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...
Stablehands ran to the bridles and led the horses to a picket as Nessaren and I walked into the tent. Inside was a kind of controlled pandemonium. Scribes and runners were everywhere that low tables a...
Some of it was wrong decisions made for the right reasons, and a little of it was right decisions made for the wrong reasons; but most of what I did was wrong decisions for the wrong reasons.
So what’s the plan?I believe that our best plan is to flush them out. If we can capture them both, there will be little reason for the others to fight.But if they’re in the midst of the army-- Bran st...
She won’t rat out on us. Let me talk to her, and she’ll see reason.I’d give her some time before you attempt it, came the wry answer.She usually doesn’t stay mad long, Bran said carelessly.Again habit...
Savona didn’t dance with anyone else, Nee said.We were curled up in my sitting room. Outside the window, the garden was a silhouette in the faint blue light of dawn.We only danced that once. But then...
Report went to the King that the mysterious attack on Chovilun was by mountain raiders, he said.So my lord must have been right about those greens. Flerac pulled thoughtfully at his thin mustache. I’...
PROLOGUESoon after Father’s death we discovered the latest, and worst, of King Galdran’s acts: He was going to betray our Covenant with the mysterious and magical Hill Folk in order to harvest and sel...
One of the others bore away Nessaren’s clothes, and the third opened a door for me and bowed; and I walked through, feeling like a real fool. I was afraid I’d forget about the train dragging behind me...
Nee and I walked on in silence for a time, then she said in a guarded voice, What think you of my cousin?So that is the famous Lady Tamara Chamadis! Well, she really is as pretty as I’d heard, I said....
My gaze fell on a plain door-tapestry at the other end of the room. I turned and saw a narrow, discreet outline of a door tucked in the corner between two bookshelves; that was the service door, then...
May I ask you a personal question?She looked up in query and made the graceful little gesture that I had learned was an invitation.Isn’t Shevraeth a friend of yours?Yes, she said cautiously.Then why t...
Khesot was looking not at the map but at us, his old eyes sad.I winced, knowing what he’d say if asked: that he had not been trained for his position any more than nature had suited Bran and me for wa...
I’m not certain what you mean by that last bit, I said at last. As for the first, you said ‘until last year.’ Does that mean that Lady Tamara has someone else in view?But of course, Nee said blandly....
I’d learned something, all right, about the power of attraction, and Nee was right, it was potent. But I’d also learned that the self might want one thing, but that didn’t mean it was right. Isn’t tha...
It was a while before my mind was quiet enough for reading. The conversation with Shevraeth I was determined not to think about. What was the use? It was over, and it was clear it wasn’t going to be r...
It is a shame when we must regard a people as an enemy. It is a shame and a regret when the two peoples share so much. And it is a shame, a regret, and a tragedy when those peoples meet as individuals...
In silence, they filed past me, and I was left alone with the person who, the day before, I’d wanted to kill even more than Galdran Merindar.Take a swig. Shevraeth held out a flagon. You’re going to n...
If you want information, he said in his low tones, I am willing to take up my old connections and provide it. You need write to no one or speak to no one. It’s common enough for people to summon their...