Obsidian Ridge - Jess Lebow [7]
The handmaiden smiled, relieved to be rid of such a strain. "Thank you, my lady. My arms no longer have the strength in them that they once did."
"Of course, Genevie. I didn't realize how heavy it was, or I wouldn't have asked you to retrieve it." Mariko waved at the suspended book as if it were a servant. "Come," she said.
The tome floated through the air and laid itself down on the desk.
The princess patted the bench beside her. "You too," she said to the handmaiden. "Come take a rest."
Mariko liked to play the "good princess" game, as she called it, while Genevie was around. After all, Genevie saw her as an innocent, hardly more than a child. Mariko intended to keep it that way.
"Thank you, Princess, but I still have duties to-"
"Nonsense," interrupted Mariko. "Come sit next to me. Besides, I have a secret I'm dying to tell someone."
"Well in that case…" The elderly half-elf hurried to the bench. "I'm all ears. You know how I love secrets."
The princess nodded. "Yes, I do."
Genevie bounced a little on the bench, seeming suddenly much younger in her impatience.
"You must promise to keep this a secret." "Of course, my lady."
"Well"-the princess grinned-"I think I have met' someone. Someone I might like a lot."
"Have you now?" Genevie gave the princess a conspiratorial smile and leaned in, lowering her voice. "And does your father know?"
Mariko frowned. "Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. And you mustn't tell him."
Genevie clasped her hand to her breast. "You have my word. Your secret is safe with me."
"I've been so excited, but I haven't been able to tell-"
A knock on the heavy wooden door to the princess's chamber interrupted their conversation.
"Princess," came a voice from the other side, "I have a message from the king."
Mariko stood and straightened her robes. She scanned the table in front of her. There were books and scrolls scattered everywhere, all covered in magical scripts.
"One moment please!" she shouted. Clasping her hands together, she spoke a single word. A purplish light burst between her hands, and she spread them wide, producing a large sheet of woven cotton cloth.
"Genevie," she whispered, "help me cover the table."
The handmaiden grabbed hold of the cloth, helping the princess obscure the books and scrolls from view.
Satisfied that her recent activities were not immediately visible, the princess opened the door.
On the other side stood one of the king's messengers.
The man bowed. "Forgive the intrusion, my lady," he said. "But your father requests your presence in the audience chamber."
Mariko looked back at her handmaiden.
Genevie smiled and waved her on. "You go, my lady. I'll tidy up here."
"Thank you, Genevie."
The messenger stepped back, and the princess headed off to meet her father.
+++++
"Is there something else?" asked Genevie.
The messenger stood in the open doorway, watching the princess disappear down the hall. When she was completely out of sight, he turned his attention back to the handmaiden.
"Yes," he said, producing a sealed wooden box-runes inscribed from one end to the other on its outside. "This came for you."
"Thank you."
The messenger nodded and held it out. The moment Genevie's hand touched the box, the runes lit up, bluish white. They glowed, then grew dim, the runes disappearing as the light went out.
The lid popped open, and Genevie placed her palm on top, holding it closed.
"Thank you," she repeated, looking the messenger in the eye. "You are free to go."
The messenger gave her a sideways glance, then bowed and left.
Closing the door behind her, Genevie took the box to the cluttered table and lay it down on top of the sheet and the princess's books beneath. She opened the lid and pulled out a piece of parchment. Unfurling it, she read the inscription on its surface. With each word she read, her brows lowered more and more, and her face reddened. Her hands trembled as she neared the end.
When she finished, Genevie rolled the parchment and placed it back inside the box. Holding it in her open palm, she spoke three words, and the box burst into