“I’m glad to hear you’ve got your strength back,” said Lewis finally. “You’re going to need it. I imagine things are going to be rather hectic around here for a while.”
“Looks that way,” said Jordan. “Do you know why the Regent wants to see us?”
“Haven’t a clue, but I doubt it’s anything good. Have you seen Dominic?”
“Not recently.”
“I understand he and Elizabeth have gone into politics. They’re doing rather well, I believe. But then, they always were a splendid team.”
“Yes,” said Jordan. “I always knew Elizabeth would go far, one way or another.”
Lewis looked at him. “You’ve mellowed, Viktor. Your time in exile must have agreed with you.”
Jordan smiled. “I learned a great many things while I was away from Court, Lewis. You’d be surprised.” He glanced at the Monk and Ironheart, still keeping a respectful distance. “I see your taste in friends hasn’t improved.”
“They have their uses. And they are very loyal.”
“Oh, I’m sure they are, Lewis. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? All loyalty has its price. You should know that.”
Lewis started to say something, and then stopped. He looked at Jordan thoughtfully, then nodded politely, and moved away. Ironheart and the Monk went with him. Jordan watched them go, and felt a little of the tension drain out of him. He was only too aware that the encounter could have ended nastily, in any number of unpleasant ways. He looked at the dozen armed guards surrounding Lewis, and felt an immediate desire to start checking for exits he could get to in a hurry. He took a deep breath to calm himself, and let it out slowly.
“Well, Gawaine,” he said quietly, “how am I doing?”
“Very well, Your Highness,” murmured the knight. “I’m impressed. If you’ll pardon a little advice, you are coming on a bit strong, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. No one’s been quite sure how to react to you after your long absence, and a little show of strength now might help to keep the flies off.”
“That crack Lewis made about Dominic and Elizabeth; should I have been more upset? I mean, I know how important Elizabeth was to me, but I’ve got Heather now. Though come to think of it, where is Heather? Shouldn’t she be here with me?”
“She’ll be joining us shortly, sire, I’ve no doubt. As for Elizabeth and Dominic; you’ve waited four years for a chance to make them pay. I think you can wait a little longer, to be sure of getting them. You’ve had a lot of time to learn patience.”
The main doors swung open again, and the Court fell silent as the herald announced the arrival of Prince Dominic and the Lady Elizabeth. Jordan studied them both interestedly as they stood a moment in the doorway, acknowledging the bows and curtsies of the Court. Dominic was tall and slender, with a dour ascetic face, and pale straw-colored hair that fell lifelessly to his shoulders, held back from his face by a gleaming silver circlet. His outfit was a blue so dark as to be almost black, making his pale skin seem even paler. Jordan had seen corpses that looked healthier than Prince Dominic. He looked pretty much as Jordan had expected him to, given the various descriptions he’d had, but even so Jordan was unprepared for the cold air of menace that hung about Dominic like a shroud. And there was something disturbing about the pale blue eyes. It took Jordan a few moments to realize that Dominic didn’t blink often enough.
The Lady Elizabeth stood close by Dominic, her arm linked possessively through his. She was easily as tall as Dominic, and had a voluptuous figure that was almost too full. Jordan knew her type. Only strict diets and ruthless self-control kept her figure from exploding into fat. Her hair was a thick tangled mane of raven’s black that tumbled unconfined to her bare powdered shoulders. Her dress of aquamarine blue had been cunningly tailored to make the most of her spectacular figure. Her face … Jordan wasn’t sure how he felt about her face. Elizabeth was certainly beautiful, no doubt of that, but the lips were a shade too full, the cheeks a trifle too broad, and her flawless skin owed a little too much to the makeup box. Probably no one but an actor would have noticed these things, but to Jordan they made all the difference. Working in the theater you meet more beautiful women than not, and you soon learn to see the true nature beneath the pretty face. Elizabeth was undeniably gorgeous, but it only took Jordan a few moments to decide that he wouldn’t touch her with a barge pole. There was a subtle streak of cruelty in the twist of her smile, and in her narrowed eyes; a catlike delight in seeing her prey suffer before she destroyed it. Her dark eyes fell on Jordan, and she caught his appraisal. She smiled mockingly at him, and murmured something to Dominic. He turned slowly to stare at Jordan with his cold unwavering gaze. Jordan inclined his head slightly. Dominic walked unhurriedly toward him, with Elizabeth at his side. The courtiers fell quickly back to make way for them, and a breathless hush filled the Court. Gawaine stirred at Jordan’s side. Jordan held himself as conspicuously relaxed as possible. It was important that he didn’t seem at all nervous or intimidated. The Court was watching too closely. Dominic and Elizabeth finally stopped short a few paces away from him, and Dominic bowed very briefly. Elizabeth didn’t curtsy.
