After the vigil, Lissa and a huge procession walked back across Court to the palace building, where the crowning took place. Representatives from all the royal families joined her, along with musicians who were playing much more cheerful tunes than they had for Tatiana's procession. Lissa's guardians--she had a fleet now--walked with her. I was among them, wearing my finest black and white, including the red collar marking me as a royal guardian. Here, at least, was a notable difference from the funeral. Tatiana had been dead; her guardians were for show. Lissa was very much alive, and even if she'd won the Council's vote, she still had enemies. My colleagues and I were on high alert.
Not that you'd think we needed to be, not with the way the onlookers cheered. All those who had camped out during the trials and election had stayed for this fanfare, and more had shown up still. I wasn't sure when there'd ever been this many Moroi in one place.
After the long and winding walk, Lissa made it to the palace building and then waited in a small antechamber adjacent to what served as the Moroi throne room. The throne room was almost never used for modern business, but every once in a while--like a new queen being sworn in--the Moroi liked to pull out ancient traditions. The room was small and couldn't hold all the witnesses from outside. It couldn't even hold the entire procession. But, the Council and highest-ranking royal members were there, along with some select invitees of Lissa's.
I stood off to the side, watching the glamour unfold. Lissa hadn't made her grand entrance yet, so there was a low hum of conversation. The room was all green and gold, having been given a thorough and fast remodel in the last few days, since custom dictated the ruling family's colors dominate the throne room. The throne itself sat high against the far wall, accessible by steps. Carved of wood I could no longer identify, I knew the throne had been carried around the world by Moroi monarchs for centuries. People were lining up in carefully assigned positions, preparing for when Lissa would enter last. I was studying one of the new chandeliers, admiring how realistic the "candles' in it looked. I knew they were electric, but the craftsmen had done amazing work. Technology masked in old-world glory, just as the Moroi liked. A small nudge drew my attention away.
"Well, well, well,' I said. "If it isn't the people responsible for unleashing Rose Hathaway on the world. You've got a lot to answer for.'
My parents stood before me in their typical and wildly contrasting clothing. My mom wore the same guardian outfit I did, a white shirt with black slacks and jacket. Abe was ... well, Abe. He had on a black pinstripe suite, with a black dress shirt underneath. Splashed against the darkness was a bright, lemon-yellow paisley tie. A matching handkerchief peeped out one of the jacket's pockets. Along with his gold earrings and chains, he also wore a black fedora, which was a new addition to his outlandish wardrobe. I guess he wanted to go all out for an event like this, and at least it wasn't a pirate hat.
"Don't blame us,' said my mother. "We didn't blow up half of Court, steal a dozen cars, call out a murderer in the middle of a crowd, or get our teenage friend crowned queen.'
"Actually,' said Abe, "I did blow up half of Court.'
My mom ignored him, her expression softening as she studied me with her guardian eyes. "Seriously ... how are you feeling?' I'd seen them only briefly in the days since waking up, just enough for us all to check in on each other. "You're doing an awful lot of standing today. And I've already told Hans not to put you on active duty for a while.'
It was one of the most motherly things I'd ever heard her say. "I ... I'm fine. A lot better. I could go on active duty right now.'
"You will do no such thing,' she said, in exactly the tone she'd use giving orders to a troop of guardians.
"Stop coddling her, Janine.'
"I'm not coddling her! I'm looking out for her. You're spoiling her.' I looked back and forth at them in amazement. I didn't know if I was witnessing a fight or foreplay. I wasn't thrilled about either option. "Okay, okay, just back off you guys. I survived, right? That's what counts.'
"It is,' said Abe. He suddenly seemed very fatherly, which weirded me out even more than my mom's behavior. "And despite the property damage and string of broken laws left in your wake, I'm proud of you.' I suspected that secretly, he was proud of me because of those things. My cynical interior commentary was brought to a halt when my mom concurred.
"I'm proud too. Your methods were ... not ideal, but you did a great thing. Great things, really. Finding both the murderer and Jill.' I noticed her careful wording of "the murderer.' I think it was still hard for all of us to accept the truth about Tasha. "A lot will change because of Jill.'
All of us looked over at the foot of the throne. Ekaterina stood on one side, ready with the book of royal vows. The other side was where members of the monarch's family stood--but only one lone person was there. Jill. Someone had done a great job of cleaning her up. Her curly hair had been elaborately styled and pinned, and she wore a knee-length sheath dress with a wide portrait style collar, just barely showing off her shoulders. The dress's cut made the most of her lanky figure, and the dark green satin looked great with her features. She was standing straight, chin high, but there was anxiety all over her, made more obvious by her being so conspicuously alone.
I glanced back at Abe, who met my eyes expectantly. I had a lot of questions for him, and he was one of the few who might tell me the truth. The decision was: which question to ask? It was like having a genie. I'd only get so many wishes.
"What will happen to Jill?' I asked at last. "Will she just go back to school? Are they going to train her to be a princess?' Lissa couldn't be both princess and queen, so her old title went to the next-oldest member of her family.
Abe didn't answer for several moments. "Until Lissa can get the law changed--and hopefully, she will--Jill is all that allows her to keep her throne. If something happens to Jill, Lissa will no longer be queen. So. What would you do?'
"I'd keep her safe.'
"Then you have your answer.'
"It's kind of a broad one,' I said. ""Safe' means a lot of things.'
"Ibrahim,' warned my mother. "Enough. This isn't the time or place.'
Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. "Of course, of course. This is a family gathering. A celebration. And look: here's our newest member.'
Dimitri had joined us and wore black and white like my mother and me. He stood beside me, conspicuously not touching. "Mr. Mazur,' he said formally, nodding a greeting to both of them. "Guardian Hathaway.' Dimitri was seven years older than me, but right then, facing my parents, he looked like he was sixteen and about to pick me up for a date.