Read The Diplomat for Free Online

Cedrin drew himself upright. “Only they can be so cold-hearted.”
    It was too tragic a remark even to provoke laughter. “Yes, we are a cruel sex. Always waging wars, pillaging cities and raping defenseless men.”
    Cedrin groaned and pushed at the flesh of his forehead. “You sound overmuch like my daughter. The last thing I need is two unruly women at court.”
    “Remember what I said about insulting the diplomat.”
    They stared at each other. “Very well,” he said, with strained cordiality. “But we need to discuss the specifics of this aid. I need to know how much and how many. Where and when.”
    “I have all the information you need.”
    “Fine. I’ll need to talk to my boy too. He’ll be back in a few days. He was very excited at the prospect of meeting an imperial ambassador. I suspect he’ll be in for an unhappy surprise.”
    “I’ll be sure to apologize for being so inappropriately female.”
    “Don’t lay the fault on me, diplomat. You’ll dine tonight with my wife and me. The table is being laid even as we speak. Go now and find Yorin, wherever he’s hiding, and get him to escort you there.” Cedrin exhaled a long, rattling breath. “I politely dismiss you.”
    “It has been a pleasure and an honor.” Rema bowed with exaggerated reverence, turned her back on the throne and walked to the door. The guards stared at her as she passed by, and she resisted the impulse to thumb her nose at them. There was nothing like a royal audience to put her in a rebellious mood.
    Yorin was waiting in the corridor, his forehead rumpled. “Poor Yorin,” said Rema. “You’re going to fret yourself into the grave.”
    “At least that’d give me the opportunity to rest. Did His Majesty agree?”
    “He hoped to bluff and found himself up against a woman immune to bluffing. He still wants to talk war first, however. It seems to me he’s stalling.”
    “Never mind that.” Yorin worked his eyebrows in what seemed to be encouragement. “You’ve accomplished more than you know. The Queen had ordered him to reject you outright unless you agreed to let Elise stay. By reneging on his promise to her, he’s as good as conceded.”
    “Ah. Dinner will be tense, then.”
    “With those two, it very often is. Consider it a test of your diplomacy.”
    “If they dine alone, where do the others eat?”
    “Elise and Loric always dine together, usually in her tower. I eat with the servants.”
    Rema considered Yorin’s tattered robe and gaunt features. Did his exhaustive service come with any compensation at all? “I’ve visited palaces where stewards feast beside their monarchs. Perhaps it’s time to consider a change of courts. I can put in a good word for you.”
    “It’s by choice. I can’t stand their bickering.” Yorin’s eyebrows performed another inscrutable motion. “Anyway, I’ve no time to keep up with your endless chatter. You know the way to the kitchen already. Take the door on the left just before you reach the archway. That’s where they dine, and the Queen should already be there.”
    Rema wished him a good night before wandering back into the increasingly familiar palace. With the arrival of evening, more servants had emerged into the corridors, cleaning the floors, replacing torches and dragging linen about in overstuffed baskets.
    As she neared the kitchen, she came across a woman shaking out a tapestry. “Good evening, my lady,” the servant said. “Won’t you pause to kiss my hand as well?”
    “Only your hand?” said Rema, and the woman reddened and returned to beating her tapestry, a thoughtful smile curling her lips. Rema continued on her way, her mood lifted by the exchange. No matter where she stood upon the world, one thing had always proven true: women blushed in her presence as their knees failed them. There was some solace in that. Of course, she needed to ensure her talent didn’t get her into any trouble, given the presence of the alluring Elise.
    Rema reached the