Alanna cradled her still-rumbling pet against her chest. Roger either knew or guessed where her pet came from, but he wasn"t saying. That was fine with her. "It"s probably the dogs, sir," she agreed. "He likes people and horses, but dogs don"t suit him." The others looked at her, knowing as well as she did that Faithful left dogs alone, while dogs avoided Faithful. It wasn"t quite a lie, and the Duke seemed to accept it. He nodded to Alex, and they left together.
When they were gone, Alanna picked the kitten up and read him an impressive lecture on manners. By the time she finished, Faithful was purring, her friends were laughing, and the whole thing had been forgotten-she hoped.
Nevertheless, that night she wrote her brother Thom in the City of the G.o.ds, sending the letter secretly by way of George. Thom was the sorcerer-not she. He should know about Faithful-and about the cat"s reaction to Duke Roger.
2: Duke Roger of Conte
THAT hot July an emba.s.sy came to court from Tortall"s eastern neighbor, Tusaine. Important matters were to be discussed. Spies had reported the King of Tusaine was considering retaking the Drell River Valley on the Tortallan border, and King Roald wanted to avoid war at all costs. Unlike his famous father, Roald was not known as "Empire-Builder," but as "The Peacemaker." He was proud of that t.i.tle, and he wanted to keep it. Everyone knew that Mikal of Danne, the Tusaine Amba.s.sador, had actually come to see if "The Peacemaker" had the stomach for war.
The delegation from Tusaine was carefully watched, but its people received the best hospitality Roald could command. As Jonathan"s squire, Alanna was very much in the thick of things, serving at secret meetings and accompanying her Prince to what seemed to be an endless number of parties and dances.
Tension was in the air. In the meetings, Amba.s.sador Mikal became arrogant, thinking Roald was weak rather than quiet. Friendly discussions between Alanna"s friends and the Tusaine knights grew sharp as each group challenged the other to more and more difficult contests of craft and skill. Matters finally came to a head during what was supposed to be a small, quiet evening party.
Alanna, Gary"s squire, Sacherell of Wellam, and Raoul"s squire, Douglas of Veldine, served the wine at this gathering, following Duke Gareth"s instructions to keep their guests" gla.s.ses full and to report anything interesting they might overhear. Courtiers dressed in their finest chattered and flirted as the three obeyed with enthusiasm, trying to get as much from the Tusaine party as they could. Duke Roger entertained Mikal while the Amba.s.sador"s wife, Lady Aenne, told Queen Lianne and King Roald stories of the Tusaine Court.
Gary, Raoul, Alex and Jonathan were talking with some of the younger Tusaine knights, when suddenly everyone was looking at the group. Dain of Melor, a Tusaine knight, was sneering loudly, "Fencing! I"ve seen what you call "fencing." Back home we call it dancing! Prince Jonathan, our Tusaine three-year-olds handle a sword better than some of your knights!"
"You are rude in the palace of your host," Gary replied carefully, his broad shoulders tense. Alanna could tell he was fighting to keep his voice even. "I wish it were possible to teach you some manners."
For a moment no one spoke. Nearly every Tortallan knight-with the exception of Myles, who was watching and drinking-had put his hand on his sword hilt. The Tusaines gripped theirs, ready for anything.
Amba.s.sador Mikal turned to Roger. In the quiet his voice was very clear. "I must apologize for young Dain." He bowed in Roald"s direction. The King inclined his head, silently accepting the apology. Mikal added with a sly smile, "I fear I must agree, however. We seem to have done better by the martial arts in Tusaine. Perhaps peace has dulled your fighting edge?"
Alanna touched the ember-stone beneath her shirt, wondering what would happen next. She turned. Raoul, standing by the hearth, was shifting slowly into a fighting stance. His coal-black eyes were snapping with fury, and he gripped his sword hilt with a white-knuckled hand.
Frantically she signalled Dougla.s.s to look at his knight-master. Her friend hurried over to Raoul and shoved a winegla.s.s in the big knight"s hand, talking softly and quickly. After a second"s hesitation, Raoul released his hilt with a sigh.
"I differ with you, Sir Dain," Jon was saying, a touch of amus.e.m.e.nt in his voice. "Even our pages and squires know how to handle a sword against a full knight. But since our honor and our teachers are in question, perhaps we must show you what a Tortallan can do."
Dain adjusted his sword belt. "Bring on your champion, Highness. I am sure I can prove Tusaine superiority over any man of your court."
Jon glanced at Alanna, smiling ironically, and she immediately guessed what he had in mind. It would be a brilliant tactical stroke if I could pull it off, she thought. I"m an unblooded squire in Dain"s eyes. At least, it would be a brilliant tactical stroke if I won.
She looked the Tusaine knight over. He was a head taller than she was, with broad shoulders and strong arms, but he was overconfident, and he had been drinking. She nodded to let Jonathan know she was game.
