Naamah's Blessing

nursemaid, was nowhere in sight. Instead, it was Desirée’s grandmother who accompanied the child in her capacity as the Royal Governess; the Comtesse de Maillet, her mouth pinched and triumphant.
    Beside me, Thierry drew a sharp breath. “I remember her!”
    “Jehanne’s mother,” I murmured. “I told you as much.”
    “You did,” he said. “But until I saw her, I’d forgotten how much Jehanne despised the woman.”
    Bao glowered, dark shadows arising around him. “I suspect it was with reason.”
    I gazed at Desirée, my heart aching. At six years of age, she was a girl now. She was thin and wan, all her mother’s scintillating beautyfaded to a pallid colorlessness. The Comtesse de Maillet steered her charge alongside her betrothed, Tristan de Barthelme. Desirée went willingly enough, but she kept her hands clasped firmly before her, refusing to take his hand in hers.
    There was a sharp, whispered exchange. Desirée shook her head stubbornly, clinging to whatever it was she held clutched tight in her hands.
    “Your highness!” Claudine de Barthelme addressed her. A hint of impatience surfaced in her tone, quickly smoothed away. “This is a matter of state, my dear. Toys are to be left in the nursery. You know better.”
    Desirée lifted her head, a spark of defiance in her eyes. “It’s not a toy! Moirin said—”
    Claudine interrupted her. “I could not possibly care less what that delusional half-breed of a bear-witch said, and it is long past time you ceased to care, too,” she spat under her breath. “She did you no favors filling your head with fanciful tales of magic and dragons. Tristan, will you please talk sense to the child?”
    “Come, ducky,” he said in a coaxing tone, holding out one hand. “Give me the toy, and take my hand.”
    There was a mutinous set to her chin. “It’s not a toy!”
    He glanced at his mother. “You don’t want to make a scene, do you, sweetheart? Come, give it over.”
    Desirée shook her head again. “No!”
    Tristan stooped, lowering his voice. “Don’t act the baby!” he hissed, prying ruthlessly at her hands. “Give it to me, now!”
    A crystal bottle fell to the marble floor and shattered, a few drops of perfume scattered amidst the gleaming shards. An intoxicating scent, heady and ephemeral, rose to fill the throne-room.
    Jehanne’s perfume.
    “It was my mother’s,” Desirée whispered, tears filling her eyes. “Moirin gave it to me.”
    I’d given it to her that she might remember that she was loved—by her mother and by me. I’d told her to keep it safe, that its scent might comfort her when she was feeling frightened and lonely. Like now.
    “Thierry, please,” I murmured. “Haven’t you seen enough?”
    “Wait,” he said to me. “Just a little longer.” He repeated the word to Balthasar, willing him to hear. “Wait.”
    “Enough.” Duc Rogier took command of the proceedings, his voice firm. “Your highness, you may remember Lord Balthasar Shahrizai, who led the second expedition to Terra Nova. And I fear he brings unhappy tidings.” A note of disapproval edged into his voice. “Tidings he insisted you hear yourself, tidings that concern the sad fate of Moirin mac Fainche, and I suspect a number of others, too.” Gazing around the throne-room, he squared his shoulders. “My lords and ladies, I beg you to remember I advised against this.”
    Murmurs of agreement ran throughout the throne-room.
    “Is it true?” Desirée lifted her gaze to meet Balthasar’s, tears spilling over her pale cheeks. “Moirin is dead? And Bao, too?”
    He hesitated, glancing around.
    “Go ahead, my lord Shahrizai.” Duc Rogier fixed him with a stony look. “You insisted on this moment. Break the child’s heart.”
    “Now, Balthasar!” Thierry called from the twilight.
    Balthasar Shahrizai lifted one finger in acknowledgment. “No, your highness,” he said with improbable gentleness, sinking to one knee before the girl. “It’s not true at all. And I am so very, very happy to have the honor of telling you so.”
    The blood drained from Desirée’s face. “They’re not—?”
    He shook his head. “No.”
    I should have waited for Prince Thierry’s command, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t wait a second longer. Taking a deep breath, I released the twilight and it fled in a rush, unveiling all three of us.
    It was without a doubt one of the most satisfying moments of my life.

EIGHTY-ONE

    I n the stunned silence that