He stopped as well. “Hello, I'm Daglor Auilos, Head Archivist. Welcome to the Royal Palace.”
“Auilos.” I nodded, recognizing the clan as Knots—made up of scribes, contract lawyers, and archivists. “I'm Sevarin Beckhur, Master Alchemist.”
“Yes, I know.” He lifted his chin to indicate that we should continue walking. “It's nice to meet you, Master Sevarin. This way to breakfast.”
“Ah, you overheard that?”
“Yes, and pay Vanre no mind. He's a borrowed-tail and half-mixed as well.”
I chuckled. Borrowed-tail and half-mixed were both insults; the former was used to describe a person full of pride for no reason, and the latter was a term for incompetence. “How did he get hired as the Court Alchemist?”
“First, he's nottheCourt Alchemist. He'sacourt alchemist. He's here because his uncle is the Head Alchemist. Vanre thinks the position will be his one day, but all of that is looking uncertain now that the rot has come, and none of them have been able to cure it.”
“I see.” I followed Daglor into a vast hall full of long wooden tables covered in blue linen.
A central aisle between tables led to the King's table, perched atop a dais at the end of the hall. It was empty, and I assumed the King was still asleep. Or perhaps he had an early start and had already eaten. Thinking back to our vigorous sex, I decided it was the former, and that brought a smile to my face. Just in time too.
Daglor had led me to a table full of Volpers, and I held my smile as I took a seat at the end, across from Daglor. As Daglor introduced me, servants brought us plates of food and mugs of water. I requested coffee, and servants brought me a mug of it as well as a pot of sugar and a small jug of cream. The Volpers lifted their brows at my choice of drink.
“I've traveled extensively.” I added sugar and cream to my coffee and took a sip. “When I was in Zaru, I developed a taste for the beverage. They make it darker there, but I enjoy how the brew differs from region to region.”
“Interesting,” Lella, the only female Volper at the table, said. “Did you study while abroad, Master Sevarin?”
“Yes. After my grandfather taught me all that he could, I left Sconheit and traveled around Serai to learn from the greatest alchemists I could find.”
“And now you're home.” Daglor buttered a slice of warm bread. “How long have you been back?”
“I only just returned. I was in Tabaa, staying with the Dragon King, when King Falken summoned me to help with the Silver Rot.”
“You were with the Dragon King of Tabaa as his alchemist?” Zensar, a dark-haired Volper male from my clan, asked. He was much older than me and had left Tuva before I was born. So I didn't know him, but it was still nice to have a Beckhur at court.
“He hired me for a job and appreciated my work so much that he offered me a place in his court.”
“What job?” Daglor asked.
“It's a long story. I used alchemy to cure some Okon who were magically infected.
“Fascinating. What was the infection?”
Before I could answer, Lella looked up over my shoulder, and her eyes went wide. “Good morning, Your Majesty.” She shifted back to stand up.
I looked over my shoulder to find King Falken behind me.
“No, please.” The King waved her down. “I'm just here to claim my alchemist. I don't want to disturb the rest of you.”
“Claimme?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Youralchemist?”
I wasn't the only one unsettled by those possessive words. Every Volper at the table went still, staring at the King as if he'd just become a monstrous predator who could attack at any moment. In a way, he was.
King Falken cleared his throat. “I misspoke. What I was trying to say is that I'd like you to join me for breakfast, and when I called you my alchemist, I only meant that I hired you. I make no claim of ownership, Master Sevarin.”
“Ah.” I stood up, slid the handle of my satchel over my shoulder, and picked up my plate and mug. “Of course, Your Majesty. I would be honored to dine with you.” I nodded to the Volpers. “It was a pleasure to meet all of you. Perhaps I'll see you at the evening meal.”
They had relaxed with the King's explanation, and so they waved me off instead of defending me. Such defense wasn't rare but expected, even from newly met friends. Our people had learned to protect each other or lose ourselves completely. Even against Dragons.
Thankfully, it hadn't come to that. Instead, I walked beside King Falken to his table and took the six steps up the dining platform. Curtains trailed from an arch above and before the dais, pulled back by thick cords. It lent even more of a feel of separation. Glancing at the statues of boars standing behind the table to either side, I set my food and drink down. When the King set my mug of water beside my coffee, I flinched. I hadn't noticed him taking the mug for me. I hurried to sit down before he did something embarrassing like pulling out my chair for me.But then I saw his lifted eyebrow and realized that I should have waited for him to sit first.
I surged to my feet. “My apologies, Your Majesty. Although I lived in the Royal Palace of Tabaa, I rarely dined with the King and his mate.”
