Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Read Free Book Online Page B

declared heir only after Wilhelm's sons—the Three Disappointers, as they were subsequently known—fathered nineteen girls. Rüdiger took the throne at age thirty-two and ruled for fifty-eight years. While maintaining a permanent campaign on the northern frontier and leading his empire in multiple wars, Rüdiger made significant advances in diplomacy. He formalized relations with the Sultanate of Ahmb, surveyed Lax's eastern boundary, and negotiated with his many subject states to reduce the tolls that jeopardized imperial trade. The widespread popularity of the names Roger, Ruggiero, Rutger, Hrothgar, Rogelio, Rufiger, and similar derivates of Rüdiger speaks to the nobility's efforts to curry favor within the imperial court and should in no way be considered a demonstration of affection. In his later years, Rüdiger IV traveled throughout the empire and beyond with his private circus and military escort. It is not unthinkable that this "Circus Primus" may have served as a façade for covert proceedings, as the emperor and his troupe were present for the Feldspar Assumption, the Mar y Muntanya Border Crusade, and the Fourth Altercation of Scampi; Rüdiger's role in Wisdom's Kiss, much parsed by scholars, exemplifies the tumult that often shadowed the Circus Primus ensemble. Perhaps not surprisingly, his later reign was tainted by charges of irresponsibility, even senility, accusations that Rüdiger did not or could not dispute, and his legacy does not adequately reflect his earlier achievements.
A Life Unforeseen
T HE S TORY OF F ORTITUDE OF B ACIO , C OMMONLY K NOWN AS T RUDY , AS T OLD TO H ER D AUGHTER
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    TO THINK! For so many years Trudy had burned to reunite with Tips, and now it was about to happen. And not sitting in lonesome Bacio twiddling her thumbs, but by traveling to Froglock—where Tips was this very minute, guarding the emperor with the other soldiers!—and she was traveling in a
coach,
with a
queen,
as (Trudy could pinch herself!) a veritable
lady-in-waiting!
    Although Trudy didn't need a pinch: pain came easily enough simply by glancing at the young woman who sat across from her scowling out the window. Every time she looked at Princess Wisdom, Trudy shuddered. Fortunately the princess did not seem to notice. In fact, she did not acknowledge Trudy's presence at all, and rarely spoke. This, Trudy comforted herself, must have been what her sight had warned her of: an inexplicable royal snubbing. If so, Trudy would tolerate it with dignity, and instead focus her attention, happily, on the queen.
    All her life Trudy had longed for a grandmother. Not the fairy version found in stories, but a real old lady who would praise and treasure her. At last she had chanced upon this marvelous species of human, and while Nonna Ben, to be sure, was not
her
grandmother, nonetheless she rejoiced in the woman's presence as a sunflower, turning its head to follow the path of the sun across the sky, absorbs every warming ray.
    Trudy was supremely fortunate (so Nonna Ben informed her) to have learned to sew, for she now had the unenviable task, within this rocking carriage ere it drew to a halt at the imposing front doors of Phraughloch Palace, of fitting herself in one of Lady Modesty's gowns, the blue silk so lovely that Trudy winced to pierce the fabric, no matter how Nonna Ben chuckled, and repeated that her beautiful stitching would only improve it.
    As Trudy wielded her needle in and out, in and out, they chatted about the myriad arcane duties of a lady-in-waiting. Oh, it was so complicated! For example, one addressed a queen or king as
Your Majesty
—everyone knew
that
—but a princess or prince was only
Your Highness,
sometimes with
Royal
tucked in halfway through. The emperor garnered
Your Imperial Majesty,
counts and barons
Lord
or
Lady,
and dukes such as Farina's Duke Roger
Your Grace,
though Roger's mother insisted on
Most Noble Grace,
which for some reason set Nonna Ben and even