The Madness Project (The Madness Method)

by Bralick, J. Leigh

  “Shall I take you in around the front, or back through the kitchens?”

  I hesitated. Under Zagger’s coat, only the bottoms of my trousers and my boots would show, and they weren’t so manky that they couldn’t pass as well-worn from bad weather travel.

  “Take me to the front,” I said. “I’m coming home. I can’t sneak inside without causing an uproar.”

  He snorted. “Believe me, Your Highness, you won’t be able to avoid that, no matter how you walk in.”

  But he complied, pulling up in front of the palace steps. Though it was pitch dark, evening had barely fallen on that shortest day of the year, and the ball’s guests hadn’t even started to arrive. Still, the appearance of my motorcar caused a huge commotion, just as Zag had predicted. A score of footmen and even Pont came spilling out of the palace, standing all at attention in the ghastly rain as the first footman ran to open my door.

  “Your Royal Highness!” he exclaimed, too shocked to maintain his silence.

  “Evening, Crift,” I said as he escorted me under umbrella to the palace doors. “Send word to my mother, will you, and let her know I’ve finally arrived?”

  He nodded, and I turned to Pont.

  “Good evening, Your Highness,” he said. “Forgive our surprise. We weren’t expecting you this evening.”

  “Neither was I,” I said, enigmatic.

  I handed him my hat, but as he reached for my coat, I dismissed him with a wave and headed into the palace without a backward glance. That would puzzle him, of course, but it couldn’t be helped.

  Liman was waiting for me when I opened the door to my apartments, wringing his hands anxiously. In the background I could hear water running for my bath, and couldn’t restrain a little grin. I tried not to think about how long it had been since I’d bathed—really bathed.

  “Liman,” I said.

  “Oh, oh, Your Highness!” he exclaimed. “You’re back! I was so dreadfully worried, you know, just…dreadful!”

  I shot him a sidelong glance as I went to sit by the fire. “Why the worry, Liman? I was traveling.”

  “Oh, but you know what those awful chin-wagglers say…oh, you’ve no idea, have you? Oh dear, never mind. You’re back now, and—gad, I’ve left the water running.”

  He bolted off into the bathroom, leaving me smiling. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed Liman’s fretting. I wondered how he could have been expecting me, until Zagger came out from his own apartment and sat down in the chair opposite me.

  “Once he’s done fussing over the bath, send him out,” I said. “Then you can take these rags and hide them somewhere.” I sighed, gazing around the old room. “It’s Kalethelia, but I left not long after my birthday. Has it really not even been a full month? It feels like a lifetime.”

  “I know,” Zagger said.

  Liman ducked back into the room. “Your Highness, your bath is ready, whenever you’d like it.”

  “Brilliant,” I said, but it took me a moment to drag myself from the chair.

  I waved Liman away as he started to follow me into the bathroom, and shut the door behind me. Outside I could hear Zagger telling him to see to my ball attire, and Liman clucking as he gave up on me.

  I sank into the steaming bathtub, letting the heat sear me, banishing a month’s worth of cold from my limbs. At least unMasking meant I’d lost all of Shade’s filth, so my clothes were the only evidence of the life I’d been living. Zagger came in presently and swept them away, then Liman popped in with my robe and kit asking if I wanted a shave. I wondered if I should have Masked the stubble of a beard to give Liman something to do, but it was too late for that.

  “I’ve rung for some food,” he told me, hanging my robe. “I’m afraid it won’t be much, but you looked rather famished.”

  I thanked him and sent him away so I could finish my bath in peace. When I heard the servants bring in my food, I got out and dressed in my robe, and found a small feast left for me on my table. Liman had disappeared, but Zagger grinned when he saw my face. I tucked in, savoring the tender lamb and potatoes, and a bowl of cream soup that I ate entirely out of order. I managed to set aside my soup spoon as Liman returned, so he wouldn’t notice my utter failure in etiquette.

  “The guests are arriving,” he said. “I’m afraid I didn’t know you were to be here for the ball. I haven’t got a new suit for you to wear.”

