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Authors: Fiona McIntosh
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arms.
‘Don’t be daft, Tess. That’s typical Tyren, making sure none of us trusts one another. Just remember what your creatures told you about me. If you trust them, then trust me. Come on. We have to plan your act. We’d better go see Madam Tyren about some clothes for you—she’s in charge of the show wardrobe.’
Tess softened and threw a worried glance at her friends.
‘They’ll be safe,’ he reassured, taking her elbow. ‘You’re right. No-one knows they’re here and they know how to hide should anyone stumble into the clearing. We can check up on them regularly.’
‘I do trust you, Griff. Just so long as you don’t try and talk me out of sleeping in the woods with them tonight.’ She glared at his look of surprise. ‘I’m like Elph,’ Tess assured him, ‘I don’t feel the cold.’
Janko’s welcome home banquet had been a lavish affair. Rodin had ordered the most impressive royal feast the palace had seen since Lute had been born, and the kitchens had worked themselves into a frenzy of activity to impress the returning hero.
The highlight of the dinner had been what was known in the region simply as ‘Serephon’. It came from the ancient language and meant ‘blessed creatures’ but was used to describe a complex dish that began with roasted ox. Within the carcass was a cooked deer, which was in turn stuffed with mutton that, when opened, revealed a goat that was stuffed with a small pig, and which ultimately revealed hares stuffed with tiny voles. It was a mighty achievement by Lambert, the head cook, that each of these animals were beautifully prepared and cooked toperfection within each other; each bringing different flavours of meats and herbs and, of course, being a spectacular centrepiece for the royal banquet table.
Lute hadn’t partaken of the Serephon but had nibbled on the simple roasted slices of meat that Pilo had cut from a haunch of cold beef and served with fruit chutneys, soft cheeses and thick hunks of warm bread smeared with butter. Lute had joined in the many toasts to the Duke and laughed politely at all his uncle’s jests when the guests—all important men and women of the realm—had somehow become a willing audience for Janko to regale with stories of his adventures. It was then that Lute noticed his mother was not at all as riveted as his father and everyone else seemed to be. Her attention was wandering and she looked unimpressed when Janko’s audience clapped or cheered.
Soon enough Pilo had leaned over his shoulder. ‘Time to go, your majesty.’
‘So soon?’ Lute asked, a plea in his voice.
‘You have to be up for the dawn ride, don’t forget, my Prince,’ Pilo said. Pilo always said just the right thing, thought Lute. He could have just said, ‘It’s time for bed’ and made Lute feel as though he were a mere child being taken from the grown-up part of the banquet. Instead Pilo made it appear as though it were Lute’s duty, as Crown Prince, to get his sleep.
‘Of course. I shall just wish my parents good evening.’
Pilo gave an almost imperceptible nod as Lute walked over to the three adult royals.
‘I must take my leave. Good night, Mother,’ he said, formally kissing her hand. ‘Father, sleep well,’ he said, bowing to the King. ‘Uncle Janko, see you in the morning.’
‘I’m looking forward to it, young Lute,’ Janko said softly over his shoulder. ‘I can’t persuade your father. Serious affairs of state apparently await, but I’m sure we shall have a lively time nonetheless.’
‘My mother would—’
‘Er, no, darling,’ Miralda said, smiling indulgently. Lute hadnever seen that expression before. It seemed forced, overly polite as she tinkled a soft laugh clearly for Janko’s benefit. ‘Both of you, and Pilo, can rise with the birds and enjoy the dawn.’
Lute saw Janko throw a look of sympathy at his mother. That expression seemed equally fake. ‘A queen must get her beauty sleep,’ he said.
‘Can I just
‘Don’t be daft, Tess. That’s typical Tyren, making sure none of us trusts one another. Just remember what your creatures told you about me. If you trust them, then trust me. Come on. We have to plan your act. We’d better go see Madam Tyren about some clothes for you—she’s in charge of the show wardrobe.’
Tess softened and threw a worried glance at her friends.
‘They’ll be safe,’ he reassured, taking her elbow. ‘You’re right. No-one knows they’re here and they know how to hide should anyone stumble into the clearing. We can check up on them regularly.’
‘I do trust you, Griff. Just so long as you don’t try and talk me out of sleeping in the woods with them tonight.’ She glared at his look of surprise. ‘I’m like Elph,’ Tess assured him, ‘I don’t feel the cold.’
Janko’s welcome home banquet had been a lavish affair. Rodin had ordered the most impressive royal feast the palace had seen since Lute had been born, and the kitchens had worked themselves into a frenzy of activity to impress the returning hero.
The highlight of the dinner had been what was known in the region simply as ‘Serephon’. It came from the ancient language and meant ‘blessed creatures’ but was used to describe a complex dish that began with roasted ox. Within the carcass was a cooked deer, which was in turn stuffed with mutton that, when opened, revealed a goat that was stuffed with a small pig, and which ultimately revealed hares stuffed with tiny voles. It was a mighty achievement by Lambert, the head cook, that each of these animals were beautifully prepared and cooked toperfection within each other; each bringing different flavours of meats and herbs and, of course, being a spectacular centrepiece for the royal banquet table.
Lute hadn’t partaken of the Serephon but had nibbled on the simple roasted slices of meat that Pilo had cut from a haunch of cold beef and served with fruit chutneys, soft cheeses and thick hunks of warm bread smeared with butter. Lute had joined in the many toasts to the Duke and laughed politely at all his uncle’s jests when the guests—all important men and women of the realm—had somehow become a willing audience for Janko to regale with stories of his adventures. It was then that Lute noticed his mother was not at all as riveted as his father and everyone else seemed to be. Her attention was wandering and she looked unimpressed when Janko’s audience clapped or cheered.
Soon enough Pilo had leaned over his shoulder. ‘Time to go, your majesty.’
‘So soon?’ Lute asked, a plea in his voice.
‘You have to be up for the dawn ride, don’t forget, my Prince,’ Pilo said. Pilo always said just the right thing, thought Lute. He could have just said, ‘It’s time for bed’ and made Lute feel as though he were a mere child being taken from the grown-up part of the banquet. Instead Pilo made it appear as though it were Lute’s duty, as Crown Prince, to get his sleep.
‘Of course. I shall just wish my parents good evening.’
Pilo gave an almost imperceptible nod as Lute walked over to the three adult royals.
‘I must take my leave. Good night, Mother,’ he said, formally kissing her hand. ‘Father, sleep well,’ he said, bowing to the King. ‘Uncle Janko, see you in the morning.’
‘I’m looking forward to it, young Lute,’ Janko said softly over his shoulder. ‘I can’t persuade your father. Serious affairs of state apparently await, but I’m sure we shall have a lively time nonetheless.’
‘My mother would—’
‘Er, no, darling,’ Miralda said, smiling indulgently. Lute hadnever seen that expression before. It seemed forced, overly polite as she tinkled a soft laugh clearly for Janko’s benefit. ‘Both of you, and Pilo, can rise with the birds and enjoy the dawn.’
Lute saw Janko throw a look of sympathy at his mother. That expression seemed equally fake. ‘A queen must get her beauty sleep,’ he said.
‘Can I just
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