Chapter 12The drops swept themselves together, a shining circle of unnatural rain-ripple motion. And then flung themselves outward: a noisy spiral, twirling, clamoring, making a point. Then they fell away, joyfully plunging from tower stone and old water-spouts and palace gutters.
Talis glared at the window and the message. But he also felt the nagging poke of guilt; and so he ducked out of the Princess Delphine’s rooms and down the stairs. The intangible tug at his elbow suggested he return to the King’s room, which he did; he discovered a far cleaner explosion of color, stray robes and breakfast trays and dishes swept up and bundled off. That wasn’t entirely helpful, at the moment.
He considered the King’s writing-desk, and ink, and a lack of cups and dishes. He ended up emptying a sma
