Fortune and Fate

  “In fact, the serlords and their ladies will be here tomorrow night,” Sabina said. “We didn’t invite Seton here to meet you because his presence can be so disruptive. However, he has begged us to extend to you an invitation to his house for dinner. His estate is only a half-day’s ride from here.”

  This time Cammon didn’t bother glancing at the Rider for a silent consultation. “Yes, I’d be happy to,” he said blithely. If he’d been close enough, Senneth would have hit him. Even Kirra laid down her fork and looked astonished, then amused. To have to guard royalty at the house of a disgruntled noble! It was almost an impossible task.

  Sabina was wreathed in smiles. “I’ll send a note to him in the morning.”

  “You might wait until we’ve worked out the logistical details first,” Senneth said pleasantly.

  “Oh, all of you will come, of course,” Cammon said to her.

  She merely smiled at him. “Of course.”

  Tayse spoke up again. “What about traffic on the roads?” he said. “I understand there have been reports of brigands.”

  Nate shrugged. “There will always be outlaws. We are no more troubled by them than any other House.”

  Cammon looked unconvinced, but didn’t bother to contradict Nate. Senneth said, “That’s good to hear,” and then there was a moment of awkward silence.

  Kirra was the one to break it. “So tell me,” she said, “is there any interesting gossip out of the southern or middle Houses?”

  Sabina leaned forward, animated again. “Heffel has confirmed that his daughter, Lauren, will be his heir,” she said. “She is the eldest, of course, but many marlords like to see a son inherit.”

  “That’s excellent news!” Senneth exclaimed. “I met her several times and liked her very much.”

  “And how’s Mayva Nocklyn?” Kirra asked. “I heard that Lowell died in prison, so she would be free to marry again if she wanted.”

  “If she wanted,” Sabina agreed. “She told me most emphatically that she is done with husbands.” She smiled at Nate. “I told her she just hasn’t found the proper one. Anyone can be wrong the first time.”

  Senneth had to cast her eyes down to keep from looking at Kirra, who was smiling in unholy amusement, or Tayse, who could hardly keep the sardonic look from his face. It was just so impossible to believe that even someone who had suffered at Halchon’s hands for fifteen years would find Nate an attractive alternative.

  “Well,” Kirra said merrily, “husband-hunting for Mayva! That sounds like a most intriguing challenge! I’ll have to start thinking about some of the eligible men I know.”

  “You yourself could think of taking a husband, serra,” Nate said to her.

  That caused Senneth to look up and become the one smirking across the table. Kirra wasn’t married to Donnal, of course, but she might as well be; she loved him enough. “Oh, I’m much too unpredictable to settle down in such a conventional way,” Kirra said, waving a hand. “If I were to wed, I would no doubt choose someone entirely inappropriate, and bring consternation upon my House. Surely it is better for everyone that I remain as I am.” She gave Senneth a limpid smile—the last words had clearly been added for Senneth’s benefit.

  “Perhaps you’re right,” Nate said. Senneth gave him great credit for managing not to look at Tayse as he spoke. “And your sister married respectably—into the best of Houses!—and is already prepared to produce heirs for Danalustrous. So all is well.”

  Now Kirra was openly laughing. “All is well indeed.”

  Chapter 16

  A FINE DESSERT FINISHED OFF THE MEAL, AND SOON THE travelers were all excusing themselves to seek their beds. First, of course, they all convened in the suite set aside for royalty to discuss what they’d learned since their arrival.

  “You cannot possibly go to the house of this scheming vassal lord,” Senneth said the instant she’d shut the door behind them. As she’d expected, Justin and Donnal were already present, sitting before the fireplace, halfway through a game of cards.

  “Why not?” Cammon asked.

  Kirra chimed in as she perched on the bed. “Because kings just don’t go and visit small out-of-the-way estates, that’s why,” she said. “Those houses aren’t designed with security in mind, the way a marlord’s estate is, or a royal palace.”

  “I’m not the king,” he said, settling in a chair near the bed.

  Everyone ignored this. “It would be unsafe even if you believed the man to be friendly to the marlord and friendly to the crown!” Senneth said. “But a man who bears you ill will already—you cannot give him opportunities to assault you.”

  “You can’t seriously think there’s a risk of that,” Cammon said.

  “Liege, I agree with her,” Tayse spoke up. “It would be difficult, although not impossible, to defend you from physical assault in a structure not built for defense, but I would think there is the possibility that someone in the house would attempt to poison you. The risk may be small, but it is still unacceptable.”

  “That’s just ridiculous,” Cammon said.

