Kushiel's Mercy

Her gaze fell on Claude. “Send a man to the Square to search for Michel Carascel. I believe he suffered minor injuries. He’s still Captain Duval’s second in command, is he not?”
    “He is,” Claude affirmed.
    “Inform him that he’s been promoted,” Sidonie said. “He’s to assume command of the Palace Guard. They are to return to their regular duties.” Claude bowed. “Send a messenger to Ghislain nó Trevalion,” she continued. “I want an escort of fifty . . . no, thirty. Thirty members of the Royal Army for the Baronesse de Bretel.” She glanced at me. “Thirty?”
    “Thirty’s good,” I said. “Enough for safety’s sake, too few to seem a threat.”
    “Thirty, then,” Sidonie said. “Prepared to depart for Turnone on the hour. I want all of them given white pennants of peace to carry.”
    “All of them?” Claude echoed.
    “All of them,” Sidonie said firmly. “Let there be no mistake about our intentions. Terre d’Ange is at peace. We will escort their company to the gates of the City. On the heels of their departure, we will hold an open audience. Lord Robert, please notify the Secretary of the Presence. Lady Denise should be on hand to record the proceedings. And please alert the Queen’s Couriers. I will prepare a proclamation for them to carry throughout the City on the immediate conclusion of our audience.”
    “Only the City?” the chamberlain inquired.
    “For the moment,” Sidonie said. “Word of the full tale will spread quickly in the City. I’ll prepare a more thorough account to be disseminated throughout the realm, but I’m not sure we’ve sufficient couriers for such a massive undertaking.” She frowned in thought.
    “The Royal Army might serve, though there’s the matter of aid to Aragonia to be discussed—”
    “Sidonie.” I interrupted her. “There’s time.”
    She caught herself. “That will do for now. I’ll be in my quarters drafting a proclamation.
    Let me know when all is in readiness.”
    The crowd dispersed in various directions, grateful to be given a sense of purpose. I escorted Sidonie unbidden to her quarters. She dismissed the frightened chambermaid with a kind word of reassurance. Once the girl had gone, Sidonie sank to her knees, covering her face with both hands.
    I crouched before her. “Are you all right, love?”
    “Yes,” she said, muffled. “And no.”
    I took her shoulders in my hands. “You don’t have to do this all at once. And you don’t have to do it alone. They’re shocked. It will pass in time. Your mother’s promised her aid if you need it. In the meanwhile, send for Alais and L’Envers. They’ve got a shadow Parliament in place: they’ve been virtually governing Terre d’Ange. And I think it will do everyone good to have a great public reconciliation.”
    “Yes. That’s a good thought.” She dropped her hands. Her eyes were bright with tears.
    “Ah, gods! I’m sorry. I tried. I tried and tried. I wasn’t strong enough.”
    “Sidonie!” I shook her. “Don’t ever think that.”
    “It hurt.” She rubbed her eyes with the heel of one hand. “And it was just so damned terrifying to feel my memories slipping away, bit by bit. Then one day I was sitting in the bath, feeling like there were red-hot shackles around my wrists and ankles, and I thought, why am I enduring this? And I couldn’t remember. So I took them off. Just like that. And then it didn’t hurt anymore and I didn’t care. I was gone.”
    “Not all of you,” I reminded her.
    “No.” She gazed at me. “When I saw you in the hall, walking toward the dais and dropping your sword, telling us the gods forbade the war . . . I don’t know. I didn’t remember, not exactly, but there was such a strange brightness about you. It tugged at somewhat inside of me. Why did you do it?”
    I told her.
    “Elua!” Sidonie’s eyes widened. “Is that how you knew where to find the demon-stone?”
    “No.” I smiled wryly. “I woke up in the hall with my head splitting, staring sideways at the damnable gem-painting. And I saw it.” I took her hand and traced a spiral on her palm.
    “The design from Bodeshmun’s talisman. It was hidden in the whorls of bark on the tree.”
    Sidonie stifled an unexpected laugh. “Truly?”
    “Mm-hmm.” I leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “You have a proclamation to write and a letter to Alais. Can you manage?”
    “Yes.” Her fingers closed around mine. “I just need . . . I need you beside