The Star Scroll Part 28

She laughed again, low in her throat this time. "I'd wager you're always excellent company for a woman-especially at night."

Cool, soft fingers brushed his nape. It had been a long time since he had received caresses from a beautiful woman, but this was the wrong woman. He got to his feet, cursing the wine that had made him light-headed. Chiana gazed up at him, candlelight making her face all soft lips and shining, excited eyes framed by artfully tumbled hair.

"Forgive me, my lady, but-"

"You're too modest," Chiana said playfully. "But I can tell, my lord." Her gaze roamed over his face, down his chest and arms. "Yes, I can definitely tell. . . ."

Even with the chair between them he felt as if she had her hands on him. The wine had not so befuddled him that he gave in to her. Neither had it dulled his powers of reasoning. He knew why she was here, and it was not because of his charms. She was terrified of the pretender and groping toward any man who, by marrying her, would provide her with a n.o.ble t.i.tle to replace the one she feared she was about to lose. But one did not tell a lady she was a scheming little b.i.t.c.h. "I thank you for the compliment, Lady Chiana. It's as unexpected as it is flattering, coming from a lovely woman. But-"

"Maarken! Maarken, they're here!"

He sent up brief and heartfelt thanks to the G.o.ddess for providing him with a cousin who occasionally forgot his manners. Chiana backed off as Pol came running into the tent. The boy's jaw dropped halfway to his knees at the sight of her, but he made a quick recovery.

"Lady Andrade is here, and Father says to hurry," he said after making a slight bow to Chiana. "I'm sorry to interrupt-"

Chiana's voice was cool and distant. "I should return to my sister's tent. I have enjoyed our conversation, Lord Maarken. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to continue it another time." She bent her knees to Pol. "Your Royal Highness."

"My lady," he said as she swept past him. Then he whistled soundlessly. "Maarken, I really am sorry-"

Maarken pinched the candle out. "Being alone with a pretty lady is desirable only when you like like the lady." the lady."

"If you tell me it's something I'll understand when I'm older, I'll kick you," Pol replied, grinning. "Come on, Lady Andrade is asking to see you."

Though Maarken didn't care much about seeing Lady Andrade, it was difficult to keep his strides from lengthening as he accompanied Pol to the blue pavilion, and even more difficult to keep his expression under control as he entered and his eyes found Hollis. But Pol again forgot his manners.

"He wasn't with Aunt Tobin and Uncle Chay," the boy reported. "He was in his own tent with Lady Chiana."

Maarken turned red. Grateful as he had been to his cousin earlier, now he could cheerfully have strangled the brat. Rohan's lips twitched with barely suppressed mirth, and Sioned coughed to hide her laughter. Andrade looked him down and up, with a brief stop below his belt. But Hollis reacted not at all. She stood to one side with Andry and a tall, black-haired youth Maarken didn't know. Her dark blue eyes were circled beneath with bruises of weariness. She looked thinner, and the supple energy that usually shone from her seemed tarnished somehow.

"Well," Andrade said, breaking the awkward silence. "Your own tent now, eh? Chay must have given you Whitecliff, and about time, too."

"He has, my Lady." Maarken bowed to her.

"Isn't somebody going to ask me to sit down?" she complained. "And I could do with something to drink."

Maarken and Andry performed squire's duties as Pol and the black-haired boy brought extra chairs. Hollis sank into hers with a long sigh, and the boy hovered behind her with an almost proprietary air.

"Pleasant trip?" Maarken whispered to his brother as they poured out cups of wine.

Andry grimaced. "h.e.l.l on horseback. Remind me not to tell you about it."

They finished distributing the wine as their parents entered. Andrade waited while they greeted Andry, then directed them to chairs as if this were her pavilion, not Rohan's. But they were all long accustomed to her ways.

"Sorin has duty tonight with Volog and can't come," Chay said as he sat down. "G.o.ddess! Do you know how depressing this is? All my sons can look me straight in the eye! It's not fair. They started out so short!"

"Perhaps you're only shrinking due to rampant decrepitude," Andrade commented. "I hope the rot doesn't extend to your brains, any of you. What are you going to do, now that Masul's real father is dead?"

Rohan leaned back in his chair. "You don't miss much, do you?"

