The Alchemist's Door by Lisa Goldstein

into the background. The man looked familiar—the full lips, the pouches under the eyes, the pendulous cheeks—
    â€œYou’re the gardener,” Dee said, shocked into English. “The man I saw when I crossed the moat. You had a rake—”

    â€œSpeak German, please,” Rudolf said, showing no sign he had noticed Dee’s confusion, or that he had recognized him. He was dressed less showily than Queen Elizabeth, Dee saw; his clothes were a drab black, almost Spanish in their austerity. But his collar, folded in the Spanish manner called gorguera, was made of the finest linen, and his chain of office was the purest gold, and his hat was adorned with buttons of ruby and gold. Two men in uniform stood behind him.
    â€œYes. Yes, Your Majesty. I thought I saw you—” Stop, Dee thought. Rudolf is playing his own game here. Or he has a double, or he is possessed—No. Don’t think about that. Especially now.
    The king had a copy of Dee’s book Monas Hieroglyphica on a chest to one side of him. Dee had dedicated that book to Rudolf’s father, the Emperor Maximilian II. He was pleased to see it, pleased that Rudolf had taken the time to retrieve it from his library. They spoke politely for a while about the book and its philosophy, though Rudolf admitted it had been “too hard for his capacity” to understand.
    â€œYou are the man who can speak to angels, are you not?” Rudolf asked.
    â€œMy associate, Edward Kelley, is the one who speaks to them. I merely ask the questions.”
    â€œGood. I would ask the angels some questions now.”
    â€œOf course. May we use this chest, Your Majesty?”
    Rudolf nodded.
    There was a landscape on top of the chest, made of inlays of jasper and onyx and chalcedony. Dee moved his book out of the way, then lifted a heavy bronze statue of a horse off the top and looked around for a place to put it. Finally he placed it on the floor, glancing at Rudolf for permission. Rudolf said nothing.
    Dee motioned Kelley forward. Kelley opened the gray bag,
took out the cloth and the wax tablets and the scrying glass, and set them in their proper places.
    â€œWe must pray first,” Dee said.
    Rudolf nodded absently.
    Dee bent his head. This would be the first time he had used the glass since Poland. If the demon had followed them—but he had no choice. He had promised Rudolf he could show him wonders. A long time ago, this was, when he had written to the king saying that he might some day come to Prague. And—he hated to think it—he was running out of money. Rudolf’s patronage would be very welcome.
    Please, he prayed to Someone or Something. Please, let the demon be gone.
    He looked up. “What are your questions, Your Majesty?”
    â€œWill my Empire remain at peace?” Rudolf asked.
    Kelley looked into the glass. Dee’s heart was pounding hard.
    â€œThe angel Uriel comes to me,” Kelley said finally. He looked at Rudolf, then back at the glass. “Yes. The angel tells me that you will usher the Empire into a new age, a golden age filled with peace and prosperity.”
    Rudolf nodded. Dee began to relax. Uriel was one of the most powerful angels. If they were under his protection then all would go well.
    â€œAnd what of my brother?” Rudolf asked. “Will he continue to trouble me?”
    â€œI don’t—I don’t see—”
    â€œMy brother Matthias,” Rudolf said impatiently. “Matthias, who thwarts me at every turn. Who spends his days and nights scheming to take my throne.”
    â€œMatthias, yes. Uriel tells me that you will triumph over Matthias.”
    Rudolf’s lips quirked upward. Perhaps, Dee thought, he was smiling. “When will—”

    â€œBut you must take care,” Kelley said, interrupting him. “You will defeat your brother only if you mend your sinful ways.”
    â€œWhat?” Rudolf said.
    â€œMend your