Perhaps they would gladly change places with me if they knew—charged with protecting an ogre, deducing and inducing for a dragon, soon to mansion for an entire court.
The roses they’d brought out could mean only Beauty and the Beast. The minstrel had sung about a giant; the mansioners were going to enact the story of a monstrous beast.
What would happen if Count Jonty Um’s forbearance snapped?
Nesspa lifted a paw onto his master’s knee. I knew what the gesture meant, and so did His Lordship, who stood. If he left, I would have to accompany him.
“Jonty Um, don’t go. Can’t you send someone? Ehlodie?” The princess turned my way. “You don’t mind?”
His Lordship looked at me uncertainly.
I couldn’t go. My masteress said I mustn’t let him out of my sight. Yet how could I refuse?
“La! I forgot! Ehlodie is going to entertain us, but you mustn’t leave either, Jonty Um. Your guests will be offended, and you want to see Ehlodie.”
Sir Misyur beckoned a manservant, who hurried to the dais. Thank you, Princess!
Count Jonty Um mussed the fur on Nesspa’s head and told the servant, “Don’t let his chain go.” He bent over and put his face close to Nesspa’s. “Come back to me.”
Tail wagging, Nesspa accompanied the servant out of the hall. Other servants took away empty dishes and platters.
Sir Misyur nodded to me.
I am a mansioner, I thought. Toads and Diamonds. Two sisters, one cruel and ugly, one kind and pretty. I am one. I am the other.
I left the dais and stood in front of Master Sulow’s scenery. Be with me, Albin, I prayed. Let His Lordship not regret his kindness.
On shaky legs I curtsied first to the king and then to everyone else. Forgetting to keep the count in sight, I turned my back. Ah. A rose would help me begin. I placed myself so everyone could see me snap one off and pop it in my mouth. Pui! It tasted bitter. I faced forward.
Princess Renn understood instantly and ruined the surprise for everyone else. “Look, Jonty Um! The flower will fall out when she speaks.”
But His Lordship’s eyes were on the door Nesspa had left by.
Portraying the kind, pretty sister, I fluttered my eyelashes. In a honeyed voice I said, “Dear . . .” I made an O with my mouth, revealing the rose on my tongue.
Light laughter rippled through the hall. I removed the rose, dug a shallow hole in the floor, and planted it, as if the flower, though lacking roots and most of its stem, might grow again.
The laughter deepened. As I stood, I checked His Lordship, who still gazed at the door. Master Thiel laughed. Goodwife Celeste nodded and laughed.
I leaped sideways, turned my cap backward, and screwed my face into a grimace, transforming myself into the selfish sister. My mouth opened as wide as it could. I imagined a Lahnt moonsnake slithering out. Although I tried to say sister, my mouth couldn’t close for the s or t. “Ih—” I placed my hands to catch the snake.
The king shouted, “Ha! She’s funny.”
The laughter rose again. Then it trailed off, and the room fell silent.
A cat hissed. A dog barked. My eyes followed the bark to one of the fireplace dogs, who barked again, without rising from where it sat. I turned to the dais. Nesspa had not returned, and led by Pardine, every cat in the hall was stalking the ogre.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Shoo, cats!” Princess Renn cried.
Master Thiel shouted, “Pardine! Come to me!”
Yelling and waving my arms, I ran at the cats, but they ignored me. I scooped up two. One squirmed free. The one I still held spit and tried to scratch.
His Lordship hugged himself, as if he were cold, or for protection. His face looked mottled again. His nostrils flared, and his eyes widened pleadingly.
The guests and servants were motionless, too shocked or fascinated to move.
The count’s arms went up. I’d seen this before. His mouth opened wide, and he began to tremble.
Princess Renn shrieked. Pardine leaped onto the table and crouched, poised to pounce.
I rushed to the dais, tripping over a table leg and hurtling on. When I reached the ogre, I threw the cat I held to Sir Misyur. My arms grasped the ogre’s quaking body but couldn’t hang on. He was too big and shaking too hard.
“Stop, cats!” I shouted. “Stop, Your Lordship! Stop! Stop!”
The count’s features coarsened. His hair grew and thickened. He bent over at the waist as his torso lengthened.
I backed away. Everyone did. I heard screams.
His shoulders broadened, first straining his tunic, then bursting it. I smelled musk. His gold chain snapped with a ping. The pendant thudded onto the floor.
The cats froze. Pardine yowled from his place on the table.
His Lordship’s front legs—no longer arms!—overturned the tabletop. Bowls and glasses slid off and smashed when the wood came down on them. Guests on the dais jumped off. I jumped, too. The princess held her father’s hand and pulled him away.
He shouted, “There’s peacock left. Ogre, eat peacock!”