Ascension: The Affiliate Part 9

"We'll get right down to business then, yes? I'm sure you are aware of much of what I am about to tell you, what with your family's impeccable First Cla.s.s background, but procedures must be followed."

"Of course."

"I'll start at the beginning." She cleared her voice. "Congratulations on being selected into the First Cla.s.s and having the luxury of being appointed to Her Royal Highness, Queen Kaliana, as a Queen's Affiliate."

With a quirk of her mouth, Catalin said, "As you know, Viktor Dremylon set in place a new government with three Cla.s.ses to allow the people a chance to have better lives. With the new system, Viktor Dremylon put in place the High Order and Affiliate program to bring the best and the brightest together. You have been admitted into this prestigious role."

Catalin continued, "We expect you to begin your educational regimen on your first day. You answer to Queen Kaliana and offer a.s.sistance for any requests she might have. Your unhesitating acceptance is required. Her Majesty always has a larger picture in mind than you might be aware of. Do you have any questions?"

Cyrene hesitated. "Yes, Affiliate Catalin. What of Consort Daufina? I realize you did not mention her."

She couldn't think it was an accident that Catalin had left off information about the Consort. Cyrene knew from her lessons that Affiliates were expected to have the same deference to the consort as to the queen. In nearly every right, except for blood, the consort was royalty.

Catalin's sneer confirmed Cyrene's beliefs. "You are not bound to the Consort. You'll do well to remember that you work for the Queen, first and foremost. Upon request, the Consort can work with you if you are not already busy with the Queen's orders."

It simply didn't work that way. Cyrene knew it, and this woman knew it.

Either way, Cyrene smiled sweetly as if she did not know that Catalin had blatantly lied about the mechanics of the business.

"As I was saying, you have obligations as an Affiliate, other than your education. The King has plans to travel on procession to Albion, and you will likely be asked to accompany the court on the expedition. Additional duties might arise throughout your time as an Affiliate, and as always, you are expected to accept these responsibilities with grace and goodwill. Are there any further questions?"

Cyrene opened her mouth to tell Catalin that she understood her responsibilities when a figure burst into the room.

"Affiliate Catalin!"

"Jardana!" Catalin rushed to her feet and glared at the girl.

Cyrene craned her neck around to take a look. The girl was dreadfully thin with honey-blonde hair pulled high off of her face, similar to the Queen's fashion.

"There's been an attack!" Jardana cried dramatically.

"An attack?"

"King Edric sent me directly for Prince Kael."

"Slow down, child. What has happened?"

Jardana bristled at the use of the word child. "High Order Zorian was found dead this morning. His face..." She swallowed hard. "His face had been ripped off."

Cyrene paled. A death of a member of the High Order had occurred in the castle? That was unheard of. And why does that name sound familiar?

"Not Zorian," Catalin said, tightly clutching the desk. "He just returned from Carhara."

By the Creator!

That was the man who Reeve had wanted to introduce her to last night at her Presenting. His friends had joked about Zorian engaging with Carharan women, but he had been...killed.

"Follow me. I must tell the Queen at once," Catalin said.

The group exited Catalin's office and went back into the round common room that was still bustling with Affiliates. They stopped in front of a pair of double doors worked with the Queen's intricate climbing vines. Catalin entered without waiting for an invitation. Cyrene and Jardana swept in after her.

Propriety still in order for the DIA when addressing the Queen, Catalin fell into a deep curtsy. Cyrene's blue eyes raked the room as she also curtsied before Queen Kaliana, next to Jardana. When Cyrene met Prince Kael's smug look from his seated position before the Queen, she stared icily back.

"What in the Creator's name do you think you are doing, barging in like this, Catalin?" the Queen demanded.

"My apologies, Your Highness," Catalin said, hastening to stand.

"Well, explain yourself!"

"Your Highness, Affiliate Jardana has arrived with some most troubling news this morning," Catalin began.

"May we speak about this after my new Affiliate appointment, Catalin?" Queen Kaliana snapped. She lounged back in her chair inlaid with gold and clasped her narrow long fingers together in her lap. She was swathed in the finest gold silk, her long-sleeved dress fitting tightly across her chest, and tied around her neck was a faintly shimmery gold lace ribbon.

