Fortune and Fate (Twelve Houses) (31 page)

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Authors: Sharon Shinn

BOOK: Fortune and Fate (Twelve Houses)
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“He mourns his father and he has not reconciled himself to my remarriage,” Sabina said, dropping her hand and looking, for a moment, almost as sad as she had during the days when she was married to Halchon. “He does everything in his power to spite Nate—and Nate has been
so patient
with him. With both of them.”
 
 
This caused Senneth, and everyone else at the table, to swing attention to the younger, fair-haired boy. Nate said, “Do you want to follow your brother out of the room? Just excuse yourself and you may go.”
 
 
The boy’s eyes made a quick circuit around the table. He looked even more tightly strung now that his brother had created such a scene, but he seemed excited rather than angry. “I don’t want to go,” he said. “I like hearing all the talk.”
 
 
Nate nodded. “Then you’re welcome to stay.”
 
 
“Let’s return to the topic of discussion,” Senneth said, hoping to smooth things over.
 
 
“As I was saying,” Nate resumed. “We spend much of our energy trying to strike a balance between fairness and strength.”
 
 
Tayse spoke, for almost the first time. “Do you feel overmatched?” he asked. “Do you need royal soldiers in Gissel Plain to enforce your edicts?”
 
 
Nate bristled. “Indeed, no, we are quite capable of working out our issues without interference from the crown,” he said. He glanced at Cammon. “Although—the strict limitations on the number of guards that can be deployed by the House does dilute any show of strength I might make.”
 
 
Cammon glanced at Tayse, who remained expressionless. Then Cammon cocked his head, as if listening to someone whispering in his ear.
Bright Mother burn me,
Senneth thought, but Amalie’s comments were at least quick.
 
 
“I don’t know that increasing your soldiery is the right message to send at just this time,” Cammon said. “But if you think I would be of any use mediating disputes, I would be happy to meet with your vassals and serlords while I’m here.”
 
 
“In fact, the serlords and their ladies will be here tomorrow night,” Sabina said. “We didn’t invite Seton here to meet you because his presence can be so disruptive. However, he has begged us to extend to you an invitation to his house for dinner. His estate is only a half-day’s ride from here.”
 
 
This time Cammon didn’t bother glancing at the Rider for a silent consultation. “Yes, I’d be happy to,” he said blithely. If he’d been close enough, Senneth would have hit him. Even Kirra laid down her fork and looked astonished, then amused. To have to guard royalty at the house of a disgruntled noble! It was almost an impossible task.
 
 
Sabina was wreathed in smiles. “I’ll send a note to him in the morning.”
 
 
“You might wait until we’ve worked out the logistical details first,” Senneth said pleasantly.
 
 
“Oh, all of you will come, of course,” Cammon said to her.
 
 
She merely smiled at him. “Of course.”
 
 
Tayse spoke up again. “What about traffic on the roads?” he said. “I understand there have been reports of brigands.”
 
 
Nate shrugged. “There will always be outlaws. We are no more troubled by them than any other House.”
 
 
Cammon looked unconvinced, but didn’t bother to contradict Nate. Senneth said, “That’s good to hear,” and then there was a moment of awkward silence.
 
 
Kirra was the one to break it. “So tell me,” she said, “is there any interesting gossip out of the southern or middle Houses?”
 
 
Sabina leaned forward, animated again. “Heffel has confirmed that his daughter, Lauren, will be his heir,” she said. “She is the eldest, of course, but many marlords like to see a son inherit.”
 
 
“That’s excellent news!” Senneth exclaimed. “I met her several times and liked her very much.”
 
 
“And how’s Mayva Nocklyn?” Kirra asked. “I heard that Lowell died in prison, so she would be free to marry again if she wanted.”
 
 
“If she wanted,” Sabina agreed. “She told me most emphatically that she is done with husbands.” She smiled at Nate. “I told her she just hasn’t found the proper one. Anyone can be wrong the first time.”
 
 
Senneth had to cast her eyes down to keep from looking at Kirra, who was smiling in unholy amusement, or Tayse, who could hardly keep the sardonic look from his face. It was just so impossible to believe that even someone who had suffered at Halchon’s hands for fifteen years would find Nate an attractive alternative.
 
 
“Well,” Kirra said merrily, “husband-hunting for Mayva! That sounds like a most intriguing challenge! I’ll have to start thinking about some of the eligible men I know.”
 
 
“You yourself could think of taking a husband, serra,” Nate said to her.
 
 
That caused Senneth to look up and become the one smirking across the table. Kirra wasn’t married to Donnal, of course, but she might as well be; she loved him enough. “Oh, I’m much too unpredictable to settle down in such a conventional way,” Kirra said, waving a hand. “If I were to wed, I would no doubt choose someone entirely inappropriate, and bring consternation upon my House. Surely it is better for everyone that I remain as I am.” She gave Senneth a limpid smile—the last words had clearly been added for Senneth’s benefit.
 
 
“Perhaps you’re right,” Nate said. Senneth gave him great credit for managing not to look at Tayse as he spoke. “And your sister married respectably—into the best of Houses!—and is already prepared to produce heirs for Danalustrous. So all is well.”
 
