The Diplomat (40 page)

The long ordeal behind her, she released another exhausted breath, vowing never to lift a quill again. A knock at the door roused her from her daydreaming. “Enter,” she said, and Elise and Jalaya tumbled into the room. Their faces were flushed, and Jalaya’s eyes were alight with mischief. “What’s so amusing?”

“You sounded so stern,” said Jalaya. She put her hands upon her hips and scowled. “Enter!”

“Don’t tease me. I’ve had a long day.”

“I forget that you’re a weary old woman.” Jalaya sauntered into the office with as much assurance as if it were her own bedchamber. She spotted her favorite silk cushion and threw herself onto it, limbs sprawling.

Elise followed, with somewhat more decorum, and paused to appreciate Jalaya’s ungainly posture. “Jalaya, I can see up your skirt.”

“How lucky for you! Whenever I sing, Haran tries to sit where he can see up my skirt, but I’m far too wily for him.” Jalaya and Elise giggled together, and exhausted as she was, Rema smiled. It was good to see them in high spirits. Elise’s worried talk about murder and magic had been at the back of her mind throughout the day.

“I’m glad Rema doesn’t wear a skirt. We’d be able to see those ugly little trousers she wears under her impressive ones.”

Jalaya cackled until her cosmetics ran down her cheeks. “Shame on you both,” said Rema. “This office is for important business, not your slanderous chatter.”

Elise sat on the desk and tugged on Rema’s collar. “Jalaya and I want to know if you’ll have dinner with us. We’re bored without you. Let’s all relax and forget our worries.”

“Let’s all look up my skirt,” said Jalaya, still hiccuping with laughter.

“Now I understand,” said Rema. “She’s drunk. Elise, did you give her wine? She’s always like this with wine.”

“We only drank a little,” said Elise. “It didn’t affect me very much.”

“It’s because I’m small.” Jalaya examined her left hand as if encountering it for the first time. “It makes me dizzy too fast. I shouldn’t drink it at all.” She bounced on the cushion and almost fell off. “Oh!”

“We’d better eat here in my office,” said Rema, trying without luck to force her smile into something sterner. “She’s not very discreet when she’s like this.”

“Good idea.” Jalaya stretched her arms and legs, wriggling her toes inside her sandals. “Go get me some food.”

“As you will. But I won’t bring anything but smoked camel.”

“No!” Jalaya leapt to her feet and straightened her clothes. “I’ll do it.” She wobbled toward the door, trying to wink at Elise as she did so. The wink failed disastrously, and she crashed into the doorframe. She collected herself and wandered out of sight.

Rema stacked the papers and rose from her desk. “Now you’ve seen drunken Jalaya, you’ve seen everything.”

“When she was on the pillow, I almost did see everything.” Elise knelt on a cushion and beckoned with an imperious hand for Rema to sit beside her.

“Yes, Princess.” Rema settled onto the cushion and slid an arm around Elise’s waist. “Gods, it’s been a long day.”

“Rema, it’s about time you told me what you’re up to.”

“Yes, you should know.” Rema put her lips to Elise’s ear. “With Muhan’s help, Ormun will disappear during a magic act. People will suspect me, but there’ll be no way to prove it. We’ll take over, everyone will be happy, and we’ll make love for hours on end.”

“I hope your plan works. Meanwhile, your whispering is making me tingle.”

Rema kissed her. They sank into the cushion, limbs entwined and hands exploring, each touch becoming more adventurous. Just as Elise’s hand was creeping into Rema’s trousers, Jalaya pushed open the door. Rema disentangled herself and scurried to a neighboring cushion, while Elise stayed where she was, enveloped in the untamable sprawl of her own hair.

“That looked like fun,” said Jalaya as she stumbled into the room beneath a tray of food. “I don’t know how I managed not to drop this. It keeps trying to run away from me.” She placed the tray on a small table among the cushions and curled up on a large, flat pillow.

“Let’s see what you’ve brought us,” Rema said. “Is there any warm food?”

“There were only two servants there, and they didn’t have time to heat anything. They also mocked me because I’m so giddy. I did bring more wine, though!”

Rema tugged on Jalaya’s foot, and she slipped from the pillow, squealing. “Look at the silly thing. She’s a shameless drunkard.”

“I don’t get drunk.” Jalaya poured three glasses. “I get delightful. Here, Elsie, this one is for you. I hope you become so tipsy that you decide to run away with me. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

Elise took the glass and sniffed its contents. “Seeing how silly Jalaya has gotten, I’m almost afraid to drink it.”

