Youre probably right, Tvril said, airily unconcerned. He crossed the room to my windows, gazing out at the view while I fussed with my unruly hair in a mirror. This was just nerves on my part; my hair never looked any better.

Dekarta doesnt waste his time with politics, Tvril continued. He considers the Central Family above such things. So naturally, any nobles with a cause tend to approach Relad or Scimina. And now you.

Lovely. I sighed, turning to him. I dont suppose theres any chance I might be disowned if I get myself involved in a scandal or two? Maybe then I could be banished to some backwater land up north.

More likely youd end up like my father, he said, shrugging. Thats the usual way the family deals with embarassments.

Oh. For a moment I felt uneasy for reminding him of tragedy, but then I realized he didnt care.

In any case, Dekarta seems determined to have you here. I imagine that if you cause enough trouble, hell simply have you trussed up and delivered to the succession ceremony at the appropriate time. Though for all I know, thats how the ceremony usually goes.

That surprised me. You dont know?

About the ceremony? Tvril shook his head. Only members of the Central Family are allowed to witness that. There hasnt been one for forty years, anyhownot since Dekartas ascension.

I see. I put aside this information to consider later. All right, then. At the Salon, are there any nobles I should beware of? He threw me a wry look, and I amended myself. Any in particular?

Youll learn that before I will, he said. I imagine both your allies and your enemies will introduce themelves rather quickly. In fact, I suspect everything will happen rather quickly, now. So, are you ready?

I was not. And I wanted badly to ask him about his last comment. Things would happen even more quickly than they had been? Was that possible?

But my questions would have to wait for later. Im ready.

So Tvril led me out of the apartment and through the white corridors. My apartment, like that of most fullbloods, was on the topmost floor of Skys main bulk, though I understood there were apartments and chambers within the spires as well. There was another, smaller Vertical Gate on this level, intended solely for fullblood use. Unlike the Gate in Skys forecourt, Tvril explained, this Gate had more than one terminus; it apparently went to a number of offices in the city below. That way the fullbloods could conduct family business without getting rained or snowed uponor without being seen in public, if they so wished.

No one else was about. Has my grandfather already gone down? I asked, stopping on the edge of the Gate. Like the main Gate and the palace lifts, it consisted of black tiles set into the floor in a mosaic that formed a gods sigil. This one resembled nothing so much as a huge spiderwebbed crack in the floor: an uncomfortably suggestive similarity that made me look away more quickly than usual.

Probably, Tvril said. He likes to be early. Now, Lady Yeine, remember: at the Consortium you must not speak. The Arameri merely advise the nobles, and only Dekarta has the right to address them. He doesnt do it often. Dont even speak to him while youre there. Your task is simply to observe and be observed.

And introduced?

Formally? No, that will happen later. But theyll notice you, never fear. Dekarta wont need to say a word.

And with that, he nodded, and I stepped onto the mosaic.

One blurring, terrifying transition later, I found myself in a lovely marble room, standing atop a mosaic of inlaid blackwood. Three Consortium aidesnot so junior this time, or so surprisedstood waiting to greet and escort me. I followed them through a shadowed corridor and up a carpeted ramp to find myself in the Arameri private box.

Dekarta sat in his customary place; he did not turn as I arrived. Scimina sat on his right side. She glanced around and smiled at me. I managed not to stop and glare, though it took a powerful effort on my part. But I was very aware of the gathering nobles, who milled around the Salon floor as they waited for the Overseer to begin the session. I saw more than a few glances directed toward the private box; they were watching.

So I inclined my head to Scimina in greeting, though I could not bring myself to return her smile.

Two chairs stood unoccupied at Dekartas left. Assuming the nearer seat was for my yet-unseen cousin Relad, I moved to take the farther of the two. Then I caught Dekartas hand movement; he did not look at me, but he beckoned me closer. So I took the nearer seat insteadjust in time, as the Overseer called the meeting to order.

This time I paid more attention to what was going on. The meeting proceeded by region, beginning with the Senmite nations. Each region had its representativenobles appointed by the Consortium to speak for themselves and their neighboring lands. The fairness of this representation varied widely, however, and I could not make heads or tails of how it was organized. The city of Sky had its own representative, for example, yet all the High North continent had only two. The latter did not surprise meHigh North had never been highly regardedbut the former did, because no other single city had its own speaker. Sky wasnt that important.