"My eyes and ears may be old, boy, but they still function. What are your plans?"

"I'd rather hear about yours. Your Sunrunner Kleve was keeping an eye on Kiele for you, wasn't he? What did he find out?"

It wasn't often that anyone managed to startle the Lady of G.o.ddess Keep. Maarken glanced at Hollis, prepared to share an amused glance at Andrade's astonishment. But Hollis was staring into her untasted wine, and the black-haired boy was hovering even closer.

"How did you know about Kleve?" Andrade demanded.

As gently as possible, he said, "We received word today-and proof-that he's dead. They cut the rings from his fingers by taking the fingers themselves, Andrade. He probably died for something he knew. Do you have any idea what it was?"

Andrade's face was immobile. After a few moments she whispered, "No. I-I knew he was dead. Riyan told me. But he didn't say how it happened." Rallying, she took a long swallow of wine. "Kleve is dead, and his information with him. Masul's real father is dead, and his testimony with him. You haven't managed this very well, Rohan."

Pol had been standing between his parents' chairs, listening wide-eyed. But at this point he stiffened and took a step forward, frowning at the implied insult to his father. Maarken could have told him to save his indignation; Andrade spoke that way to everybody.

She noticed, as she noticed everything. "Meath tells me you can call Fire," she said abruptly to the boy.

"I can, my Lady."

"What else can you do without ever having been taught?"

"I don't know," Pol replied boldly. "I've never tried."

She gave a bark of laughter. "You're the son of your father, all right."

"And of my mother," Pol added. Maarken hid a slight smile. If Pol was awed by their formidable kinswoman, he was determined not to show it.

"Mmm, yes. And of your mother," she said. "Tobin, take your husband and sons to your own tent. I have no time for family news right now. Pol, you may go with them. Hollis, Sejast, go tell Urival to hurry up. I'm tired and I want to rest in my own bed sometime before midnight."

Andrade watched them obey her orders, not missing the look Pol gave his parents as if asking whether or not he had to do as Andrade told him. She approved the boy's spirit, but it also made her feel very old. It would take all her energy and authority to make a good, obedient Sunrunner of him. If anyone could.

"I want to know your plans," she said to Rohan again when the others had gone. "And don't tell me you're going to trust to the truth. This isn't a game played by nice rules."

"What would you suggest?" Sioned asked coldly. "Buying cooperation would certainly be effective-it would convince everyone that we doubt our own position!"

"Truth may be an excellent defense," Andrade snapped. "But what we need right now is a plan of attack."

"I thought you'd have everything all plotted out for us," Sioned retorted. "And all we'd have to do is speak our lines. You're the one who hasn't managed this very well, Andrade."

She was silent for a moment, searching the face of her most beloved student. "When will you believe that I never wanted mindless obedience from any of you? If you had been an idiot, I would not have chosen you for Rohan."

"I'll believe it when you prove it. You've just done the opposite again by calling it your your choice, not ours." choice, not ours."

It was an old debate between them and one that suddenly wearied her. "I put you both in the way of choosing. But I don't give orders to anyone but my Sunrunners. And you'll note that I no longer give you you any orders at all. I've learned that it does no good." any orders at all. I've learned that it does no good."

"And do you tell everyone that I'm no longer a Sunrunner?"

"Stop this," Rohan said quietly. "Andrade, you asked my plans and answered your own question. The only weapon we have is the truth. I can't bargain or cajole or command my way out of this. Masul must be repudiated or Pol's claim to Princemarch will never be secure. The only thing I can trust is the truth."

"And not me," Andrade whispered, feeling very old again, telling herself it was only fatigue. "My truth is suspect." She wrapped her fingers around the winecup, staring at the bracelets on either wrist, linked to her rings by thin chains. "It galls me. Nothing to do with Roelstra ever happens in ways I can control." She gave in to impulse and flung the goblet to the floor. "G.o.ddess! Why could he not have died forever and left us all in peace?" An instant later, humiliated by her outburst, she shrugged irritably. "Your pardon. I'll see you get a new rug to replace the one I just ruined." truth is suspect." She wrapped her fingers around the winecup, staring at the bracelets on either wrist, linked to her rings by thin chains. "It galls me. Nothing to do with Roelstra ever happens in ways I can control." She gave in to impulse and flung the goblet to the floor. "G.o.ddess! Why could he not have died forever and left us all in peace?" An instant later, humiliated by her outburst, she shrugged irritably. "Your pardon. I'll see you get a new rug to replace the one I just ruined."