  “One of us could be his royal taster,” Justin suggested, clearly not serious. He slapped a hand against his thigh and pointed at Donnal. “Change him back into a dog shape and pretend you’re feeding him scraps of meat just because he’s your favorite hound. If he dies, of course, you stop eating.”

  “Why do you think anyone would want to poison me?” Cammon asked. “I think they’re more likely to want to poison Nate.”

  Senneth gave a strangled laugh and dropped to the bed beside Kirra. “I’d save them the trouble and do it myself, except Sabina looks so happy with him,” she said. “But he truly is the most annoying man.”

  “I know you don’t like him, but I walked the defenses for a couple hours tonight, and the House is in excellent shape,” Justin said. “The guard is small, but well-ordered, and none of the soldiers had anything but praise for your brother.”

  “The Thirteenth House sounds like it might be in a revolt, though,” Tayse observed. He directed his question at Kirra. “How much of that is to be expected, and how much can be attributed to the fact that he is in some sense acting as regent and has no authority that will last past Warren’s twenty-first birthday?”

  “A little of both, I would think,” Kirra said. “To some extent, his hands are tied, and the lesser lords know that. They will be trying what they can now to amass power. But the same thing goes on in Danalustrous and Rappengrass and any of the Houses. It is just a matter of degree.”

  “He was lying about something, though,” Cammon said. “I think there is more thievery on the roads than he wants to admit. I think he’s worried about it, too.”

  “I’m sure that’s an important matter, but it’s not the issue at hand right now,” Senneth said. “You cannot go to a dinner at this vassal’s house. Blame me if you like, but tell Sabina in the morning that you’ve changed your mind.”

  Cammon looked surprised. “But we just settled that! Donnal will go as my taster. And if he looks like he’s been poisoned,” he added, “Kirra will just have to use her healing magic to save his life.”

  “Meanwhile, the servants are all tripping over Riders every time they enter or leave the room, because we’ll be nine deep around the table glaring at everyone in turn,” Justin added with a grin.

  “Liege, I agree with Senneth,” Tayse said in his serious way. “Such an outing poses many risks.”

  “But Nate said Seton Mayman has become his ally in the council, and it seems like Nate needs allies,” Cammon said stubbornly. “We don’t want to give Gisseltess the power to raise more troops. But shouldn’t we do what we can to make the House internally strong? By simple political measures with no cost attached?”

  There was a short silence. Kirra rolled over onto her stomach, which put her face close to Senneth’s. “When did Cammon start talking like a strategist?” she said. “I find it very peculiar. Is it possible that I’m just dreaming this conversation? Though I have to say
, my dreams are usually much more interesting than this.”

  Senneth sighed and fell back on the bed so she was staring up at the gathered folds of the canopy. “So if we decide it’s worthwhile to send him to this vassal’s house, how do we make sure he survives the visit?”

  “Do you really think there’s a risk of poison?” Justin asked.

  “Small,” Senneth answered, still on her back. “But possible.” She turned her head to look at Kirra, who was much more conversant with the rules of society than Senneth was. “Do we insult the lord if we bring in a taster? We cannot let him go shaped as a dog, of course. But as Donnal?”

  Kirra tapped her mouth. “I think it will be acceptable if we’re apologetic but firm. ‘We feel we must go to extreme measures to safeguard the health of the royal consort. If we observe this course at every small estate, no one is singled out, and yet he is protected.’ Something like that.”

  “Yet a taster really cannot guarantee anyone’s safety,” Tayse said. “If the venom is designed to act slowly, both Donnal and Cammon could seem perfectly healthy through the whole meal, only to succumb some hours later.”

  Kirra was practically bouncing on the bed. “I know! I will be the taster. But as I handle every dish, I’ll change its composition, so there is no chance of any poison making its way into Cammon’s mouth.”

  “Now that’s an interesting idea,” Senneth said.

  “That’ll be the blandest meal Cammon’s ever eaten,” Justin said. “What will you change his food to? Since you can’t actually cook a decent meal.”

  “Just because I wouldn’t mind if you starved to death doesn’t mean I can’t prepare a meal if I have to,” Kirra returned.

  “Won’t this vassal lord be expecting to see Kirra as well?” Tayse asked.

  Kirra’s face was alight with deviltry. “Donnal can go as me,” she said. “You’ve seen how well he can counterfeit my shape.”

  To prove it, Donnal underwent one of his amazingly fast transformations, and it suddenly looked for all the world as if Kirra was sitting at the hearth holding an assortment of cards. “I can copy her voice as well, though I don’t think I would know what to say,” Donnal said, sounding exactly like Kirra.

  “Just talk nonsense,” Justin advised. “No one will be able to tell the difference.”