  “Don’t mind about it,” I said, relishing a sip of red wine. “No one else will, I’m sure. They’ll be too shocked that I’m even there to notice what I’m wearing.”

  “Well,” he sputtered, and I knew he wasn’t convinced.

  When I finished my meal he helped me dress in the suit I’d had made for my birthday—white tie and waistcoat, with black trousers and fitted tailcoat that made me feel rather like a stuffed duck. He insisted on festooning me with a gold sash and all my ridiculous medals, I suppose to make sure everyone would recognize me in case they’d forgotten what I looked like. As I buttoned on my white gloves, I caught a glimpse of myself in the armoire mirror, starched and crisp and clean, and a strange distant look in my eyes that I never remembered. I sighed.

  Liman hovered at my shoulder, looking agitated.

  “Something troubling you, Liman?”

  “No, no,” he said, and frowned at his hands. “That is, I hope I didn’t do anything to offend you, Your Highness.”

  “Certainly not. Though you do fuss a bit,” I said, smiling. “Why?”

  “I just…I thought I should have gone with you on your travels. I don’t understand why you left without me.”

  I hesitated. I hadn’t just left without my valet, I’d left without even saying goodbye. The memory stabbed a bit of guilt into my heart. And for the first time I wondered what it had been like for him, to face his fellow servants and their private gossip. He had his own pride to worry about, not just mine.

  “It wasn’t anything you did,” I said, and tried a smile. “But you know how I am.”

  And that was all I could give.

  I headed down to the ballroom, Zagger shadowing me from his accustomed distance. Apparently I timed my appearance perfectly—the majority of the guests had arrived, and I came alone to the court herald who had already announced the King and Queen. He stood at the landing where the curving staircase split to encircle the room, and caught a glimpse of me as I reached the top of the steps. I waited as he stared up at me, until he recovered his composure and pounded his staff on the marble, silencing the room.

  “His Royal Highness, Prince Tarik Trabinis,” he called.

  And everyone stared. I couldn’t quite decide if that was the effect I’d wanted—slipping in through a side door being my preferred mode of entry, but I couldn’t escape now. The first face I saw was my mother’s, all lit up with surprise and joy. And then I noticed my father…not my father. Trabin. Though he did a good job of hiding it for the world, I could see the relief in his eyes.

  I made my way down the purple-and-gold wreathed staircase and through the parting sea of guests. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a swarm of infernal boxies shouldering their way through the mass of humanity, waving their huge cameras over their heads—to protect the people or the devices, I don’t know. I ignored them as I approached my mother, kissing her on both cheeks before bowing to Trabin through the bulbs’ flashes.

  “Your Royal Highness!” someone called from the crowd.

  I turned so only my mother could see my mouth. “You let the newshawks come?”

  “Can’t keep them away, darling,” she murmured. “And off you go.”

  I smiled and turned around, trying not to blink as another boxy got a shot of me for the Herald.

  “When did you return?” the reporter asked, waving a pad of paper at me as he tried to claw free of the crowd.

  “Where have you been in your travels?” asked another, not to be outdone.

  And a third one popped up almost directly in front of me, asking, “Did you return to answer the rumors about yo
ur disappearance?”

  “Gentlemen,” I said, and gestured at the guests. “This is a ball, not an interview. Please, enjoy yourselves.”

  “But the people want to know!” the first reporter said, puffing out his thin chest.

  I glanced at the sea of faces drifting around me, all watching my every move, straining to hear my every word. All waiting for me to make a mistake, to betray myself, to be caught lying and scandalizing my house…

  “My apologies,” I said, stiff. “I will be happy to meet with you all in the morning, and answer any questions you wish to ask.” I shot them a warning glare and added, “Within reason, of course.”

  And I flashed them all a broad smile that I hoped didn’t look as fake as it felt. I could tell they were about to assault me with another round of questions and protests, but a light voice behind me called out my title, silencing them and saving me.

  “Your Highness!”

