“Good,” Jusson said when he saw the lord commander and the captain. He walked over to a tea tray that was placed on the table and poured a cup. Instead of the dark brown brew I’d expected, it was a pale straw color and the scent of chamomile filled the air. Stirring in a couple of dripping spoonfuls of honey, Jusson took a sip.
“The troops settling in?” he asked.
“Yes, sire,” Thadro said. He too loosened his sword belt and gave a discreet stretch. “Lieutenant Groskin has them well in hand. Other than some bumps, bruises, and a few minor burns, we’ve escaped injury.”
“Good,” Jusson said again. “Cais will provide salve for any who need it or they can wait for the Faena cat to return from seeing to the horses.”
“Most have what they need, Your Majesty,” Suiden said. “There was some damage to property, but nothing that can’t be easily replaced.” He glanced around the minihall. “May I ask where Javes is?”
I blinked at that, then looked around myself. Apparently Jeff and Arlis weren’t the only ones missing.
“He went to see Captain Kveta, to confirm with her our meeting tomorrow,” Jusson said. “I’m sure he was held up by all the commotion from the fire and should return shortly.”
“ ‘See Captain Kveta’?” Suiden echoed. “I found Rabbit with Kveta just before the fire alarm sounded, Your Majesty. Javes was not with them.”
“No, he wasn’t, sire,” I agreed. “We ran into her on our way back here. She was by herself.”
“Was she?” Jusson said, a line appearing between his brows. Thadro, also frowning, went to the door. After a moment’s murmured talk with the guards there, he shut it again, but not before I could hear footsteps going down the winding stairs. Carrying his teacup, Jusson sat in his crown chair by the fireplace.
“Perhaps he has been caught up in the confusion caused by the fire, Your Majesty,” Suiden offered.
“Perhaps,” Jusson said. “But if he was in the arms yard, then he should’ve returned with us, if only to see his men settled.”
That was very true. Suiden remained silent and Jusson smiled even though his frown line remained.
“First one, then the other of my captains disappearing on me,” he said. “Leaving no word about where they’re going or when they should return.”
“Your Majesty,” Suiden began.
“Where were you?” Jusson asked.
“I went out riding.”
Of all the possible answers my former captain could’ve given, that one was totally unexpected. Jusson’s frown deepened.
“A ride?” The king glanced out a window, as if to make sure that it was still night. “Was there a particular reason?”
For a rare moment Suiden looked uncomfortable. “I was going to my ship, m’Aurflagrare.”
“You were?” Jusson asked. “Why?”
“I wanted to see if any of my old crew was on board.” Suiden’s uncomfortable look became tinged with embarrassment. “It seemed a good idea at the time.”
“I see,” Jusson said, his voice mild. “And were there any?”
“I don’t know, Your Majesty,” Suiden said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I got about halfway there before realizing how silly it was. Especially since I didn’t bother to bring a hat, greatcoat, or gloves.”
“Cold, were you?” Jusson asked.
“Damn cold,” Suiden said. “I turned around and came right back as fast as I could.” Dropping his hand, he frowned at me. “And walked in on Rabbit, Groskin, Ryson, and Captain Kveta lost in the hallway near the kitchens.”
“Yes, so you said.” Taking a sip of tea, Jusson leaned back in his chair and thrust out his feet, folding his hands over his stomach. “Please, everyone sit and have some tea while you tell us, Rabbit, how you became lost and alone in the bowels of the castle.”
I had started to sink back into my chair, but at Jusson’s words, I froze, just barely avoiding flashing a look at Suiden. Then realizing that I’d announced to the room that there had been problems with my night, I sat. But the damage had been done.
“Ah,” Jusson said. “I trust you weren’t abandoned because you took advantage of our host’s hospitality, Cousin.”
It took me a moment to figure out what Jusson meant. “No, sire,” I said, my face flushing. “We were properly chaperoned the entire time we were together.”
“Servants playing gooseberry or not, I’m sure Berenice is safe from untoward attentions from Rabbit, Your Majesty,” Thadro said. “From anyone else probably too.”
“Lord Huegon seemed entranced,” Jusson said. “But then, he likes women who can palm a beer keg or two while knocking heads together in the middle of a riot.”
