Storm Warning - Mercedes Lackey [70]
The two older men bowed; the Seneschal was marginally younger than his Herald, a trifle taller, and a bit less in shape. And every bit the diplomat. In body type he was neither thin nor fat, nor was he either exceptionally handsome or ugly. The grandeur of his robes made up for his otherwise unremarkable exterior. The Herald, on the other side, was as memorable a person as Karal had ever seen; from his erect carriage to his iron-gray hair, his chiseled features to his direct way of gazing straight into the eyes of the person he spoke to. Karal did not think too many people ever had the temerity to lie to this man.
“I am gratified that you meet me in person, my lords,” Ulrich said, his own demeanor as professional and diplomatic as that of the Seneschal. “In fact, I am flattered, on my own behalf and on that of my ruler. It is very late, and—” he paused to gaze significantly upward, “—I am given to understand that there is unpleasant weather expected at any moment.”
“Too damned true,” muttered the other man in the Heraldic uniform. Then, despite the rising wind he stepped forward and bowed. Rubrik raised his eyebrows in shocked surprise.
He recovered quickly. “And the ah—entirely accurate gentleman, is Prince-Consort Daren, Queen Selenay’s personal representative.”
This was the Prince? In Herald livery? Karal was too well-schooled to gape with shock, but he very nearly bit his tongue. Rubrik had clearly not expected any of the royals to meet them out here, or he surely would have warned them. Karal was all too conscious of how shabby and unkempt he and his master must look after riding since dawn.
Prince Daren smiled, and echoed his gesture. “You are most welcome and well-come, my Lord Priest Ulrich. I was afraid that if I did not come in person, this initial meeting might degenerate into a minor diplomatic event, and if you will forgive my being as blunt as the soldier that I am—”
A chill wind screamed up out of nowhere, whipping their cloaks and making even the tired horse and mule dance and shy. Leaves torn from the nearby trees, and dust and sand pelted them. A growl of thunder in the distance warned that the storm was at hand; a flash of lightning told it was coming on as fast as the wind could blow it.
Thank Vkandis for the Prince! He’s the only one here with rank enough to override diplomatic protocol without making it an insult, and he knows it!
“—that ‘weather’ you mentioned is going to drench us all if we don’t get you under cover!” Prince Daren shouted over the howling of the wind.
Neither Ulrich nor Karal needed any further prompting; they dismounted as quickly as Ulrich’s aged bones and Karal’s weary ones permitted, surrendering their mounts into the hands of the servants. Then, as fat, icy drops of rain splattered onto the path, they surrendered all pretense of dignity, gathered their robes and cloaks around them, and all ran for the shelter of the Palace.
Prince Daren proved to be a far more graceful politician than he claimed; he cut through protocol with a smile and an eye to their comfort, sacrificing his own dignity to preserve Ulrich’s. “I’m just a blunt soldier, and I don’t hold with a lot of this political dancing about,” were words that were often on his lips, and neither Karal nor his master believed them for a moment—but paying lip service to those words made it possible to retain the respect due to their office while at the same time getting things done with dispatch. By common consent, proper diplomatic maneuvering was deferred to the next day. Prince Daren showed them personally to their suite, and left them there after demonstrating the system of bells that summoned servants.
“It’s late. You need food and rest in that order, my lords,” he said as he departed. “And your proper reception will take place at your convenience. Selenay and I will make certain that one of us is free for you to make the