Lorsa peered at me. “You didn’t think you were the only tailor called to His Majesty’s attention, did you?”
“O-of course not,” I stammered.
“Surely you did not presume His Majesty would employ a tailor without first testing him?”
I realized my mistake now. How naïve I was to think I’d been chosen—that it would be so effortless to save my family’s honor.
No, no. That wasn’t it at all.
I’d be competing for the position. These eleven other tailors—they were my rivals!
Finding my courage, I looked at them. Each was dressed in his finest. I saw splashes of jade and pearl, velvet coats, brocade scarves with silk tassels, and gold-studded belts…and I suddenly understood why they were staring at me. It wasn’t because of my limp, or that I was the youngest by far.
I was the most poorly dressed! The dye on my shirt was faded, the fabric worn, my pant cuffs rolled to my ankles—and my sleeves far too long.
What kind of tailor couldn’t even hem his own pants and make a shirt that fit?
My cheeks heated, and I bowed my head in shame, fiercely wishing I’d thought to alter Keton’s clothes in the carriage instead of knitting a silly sweater.
I set my basket and satchel on my table and began to unpack my supplies. The tailor across from me said to his neighbor, loudly enough for me to hear, “A hundred jens he’ll be the first one to go.”
A snicker. “Why would I betagainstthat?”
My face grew hotter, and I glared at them. Then, folding up my sleeves, I sat on my stool and faced Lorsa.
“Now that you twelve are finally assembled,” the minister announced, “we may begin the trial. Only A’landi’s very best tailor is invited to serve the imperial family. Master Huan held the position for thirty years, but his recent passing has left the position empty. His Imperial Majesty, in his infinite wisdom and glory, has invited tailors from across A’landi to compete for this high honor.
“Many of you have already served as court tailors, but the imperial tailor is among the most esteemed and privileged of His Majesty’s loyal servants. It is a position that is held for life and brings much prosperity to the one who is deserving.
“Of the tailors here today, only one will fill the vacancy in His Imperial Majesty’s staff and begin work for Lady Sarnai immediately.”
Lady Sarnai?That didn’t make any sense. “I thought the position was for His Majesty,” I muttered.
“I heard you utter something, Keton Tamarin,” Lorsa said, his beady eyes blinking at me.
I clamped my lips shut. For a dangerous moment, I’d forgotten to sound like my brother. Had Lorsa noticed?
“Speak up if you have something to say.”
“Um.” My mouth became suddenly dry. I cleared my throat and summoned my best deep, male voice. “I was under the impression, sir, that the position was for a tailor for Emperor Khanujin.”
“Your job is to please the emperor,” the eunuch corrected me. “And he wishes the new imperial tailor to furnish Lady Sarnai’s wardrobe.”
I dipped my head, but not before seeing the tailors in front of me exchange glances. “Understood, sir.”
My question had stirred unrest among the other tailors. Not everyone was comfortable with the idea of serving the shansen’s daughter, especially with the war having ended so recently.
Minister Lorsa went on: “Once the new imperial tailor has been selected, his first task will be to create Lady Sarnai’s wedding gown, so it is of utmost importance that your designs during the trial please Lady Sarnai as well as His Majesty.
“We shall begin with a simple task. As Lady Sarnai comes from the much colder North, she has few garments appropriate for the Summer Palace’s temperate weather. His Majesty wishes her to have a shawl appropriate for the evening’s gentle breezes.”
A shawl?How in the Nine Heavens was Lady Sarnai to determine a tailor’s skill by a shawl?
“You have each been allotted a bolt of white silk. You may cut your silk as you see fit. His Imperial Majesty’s seal has been printed on each corner of the swath; all four seals must be present in your design. Only the dyes, embroidery threads, and ribbons in the materials cabinets may be used for your design in this challenge. No tailor is permitted outside assistance. Have your pieces ready for inspection tomorrow morning.”
Tomorrow?I looked around and saw every tailor’s back stiffen. Clearly everyone was as shocked as I was, but no one dared say anything, so I kept quiet too.
“Lady Sarnai will arrive in the morning to determine the tailors invited to stay for the next round of the trial,” Lorsa continued. “Do not forget that the shansen’s is an inherited title, like the emperor’s, part of an unbroken bloodline of A’landi’s military leaders. Lady Sarnai will be addressed as Your Highness, is that understood?” The minister waited for us to murmur that it was. “Good. May the Sages inspire you to craft something worthy of her.”
