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A Stroke Of Midnight :: Гамильтон Лорел
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She seemed to think about that for a second or two, then gave avery small nod. “Perhaps not.” She looked at me. It was the kind of look that a hawk gives to grass when it’s almost certain there’s a tasty morsel down there.
“I have heard many stories about your activities. Now I wonder how much is true, and how much is exaggeration designed to set me against my allies and you.”
“Until I know what you have been told, I cannot say, Aunt Andais.”
“We are in the throne room, Meredith, use my title.”
“My queen.” I bowed my head, so she would not see my face. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.
CHAPTER 24
“DID THE RING CHOOSE A COUPLE AMONG THE GUARDS?” her voice was very neutral when she asked.
I was glad I was staring at the floor because so much had happened that I’d almost forgotten about Nicca and Biddy. Murders, metaphysics, the Goddess, the chalice, Amatheon vanishing, the attack on Galen, Cel’s prophecy about the green men, the lords who waited just outside, so much, and this was what she began with. Why?
“Yes, Queen Andais, the ring did choose a couple.”
There were murmurings from the nobles in their seats on either side of the floor. “Describe what happened.”
I did as she ordered. I talked of the phantom child, and what I had seen and felt.
Someone said, “The ring lives again.”
Andais looked at the man who had spoken. “Do you have something to add to this discussion, Lord Leri?”
“Only that this is surely good news, my queen.”
“I will decide what is good news, Leri.”
He bowed. “As my queen wills.”
She turned her attention back to me. “The ring lives again after centuries. It chooses a possibly fertile pair, and you don’t think this is important enough to tell me.”
“Much has happened since the ring chose them, Queen Andais. I thought finding the murderer, or murderers, took precedence.”
“I decide what takes precedence here, not you.” She stood. “I am still queen.”
I lowered myself to both knees, and Galen moved with me. “I have never questioned that.”
“Liar,” she hissed, and the room echoed with that one word.
Okay, this was bad, really bad. “What have I done to anger you, Queen Andais? Tell me and I will do my best to remedy it.” I kept my face down so that I was staring at the well-worn stone floor. I did not trust my expression. Fear might excite her, and puzzlement might anger her. I had no expression that I could give her.
“Mistral.
She seemed to think about that for a second or two, then gave avery small nod. “Perhaps not.” She looked at me. It was the kind of look that a hawk gives to grass when it’s almost certain there’s a tasty morsel down there.
“I have heard many stories about your activities. Now I wonder how much is true, and how much is exaggeration designed to set me against my allies and you.”
“Until I know what you have been told, I cannot say, Aunt Andais.”
“We are in the throne room, Meredith, use my title.”
“My queen.” I bowed my head, so she would not see my face. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all.
CHAPTER 24
“DID THE RING CHOOSE A COUPLE AMONG THE GUARDS?” her voice was very neutral when she asked.
I was glad I was staring at the floor because so much had happened that I’d almost forgotten about Nicca and Biddy. Murders, metaphysics, the Goddess, the chalice, Amatheon vanishing, the attack on Galen, Cel’s prophecy about the green men, the lords who waited just outside, so much, and this was what she began with. Why?
“Yes, Queen Andais, the ring did choose a couple.”
There were murmurings from the nobles in their seats on either side of the floor. “Describe what happened.”
I did as she ordered. I talked of the phantom child, and what I had seen and felt.
Someone said, “The ring lives again.”
Andais looked at the man who had spoken. “Do you have something to add to this discussion, Lord Leri?”
“Only that this is surely good news, my queen.”
“I will decide what is good news, Leri.”
He bowed. “As my queen wills.”
She turned her attention back to me. “The ring lives again after centuries. It chooses a possibly fertile pair, and you don’t think this is important enough to tell me.”
“Much has happened since the ring chose them, Queen Andais. I thought finding the murderer, or murderers, took precedence.”
“I decide what takes precedence here, not you.” She stood. “I am still queen.”
I lowered myself to both knees, and Galen moved with me. “I have never questioned that.”
“Liar,” she hissed, and the room echoed with that one word.
Okay, this was bad, really bad. “What have I done to anger you, Queen Andais? Tell me and I will do my best to remedy it.” I kept my face down so that I was staring at the well-worn stone floor. I did not trust my expression. Fear might excite her, and puzzlement might anger her. I had no expression that I could give her.
“Mistral.