Linnet had braided Keri’s hair and coiled up the braids and tucked in combs and arranged for a few artfully chosen coppery wisps to curl down along her cheek, and the end result, which Keri could never have achieved on her own, managed to look extremely sophisticated without seeming affected. The hair and the gown also made Keri look about five years older. Keri stared at her reflection in the tall mirror Linnet held up and was astonished at how unlike herself she looked, and how well she matched her own idea of how the Lady of Nimmira
ought
to look.
Keri gathered that the task of doing over her father’s red apartment had also been given to Linnet, who was no older than Keri herself but evidently possessed an eye for choosing and arranging colors and textures and shapes. Wherever the new pieces had been found, and despite their disparate woods and fabrics, they all worked together to create a harmonious new apartment in shades of brown and bronze, gold and warm apricot. Keri didn’t like to look at Linnet or think about what the girl might have been to her father, but the apartment was…nice. The kind of place she might eventually get used to. Nothing at all like a place her father might have lived.
On that thought, Mem came in. She gave Keri so stern a look that Keri had to wonder just what dangerous truths the woman might have guessed. But she said only, “I trust you are ready, Lady? It’s nearly noon. You should go down.”
Keri nodded. She hoped her face showed nothing of the coldness or fear that gripped her. She asked, “Is everyone else already there?” Although she thought her voice sounded steady enough, it was hard to tell.
But Mem did not seem to hear anything amiss. She answered, still stern, “Of course. Everyone is gathered and waiting. It would hardly be fitting for you to wait for them. But you must not be late.” Then she gave Linnet a sharp look. “Do leave off that fussing, girl. The Lady’s hair is perfect.”
Linnet, who had not been doing anything wrong, backed away with an apologetic bob. Keri looked at Mem and wondered just how stern the woman might be, or whether Mem simply did not like Linnet. She was unsure what she should say, or if she should say anything, so she said only, “I’m ready, then. I know where to go, but you can walk with me and tell me what else I should know.”
Mem did not smile, but her mouth tucked a little at the corners. Keri wished she knew whether that was a sign of good temper or bad. She wished she knew Mem better, knew all the staff that belonged to this House, knew all the customs and manners a Lady ought to know. But time had run out. There was no more time for wishes.
—
The investure and ascension took place exactly at noon, three days after Keri had first stepped through the door of the House. So long a delay was not customary, but it was not actually improper, and the extra day had been necessary in order to wait for the arrival of Brann and Cort with the Wyvern sorcerer. It gave the townsfolk of Glassforge and all the people from the surrounding farms time to hear about the opening of the boundary and the invitation the new Lady had sent to the people of the lands Outside. It also gave Keri long enough to really worry about what all her people thought of this, and about what might happen if her own people or the foreigners found out the truth.
The ascension itself took place out in front of the House, at the top of the stairs, so that everyone in the square had a good view and everyone who lined the windows and balconies and rooftops of the surrounding buildings had an excellent view. The crowd had been gathering all morning while the narrow-winged swifts flicked past and around and down and up again above their heads. Keri would not have been surprised to learn that every single person in Glassforge had been jostling since the previous day for a place in or near the square.
Keri was going to have to step out there in front of all those
ought
to look.
Keri gathered that the task of doing over her father’s red apartment had also been given to Linnet, who was no older than Keri herself but evidently possessed an eye for choosing and arranging colors and textures and shapes. Wherever the new pieces had been found, and despite their disparate woods and fabrics, they all worked together to create a harmonious new apartment in shades of brown and bronze, gold and warm apricot. Keri didn’t like to look at Linnet or think about what the girl might have been to her father, but the apartment was…nice. The kind of place she might eventually get used to. Nothing at all like a place her father might have lived.
On that thought, Mem came in. She gave Keri so stern a look that Keri had to wonder just what dangerous truths the woman might have guessed. But she said only, “I trust you are ready, Lady? It’s nearly noon. You should go down.”
Keri nodded. She hoped her face showed nothing of the coldness or fear that gripped her. She asked, “Is everyone else already there?” Although she thought her voice sounded steady enough, it was hard to tell.
But Mem did not seem to hear anything amiss. She answered, still stern, “Of course. Everyone is gathered and waiting. It would hardly be fitting for you to wait for them. But you must not be late.” Then she gave Linnet a sharp look. “Do leave off that fussing, girl. The Lady’s hair is perfect.”
Linnet, who had not been doing anything wrong, backed away with an apologetic bob. Keri looked at Mem and wondered just how stern the woman might be, or whether Mem simply did not like Linnet. She was unsure what she should say, or if she should say anything, so she said only, “I’m ready, then. I know where to go, but you can walk with me and tell me what else I should know.”
Mem did not smile, but her mouth tucked a little at the corners. Keri wished she knew whether that was a sign of good temper or bad. She wished she knew Mem better, knew all the staff that belonged to this House, knew all the customs and manners a Lady ought to know. But time had run out. There was no more time for wishes.
—
The investure and ascension took place exactly at noon, three days after Keri had first stepped through the door of the House. So long a delay was not customary, but it was not actually improper, and the extra day had been necessary in order to wait for the arrival of Brann and Cort with the Wyvern sorcerer. It gave the townsfolk of Glassforge and all the people from the surrounding farms time to hear about the opening of the boundary and the invitation the new Lady had sent to the people of the lands Outside. It also gave Keri long enough to really worry about what all her people thought of this, and about what might happen if her own people or the foreigners found out the truth.
The ascension itself took place out in front of the House, at the top of the stairs, so that everyone in the square had a good view and everyone who lined the windows and balconies and rooftops of the surrounding buildings had an excellent view. The crowd had been gathering all morning while the narrow-winged swifts flicked past and around and down and up again above their heads. Keri would not have been surprised to learn that every single person in Glassforge had been jostling since the previous day for a place in or near the square.
Keri was going to have to step out there in front of all those
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