by Robin Roseau
"Everyone," she said, "This is my cousin, Carina. Carina, this is Lara, Meena, and Anna."
We all said hello, two of us speaking more quietly than the rest. I thought Carina already knew who we were, as I was the one she watched while greeting the others. I reached out my hand and clasped hers for a moment, then pulled her closer and said into her ear, "I'd like to speak with you when you have time for a break."
She nodded and saw to her duties as the barmaid. Keelara went back to telling stories and even teased a few from Gina. Muranna and I largely stayed quiet. I don't know if our subterfuge worked -- or was even necessary -- but no one pointed at us and said, "That's the queen's foster daughter!"
We finished dinner and were stalling by the time the musicians arrived. We saw them begin to set up, and that was when Carina stopped by. She leaned down to my ear and said, "Once they start playing, I have a break."
I nodded and turned my mouth to her ear. "Is there somewhere the five of us can go?"
She nodded and then was off again.
* * * *
Ten minutes later found the five of us in a suddenly very crowded storeroom. Keelara assured herself no one else was there and that there were no other entrances, and then she stepped out to set up guard outside the door. Muranna, Gina, and I looked at Carina.
"Do you know who I really am, Carina?"
She nodded. "You're Princess Yallameenara."
"Well, let's not call me 'princess'," I said. "But yes. First, I have to ask. Are you all right?"
She nodded again. "I guess. I was stupid."
"We'll come to that in a minute. I'm sorry, Carina, but I'm pretty blunt. I'm going to ask you flat out. Are you pregnant?"
"No," she said. But she lowered her eyes from mine, and it would be some time before she would look up at me again.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No, but he made me do things for him." She made a half laugh. "Made me. That's probably not the right word. They didn't seem as bad when he told me what he wanted. He offered such promises."
"Did he use force?"
"No. I was willing, just stupid."
"All right. Tell me about it."
And so she did. It was, perhaps, a typical story of a naïve serving girl seduced by the exotic stranger and his smooth words, only to be rudely dropped after he got what he wanted. She glossed those details, but I glanced at Muranna and let her ask about the more salacious points.
"I never would have shared a bed," she said, "But he made promises." That was when she looked up. "In the morning, he told me he had changed his mind, and he laughed at me besides. He told me..."
A tear escaped her eye. Gina was about to step forward and hug her, but I beat her to it, pulling Carina into my arms. She laid her head on my shoulder. She didn't sob, but she cried soft, still talking. "I don't love him. I hate him. But I feel so used and so amazingly stupid."
"We make mistakes, Carina," Muranna said. "Everyone makes mistakes. But you need to know this was his mistake, not yours. It was Princess Juleena herself who told us to come see you, and the queen is watching this closely, too."
"For me?"
"Not just for you," I said. "He's been working his way around town, we're given to understand."
"I know," she said. "The next night he was at the Green Dolphin, and three nights later I heard he was at the Silver Horse."
We talked with her a little longer, calming her down, but she said she better get back out to the main room before she was missed.
"Carina, I know it's a little intimidating, but if I personally promise you'll be safe, could you speak with Princess Juleena?"
"Do I have to?"
"No. But if we send for you, would you come? We may not need to, but the princess may want to hear about this directly from you."
"I don't want to," she said. "It was my own fault."
"No, it was his," I said. "He used his lies to prey on you. And maybe I'll be able to handle this myself, but if I ask you to come, please tell me you'll come."
She paused, shifting on her feet, and then she nodded.
* * * *
We gathered outside a short while later: Muranna, Gina, Keelara with my other guards, and me. I quietly told Keelara what we'd learned. "I want to pursue this."
She pursed her lips. "I don't want to take you to the Green Dolphin without a little more support, but we could go to the Silver Horse."
"Gina, do you know anyone there?"
"No. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Lieutenant, perhaps one of the guards could escort Gina home and collect a little more support for a trip to the Green Dolphin. We can stay at the Silver Horse until they arrive."
She nodded, and a minute later seven became four, as she sent two of the guards with Gina, not just one.
Our carriage was a half block away. Keelara talked to the driver. During the ride, Muranna and I adjusted our appearance, making small changes to look a little more upscale. And then I noticed Keelara and Ralissa, the other guard, both were as prepared as Muranna and I were. I raised my eyebrow at that.
"This isn't the first time we've done something like this, Meena."
"I think at the Silver Horse, I shall be Yallameenara again," I said. I turned to Muranna. "Do you think we have enough of a description to know him if we see him?"
"Carina said he dresses in the Drindarian fashion," Muranna replied.
"I don't know what that means."
"We do," Keelara said. "We'll keep our eyes open."
"All right."
We arrived at the Silver Horse. I decided to forego subterfuge. My escort verified no one in Drindarian fashion was present, and so when the server stopped by our table -- a teenage boy this time -- I told him, "I am Lady Yallameenara. Do you recognize me?"
His eyes grew wide and he nodded.
"Good. We would like warmed cider if you have it."
"We do."
"And please tell the owner I'd like to speak with her, if she is available."
"I'll tell my mom."
"Perfect. You're a sweet boy."
