The Shattered Circle

29. Too Much Seen

The presence of so many people in the Winter Palace made for a fine start to a tension headache. I always hated playing hostess, given I cared little for the comforts of the leeches or other court hangers-on, but appearances were everything. Fortunately, I was across from Melody at dinner. Unfortunately, I was expected to attend most of all to the King in Black, seated at His right hand. Normally the arrangement would have suited me fine; however, with our last conversation, I felt the weight of His expectations chafing like an ill-fitted collar. I'd stacked the table to my advantage, at least: Hallen was beside me and Naltheme across from him, leaving Teth the closest of the vampire lords. Rhandiir and Varys probably took the distance as a slight, but they knew better than to say so.

Better to merely presume my low opinion of them than ask and remove all doubt publicly. A scathing tongue lashing from the Beloved still carried more weight than merely my own displeasure. His Majesty was always watching, always listening.

I had agonized over what to do with Shira, tempted to keep her out of Varys's view for her own sake. However, that meant she could end up cornered somewhere out of my sight by him. Thus, with some reluctance on my part, she was playing the part of an honor guard, never far from me and never out of my line of sight.

The ceremonial changing of command had gone smoothly enough, probably because there was far less opportunity for knives to come out. Dinner had far more chances for them to abuse my hospitality and offend me, or scheme in quiet tones further down the table.

"Is something the matter, Lady Frostborn? You have been unusually quiet," Teth said solicitously when she settled into her seat. She'd dressed exquisitely for the occasion in a sleeveless ruby gown that exposed the tattoos across her arms and shoulders.

"Unusually tolerant," I corrected bluntly, watching Varys like a hawk as one of my servants refilled his goblet with blood. She was living, which made her a target, but I would gut him before letting him feed on my household staff. She moved out of his reach carefully, and he was smart enough not to bite or grope with my eyes on him, though I doubted she'd appreciated whatever he'd whispered to her given her pallor.

"If I didn't know better, I might think you were worried," Teth said, gesturing around at various members of my honor guard positioned nearby. I'd made them obvious this time, hiding Shira among their number. She was quiet and, most importantly, armed and armored. I'd also positioned her next to Melody, just in case.

"I find their presence only troubles those who plan on troubling me." The coolness in those syllables seemed to amuse Teth further.

"Must we needle at each other, Frostborn?" Teth said, swirling the blood in her goblet. Her ruby lips formed something almost approaching a pout. "His Majesty must find it so disappointing."

The King in Black was utterly inscrutable at my side, still wreathed in His customary aura of cold despite the blue flames that danced in empty eye sockets. I knew His thoughts were probably a thousand miles away, turning over some magical quandary, but it was impossible to be certain how much He was listening to the conversation. At least, until I felt the touch of bone across my knuckles. I glanced down to see His skeletal fingers resting on the back of my sword hand. "They are beneath you, my rose," He said near my ear. "Eagles do not snap at flies."

I nodded in sullen obedience, glancing further down the table to display my disinterest in Teth's games as I moved my hand to my goblet.

"At least they're pretty to look at, Teth," Varys said with a grin, his attention focusing on Shira. I don't think he recognized her here, so different from the frightened thing I'd drawn out of his tent. A definite hardness settled into her expression when she felt his gaze.