One Thousand Nights Read Online Free Page B

brother, I did not know, but he did not renew his appeals for me to accept the ambassadors’ proxy proposal. They were, I could tell, getting anxious — sidelong glances sent in my direction when they thought I was not paying attention, overly florid panegyrics to the exotic beauties of their homeland. However, as they were, if nothing else, consummate professionals, they seemed willing to sit through the concerts and balls and lavish supper parties as if attending such events was the only reason they had traveled more than a thousand miles at the tail end of a long, cold winter.
    I had sent the letter to Thani, and now I could only wait. Two days’ hard ride for a messenger to reach Marric’s Rest, and most likely three for the return trip. That meant I could expect my betrothed — for I did think of him in such a way, no matter what my brother might say — sometime the day after tomorrow. Although Torric had left the matter alone, his expression was eloquent enough. It spoke of his disappointment in me, that I could not see past the folly of my heart to make the decision that would be in the service of my homeland.
    From time to time, I would withdraw the miniature portrait of the Hierarch from its pouch and gaze on his features. Why I did such a thing, I was not sure. Perhaps to somehow apologize for rejecting him? Despite the foreign cast to his features, he did have very kind eyes. They appeared to watch me and understand the reasons for my refusal. And I seemed to note a certain sadness there, which I supposed was to be expected, as he had recently lost his wife. Torric had not said why; I assumed she must have died in childbirth, or perhaps of some illness native to that fierce desert land.
    I saw nothing of cruelty or dissipation in that face, and that was why I secretly hoped for him to find a bride among his own people, someone who could make him happy. Something about those calm, dark features made me wish him no further sadness.
    Which was foolish, of course. A miniature portrait no larger than a few inches from top to bottom was not precisely a good measure of a man’s appearance, let alone his character. Most likely I had spent so many hours writing down stories and fairytales that I had begun to let my imagination run away with me. I had no doubt that the Hierarch viewed this whole transaction as merely that — a political arrangement, bartering favorable trade agreements and treaties for a high-born bride. It was the way of such things, after all.
    Over the past few days, I had more or less managed to avoid being alone with the senior diplomat, Ambassador Sel-Trelazar. The junior ambassador, named Amil Nel-Karisoor, seemed more interested in sampling the delights of the imperial court — including its ladies — than pressing the suit of his monarch. But Sel-Trelazar, I feared, was not one to be so distracted, especially on an evening when my brother had decreed there should be cards, and dice. Gambling was one of the main pastimes of the court, but I had always disliked it. Too many disgraced themselves by falling into debt, all for foolish games. It was expected, though, and my brother, a canny and cautious gambler himself, had little pity for those who found themselves in difficulty.
    “Should I outlaw the practice, simply because a few fools have no self-control?” he had snapped at me once when I had mentioned that perhaps more wholesome entertainments might be instituted at court.
    And so I was feeling impatient, not merely because I disliked his choice for that evening’s diversion, but also because I was expecting Thani to be here on the morrow, a day that could not come soon enough. In the meantime, I knew I had to continue this charade, until at least such time when he and I could present a united front and declare to everyone, ambassadors included, that we were betrothed, and there would be no match made with the Hierarch.
    As that thought passed through my mind, another came to supplant