Sioned spoke, her voice soft, almost apologetic. "My Lady-though I no longer wear any ring but my husband's, the ones you gave me are still on my hands. Tell us what you think we ought to do."

More moved than she would admit, Andrade shook her head. "I'm tired. We'll talk tomorrow." She pushed herself to her feet and muttered, "Hasn't Urival raised that d.a.m.ned tent yet?"

Urival had, and was now ordering it furnished with carpets, tables, chairs, beds, and other amenities from the baggage wains. Segev a.s.sisted him and the other Sunrunners after finding a chair for Hollis to rest in. He had had no opportunity today to give her more dranath dranath and she was showing the effects of withdrawal. Segev hurried about his tasks and at last escaped with the excuse of finding some wine. He paused in a shadow in the growing enclave of Andrade's white tents and pulled the stopper from the bottle. Not trusting his abilities at sleight-of-hand to get the herb into only one cup, he sprinkled the and she was showing the effects of withdrawal. Segev hurried about his tasks and at last escaped with the excuse of finding some wine. He paused in a shadow in the growing enclave of Andrade's white tents and pulled the stopper from the bottle. Not trusting his abilities at sleight-of-hand to get the herb into only one cup, he sprinkled the dranath dranath into the bottle itself. One drink of it would cause nothing more than a headache for someone not previously dosed. into the bottle itself. One drink of it would cause nothing more than a headache for someone not previously dosed.

The white pavilion was fully furnished by the time he returned. Lady Andrade reclined in a soft upholstered chair, attended by the High Prince and High Princess. Hollis sat nearby. Segev poured wine for them and for Urival, bowing low to each as a good one-ringed Sunrunner should in the presence of the High Prince and such exalted faradh'im. faradh'im.

"And that's the tale of our evening," Prince Rohan was saying. "Naydra has identified the corpse as the man who came to her earlier today. Pandsala had a little scheme of her own going, by the way-no one of her blood was ever able to resist playing with events."

The High Princess nodded thanks as Segev poured her wine. "It seems she had a little chat with Kiele, who set her people to scouring Waes for this man-while Pandsala's own servants followed them like dragons after a doe."

"Well? What of it?" Andrade asked.

"They traced Kiele's people to the Fair, where it seems everybody who wanted to find this man found him indeed." Sioned gave a little shrug. "Rohan believes in letting things happen. Well, they happened, all right."

Segev marveled that they spoke so freely in front of him-but then, he was supposedly one of them, a Sunrunner, a member of Andrade's personal suite. He grinned to himself and took up a position in the shadows behind Hollis' chair.

"We let Kiele's man go," Rohan added. "There's nothing to accuse Kiele of, after all. She was only acting on Pandsala's orders. It doesn't matter that we know d.a.m.ned well she would've had him killed if she'd gotten her hands on him."

"Granted," Andrade muttered. "What of this Merida who isn't a Merida?"

"We thought you might like to interview him with us," Rohan said almost casually. He gestured to Segev, who stepped forward and bowed. "Tell my squire outside to fetch this man, please."

"At once, your grace."

The man was being held in the High Prince's encampment, damp clothes nearly dry as he huddled by the fire with his arms tied behind him, dark head hanging. Rohan's squire, Tallain, nodded to the guards, who nudged the captive to his feet. His head jerked up and Segev nearly gasped. One of Mireva's people, here! He sorted through what he had heard since arriving tonight and gulped down his panic. She must be told at once. This man must not live long enough to blurt out anything that might identify Mireva or her aims-or, worse, Segev himself. He moved more deeply into the shadows beyond the watchfire and bit his lip. The man had not seen him, and with a little luck Segev should be able to escape without being recognized.

"Clean him up," Tallain was saying. "The High Prince and Lady Andrade are waiting."

Segev paused until he was sure the pounding of his heart would not sound in his voice, then said "Would you make my excuses to Lady Andrade, please? I-I guess I'm more tired from the journey than I thought."

