Chapter 5

The pants were a little tight in the crotch. Someone somewhere had figured out that leaving North to his own devices was a bad idea when the issue was clothes. In truth, he came from a peasant village and the best outfit he ever owned was his army uniform. When he finally landed at the Cat’s Whisker, he learned about a workman’s better apparel. Moreover, he learned to avoid anything that smacked of monied men or nobility, especially flashy clothes. Except for underwear: he loved the underwear he found at the market local to the tavern.

He adjusted the pants, only to have the stiff collar of the jacket poke him in the throat. The queen had said the evening was a common meal, and North had thought that meant wearing common clothes such as the decent wear of a tavern man. No.

Members of the Queen’s designated entourage were expected to dress according to their station and for the event at hand. North looked down at the sleeves that came below his wrist, wondering how he would be able to use his fingers to eat without staining the cuffs. He had been warned specifically not to stain the cuffs, that such a faux pas would be harshly judged in the Court.

As he was contemplating the list of possible regrets he had for agreeing to come to the Court of the Crimson King, there was a knock at his open door. The Court Jester, dressed in his standard yellow outfit, offered his unique short bow, complete with the sliding hand gesture, and asked to enter. Never having met a jester, although the suit was clear statement that he was, North gave a similar bow with open arms, and welcomed the man to his room.

“The Yellow Jester,” the man announced.

“North.”

“No, no,” Claudio said with a serious weaving of his index finger, “you’re supposed to say, ‘the Jack of Spades, O Jester.’”

“Well, the Jack of Spades is feeling a bit out of his element at this juncture, Jester. What good will brings you here?”

The man took a seat. “An intuition that you may be drowning in the ocean that is the Court of the Crimson King. Our queen threw you in the deep end with no warning or preparation. The sun is setting, and you are preparing for your first courtly meal in borrowed clothes and no idea of what passes at these evening repasts.”

“I was warned not to embarrass the queen, if that helps,” North said.

“Ew, a fool definitely gave you the wrong advice,” the jester said. “Please ignore that generic pablum. On the contrary, someone is going to sorely test you tonight, hoping that you will embarrass yourself. There are many who don’t want you here, and don’t like what you represent.”

North grunted. “What do I represent?”

“The ascendancy of a new power structure within the Court and diminution of the old powers,” he said.

North took a moment to digest that nugget of information. “Those who acted cowardly when the Adrianna Victorious rode into battle, I presume. I met some of their worm rot children today.”

The jester twirled one of the tassels on his hat. “Yes, your demonstration and ordered expulsion made the rounds quickly, I must say. No one shall ever accuse you of hesitating before striking. I can only imagine the father will make a grand gesture tonight. I relish the excitement.”

“Any words of advice, Jester?”

“If you draw your sword tonight, Jack of Spades, then you are already committed to using it.”

North chuckled. “Your words sound ominous, which is good. Much of what I saw today disturbed me greatly. I’m told I’m a disciple of Lord Aegis of blessed memory. Surely, he felt many of the disappointments I am experiencing.”

“You are claiming the mantle of Lord Aegis? My, events will be ever more exciting here after the queen’s long mourning period. If you are in the rank of Aegis, you are more than a sword, you have access to the Power and the experience in its use. Aegis was a great teacher in many disciplines.” The man’s face turned into a frown. “Aegis taught me much before the war as I began my tenure. I would like to think I was a student of his as well, though unpowered. My name is Claudio.”

“My name is North. Well met, Yellow Jester. May I encourage you to wipe the frown from your face. Lord Aegis didn’t tolerate moaning and mordant remembrance after battle. We cried over our fallen comrades to be sure, but we also marked their strengths and deeds. ‘Remember why we fight, not consequences of it’ he would say at the graveside. You have already put me in a better mood. Tell me, when the rat pops its head up and squeaks, should I use my sword or my Power?”

The jester made a grand gesture with his right arm. “If you are asking a jester, we always go for the best drama, the one that has the audience jumping out of seats and grasping their bellies to encourage their merriment. Shock them. Keep them laughing, especially when what you mean to say is not a laughing matter.”

“I’m entirely too serious,” North concluded. The two men spoke of inconsequential things until both became aware that time would soon be pressing. With a quick look in both directions, the Yellow Jester slipped into the hallway, disappearing from North’s view. North leaned back with his eyes examining the ceiling, collecting his focus and centering himself in the moment. As he rose, he realized he was prepared. He had more reasons for which to thank the jester than he had recognized only moments ago. “He’s good.”

During his circumnavigation of the buildings and grounds with a tailor and his tailor minions and a docent, North received a good introduction to the grounds and what to expect in any of the twelve buildings that made up the complex. The Queen’s Tower, the palace in peasant parlance, was the most complex and the most secure. The main kitchen and the feasting hall were in a separate building that the royal residence denizens could access by a covered walkway with half-walls.

As he crossed the walkway, he saw there was a crowd waiting in the entrance room to the feasting hall. The room was only for the Queen’s personal staff and favorites; another entrance on the other side of the building was open for the rest of the people. Swallowing his momentary apprehension, he stepped into the room. He was confronted with swirls of colored fabrics and hazy clouds of perfume.