Reign of Shadows - Deborah Chester [83]
“The jinja has given me protection,” Elandra said in amazement. Relief spread through her. For the first time in years she felt free and safe. “You’ll never beat me again.”
“Is that what you think?” Hecati retorted. She rubbed her hands together violently as though to brush away some taint. “Take care, bastard-girl. Take great care. I have plenty of tricks left.”
Elandra backed up. “Leave me be!” she said vehemently. “I want nothing but to be left alone.”
“Fool,” Hecati said, sneering. “Do you think I believe that? You were born under the sign of mischief. Even now, you seek to diminish Lady Bixia’s moment of glory.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Do not try to stand in Lady Bixia’s way.”
“I have no interest in Bixia at all,” Elandra said with a frown. “I’ve never wanted to interfere with her good fortune. I don’t now.”
“Stay away from us,” Hecati said. “I warn you, I have other ways to protect my niece.”
“I mean her no harm.”
Hecati sniffed. “Oh, what lies you love to tell. You want revenge, my girl. That’s plain enough. But you’ll never get it.”
Elandra stared at her, tired of her paranoia. “You heard Father. My destiny isn’t even close to Bixia’s.”
“You were wise to keep silent before Albain. Mind that you continue to watch your tongue. I want no trouble from you. None at all.” Hecati pointed her finger at Elandra. “Keep yourself apart from her. If she’s in a room, depart from it. If she speaks, fall silent. If she is mentioned by others, show only respect. You will bring no notice to yourself, not during the journey and not among the Penestricans. I don’t even want you to bring her a cup of water. Is that clear?”
Elandra drew in a deep breath, then another.
“I asked you a question, Elandra.”
“Yes,” Elandra replied, her voice flat and quick. “Everything is very clear.”
“Then go! See that you are dressed, packed, and downstairs waiting by the time Lady Bixia is ready to depart.”
Elandra started to speak, but Hecati raised her hand. Her eyes raked Elandra with contempt.
“Get out,” she said.
And she shoved Elandra into the corridor with a slam of the door.
Chapter Fifteen
LESS THAN AN hour after her father had turned her life upside down, Elandra hurried through the vaulted entry of state with its polished marble floor and soaring columns.
Outside beyond the portico, the famous thousand steps of gleaming white limestone stretched down to an immense rectangular courtyard where normally her father’s troops assembled for inspections or conducted precise cavalry drills.
Today, however, a full ten squadrons stood in silent formation on matched horses. Five squadrons wore the white and yellow surplices of Gialta over gilded mail armor. Turbaned and mustachioed, they were mounted on white horses. Curved scimitars hung at their belts, and the Albain coat of arms flew from thin banners affixed to their spears. The five squadrons of Imperial Guards wore polished breastplates and plumed helmets. They were mounted on tall, muscular war horses, all bays. Wearing vivid crimson cloaks that spread out over the rumps of their horses, they looked foreign and formidable. The double-eagle crest of the emperor glittered with pure gold, magnificent in the bright sunlight. Imperial banners flowed and unfurled in the humid breeze, flying above Albain’s own coat of arms.
The elephants of the caravan stood lined up at the foot of the steps, placidly waving their big ears to fan themselves. Their handlers squatted beneath them, ivory goad sticks dangling from idle hands.
The elephants were beautifully plumed and caparisoned with embroidered harnesses. Bright red curtains fluttered from their palanquins. Even the pack elephants wore the ornate harness of state, and red pack cloths showed beneath their loads.
Catching her breath at the sight, Elandra paused beneath the portico amid the waiting courtiers and officials.
Several of them turned and bowed to her automatically, then drew back as they realized she was not Bixia.
But even those few acknowledgments were enough to fill Elandra’s heart with an unfamiliar sensation. She