Part 27 (1/2)
Pandsala waited at Lyell's garish red-and-yellow striped tent, growing angrier by the moment as Kiele kept her cooling her heels in an antechamber. When at last admitted into her half sister's presence, Pandsala was seething. That she was forced to conceal her fury only added to her hatred of this flaunting beauty who received her with the widest and most insincere of smiles. Of all her sisters and half sisters, Kiele was the one who should have been dead. Pandsala regretted not having killed her years ago.
”Pandsala! I hope you weren't kept waiting too long. My squires told me only a moment ago that you were here-they do so hate to interrupt Lyell and me when we get a little time alone.” Kiele kissed the air beside Pandsala's right cheek. ”You're so fortunate not to be married, you know-one always worries about not spending enough time with one's husband and children.”
Pandsala bore the embrace stolidly, not missing Kiele's barb about her husbandless, childless state. ”I regret disturbing you,” she made herself say.
”Think nothing of it. It's been so long since we had a good long talk together-why don't I order a couple of horses and take you into the city? I'll give you a tour of the residence, and we can have a snack. It's an eccentric place, but I've managed to make it livable if not logical.”
Pandsala debated for a moment about letting Kiele stew in surmises about this visit, then decided she hadn't patience for it. ”I'm afraid I'll have to defer the pleasure of seeing your home, Kiele. I have something rather distressing to discuss with you.”
”Oh?” Kiele gestured to chairs. ”How may I help you, Pandsala?”
”Naydra came to me today with the most astonis.h.i.+ng story.”
With a whisper of silk skirts, Kiele sank into a seat. ”I haven't had the chance to speak to her yet. How is she?”
Pandsala gave her full credit for ability to contain her curiosity about this conversation with a sibling she cordially loathed. The feeling was mutual and they both knew it, and Pandsala began to feel a certain relish for the game.
”Oh, fine. But her tale was quite amazing. It seems-” She hesitated just the right amount of time, then went on in a low voice, ”Kiele, there's some man in Waes saying he's the true father of this pretender.”
Kiele's eyes went wide, but she cheated Pandsala of most of her real reaction to this news. ”Incredible! What can this mean?” she breathed.
”It means everyone is looking for him. Naydra was approached for money to keep him quiet-that as our father's daughter, she'd naturally wish Rohan out of Princemarch. How could he think any of us would want that? Father gave us nothing-and Rohan has given us everything.”
”Oh, yes, he most certainly has,” Kiele said earnestly, and again Pandsala was forced to admire her for keeping a completely straight face.
”I came to you, as another loyal servant of the High Prince, to ask if you'd set your people looking for this man. They know Waes much better than mine do. If he is is the real father of this pretender, then his truth must be heard. And if he's not-” She shrugged. ”If he's not, he'll have to be taught a lesson for lying about such serious matters of state. Will you help, Kiele?” the real father of this pretender, then his truth must be heard. And if he's not-” She shrugged. ”If he's not, he'll have to be taught a lesson for lying about such serious matters of state. Will you help, Kiele?”
”With all my heart, Pandsala. It's shocking, isn't it, this whole tale of Father's possibly having a son. And now this man with his story-” Suddenly Kiele dimpled. ”Oh, what if it's true? What if Palila really did get herself pregnant by a groom or a cook or some such, in hopes of giving Father a son?”
Pandsala gave her a genuine laugh. ”I wouldn't have put anything past that b.i.t.c.h, would you? G.o.ddess, do you remember how much we all hated her? To tell the truth, my dear, I'm rather astounded to find you giving house room to her daughter.” She laughed again as the shot struck home.
”That little-” Kiele bit her lips shut too late. Pandsala nodded slowly, smiling. ”Chiana is my guest here, and has been a great help to me in planning the Rialla, Rialla,” she went on in a desperate attempt to recoup.
”I lived with her for six long years at G.o.ddess Keep,” Pandsala pointed out. ”Frankly, my dear sister, it would almost be worth it to find out that this pretender really is who he says he is, if it would humiliate Chiana!”
Kiele sat back in her chair, hands and arms limp at her sides, her mouth open. Pandsala laughed softly.
”Can't you imagine it? Disgraced, deprived of status, revealed as the daughter of a servant. It's what Ianthe and I planned for her at her birth-and she's the reason I was banished to G.o.ddess Keep in the first place. I have to admit I'd dearly love the sight of a daughter of her insufferable mother earning her keep as a scullery drudge!”
”It presents an interesting picture,” Kiele acknowledged with a sudden smirk. ”Actually, I invited her here in hopes she'll find someone to marry her and take her off all our hands. I know Naydra has had enough of her, and I'm growing more than a little weary of her airs and graces, myself.”
”In a way, it's a pity this pretender's claim isn't isn't true.” She watched that one sink in, and waited for the questions. They were not long in coming. true.” She watched that one sink in, and waited for the questions. They were not long in coming.
