It was a large, graceful, empty house. Each room was bare—no furniture, no window coverings, no rugs. The kitchen didn’t have a pan, plate or spoon. It did have an indoor pump, and there was one outside by a small vegetable and herb garden that Basel clucked over, but ho bucket in either place. We opened a shed and there wasn’t a hoe or rake to be found.
“Sheesh,” Jeff murmured, looking into the shed’s corners. “They’ve even taken the cobwebs.”
“The ambassador is responsible for furnishing the embassy,” Losan said, when Captain Javes confronted her on the house’s bareness.
“I see,” Javes replied. “And if there’s a pressing need for a chamber pot before he can buy one, what is he supposed to do?” At his words several men shifted uneasily as they were made aware of their own pressing needs (the tinkling fountain didn’t help).
The clerk went to a door set discreetly under a staircase and opened it with a flourish. “The water closet.” Her face declared us provincials. “There are others throughout the house.”
“Is that what that is?” Jeff whispered behind me. “Ryson thought it was a cistern and filled his waterskin from it.”
“Oh, jolly good. Indoor plumbing,” Javes said. “Now”—he waved his hand around the room—”what about the rest?”
“The ambassador is responsible—”
“And so it will be taken care of,” Laurel said. “If you will give me the name of a banker, please.”
“Banker?”
“So I may establish an account, no?” Laurel blinked again, then opened wide his eyes, his pupils dark and large, and the clerk shifted her feet. “I am sure the one who services the king will be fine.”
“The kingdom doesn’t recognize Border coin—”
“I heard you the first time.”
There was silence while Losan worked out that she really couldn’t ask the Faena what he was going to use as money. And that she had pushed the limits of her welcome. Laurel’s tail lashed one way, then another, and she shifted again.
“Uh, yes, Ambassador. When would you like an escort?”
“Do we have enough food for tonight, honored captain?”
Javes looked at Basel, who nodded. “Yes, sirs. For tonight and a couple of meals tomorrow.”
Laurel blinked again. “Come for me tomorrow morning, then.”
A quick bow and a quicker pace, and very shortly the front door opened and shut behind her.
I had followed just to make sure she didn’t get lost on her way out, and I started to return to the others when the door opened again. I turned around and saw Slevoic, his uniform plastered to his body with sweat, the aroma of horses hanging heavy around him. He stepped inside, crowding me. “Well, it’s my Lord Freak Sweet Cheeks.”
I crowded back. “What interesting dreams you have, Slevoic.”
“Let me tell you my dreams, puke—”
“No, thank you. Not on an empty stomach.”
“Oh, Slevoic, you’re back.” Captain Javes came wandering into the entry hall, followed by Groskin. “Are the horses all settled?”
The lieutenant moved away from me. “Yes, sir.”
“Very good. Please help Groskin with the room assignments. And Rabbit”—Javes gave me the same narrow-eyed stare I last saw on Suiden—”you’re with me.”
As was predicted, it was a tight fit, with some in bedchambers, some in the servant’s quarters, and some in sitting rooms, dressing rooms, and rooms that we had no idea what they were intended for. The only ones who had chambers to themselves were Laurel Faena, which we figured was all right as it was his embassy, and the death staff and dragon skin, warded in a closet, which nobody wanted to be around anyway.
Suiden returned as the sun sank towards the horizon, casting long shadows in the courtyard. I had convinced Laurel to sit on one of the benches to catch the afternoon breeze, and the rest of the men had decided that it was a good idea. We filled our waterskins from the fountain after the Faena cupped a paw, drank and declared the water fresh (Groskin made Ryson throw his skin away and wash his mouth out with the remaining soap) and we plucked fruit from the trees. There were all sorts, and Basel rubbed his hands together in glee as he went from tree to tree, making schemes for breakfast. I chortled myself when I found the pomegranates. It was only the second time that I had the tart small-seed fruit, and my lips and chin were stained red from its juice when Suiden entered the courtyard. There was a general stir as the troops tried to find the energy to stand, but the captain had pity and motioned for us to remain as we were. His green eyes caught the sun’s last rays as he headed my way and I scooted over to make room for him to sit.