I was startled at Jusson’s and Thadro’s comments. While Berenice had not lived up to the promise of her parents’ good looks, she wasn’t a cold shower either. Far from it. The memory arose of her leaning close to me, her face in shadow, her wicked dark eyes sparkling. “She’s not that bad, Your Majesty,” I said, my flush deepening.
“I’ve seen worse,” Suiden ventured, agreeing. “There’s nothing wrong with Sra Berenice that a little style and clothes sense wouldn’t cure.”
“There you go, Cousin,” Jusson said. “Something with which to woo Lady Berenice. Offer to help with her wardrobe selection.”
“Yes, sire,” I said faintly.
“I don’t know, Your Majesty,” Thadro said. “The world may not be able to handle another with Rabbit’s splendor.”
“Ha, yes,” Jusson said, grinning. Draining his cup, he leaned forward and poured another. “So, tell us, Cousin. What did Lady Berenice want? And if you didn’t importune our host’s daughter, why didn’t she at least have a servant return you here? Does it have to do with the fact that you left with just an air sphere and returned with several of fire?”
Jusson, Thadro, and Suiden all listened intently as I launched into my adventures on the broad walk. Figuring that they didn’t need to know about Berenice and my near kiss, I glossed over it, going directly to the acrobatic eavesdropper. Suiden did frown when Her Highness appeared in my telling (I left out that near kiss too), and his frown abruptly deepened when I talked about Princess Rajya’s questions. But he did not interrupt and I was able to get to our meeting up with Kveta before the others spoke.
“None of that makes sense,” Thadro said after I’d finished. “We’re here mainly because of Idwal’s demands for redress of Hilga’s breaking her troth by Rabbit marrying his daughter. And even if, as Lady Berenice has strongly hinted, her father has changed his mind, why did she publicly whisk Rabbit off for a private tryst?”
“Good questions,” Jusson said. “Another question is who was spying on whom, and who would fear discovery so much that they’d risk a broken neck to get away?”
“We didn’t get a good look, Your Majesty,” I said.
“So I gathered,” Jusson said. “So we’ll shelve that question for another.” He looked at Suiden, one brow raised. “M’Hlafakyri?”
“I might have the pronunciation wrong,” I said.
“Close enough,” Suiden said. “The full term is Hlafakyri i’alDraconi.”
“Dragon Lord of the Dragon Lords?” Jusson guessed.
“Literally, yes,” Suiden said. “Dragon King is a better translation.”
“I see,” Jusson said.
“It means nothing to me, Your Majesty,” Suiden began.
“But it does mean something to Her Highness,” Jusson said. “And, just a guess, I would also say that it means something to the amir. I’d further guess to say that perhaps it means something to this ship’s crew that you were so anxious to see.”
Falling silent, Suiden rose and went to the teapot to pour his own cup of pale tea. Instead of finding his seat again, he remained standing, staring into his cup, his face distant. “Twenty-two years ago, Your Majesty, I came to your court a beggar.”
Jusson’s rather hard expression softened somewhat. “That’s not quite how I remember it, Captain Prince.�
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“A beggar, Your Majesty,” Suiden said, looking up at the king. “No casim, no influence, empty pockets my fortune, the amir’s anger my inheritance. Yet you took me in, despite the protests of the then Turalian ambassador, over the objections of Her Majesty Queen Herleve herself.”
Jusson’s amusement grew. “Our royal mother did kick up something of a fuss, didn’t she?”
“Just a bit, sire,” Thadro said.
“This is my home and you are my liege lord,” Suiden said. “As I said before, the desires and wishes of others are irrelevant. I have sworn it. As Rabbit says, fiat.”
For a moment, the only sound was the subdued crackling of the fire in the fireplace, which was echoed by the fire spheres hovering over my shoulder. Despite the warmth of the room, I shivered. “Fiat,” I whispered.
“So witnessed,” Thadro murmured, his blue-gray eyes bright.
Jusson gave a swift, fierce smile. “Tomorrow’s meeting with Her Highness should be very interesting.”
“You’re meeting with Princess Rajya after Captain Kveta, Your Majesty?” Suiden asked, his face going blank.
