Silk & Dagger (Vascan Empire #1)

Chapter Five

Karine sighed as sat perched lady-like on a soft cushioned chair in a different sitting room waiting for the queen and her daughter to arrive. Val had decided to not attend.

The ladies invited to this meeting trickled in slowly. She noticed many new faces but some she recognized. She smiled politely every time a lady walked in but kept to herself. The servants were jostling about rubbing invisible dust and setting up food and hot beverages. There wasn't time for breakfast when she had received the summons that morning. She sneakily pushed a few pastries onto her plate and gobbled them down before the Queen showed up.

A lady in her mid-forties, maybe, approached her. She was dressed in the court's latest fashion and carried a hand fan. Kar gingerly set her plate down under her chair. She hoped her voluminous skirts would hide them from view.

"Lady Litsky, how are you? I'm Marianna Ferrin." she beamed in genuine friendliness. Kar hoped so.

"Hello, Lady Ferrin. I'm good. And yourself?" she asked politely. "Please sit." The lady fanned herself as she sat on the nearest sofa.

"I'm so glad to meet you, Lady Litsky. I attended the Maddock ball with the Queen and I must say it was marvelous. Thoroughly enjoyed myself." She grinned.

"Please, call me Karine. And thank you. It means a lot" Karine replied. The lady motioned a maidservant to pour her tea. Karine took the moment to study her. The lady was pretty for someone in their middle-age with blue eyes, flaming red hair, and delicate features. She must be one of the Queen's favorites if she accompanied her to the ball.

She picked up the cup of tea and faced her. "Karine, I'm so excited you are here. Its been a while since we had anything interesting occur at the palace."

"I heard about the Winter ball last year." Karine said lightly "I've always wanted to attend royal balls." Beside her, Lady Ferrin stiffened. 

Karine continued without pause. "What was the theme, Lady Ferrin? How many people attended? Pardon me, I'm just curious." 

Lady Ferrin took a sip to avoid answering.

"And who organized it? Can I meet the lady? I would love to get some advice." Karine pressed.

"Anita Vahn is dead." she said bluntly. Karine paused "I'm sorry, who?"

"The woman who organized last year's winter ball. Anita Vahn. She was executed for treason."

"No!" Karine faked her shock.

"Yes. Anita Vahn was a traitor and I pray her soul rots in the deepest chasms of hell" Lady Ferrin was getting agitated but Karine pushed her further. "What did she do, if you don't mind my asking?"

"She was the royal court's organizer for a year and given the task of planning the winter ball by her highness. As the planner, she had access to the security details and layout of the palace. She sold information to the Corian spies." Lady Ferrin paused. "There was an attack."

"An attack?!" she exclaimed for effect but this really was news to her.

"Yes. An attack on the royal family after the ball. Thankfully the royal family had been escorted into the safe chambers by then. But some servants were killed. The Corian spies escaped. The royal guards found incriminating evidence in her room."

"Oh my god," Karine said.

"Although," Ferrin leaned and whispered, "Some think she's still alive. There have been rumors among the servants who were working during the ball that they saw Anita Vahn escape the palace with the spies."

"But you said she was hanged?" Karine questioned.

"Yes, you see Lady Tamlin over there" she pointed vaguely to a group of ladies having a loud conversation near the entrance. Karine didn't know who among them was Lady Tamlin, but she simply nodded.

"One of Lady Tamlin's maid is missing since the ball. She apparently had similar features to Anita. It wasn't a public execution but the body was put on display at the market square surrounded by guards. No one could get a better look."

"So you are saying...?" Karine didn't dare finish the thought sitting in one of the Queen's sitting rooms waiting for her to arrive surrounded by ladies of her court. She shuddered inwardly.

Laddy Ferrin gave her a grave look but shook her head. A silent warning. Karine understood. Although she wondered why Lady Ferrin, one of the Queen's favored would tell her all this. Maybe there was something more. Or she was missing a point. 

But it was clear to Karine that she and her sister would be monitored closely now. She had to tell Val. And find out what everyone wasn't disclosing to them. Kar hoped for both their sake, that Val stayed out of trouble during their stay.