Jainan had been there before, on his brief, panicked visit before the ceremony, but he still stopped in the doorway, disoriented again by how much difference the furnishings made to the atmosphere. Bright lighting picked out the edges of the mismatched coffee service and a cheap, cheerful rug, chosen by someone with more enthusiasm than talent for interior design. The main room was tidier than it had been earlier. Iskaners liked their surroundings to be largely a pristine white, he knew, but Jainan felt there had been more color then, just because more things had been strewn around.

Bel waved him in ahead of her. “He’s gone out. Make yourself comfortable. I can get you a drink, unless you’d like to direct the unpacking?”

“I can unpack myself,” Jainan said. She must be busy with her own duties.

Bel gave him a swift, calculating look, as if trying to sum him up and not making much headway. “Of course,” she said after a moment. “Let me show you the rooms.”

The bedroom was spotless as well. A sudden rattle against the window made Jainan turn his head, and he caught the shadow of a raptorial bird as it bounced off in a flurry of pinions and claws. Jainan had learned to be wary of Iskat’s birds. Even the ones Iskaners called sparrows would attack a human; anything much larger had to be exterminated.

“Oh yes, keep the window shut or the doves will get in,” Bel said. “And don’t feed them, that’s what started the problem in the first place. Here.” She opened an entirely separate wardrobe. Two columns of drawers also stood open.

“I don’t need this much space,” Jainan said.

“We can clear more, if—excuse me?”

Jainan silently keyed open the lid of the hoverchest. It was only half filled.

Bel looked at the contents. “I see,” she said. Jainan tried not to read any disapproval into it. “But we’ve cleared it now, so you might as well claim it. His highness will just fill it with his rubbish if you don’t.”

Jainan felt his entire back knot up. “I don’t—I don’t need it,” he said. “I don’t

want to argue with his highness.”

Bel gave him an odd look. Jainan couldn’t meet her eyes and instead focused on pulling his belongings out of the chest.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Bel said at last. “I’ll be in the study.

Prince Kiem says don’t hesitate to ask for anything.”

“Thank you,” Jainan said.

“To be clear, that means ask me for anything,” Bel said. “Kiem doesn’t know how to work the requisition system and will just call up twenty people until someone gives him something to make him stop.”

“Thank you,” Jainan said again. He had the excuse of turning to the wardrobe, so he didn’t have to hide his expression as she left.