The peacock room lived up to its name, and ordinarily, Aaralyn would be thoroughly distracted taking it all in, but as it was, he could only keep his eyes lowered as he was escorted to a large, soft cushion.
It was only as he sat down that he realized he was seated right next to Prince Bakhtiar.He looked up, accidentally catching Prince Bakhtiar's eyes, and dropped his gaze again.Across the room, King Shahjahan stood in front of a painting of a beautiful man captured in the middle of a dance, arms extended into a near straight line, hands holding large fans made of peacock feathers.The enormous, muscled concubine with the tattoos stood beside him.
Novellius stood by a lattice window that looked out onto the hallway, letting more light into the room.Aaralyn could not help but stare a moment, because none of his earlier anger or arrogance from before was present.Instead, he almost looked afraid.
The door opened, and Aaralyn tensed anew, but it was only a clerk who hastened over to His Majesty, bowed low, and handed over a stack of papers before slipping back out of the room.The door had not even closed when guards entered followed by another man with stomach-churning tattoos.Not just a duke, but a grand duke.There were only five throughout the whole of Havarin, controlling the five major provinces into which the country was divided.Three of those provinces contained all of the colonies.
By his marks, this was Grand Duke Seius, who commanded the province in which Resarn was located.Because of course, out of just five people in the whole damned world, the one most dangerous to him was the one assigned as ambassador to Tavamara.
Aaralyn was going to be sick.Angering a duke was bad enough, but inconveniencing a grand duke?Besmirching his standing and thus humiliating him?As soon as he was handed over to Havarin custody, he was a dead man.His body would be in the harbor before sunrise.If he was lucky, killing him was all they'd do, but when it came to the Havarin ruling class there was no luck but bad.
He kept his head lowered, focused on not crying, but a couple of traitorous tears splashed onto his hand anyway.Then a warm, heavy hand covered his, and Bakhtiar's voice, gentle and reassuring, murmured, "Be at ease.No further harm will come to you, I vow it."
Despite everything, Aaralyndidcalm down.Not completely, but enough, because he trusted Prince Bakhtiar, despite a lifetime's experience in knowing better than to trust any noble or royal.The same way he had trusted Lady Hedieh against all instincts and taken her offer of employment.
A glint of metal caught his eyes, and he turned his head to just behind Prince Bakhtiar, where Lord Kurosh stood with a long, thin knife in his hand, hidden from the rest of the room by the folds of his skirt.He smiled at Aaralyn in a way that was somehow both reassuring and terrifying, and for the first time, he was willing to believe the rumors this man had once been an assassin.
"What is the meaning of this?"Seius demanded, looking between King Shahjahan and Novellius—and then stopping as he saw Aaralyn."What did you do, you branded bitch?"
"That is enough," King Shahjahan said, voice cracking out with the force of a whip."Speak to Master Aaralyn like that again, and you'll be having this discussion from behind bars, do you understand me, Ambassador?"
Puffing up like a spike fish, Seius replied, "What is going on here?"
"What is happening is that Novellius assaulted a man for no reason," Shahjahan replied in a voice so frigid that Aaralyn shivered.
"He accosted me first!"Novellius bristled, and made to step forward, but a guard went for his sword in warning, and he fell back."He ran right into me, not paying attention in the slightest.I have the right to discipline another countryman all I like, especially a branded."
"Branded," Shahjahan repeated softly."Of course you brand your people.I don't know how I didn't know that."He glared as Seius started to speak."It doesn't matter, because he'snotyour countryman.As of more than a month ago, he was officially made a citizen of Tavamara."He threw the bundle of papers at Seius, who scrambled to catch them and only barely managed it."So I repeat: your man assaulted one of mine.According to my servants, he backhanded him, injured his arm, and attempted to choke him.I have countless witnesses who are giving their reports now.Would you like to go speak with them directly?"
"No, Your Majesty," Seius said tightly.He turned to Novellius."Is this all true?"
"He ran into me because he wasn't paying attention and spilled my wine all over.Not that anybody has bothered to notice or care about that.I saw he was a branded and disciplined him accordingly.How was I to know he spread his legs for citizenship?This is all stupid."
"I didn't whore my way into citizenship," Aaralyn said, eyes on the floor but voice firm."I applied for it fairly, following all the rules.I didn't see you in the hall, and I apologize for that, your grace.But even if I were still a Havarin slave, I don't deserve to be struck and humiliated for a genuine mistake."
"Uppity,"Novellius hissed.
Aaralyn was going to throw up, and probably the entire room could see he was trembling, but he wasn't a glorified slave of Havarin anymore, damn it.So despite the terror filling him, he dragged his eyes up, stared into Novellius's eyes, and held his gaze as he replied, "It's not uppity to defend myself.But it is cowardly to beat down those beneath you just for spilling a little wine."
"That's enough," Shahjahan replied."You are both confined to your chambers until I say otherwise.Be assured that tomorrow there will be much debate as to whether you will be allowed to remain in my country.Havarin's presence here in my court is tolerated at best, and you would do well to remember that.Havarin needs Tavamara far more than we need you.Guards, escort them to their chambers and place a watch."
"Yes, Your Majesty."Ignoring their protests, the guards hauled the pair away.
Silence fell in the wake of their departure, until another came at the door, and the palace healer stepped inside.She went straight to Aaralyn, making low, angry noises as she examined him and gently applied ointments to his bruised arm, face, and throat.She lingered briefly over the brand, the anger a thunderstorm on her face, but only handed him a small box of familiar powder."Until the bruising around your throat has faded significantly.Hopefully I do not see you again anytime soon, sweetheart.You've been through quite enough."
"Yes, Mistress," Aaralyn replied with a wispy smile.
"Good lad."She rose, went to speak quietly with His Majesty, and then departed.
King Shahjahan crossed the room and crouched down, stopping Aaralyn's heart all over again."I apologize profusely this happened to you.I am ashamed of my court that nobody defended you.Be assured, nobody else will be laying a finger on you."He smiled ever so fleetingly and looked briefly at Prince Bakhtiar before turning back to Aaralyn."Especially if Bakhti has anything to say about it, I suspect.Whatever you decide going forward, you will receive full pay for the rest of the year, and are not to do any work for at least the rest of the month, with re-evaluation from a healer before taking up any duties."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty."Aaralyn felt he should be protesting, but it was just so much.
King Shahjahan cupped the back of his head, thumb stroking his cheek comfortingly, so much like his father in that moment that Aaralyn ached."You will be all right, little flower, I promise.Get some rest."He dropped his hand, rose and left, his people with him.
Which meant Aaralyn was left alone with Prince Bakhtiar, Lord Kurosh, and two guards.
Prince Bakhtiar surged forward as soon as Aaralyn had stood and hugged him tightly."Are you all right?Truly?"
