Part 30 (2/2)
”Ma'am.” He bowed obedience to the Delm, then a general leave-taking to Lady yo'Lanna and Etgora.
This done, he bowed once more, very gently, and offered his arm to Kesa del'Fordan, ”Lady Kesa, will you walk with me?”
She hesitated fractionally, brown eyes lifting to his face in a child's straight look of a.s.sessment. Whatever she saw convinced her that he was not having fun at her expense, for she stepped forward and put her hand lightly on his sleeve.
”Certainly, I will walk with you,” she said, unselfconsciously. ”How else may I show you to the Sunset Garden?”
”Very true,” Daav replied gravely. From the edge of his eye, he saw Etgora offer an arm and his mother take it. ”In which direction shall we walk, then, Lady?”
”This,” she said, moving a hand to the west, belatedly adding, ”Of your goodness.”
The pathways toward sunset were somewhat less crowded than those they had followed from the house.
That was not to say, Daav thought, that the paths were empty or that the garden reposed in tranquility.
He bowed briefly to Lady pel'Nyan and moved on, Kesa del'Fordan silent on his arm. Etgora, he considered, had come a fair way to making a recover. Lady yo'Lanna's attendance had of course a.s.sured the attendance of several other Houses of rank. And if she were inclined to smile upon Etgora ...
Or, Daav thought suddenly, if Ilthiria yo'Lanna attended at the request of her old friend Chi yos'Phelium, Delm of the ancient ally of her House? Oh, yes, that fit well. Especially when one heard one's mother declaring herself comforted in the presence of an ally. Korval had never taken allies easily, to the benefit,mostwise, of the more conservative Clans.
Daav made a mental note to review the Summary of Balance dea'Gauss had sent more closely. He had missed the reason that Etgora was thought necessary to the interests of Korval. Presumption had, of course, been answered, but it seemed that the upstart clan could not be allowed entirely to sink. Thus, this gather, with its theme of courteous and charming commonsense, and everyone of consequence in attendance.
In consideration of which, Daav said to himself, you are in arrears of your duty.
He tipped his head, a.s.sessing his companion from beneath his lashes. She looked pale, he thought, and her jaw was definitely clenched too tightly for fas.h.i.+on. Her shoulders moved like boards beneath the pretty silk tunic and the hand that rested against his sleeve put no pressure on his arm at all.
He cleared his throat gently and smiled when she looked up, startled.
”I hope you will allow me to commend your performance as House Guard,” he murmured. ”I am persuaded that you stand the duty often.”
Kesa blushed, lashes flickering. ”Not,” she said, somewhat faintly, ”so very often.” She paused, glancing aside, then looked back to his face.
”In fact,” she said, rather breathlessly, ”this evening is the first time I have stood between the House and the world. It is-it has been my brother's duty, you know-he is the elder-but, this evening, he ... He asked our father for other work.”
”Very proper in him,” Daav murmured, noting her hesitation and drawing the conclusion that Kesa's brother's ”ask” had very little of ”if-you-please” about it. ”So this was your first time a House Guard? I am all admiration. Well I remember my first time at the door-a mere dinner party, nothing like what we have here!-and I was wis.h.i.+ng for nothing but my bed before even half the guests were arrived!”
She actually laughed, and Daav ducked as they pa.s.sed beneath a string of balloons and streamers.
Kesa paused, frowning up at him and the balloons just behind his head.
”I do not-you are very tall, are you not? I recall my father said that Korval is a tall Clan. He-Jen Dal was to have made certain the lines were strung well above-but I am certain,” she said in a sudden rush, ”that he could not have realized that, that-”
”That the pickpocket who wishes to rob Korval must bring his own stepladder,” Daav said lightly, rescuing her from what could only be an unfortunate culmination of her sentence.
Kesa frowned. ”I do not entirely-”
”Ah, Daav! I had heard the Scouts had released you to us!”
The voice was lovely, as was the lady. Two years ago, he had been besotted with both. He was no longer besotted, but he was indebted to her for a lesson well-delivered and equally well-learned, and so he bowed, with courtesy.
”Bobrin, good evening to you.”
She returned his bow, eyes teasing his face, then straightened, one hand rising to her flower-braided hair.
Her eyes left his face, and found Kesa.”It is Etgora's daughter, is it not?”
Kesa bowed low-Child of the House to Honored Guest. ”Kesa del'Fordan, Lady del'Pemridj.”
”Just so.” Bobrin inclined her beflowered head, then shot Daav a glance of pure mischief. ”Take advice and walk carefully with this one, House-daughter. Daav-” she paused, likely on the edge of more specific mischief. Daav met her eye squarely, and had the satisfaction of seeing her look aside.
”Daav,” she said, ”Good evening.”
She swept down the path and Daav became aware that he was gritting his teeth. Deliberately, he relaxed his jaw and looked down at his companion.
Kesa was staring after Bobrin, brown eyes wide. After a moment, she sighed and glanced up at Daav.
”She is a very beautiful lady. I-do you think when I am grown I might wear flowers in my hair?”
When you are grown, Daav thought, my hope is that you will care more for other matters-even for what I deduce is your scapegrace brother-than for the dressing of your hair.
Her look, however, was appealing-and she was, after all, a child-so he swallowed his initial answer and instead looked about with wide amaze, flinging his arm out.
”Why, here we are in the very heart of a garden! What is to prevent you from having flowers in your hair this instant, if you wish it?”
”I-” She, too, stared about, as if she just now realized their setting, then looked back to his face.
”No one, that is, I have yet to learn the-the proper manner in which to place flowers in the hair.”
”Ah, there you are fortunate,” Daav said gaily. ”I have some training in the placement of hair-ornaments.
Perhaps you will allow me to be of service to you.”
The brown eyes took fire. ”Would you? I-I would be in your debt.”
”Not a bit of it.” Daav said stoutly. ”It is a pleasure to share my skill. Now, which flowers will you have?”
She moved to the edge of the walk, staring at the orderly rows of blossom. ”That, if you please,” she said, pointing to a low, spike-leafed shrub. Its indigo blooms were flat and multi-petalled, noteworthy without being ostentatious, and a good match for the silk Doorkeeper's tunic.
”Excellent,” Daav murmured approvingly and bent to pluck one. The stem was woody, but broke easily.
”Yes, very good. Now, my Lady, if you will step over here, so that we do not impede traffic while this very delicate operation is performed...”
Kesa stepped to his side, Daav inclined his head to Lord Andresi-another of his mother's cronies-who smiled and pa.s.sed on without comment.
”Now, then,” Daav said. ”I will wish you to stand very tall, but not at all stiffly. True beauty is never ill at ease. Very good. A moment, now, while I discover the perfect placement-yes, I believe so.” He hesitated, flower poised. ”Be easy, Lady Kesa, but as still as you may-”
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