Fortune's Fool - Mercedes Lackey [132]
And then—it was time to visit the Sea King.
The Embassy was half above, and half below the water, to accommodate those who couldn’t bear the thought of venturing below the surface. For those who could—
There was a chamber where one could change into costumes more suitable for the half of the Embassy where, to be honest, the real work was done.
“Well,” Katya said glancing at Sasha with resignation. “We might as well.”
“If we do, we’ll at least come back to dry clothes,” Sasha pointed out.
She nodded. Katya put on her old fish-scale armor, and Sasha something very similar. Then, after Sasha swallowed one of the seaweed balls that allowed him to breathe underwater, they plunged into the pool that led down below the surface.
What the King was going to do when winter froze this lake over, Katya didn’t know. It might be possible to have the same sort of magic put on the place that kept the waters of the Palace warm and comfortable. That wasn’t her problem though, for which she was monumentally grateful.
She found her father tending to dispatches, and the moment he saw the two of them, he left all of it to greet them.
“I want to know everything you’ve been doing,” he told them, drawing them off to another room, as his aides tactfully steered petitioners away. “I know you sent me reports, but there are so many things I need to know! For instance—about that rogue witch who was changing the weather—”
They talked for hours, it seemed, while the water about them grew dark, and the light globes began to shine. Finally he settled back with a sigh.
“I know that you just got here, but there are so many things I need you to investigate—” he said reluctantly.
Sasha laughed, and Katya chuckled. “I told him that was what you would say. It was just what his father said,” she replied. “You two are frighteningly alike.”
Her father paused, and looked seriously into their faces. “I hope that you know that you are more, far more to me than just my investigators, my solvers of problems, and my Fortunate Fools,” he said, his earnest tone of voice making it clear that he meant this, felt it. “I have always loved my daughter, Sasha, more than anything other than my wife and her siblings. And since she loves you, you are a part of that. I don’t want you to forget that. Especially when it seems as if all I am doing is using you.”
Katya’s breath caught, and she looked at Sasha. He looked incredibly moved. “I know that, sir,” he replied softly. “I do know that. But I also know that things have to get handled, and not always when we have the leisure for them. We both know that. It comes with the duty.” Then he grinned. “That said, if you ever find a sealed bottle at the bottom of the ocean and open it—you can handle what comes out on your own! And I am perfectly serious about that one!”
The King looked at his son-in-law for a moment, and blinked. “I suppose it would be all right if I got a Champion to deal with it….”
Katya raised an eyebrow. “With Klava here? What do you think?”
After a long pause, the King cleared his throat. “All right then. New edict. All sealed bottles to be strictly left alone. There’s almost never anything in them worth bothering with anyway. Now, about this overture from Acadia—they claim they are having trouble with some sea creature they call a Kraken—”
Sasha glanced over at Katya. “Never a dull moment, is there?” he whispered.
“Would you have it any other way?” she whispered back.
“Are you two paying attention?” the King asked abruptly.
“Of course. Acadia. Kraken. Question as to whether we should investigate, or just tell them to talk to the dragons.”
“Ah. Good.” He launched back into his litany.
No I wouldn’t, Sasha mouthed at her, and smiled. She winked.
Neither would I, she thought with contentment. Neither would I.
FORTUNE’S FOOL
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1482-2
Copyright © 2007 by Mercedes Lackey
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the