Sing the Four Quarters Read Free Page B

eulogies while criers memorized the highlights of the old king's rule Priests prayed for the dying man's peace The more pragmatic visited Centers to pray for a peaceful transition of power
    Deep in the palace, King Mikus' family gathered about him Neither Prince Rihard, now joined to the Heir Apparent of Petrokia, nor Princess Irenka, now, by joining, Lady of the Havakeen Empire, could be present, but enough remained to pack the small bedchamber uncomfortably full
    Tucked back against the wall, Annice watched her relatives and waited, more or less patiently, for her chance Prince Theron, as Heir, stood close by the pillows on the right of the bed His wife, heavy with their third child, sat in a padded chair by his side The king had taken leave of his two older grandchildren earlier, in private but tradition insisted that both Heir and Heir's Consort remain until the end Theron had attempted to have his wife excused because of her advanced pregnancy but Lilyana had sternly told him not 10 be an idiot and had her favorite chair carried in from her solar As a political joining it hadn't been without its difficulties, but over the years they'd developed a relationship that appeared to work although Annice had never understood quite how Her sister, the Princess Milena, seemed to lean on the Due of Manenka's bulk Joined for only a year, a joining deliberately arranged to tie his lands more tightly to the crown, they were disgustingly happy Each made it obvious they considered the other the center of the Circle Annice figured they were making the best of a bad situation and left it at that

    Prince Tomelis, the king's youngest and only surviving brother, stood quietly, arms folded, his partner, Lukas I'Jo-hanka a silent strength by his side as he had been for the last thirty years Now that Rihard was gone and Milena had lost her mind and Theron had gotten so difficult, Annice considered Uncle Tomelis to be her favorite relative Not only because he'd refused an advantageous political joining with a prince of the Empire and followed his heart, but also because she'd heard him say that he'd rather have his teeth pulled than spend more time than necessary trapped within the walls of the palace It was a sentiment with which she heartily agreed Her Aunt Giti, the Princess Gituska, supported by both her son and daughter, sniveled into a lace-edged handkerchief Annice had no use for those particular cousins, the only ones who remained in the Elbasan area Two years ago at a First Quarter Festival, she'd got stinking drunk and embarrassed the family by having to be carried home and he'd thought the whole thing was funny Her aunt's grief, Annice would allow, however, was genuine The king's personal healer stood opposite the Heir at the head of the bed, arms folded, hands tucked into her sleeves, her face struggling to come to terms with the knowledge there was nothing more she could do Two members of the Governing Council watched from the foot of the bed and the current Captain of the Bardic Hall in Elbasan waited about halfway up the left side beside the droning priest—positions all demanded by the ceremony accompanying the passing of a king A fire of wood soaked in aromatic oils blazed on the hearth A low table held a basin of water and one of earth
    And as long as we're breathing, we can't keep air out Annice tried not to fidget Why don't they get on with it9
    One after another, the king's family approached the bed for the formal farewell, first the cousins— A nonrepresentative sample at best , Annice snorted silently—then the aunt, then the uncle and his partner As youngest child, Annice should've gone next, but somehow Milena and the due ended up by the bed Annice was proud of the subtle manipulation she'd performed in order to move her sister up a place in line—a bit of shy hanging back combined with a silent plea to the sister for rescue—until she caught the Bardic Captain watching her Flushing slightly, she quickly schooled