As they approached, the warden raised a hand and spoke quietly to Rishi and Jyotish in Thorass, all the while frowning and stealing glances at Atreus. Jyotish said something about a hired elephant and a royal letter, while Rishi spoke in rapid Maran and plucked at his own tunic.

Finally, the stony-eyed warden gave a reluctant nod, and Rishi removed his silk shirt and held it up before Atreus. Though such behavior would have scandalized any royal court in the west, no one in the Paradise Mahal paid the Mar's shirtless chest the slightest attention.

"If you would be so kind as to bow down," said Rishi. "No disrespect is meant, but Queen Rosalind is not well, and the Royal Warden fears your singular appearance might prove too much of a shock."

Atreus hesitated. "I understand, but covering my face is a sacrilege to my goddess."

"Which goddess?" Jyotish demanded, scowling.

Atreus steeled himself to answer. "Sune Firehair."

"The western Goddess of Beauty?" asked Jyotish.

When Atreus nodded, the chamberlain exchanged glances with the Royal Warden. They broke into fits of snickering, and even Rishi had to bite his cheeks and turn away.

Atreus felt the angry heat rising to his cheeks. "One need not be beautiful to worship beauty."

"That is so," said the Royal Warden, for the first time speaking directly to Atreus. "It is also so that Queen Rosalind is not well. She cannot be shocked."

Rishi opened his shirt again and held it up before Atreus. "This is the only way to see Queen Rosalind. If it is important, Sune will understand."

"Perhaps you are right," Atreus said. He would be the first to admit that the goddess had been thinking of someone else when she admonished her worshipers to display their faces. "I would not want to cause Queen Rosalind any discomfort."