[Bêthberry]

Bekah had been rigid with fear and incomprehension when she could not find Faroz anywhere in his rooms. How was it possible for his whereabouts not to be known? Or had he deliberately sought privacy? It was impossible to believe that, yet lately Faroz had been so various, so petulant, so unlike his old self. The guards had been terrified that they had not seen him leave or had not been told what he was doing. Their alarm had placed the entire palace in a state of pandemonium, but clearly they were prompted not only by the absence of the king but also by their fear for themselvs. If the King had been harmed, they would be the first to be blamed. It was easy, Bekah knew, to point public fingers in order to placate general fears.
It was Jarult who had seen that matters were more decently controlled. He was a marvel of tact and discretion and understood protocol. He had come to her quietly, ascertained her discovery--or, rather, lack of discovery, and begun diiscussing with the palace staff alternate explanations even while he directed guards to search for the King. Then he had returned to speak with her in her quarters, where she had gone under double protection, and where the Prince and Princess were to be brought.

"Majesty, your presence in the King's quarters is itself a remarkable event." He looked her clearly in the eye but without any manner of insinuation or condemnation.

"It is, Chamberlain. Yet events recently have forced us to reconsider our habits."

"May I enquire how so, Majesty?"

"The presence of the Emissary seems to have upset people's expectations and altered their sense of duty and understanding of events. "

"And so," the chamberlain calmly replied.

Bekah looked at him, knowing how essential he was to the running of the palace and the kingdom.

"You believe I acted irresponsibly, Jarult?"

"I did not say anything of the sort, Majesty."

"No, you did not," Bekah replied with a slight smile, "but you are a master of masked meaning."

He stood quietly and did not comment on this characterisation of him, but waited for the Queen to continue.

"There are matters of state which I feel must be considered as we come to terms with the Emissary's offer. Matters which I felt I could not address in the King's public audience. For some reason, I am made apprehensive and sometimes have a feeling of dread pass over me. I sought the one person who I felt I could turn to, even if it was highly unusual."

Jarult nodded, but before he could reply, word came that Faroz was found, or, rather, that he had found those who searched for him and dismissed them.

"Majesty, I must withdraw to attend to the King, with your leave. But I will speak with him of your concerns and how they prompt you."

Bekah nodded, and Jarult bowed and withdrew, leaving her alone, but with a doubled guard at her door. She wondered why she was feeling more and more drawn to demanding hightened security. It was as if she were back in Alanzia and falling into its frame of mind again, believing that security comes from surveillance and policing. This was her reaction to the Emissary? How could she fault Faroz for reacting also, but in his own way?

Homay came and began the elaborate preparations for her public audience with the King. Bekah was apprehensive. He had stormed passed her quarters and left a curt message. She felt she no longer knew this man and could not tell what to expect. She passively accepted Homay's attentions until she was ready.

Waking this time with two guards behind her, Bekah sought out the small antechamber beside the audience room where she could always observe the King's actions and decisions but was not seen by those petitioning him. Suddenly, the audience was at an end and Faroz dismissed everyone. Her feet became clammy with stiffness and Bekah found herself fearful of Faroz for the first time in many, many years.

She forced her feat forward and entered the empty audience room with her usuall address and waited for Faroz to speak to her. Would Jarult have spoken to him of their conversation, she wondered.