“Welcome home, brother,” said Dominic. His voice was surprisingly deep and resonant, but it was still as cold as his eyes. “My apologies for not meeting you before, but I’ve been rather busy just lately. You must be glad to be home again, though I think I should warn you that many things have changed in your absence.”
“Oh sure,” said Jordan amiably. “But then, some things never change, do they? I hear you and Elizabeth have gone into politics.”
“Dominic has many friends at Court these days,” said Elizabeth. “Powerful and influential friends, who expect him to do great things in the future. They’re all being very supportive.”
“Yes, I imagine they are,” said Jordan to Dominic, ostentatiously ignoring Elizabeth. “But as I was just saying to Lewis, all loyalty has its price. Even simple friendship often has a price these days. Personally, I’ve never cared much for friendships that have been bought and paid for. They tend to be so … impermanent.”
Dominic said nothing, but Elizabeth flushed angrily at being ignored. “Then again, dear Viktor,” she said tartly, “some friendships aren’t worth buying, are they? Because some people don’t have any future worth the mentioning. You’d do well to watch your step, Viktor. There’s a new order at Castle Midnight, and you’re not a part of it, and never will be.”
“Talks a lot, doesn’t she?” said Jordan to Dominic. “She even mutters in her sleep, from what I remember.”
Elizabeth stood very still, two bright spots of color burning on her cheeks. Dominic frowned slightly.
“I never liked you, Viktor,” he said finally, his voice calm and even distant. “I’ll weep no tears at your funeral. If you’re wise, you’ll leave Castle Midnight while you have the chance. If you don’t, I can’t be responsible for your safety.”
“I can look after myself,” said Jordan. “And if anyone’s stupid enough to try anything against me, their friends will be carrying what’s left of them home in a bucket. You’re a pain in the arse, Dominic. That’s all you ever were, and it’s all you’ll ever be. Still, I shouldn’t be too hard on you, I suppose; you did do me one great favor. You took that arrogant loudmouthed bitch off my hands. I don’t know how you stand it, myself. If I were you, I’d invest in some earplugs and a gag.”
“You bastard!”
Elizabeth raised her hand to strike Jordan across the face. He quickly palmed one of his flare pellets, and crushed it in his hand. Flames leapt up around his fist as he held it up before him. Elizabeth dropped her hand and fell back a pace. Dominic didn’t move. The Court was utterly silent, the only sound the crackling of the blue-white flames as they leapt and danced around Jordan’s fist.
“Never raise a hand to me,” said Jordan softly. “Not you, or anyone else.”
Dominic looked at him impassively. “You’re a dead man, Viktor.”
“Blow it out your ear, Dominic.”
Dominic turned and walked unhurriedly away, followed after a moment’s hesitation by Elizabeth. Not far away, Lewis stood watching silently, flanked by Ironheart and the Monk. Jordan blew out the flames and lowered his hand, and the Court’s chatter slowly resumed, if a trifle subdued.
“You’re pushing it, Your Highness,” said Gawaine quietly. “What would you have done if Dominic had challenged you to a duel, and raised his magic? Your conjuring tricks wouldn’t have lasted five seconds against his water magic.”
“It was a risk,” Jordan admitted, “but I was pretty sure he wouldn’t start anything. Not in front of the Court. There’d be too many witnesses if he lost. From everything you’ve told me, Prince Viktor’s fire magic is very impressive. If Dominic was confident enough of his magic to fight a duel with me, he’d have done it by now, or even years ago, when the two of us first quarreled over Elizabeth. He didn’t. Mind you, Viktor didn’t either, which suggests that back then he wasn’t sure. My using fire was a calculated bluff, and it seems to have paid off. You’re right, though: I am pushing it. I don’t have any other choice. I’ve got to come on as strong and confident as I can, or there’ll be challenges and assassins crawling out of the woodwork. In the meantime, I need you to back me up. Keep your hand near that ax of yours, and glare at anyone who gets too close.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Gawaine said nothing more, but Jordan got the impression he was pleased. Jordan felt a little more relaxed, now that he was finally getting a feel for the part he was playing. His problem was that he’d been basing his characterization on secondhand views and a brief meeting with a man who was clearly very ill. By playing the role as he felt it should be played, he was doing much better. So far. What happened next would depend on what the Regent had to say when he finally deigned to show up. Jordan felt very definitely that he needed more advice on that. Where the hell were Roderik and DeGrange? Even Argent’s unsmiling face would have been something of a relief. The main doors swung open and Jordan looked around eagerly, but it was only the Lady Heather. He quickly hid his disappointment as the herald announced her, and smiled widely at Heather. She gave him a smile that would have melted the heart of a lesser man, and hurried over to join him. He kissed her outstretched hand, and she fluttered her eyelashes at him.
