[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.As the months passed, Levana came to feel like there must be some conspiracy against her.Rumorswere spreading about any number of women in the court who were having babies.The whole cityseemed suddenly full of their crying and howling.When Levana went to see Dr.Eliot for a privateappointment to ask if there was something else she could be doing, she even learned that a pair ofwedded royal scientists were pregnant Dr.Darnel and his wife, both specialists on the geneticengineering team.The woman was more than three times Levana s age.Dr.Eliot was largely unhelpful.She went on and on about how it could take time, and they wouldlook into further treatment when Levana got a bit older, if they still had not had any success.Thewoman even had the nerve to tell Levana to relax, to not worry about it so much.It would happen whenit was meant to happen.Levana was tempted to make the infuriating woman jab a scalpel into her own eye.Her sister.The old doctor.Solstice.There could be nothing wrong with Evret.So what was wrong with her?Her only consolation was that, as a result of Channary s condition and her exuberant need to becoddled, the queen neglected her royal responsibilities more and more frequently.Days would passwithout her showing up at court and Levana was sent to take her place in countless meetings.Thoughshe needled her sister about it time and again, she didn t truly mind.She was fascinated by their politicsand the inner workings of their system.She wanted to know everything, to claim what power she couldscavenge, and her sister s absence gave her the perfect opportunity to do just that.Then, on the twenty-first day of December in the 109th year of the third era, Queen Channary gavebirth to a baby girl.She was officially named Princess Selene Channary Jannali Blackburn of Luna, buteverything past Selene was immediately forgotten by everyone but the history texts.The celebrationsthroughout the city and even the outer sectors were riotous for a week.The royal bloodline would continue.The Lunar throne had an heir.* * * I like the silver foliage.Don t you agree, little sister?Levana tore her gaze away from the baby, who was laid out on an embroidered quilt in the centerof the room as if this were a common day care and not a royal meeting to discuss the country supcoming anniversary celebration.There were a number of designers, florists, decorators, bakers,caterers, and artisans standing against the room s back wall, each waiting to give their opinions andoffer their expertise.It took a moment for Levana to realize her sister was asking about two enormousbouquets, almost identical but for some fuzzy silver leaves tucked into one, as opposed to more vibrantemerald green in the other. Silver, she said. Yes.It s very nice. In fact, add more, said Channary, tapping a finger against her lips. I want the whole room tosparkle.Is everyone listening? Her voice rose. Sparkle.Glitz.I want every surface to shimmer.I wantevery guest to be bedazzled.I want a reputation of throwing the best galas this city has ever seen.I wantthem to talk about it for generations.Is that understood?Nods of understanding were thrown around, but Channary had already stopped paying attention tothem as she scanned the offerings before her.Platters of tiny desserts and cocktails with little ice cubesin them, each cube carved into the shape of the queen s crown. No, no, none of this is good enough. Channary grabbed a tray of hors d oeuvres and tossed itagainst the wall.Everyone flinched. I said I want it to sparkle is that so hard to grasp? Are you allblind?No one pointed out that she had not told them this before.But of course, they should have knownbefore coming to this meeting.Naturally.Levana shook her head behind her sister s back.The baby started crying.Wheeling around, Channary tossed her arm toward Levana. Take the child.Levana blinked. Me? Why me? Where s her nanny? Oh, for star s sake, she only wants to be held. Channary started to cough.She turned hastilyaway, coughing into her elbow, as ladylike as she could.It seemed to Levana that she d been coughing alot lately for weeks, if not months and though Channary insisted it was only a temporary virus, itseemed to go on and on.A servant rushed forward with a glass of water, but Channary grabbed it and threw it at the wall,too.Glass shattered across the stone as Channary stomped out of the room, still coughing.The baby s screams grew more fervent.Levana approached her, hesitant.Someone clapped. Let s adjourn for today, said one of the event planners, ushering away theartisans. Come back tomorrow with & your improved work.Levana stood over the child for one dread-filled moment, watching at how her face reddened andpinched, at how her chubby arms writhed against the blanket.Her tufts of dark brown hair wisped inevery direction.Though the child was seven months old and hinting every day that she was about to start crawling,Levana could still count the times she d held her niece on one hand.There was always someone elsethere to take the baby, and just like with Winter, this child did not seem to be warming up to her at all.Huffing, she squared her shoulders and crouched down, scooping up the baby as gently as shecould.Standing, she nestled the child in the crook of her arm and did her best to coo comforting wordsat her, but the crying went on and on, little fists thumping the air, beating against Levana s chest.With an annoyed sigh, Levana paced back and forth through the room, before stepping out onto thebalcony that overlooked Artemisia Lake.She could see members of the court milling about the lushpalace gardens, a few of the aristocrats out in boats upon the lake s surface.In the sky, the Earth wasnearly full.Huge and blue and white and stunning amid the starscape.Once, she had persuaded Evret to go out on a boat with her, but he d spent the whole time wishinghe was back home with Winter, going on and on about how quickly she was growing, and speculatingon what her first word might be.That seemed like a long time ago.In fact, it had been a long time since they d done much of anything together.Bouncing little Selene as gently as she could, Levana examined the face of her future queen.Shewondered if this child would grow up to be as spoiled and ignorant as her mother, who cared moreabout the flower arrangements than political policy. I would be a better queen than your mother, she whispered. I would be a better queen than you.The baby continued to wail, spoiled and stupid.There was no point thinking it, anyway.Channary was queen.Selene was the heir.Levana was justthe princess, with a guard for a husband and a daughter without royal blood. I could drop you over this balcony, you know, she said, cooing the words softly. You couldn tdo anything about it.The baby did not respond to the threat. I could force you to stop crying.Would you like that?It was a tempting thought, one that Levana barely managed to withstand [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]