The Will of the Empress - By Tamora Pierce Page 0,125

off his body in pieces, the seams unraveling in the blink of an eye. Briar looked at Sandry, whose eyes blazed with fury.

"Thanks," he said casually. He smiled pleasantly at the guard, who was now shirtless in the chilly room. "Hope you don't catch cold." He gathered up the pieces of shirt and began to tend to Sandry's feet.

Tris was calmly undoing two thick braids. "I am not climbing those stairs back up. None of us are."

Briar looked at her, astounded. "What did you think we'd do, Coppercurls, fly?"

She smiled evilly at him as the sea door blew open. "It's a trick I learned in Tharios. And it's much quicker than climbing."

Sandry hugged herself. She was a tangled, rumpled mess, but now that she was in the light, she was ready to do battle. "What if I don't want to go back to my room like a good little clehame?" she demanded, her voice shaking with her rage. "What if I would rather talk to my dear cousin Berenene about the behaviour of one of her male subjects?"

Tris nodded. "I can take us to the imperial wing easily enough. It's like standing on a moving platform, the way I shape the winds, only you can't see the platform."

"Do it." Sandry stumbled out through the sea door. Tris looked at Briar as Chime flew over to her shoulder. "You two have to hold on to me, and promise not to squeak."

Briar shook his head. "The things I do for my sisters," he said with a sigh. He waved at the two captives. "We'll try and remember to send someone for you boys, don't you worry!"

*

Berenene looked out at her court, deeply dissatisfied with this night. True, her lumpish cousin from Lairan had been suitably awed by her splendour, and would report to his king that Namorn was, as ever, glorious and overpowering in its generosity. He was disappointed not to meet Clehame Sandrilene fa Toren, but understood that even the best healers in the empire could not erase the damage of a fever in an afternoon. Berenene had assured him that she would invite him to a private dinner: "just our family," she had told him, "when Clehame Sandry is herself again." It was beautifully done, with Isha to confirm the lie. No one but Ishabal, Fin, and the servants who had gone to find the girl knew the truth, that she had vanished. Fin had said, with a casualness that made Berenene want to slap his handsome face, that he assumed Sandry had gone to the ball with other friends.

"You are very casual about the fate of a woman who could make you rich and powerful," she had accused. He had begged her pardon, with such polished innocence that she had half-wondered if he had not arranged to kidnap Sandry tonight. She immediately dismissed the idea. Fin was not fool enough to stage such a thing within the walls of the palace, which was sacrosanct. No one would risk that.

At least Sandry was not with Shan. Berenene had seen to that, and had kept him at her right hand all night. He's spent too much time out of my view lately, and too much of it has been in Sandry's company, she told herself now, eying his muscled body sidelong as he watched the dancers. I like a man with spirit, as long as it isn't too much spirit. Quen never gave me so much trouble when he was my official lover.

She glanced at Quen, who had taken Isha's place on her right. The older mage had insisted that Sandry would turn up — the ball was large enough that she might be in one of the other rooms, or in the gardens, being romanced. No real inquiry could be made until morning without causing the kind of gossip Her Imperial Majesty wanted to avoid, so Isha was going to bed. Many of the older, more staid courtiers were also making their farewells. The younger members of the court were known to dance until dawn, with the empress joining them.

Sipping a goblet of wine, Berenene inspected the crowd. If Daja knew Sandry was missing, she showed no sign of concern. She and Rizu were surrounded by Rizu's friends. They made a lively group, and Daja and Rizu practically glowed as they smiled at each other. That worked out quite well, thought Berenene with satisfaction. My Rizu is happier than I have seen her in months, something I had not anticipated.