A Magic of Dawn Read Online Free Page B

to your wife or to anyone’s . . .”
    Sergei raised a white, heavy eyebrow. “No?” he said again. He allowed himself a gap-toothed smile. “But you see, I am married, Aaros. I’m married to Nessantico. She is my wife, my mistress, my very reason for living. And you, Aaros, you have assaulted and betrayed her. Talbot told me what he’d discovered. You spoke to an agent of the Firenzcian Coalition. Certainly you remember him? Garos ci’Merin? I had the . . . pleasure of talking to him yesterday, here in the Bastida.” Sergei smiled at ci’Bella; the garda snorted with amusement. “He told me how kind you were to him. How helpful.”
    “But I didn’t know the man was a Firenzcian, Ambassador,” ci’Bella protested. “I swear it by Cénzi. He seemed lost, and I only escorted him through the palais . . .”
    “You showed him through the corridors for the palais staff, the corridors that only authorized staff are permitted to access.”
    “It was the quickest way . . .”
    “And it was also a way that someone wishing to harm the Kraljica or to prowl about the palais would desire to know and use.”
    “But I didn’t know . . .”
    Sergei smiled. He rubbed at the carved nostrils of his false nose, where the glue holding it to his face itched. “I believe you, Aaros,” he said gently, smiling. “But I don’t know if that’s the truth. Perhaps you’re a skilled liar. Perhaps you’ve helped other people find their way through the palais corridors. Perhaps you’re an agent of Firenzcia yourself. I don’t know. ” He plucked a set of clawed pincers from their loop and stood with an effort, his knees cracking once more. The garda pushed himself off the wall, moving forward to Aaros.
    “But I will know,” Sergei told the man. “Very soon . . .”

     

Allesandra ca’Vörl
     
    A LLESANDRA KNEW THAT there would be a backlash to her decision to hold a state funeral for Ambassador Karl ca’Pallo. She just hadn’t expected it to be quite so vitriolic nor so rapid.
    Her aide Talbot entered her chamber with a quick warning knock. “I apologize for interrupting your breakfast, Kraljica,” he said with an elegant half-bow as her domestiques de chambre diplomatically left the room. “A’Téni ca’Paim is here to see you. She insists it is ‘vital’ that she see you immediately.” Talbot frowned. “I swear, the woman doesn’t know how to speak in anything but hyperbole. If her breakfast is late, it’s a crisis.”
    Allesandra sighed and set down her fork. “It’s about our request to use the Old Temple for Karl’s funeral?”
    “I sent your request over to A’Téni ca’Paim’s office less than a turn of the glass ago. So, yes, I suspect that’s why she’s come. A’Téni ca’Paim seems . . . well, rather nervous and upset.” Talbot’s pale eyes glittered with a hint of amusement, a corner of his thin mouth lifting. But then, Talbot was a Numetodo, which meant that he might believe in other gods than Cénzi or no god at all. Being a Numetodo rather than a follower of Cénzi had become nearly fashionable in Nessantico in recent years—the fact that ca’Paim was the leader of the Faith in Nessantico mattered not at all to him.
    Allesandra pushed the silver tray away from her. Cutlery rattled, tea shivered in the cup. “Since the a’téni herself has come rather than sending one of the lesser téni over, I assume she feels this can’t wait?”
    “A’Téni ca’Paim said that she was—and I quote the woman—prepared to stay here until the Kraljica can find time to see me.’ Though if the Kraljica wishes to make her wait until this evening or even tomorrow, I’d be pleased to give A’Téni ca’Paim that message.”
    “No doubt you would,” Allesandra said; Talbot flashed another grin. “And to bring her blankets and a pillow, too. But I suppose I might as well get this over with. Wait half a turn so I can finish my breakfast, then bring her up. Ply her with those candies from Il