“Well, that was interesting,” Suiden said.
Javes had sat on the grass (after spreading his kerchief) next to our bench, and he now lifted his head to look at Suiden out of wolfen eyes. I passed a pomegranate to the captain, who took his dagger and cut it open. Taking a bite, he sighed in pleasure and settled against the bench’s back, dirusting his booted feet out. He swallowed and released another sigh. “That’s good.” He listened to the fountain in the darkening courtyard for a few moments. “We are assigned to Ambassador Laurel until such time as the ambassador provides his own guards.”
Javes nodded while Laurel purred. “Excellent, honored captain.”
“Commander Loel did think that Lieutenant Rabbit should be reassigned to the Royal Garrison, but I pointed out that Ebner had made Rabbit liaison to Sro Laurel. And that only the Lord Commander or King Jusson could countermand his orders.” I had lulled myself into thinking I was going to be ignored but at Suiden’s words my shoulders tensed.
“So for now, we all abide here,” Suiden finished.
“Very good,” Javes said as he leaned back against the bench leg (also draped with a kerchief) and rested his arm on his raised knee. “You know, after pushing Commander Loel so hard, you’ll probably remain in Freston for the rest of your natural life.” Javes’ voice was very soft.
“There are worse commands, Javes, in worse places. Besides, I don’t see you campaigning so hard to leave.” Suiden’s voice was equally soft.
“As you say, my dear captain.”
Chapter Twenty-two
I bunked with Groskin, Jeff and another trooper that night in a second story room, all of us starting in our bedrolls, but soon crawling out of them in self-defense against the heat. Groskin did not argue when I threw open the windows that overlooked the courtyard—the room had ventilation openings on the opposite wall, so we had a cross breeze. While it wasn’t unbearable, to those used to mountain climates it came close.
The next morning after a breakfast that featured Basel’s fruit creations, Losan eso Dru showed up with two of her sister clerks. I was outside in the courtyard with Jeff, marveling—from a distance—at the big, many-colored spiders and speculating on the odds of them finding their way into our sleeping quarters. (We got a little quiet when we found a rather large lizard caught in one web, and we gave the weavers even more room.) When I felt a touch on my elbow, I nearly shot out of my skin. I snapped around, expecting to see an eight-legged beastie crawling up my arm. Instead, Groskin stood there, and I held my lips tight at his grin.
“Captain Suiden wants to see you two.” Groskin’s grin widened. “Though I’m sure that you’ve time to change your uniform, Rabbit, if you need to.” I almost but didn’t quite make a rude gesture at him (old fears die hard) as we followed the lieutenant into a salon where Suiden’s Perdan rug had been rolled out on the floor and his folding table and chairs placed on top. Suiden stood beside Laurel, who sat in one of the chairs, facing Losan and the two other clerks, and Captain Javes was propped against the wall next to the door that led into the interior hallway.
“Ah. A moment please, men,” Suiden said when we walked into the room. He turned back to Losan. “The Border will not be responsible for the Royal Army’s upkeep and, as this is not a barracks, we have permission to outfit ourselves as befits an ambassador’s residence.”
“We should take over this duty, Captain.” Losan gave a smooth smile. “This will keep both you and the ambassador from any hint of impropriety.”
“Oh, I say, one of Gherat’s clerks in charge of army procurement?” Captain Javes asked. “What would the Lord Commander say to that?”
Losan’s smile slipped a bit.
“I will keep the accounts,” Suiden said, “as per regulations.”
“Yes, but—”
“You overstep yourself, Losan eso Dru,” Laurel rumbled. “Iversterre was informed of my coming and the reasons for my solo state. Yet upon my arrival I am thrust into an intolerable situation, and every protest is met with excuses, justifications, and rationalizations. Now you wish to push yourself into the running of my household.” Laurel stood and grabbed his staff, which leaned against the wall, then faced the trio of clerks. “Enough. You have no authority here.” He started for the door. “I will be ready in half an hour. Please meet me in the entry way.”