“Yes, though she doesn’t know it yet,” Jusson began. He then stopped, turning his head to the door. A couple of moments later, I heard footsteps growing louder as several folks climbed the steps. Cais appeared from out of Jusson’s bedchamber and walked to the door, opening to reveal Javes. The formerly missing captain stepped inside and tripped over the threshold, but was caught before he fell by the two Own guarding the door. Pulling away from them, he straightened his clothes and bowed—and nearly fell over again.
“Your Majesty,” he said, enunciating very carefully.
“Javes,” Jusson said. He stood and quickly walked towards the door. “Where have you been, man?”
“I don’t know—someplace,” Javes said. He blinked owlishly at me. “Hallo, Rabbit. You’re awfully bright.”
Jusson’s concern turned into surprise. “You’ve been drinking.”
“Was talking about my uncle Jakub,” Javes said. “Mother’s brother, you know. Not m’father’s. Uncle Kuba’s Qarant, like Mama. Damas, daughter of the line. So’s Uncle Kuba. But a son, not daughter. Important difference.” Frowning over that, Javes just as carefully moved away from the doorway, allowing us to see Wyln and Laurel behind him. “Ran into someone else. Knocked the cat down. Sorry, sorry. Good thing, though. Helped me up the stairs.”
“We found him wandering in the barracks, honored king,” Laurel said. “Looking for his patrol.”
“They weren’t there,” Javes said, looking perplexed. “Nor were the barracks. Did someone take them?”
“There was a fire that was quickly put out, Wolf’son,” Wyln said, his voice soothing. “Your men are safe.”
“Good,” Javes said. “They can’t sleep there, though. All burned up.” He frowned again, then brightened. “They can bivoauc with me. Big arse bed, plenty of room.”
“They’re already in good beds,” Jusson said, his voice dry. “Which is where you should be.”
“Yes, big day tomorrow. Meetings and whatnot.” Swaying, Javes focused on Wyln and Laurel as they moved past him into the room, reaching for and missing his quiz glass. “You have a big day tomorrow too.”
“We do?” Wyln asked, amused.
“The wolf has messages for you. Ask Rabbit, he knows—” Javes hiccupped, looking astonished. “Oh, I say. Feel rather sick, what?”
“That’s not surprising,” Jusson said. He glanced at Cais, and the majordomo moved to one side of Javes, and together with the Own, hurriedly steered the captain to the archway into his room and the chamber pot inside. Sounds of retching reached us and we all winced, except for Laurel, who turned his head, listening.
“I have a remedy, honored king, which should ease his suffering. Somewhat.”
“In a moment.” Jusson turned to me. “Messages?”
“Kveta mentioned that she had some for Wyln and Laurel while we were coming upstairs from dinner, sire,” I said. “To tell the truth, I had forgotten about it in all the commotion.”
“Most likely from the High Council, Iver’son,” Wyln said, “in response to the Qarant’s mediation with Tural.”
“I see,” Jusson said. “Why did Captain Kveta tell you—”
“Captain Javes was there too, Your Majesty,” I put in.
“—tell you and Javes about messages for Lord Wyln and Master Laurel?”
“And does the good captain make a habit of telling the business of others?” Thadro muttered softly.
“Only if it’s to her advantage,” Laurel muttered back.
“Kveta said that she looked for Laurel and Wyln after dinner but couldn’t find them …” my voice trailed off as I realized how that sounded.
“I noticed that you two were missing,” Jusson said, picking up on it just the same. “Where did you go?”
“We tried to go down to the forest and see about this Watcher,” Wyln said, his amusement growing.
“At night?” Thadro asked.
Both Wyln and Laurel looked at Thadro, one with glowing amber eyes, the other with eyes aflame. “Night has never been an issue with cats, honored Lord Commander,” Laurel said.
“Nor with elves,” Wyln said. “In fact, some prefer it over day. However, this night the outer gate was closed so we took a stroll around the castle grounds.”
“Closed?” Jusson asked. “Yet Suiden was able to get a horse and get out all right.”