  I turned, already smiling. Samyr stood there, all adorned in cream lace and silk and emeralds, her chestnut hair pinned up high behind a beaded fillet. I stared at her, speechless, and—I don’t know why—I felt some kind of idiotic warmth rushing to my face. The last dance we’d been to together, she’d still been in an ankle dress and stockings with her hair worn down.

  “Lady Von,” I said, and took her hand to kiss it. The cameras flashed. I lowered my voice and said, “I believe I missed your birthday.”

  She smiled, looking rather self-conscious, and whispered, “Honestly, I’d rather be hiding under the stairwell.”

  I laughed and flicked a pointed glance at the musicians on the stage behind me, then offered Samyr a bow as the music began.

  “May I have this dance?” She took my hand and the crowd gave way, and I said in her ear, “I suppose we have to start acting our age, don’t we?”

  Her cheeks turned rosy, her hand the lightest feather touch on my arm as we moved into the dance.

  “Honestly, Tarik, if this is what acting our age means, then I suppose it’s not so terribly dreadful.”

  “Not terribly? We could always hide under the champagne display and make ghostly noises and cause a scandal, if you would like that better.”

  She smiled, eyes sparkling. “That was fine when we were ten.”

  “We could switch off the electricity to the ballroom.”

  “My father didn’t let me leave the house for a week after that.”

  I smiled. “Well, I’m out of new ideas, so if this is too dreadful, you’ll have to come up with something on your own.”

  “I’m getting used to this,” she said, twirling under my arm. “But stars, Tarik, where’ve you been? You should have heard the awful things people started saying.”

  “I’m getting a sense of that. You didn’t believe them, did you?”

  “I didn’t know what to believe. I’ve been frightfully worried about you, though. First with the attack on your father, then you leaving so suddenly…”

  “I needed some time away,” I said. She caught my eye and I bent toward her, murmuring, “You look stunning, by the way.”

  She turned her head but couldn’t hide her blush.

  “You seen Griff much lately?”

  That was too low-street; I’d have to be careful. Samyr tipped her head back to frown at me, but I carried on with the dance as if I hadn’t said anything wrong.

  “What was that?”

  “Have you seen much of Griff lately?” I asked, putting on a puzzled face and pretending to repeat myself.

  “Oh, no. Not much. He’s here somewhere, but I’ve not spoken to him yet.”

  “And what about you? Did you get into any stunning mischief while I was gone?”

  “Hardly,” she said. “You were always the one dragging me into trouble. But I got accepted into Crandly.”

  I regarded her with surprise. “Well! My congratulations. That’s—” (swell, I almost said) “—fantastic.”

  The slang was going to kill me.

  “I start next term. I don’t know what I’ll do. Tarik, will you go to university? Griff won’t. He’s only got one foot on the ground these days.”

  “I never figured Farro for a scholar,” I said, glad that the dance was ending and I could avoid answering her question. I had no idea what I’d do with myself after all of this was over.

  The music stopped and I sent Samyr into one final twirl. We gave our courtesies as the guests applauded, and I led her off the floor.

  “I’m going to chase down Griff,” I said.

  She tossed her head and gave me a prickly kind of look, but then Vessa Bell appeared at her elbow and they both smiled pointedly at me, dismissing me so they could gossip. My heart turned a bit sick, thinking of how Shade had met them on the palace steps with all their haughtiness…and all his cruelty.

  I bowed to them both and took my leave. Part of me didn’t expect to find Griff. He was still young enough to have an excuse to leave early, though with Samyr and I both obliged to stay, he probably had too much pride to escape. I circled around the floor once and came about to the ballroom entry, where the Lord Chamberlain had been announcing the late-arrivers.

  Kor stood beside him.

  Chapter 6 —Tarik

  I drew up short, more stunned than I should have been. After seeing him so often in the palace, it didn’t surprise me that he actually looked like he belonged, with his fine suit and copper-tipped cane. But what did surprise me was what he seemed to be doing, standing there with the Lord Chamberlain. Even as I watched, an impeccable older couple arrived and waited to be announced. While the Chamberlain called their names, Kor shook the man’s hand, and kissed the woman’s hand, and then stepped back with a courteous gesture to let them enter.