“Don’t overdo it,” muttered Gawaine.
“Don’t fuss,” said Heather, not taking her eyes off Jordan. She took his arm and looked around her. “Roderik thought you might need a little help and support. He can’t be here himself: he’s staying with Viktor to keep him company. Viktor insisted. He doesn’t like being left on his own. The poor dear hates being ill. I see Lewis and that creepy Dominic are here. Have you met them yet?”
“We’ve had a few words,” said Jordan, casually. “I think I’ve got them both nicely rattled, and just a little bit off balance.”
“So I should hope, actor.”
Jordan took her hand in his and squeezed it hard. “I’m Viktor, Heather. In public, I’m
always
Viktor. Got it?”
“You’re hurting me!”
“Got it!”
“Yes, yes, I’ve got it. Now let go of my hand before the fingers start dropping off.” Jordan let go, and Heather shot him a puzzled glare as she massaged her aching hand. “You didn’t have to be so rough about it, darling. A simple reminder would have been enough.”
“Just remember that a slipup at the wrong moment could get us all killed.” Jordan glared at the closed main doors. “Have you seen DeGrange anywhere? Or Argent?”
“No. Have you said anything to Elizabeth yet? How did she take it? Did she suspect anything?”
“I had a few words with her, and put her in her place. She didn’t take to that at all.”
“Good,” said Heather firmly. “She can be a rotten cow, that one. I’ve never known such airs and graces. And you should hear how she treats her servants. No, as soon as Viktor is safely on the throne, the Lady Elizabeth is going to have a nasty and very fatal accident.”
Jordan looked at her sharply, but said nothing for the moment. He was still trying to make up his mind about Heather. She talked like a lovesick teenager, but her eyes were the hardest and most determined he’d ever seen. There was a sugarcoated ruthlessness to her that appalled him. She certainly didn’t make his job any easier. On the one hand he had to appear to be in love with her, while on the other there was no getting away from the fact that she made his flesh crawl.
“Look at the Monk,” said Heather, clinging tightly to his arm. “Isn’t he the creepiest thing you’ve ever seen? Honestly, darling, I don’t think Lewis should be allowed to have him. He’s obviously Unreal. The only reason the steward hasn’t had a go at him is because Lewis has taken him under his personal protection.” She turned imperially to Gawaine. “Get me a drink, Gawaine, there’s a dear. My throat is absolutely parched.”
Gawaine looked at Jordan, who nodded and held out his own empty glass for a refill. The knight said nothing, but his eyes spoke volumes. He turned away, and headed for the buffet table. Jordan had to grin. Gawaine obviously wasn’t happy about being used as a waiter.
“Thank goodness he’s gone,” said Heather. “I need to talk to you,
Viktor.”
“Go ahead,” said Jordan. “But keep your voice down. If you can.”
“I don’t like you either,” said Heather, “but that’s not important. What is important is your doing the best job you can, for Viktor’s sake. This is his big chance, his one and only chance to be king, and I won’t stand for anyone or anything getting in his way. Viktor will be king, whatever it costs. Is that clear?”
“Very clear,” said Jordan. “I wonder what it is about Viktor that attracts such
positive
women—first Elizabeth, and now you …”
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” said Heather primly. “The point is, you’re being paid a great deal of money,
Viktor
, and I intend to see to it that we get our money’s worth.”
“You’ll get it,” said Jordan. “But my chances of pulling this off successfully would be a great deal better if you could fill me in on as much background detail as possible. Not on Viktor. I’ve had his life history drilled into me until I could recite it backward in my sleep. I need to know about his fellow conspirators: what moves them and what binds them to Viktor. Your motivations seem fairly clear, but how about Gawaine, for example. I don’t doubt his loyalty, but sometimes I get the impression he doesn’t like Viktor at all.”