#Princess-Archdivine Llewen kin Stagthorne

[abigailspinach]

Penric's Fox

“She looked him over. “My, my, my.”

Three mys tonight, goodness. He usually rated only two. He wondered what he’d have to do to win four.

“My apologies, Archdivine, for waking you at this hour. It’s been a long day.”

“At my age, I’m never asleep at this hour.”

She made a dismissive gesture, charitably fending his apology.

Her secretary settled her in a cushioned chair, and her wave directed Pen to another. Fine blue-and-white silk stripes. He stared at it in dismay, considered his reek, and then settled himself cross-legged on the floor at her feet, instead. Her gray brows rose ironically as she looked down at him. “So, how was your day in the country this time?”

He was grateful for the practice he’d had recounting it already. He didn’t have to think as much. She pressed her fingers to her lips a few times, but did not interrupt him apart from a few shrewd, uncomfortably clarifying questions.

“I thought… I thought I might receive some spiritual guidance from Learned Hamo, as we both share the burden and gift of a demon, but it turned out to be more the other way around,” sighed Pen. “Though I don’t think he’s going to bolt off in the night to try to commit murder on Learned Magal’s behalf.”

“Was that a risk?” “Mm… not now.”

Her lips twitched. “Then your counsel must have been good enough.” He turned his hands out, smiling ruefully. He really wanted to lie across her silk-slippered feet like a tired dog.

“But who will counsel me?” “Your own Temple superior, of course. That’s her job.” “Ah.”

His head tipped over, and he found himself resting it upon her knee. Her beringed hand petted his hair. Dog indeed. “Anyone who wishes to question my court sorcerer on his actions today must go through me,” she stated. And good luck to them stood implied, he thought. Heartening, but… “So much for the realm, and the law. But what about my god? And my demon. My soul stands more naked in that court. Violence, it appears, grows easier with practice. Or so Halber demonstrates. I’ve seen it in the ruined mercenary soldiers come back to the cantons, too, sometimes. The pitfall of their trade. I don’t want it to become the pitfall of mine. And… and I see how it could. So very, very easily. Hamo was almost ready to slip tonight, and he’s had decades more experience than me.”

“And thus you seek my counsel?”

“Aye. Archdivine.”

Her slow strokes turned into more perfunctory pats, as she sat up and took thought, and then breath. “So. My counsel to you tonight—as your Temple superior, my oh-so-learned divine and demon-burdened boy—is to go downstairs to the guesthouse bathing chamber, wake the attendant, get a bath—wash your hair”—her fingers paused to rub together in mild revulsion—“ get something to eat, and go to bed.”

She added after a moment, “Desdemona shall like that, too.” Pen glowered at her slippers.

“That’s not my Temple superior, that’s my mother.” “And if she were here, I have no doubt she would tell you the same thing,” she said briskly, pushing him upright off her knee despite himself.

“Shoo.”

“That’s all?”

“Clean your teeth, I suppose. Though you usually do that without being told. Your soul will keep for one night, I promise you, and your body and mind will be better tomorrow.”

He and Des snorted in unison, this time: he at Llewen, Des at him. “Agh.”

He stretched, and clambered up; he had to balance on his hands and knees before he could rise to his feet. Des had made no interrupting comment throughout this interview.

There weren’t many people his demon much respected, but Princess-Archdivine Llewen kin Stagthorne was high on that short list. It seemed the feeling was growing mutual. He commanded over his shoulder as he made for the door, “You go to sleep, too, Your Grace.” She smiled wryly at him. “Oh, I shall be able to now.”