Rema scrutinized the tray. “What is this, a giant bowl of strawberries? Is this supposed to be our dinner?”

“I’m going to bury my head in it,” said Jalaya. “But don’t worry. There are some cold soups and a wonderful thing made of potatoes and tomatoes. Potatoes and tomatoes. What funny words.”

Rema and Elise exchanged an amused glance over their glasses. “How are the arrangements for the performance?” said Rema.

“Good! Wait until you see me singing, Elsie. Then you’ll fall in love with me.”

“Who said I wasn’t in love with you already?” Elise tickled Jalaya’s feet, provoking at first merriment and finally an outraged screech as Jalaya tucked them beneath her. “Oh, look, we’ve made Rema pout.”

“I’m not pouting,” said Rema. “You two can marry for all that I care. Is that a saffron cake?”

“I brought it just for you,” said Jalaya. “Because I still love you, even though Elsie is prettier.”

Elise began to giggle, and when Rema turned a sulky look toward her, she broke into outright laughter. “I’m sorry, Rema.” Her eyes shone, and with more than merely wine. “I just find drunken Jalaya very entertaining.”

“She’s not entertaining. She’s making a fool of herself.” Rema scowled at Jalaya, but she proved unable to hold the frown and ended up chuckling herself. “Did you finish that glass already?”

“No.” Jalaya stared into the empty glass. “It just emptied itself. Also, Elsie, I gathered up lots of sweets for you. I’m going to make you fatter.” She crawled into Elise’s lap, put her arms around Elise’s waist and squeezed, provoking another fit of giggles. “You’re so fun to hold. I could squish you forever.”

“Don’t crawl all over her like that. Elise isn’t enjoying it.”

Jalaya tried to nuzzle Elise, who laughed. “Jalaya, behave,” Elise said, stopping Jalaya’s advancing mouth with her fingers.

“It’s your perfume,” said Jalaya. “It’s giving me thoughts. Rema, do you remember the night we met that merchant woman, the one who sold silks?”

“That was different,” said Rema. “Elise doesn’t want anything to do with your tipsy fantasies.”

“Doesn’t she?” Jalaya stroked Elise’s cheek, and Elise blushed, her eyes dizzy with amusement.

Rema summoned her sternest tone. “Go back to your cushion!”

Jalaya gave an indignant harrumph before returning to her previous position, this time modestly tucking her skirt between her legs. “I’m not a naughty house cat, Rema. You should let Elsie decide whether she wants me to crawl on her.”

“You poor thing. Tomorrow you’ll apologize to her so many times, you’ll wear your voice out. Do you remember the time you got so drunk you walked into the corridor wearing nothing but my trousers?”

“Give me a fig and I’ll behave. And I want one kiss from Elsie. Just one.”

“That seems fair,” said Elise. Rema pinched her on the arm, and she shrieked. “I mean, no! No kisses!” She dissolved into a mess of wine-fueled mirth, and Jalaya immediately joined her.

As Rema looked between her friends, affection warmed her chest and dissolved her troubles. “Let’s eat the saffron cake. Tell me you brought a knife.”

They dined and drank until moonlight crept through the window and mingled with the warm glow of their lamp. Jalaya became too silly to do more than chuckle, and she finally fell asleep with her head in Elise’s lap. “I can hardly wait to see her reaction in the morning,” said Elise, running her fingers through Jalaya’s lustrous black hair.

“I have to admit, some of the most enjoyable times I can remember involved Jalaya and wine,” said Rema. “But I prefer her sober nonetheless. When she drinks, she becomes far too light-minded for someone so intelligent.”

“I’m so fond of her, Rema. I hope there’s something good waiting for her at the end of all of this.”

“I wish I understood her better.” Rema watched Jalaya’s lashes as they flickered in slumber. “She has a strange, yearning heart. All those songs she sings about love. I’ve never understood half of them, but they fill my soul and make me weep all the same.”

“Why is she so infatuated with me?”

“She especially loves women who are…well, hurt in some way. The unhappier I became, the more Jalaya focused her attentions on me. My guess is that she can sense the sorrow your life has left inside you like so many scars. Her own past is very sad, though you wouldn’t know it to look at her.”

Elise touched Jalaya’s nose. Jalaya sniffed and batted dozily at Elise’s hand. “She was getting very amorous. I won’t lie, I enjoyed it. You’re lucky I’m so devoted to you.”

“She was teasing. She’d love to have the both of us, but I think she understands that it can’t be that way.”

