Swallowing Darkness - Laurell K. Hamilton [87]
“Why would it be that important that I have clothes here? Important enough for a prophetic dream?” I asked.
“We are under siege,” Doyle said. “Perhaps we will be here longer than we think. There are probably clothes to borrow for Mistral and myself, but you would be harder to fit.”
“But why would nice clothes be that important?” I asked.
“Mirabella told everyone who would listen that I would take a queen and that she would be only this big.” He made a gesture like you would measure a fish. “It forced the remaining hags and our female nightflyers to rethink their pursuit of me.”
“You mean women of your court stopped pressuring you because this Mirabella was sewing clothes that would not fit them?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“Had you seen the clothes before this moment?” Doyle asked.
“No,” Sholto said. “The women of my court were much interested but I stayed out of it. Honestly, I thought Mirabella might be doing it to help me keep the women from pestering me so hard.” He ran his hand down my leather-clad arm. “But it was a true dream, this.”
“I hope it doesn’t mean we’ll be trapped here,” Mistral said. “Nothing personal, King Sholto, but that would mean that the humans were not able to get us out.”
“I do not wish for anything to go wrong with Meredith’s plan, but I can’t say that having her with me longer wouldn’t be a pleasure.”
There was a soft, respectful knock at the door. I knew without really being told that it was a servant. It’s as if they are taught that knock with the job description—a way of drawing attention to themselves, but not interrupting.
Sholto called, “Enter.”
The woman who had brought the coat bowed as she came through the door. “King Sholto, I am sorry, but there is a matter that requires your attention.”
“Speak plainly, Bebe. What matter?”
All three of her eyes flicked a look at Mistral and Doyle, maybe just a little more to Doyle, before she asked, “Are you certain you wish court matters to be spoken of before strangers?” She went to her knees immediately, “I do not mean Queen Meredith, but the two sidhe.”
I thought it was an interesting distinction that they were sidhe but Sholto and I were not. Was it simply that you could not be sidhe and rule the sluagh, or was it an acknowledgment that we both looked too unsidhe-like? I didn’t know Bebe well enough to ask her thoughts, but it was still interesting.
Sholto sighed, then turned to us. “I’m sorry, but it is true that you are not sluagh. I’ll be right back, hopefully.” He didn’t look happy leaving us, but he went out into the hallway with the servant.
“Interesting that they do not consider their king to be sidhe,” Mistral said.
“Or me,” I said.
Doyle came to me, running his hands down the arms of my new garment. “You do look lovely in the coat. It becomes you.”
“Yes,” Mistral said. “I do not mean to ignore your beauty, Princess. Forgive me.” He actually went down on one knee as I’d seen the guards do for Queen Andais when they feared that they’d displeased her.
“Get up,” I said, “and never do that again.”
He looked puzzled, but he stood, though the uncertainty on his face was almost painful. “I upset you. I am sorry.”
“It was the dropping to the ground like you would for the queen,” Doyle said.
I nodded. “I’ve had to do my own groveling on the floor all my life. I don’t want to see it in my kings, or the fathers of my children. You can apologize, Mistral, but never drop to the ground as if you are afraid of what I will do. That is not my way.”
He looked at Doyle, who gave one nod. Mistral came to stand by us. He smiled a little uncertainly at me. “It may take me a little while to understand this new way of doing things, but I am eager to learn things that keep me off my knees.”
I had to smile at that. “Oh, I don’t know. I like a man on his knees if it’s for a good cause.”
Mistral frowned.
Doyle explained. “She means that if you are giving her pleasure, you can kneel to reach.”
Mistral actually blushed, something I had never seen him do before. He looked away, but answered, “I would be happy to do that again with