Naamah's Blessing - Jacqueline Carey [24]
“Lady Moirin!” Marc de Thibideau greeted me with ebullience. “I’d heard you returned. Surely that means my luck’s changed.”
I smiled. “I’d thought to find you gone with Prince Thierry. How is your leg? Does it trouble you?”
“Only when it’s dire cold.” He rubbed his thigh. It had been badly broken years ago, and I’d used my gift to help Raphael heal it. “But I’m still grateful to you, my lady. If not for you, I’d have lost the leg for sure.”
The second nobleman slung an arm over Marc’s shoulder. “And his father’s still so shaken by nearly having a crippled son, he begged Marc not to join the expedition.” He gave his friend a squeeze. “You’re a good son, aren’t you?”
Marc flushed. “Are you calling me a coward?”
“Not for a minute.” Balthasar Shahrizai smiled lazily. “I’m praising your sense of filial duty. Me, I am an avowed coward. I never had the slightest interest in sailing with Thierry. Lady Moirin, welcome back. Come, join us at the dicing table. As I recall, you used to enjoy a friendly game of chance.”
“I’ve no coin on me,” I protested.
“You’re wearing a queen’s ransom in gold.” He pointed at the bangles adorning my wrists. “Wager one of those.”
I opened my mouth to decline, and then thought in an odd way it would be a fitting tribute to my memories of Jehanne. “All right, I will.”
For the better part of an hour, I wagered at the dicing table, retaining possession of all my bangles and earning a small purse of coin in the bargain. Marc was an easy companion. Balthasar wasn’t, but his barbed wit and the predatory light behind his eyes no longer disconcerted me as they had long ago. Gods knew, I’d faced worse.
All in all, it was a pleasant enough way to while away an hour. I realized I’d lost track of time when I sensed Bao’s diadh-anam moving toward me, navigating the maze of the Palace to find me in the Hall of Games.
“Ah.” Balthasar gazed intently across the chamber. “That must be the infamous Ch’in husband.”
I glanced at Bao. “Infamous, is he?”
“Well, I confess myself confused,” Balthasar said. “Is he an ensorceled prince, or a humble physician’s assistant? I’ve heard different accounts.”
I laughed. “Ask him yourself.”
He looked under his lashes at me. “Oh, to be sure, I’ll ask him something.”
When Bao reached us, I made the introductions.
“I think… I think I remember you,” Marc de Thibideau said uncertainly. “The day that Moirin healed my leg… you were there, you and that elderly Ch’in physician that Raphael de Mereliot thought of so highly.” He gestured at the bamboo staff strapped across Bao’s back. “You brought a cauldron of vile soup dangling from that thing, didn’t you?”
“Bone soup,” Bao agreed. “Very healthful.”
Balthasar Shahrizai cocked his head, myriad blue-black braids rustling. “That’s a very long staff. Do you know how to use it?”
Bao smiled serenely at him. “Do you want to find out?”
Balthasar laughed. “I might!”
“You do realize he’s not talking about fighting?” I asked Bao.
“Yes, Moirin. I know.” He gave me an amused sidelong look. “I did not think to find you here gambling. Did I not hear that his majesty the King sent for you?”
“He did.” I fiddled with my bangles.
“Ah.” Bao misread my unease. “We will speak of it later.”
“No. No, no, it’s all right.” I took a deep breath, preparing to deliver the news. Everyone in the City of Elua would learn of it soon enough, and I had to start facing it somewhere. It might as well be here. “King Daniel offered me a very great honor,” I said, striving for the dignity the announcement deserved. “He asked me to stand as the oath-sworn protector of his daughter, Desirée.”
Bao’s dark eyes gleamed. “You said yes, didn’t you?”
“He did what?” Marc de Thibideau’s voice cracked on the word. “Name of Elua! You can’t be serious.”
“Why ever not?” Balthasar inquired lightly.
Marc gave him a startled look. “Because… because… Gods, man!” He gestured at me.