“Trooper Jeffen, please escort Losan and her aides to the foyer,” Captain Suiden said.
Losan’s mouth shut with a snap and after glaring red-faced at the captain, she spun around and walked out after the Faena. Jeff herded the other two clerks behind her.
As soon as they were gone, Suiden told me to shut the courtyard doors, while Javes pushed away from the wall and shut the door to the hallway. Groskin moved the chairs so they faced away from the uncovered windows and glass doors.
“Please sit.” Suiden frowned as we all did so. “I had forgotten how, ah, involved the politics were here.”
Javes gave a sharp laugh. “Involved? The ambassador of the only country to beat us bloody stupid is given a stripped bare house, is told that his money is no good and that he’d probably nick any loose change lying around, so we’ll keep the household books, old fellow. By a jumped-up junior clerk.”
“Eso Dru, Javes,” Suiden said.
“Fine. A jumped-up noble junior clerk.”
“It concerns me, sirs, that she had no compunction in demanding that she take over the procurement of our supplies,” Groskin said.
“Yes,” Suiden said. “It makes one wonder.”
“It also concerns me that we haven’t heard from any of the Gresh or Iversly clergy,” Groskin continued. “Nor from anyone else.”
“You’re right, Lieutenant,” Javes said. “Where’s the receiving committee? In every damn place we’ve been, the officials fell over themselves to greet the ambassador. Here, they act like he’s some junior clerk, come only to make sure the lawn is trimmed and the middens emptied.” He turned and looked at me. “And what about Lord Rabbit here? If my papa had a loose heir running about, he’d be all over him like wet on water.”
“Uhm, sir, I’m not really the heir—”
“No, not to Flavan, Rabbit,” Javes said, “but Lord Chause has only one very young son and the brother next in line is a vice admiral in the Royal Navy out quarreling with the Turalians over sea trade routes—and is not married.”
“Widower, no children,” Suiden said.
I blinked, not realizing how close to the succession I stood. “But my da is still alive and I have three older brothers.”
“Who aren’t here,” Suiden replied. “You are.”
“But I don’t want—” The world shifted.
“Then you should have stayed in the Border,” the obsidian dragon said. The gray wolf gave a sharp yip, while the black panther’s ears laid back in agreement. Green eyes stared down at me through wisps of curling smoke. “Why do you think your parents went there? It’s the one place where certain Houses—”
“Or other interests,” the wolf growled.
“—couldn’t reach them.”
“Why did you leave the Border, Rabbit?” the large cat rumbled.
“I wanted to see the world …” My voice trailed off as three different species looked at me in disbelief.
“So you’ve said before, but your parents couldn’t have been so naive as to not tell you what they had left behind,” the dragon said.
They did tell me. But what I ran away from terrified me more than anything that might have arisen from the once upon a time of my parents’ past. From the clean, bright walls shadows gathered and I was suddenly surrounded by darkness through which several pairs of transparent eyes peered. I heard the wind shaking the trees, and something stretched, then snapped with a thunderclap.
“Rabbit, are you all right?” Groskin asked, his hand on my arm.
I looked up and saw Suiden and Javes watching me with concern. The sun shone into the room, the trees outside still, the only shadows cast by window and door mullions. A shudder shook me. “I—”
The door opened and Laurel came in. “What has happened?” He shut the door behind him and hurried over to where we were, his toe claws clicking against the floor tiles. “Are you all right, Rabbit?”
Suiden rose and went to my side. “Lieutenant Rabbit was overcome by the heat for a moment.”
“I see.” Laurel looked at me. “You might want to breathe.” I realized that I wasn’t taking in air and began to gasp, willing my heart to slow down. A metallic taste filled my mouth, followed by bile, and I swallowed. After opening the glass doors to the courtyard, Groskin came back and tried to thrust my head between my knees. Laurel swatted his hand away and reached into his pouch, pulling out a couple of leaves. “Here, chew these.”
I swallowed again, recognizing them. “No,” I said in denial.
Javes frowned. “What are they?”
“Thunder without a cloud in the sky, Rabbit,” Laurel said, ignoring the captain. “Tell me, what did you see?”
