The Dark One

Part Three FIFTEEN: JADE

When evening finally came, Tissaia and I walked down to the hall together; the palace's huge central hall had been decorated with elaborate tapestries, garlands and pennants. Rows of long tables had been arranged under the tapestries and garlands, and the tables were piled high with elaborate dishes served on even more elaborate table settings, among elaborate flower arrangements and extraordinary ice carvings.
We stood in the doorway, a pageboy approached with a tray of glasses full of a white liquid with bubbles practically jumping from the glass. "Tonight it's all about loosening spirits. And inspiring conviviality in one perfect evening. So behave yourself."
"I always behave myself." I replied as Tissaia smirked up at me.
"You have no memory of the party you hosted in Rinde? Say nothing about enchanted women and very little clothing, with hot water and towels?" Tissaia asked as another pageboy walked past and held a tray of small pies on. I took one and ate it then took another and another until I had a handful of pies. "We need this ball to go off without a hitch so please... dearest, stop eating like an underfed ghoul." I turned slowly and ate a pie, as Tissaia sighed. "When someone asks to speak to you, you must accept, and quickly. And no matter how ludicrously anyone is dressed, don't stare." She requested, continuing her instructions and paying absolutely no attention to me as I adjusted my dress. "Avoiding conversations is considered an inexcusable indiscretion..."
"And if that beanpole in those ridiculous pantaloons points me out to his two girlfriends," I interrupted, "is that considered a faux pas?"
"Yes. But a minor one."
"What are we going to be doing, Tiss?"
"Circulating around the hall, greeting people, paying them compliments, engaging in conversation... Stop tugging your dress and fiddling with your hair."
"You said no to the hat."
"Your hat was pretentious." She huffed, "well then, take my arm and let's go. Standing near the entrance is considered a faux pas." She muttered.
We wandered through the hall, which was gradually filling up with guests. I was ravenously hungry but quickly realized Tissaia hadn't been joking. It became clear that the etiquette observed by mages did indeed demand that one eat and drink very little, and do it with a nonchalant air. To cap it all, every stop at the food table carried with it social obligations. Someone would notice you, express their joy at the fact and then approach and offer their greetings, which were as effusive as they were disingenuous. After the compulsory air kisses or unpleasantly weak handshakes, after the insincere smiles and even less sincere, although well-concocted, compliments, followed a brief and tediously banal conversation about nothing.
I looked around eagerly, searching for familiar faces, mainly in the hope I wasn't the only person present who had been a student at Aretuza. Tissaia had assured me I wouldn't be, but in spite of that I couldn't see anyone who wasn't a member of the Brotherhood.
Pageboys carrying trays weaved among the guests, serving wine. Tissaia didn't drink at all. I wanted to get tight, but couldn't. Instead, I found my dress was. Under the arms and around the chest. "Did you alter the dimensions Tiss?" I muttered as I shifted slightly.
"I removed an inch."
"That inch might just be the thing that makes me show everyone my chest. Undo it now, s'il vous plaît."
"I can't. Not here."
"Then elsewhere, before I show everyone what's under the dress." I growled as Tissaia skillfully steered me, with her arm, away from the table and led me into the middle of the hall, to the very centre of general interest. My resistance counted for nothing. I realized what this was all about. It was quite simply a display.
"More than you are?" She joked, eyeing my leg.
"Really? You'd be happy with the Brotherhood noting the marks from our wedding night?" I whispered as she held my hand beneath my cloak.
"I'm proud of them."
"Yes, well as am I, dear, but unfortunately I need this to be adjusted; else I'll pass out here and now before anyone can do anything. So please, kindly add the inch back or adjust your dress to the same."
"Fine. Although I do like seeing you desperate."
"I'm hardly desperate." I whispered as she moved her fingers and my chest dropped a bit, "Thank you. Now I'm not going anywhere but to get a drink. Want one?"
"Please."
"Get it yourself, as payback for the dress."
"You're such a child."
"Says the woman who made the dress measurements wrong."
"I merely wanted a good view."
"You have one! My arse is in plain view of everyone!" I exclaimed as we walked back over to a table.
"It is actually. Lots of people are looking."
"Mmmm. I can read their mind should you like to know what they're thinking."
"Entertain me." She whispered picking up a plate.
"Mostly it's: 'I hope she's single I'd like to marry a woman with a backside like that', or it's: 'damn Tissaia is a lucky woman'. Satisfied?"
"Very. Give me a little salmon. And some crab."
"These crabs are from Poviss. They were probably caught a month ago; and it's really hot right now. Aren't you worried?"
"These crabs," she interrupted, "were still creeping along the seabed this morning. Teleportation is a wonderful invention."
"Indeed," I concurred. "And my no knowledge of this shows how I should really be here more often doesn't it?"
"It does, now come on, give me some. I'm hungry." She held her plate to me as I put crab and salmon on her plate before stuffing a crab onto my plate and adding one to my mouth.
"I love you, Tissaia." I muttered.
"Don't talk with your mouth full. I love you too. Haven't I ever told you?" She asked, as I coughed heavily; "Heavens, you'll choke! Lift your arms up and I'll thump you in the back. Take some deep breaths."
"Tiss . . ."
"Keep breathing, it'll soon pass."
"Tiss!"