  Kirra snatched up one of the pillows from the bed and threw it at him. Grinning broadly, he batted it aside to keep it from going into the fire.

  “I suppose it could work,” Senneth said slowly. “Tayse, what do you think?”

  “It will serve,” Tayse said.

  “Good,” Cammon said. “Now let’s play cards.”

  How could you resist a ruler who was so wise one moment, so boyish the next? Senneth joined him at the table, ruffling his hair as she sat beside him, and the others all regrouped around them. Tayse dealt, while Senneth and Kirra filled Donnal and Justin in on the conversation over dinner.

  “Not that I blame those boys for hating Nate, but that’s a situation that won’t get better anytime soon,” Senneth said, describing Warren’s exit.

  “Has Nate given any thought to what will happen once Warren becomes marlord?” Kirra asked. “I’d think he’d find it uncomfortable to live here, unless relations dramatically improve.”

  “Is it certain Warren will be marlord?” Cammon asked. They all looked at him. “What?” he said. “Sometimes it’s not the oldest child who’s the heir.”

  “As we all know,” Kirra said dryly. Her own younger sister would inherit Danalustrous from their father.

  “Would the younger boy be a better choice?” Senneth asked. “Could you tell enough about their personalities to judge that?”

  Cammon was rearranging his cards. “Actually, if you want the truth, I preferred Warren. There’s a slyness to his brother. He’s devious. Warren at least is honest.”

  “It might be worth giving Nate that piece of advice. Nurture the older boy, and be wary of the younger,” Kirra said.

  “Certainly. You tell Nate that,” Senneth said. “He’s always so willing to listen to someone else’s opinion.”

  Justin tossed down three cards and took the hand, as everyone else groaned. “The oldest boy was hanging around the soldiers this afternoon,” Justin said. “Looked like he would have liked to join the workouts but didn’t quite have the nerve. If he shows up tomorrow, I’ll offer to teach him some Rider tricks.”

  “Oh, that answers perfectly!” Kirra said. “Because you’re just the man to give anyone else’s self-confidence a boost. And, of course, it’s an excellent idea to help a young malcontent learn fighting techniques that no one will be able to fend off.”

  Even Tayse was laughing. Justin grinned, unrepentant. “I think I know something about violent young men who need a little direction,” he said.

  “I’m so glad,” Kirra said, “since you know nothing else.”

  Senneth laid down her cards and yawned widely. “Enough pleasantries for the day, I think,” she said. “I’m off to bed. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

  SENNETH slept late, even though Tayse was stirring and out the door by dawn. When she finally went down to breakfast, she found Sabina alone at the table, working on correspondence.

  “Nate has taken Cammon on a ride around the grounds, trailed by a half dozen Riders,” Sabina said. “Is Justin with your party? I didn’t see him this morning.”

  It took Senneth a moment to remember why Sabina would know to ask for Justin by name, but of course, they had shared an adventure about six months before the war. Sabina had grown convinced that Halchon meant to kill her and slipped away from him one winter afternoon. It was only by the sheerest good fortune that she had happened upon Justin, who had sheltered her until he could turn her over to Senneth. Who had ultimately turned Sabina over to Nate. Senneth still found the workings of the human heart to be entirely mysterious.

  “He is with us, and I’m sure he would be delighted if you sought him out,” Senneth replied. “Justin’s married now, too—to a Lirren girl—and has a baby daughter. Still as fierce as he ever was, though.”

  “He saved my life,” Sabina said.

  “Yes,” Senneth said. “I was never so proud of him.”

  They were silent while a servant brought food and hot tea for Senneth, but as soon as the girl left, Sabina gestured to a letter open on the table. “Seton Mayman sent a note this morning,” she said. “Asking again that we all come to dinner at his house in a few days. May I tell him we will?”

  “Making it clear that there will be nine Riders in our party, in the room with Cammon at all times. Oh, and a man to taste Cammon’s food.”

  “A taster?” Sabina said uncertainly. “Did he have one last night?”

  “No, but you might not tell Seton Mayman that. As long as he agrees to the rings of protection that we consider essential, we will be happy to accompany Cammon to his house.”

  “I’m sure he will,” Sabina said, giving the smile that made her look so pretty. “I will write instantly and let him know we have accepted.”

  AFTER the late breakfast, Senneth let Sabina get back to her household duties while she wandered the grounds. The day was sunny and considerably warmer than it would have been farther north in Ghosenhall, and she enjoyed the stroll through the unpretentious and well-maintained acres. At the back of the property, she came across a small practice yard where about a dozen men in Gisseltess colors were working out. Most of them weren’t paying much attention to their opponents because they kept sneaking looks to watch two Riders in combat.