“It’s not uncommon to have thunder without clouds when it’s hot,” Suiden said. “And you’re not dosing my men without my permission.”
I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn’t work and I fell back into my chair. Groskin clamped a hand to my shoulder to keep me seated.
“It’s just the heat, sir,” I said. “I’m all right.”
“No, you’re not all right,” Laurel said. He looked at Suiden. “Do you know what’s ailing him?” Shut up, I thought, and both Laurel and Suiden looked at me as if I shouted.
“All right,” Javes said. “What is going on?”
Laurel held up the leaves and in the breeze from the open doors I caught the faint scent of mint. “Mentha,” he said.
Suiden stared at Laurel, then jerked his head around at me, his face filled with dawning understanding.
“So?” Javes asked as Groskin frowned down at me.
“It’s given to mages,” Laurel said, “when they start to come into their full power.” There was silence as Laurel’s words sank in; then Groskin snatched his hand back from my shoulder as if it were hot. Javes, though, peered at me through his quiz glass. “Oh, I say,” he murmured, fascinated. Then his voice changed. “You’re shaking like you have the ague, Rabbit.”
I felt like it. Despite the heat, I was shivering with cold and my teeth had started to chatter. I pushed myself to my feet anyway, this time staying there. “I’ll be all right, sir,” I repeated, not looking at Laurel or his damned leaves. “It’s the heat. A little rest and I should be fine.”
“So you’re not a mage?” Javes asked, still looking at me through his quiz glass.
I shook my head and nearly fell. I steadied myself by grabbing onto the chair’s back. “No, sir,” I denied. “I’m just a farm boy.” And I was. It took many years for an apprentice to become a mage.
“Rabbit—” Laurel began, taking hold of my arm. I didn’t have the strength to pull away.
“Let him go, Sro Cat,” Suiden said, removing my arm from Laurel’s grasp for me.
“Captain—” Laurel began this time, rumbling.
“We don’t have time to argue,” Suiden said. “There are three officious clerks of Lord Gherat’s waiting to take us to the bank, so to the bank we must go. Unless you want them or, worse, Gherat to start asking questions.” Moving between Laurel and
me, he looked at Groskin standing several paces away. “Get someone to escort Rabbit upstairs, Lieutenant.” Groskin went to the door and shouted, and a trooper almost immediately appeared. Laurel rumbled deep, his tail lashing, but he remained quiet as the trooper and I left for my room. We did detour first by the kitchen where I drank a cup of water and downed two oranges Basel produced. But after climbing the stairs on wobbly legs, I finally made it to my bedroll. There I collapsed, feeling as though I’d been rolled out and pounded flat. I shot upright again, though, as the smell of mint hit my nose. Reaching into my trousers pocket, I found two mentha leaves that Laurel had managed to tuck in. I stared at the leaves for a moment, then dropped them on the floor before collapsing once more. The room spun around once as I sank into oblivion.
Chapter Twenty-three
I woke up to a sun-filled room, and I groaned. Every joint hurt and my mouth tasted like I had done a tavern crawl, licking the floors clean. I sat up, and lay back down quick to keep my head from falling off. Then my stomach let me know it was feeling neglected and threatened to erupt. I was holding still, hoping that everything would calm down, when the door opened and Jeff walked in carrying the captain’s tea service.
“How’re you feeling?” Jeff asked.
I croaked.
“That good?” Setting the tray down, Jeff shoved something under my head and shoulders, raising me up. “I brought you some tea. Hold on a moment.” He left the room but returned quickly with screens of different sizes.
I croaked again.
“These? One of the lads found them in a small closet tucked away under a staircase. Must have been missed by whoever cleaned this place out.” Coming back to my bedroll, Jeff lifted the teapot and poured a cup. Dropping in several lumps of sugar, he stirred it before handing me the cup. I gulped it down as Jeff took the large screens and fit them over the windows. He then took the smaller screens and placed them over the ventilation openings. “They’ll keep out any garden visitors that might come calling,” Jeff said as he returned. He took the cup. “More?”
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