"Yes. I'm repaying sincerity with sincerity."
"Are you feeling all right?" I asked as she nodded, glancing at me oddly.
"I was waiting," she said, squeezing lemon on the salmon. "I was waiting for you to not die on crab. Now eat and don't choke. This salmon is delicious, I swear on the Power, absolutely delicious."
"May I kiss you? Right now, here, in front of everyone?"
"No."
The room went quieter as Tissaia and I walked away from the table, a glass in one hand and a plate of fish in the other, to the center of the room where Vilgefortz and other mages were interacting. Tissaia looked towards the door as Yennefer and Geralt walked into the room, Yennefer muttered something to him as he took a glass of wine from a tray and then stuffed his face with some food that had been passing on another. A bard and his 'band' walked past signing about how 'all is not as it seems'; something apt for me as I still hadn't told Tissaia about my visit to Nilfgaard.
Sabrina walked past us and stopped in front of me, "What's new in Kaedwen?" Tissaia asked Sabrina, pretending not to see what or who I was glaring at. "Is your King Henselt still wasting energy and resources chasing the Squirrels through the forests? Is he still thinking about a punitive expedition against the elves from Dol Blathanna?"
"Let's give politics a rest," smiled Sabrina. Her slightly too-long nose and predatory eyes made her resemble the classic image of a witch. "Tomorrow, at the Council, we'll be politicking until it comes out of our ears. And we'll hear plenty of moralizing, too. About the need for peaceful coexistence... About friendship... About the necessity to adopt a loyal position regarding the plans and ambitions of our kings... What else shall we hear?"
"What else are the Chapter and Vilgefortz preparing for us?" I asked, butting into the conversation as Tissaia glared at me.
"Let's give politics a rest." Sabrina gave a silvery laugh, echoed by the gentle jingling of her earrings.
"Indeed. Let's wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow... Everything will become clear tomorrow. Oh, politics, and those endless debates, what an awful effect they have on the complexion. Fortunately, I have an excellent cream. Believe me, darling, wrinkles disappear like morning mist... Shall I give you the formula?"
"Thank you, darling, but I don't need it. Truly."
I pretended I was returning a greeting to someone passing alongside, while Sabrina smiled at Tissaia and joyously thrust out everything the black chiffon wasn't hiding. "Oh, forgive me," I said suddenly. "I can see Philippa over there; I just have to talk to her. Come with me, Tissaia. Bye-bye, Sabrina."
"Bye," said Sabrina, looking me in the eyes. "Congratulations again on your...wedding." She whispered the last word as Vilgefortz walked past.
'Thank you.' Tissaia mouthed as we walked over to where Philippa was stood. "Why are we talking to them? You know I don't see eye to eye with Philippa."
"We're not. I was leaving a conversation politely."
"You dislike Sabrina."
"No. I needed to get away from her flaunting her chest at me, she was practically falling out of her dress."
"As were you dear."
"Hardly, I don't have enough to fall out of it only push boundaries."
"Who's boundaries?"
"Yours." I whispered, moving over towards a table but getting pulled back as I grasped a biscuit with some spread on.
"No eating..."
"Sorry. I eat when I'm nervous, you should know."
"Mmm. First meal at Aretuza, yes. Who ate almost everything on the table and went back not just for seconds but thirds as well? Not I." She muttered as I chuckled.
"It was good food."
"And half of what the other staff ate."
Philippa walked over and stood opposite us, "I noticed," said Philippa, "you talking to Sabrina."
"That's right," I snorted. "Have you seen what she's wearing? You'd either have to have no taste or no shame to...And as if she still had anything to show!"
"Did she try to question you? Everyone knows she spies for Henselt of Kaedwen."
"You don't say?" I muttered, faking astonishment, which was rightly considered an excellent joke.
"And you, Your Excellency, are you enjoying our celebration?" asked Tissaia, after Philippa and Dijkstra had stopped laughing.
"Extraordinarily," said King Vizimir's spy, giving a courtly bow.
"If we presume," said Philippa, smiling, "that the Count is here on business, such an assurance is extremely complimentary. And, like every similar compliment, not very sincere. Only a moment ago, he confessed he'd prefer a nice, murky atmosphere, the stink of flaming brands and scorched meat on a spit. He also misses a traditional table swimming in spilt sauce and beer, which he could bang with his beer mug to the rhythm of a few filthy, drunken songs, and which he could gracefully slide under in the early hours, to fall asleep among hounds gnawing bones. And, just imagine, he remains deaf to my arguments extolling the superiority of our way of banqueting."
"Indeed?" I asked, looking at the spy more benignly. "And what were those arguments, if I might ask?"
This time my question was clearly treated as an excellent joke, because both enchantresses began laughing at the same time.
"Oh, you," said Philippa. "You don't understand anything. How can you show off your dress or your figure if you're hiding behind a table in the gloom and smoke?"
I was unable to find the words so merely nodded politely. Tissaia squeezed my arm gently, "Oh," she said. "I see Triss Merigold over there. I just have to exchange a few words with her...Excuse me for abandoning you. Take care, Philippa. We will certainly find an opportunity for a chat today. Won't we, Your Excellency?"
"Undoubtedly," said Dijkstra, smiling and bowing low. "At your service, Tissaia. Your wish is my command."