Invisible Assassin (15 page)

His hopes were dashed when dressmakers arrived in his rooms to measure him for his new clothes, and it took all of his patience to deal with them. It almost came to blows, however, when they tried to fit him with a gaudy outfit of blue and gold, studded with sequins and feathers. They fled his ire, and Minna was forced to enter the fray, but fared no better in the argument than the dressmakers. Blade opted for a far more subdued garb of black leather with silver trim and a little ornate silver patterning on the sleeves and trousers. The Queen insisted that he wear a silver torc denoting his rank, even though it meant nothing to the Cotti.

On the day of the wedding, Blade rose early and took his exercise before the palace began to bustle with the last minute preparations for the ceremony. Afterwards, he retreated to his room and stayed there to avoid the chaos outside, not bothering to check the message from Jayon. As time passed, however, an uneasy feeling settled upon him and dragged his attention from the book he read. Although he could not fathom it, the only other time he had felt anything like it was the day the Cotti had attacked his village all those years ago.

Minna-Satu stood before the huge mirror and admired her gown with deep satisfaction. The Cotti made excellent mirrors, almost perfect in their reflection and only slightly yellow. The dress deserved the reflection of such a mirror, a concoction of white satin and lace with silver filigree that hung in splendour from her tiny waist. The bodice, sewn with thousands of seed pearls and jewels, hugged her like a second skin. The finest lace sheathed her arms, and her veil sparkled with tiny diamonds. A delicate tiara set with diamonds and emeralds surmounted her hair, which was piled in elaborate coils and teased into midnight bangs that framed her face, while more jewels dripped from her ears and throat. Even without the trappings of her office, the golden chain mail and her six-foot sceptre, she had never looked or felt more like a Queen.

The time of the ceremony was noon, and half a time-glass before, she sent a maiden to summon Blade. Minna fidgeted while she waited for him, annoyed to be kept waiting and nervous that she would be late. When the assassin arrived, he looked irritated and rumpled, his clothes hastily donned and his hair uncombed. She groaned, gesturing to her maids.

"See to him. My Lord, what have you been doing? Surely the entire morning is sufficient time for you to bathe and dress?"

He scowled at the girls who tugged and tucked his clothes. "I was not aware that you expected me to accompany you."

"Were you planning to arrive after the ceremony?"

"Actually, I was."

"That will not do. Sit, so the girls can brush your hair."

Blade grunted and sank down on a chair, allowing the maidens to comb his hair. He hissed and jerked aside as they set to their task with vigour, remonstrating, "Try not to pull it all out, will you?"

A maiden knelt to lace his boots; another laced his shirt and buttoned his collar, while a third buttoned his cuffs. She yelped and recoiled as a dagger slid from his sleeve and clattered to the floor, inadvertently released by her hands. He bent to retrieve it, and Minna-Satu groaned.

"Do not tell me that you are bristling with daggers again, My Lord. Surely you will not need them at my wedding?"

Blade tucked the weapon back into the wrist sheath. "I take no chances. Who can predict when..." He glanced at the maidens. "...Something may happen?"

Minna gestured, swinging away in a swirl of heavy skirts. "A fine subject to discuss on my wedding day, My Lord."

"I did not bring it up." He studied her. "May I say that you look very fine."

She swung back, smiling. "A great compliment from you. Others would think that an understatement, but from you I take it as high praise indeed."

"It is an understatement. Words cannot adequately describe you."

"And you will look most dashing once you have been tidied up. Worthy of escorting me to the altar."

His head jerked up. "What?"

"Well, according to Cotti custom, the bride is escorted by her father, who gives her away, so to speak. Since I lack a father, you shall do the honours."

"We are not Cotti."

"No, but this is a Cotti ceremony, so we must conform. There is no one else worthy of the honour. I shall not be escorted by a Cotti."

He shook his head. "I certainly do not relish the thought of giving you to Kerrion."

"But you will do it."

"Reluctantly."

The maidens finished tying his hair and allowed him to stand, and Minna cast a measuring glance over him. "All you need is your torc."

"It is in my room."