"But it comes directly from King Edric," Jardana cut in.

Queen Kaliana set her cold and calculating blue eyes on Jardana, who kept her back ramrod straight. The Queen's blonde hair was pulled sharply off of her face, which only gave her a more severe appearance. This was not a woman to be underestimated.

"Please remember whom you are speaking with, Affiliate."

Jardana nodded her head. "Your Highness."

"Now, be quick with this matter, Catalin. I have business to attend to, and I'm in no mood this morning."

"High Order Zorian was found dead this morning, Your Majesty."

Queen Kaliana breathed in sharply. Cyrene watched Prince Kael's lips thin, and then she quickly diverted her attention.

"Affiliate Jardana was sent here from King Edric for his brother, Prince Kael," Catalin added.

"She was sent here for the Prince?" the Queen asked, her words as sharp as a razor blade.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Jardana whispered.

"Very well. He will leave at my discretion. In the meantime, Catalin, do hurry along to my Edric and let him know I will be there to deal with this as soon as I am finished with my new Affiliate."

"Yes, Your Highness." Catalin bobbed a curtsy and then rushed from the room.

"As for you, Jardana," the Queen began, "you will wait outside for Prince Kael."

"There's no need for Jardana to wait while we speak with the new Affiliate. I can find my way," Prince Kael said.

Jardana's jaw set at the dismissal. "Of course, Your Majesties."

She swept out of the room like a thundercloud, and the door slammed shut behind her. Cyrene had been standing back, observing them throughout the entire encounter. She was surprised to find that neither Prince Kael nor Queen Kaliana seemed to be in a rush to find out more about the dead man. In fact, Queen Kaliana seemed to be purposely stalling the Prince from leaving.

"Affiliate Cyrene," Queen Kaliana said.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," she murmured with an uneasy smile.

"Indeed." Queen Kaliana contemplatively turned her attention to Prince Kael.

"You slept well, I hope," Prince Kael said. A sly smile played on his lips.

"Quite well in fact. Nice and warm." She clenched her hurt hands at her sides. "Thank you for asking."

Prince Kael's smile widened.

Queen Kaliana suspiciously eyed them. "Prince Kael was just telling me how kind he was to direct you back to your chambers last night. I'm not certain how you'd missed the information to get there on your own, but you're here now, so you must have received the instructions I sent to your rooms this morning."

Cyrene maintained her outward calm, but all the while, she was seething on the inside. The woman had sent no such instructions last night, and she had not done so this morning either. She wondered if Queen Kaliana was the reason for the vile warrior ceremony in the first place.

But Cyrene needed to play along. There was surely some reason for all of this.

"Yes, they were most helpful, My Queen."

Cyrene would have to find proper directions on her own. She would not be caught unaware again.

"We're very glad you arrived in time," Prince Kael said.

"Kael," the Queen snapped. "I believe you have other matters to attend to. Did we not just receive news that a High Order was killed?"

Prince Kael slowly dragged his gaze away from Cyrene. "Of course, Your Royal Highness. I was waiting for your leave."

"You have it. Tell my husband that I will be there to help in any way I can."

"As you wish. I do hope you save me the pleasure of your delightful company another time."

The Queen's stare never wavered, even as his tone openly mocked her in front of a new Affiliate, one of her own. Cyrene could tell she would have flailed him alive if he had been anyone but royalty.

"Thank you, Kael. You may go."

Prince Kael rose smoothly from the chair, stretching out his lean-muscled body. He swept the Queen a deep bow, and then he managed one only a bit less regal for Cyrene but with an even bigger smile.

Courtier indeed! She wished he hadn't bowed so low even if the gesture did honor her.

The Queen would surely see it as a slight against her from Prince Kael.

As he walked toward the exit, he stopped right before Cyrene and directly looked her in the eyes. "I would be careful about leaving the grounds, Affiliate. We don't know what's out there. You should keep yourself safe."

Cyrene's eyebrows rose. Is the Prince worried about me? She had a hard time reconciling this with the man who had been in her room only last night.