Laurel gave a rumble of surprise while Wyln lifted a winged brow. “You did, Your Highness?” Wyln asked. “Any particular reason why?”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Suiden said. He looked at Jusson. “I left with the guests, Your Majesty. Given Sro Mearden’s disposition, I’m sure the gate was shut as soon as possible.”
“Slammed shut and if it happened to catch Mistresses Emlyn and Frauke on their way out, so much the better,” Thadro said.
“Probably,” Jusson said, a faint grin appearing. “Did you see anything unusual in your strolls, Master Cat, Lord Wyln?”
“Other than a keep filled with symbols and motifs of the People? No, honored king,” Laurel said.
“It was most likely once a fae castle,” Wyln said, echoing my earlier thoughts.
“So is the Royal Palace in Iversly,” Laurel began.
“Morendyll,” Wyln murmured.
“Morendyll,” Laurel said, waving technicalities such as names away with a paw. “Even so, all overt traces of the former occupants were obliterated—”
“I wouldn’t call a Witness Circle inscribed on the throne room floor subtle, Faena,” Wyln murmured some more.
“No one knew what the Circle was until Rabbit stepped into it last spring and even then it wasn’t associated with the fae.”
That was true. And it was only because of the dire circumstances I was in that I did step into it.
“It was considered a legend, along with Locival and his companions,” Thadro said. “Something out of our past.”
“And so what wasn’t destroyed was converted.” Laurel waved a paw again, this time at the hunting tapestry. I did not look. “But here, there is no attempt to convert, to hide what was once the People’s—”
“Truth,” Wyln said, his face sobering. “It is a fae castle, Iver’son, down to the lintel carvings and wall hangings. And its enchanted forest.”
“Enchanted, perhaps,” Laurel said. “Perhaps not. Whatever it is, it’s a strong presence in a land where your Church said such things are evil. However, honored Mearden, who is not fae and who also appears to be in good standing with his church elder, shrugs it off and says it is nothing—”
Laurel broke off as another wave of retching washed over us, once more turning his head to Captain Javes’ room. Jusson sighed.
“Go see to our overindulging captain, Master Laurel,” he said. “We’ll talk later.”
Laurel bowed and disappeared into Javes’ quarters. Frowning, Jusson walked back to his cro
wn chair and picked up his by now cold tea and drank it. “There are many things we need to discuss,” he said, setting the cup down again, “but I think I’ll wait until Javes recovers. Somewhat,” he added as more retching reached us. “Tomorrow, though, we will explore thoroughly all implications and ramifications of this night’s questions and revelations.”
“So we shall,” Wyln murmured over Thadro’s and Suiden’s “Yes, Your Majesty.” He then took hold of my arm, keeping me from leaving. “Bide a moment, Two Trees’son.”
I obediently stood still. Wyln waited as Jusson and Thadro headed for the royal chambers, and Suiden walked into the room he shared with Javes.
“You leave for dinner with no aspects,” Wyln said when Suiden closed the door on Javes’ retching, “and return with two. I know you summoned the one; tell me, did you summon the other?”
“Yes, honored cyhn,” I said. “I summoned fire.”
“Any particular reason?” Wyln asked.
I felt the flush start on my face again. “I was—startled—and needed light to see.”
“Were you? But you’re not startled now, so why do you still have—” Wyln counted. “Four fire spheres hovering about you?”
I shrugged, though my flush deepened. “I tried to dismiss them, but they wouldn’t go.”
“And why do you think that is, Two Trees’son?” Wyln asked.
“Hell if I know,” I began.
“And damn if you will know,” Wyln said, exasperated.
“I do want to know,” I snapped back, but then stopped as my truth gave a hard twinge.
“No, you don’t,” Wyln said, his exasperation increasing. “The talent is there in spades, but the will is missing. But what you also refuse to understand is in this you have no choice.”
“Because if I don’t, the bloody aspects will do as they will?” I asked. I cast a surprisingly bitter look at the spheres floating around me. “So what? They do anyway.”
“Partly,” Wyln said. “But mainly because it’s who you are. You are mageborn, Rabbit. Nothing you can say or do will ever change that. And in rejecting your talent, you are rejecting yourself. The aspects aren’t overriding your wants and desires. They’re acting in the absence of same.”
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