Tallain glanced over with a brief smile. "I've heard travel with Lady Andrade can do that. I'll tell her you've gone off to bed."

"My thanks," Segev replied, bowing, and made his escape.

Away from the tents, he took several deep breaths of chill night air to calm himself. Realization of who had sent the a.s.sa.s.sins to kill the pretender's father had startled him badly but, more than that, kept his heart racing as he walked down to the river. He had grown used to living around faradh'im, faradh'im, and was even accustomed to Lady Andrade by now. But something about the High Princess made him nervous, and he would much rather not be in company with her again. and was even accustomed to Lady Andrade by now. But something about the High Princess made him nervous, and he would much rather not be in company with her again.

He shook off the feeling as he reached the river and spent a few moments admiring its silent, star-strewn flow. There had been no water to cross on the road to Waes, so he had been spared the inconvenience of miming the appropriate sickness. Mireva had taught him how to simulate the usual faradhi faradhi reaction to water, and he was grateful he had not had to resort to the rather unsavory trick. Mireva had taught him much, but Andrade and his growing ambition were teaching him more. The tension of fooling both women at the same time exhilarated him. He was the first descendant of the ancient blood to learn the old ways reaction to water, and he was grateful he had not had to resort to the rather unsavory trick. Mireva had taught him much, but Andrade and his growing ambition were teaching him more. The tension of fooling both women at the same time exhilarated him. He was the first descendant of the ancient blood to learn the old ways and and those of the those of the faradh'im; faradh'im; he knew he could use both with equal skill. The he knew he could use both with equal skill. The Rialla Rialla presented endless fascinating opportunities, once this dangerous man had been dealt with. presented endless fascinating opportunities, once this dangerous man had been dealt with.

Well away from the encampment, he found a bend in the river and went as far out as he could, boots crunching in the fine gravel. He stared up at the expanse of starry sky above the river, finding comfort in its brilliance. He adapted Sunrunner methods to the weaving of thin, delicate filaments of silver light as no faradhi faradhi but Princess Sioned had ever done. There were no colors on this weaving, only the shining pallor of the stars. He had never dared contact Mireva this way while at G.o.ddess Keep-which, considering his unauthorized alteration of her plans, was for the best. As he followed the glittering path of plaited light north to the Veresch, he buried his secrets beneath layers of obedience-and temporarily forgot where he put the shovel. but Princess Sioned had ever done. There were no colors on this weaving, only the shining pallor of the stars. He had never dared contact Mireva this way while at G.o.ddess Keep-which, considering his unauthorized alteration of her plans, was for the best. As he followed the glittering path of plaited light north to the Veresch, he buried his secrets beneath layers of obedience-and temporarily forgot where he put the shovel.

She stood alone in the middle of the stone circle. She might have been there for moments or days in that same position, waiting as she had said she would wait every night of the Rialla. Rialla. Segev wrapped his rope of starlight around the rock cairn and saw it begin to glow silver. Segev wrapped his rope of starlight around the rock cairn and saw it begin to glow silver.

Very impressive. Andrade has taught you well.

Was there the faintest hint of suspicion in her voice? Segev cursed himself for showing off his abilities.

You sent me to learn, my lady. And I have much to tell you. Rapidly he gave her news of the present danger, ending with a plea to be rescued from possible discovery. It would please her, his total dependence on her to save him. Rapidly he gave her news of the present danger, ending with a plea to be rescued from possible discovery. It would please her, his total dependence on her to save him.

He could almost hear the breath hissing between her teeth. By all h.e.l.ls! How could they be so stupid? My orders are to be obeyed, not antic.i.p.ated! They were to watch, not kill! But now this fool will die. He was prepared by me before he left. As were you, Segev. Learn well from this. By all h.e.l.ls! How could they be so stupid? My orders are to be obeyed, not antic.i.p.ated! They were to watch, not kill! But now this fool will die. He was prepared by me before he left. As were you, Segev. Learn well from this.

He blanched. Prepared? The warning slid through his veins like an icy mountain stream beneath its winter covering of frozen snow. Yes, my lady, Yes, my lady, he replied humbly. he replied humbly. There is more-do you wish to hear it now? There is more-do you wish to hear it now?

