Lani pointed to one across the way. “That one is to my rooms.”
If Nicholas was given the prince’s quarters, it wasn’t a surprise to learn they were being housed in the royal family’s own wing, but it was disconcerting to see. Either Banneth wanted to honor them, or he wanted to keep an eye on them. Or both. After Lani’s initial reaction to Banneth’s order, Sage didn’t dare ask who Tamosa was or had been, but from the opulence of the rooms and the absence of Reza’s mother, it wasn’t hard to guess.
While Sage bathed, Lani disappeared and returned carrying a dress in a similar style to what she herself wore, with long draped sleeves and a square collar, but the color was a pinkish-orange Sage knew would make her look sickly. She wondered if Lani had done that on purpose until the princess scrunched her lips to the side as she looked at her and apologized, saying it was probably the only dress she had that would remotely fit her.
Lani had given her clothes from her own wardrobe. The princess was a little taller and far more shapely, though. Sage expected to spend the entirety of dinner shifting her outfit to keep the neckline from hanging so low, but Lani produced a golden sash to help secure it.
“What are Demoran dresses like, Saizsch?” the princess asked as she tied a knot that somehow looked like a rosebud.
She hadn’t worn a dress since Tennegol. Alex had liked the dark-blue one best.
“Um.” Sage struggled to push the thought out of her mind and find something within her grasp of the language. “Skirts are much … bigger. And women often wear what is called a corset.” She gestured to her waist. “It makes the middle look small and holds you straight.”
“I would not need that,” Lani said loftily.
The prince entered from a side door that connected their rooms, his copper curls slicked down with water. His formal outfit was much like the one Banneth had worn when they met him, but Nicholas was swimming in the knee-length jacket and its high collar.
“You are both ready,” said Lani, nodding her approval. “Someone will be here shortly to take you to dinner, but if you will excuse me, I still have my own preparations to make.” She swept out gracefully, making Sage wonder how in the world she could add to her appearance.
“What now?” said Nicholas. He looked like a little boy wearing his father’s clothes. Together, Sage suspected they looked like lost children, but maybe that was better. They didn’t look threatening.
“I want to see your rooms,” Sage said, and he led her back the way he’d come. The door between the suites had a lock, but only on Sage’s side. She inspected his rooms, memorizing all access points.
“Do you not trust Banneth?” Nicholas asked her.
“It’s not necessarily him I’m concerned about,” she replied, pushing on the wall for signs of hidden doors. “Princess Lani said something that made me think not everyone here is happy about our arrival.” She turned around and saw the prince had gone a pasty color. “Spirit above, Nicholas, I’m just being cautious.”
“It’s not that,” he said. “I was remembering what you said on the road, about how I could be negotiating treaties in a few years.”
The smile she returned felt as good as the one earlier. “I don’t think you’ll be negotiating the treaties that come from this directly, but what you do and learn will have a huge effect on everything, maybe for the next hundred years. Present yourself well and learn all you can.”
Nicholas closed his eyes and shuddered, clenching his fists. Sage stepped closer and put an arm around him. “You’ll do fine. Don’t worry.”
“I’m scared,” he said. Tears began to stream down his cheeks. “I can hardly understand anything people say and the food is strange and the clothes are itchy and—”
“I thought you liked the food.”
Her feeble joke didn’t help. “I want my mother, Sage,” Nicholas sobbed. “I want to go home.”
In only the last month, the prince had gained an inch on her, which had made it easy for Sage to forget he was little more than a boy, and a sheltered one at that. All things considered, he’d held up pretty well until now. “I’ll get you home, Nicholas,” she said. “That’s a promise.”
“What if they won’t let us leave?” He sniffed and wiped his nose on his gold-threaded sleeve. “What if they find out who I really am?”
“I’ve been thinking about telling them, but let me make that decision.” Sage stepped back and straightened his jacket, forcing him to look her in the eye. “As for not letting us leave, we’ll deal with that when it happens. I’ll get us home. Just trust me.”
78
BESIDES THE KING and Princess Lani, two council members were present at dinner. They sat on either side of Banneth, discussing matters of state. Sage was across from Nicholas, who had apparently recovered his appetite, and next to the minister of war, a pompous, piggy-eyed man who reminded Sage of her uncle William—with less bathing.
Lani sat at the opposite end of the table from Banneth, now wearing a necklace that complemented the golden glow of her skin and sparkled with rubies as red as her painted lips. From the way her eyes rested on everything in the room except the minster of finance, Sage suspected most of Lani’s appearance was aimed at him. Not that Sage could blame her. Though he was probably twice Lani’s age, he was fit and handsome, with graying hair that gave him an air of wisdom and gravity. Definitely preferable to the man next to Sage, who kept looking at her and sniffing like there was something rotten in her dress.
As neither minister had shared water with Sage or Nicholas, however, Lani was left to entertain them. Sage had to remind herself the Casmuni were actually being polite by ignoring her, but at one point she said something to Lani about how odd it felt. “I can see what you mean,” said Lani. “But the whole council will share water with you when you are presented to them.”
Sage glanced nervously at Nicholas. “When will that be?”
“The day after tomorrow,” replied Banneth from the head of the table. The two ministers sat back a little to stay out of the conversation. “Tomorrow Lani will take you into the city to find some clothes. Darit will take Nikkolaz.”
Sage didn’t like the idea of separating from Nicholas, but if she trusted anyone, it was Darit.
“Of course,” said Lani brightly. “We will go right after the council meeting.” She turned to Sage. “Tomorrow morning the council meets to go over all Banneth has missed.”
Banneth cleared his throat. “I meant you should do this instead of attending the council.”
Lani froze, her eyes darting to the minister of finance. “I have presided over all the sessions in your absence. I should be there.”
“Our guests should be properly outfitted, and Minister Sinda and I have just discussed funds for it. You love shopping. Go.” Banneth waved his hand dismissively. “It will only be mundane updates and audits.”
“That is exactly why I should be there,” Lani insisted. “What if something is missed?”
Sage leaned back in her seat, feeling awkward. This was the second time the pair had almost argued in her presence.
The finance minister spoke up. “I can personally assure Palachessa that nothing shall be omitted.”
Lani met his eyes, and many unspoken words passed between them. Apparently, the attraction wasn’t entirely one-sided. Then the princess tossed her head. “It seems I am not wanted,” she said, going back to her food. “Just remember who gave me permission to spend tax money on clothes.”
The ministers sat forward again and resumed their conversation with the king, but Sage now had better reasons to study the man on Banneth’s right. By the time the dessert of zara fruit in cream and cinnamon was served, Sage was certain Lani and Minister Sinda had shared more than water.