A Circle of Celebrations: The Complete Edition Read Online Free PDF

Hemlock said, narrowing an eye at me.
    “No, Your Majesty,” Grimble said. He was a colorless bureaucrat who only elicited pleasure from an increasing bottom line and by thwarting anyone with imagination. “Such a feast would cost a significant amount of money. I can’t see any returns from such an outlay.” He glared at me. “Are you paying for it?”
    I hesitated, long enough to make it look as though I was concerned about the cost.
    “I’ll split it with you,” I said. I knew Aahz would take my hand off at the wrist if I paid for the whole celebration out of petty cash. I didn’t want to tell Grimble that M.Y.T.H., Inc. probably had more wealth stashed under the coffee table in our tent in the Bazaar than was in the treasury under the castle in which we stood. He’d twist the queen’s arm to make sure that I had to shoulder all expenses. “After all, this is in your interest as well as mine.”
    Grimble and I stood eye to eye.
    “You pay three-quarters.”
    “Half,” I said. “I could drop my share to a flat nothing and walk away, but the outcome would probably involve your Court Magician leaving town. I’d welcome her back to M.Y.T.H., Inc. She might help you find a replacement before she went, but I doubt it.”
    “Grimble!” Hemlock snarled.
    “All right, half,” Grimble gritted through his teeth, as though I had just asked to cut out his internal organs. A herald, trumpet under his arm, marched in to announce her next visitors. “I want receipts!”
    O O O
    “Massha?”
    I tapped on Massha’s door. Then, I recalled my own instructions. After years of practicing magik, I had developed an excellent visual memory. I pictured the inside of her study: the big easy chairs around the table with the wine carafe, the rank of chests that held her collection of magik items, the high work table covered with scrolls and small pieces of disassembled gizmos. In the middle of that was a tall, black iron candlestick with a fat white candle. I concentrated on it, willing the wick to kindle into flame. I breathed a wisp of power through the door.
    There.
    The door flew open. Her orange hair looking wilder than before, Massha grabbed my hand and dragged me inside. Aloft, she all but dragged me like the string of a rogue balloon across to the armchairs.
    “Well?” she asked.
    “Get dressed,” I said. “We’re going to a party.”
    O O O
    “This is a terrible idea,” Massha said. She had traded her harem pants and top for an embroidered brassiere and a long skirt of the floaty material in bright red. The skirt jingled around the waist and hem with dozens of little trinkets. Massha wore rings on every finger, bracelets and anklets and necklaces enough to sink a treasure ship, most of which gave off a hefty magikal buzz.
    “It’s the only way,” I said. While she dressed, I had gone back to Valentinius’s shop in Deva and cut a few deals. Three of his helpers, wearing disguise spells to keep the servants and nobles from fleeing to the hills in terror at the sight of Deveels, put up pink, white, and red decorations and laid out tables with loads of inexpensive Affection Day trinkets. Aahz insisted on coming along.
    “To protect my investment,” was the way he put it. To keep an eye on me, was far more likely. I also brought General Badaxe along, but only with a promise that he obey my instructions.
    We joined the Queen on the steps of the castle keep. A crowd of townsfolk hovered at the gates, watching in wonder at the notion of a free party. Queen Hemlock never entertained. The tax funds that weren’t spent on necessary kingdom infrastructure went for her expansion plans of the border of the country. Hemlock wore a tightly kirtled red dress with a slit up the front of each thigh all the way to her waist.
    Guido was up on the battlements. Nunzio was outside the gates, listening to the people and watching out for Shilldon. With Bunny’s permission, I’d reached out to Don Bruce for some of his other