"I did, but I'm sure it's just because I'm a traveling novelty," Jankin said, even as his heart raced at the wordscourting gift. "Surely even if I was a noble, I wouldn't be receiving courting gifts. He has to marry a woman, doesn't he?"
She gave him an amused look. "Courting for his harem. I was teasing before, but now I wonder. Anyway, enough gossiping from me. With that necklace, I have three options for you." She flitted amongst the racks of countless costumes, some elaborate and showy, others quiet and sedate. After several minutes, she returned with the promised three.
All were in shades of blue and green, unsurprisingly. Two were full costumes, sleeveless, low collar, long skirt slit in one or two places. One of those had gold fringe along the bottom, the other had strings of beads. Glass, by the way they glittered.
The third costume, though, was only a skirt. It was the kind that had the underclothes and outer skirt as all one piece, and the skirt itself was quite translucent, speckled with tiny glass beads in a rainbow of colors that caught the light and scatteredit around the room. Or would, at least, when he was dancing. Combined with the feather necklace, it would certainly be a memorable ensemble.
Also a little racy for a private dinner, which made him curious about the details of it all over again. "Do you know anything about this dinner?"
"Nothing for certain," Dali replied. "Rumors, however, say that His Majesty is dining with certain nobles to help smooth over looming changes in tariff laws. There's been a great deal of contention lately surrounding it. I don't think anyone on the council has slept a full night in three months, and there will be months of debate yet before they come to a conclusion that makes everyone somewhat happy and His Majesty is willing to sign into law.
"I see," Jankin said. So that was why he'd been invited to dance, and wearing a diaphanous skirt while twirling about would certainly put people in a better mood for talking between sets.
It was a shrewd decision, exactly the kind of thinking a king should possess. But he'd stupidly thought it was simply because Shafiq enjoyed his performance that much. No reason it couldn't be both, but…
Well, it didn't matter. Attention was attention, and the money would be ridiculously good, and if he could help Shafiq, repay his kindness, by putting his nobles in a better mood, he would do it.
"This one, I think," he said, touching the skirt. "It's beautiful, and seems suited to the circumstance. It will also best display the necklace."
"Shrewd as I would expect of you. Get to practicing, pretty bird. I'll see this is ready and waiting in your room."
Jankin smiled. "I owe you much, Mistress. What can I do to show my appreciation?"
She patted his cheek. "You are a sweet one, but I am only doing my job, I promise." She laughed. "Tell His Majesty how good I am at it, if you're inclined. A good word in royal ears is never a bad thing."
"Of course." He obediently went as she shooed him away and headed to his allocated section of the hall to practice the routines he would be doing that night. Five routines in total was the request, but three of them would actually be one long routine he'd break into three pieces. He'd done it before, and it always worked well, the routine flexible in that way. He'd go slightly easier on himself for the fourth round, and the final routine would be the most complicated, because one should always end on a flourish.
After he was confident in the whole routine, he headed off to bathe, eat, and then went for a short walk around the palace before lying down for a short nap. When a servant woke him as requested a couple of hours later, the necklace and his new skirt were laid out on the table for him.
He started with his hair, weaving small braids here and there, scattered across the whole mass, threading them with small jewels that were a genuine pain in the ass to work with but had a payoff more than worth it. His skin was rubbed with a lotion that would leave a faint shimmer, and then he added small hoops to his ears and gold anklets to both ankles.
Only then did he pull on the skirt. It was truly beautiful, soft and wispy where it brushed his legs. For the best he was borrowing it, not keeping it, because he had always traveled light.
Going over to the table, he opened the jewelry case and removed the necklace. Unlocking the hinge, he settled the necklace in place, locked the hinge, and took a last deep breath before leaving.
He headed first for the training hall, where he knew he could find a mirror to make absolutely certain all was well. Dali was still there, speaking with a group of women, all of whom stopped talking when they saw him.
Dali walked over to him. "Look at you, Peacock. Living up to your reputation for certain. You'll be the favorite part of dinner. Even His Majesty won't be able to focus."
Jankin laughed. "Delightful as that sounds, I hope it's not true, because I'm sure he means to accomplish certain things at this dinner, and I'd hate to ruin his plans."
"I think he would forgive you," said another woman with a tittering laugh. "I would."
"You're too kind," Jankin said.
"Need eye makeup, though," said another woman.
"I've always been terrible at it," Jankin replied. "No matter how much I practice, I have no hand for it, even though, in theory, I should."
That seemed to be all the permission the women needed to do the work themselves, painting his eyes as beautifully as they had the night of the banquet, though this time it was in simple black overlaid with translucent, shimmery powder.
"Thank you, I'm grateful. I really only came for a mirror."
"You look perfect, Peacock," Dali said. "As you well know."
He grinned and winked. "Doesn't mean I don't like hearing it. I owe you all."
"Better get going," one of the women who'd done his makeup said. "Wouldn't want to be late."
