Chapter 6: The Inspection

Brant's mother came into the sitting room.

She was tall and silver-haired, in pearls and a camel coat, and she kissed the air next to Elias's cheek without touching it.

The oldest elder followed her, leaning on a cane, with a folded gray cloth over his arm.

"Your Majesty," he said, a little out of breath. "I apologize for the hour. The council asked."

"The council asked this morning," Elias said, "after a wedding at midnight."

"Seven of the twelve want it done."

"Seven of the twelve are Redmoon's friends."

"Elias," the elder said, gently.

Elias gave a tight nod.

"Do it."

The elder unfolded the cloth, and I saw it was a plain linen napkin.

"This was in your bedroom last night," he said. "The housekeeper lent it. You've slept in these rooms?"

"I've slept in the east wing," I said.

"With the King?"

I did not look at Elias.

"The King sleeps where he sleeps," I said. "I sleep where I do. We are married. Smell what you like."

Brant's mother smiled at me with her whole face.

"Poor girl," she said. "Brant says you cried all the way home."

"Brant wasn't there," I said. "He was in the Moon Hall with his hand in Sylvie's."

The smile stayed exactly where it was.

The elder lifted the napkin to his nose and breathed in.

"The King," he said. "Clearly. His scent is on the cloth." He turned to me and lowered the napkin.

"But on the young woman there is nothing. I'm sorry, my dear. It's as if she's been scrubbed."

"I told you," said Brant's mother, to no one.

"What do you need?" Elias said.

"A seal. His scent where I can find it on her skin. If I can find it, I can sign. If I can't, I'll note it for the council."

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