He blushed as he stepped away. It was cute. Muranna laughed. "You've been taking lessons from me."
"I'll never be as good as you," I said with a glint in my eye.
Our wait wasn't long. It was a woman of forty years who brought our four mugs of cider. She set them down and then said, "My name is Tarish. Lensy said you wished to speak with me."
We stood and exchanged greetings, then I asked if she could sit with me for a minute or two, making room for her.
"Is this about the Spring Equinox Festival? You two know you are always free to set up your posters."
"No," I said. "This is something else. I need you to keep your voice down when I ask my question." Then I lowered my own voice. "I am on a special assignment for Princess Juleena. She wishes me to ask if you know of a Drindarian named Fortin Grass."
Immediately her eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened. "You could say that," she said in clipped words. "He seduced my eldest daughter, the foolish girl."
I set my hand on her arm. "Is your daughter all right?"
"He didn't beat her, if that's what you're asking."
"Tarish, I would really like to speak somewhere a little more private, and if your daughter could join us, I would appreciate it."
She nodded and stood immediately, the rest of us only a half moment behind her. She began leading the way through the room but then grabbed her son by the arm. "Deliver that," she said to him. "Then find Lasma and send her to my office."
"Yes, Mom," the boy said.
Four of us then followed Tarish into the private areas of the inn, down a short corridor, and to an office. There was somewhat more room than the storage room at the Flying Jig, although seating was limited. I gestured Tarish to her own chair and took the remaining free chair, leaving Muranna and Keelara to prop themselves up against a bookcase.
"Is my daughter in trouble?"
"Not from me," I said. "You said the Dri
ndarian didn't beat her. Other than using her badly, is she all right?"
"We're waiting to see if her time comes," Tarish replied. I nodded at that. "Is it normally the business of the princess when a foolish girl believes the lies of a smooth-talking rogue?"
"When that smooth-talking rogue is a member of a foreign diplomatic staff, then I believe it is very much the interest of the crown. I have not talked to Queen Ralalta about this, but Princess Juleena is not pleased."
The woman offered a smile at that, and a moment later there was a knock at the door, and then it opened. A girl entered -- a woman, I should say -- a year or two older than I was. "Mom? Lensy said you wanted me."
"Lasma," said Tarish. "Come in and close the door." By the time she was fully in the room, I was standing. The woman came to a stop, staring at me.
"Lasma, is it?" I said. "Do you know who I am?"
She nodded slowly.
"Good. I need to talk to you. Will you sit here?" I gestured to the seat I had just vacated.
Lasma's tale was different from Carina's only in the smaller details. She admitted to being foolish but then hung her head when she admitted she'd given up her maidenhood to him. I let her talk, prompting her only as needed to keep her going. Finally I told her, "You did nothing wrong, Lasma. Now, do you know if he's been with anyone else?"
"He laughed about another girl," she said. "From one of the inns near the docks."
"Was it the Flying Jig?"
"Yes," she said.
"We've been there. Do you know of anyone else?"
"He was sniffing around my niece," Tarish said, "But I took care of that."
"Jenstie told me he was with Resmora two evenings ago," Lasma said.
"I wouldn't suppose you know where I could find Resmora."
"She works at a candle maker shop on Harnid Row," Tarish said.
"But she's probably at the Golden Grain tonight," Lasma said.
"When did she start working there?" Tarish asked.
"A couple of months ago," Lasma said. "Her momma is sick."
"Oh. I remember now."
The Golden Grain was a gambling establishment. I looked at Keelara, but she only shook her head. Yeah, I didn't think she'd let me visit there.
"Do you know which candle maker?"
"Um. It's next to the pewter shop," Lasma said.
I looked at Keelara again. "We'll find it," she said. "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," I agreed. "Lasma, I have one more question. If Princess Juleena wants to speak with you directly, would you be willing to come to the palace?"
"Yes," said Tarish for her daughter. "Lady Yallameenara, what is going to happen?"
"I don't know. We're going to learn what we can, and then I'm going to tell the princess. I suspect I'm then going to repeat it to the queen. And the queen's eyes are going to grow quite dark. I would not wish to be a certain Drindarian when that happens."
"Why does the queen involve herself in something like this?" Lasma asked. "Boys have been trying to seduce me since I grew breasts."
"Those boys weren't seducing half of Marport, and they weren't here supposedly for diplomatic purposes. This is definitely not diplomacy."
* * * *
The story at the Green Dolphin was different. We found no one who knew anything about the Drindarian. We drank our cider and decided to return to the palace. But in the carriage, Keelara asked, "Why are you leading this investigation, Lady Yallameenara?"
"Originally I was only expected to speak to Carina," I replied. "But do you think I was going to set it aside after that?"
"Do you mind if I put out my own feelers?"
"No, but I hope it won't get back to him before we're ready."
"It won't."
"You should report to Princess Juleena with us," I said. "And thank you for your help tonight. I felt much safer knowing you and the other guards were near at hand."
"That's our job," she said. "And you're welcome. Thank you for not fighting me unlike another member of the royal household."
I laughed. "That member of the royal household once taught this member of the royal household just how much she doesn't know about fighting, especially when compared to that member. Face it. I'm a rider, not a fighter."
