Part 2 (1/2)

”Under whose command?”

”That I don't know. You mean you haven't had any word of this?”

Alec shared a worried look with Seregil.

”Maybe they wanted to surprise you,” Illia offered. ”Oh dear, and now I've spoiled it, haven't I? But I didn't tell the other part, did I, Mother?”

”Other part?” asked Alec.

”Beka's married,” Mic.u.m told him. ”I believe you know the fellow. A 'faie she met down there, name of Nyal.”

”Our interpreter.” Alec shook his head, smiling. ”Well, that's not much of a surprise. I think you'll like him.”

”I know I will,” said Illia. ”Beka says he's very very handsome!” handsome!”

Seregil gave her a wink. ”He is, indeed.”

”But you mustn't let on that we told you.”

Seregil fastened the necklace, then swung her around until she giggled. ”Don't you fret, little bird. The joke will be on them when we meet again. Come, let's go see what Cook's got for supper.

Seregil kept up a cheerful facade through dinner, but his mind was already turning over possibilities suggested by this new development. This sudden change of bodyguard boded ill for Klia, and Thero would certainly be concerned about it. Why hadn't he sent word? Phoria had left her popular half sister in unofficial exile all this time, when every good commander was needed in the field. Now she'd stripped her of her trusted entourage and wizard? He began to suspect that Klia's ”visit” with his sister was a strategic withdrawal into friendlier territory.

After dinner they gathered around the hearth in the salon again, Kari and Illia with their knitting, Mic.u.m with his pipe.

”Uncle Seregil, why doesn't the queen like her sister?” Illia asked, looking up from the stocking she was working on.

”Well, they are only half sisters, you know. Klia and her two late brothers were the children of Queen Idrilain's second consort. And besides, not all sisters get along as well as you and Beka and Elsbet.”

”But why?” Illia persisted.

”It's not polite to talk about the royal family's business,” her mother told her. ”Tend to your st.i.tches now, and count for the slips. If you don't turn that heel properly, you'll give poor Beka blisters.” Kari had been around Watcher business for most of her life and had a good sense of when a conversation wasn't for young ears.

Alec had somehow ended up on the floor and provided a welcome distraction as he let the two little boys crawl delightedly over him, pulling his hair and wrestling him down onto the rushes. He let them win for a while, then tickled them until they shrieked with laughter and Illia forgot her newfound dignity and joined the fray in their defense. The dogs watched from a safe distance, heads on paws, following the tussle with alert yellow eyes.

Alec had a soft heart for children, and it was never more apparent than around the Cavishes. Seregil had often wondered at that, since Alec had no brothers or sisters of his own, and his father had been a wanderer, never settling anywhere long enough for Alec to make any real friends. Gherin was sitting on Alec's back now, taking his braid to pieces and Alec laughingly submitted, like an indulgent older brother.

Or a father, thought Seregil. An ordinary, full-blood human of Alec's age, especially a Dalnan, would have married and fathered a child or two by now. thought Seregil. An ordinary, full-blood human of Alec's age, especially a Dalnan, would have married and fathered a child or two by now.

Seregil was generally very good at not thinking about things that displeased or discomforted him; he'd had a lifetime of practice at that. But when those discomforting things involved Alec, they were harder to put out of his mind.

It was baffling, and not a little annoying, this breach of control.

A touch on his shoulder pulled him from his uneasy thoughts. Mic.u.m stood over him, with a look of understanding Seregil wanted no part of. But all he said, with his usual tact, was, ”What do you say to a few games of cards? It's been a while since I've taken your money. My purse is feeling a bit light.”

”It'll be lighter when I'm done with you,” Seregil warned.

”Aren't we c.o.c.ky tonight?”

Alec joined them, then Kari, when she'd put the children to bed.

Grateful for the distraction, Seregil threw himself wholeheartedly into the game, and managed to win without cheating much at all.

”I can't believe no one wrote to us!” Alec grumbled as he and Seregil readied for bed that night.

”Who says they didn't?” Seregil countered as he sat naked on their wide bed, combing the day's snarls from his hair.

This room was fitted out with Aurenfaie furnis.h.i.+ng, airy and colorful. The gauzy bed curtains rippled lazily as Alec pulled off his s.h.i.+rt and tossed it onto the clothes chest across the room. ”You think someone has been stealing letters from us?”

”More likely intercepting them from Klia and Thero.”

”But Beka's got through.”

”To her parents, outside Rhiminee,” Seregil reminded him. ”Not to us. If the Watchers were still active...” He worked at another tangle, leaving the rest unsaid. Again.

Alec shucked off his breeches and flopped down beside him. ”So what does it mean? I thought Phoria had forgotten all about us. It's not like we're any threat to her.”

”We're friends with Klia, and helped her succeed in Aurenen, when Phoria was against it.”

”Klia's always been loyal to the throne, and and she's one of the best commanders!” she's one of the best commanders!”

”Phoria's a childless queen, Alec, and she's not young.” Seregil gave up on his hair and tossed the comb aside. ”There's nothing to secure her throne but her own will. Klia could could make a claim for it, as Idrilain's daughter, even if she is the youngest. Hers would be a stronger claim in some minds than Princess Ariani's, with her war skills, and certainly better than Ariani's daughter's.” Of all Idrilain's children, Ariani, who shared a father with Phoria and Korathan, was the only one with children. The eldest girl, Elani, was supposed by most to be the heir apparent. make a claim for it, as Idrilain's daughter, even if she is the youngest. Hers would be a stronger claim in some minds than Princess Ariani's, with her war skills, and certainly better than Ariani's daughter's.” Of all Idrilain's children, Ariani, who shared a father with Phoria and Korathan, was the only one with children. The eldest girl, Elani, was supposed by most to be the heir apparent.

”Klia's always been popular with the people,” he went on. ”Why do you think Phoria's kept her out of sight since their mother's death? Phoria's never been one to think the best of others-particularly those she sees as potential rivals. It's a good trait in a general, but not so good between sisters. The n.o.bility are different, Alec. Don't ever forget that.”

”You're a n.o.ble,” Alec teased.

”Only a very minor one, and only in the minds of Skalans. I think my people have the right idea when it comes to that. But here it comes down to heirs, and Phoria means to control that and keep it to her own father's line.”

”Makes them sound like horse breeders,” Alec snorted, climbing under the covers.

Seregil blew out the lamp and joined him.

Alec settled his head on Seregil's shoulder. ”Still, it makes you wonder, doesn't it, Phoria being barren and all? Why would the G.o.ds curse her?”

”A bit of bad luck for her, that's all. And I'm sure she wouldn't care, if she wasn't queen.”

”Mmm. Can't picture her as much of a mother,” Alec agreed with a yawn.

”Some are better suited than others.” Seregil idly stroked Alec's bare shoulder, enjoying the length of warm body pressed to his. This was one of his favorite moments of the day. Comfortable and sleepy, he spoke without thinking, as images of Alec rolling around with the children came back to him. ”Do you still think about it? What the oracle told you at Sarikali?”

He regretted his careless words the instant he felt Alec go tense beside him.

”Why bring that up again?”