She made no answer. He saw her begin to sway lightly back and forth before the cairn, arms outstretched, her face carved into terrible lines. A few sick thuds of his heart later, she spoke again.

It's finished. Tell me now.

He did so, detailing his acceptance by Andrade for faradhi faradhi training, the abortive attempt to steal the scrolls, his success in addicting Hollis to training, the abortive attempt to steal the scrolls, his success in addicting Hollis to dranath. dranath. Mireva's eyes lit as she listened, and she laughed when he told her of the Sunrunner Kleve's death. Mireva's eyes lit as she listened, and she laughed when he told her of the Sunrunner Kleve's death.

Wonderful! a.s.sist this pretender any way you can-for all that he was too foolish to recognize our offer of a.s.sistance in the spring. What about the scrolls?

Here, with Urival. They don't know I know. But I had access to the place they were kept, and the day we left, they were gone. Urival's saddlebags never leave his sight. But I'll secure the scrolls by Rialla's Rialla's end. end.

Excellent! Her gray-green eyes sparkled and for an instant she looked like the beautiful young girl who had taught him what it was to be a man. Her gray-green eyes sparkled and for an instant she looked like the beautiful young girl who had taught him what it was to be a man. I'll be watching by starlight, Segev, and on the next moonless night when no I'll be watching by starlight, Segev, and on the next moonless night when no faradh'im faradh'im can weave. can weave.

He sped back to the banks of the Faolain, shaking with relief. He had survived a test much more formidable than any that Lady Andrade could devise. And he had also rid himself of a threat-though exactly how Mireva had disposed of the man did not bear thinking about. He reminded himself that she possessed powers beyond his experience and possibly beyond his imaginings. He gulped as he heard again the fatal word prepared. prepared.

But when he thought of the Star Scroll again, a smile teased his lips. When it was finally in his hands, he would not give it to Mireva. He had earned it; it would be his.

While waiting for the prisoner to be brought to them, Urival gave Andrade a long, level stare. He said nothing, merely looked at her until she grimaced a reply.

"What's being so subtly debated here," she told Sioned and Rohan, "is the subject of the scrolls Meath brought us from Dorval this spring. I have my little surprises, too. Hollis, you've worked on the d.a.m.nable things. Tell their graces."

"The scrolls are histories, mainly," Hollis explained. "Andry has done most of the translating-it's been difficult because of all the false trails and little cues we sometimes miss until something much later on doesn't make any sense. And we're nowhere near finished yet with them all. But they tell about the Sunrunners who abandoned a huge old keep on the island and came to the continent to oppose a group of sorcerers."

"Sounds more like tales for children at bedtime," Rohan said.

"Oh, but these people were real, your grace! Lady Merisel in particular-there've been times when Andry swears he can feel her presence at G.o.ddess Keep." She hesitated, then went on, "And those others, the ones the faradh'im faradh'im came here to defeat-they were real, too. Some of what they could do was very similar to our came here to defeat-they were real, too. Some of what they could do was very similar to our faradhi faradhi techniques, but-" techniques, but-"

"But without our ethics," Andrade finished mockingly.

Hollis didn't seem to know how to respond to that. "They seem to have taken control of a great many people and places on their way to complete power over the continent, and the ancient faradh'im faradh'im left their isolation on Dorval to fight against them. The scrolls are quite impressive, your graces." left their isolation on Dorval to fight against them. The scrolls are quite impressive, your graces."

Andrade grunted at the understatement. "I should have known talking about her pet project would liven her up," she said to Urival. "Not two words to say for herself the whole trip, and now we can't shut her up."

The young woman smiled. "All I needed was a little rest, my Lady."

"And a sight of Maarken, hmm?" Sioned chuckled. "Forgive me-but he's not very subtle, is he? And no more of this 'your graces,' if you please. Hollis, if you've no other family and if you will permit, I'd be proud to stand with you as a sister faradhi faradhi when you marry him." when you marry him."

Her blue eyes widened. "Your grace! I-"

Rohan winked at her. "Nothing much gets past the High Princess, either."

"I have a bet with Maarken that I could identify his Chosen lady at first sight," Sioned explained, smiling. "It wasn't difficult!"