* * * *
And so, a half hour later found the three of us facing Princess Juleena. She took a look at our grim faces and asked, "How bad is it."
"About what we knew," I said. We told her everything, and she sighed. "We need to tell Mother." She didn't wait but swept from her chambers with the three of us in tow. Five minutes later found us outside Queen Ralalta's door, the guards nodding to us. "Wait here a moment."
Juleena was inside a minute or two before the door opened, and the three of us were invited to enter.
We'd gotten the queen from bed. She was dressed in nightwear with a robe pulled tightly around her, seated near a fire. She didn't rise when we entered, but she gestured to chairs. She didn't take her eyes from the fire. "Which of you is going to tell me the story."
I looked at Keelara, but she stared back dispassionately. "I guess I am." And so I went through everything, this time starting from the beginning.
When I was done, the queen sat quietly for a minute then asked, "Lieutenant Keelara, do you wish to wrest this investigation from Lady Yallameenara?"
"No, but I would strongly prefer remaining involved. Not for the sanctity of the investigation, but simply for Lady Yallameenara's safety."
"Daughter?" the queen asked.
"I don't want this to drag out," Juleena said. "Yalla, two more days."
"I don't think we'll remotely reach the bottom in that timeframe."
"Irrelevant," said the queen. "I could evict him based on what you've already learned."
"Your majesty, what if he got anyone pregnant?"
At that she turned to me. "Would you force him to marry?"
"I was thinking of reparations. Children are expensive. The women are partly at fault for believing him, but he should at least take some amount of financial responsibility for what he's been doing."
"Have you said anything like that to anyone else?"
"No. It wouldn't be my place to say, Your Majesty."
At that she nodded. "Well, you're right. Learn what you can in two more days. Juleena, do you believe you need to speak with the involved women yourself?"
"If we were to pursue criminal charges, yes, but I don't hear of anything criminal, just criminally offensive."
"Just so," said the queen. She turned her gaze back to me. "Do not make promises in my name."
"Of course not, Your Majesty."
"But handle it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I counsel you not to mention reparations at this time. The promise of money could muddy your investigation."
"Good advice, Your Majesty."
"Muranna, you're quiet."
"I would have done this differently," she said. "But I wouldn't second guess Yalla."
"How would you do it?"
"Arsenic."
The queen's lips twitched. "But if we applied your method, who would pay Yalla's reparations?"
"You make a good point," Muranna said.
"I do not believe what he has done is a capital offense," the queen said. She shook her head. "Most diplomats are good people. But from time to time, adding someone to the diplomatic corps is a good way to offload a problem and foist it off on a foreign government. And perhaps at the same time, one can hope for someone of Muranna's persuasion to become involved."
* * * *
Forty and eight hours later found all of us back in Queen Ralalta's chambers. I began my report simply. "We found ten and two women who he has seduced and rumors of more. It would take weeks to unearth them all, and I'm not sure we could actually get ahead of his exploits." I told the queen and princess exactly what we had discovered. And then I waited.
"Keelara, did you wish to add anything?" the queen asked.
"Only the obvious," she sai
d. "He's a cad and a louse, but there are no laws prohibiting any of his behavior, at least none we've found so far." Then she paused. "Oh, and he uses the same carriage service for getting around Marport."
The queen stood and paced for a moment. "I can evict him. I don't need a reason to evict a foreigner." She turned back to face us all. "But I do need a reason to fine him, and so far, we don't have one."
"You want Yalla's reparations," Juleena said.
"Yes. I want reparations."
Juleena, Keelara, and Ralalta discussed possible excuses for fining him.
"We can force him to pay child support," Keelara suggested at one point.
"Only if he acknowledges the child first," Juleena replied.
Muranna and I both scoffed at that, which didn't seem to surprise anyone.
A few minutes later, Juleena turned to her mother. "We could demand the Drindarian embassy pay reparations. Do we care how they get the money?"
The queen pursed her lips. "I'd rather not. If you were leading a foreign delegation, and the opposing government brought something like this to you, how would you respond?"
"I'd suggest it was a personal issue, but I might not intercede with legal proceedings." She paused. "Something like this happened in Alteara a decade ago."
"I heard about that," Muranna said. "It was the Monarian ambassador to Alteara. As I remember, he was evicted from Alteara. Where there reparations?"
"No," Ralalta said. "Alteara asked for them. Monaria refused, and I remember at the time agreeing with them. Now that we're on the receiving end, I don't believe I can change my position."
And so conversation continued. Finally I said, "This all started out for us when Gina pointed out there was someone in the Drindarian delegation who fancies himself a horseman."
Everyone turned to me. I don't know if they were waiting for me to bring this up. Juleena had been right there, after all, and it wasn't the first time we'd used my riding to solve a diplomatic mess, but the other time, I'd been a contributing cause of the mess.
"But if we want real reparations, the size of the wager is well outside my limit. And I haven't seen him ride."
"He may know about you, Yalla," Juleena added. "This isn't the sheltered teenage child of a foreigner."
"He's been avoiding anyone with any power or influence," Keelara said. "Her normal tricks to lure him in aren't going to work."