“Poor thing. We’d better wake her so we can all go to our beds.” Elise tugged on Jalaya’s ear, and Jalaya wriggled, a dreamy smile animating her lips. “Wake up, you little goose,” said Elise, tugging harder.

“Oh,” said Jalaya, opening her eyes. “Rema, I’ve been ridiculous.” She turned her head and bumped her face into Elise’s stomach. “Hello, Elsie. I was just dreaming about you.”

“Get up, sleepy. I’ll help you get back to your room, wherever that is.”

“Yes, do. Rema won’t rest all night from wondering whether you invited yourself in.”

“I think I’ve passed that particular anxiety now,” said Rema. As she stood, her knees unfolded with painless ease. Elise lifted Jalaya to her feet, and they joined Rema in the doorway.

Rema kissed Elise on the lips before embracing Jalaya, whose drowsy lashes brushed Rema’s cheek. “I’m glad I still get hugged,” said Jalaya. “I was worried you’d only shake my hand from now on.”

“Tomorrow, everything will be decided. Elsie, I’ll ensure some of Artunos’s guards escort you to the theater tomorrow. I’d be surprised if Ormun even talks to you.”

“He’d better not,” said Elise. “I’ve had about enough of holding my tongue.”

“Jalaya, are you alert enough to tell Elsie where to take you?”

“Rema, really,” said Jalaya. “I have full command of my senses. It’s just my legs that want to curl up and go to sleep.”

“Come on.” Elise took Jalaya by the hand. “Let’s put you to bed. I’m never giving you wine again.”

“Good idea.” Jalaya leaned against Elise’s arm. “Promise you’ll tuck me in.”

Rema watched, her heart light, as the pair walked down the night-wreathed corridor, Elise stooping slightly to keep Jalaya from falling. Her best friend and her lover, linked together, whispering and chuckling—not a sight to inspire envy, she understood now, but gratitude.

She locked the office door and began the long walk to her bedchambers. The moonlight about her was feeble; if only she’d taken a lantern from her office. Familiar as the palace was, it was unpleasant to trace through it in the dark, feeling against the rough outlines of a sculpture or tentatively inching over the edge of a sharp step. Years ago the palace had been illuminated throughout by steady lamplight, but Ferruro had declared it to be a waste of oil and had removed most of the lanterns. It had been an unpopular move, but Ferruro seemed able to get away with anything.

Rema turned into a wide corridor that was entirely dark save for a single ray of nocturnal light cast from a thin, high window. Holding her breath, she walked into shadow. Cicadas droned beyond the window, accompanied by the rattling banter of frogs. Rema took several steps more and paused, her ears straining. Were those footsteps shadowing her own, taking advantage of the echo of her boots to mask their tread?

Rema’s skin burned with a chill fire, and she touched the pendant that rested against her chest. She turned, certain that something was approaching in the dark with predatory patience. Surely it was her imagination. Surely—

Bannon stepped into the shaft of moonlight. Within his shadowed hood, two pale orbs glistened, their stare made even colder by the lunar radiance. “I said I’d come when you needed me, and now you do. It’s time to make me an offer, Rema.”

“First, you’ll have to tell me what Betany offered you,” Rema said, trying to keep the fear in her gut from slithering into her voice.

“A lot of money. But more than that, she said that she’d give me protection. You see, I’ve just learned that the Kalanese Adventurers are coming for me.”

“Surely you’re a match for them.”

“Maybe I could stand against some of them. But no man alive is a match for Blackworm, Wild Eye or the Jade Ghost. I’m not about to get eaten by some bigger fish.”

“If no man alive can help you, then how exactly is Betany going to offer you protection?”

“Perhaps she can’t, but I’m sure you could find a way.” Bannon took a slow step forward. “Look, I need a contract. A tool that’s disused grows rusty. Finish our original bargain but double the sum, and I’ll kill Betany for you. Double it again and I’ll catch Ormun, too, while he’s sleeping.”

“And by their blood I would win an empire.” Rema stared into his lifeless eyes. She had rarely been closer to death. “You know I won’t give you another coin more, Bannon, and I certainly won’t hire you to kill anyone.”

“My blade’s going to drip red by the end of this night regardless. Take my offer. I like you much better than I do that haughty bitch.”

“The answer is still no.”

“How can you refuse? If you die, that princess of yours is abandoned to her fate. Why throw it all away?” Bannon shook his head, his lips twisted. “Fine, then. You don’t need to double the sum. Just offer me some small incentive. A few jewels, a good horse…”

“I’ll pay you to leave, but I won’t pay you to kill.”