The Queen sent a girl scurrying to fetch it, fuming at the further delay. When at last Blade was dressed to her satisfaction, she swept towards the door, the assassin following a step behind. At the door she stopped and turned to him.

"You will have to precede me, My Lord, in Cotti fashion."

"And against Jashimari custom."

She inclined her head. "A small price to pay."

"I hope one day you will be treated as a queen here, and not a grovelling baby bearer."

"Kerrion will see to it."

"I hope so."

She smiled. "Rest assured, Lord Conash, I will settle for nothing less. This state of affairs will soon change once we are wed."

He stepped around her to open the door. "Good."

The assassin preceded his Queen into the corridor, slowing his pace to allow her to sweep along with regal grandeur. A gaggle of handmaidens clad in filmy gowns followed to hold up the yards of silk that trailed behind her. Two maidens walked before them to sprinkle petals in their path, leading the way down the echoing halls towards the great room where the groom and guests waited.

At the doorway, he paused to offer his arm to the Queen, walking beside her into a vast room filled with Cotti nobles. The murmur of conversation died away at the bride's appearance, and Blade sensed hundreds of eyes boring into him as he traversed the aisle that opened up before him.

Although Kerrion's great hall was not gold-plated like its Jashimari counterpart, what it lacked in glitter it made up for in sheer size, being almost twice as large as Queen Minna-Satu's and forested with carved marble pillars. Jade and crystal statues lined the distant walls and bright mosaics covered the floor, walls and ceiling, their images picked out with semi-precious stones whose value was beyond calculation.

The nobles drew aside to reveal Kerrion waiting beside the strangely clad Cotti priest who would perform the ceremony. Only a skull cap, a red loincloth and a surfeit of gold chains covered the aged priest's nakedness. His sagging flesh revolted Blade, who averted his gaze from it with a grimace. Kerrion, by contrast, was resplendent in a royal outfit of white and gold with a high collar offsetting his pale hair, golden eyes and bronzed skin.

The strangeness of the setting struck Blade as he approached the King, so different from Jashimari in dress and culture. The clergy and nobles were all male, though some shy, veiled women stood amongst the splendidly clad men, looking dowdy beside their gaudy husbands. In this culture, the men wore all the finery and the women dressed plainly, accentuating the difference of Minna's finery and Blade's simple outfit.

Blade suppressed a sigh of relief when he reached the King, and Minna released him. He stepped back with a brief bow to her before seeking a quiet corner in which to stand and watch the ceremony. While the nuptial couple gazed at each other, the priest droned a lengthy monologue to which Blade did not bother to listen. He watched the crowd, finding Prince Ronan standing with several similar looking young men, his mouth twisted in a sneer.

Blade turned away, not wanting one of the other young princes to recognise him. When at last the priest fell silent, Kerrion kissed his bride and the crowd cheered without enthusiasm. The nobles resumed their conversations and servants circulated, bearing cups of wine and sweetmeats. Blade helped himself to several goblets whilst he stood against a wall, watching the throng.

The entertainers made their appearance when he was halfway through his fourth cup of wine. Jugglers, acrobats and fire-breathers first, then a quartet of girls who performed an erotic dance, stripping off their clothing until they were almost naked. The noblemen cheered, laughed and called for a complete strip, some trying to tear the last remnants of cloth from the dancers as they fled.

Blade found their behaviour uncouth, and longed to return to the peace of his room. The girls proved to be the last of the entertainment, for then the band struck up a new tune and some of the Cotti nobles danced. Once again the difference in culture was marked, for the Cotti women did little more than stand and face their partners while the men danced, and many men danced alone or with others in bawdy groups. Cotti dancing involved a great deal of clapping and stamping, a rather undignified exhibition, Blade thought.

By now he had consumed several cups of wine, and was a little light-headed. He was surprised when Kerrion and Minna took to the floor, not in the one-sided Cotti dance, but in a Jashimari style. Kerrion held Minna's waist and one hand as they circled the floor with graceful steps. Minna had removed the heavy train, and Kerrion did his best to acquit himself well, grinning as they swept around the floor.

Many nobles looked shocked and some horrified at this unheard-of exhibition, but the King could do as he pleased. At some point Ronan disappeared, and Blade wondered at his absence, but it did not alarm him. After Kerrion and Minna left the floor, he decided to slip away himself, but a touch on his arm made him swing around.

