court and the revulsion was almost overwhelming. Though the man had taken no overt notice of me, I could sense the intensity of his constant scrutiny and it had prompted me to ask for this present interview. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and continued my pacing. It had felt like hours, but the full moon shining on the frosted garden had moved no more than a finger’s width across the sky when she joined me, announced by a tapping of jeweled slippers and the rustle of white and tawny silk. “How now, Shadow? Mumping?” The brittle teasing tone failed to hide the concern in the old woman’s voice.
“Majesty, I—” I broke off as she frowned, then drew a breath and began again. “Majesty, I beg you, banish me from court. There is one here whom I cannot meet,” I reached an imploring hand, which she caught in her own, drawing me from the shadows. She began to untie the small ruffs at my wrists, slapping my hand smartly as I tried to pull back. First one ruff then the other fell away. She pursed her lips at what she saw there, and searched my face for a moment before retying the ruffs as deftly as any tiring-maid. She turned to the window, watching the moon as she spoke tome. “My lord, I have spent some little of my time in the Tower, and while none dared to fetter me, I know the marks of shackles well enough.” She wheeled to face me, eyes glittering in the candlelight. “Was it my lord of Essex?” she demanded sharply.
“Majesty! No! No, it was not,” I gasped.
“And you will not tell me who did this to you, or for what purpose?” I shook my head dumbly, and she shrugged, setting her wide standing collar of lace moving gracefully. She slipped a ring from her thumb, and took my hand.” When you have need to see me, for any reason, send this ring to me and I shall arrange to see you.” I examined the ring and found that it was a simple medallion showing a maiden in a small boat on a stormy sea. Though made only of pewter, it was set in finest gold. “It was a token that—my mother—” I knew by her voice how difficult any mention of her mother was for her, “gave to my father, once upon a time, and he had it set in this ring. I found it not long ago, shoved into a dusty box of half-forgotten documents. You have few enough friends, cousin, though enemies aplenty; send this to me when the jackals close in. Now, come along, my lord, and watch this aged dragon, that has swallowed my maiden youth, breath some fire—mind you do not get singed in the blast.”
“This is not your barbarous Sybria, my lord clodpoll!” Elizabeth screeched, slapping my face noisily as we stepped into the brightly lit Hall, riveting the attention of the entire court. I stepped back, raising my hand to my flaming cheek. She had pivoted, hitting me on my blind side, and I had had no warning, just the stinging crack of her hand on my flesh. “Go, now! I am done with shadows at my court.” Essex slid silkily to the old woman’s side, his expression bordering on a smirk. I bowed low, kissing her offered hand, and leaned close to her to speak softly as I rose.
“I see the maiden, quite plainly,” I whispered. She gave me a violent shove, and, with the eye away from Essex, winked. “Your Majesty,” I said formally, “I leave you, then, to the sun. If you have want or need of me, you know where—”
“Shadows are found? Under rocks, I believe,” drawled an insolent voice from somewhere behind Essex.
“Hal,” Essex remonstrated, magnanimous in his perceived victory, and the Earl of Southampton stepped forward to view me, as if I were a freak at a fair. I returned the favor, causing the elegant man to drop his eyes, and shrug off the confrontation with a laugh.
“You have my leave, my lord,” Elizabeth snapped, turning her back, and I marched from the Hall to a chorus of ill-concealed titters. I fled to the stables, barked an order to the stable-boy, and galloped off into the night, trembling and sick. Northumberland had been there, I could feel him watching. I hadn’t seen him, but hadn’t needed to. The crawling in my flesh had been quite sufficient.