Chapter Three

“We have visitors.”

I looked at the lad who’d rushed into the dining hall while we were eating breakfast, two days later. He heaved a breath, as awestruck as though he were announcing the arrival of the goddess herself. “Who?” People were leaving the Silent Castle these days, not arriving here. Elders from a village that hadn’t yet had its say, perhaps?

His mouth opened and closed twice. “Uh, I think it’s a king.”

My gaze slid automatically aside. We already had four kings, and they were all within the castle. Unless Charnrosa had more that I wasn’t aware of.

“Let’s go and see.” Fon pushed his arm through mine.

It seemed that everyone in the castle had found a reason to be on the spit of land that connected the castle’s entrance with the stone bridge to the mainland. The sound of murmuring rose as we stepped into the sunlight.

Then I saw the cavalcade and understood why.

“Is that a—” I stared at the creature leading the parade. Another beast of myth and legend. My imagination failed me. “What is that?”

“Looks like an elephant to me,” Fon replied cheerfully. He whistled, scanning the parade from beginning to end. “Someone wants to make an impression.”

That someone was presumably the man sitting atop the grey beast lumbering over the bridge. It was … square, and heavy-looking. I hoped the bridge would hold. The man wasn’t square, nor grey. Quite the opposite. His skin was tanned, similar to Vashri’s tone, and he wore a flamboyant cloak which spread over the back of the elephant, woven of many colours and flashing in the light as though it were also decorated with metal or gems. About a dozen people followed afterwards, equally brightly dressed but clearly subservient, beating drums and shaking bells in a cheerful cacophony in case anyone somehow managed to miss the arrival of the beast.

I leaned close to Fon. “Who is that? And where did he find an elephant? Are they from the underworld?”

“Not so far as that,” Fon assured me. “I believe they’re native to the Torval Plains.” He saw the expression on my face. “Torval lies on the other side of the Ullapeak mountains.”

“Oh.” My education had been interrupted by rebellion and orphanhood. I’d almost forgotten that anything existed beyond Charnrosa’s borders – the sea on one side and the mountains on the other – but of course there was a whole world out there. “I thought the mountains were supposed to be impenetrable.”

“Not with the right transport,” Fon murmured back. He watched, entirely relaxed at this new development. My nerves churned inside me. Charnrosa had been alone for centuries. Why did Torval suddenly want to visit?

“Is that the king?” I nodded towards the figure on the elephant, with his grand cloak and his musical entourage.

“We won’t know until he announces himself.”

It looked like we wouldn’t have long to wait. The elephant slowed as it stepped off the bridge and onto the grass. The musical companions spread out to face us and fell silent.

Axxon pushed through the crowd on the other side. “We bid you welcome to the Silent Castle at the heart of Charnrosa. What is your business?”

A rope ladder unfurled down the side of the elephant. The animal waited patiently while its passenger dismounted, his cloak flowing around him, tugged to life by the breeze.

“This is exciting.” Essa appeared at my shoulder. “I’ve always wanted to see an elephant.”

I didn’t take my eyes from the man who was now setting foot on Charnrosa’s ground. I wasn’t surprised Essa knew it was an elephant without being told; no doubt she could recite half a dozen stories featuring the creatures.

“I wonder if they’ll let me pet it.”

“Ask,” I suggested. “They look friendly enough.”

The elephant’s rider turned, swirling his colourful cloak behind him. Close-to, I could see the flawlessness of his skin, and the gleam of his neat beard, which had surely been oiled. He looked to be in his thirties. And then he smiled and I could think of little but the astonishing whiteness of his teeth.

“Good day, people of Charnrosa!” He raised his voice, his words carrying clearly across the crowd. He turned so his dazzling smile was bestowed on everyone. “I am High Vizier Grandemanne, envoy of his Supreme Majesty, Shah Pa’rat of Torval. I crave an audience with the guardian of Charnrosa, if she will consent to speak to so humble a man as myself.”

“Humble? Who does he think he’s kidding?” Fon spoke the words running through my head.

Axxon glanced through the crowd until he found Fon and me. He gave a brief nod, then turned to our visitor. “I am Axxon, king of earth, one of the four kings of Charnrosa. You have travelled a long way to reach us. We will be pleased to grant you an audience.”

Fon nudged my elbow and drew me back inside. I grabbed Essa before she vanished. “I want you with me.”

She pulled away. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Impress our foreign visitors.” I towed her onwards. “Besides, don’t you want the chance to ask if you can pet the elephant?”

She craned back as we passed through the archway and the High Vizier and all his attendants vanished from sight. “I could have asked here,” Essa said mournfully.

Half an hour later, I sat in an armed chair in the grandest room in the Silent Castle. We didn’t have a throne room, but this was the ideal place in which to both impress and entertain someone who wanted to come and talk to Charnrosa now we had found peace.

The kings stood around me, and Essa lurked just behind Fon, insisting she didn’t want to be mistaken for anyone important. I’d dressed in the most dramatic gown I had, mindful of that remarkable cloak, and the kings, most unfairly, needed no additions to look imposing.

Two servants threw open the doors to allow the High Vizier to enter. Cloak trailing the floor behind him, and flanked by four of his companions, he strode forward until he faced me. He met my eyes with a broad smile, then dropped into a low bow, arms outflung.

Fon shifted. My gaze darted aside to see his arms crossed. His face was bland – for Fon – but he hadn’t entirely hidden his feelings. Or perhaps it was our closeness that let me read his contempt. All the kings were stiff and watchful. Elephant or not, the High Vizier hadn’t impressed these men. I hugged that knowledge warm inside me. Charnrosa wasn’t prepared to be easily impressed by her new neighbour. Nor, if it came to that, easily intimidated.

“Please rise,” I said, when the High Vizier gave no sign of straightening from his bow. He stood, gave another smile and simply waited. “We are pleased to welcome you to the Silent Castle. What is the purpose of your visit?”

Vashri’s chin lifted as we awaited the Vizier’s reply. Was I being too direct? I had no idea how to be political about things, and I’d hoped to have a chance to practise within Charnrosa’s borders first, before needing to deal with foreign powers.

“We have observed the great changes Charnrosa has undergone in these past weeks. We have watched in admiration as you have unfurled your strength.”

I blinked. His manner of speaking was a little overwhelming, his accent demonstrating that this wasn’t his native tongue. I wasn’t sure what answer to give. Fortunately, he didn’t require one. “Torval is the most powerful nation in the world, rich in natural resources and with a thriving population. Charnrosa is our mighty neighbour, rich in magical power. My Lord, His Glorious Majesty the Shah, has tasked me to discover whether an alliance between our great nations might be possible.”

“We are always pleased to be friends with those around us.” I was happy to build some sort of an alliance with this man, but I wasn’t sure what he expected – nor why he’d come so far. What use was an alliance between countries split by a mountain range that was close to impenetrable?

The High Vizier made a noise at the back of his throat that silenced my thoughts.

“His Glorious Majesty hopes for a closer relationship than friends,” he said, his smile as radiant as ever.

Fon huffed. All the kings seemed restless. Perhaps they could guess what was coming. I had no idea. “Closer than friends? What do you mean?”

Another smile, another bow, and then he gave his answer. “His Glorious Majesty requested that I negotiate a marriage alliance.”

I was too surprised to be politic about the matter. “Marriage? Whoever with?” Countries couldn’t marry. The man was talking nonsense.

“His Glorious Majesty Shah Pa’rat wishes to marry you, Lady Kyann.”