Tanith Lee - Claidi Journals 01 Read Online Free Page B

preferred. In the end, I didn’t have much choice, did I? You shot me down. I assume you’re not used to visitors. Shame, really.” Then he yawned .
    I never saw anyone sit down so elegantly on a floor. Even when he was lying full length, he lay in a stylish way. Presently he seemed asleep.
    Maybe you’re getting used to my odd type of thinking. But I thought just then: all those days and months I’d polished the floor and never knew one day he’d stretch out on it and lie there. There was a strange ache in my chest like the pressure of tears.
    But the Guards milled forward now and surrounded Nemian so none of us could see him. It seemed they thought that by going to sleep, he’d performed another dangerous and life-threatening trick.

    ==========
A few minutes after that, the Guards hustled almost all of us out of the Debating Hall. Only the most senior of the princes remained, Shawb among them. Even the Old Ladies were politely and firmly requested to go.
    Jizania made no protest. The other two cackled and squeaked and struggled like nasty old children kicked out of a party.
    In the outside chambers, the thrown-out royalty stood around chattering to each other. I thought Jade Leaf might be her usual self, but instead she went barging over to her mother, Princess Shimra.
    “Mummy-mummy, may I stay with you?”
    “I’m going to the library soon,” replied Shimra, “to read” looking uncomfortable as JL laid her head on Shimra’s shoulder.
    “Let me come too, Mummy. I want to, Mummy.”
    “But you don’t like reading, dear.”
    Jade Leaf is about a head taller than Shimra, and now JL was acting like a little girl, making her voice all gooey. This didn’t happen often, thank goodness, as it makes you sick. Shimra as well, from the look of it.
    Soon after that, Jizania Tiger swept by, her two attendants proudly holding up her long brocade train.
    When she had passed, Shimra had somehow escaped her daughter, and JL came disconsolately back to us, her maids. Her one-side-reddened face was cooler, but she still seemed to be confused. Had I done that?
    But I didn’t concentrate. I kept thinking of him .
    What would they do to him? I’d only heard tales of punishments delivered to trespassers. Remember the lion, the one they killed?
    We couldn’t hang about though, for JL went off upstairs to the Jewelry Chamber, and we all had to go too.
    When I was a child I liked this room, which has all the most ancient jewels and ornaments of the House displayed behind glass. Now that room only made me annoyed. I don’t know why.
    Today I barely saw it. Daisy seemed to be in the same state, and a couple of the others. But not Dengwi and Pattoo.
    I had an embarrassing idea that Daisy and I at least had got a thing about Nemian. Yes, I had, I was sure. My face had gone hot simply thinking of his name.
    This was dismal, wasn’t it? I’d fallen for an outcast from Hell, who anyway they were going to kill.
    Besides which, he would never have glanced my pathetic way.
    JL mooned over the bracelets and earrings. But gradually I could see the vagueness leaving her—the little girlie business.
    She had that snakelike air again. Not that I’ve anything against snakes—only the human ones.
    “Claidi,” she said suddenly, very brisk and clear.
    “Yes, lady?” I asked, my heart sinking even further. (Even with Nemian’s arrival to distract me, I hadn’t quite forgotten the professional beating.)
    “Thank you so much for viciously slapping my face and destroying that dreadful insect. It was an insect, was it?” I attempted to seem bashful and pleased. “I never knew you were so loyal. I ought to reward you.” She smiled brilliantly. “When I tell Mummy tonight, I’m sure she’ll command her steward’s whip-master to tie an extra-pretty ribbon on the whip. Do you know about the whip, by the way?” She bent closer. It didn’t seem to be really happening. But a glass case pushed at my back and reminded me of where the