The True Confessions of a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 144: Ungrateful Monarchs

"Indeed. His love is most awesome." This time, the queen's voice was a tad warmer. I almost see Anthea sitting next to her, hissing at her to sound more welcoming of the heroes who saved the capital.

Katu raised his arms in benediction, accepting the queen's admission.

Then came a pause that had not been part of my plan.

What's going on now? I whispered to Bobo, who cocked her head and listened.

"They're arguing," she reported. "Anthea's telling the Queen that ssshe ssshould ssstep out of the palanquin ssso everybody can sssee her. The Queen is sssaying that no monarch ssshows herssself ssso casssually to commoners."

I suppressed a snort. She was happy enough to put herself on display at Lychee Grove. Without raising my voice, knowing that it would carry to Anthea's furry ears regardless, I said, Anthea, stick to the plan. Jullia needs to demonstrate the Crown's subservience to the Temple.

Another exasperating wait. The spectators were starting to whisper among themselves, wondering what was going on. If Anthea didn't shove Jullia out of the palanquin soon, our audience was going to get bored and leave, taking their offerings with them.

Stripey swooped down next to us. Is it wise to push the Queen like that? I don't know much about monarchs, but Baron Claymouth wouldn't like it.

Next, Floridiana squeezed between the priests to murmur, "I think we should drop it. Everyone saw the Queen come out to thank us. If we keep pushing, she may think we're setting up the Temple as the true power over South Serica."

That was, of course, my intention. But I supposed that forcing Jullia to admit the political shift publicly was less important than the reality of it.

Anthea, I said. It's all right. Don't push it.

"They ssstopped arguing," Bobo reported. "I think they're going to go back in now."

Oh no, they weren't. Keep the palanquin there until Katu has left. Anthea, you come out and join us as the queen's representative.

Another maddening wait before the curtain on the side of the palanquin stirred. A slender white hand emerged, making the crowd gasp. Then Anthea stepped out with a fake smile pasted on her lips. She swept a somewhat sarcastic bow at Katu and mounted up on Dusty. I waited for the horse to complain that The Valiant Prince of the Victorious Whirlwind, Vanquisher of Invaders wasn't a dray animal, but he just rolled his eyes. Maybe he thought that Anthea was more attractive than a sack of rice or something.

Well, whatever. It was his back. I flew up to tell Katu, Let's go back to the Temple. The queen isn't coming out.

As a commoner who rarely laid eyes on his monarch anyway, he was unbothered by this setback. "Friends!" he called to all the people packed into the street. "Let us hie to the Temple to give thanks to the Divine Intercessor! He who has saved the city this day! Let our praises of him resound in Heaven!"

The drummers started pounding out their rhythm again, the dancers leaped to their feet, and our procession marched away from the palace.

I alighted on Anthea's shoulder. What was that all about?

She smiled and lifted a hand to acknowledge the crowd's cheers. Out of the corner of her mouth, she muttered, "Jullie's worried you're setting up Len Katullus as a priest-king."