”It was the oddest night, wasn't it? Of course, you were there,” Kiele said casually. ”But you know, I can't help but wonder, what with all the confusion-what really really happened, Pandsala? Only you and Ianthe ever really knew.” happened, Pandsala? Only you and Ianthe ever really knew.”
”And Lady Andrade,” Pandsala added smoothly. ”You're right about the circ.u.mstances. Sheer chaos. But I was was there, Kiele. And I know. That's why I can't allow the issue to be obscured. Will you do me the favor of having your people look for this man in the city and at the encampment and the Fair? They ought be able to find a stranger of a certain description, even with all the other strangers around. He may adopt the colors of some lord or prince, but I doubt it, as anyone legitimately in service would know all his fellows. He'd be in danger of challenge.” there, Kiele. And I know. That's why I can't allow the issue to be obscured. Will you do me the favor of having your people look for this man in the city and at the encampment and the Fair? They ought be able to find a stranger of a certain description, even with all the other strangers around. He may adopt the colors of some lord or prince, but I doubt it, as anyone legitimately in service would know all his fellows. He'd be in danger of challenge.”
”He has no master of his own, then?”
”Not that I know of. He was wearing plain clothing when he spoke to Naydra. Will you do it, Kiele? I'd be in your debt.”
”I'll be glad to help,” Kiele said fervently. ”What does he look like?”
She gave every detail Naydra had been able to recall under Pandsala's questioning, which had been a great deal fiercer than Rohan's. Kiele then escorted her out, all sweetness and cooperation, and the two women parted on the best of terms. Pandsala walked back to her own tents, where twenty servants waited for her as ordered. They had abandoned the colors of Princemarch and were dressed in plain tunics.
”Watch every servant leaving Lady Kiele's tent. They will be looking for a tall, green-eyed man. Now, heed me carefully: this man is not not to reach my sister. Secure him and bring him to me at once, safe and unharmed. Not a word to the High Prince's people or anyone else. Most especially do not let Kiele's people know who you are. There will be substantial reward for your success. Are there any questions? Good.” to reach my sister. Secure him and bring him to me at once, safe and unharmed. Not a word to the High Prince's people or anyone else. Most especially do not let Kiele's people know who you are. There will be substantial reward for your success. Are there any questions? Good.”
Rohan couldn't quite live up to his words about letting things happen as they would. He s.n.a.t.c.hed a moment to confer with Tallain, instructing him to alert all the guards and servants to the description of a certain man Rohan wished to speak to. If they saw him, he was to be brought to the pavilion at once.
”But tell them not to be obvious about it,” he finished. ”No fuss, and no searching tents or questioning everyone they meet.”
By late afternoon Rohan had abandoned the parchments that demanded his attention in favor of a meander outside by the river. He excused dereliction of duty by reasoning that he needed fresh air to clear his head. He had never been very good at lying to himself.
As casually as he had left his pavilion-and with the same excuse he'd given Tallain-Sioned appeared at his side. ”Lovely afternoon for a walk, isn't it?” she asked.
”Lovely,” he echoed.
”Everything's arranged for our various parties,” she went on idly as they neared the riverbank. ”Food enough for an army, and enough wine to float half Lleyn's merchant fleet.”
”That's good.”
”Pol tells me he's giving me a present to wear to the Lastday banquet. But he won't say what it is.”
”First I've heard of it.” He plucked a flower from a bush and began shredding the petals.
”Confess, Rohan-what you'd really like to do is go through every tent and house and cottage within a hundred measures.”
”If I admit to it, will you?” He smiled at her.
”There's not really much chance of finding him, is there?”
”Not much.”
They continued along in companionable silence for a time, heading for the bridge that crossed the Faolain. People were returning from the Fair loaded down with packages and satchels, discussing purchases and current rumors. Rohan and Sioned went mostly unnoticed in the crowd, for both were plainly dressed and kept their hands with the telltale rings in their pockets. Some few recognized them, but at a slight shake of the head from either merely bowed slightly and went on their way.
”Plenty of people here this summer,” Rohan observed.
”More than enough to blend in with, wouldn't you say?”
”Except if you happen to be a young prince with two zealous guardians. Look.” He pointed to where their son walked along the river, Maarken and Ostvel in close attendance.
”It seems none of us can stay put for the afternoon,” Sioned murmured with a wry smile.
”I can't say I blame us.” He led her out of the crowd and toward Pol. ”I wonder where Riyan is,” he asked suddenly. ”Clutha's here, but Riyan hasn't come by to greet Ostval yet.”
”I expect he's been too busy. He was in Waes this summer, you know, keeping an eye on Lyell for Clutha. But he wasn't at the residence when we had dinner there. Chiana said he'd ridden to the Faolain crossing to meet Clutha's party.” She waved to Pol as he hurried up the slope toward them. ”She seemed rather put out, probably because she didn't get anywhere with Riyan.”