 
Now Kirra was openly laughing. “All is well indeed.”
 
 
Chapter 16
 
 
A FINE DESSERT FINISHED OFF THE MEAL, AND SOON THE
travelers were all excusing themselves to seek their beds. First, of course, they all convened in the suite set aside for royalty to discuss what they’d learned since their arrival.
 
 
“You cannot possibly go to the house of this scheming vassal lord,” Senneth said the instant she’d shut the door behind them. As she’d expected, Justin and Donnal were already present, sitting before the fireplace, halfway through a game of cards.
 
 
“Why not?” Cammon asked.
 
 
Kirra chimed in as she perched on the bed. “Because kings just don’t go and visit small out-of-the-way estates, that’s why,” she said. “Those houses aren’t designed with security in mind, the way a marlord’s estate is, or a royal palace.”
 
 
“I’m not the king,” he said, settling in a chair near the bed.
 
 
Everyone ignored this. “It would be unsafe even if you believed the man to be friendly to the marlord and friendly to the crown!” Senneth said. “But a man who bears you ill will already—you cannot give him opportunities to assault you.”
 
 
“You can’t seriously think there’s a risk of that,” Cammon said.
 
 
“Liege, I agree with her,” Tayse spoke up. “It would be difficult, although not impossible, to defend you from physical assault in a structure not built for defense, but I would think there is the possibility that someone in the house would attempt to poison you. The risk may be small, but it is still unacceptable.”
 
 
“That’s just ridiculous,” Cammon said.
 
 
“One of us could be his royal taster,” Justin suggested, clearly not serious. He slapped a hand against his thigh and pointed at Donnal. “Change him back into a dog shape and pretend you’re feeding him scraps of meat just because he’s your favorite hound. If he dies, of course, you stop eating.”
 
 
“Why do you think anyone would want to poison me?” Cammon asked. “I think they’re more likely to want to poison Nate.”
 
 
Senneth gave a strangled laugh and dropped to the bed beside Kirra. “I’d save them the trouble and do it myself, except Sabina looks so
happy
with him,” she said. “But he truly is the most annoying man.”
 
 
“I know you don’t like him, but I walked the defenses for a couple hours tonight, and the House is in excellent shape,” Justin said. “The guard is small, but well-ordered, and none of the soldiers had anything but praise for your brother.”
 
 
“The Thirteenth House sounds like it might be in a revolt, though,” Tayse observed. He directed his question at Kirra. “How much of that is to be expected, and how much can be attributed to the fact that he is in some sense acting as regent and has no authority that will last past Warren’s twenty-first birthday?”
 
 
“A little of both, I would think,” Kirra said. “To some extent, his hands are tied, and the lesser lords know that. They will be trying what they can now to amass power. But the same thing goes on in Danalustrous and Rappengrass and any of the Houses. It is just a matter of degree.”
 
 
“He was lying about something, though,” Cammon said. “I think there is more thievery on the roads than he wants to admit. I think he’s worried about it, too.”
 
 
“I’m sure that’s an important matter, but it’s not the issue at hand right now,” Senneth said. “You
cannot
go to a dinner at this vassal’s house. Blame me if you like, but tell Sabina in the morning that you’ve changed your mind.”
 
 
Cammon looked surprised. “But we just settled that! Donnal will go as my taster. And if he looks like he’s been poisoned,” he added, “Kirra will just have to use her healing magic to save his life.”
 
 
“Meanwhile, the servants are all tripping over Riders every time they enter or leave the room, because we’ll be nine deep around the table glaring at everyone in turn,” Justin added with a grin.
 
 
“Liege, I agree with Senneth,” Tayse said in his serious way. “Such an outing poses many risks.”
 
 
“But Nate said Seton Mayman has become his ally in the council, and it seems like Nate needs allies,” Cammon said stubbornly. “We don’t want to give Gisseltess the power to raise more troops. But shouldn’t we do what we can to make the House internally strong? By simple political measures with no cost attached?”
 
 
There was a short silence. Kirra rolled over onto her stomach, which put her face close to Senneth’s. “When did Cammon start talking like a strategist?” she said. “I find it very peculiar. Is it possible that I’m just dreaming this conversation? Though I have to say, my dreams are usually much more interesting than this.”
 
 
Senneth sighed and fell back on the bed so she was staring up at the gathered folds of the canopy. “So if we decide it’s worthwhile to send him to this vassal’s house, how do we make sure he survives the visit?”
 
 
“Do you really think there’s a risk of poison?” Justin asked.
 
 
“Small,” Senneth answered, still on her back. “But possible.” She turned her head to look at Kirra, who was much more conversant with the rules of society than Senneth was. “Do we insult the lord if we bring in a taster? We cannot let him go shaped as a dog, of course. But as Donnal?”
 
 
Kirra tapped her mouth. “I think it will be acceptable if we’re apologetic but firm. ‘We feel we must go to extreme measures to safeguard the health of the royal consort. If we observe this course at every small estate, no one is singled out, and yet he is protected.’ Something like that.”

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