Carel growled an order and the advance section of Ghosts split away and fell behind before the two parties actually met. Isak led the remainder a little way into the funnel of Kingsguard, then reined in so he could approach on foot. Tila had quietly mentioned that it would hardly be seeming for King Emin to greet his guest from two or three feet lower: there was still a huge difference in height, but on horseback it would only be accentuated.
Taking that as their cue, both parties followed suit and strode forward to meet each other. With hands out, palm up, Isak approached the king, who swept off his hat and executed a deep bow. Feeling awkward, Isak was about to follow suit when the king stepped forward to grasp Isak's arm in friendship.
'My Lord Isak,' King Emin declared in a clear, cultured voice, 'please be welcome in my kingdom.'
'King Emin,' Isak replied, keeping his voice at a similar level, 'I thank you, and all the people of Narkang and the Three Cities, for the welcome I have received every day I have spent in your kingdom.'
Isak bowed as he spoke. Tila had told him that the Farlan had never officially acknowledged Emin Thonal's self-coronation, so those words made a significant gesture, both politically and theologically.
Understanding showed in Emin's eyes as he returned the bow.
He looked younger than Isak had expected. He had ruled Narkang for twenty summers, taking over the city when he was only a little older than Isak was now, but his hair was untouched by grey, the light tan glinting in the midday sun. He had handsome features, dominated by a strong nose and brilliant blue eyes. Looking into those knowing eyes reminded Isak of Lord Bahl's own piercing stare. He lost himself there for a moment before remembering protocol required him to speak again.
'May I present those I bring with me? Count Vesna, the Lady Tila Introl, and Marshal Carelfolden, the Commander of my Guard.' The king nodded to each as Isak held a hand back to Tila and she passed him the gifts Bahl and his Chief Steward had so carefully selected.
'Your Majesty,' Isak continued, 'please accept these as gifts of friendship, the axe named Darklight-' he held out the wrapped weapon and Emin immediately loosened the cord to pull off the canvas covering. He lifted it up: a single-headed axe with a wickedly curved spike on the reverse, made from a single piece of dusky steel, not black-iron but something other, with four rods of steel strengthening the wooden shaft. Cut right through the body of the blade were five runes: light shining through as their edges glowed red. The king handed the covering to Coran and slipped one ring-bedecked hand about the grip. The Chetse had small fingers, so one of the guardsmen had carefully added extra leather binding to Darklight's grip. As King Emin flexed his fingers about it, Isak thought they had underestimated, but the king took a few practice strokes and appeared delighted with the result. He beamed at his guest and passed the weapon back to his bodyguard, who rewrapped it, then cradled it carefully in his
arms.
'For your queen,' Isak continued, 'I offer these jewels, created solely for her and those who share her family line.' He handed King Emin a small leather box, which he passed carefully to Queen Oterness.
The queen opened the box as carefully as her husband had unwrapped Darklight, but her gasp of wonder was entirely spontaneous. Nestled inside the velvet-lined container were twelve brilliant-cut emeralds, set in gold, connected by four thin chains of gold to a larger emerald. As soon as the queen touched one of the emeralds, all the jewels started to twitch, and one length of chain reached out tentatively to touch her hand. Snake-jewels were famous enough that the queen knew what to expect, but still she looked alarmed as the golden chain began to work its way up her arm. She trembled slightly as the jewels slid with a reptilian movement towards her shoulder, but every-one was watching, so she ignored her fear and gracefully inclined her head towards the largest emerald.
With delicate care the chain wove itself in and out of her gleaming auburn hair, carefully positioning the jewels until the large emerald had wriggled its way to the surface at her forehead. The smaller emeralds now circled her head like a crown. Once they were all in place,
they stilled. The queen reached up to touch them hesitantly – they felt like normal stones, normal gold, except for an almost imperceptible warmth.
She smiled at her husband, then curtsied deeply to Isak. 'You honour me,' she said. 'I do thank you, for me and for my daughters to come.'
For a moment Isak glimpsed the sadness in her eyes and recalled the couple were still childless, but then Queen Oterness smiled, and it lit up her eyes. Isak smiled back and inwardly sighed with relief. He hadn't been sure the snake jewels were right – they'd startled him when Tila had shown him how her grandmother's set of sapphires worked – but Tila had promised him that once over the initial discomfort, any woman would adore such a gift. The jewels had some property imbued in them that seemed almost to enhance beauty. Certainly Queen Oterness was almost glowing now.
Isak had decided not to offer the last gift, the book, publicly. A Murder of Cardinals was an account of the Malich affair, written by Cardinal Disten, the man who had exposed the plot in the first place. Isak suspected that King Emin would disappear with the book and pore over it for hours, probably with his curious friend Morghien, at the first opportunity.
. Now King Emin bowed again, and said, 'My Lord, your generosity overwhelms us. I fear I have nothing to offer a man so blessed with gifts as you, but the freedom of my city and realm are yours, as is my lasting friendship.'
Isak smiled: this was all going well. The host should offer nothing but friendship, and since that was what Isak had been sent to win, he was pleased. His first attempt at diplomacy was not going too badly, at least so far.
He indicated his retinue and said, 'We look forward to exploring the beauties of your city; thank you for your kindness.'
'And,' continued the king, 'if such a friendship results in sufficient trade to require an embassy here, I would be delighted to offer you the former duke's residence in perpetuity as your home away from home; a little piece of Tirah in Narkang.'
From the murmurs, Isak guessed the offer was both unexpected and generous. He bowed again, not sure if he should do or say anything else, but the bow seemed to suffice.
The king was speaking again. 'But I have been remiss in my introductions. Lord Isak, allow me to officially present to you Queen Oterness.'
The queen held out her hand and Isak took it gently, as Tila had taught him, and kissed the silk of her glove.
'My bodyguard and friend, Coran,' he continued, indicating the people as he spoke, 'my Prime Minister, Count Antern, and the Chief Councillor of the Public Assembly, Morten Deyl.'
Isak inclined his head briefly to each one. Coran looked like a thug with the brains to realise he was nothing without the king. Count Antem looked every inch the sly, ruthless politician that Lesarl had described: the man was utterly loyal to his king and had profited enormously by it. The only unknown quantity here was the Chief Councillor: Morten Deyl had recently been elected to head the Public Assembly. He'd come from almost complete obscurity, but his first year in office had resulted in a host of allegations and rumours. To Lesarl's fury, he had still not discovered who had engineered the vote.
Isak noticed the Chief Councillor's narrow eyes never left Eolis the entire time, even when he bowed. Whatever else he was, the man was a coward.