For the present, though, he pulled a coin from his purse. "Could I get some wine to clear the road dust from my throat, good sir?"
"Of course, of course." The man caught the coin as Ender tossed it. "Any preferences?"
"I trust you entirely." He was a student on scholarship; he drank whatever he could afford. Normally he wouldn't have money for such a self-indulgent splurge, but after the heart attack-inducing letter he'd received, had gone all the way home to open, since it had been delivered there rather than to the university, his parents had been… strange.
Quiet, far more quiet than he'd expected. Generous, alarmingly so, with food, money, supplies… Like they were eager to help him on his way—or apologizing for something.
To Master Ender Marongoz,
Son of Master and Mistress Marongoz
House of Green, Street of Stars
City of Basharin, Province of Fenn-Bar
Master Ender Marongoz,
His Royal Majesty King Shafiq Tavashta requests you come immediately to the Royal Palace of Tavamara for a private audience. If you cannot come, please notify the messenger at once of your reasons. If you require assistance in your journey, it will be provided. Otherwise, send by messenger the estimated date of your arrival.
Do not discuss this private matter further than you must. Should you run into trouble along the way, contact us via the royal guards or an official messenger.
We eagerly await your arrival.
Sincerely,
Lady Latif Uzun
Royal Steward of Tavamara
To say he was scared to death was putting it mildly.
He was the son of carpenters; was in school to earn a degree in architecture; and in his free time he wrote poetry and daydreamed about a life more exciting than designing shops and homes, a life of glamor and music, of dancing and poetry.
Now he was being summoned to a private audience with the king. He must have done something wrong, but in the two weeks he'd been traveling across the kingdom, he could not think of a single thing he'd done that would provoke this sort of response.
Right now, exhausted and frayed at the edges, he no longer had energy to spare on it. Instead, he thanked the caféproprietor for the wine and snacks that were added in thanks for his assistance and enjoyed his moment of quiet.
The wine was a good one, though he wasn't experienced enough to know its name. Pale purple, on the bitter side, a perfect compliment for the sweet treats that accompanied it.
Wine was most often meant to be shared, but for the entirety of his adult life, Ender had always drunk alone. Too poor to go out with friends, too rural for all his polished city classmates.
He didn't mind though. It meant he could work on his poetry in peace, drink and eat what he wanted, didn't have to endure the noise and chaos of crowds…
Could be achingly lonely and miserable without witnesses.
However terrified he was of being summoned by King Shafiq, at least he'd get to see the royal city, the royal palace… the king himself, the royal court, the gardens, maybe even the library…
"So what brings you to Tavala? You sound as though you come from at least Fenn-Bar."
Ender smiled and lifted his cup in acknowledgement. "Just so, close to the border with Remm. I've been summoned to speak with some people on a matter they didn't bother to explain."
The man's brows shot up, and he gave up any pretense of tidying the café, sitting right down across from Ender. "Not one of those who's been summoned to the palace?"
"Are there are a lot of people being summoned to the palace?"
"Lately, yes, at least according to all the rumors. Nobody will say why, though. It's all very secretive. Some say it's related to that judge who was recently removed from her post andarrested alongside her husband. Everyone says she was taking bribes, threatening people, that sort of thing."
"I hope they don't have children."