  My spine tingled. He’s checking the guests for Jixies, I thought, and an uneasy little corner of my mind wondered what he would do if he detected one.

  “Your Highness!”

  That would be Griff’s voice, always too loud for polite gatherings. Kor’s head snapped around when he heard my title, and just for a moment I caught his eye. But then I let my gaze drift away, disinterested, and turned to find Griff. He barreled up to me, seizing my hand and then hugging me more enthusiastically than he should have.

  “Gad, Tarik, they said you’d been killed! Where the devil have you been?”

  “Traveling,” I said. “Why was everyone so wild about it?”

  “Because no one ever saw you. It’s like you just disappeared!”

  I gave him a wicked smile, grabbing his elbow and leaning close to whisper, “Maybe that was the idea.” I stepped back and added, “Traveling is brilliant when you haven’t got a legion of boxies chasing you down everywhere you go.”

  “That would be true,” he said. I could see his curiosity pitching a fit, and finally he clapped an arm around my shoulders and dragged me away from the crowd. “You’re a madcap, Tarik, you know that? You honestly went jaunting about all alone? What if something had happened? You’re the bloody Crown Prince. You know what Samyr would say.”

  Believe me, I thought, I’d probably have been safer in Istia all on my own than where I was.

  “You’re back to stay then?” he asked, not noticing my silence.

  I froze, and tried not to panic. It hadn’t even occurred to me to think about what might happen after tonight, except that I knew I had to get back to the Hole, and meet with Branigan without making an idiot of myself.

  “We’ll see,” I said. “I enjoyed traveling. Samyr said you’ve been flying a lot.”

  Griff grinned. “The sky’s my way of traveling. Wish you’d let me take you up some time. The view’s splendid.”

  “I’m sure it is,” I said. “Any word on the Patrol?”

  “Day after my birthday,” he said, proud, tossing his head back with just a bit of the modock swagger. “I’ll be commissioned six months early. It’s fantastic timing. I’ll be just ready when things start going up.”

  The younger Minister Bell bowed and shook my hand as he pa
ssed us, and I waited until he’d gone before turning back to Griff with a frown.

  “Farro. What’re you talking about?”

  “Don’t you know? No, I don’t suppose you would. Some members of the Court are saying that there’s a war brewing. Could be I’ll be fighting from the sky, what with the new guns they’ve mounted on my aeroplane. You should see how they work! It’s fantastic.”

  “Hold up. War with whom?”

  “Oh, hell, I don’t know. I don’t pay attention to politics, you know that. But if they tell me to mount up and fight, I’ll be there.”

  I ground my teeth and looked away.

  “Nice dance with Samyr you had there,” Griff said, nodding at her across the ballroom floor. “She missed you something awful, d’you know?”

  “Well,” I said. “I missed her too.”

  And a little corner of my heart twinged with guilt. Had I missed her as much as I ought to have? I couldn’t even tell.

  “Don’t be so glum. Look, there’s Herril. Have you talked to him yet?”

  I glanced the direction he pointed, but almost didn’t see Herril through the crowd. The poor fellow really had a dreadful time of it, being painfully short and regrettably unremarkable in every way. He had a nose for science, though, like his father Dr. Baisell, and that made him special in his own way.

  I sighed and said, “No. Just you and Samyr.”

  Without warning I found myself dragged back into the throng of guests, accosted on all sides by well-wishers and flatterers. I shared a few friendly words with Herril and the usual stale niceties with every member of the Ministry—even Batar, who seemed more flustered than ever. I danced with Vessa and Samyr and ten other ladies whose names I had already forgotten, and listened to Ministers Farro and Von argue about foreign policy until I forgot what they were talking about, and they forgot that I was there.

  I must have walked the length of the ballroom fifty times at least, drinking just the right amount of fizz to be fashionable, holding myself straight and tall with one hand behind my back just as I should, bowing to all the right people, while my thoughts turned to a muddle.