Minna grinned at him behind her veil, her eyes sparkling with excitement, the King beside her. "Come, My Lord Conash, it is time you showed these Cotti savages how a Jashimari can dance."

"You have just done that."

"Oh, that was nothing. I spent tendays teaching Kerrion though, and he did rather well."

"Indeed. However, I -"

"Do not try to wriggle out of it now, Blade, you promised."

"Actually, I did not -"

"You did not refuse, and a maybe is as good as a yes to me."

Blade gritted his teeth. "I cannot -"

"Of course you can! You are not bashful, are you?"

"I do not think -"

"Come, My Lord, do not disappoint me on my wedding day. I have been so looking forward to it."

The assassin glowered at her, tight-lipped. He knew full well that the moment he objected again she would interrupt him. Kerrion grinned at Blade's discomfort, clearly enjoying his frustration. A tense silence fell as the assassin refused to be interrupted again, and the King broke it.

"Come, Lord Conash, Minna has told me about this dance of yours, and I should like to see it."

"It is forbidden -"

"Not that one," Minna interrupted again. "Just dance. Where is the harm in that? I will be your partner if you do not wish to be alone."

"I cannot dance with a partner, I -"

"You did with Chiana."

Blade growled, wishing he had left the room earlier. Minna giggled and gestured towards the dance floor. "Should Kerrion announce you?"

"No!" He glanced around, lowering his voice. "You irritate me, My Queen."

"Do I? I shall insist, as you know, so you have no choice, My Lord."

"I may be recognised."

Kerrion snorted softly. "Fear not, most here are too drunk to think that clearly, and if they do I shall quickly disabuse them of the idea that they have ever seen you before." His eyes raked Blade's outfit. "You look like a lord, and besides, you have already been scrutinised when you walked in with the Queen. If no one recognised you then, they certainly will not now."

Minna tilted her head, her eyes alight. "Come, Conash, be nice."

"Very well." Blade sighed and put his empty wine cup on a passing servant's tray. "But someone will have to stop the music."

"No problem," Kerrion said, lifting an arm. Silence fell, and confused nobles shuffled from the dance floor.

Blade shot the Queen a final glare before heading towards the cleared area of marble floor, Kerrion and Minna following. The nobles muttered when he appeared from amongst them, the hubbub growing louder as he paused to strap the metal pieces to his boots. He had ordered them made when the dressmakers had fitted his clothes, and put them in his pocket earlier just in case this happened, although he had hoped to avoid it. When he was ready, Kerrion raised his arm again, and silence fell. A pin dropping would have sounded like a thunderclap as Blade walked onto the dance floor, his metal-shod boots clicking on the marble.

Trying to ignore the audience, he stopped in the middle and tapped a foot in a slow, steady cadence, readying himself for the dance. Lifting his arms, he speeded up his feet until the tapping became a rhythmic rattle, turning slowly. Careful to avoid the set routine of the Dance of Death, he then leapt high, clicking his feet behind him, and settled into a galloping rhythm, kicking his heels up at each step. He changed the rhythm, speeding it up in a series of buzzing quick steps, then leapt high again, clicking his boots together before him this time, his legs outstretched. As he landed, he set off on a series of light running steps that carried him around the dance floor. Reaching the centre of the floor, he performed another series of fast steps, his steel-shod boots beating out a distinct tune on the marble floor, then kicked up his heels behind him again, clicking his feet together at the apex of his leap.

Minna tugged at Kerrion's sleeve. "Are you impressed?"

He stared at the assassin. "I am indeed. It is quite remarkable. It must have taken him years to perfect those moves, and a great deal of strength to achieve them." He watched Blade perform a series of high forward kicks, his raised foot reaching above his head each time, accompanied by a resounding clash of metal and glitter of sparks as his boots passed each other.

He leant closer to murmur, "No wonder he can kill so well when attacked, being able to use his feet in his defence. When I found him in your bier room, he had slain almost a dozen of my soldiers single-handed. I still have the blades that were removed from his boots. Are all your assassins as good at this as he is?"