Destiny's Queen by J.D. Rogers

  ***

  Edgerton rarely left his suite these days, except to visit Queen Catlett's tomb, and of course the sculptor working on the twin statues of her. He had lost weight since Catlett's death, going from a plump man with a neatly trimmed beard to a skinny man with a scraggly beard. I made a point of dressing up when I visited him. Tonight, I wore a white silk gown with gold trim around the hem and cuffs. It had a flared skirt, a built-in corset with a scoop neckline, and belled sleeves. A white silk bow tied my hair back.

  Iderra accompanied me, dressed in a similar gown made out of yellow silk. Her short brown hair was freshly trimmed and unadorned. I thought she looked better with short hair, thought that it drew less attention to her nose and more attention to her high cheekbones and doe eyes.

  Vanessa remained in her suite, tending to her evening studies with the tutors that moved here from Holt. I felt it was important that her tutors come from Holt, that she learn about the world from their perspective, since one day, when it was safe, she would move back there.

  "I've brought someone I want you to meet," I said to Edgerton.

  He was sitting in his drawing room, dressed in black clothes that were now too big for his frame. In his right hand was a goblet of wine. His drug of preference these days. The tray of food sitting in front of him remained untouched.

  I stepped aside so he could see Iderra. "I'm pleased to present my sister, Princess Iderra Derbe Haran. Iderra, this is Chancellor Edgerton Hooks."

  Edgerton looked up but didn't really seem to notice us. Iderra curtsied, and spoke in the Common Tongue, with no trace of the accent I knew I still carried. "The honor is mine, Chancellor. Lila has told me that you have one of the finest minds that she's ever met. I look forward to finding out if it's true, or if she exaggerates. Right now, I'm inclined to believe that she exaggerates."

  That brought Edgerton out of his drunken reverie. I suspect in his long life, he had never met anyone that had introduced herself in such a manner. For her part, Iderra was just being Iderra. I did tell her that Edgerton had a fine mind, and she did want to find out just how bright he was. Iderra always said what she thought, and meant what she said. If she had a weak point, it was that she was too blunt. Social niceties just weren't her strong suit.

  Edgerton did something completely unexpected right then. He smiled. Something I hadn't seen him do since Catlett's death. Still smiling, he set his wine down, pushed himself to his feet, and bowed. "I'm glad to see you reached us safely."

  "It was an enlightening trip," Iderra said. "I've learned much about this part of the world, but not nearly as much as I'd like."

  "Iderra can never learn as much as she'd like," I said. "She has an insatiable curiosity and a unique ability to retain everything she sees and hears. And I do mean everything."

  "She doesn't look like you, but she does have her own unique beauty."

  Iderra blushed. It was the first time I could remember her blushing over something a man said about her.

  "She does indeed," I said.

  "Lila tells me that you're grieving the loss of Queen Catlett," Iderra said. "I hope that your grief doesn't take your life before I've had a chance to pick your brain."

  That statement caught Edgerton completely off-guard. For a few seconds, he did nothing. Finally, he broke out laughing, which caught me off-guard. "And just what do you hope to pick from my brain, Your Highness?"

  "Why everything in it."

  "Of course." Edgerton glanced around, and noticed the untouched tray of food. "Suddenly, I'm very hungry. Would you ladies care to join me for dinner?"

  "I just ate." So did Iderra, but she had a bottomless pit for a stomach and was always ready for another snack. I never figured out how she could eat so much and remain so skinny. I suspect she burned it off thinking. "I'll leave Iderra to start picking your brain, Chancellor."