Shadow War - Deborah Chester [105]
At the imposing palace steps, their litter was lowered to the ground by the sweating bearers. Elandra rose to her feet, shaking off the dried flower petals that had been flung over her by the populace. She stood while her ladies straightened her skirts and smoothed the heavy folds of her robes; then, with her hand on Kostimon’s arm, she ascended the steps of the palace, where light glowed through the open doors in warm welcome.
They parted inside, their attendants whisking them away to private chambers for freshening up. The coronation robes were finally lifted from Elandra’s aching shoulders. She sighed in relief, then sat in a chair while her hair was restyled around the crown. For the few minutes that her long tresses were brushed, she could look at the tall crown sitting on the dressing table and know the blessed relief of being free of its weight.
An armed guard came in with a small man wearing the sash of a palace official. With a bow, this individual put the crown inside a locked box and in exchange produced a diadem radiant with diamonds and rubies.
He noticed the magnificent necklace displayed across Elandra’s cloth-of-gold bodice, and his eyes widened.
“Ah!” he said in wordless admiration. “It will do very well.”
She did not know who he was, or why he thought he could give his opinions. Gazing at him in the mirror, she lifted her brows.
“Why do you bring me a different crown to wear?”
He almost smiled. Short and balding, he seemed very self-assured without being officious. “There are several reasons, Majesty. The first is that this is a gift from the emperor in honor of the occasion.”
Her heart quickened, and she smiled in instant pleasure. “A gift?”
“Yes, Majesty.” He handed it to her on a little silk pillow. “Commissioned by the emperor and of original design.”
It was beautiful, delicately wrought and of a design like none of the other jewelry she had rejected earlier today. She took the narrow crown in her hands and turned it over, marveling at the fine gold filigree and the high quality of the jewels. The diamonds were particularly fiery, flashing against the dark bloodred rubies.
“How lovely,” she said. “I have never seen finer work. Who made it?”
“Ah,” he said, and rubbed the side of his nose with his forefinger. “I believe the, um, Choven.”
She nearly dropped it, and her widened eyes flashed to meet his in the mirror. “The Choven! Is this spell-forged?”
He smiled. “I think, um, not, Majesty.”
She relaxed. “Oh. Still, it is very beautiful.”
“It is unsurpassed in quality and workmanship, as are all things made by the Choven.”
She nodded and handed it to the woman dressing her hair. The diadem was fitted into place atop her head, and thick locks of her hair were twisted about it and artfully pinned.
“And it complements the imperial jewels of the Empress Fauvina very well,” the man continued.
“You know these jewels?” she asked in surprise. “They are very old.”
“They were also Choven-made.”
“How do you know?”
His smile broadened, and he gave a small bow. “I am the Keeper of the Imperial Jewels, Majesty. It is my business to know.”
She drew in her breath, but did not allow her expression to change. “And as the keeper,” she said pleasantly, “I suppose you are aware of what transpired this morning?”
“Yes, Majesty. A regrettable occurrence. The woman is not a member of my staff. The individuals she bribed in order to gain access to your chambers have been dealt with.”
“Is this all your explanation?”
He allowed himself a very small frown. “In my defense, I will only say that I received no instructions regarding the jewels your Majesty was to wear. Therefore, I sent no member of my staff to await your Majesty’s pleasure. Had I known of your Majesty’s intention to wear the Empress Fauvina’s jewels, they would have been cleaned and presented at the appropriate hour.”
“I see.”
She spoke tersely, aware of the meaning that lay beneath his words. Kostimon had not given his permission for her to be arrayed in jewels. As a consequence, she had been deliberately overlooked by this man. Anger flashed