“On one of her many evenings at court,” he went on, “my mother overheard the late queen speaking about the prophecy, and she knew then th—”
“A prophecy?” Alizeh frowned, cutting him off. “A prophecy about me, you mean?”
The young man went suddenly still. For a long moment he said nothing.
“Sir?” Alizeh prompted.
“You must accept my many apologies, Your Highness.” He sounded a bit worried now. “I did not realize you were unaware.”
Now Alizeh’s heart was pounding. “Unaware of what?”
“I fear I must again beg your forgiveness, for this story is a rather long one, and there is not enough time tonight to tellit. Once the matters of your safety are settled, I promise to explain everything in greater detail. But tonight I cannot be away for too long, or I will be missed.”
Again, the nosta burned hot.
“I see,” Alizeh breathed.
A prophecy.Had her parents known? Was this the real reason why she’d been hidden away? Why all who knew her had been murdered?
The young man went on: “Allow me to say now only that my mother was once, long ago, acquainted with your parents. She acted as their eyes from inside the palace walls, and would visit your home often, always with the updates she was able to glean from the court. Occasionally, she took me along. I cannot imagine you remember me, Your Majesty—”
“No,” she whispered, disbelief coloring her voice. “Can it be true? Is it possible you once taught me to play jacks?”
In response, the smiling young man reached into his pocket, and presented her with a single hazelnut.
A sudden, painful emotion seized her body then; a relief so large she could hardly fathom its dimensions.
She thought she might cry.
“I have been waiting close to the crown, as my mother once did, for any news of your discovery. When I learned of your existence I began at once to make arrangements for your safe transfer. I take it you’ve received your invitation to the ball tomorrow night?”
Alizeh was still stunned, for a moment, into silence. “The ball?” she said finally. “Did you— Was that—?”
The stranger shook his head. “The original thoughtbelonged to the child. I saw an opportunity and assisted. The context will help us.”
“I fear I’ve been rendered speechless,” she said softly. “I can only thank you, sir. I struggle now to think of anything else to say.”
And in a gesture of goodwill, she removed her snoda.
The young man started, stepped back. He stared at her with wide eyes, with something like apprehension. She watched him struggle to look at her without appearing to look at all, and the realization almost made her laugh.
She realized, too late, that she’d put him in an awkward position. Doubtless he thought she expected a review.
“I know my eyes make me hard to look at,” said Alizeh gently. “It’s the ice that does it, though I don’t entirely understand why. I believe my eyes are in fact brown, but I experience with some frequency a sharp pain in my head, a feeling like a sudden frost. It’s the onslaught of cold, I think, that kills their natural color. It’s the only explanation I have for their flickering state. I hope you will be able to overlook my strangeness.”
He studied her then as if he were trying to sear her image into his memory—and then looked sharply away, at the ground. “You do not look strange, Your Majesty.”
The nosta glowed warm.
Alizeh smiled, restored her snoda. “You say you are making arrangements for my safe transfer—what does that mean? Where do you mean to take me?”
“I’m afraid I cannot say. It is better, for now, that you know as little as possible, in the case that our plans go awryand you are apprehended.”
Again, the nosta glowed warm.
“Then how will I know to find you?”
“You will not. It is imperative that you arrive at the ball tomorrow night. Will you require assistance in accomplishing this?”
