The Twelve Kingdoms Read Online Free PDF Page A

married and left this sort of thing to my wife. “Bad luck—entertainment would allow us to serve nibbles for an hour or two longer, along with copious wine. You’d have more time and a happier, more forgiving crowd to serve.”
    â€œThere are these . . . acrobats,” she tendered.
    â€œAcrobats?” I turned the word over in my mouth.
    â€œSome of the Dasnarian mercenaries. It’s a sort of exercise they do. Twisting and tumbling. Quite amazing. The best among them don colorful costumes and compete.”
    Mercenaries. Danu save us all. I had hoped for another explanation for the presence of the foreigners. Though what it might have been, I didn’t know. Another demonstration of the foolishness of relying on such a flimsy thing as hope. One day I would learn.
    â€œThen Ordnung might as well get its money’s worth. Can you arrange for it? What else can I do?”
    â€œYou’ve done it, Your Highness. Thank you.” She curtsied again and gave me a sincere smile. “It’s good to have you back. Things will be done as they should be now. I’ll arrange for the acrobats and will be in the kitchens, should you think of aught else.”
    I took the shortcut to my rooms, through the arcade, mulling her words. Things will be done as they should be now. Mercenaries, in Ordnung, with their captain waiting attendance on Uorsin. Weariness crawled through me. Perhaps I’d forestall a bath and lie down, see if I could manage to sleep. Madeline would need nothing more, I felt sure. She’d been handling everything without my direction in my absence. Taking over those responsibilities for my mother, I’d quickly learned that finding the best people was key.
    Mother had deteriorated in those last years after Andi was born and particularly during her pregnancy with Amelia. I understood more now than I had then. Andi had borne the mark that made her our mother’s successor in Annfwn, as Queen of the Tala, and Salena had desperately wanted to take her there. But she’d done her duty and waited the five years to strengthen enough to bear her third daughter.
    She would have left then, taking Andi and Ami with her, but she’d died before she could. It would have been better for my sisters, if she’d managed to. Not that it would have made much difference in my life. Even if she’d tried to take me, too, which I highly doubted, Uorsin would never have let me go.
    It hadn’t been easy, being both son and queen for my father, but I’d risen to the task. Until recently. You will again, I told myself. You’re just tired.
    â€œYour Highness.” Derodotur’s voice called out as he hastened up the arcade. Facing a private grassy courtyard, the white marble arches let sunshine into the hall, with urns of tumbling flowers at intervals. The quickest way to my rooms, it became impassable in winter. Derodotur was one of the few who’d know I’d go this way. He sketched a bow and scratched his nose. “Did you see that the armory has been updated as you directed?”
    I suppressed a sigh. Of course he’d have information to impart, that I’d want to hear before facing Uorsin and the court again. It shouldn’t take long, and then I could bathe and take a few minutes. Shaking off the weariness, I nodded. “I had not had the opportunity. Let’s take a look. Court has adjourned, then?”
    â€œYes. Everyone is looking forward to your welcoming feast.”
    Oh, yes. The one that a foreign mercenary suggested—making it suspicious right there.
    We moved briskly through the formal areas of Ordnung, quieter now that the courtiers had made themselves scarce in hopes of better fortune in the relaxed atmosphere of the promised feast. No doubt also planning to seek me with petitions they’d saved for my return. Troops drilled in the barracks courtyard. No sign of these acrobats, however. It would be interesting to assess