At one end of the room was a group of young teens busy with swordplay, and at the other a swarm of children circled round on ancient carved horses mounted on cart wheels or played at stick-and-ball. I...
Angry men with pointy things sent to secure a foreign city are pretty much alike anywhere. That's what I've heard. So far nothing's convinced me different.
And no one else knows of this? he asked gently.I shook my head slowly, unable to remove my gaze from his faze. Azmus discovered it by accident. Rode two days to reach me. I did send him…There was no p...
And after?As we discussed. Honor the Covenant. No more forced levies; tax reform; trade reestablished with the outside, minus the tariffs that went into the Merindar personal fortune. That’s to start....
I thought scornfully. I wished he were before me. I wished I could personally flout him and his busy searchers, and make him look like the fool he was. And watch the reaction, and walk away laughing.
Neuraimai leapt into the air, flinging itself on glutinous wings toward
You think Arthal Merindar wants to be queen, then? I asked, and again thought of my letter and why she might have written it.Unbidden, Shevraeth’s words from the day before our departure sounded in my...
While I sipped at my coffee, one by one the staff finished their chores and vanished through the tent flaps, until at last Shevraeth and I were alone.He turned to face me. Questions?Of course! What ha...
When we were finished, the Prince said, Have you any further questions concerning the matter we discussed last night?One. While I felt no qualms about being rude to his son, I was reluctant to treat t...
When at last Deric and I settled into his carriage, he dropped back with a sigh of relief. Well, that’s over. Good food and good company, but none of it worth sitting mum while Fialma glared daggers a...
When I woke the air was hot and stuffy, and I was immediately aware of being shut up in a small painted-canvas box. But before I could react with more than that initial flash of distress, I realized t...
When I reached my rooms, I saw a letter lying on my table.Hastily stripping off my gloves, I sank down onto my pillows, heedless of the costly fabric of my court gown crinkling and billowing about me,...
What have you to say now, my little hero? the Baron gloated.That you are a fool, the son of a fool, and the servant of the biggest
Well, I had no answer to make to that; thinking about Elenet, or Shevraeth, or that carved throne, caused a cold ache inside, as if I had lost something I had not hitherto valued.So I didn’t write bac...
We clattered into the streets of Remalna under a brilliant sky. The cobblestones were washed clean, the roofs of the houses steamed gently. A glorious day, which should have brought everyone out not j...
War is a convenient fix for government problems if it happens somewhere else. To other people.
Then let’s address the business before us. I hope and trust we’ll have the remainder of our lives to talk all this over and compare misguided reactions, but for now… He rose and pulled me to my feet....
The throne was empty, and above it hung only the ancient flag of Remalna, tattered in places from age. Galdran’s banners were, of course, gone. No one was on the dais. Just below it, side by side in f...
The morning of the ball dawned.When I reached the ballroom for my last inspection and saw the faces awaiting me, I realized I had fully as many people working for me as there would be guests. I could...
The less said about that morning’s ride, the better. I would have been uncomfortable even if I’d been riding with Branaric, for my leg ached steadily from the jarring of the horse’s pace. To be riding...