He smirked once more, and her eyes followed him as he barged out of the room, letting the door slam behind him. Cyrene didn't know what to make of him. He was a bit of an enigma.

"What an animal," Queen Kaliana mumbled. "Always carrying on and slamming doors. You would never guess he was related to my Edric."

Cyrene didn't know what to say, so she focused on the room instead. It was nearly twice as large as the foyer outside the chamber and similarly round with two concealed doors on either side of the room. Several hundred-year-old tapestries hung without a day of fading or wear. One showed dancing, another revealed a circle of multicolored mushrooms, and a few appeared to depict an enchanted forest habitat alight with activity. Large colored gla.s.s...o...b.. hung from the ceiling and cast a rainbow across the room that was brightly lit from an overhead sunroof. The effect was dazzling.

"Well, let's make this quick. As you can see, my day is full of important matters." Queen Kaliana reflexively brushed a piece of hair off her face. "Sit, Cyrene. We need to come to a decision."

Cyrene sat gracefully in the chair Prince Kael had vacated.

"I've been reviewing your file to make a decision about your educational regimen. It seems you have excelled in nearly all your subjects, and you have received positive marks from your tutor. But where to put you?" She slapped her hands down on the table, spreading her fingers wide, and then she rose before positioning herself in front of her desk.

After a couple of minutes of silence, the Queen said, "As you know, an Affiliate's educational regimen is the most important aspect of your First Cla.s.s life. You will become an expert in whatever is decided, and you will make a great contribution to Byern. As your Receiver, it is my job to find a proper placement for your career...somewhere you will flourish." She gave a wry smile. "Lucky for you, my husband spoke to me about you this morning."

"He did?" Cyrene gasped out. Her mouth popped open, and her blue eyes grew wide. Why did the King speak on my behalf?

"Indeed he did," Queen Kaliana said. "You act surprised."

"I beg your pardon, Queen Kaliana, but it is not an act. I have no idea why King Edric would have spoken of me or about me."

"While I'm sure that is true," the Queen said as if she believed no such thing, "he still spoke to me about his opinion regarding your Affiliate duties. He mentioned that you have quite an affinity for the weather, even suggesting heretical things such as predicting it."

Cyrene's face blanched. Oh no!

"You don't deny it?"

"No, Your Majesty," Cyrene began carefully. "I did mention that to the King, but it was in jest."

"That would be a useful quality."

Only If I want to be burned for witchcraft or cast out for madness...

The Queen stalked over to a gorgeous standing cabinet. The top half was lined with shelves and covered in gla.s.s to protect the priceless artifacts within. The bottom half was covered with solid wooden doors and round doork.n.o.bs protruding from each one.

Queen Kaliana opened one door to reveal a stack of papers over a foot tall. She eased the loose papers out of the cabinet and heaved them across the room. She quivered under the weight of the doc.u.ments.

Cyrene jumped to her feet. "Do you need a.s.sistance, My Queen?"

"Sit," she barked.

Cyrene nearly fell back into the chair. The Queen slammed the papers onto a blank s.p.a.ce on her desk with a sigh of relief. The papers were black around some of the edges, and other pieces looked like sc.r.a.ps.

Queen Kaliana stared into Cyrene's blue eyes, searching.

For what, Cyrene had no idea. She wished Rhea were here for strength or to help her determine what was about to happen.

"I've taken my husband's wishes into consideration," she began.

Cyrene felt like sinking into the seat.

"Additionally, after looking at the various positions that have recently opened up, I have come to a decision."

The weight of the Oath of Acceptance Cyrene had taken only yesterday morning was already weighing heavily on her shoulders.

"One of the most trusted and oldest living Affiliates among us, Affiliate Lorne sadly pa.s.sed away. She had been working in her field for more than seventy years. Unfortunately, Lorne's house was burned to the ground before we could retrieve her life's work from her residence. This stack here"-Queen Kaliana placed her hand on the enormous pile of papers-"is one of four that we were able to recover before the fire consumed everything. You are to read through everything Affiliate Lorne left behind and write a detailed report on her discoveries...if any."

"What was her life work on?" Cyrene asked warily.