The Prince smiled icily at the other man. "Not "our champion," Sir Dain. I said "even our pages and squires."" He nodded to Alanna. She handed her wine pitcher to Sacherell, who nearly dropped it, and walked quickly over to the group of young knights, her heart thumping with excitement. "Your Highness?" she asked, bowing politely.
Jonathan beckoned to her. "I"m sure my personal squire Alan here would oblige you."
The Tusaine knight stared at the short, slender Alanna, his jaw hanging open. "You want me to fence with a squire?" Dain"s voice rose and cracked; someone giggled.
"Are you afraid?" Jonathan wanted to know.
The other man gasped and sputtered before he could speak again. "I"ve fought in six duels!" he snapped finally. "I"ve been killing mountain bandits since I was smaller than him." He pointed to Alanna. "If I was ever smaller than him!"
Alanna knew exactly what Jonathan was trying to do, and she knew it was her turn to add fuel to the fire. "Did you need me for something, my Lord Prince?"
Jonathan shrugged, his eyes never leaving Dain. "I thought you might fence with Sir Dain, Alan, but he no longer seems to be interested. I"m sorry to have called you away for nothing-"
"By Mithros, I"ll do it!" Dain snapped. "I fear no child!"
Jonathan bowed to his parents. "If Your Majesties will excuse us, we would like to go to the first fencing gallery."
Turning to look at the King, Alanna saw the oddest look on Alex"s face. He looked-eager, for some reason. Surely he wasn"t looking forward to her risking her life? They had been friendly rivals for years-each trying to be better at fencing, archery and the other fighting skills than the other-but it was still friendly rivalry.
She forgot about Alex when she heard the king say, "I think this is something we will all want to see. Amba.s.sador Mikal? Lady Aenne? My lady?"
The Queen and Lady Aenne nodded as Mikal said drily, "It should be an interesting entertainment."
Servants were sent to prepare the largest of the indoor courts, while Duke Gareth"s personal manservant Timon went to Alanna"s quarters for Lightning. Everyone moved down to the court, Myles and Roger walking with the young men surrounding Alanna. Myles was upset and made no effort to pretend he wasn"t.
"Are you going to throw away everything?" he demanded furiously. "He"s a head taller than you are!"
Alanna shrugged. "Nearly everyone I fence with is." She accepted Lightning from Timon and buckled it on as Faithful yowled at her feet. Finally she picked the cat up and perched him on her shoulder. She had made the discovery that her pet"s meowing actually sounded like talk to her, and she wanted to hear what he had to say now.
Let the foreigner be stupid, he advised. It shouldn"t be hard. And don"t get yourself killed!
"Are you listening to me?" Myles demanded. "This isn"t the time to play hero!"
Jon rested a hand on Alanna"s free shoulder. "Don"t be so upset, Myles. Haven"t you ever seen Alan fence? I have-in the Black City."
The memory of Alan"s and Jon"s strange adventure a year before-of the curse removed from the Black City and of thousands of proud Bazhir tribesmen kneeling in the streets of Persopolis-silenced Myles for a moment, but no longer.
"Dain is a practiced knight! It isn"t the same!"
"Do you hear Father protesting?" Gary asked. "He"s been teaching Alan and Alex privately for months now. Besides, you"ve got to trust Jonathan"s judgment sometime. He doesn"t try to get his friends killed."
Alex dropped back to talk with Duke Roger. "What do you think will happen?" the Duke asked his one-time squire.
A smile crossed Alex"s dark, secret face. "I think Dain of Melor is in for a large surprise."
Roger shook his head, disbelieving. "Surely you don"t mean to say Alan is as good as-well, you, for example."
"But I do. Alan"s as good as I am. Someday he may be better."
Roger had no chance to pursue this further since they had arrived at the fencing gallery. Far below ground level, it was cool even in this hot weather. Torches in brackets on the walls threw light into all corners. Along one wall three rows of benches were set off from the main floor by a low rail. The courtiers sat down in a rustle of silks, Roger placing himself and Amba.s.sador Mikal just behind the King and Queen.
At one end of the floor Dain was removing his boots and stretching himself, joking with his friends. On the other side a quiet Alanna watched Dain, ignoring her friends" talk. The Tusaine wasn"t nervous-good for him. She would teach him how to be nervous.
Handing Faithful to Myles, she stripped off her own shoes and put on the tan fencing gloves Timon was holding for her. She didn"t know that she was grinning recklessly, a merciless look in her violet eyes. Jonathan watched her thoughtfully. If he weren"t so angry with Dain, he might feel sorry for the other knight. He knew what Alanna could do when she was forced to it.
Duke Gareth joined them. He bent down by Alanna as she began her stretching exercises. "Don"t forget to let him tire himself out while you get his measure. I know the type. He"ll try to make you angry with insults. Don"t let that happen-keep your head. You"re good, Alan, but you aren"t the best."
Alanna grinned impishly up at him. "No, sir. You are."
The Duke of Naxen slapped her lightly on the shoulder. "Don"t be pert. And do be careful."