Fortune and Fate (Twelve Houses) (42 page)
Read Fortune and Fate (Twelve Houses) Online
Authors: Sharon Shinn
“They say it’s better now, with Rayson gone,” Senneth said.
“Yes, but who runs the place these days?” Kirra said. “Rayson only had the one child and she’s scarcely out of the schoolroom.”
“Karryn,” Cammon confirmed. “She’s sixteen.”
“But Rayson had a wife, didn’t he?” Senneth said. “I’m sure
I
was never introduced to the woman, but I can’t think her life was much happier than Sabina’s.”
I
was never introduced to the woman, but I can’t think her life was much happier than Sabina’s.”
“I met her a number of times, though I can’t recall her name—Serephette! That’s it,” Kirra said. “She was a Fortunalt girl, Thirteenth House. When I was younger, I always thought she acted like a queen. She was tall and regal and haughty. When I was a little older,” Kirra added, “I began to think she was insane. Abrupt and unpredictable and strange as they come.”
“And she’s raising Rayson’s sixteen-year-old daughter?” Senneth said. “I don’t envy Karryn.”
“There’s an uncle there, or maybe he’s a second cousin,” Cammon said. “He’s acting as her guardian.”
“Let’s hope he’s not some lecherous or power-mad old man trying to manipulate her into doing what he wants,” Kirra said cynically.
“He’s not,” Cammon said.
“You’ve met him?” Senneth asked.
“I picked him.”
Kirra started laughing. “Oh, well, then! I take it all back! He’s gentle and wise and patient and good.”
“I think so, yes.”
Senneth said, “Will we meet him in Forten City? I must confess, you’ve piqued my curiosity.”
“As we plan on staying at Fortune, I believe we will.”
Senneth glanced at Kirra. “You’ll have to continue on with us now. To meet the paragon.”
“I really think Donnal and I will head back to Danalustrous after we’ve visited a bit with Ariane. I want to be there if Casserah needs me.”
“My mother will be delighted to see you again,” Cammon said.
Kirra looked at him, looked at Senneth, and back at Cammon. “Did you just call Ariane Rappengrass your mother?”
“He always does,” Senneth said.
Kirra glanced elaborately around the coach, empty except for the three of them. There were Riders ringed all about the vehicle, of course, but none of them could overhear the quiet conversation inside. “You realize you’re not
really
her son,” she said.
really
her son,” she said.
He was grinning. “Since we went to a great deal of trouble to convince the Twelve Houses that I am—”
“Right, but Senneth and I know the truth. There’s no need to pretend with
us
.”
us
.”
“It’s not pretending, exactly,” he said. “I never know when there might be another mystic nearby, someone who can read thoughts as clearly as I can. So I always think of her as my mother. I always refer to her that way. Even when I’m talking to Amalie. Sometimes I actually believe it,” he added. “Or maybe I just like her so much that I want to believe it.”
Senneth yawned and settled back against the cushions. “Well, she’s not the most maternal woman I’ve ever met, but I’d have taken Ariane over my own mother any day.”
Mischief lit Kirra’s face. “As would I! Let’s tell her we want her to adopt both of us. She already has five children—six, of course, including Cammon—surely two more wouldn’t be any bother? And we’re both old enough to take care of ourselves. I can’t see why she would refuse.”
“Because you’re a hellion and no one would want to take
you
on,” Senneth said promptly. “And I suppose I could hardly renounce Brassenthwaite again, now that I’ve finally reconciled with my relatives. So perhaps it’s not such a good idea after all.”
you
on,” Senneth said promptly. “And I suppose I could hardly renounce Brassenthwaite again, now that I’ve finally reconciled with my relatives. So perhaps it’s not such a good idea after all.”
Cammon was peering out the window. “I hope you’re not getting too comfortable,” he said. “Looks like we’re stopping here.”
Senneth sat up. “Why?”
“There are people waiting for us. Oh, look, it’s a little town, and they’ve put banners up to welcome me! And do you see that? Flower petals strewn all along the road. I’m going to have to get out and walk for a while and say hello to everyone.”
The driver apparently had come to the same conclusion, for the carriage was already slowing to a halt. Senneth could see Janni nudging her mount over so she would be right at the door when Cammon stepped out. Senneth grinned over at Kirra.
“Oh, joyful day. A chance to mingle with the eager populace of Gillengaria. If I were a betting woman, I’d wager we only get another five miles before the day ends.”
Kirra was laughing. “We may not make it beyond this village.”
A small black bird swooped in through the open window and settled on Cammon’s shoulder, calling out softly in his ear.
“Looks like Tayse thought I needed a little extra protection,” Cammon said. “Donnal’s going to ride on my shoulder and be ready to claw people’s eyes out if they get too close.”
“I thought you couldn’t understand what he was saying when he was in animal form,” Kirra said.
“I could tell what Tayse was thinking,” Cammon replied. He twisted the handle and opened the door. “Ready?”
Senneth slid over on the seat, closer to the door. “Always ready to serve you, liege.”
Chapter 21
TWO DAYS AFTER GOOD RELATIONS HAD BEEN RESTORED
with Jasper Paladar, Wen spent the morning watching Karryn fight a few rounds with Davey in the training yard. When the bout was over, Karryn was covered in mud and wiping a blade against the trousers she had begun to wear for these sessions. And then, in one of those transformations that Wen was beginning to expect of the serramarra, she skipped in a circle and performed a few dance steps.
with Jasper Paladar, Wen spent the morning watching Karryn fight a few rounds with Davey in the training yard. When the bout was over, Karryn was covered in mud and wiping a blade against the trousers she had begun to wear for these sessions. And then, in one of those transformations that Wen was beginning to expect of the serramarra, she skipped in a circle and performed a few dance steps.
“Willa, I hope someone told you. I’m going to Lindy’s tonight. Demaray is having a dinner to welcome Ryne Coravann to the city. There will be dozens of people there, and maybe a little dancing. It will be utterly delightful!” She sobered immediately. “But I know some of you must come with me, and I promise to behave very well.”
Wen was amused. “Yes, indeed, your uncle told me, for he and your mother are going, too. He said your mother was even planning to host some of her own events, so she must consider the serramar very special.”
“Well, it’s been so long since anyone from the other Houses has come to visit us,” Karryn said frankly. “It’s quite exciting.”
“We’ll be ready to go when you’re ready to leave.”
Davey climbed to the top of the railing and watched Karryn hurry back toward the house. “And who gets the honor of escorting serra Karryn to this grand party?” he asked.
She looked him over. He was still wearing the splint on his wrist, but it didn’t seem to be slowing him down any, and this was the sort of outing that appealed to him. Davey liked people; he liked the color and excitement of any big event, even if he was only stationed on the outskirts. “You can, if you like,” she said. “If Jasper and Serephette and Karryn are all going, we’ll need at least six of us to watch them.”
He nodded. Two guards to a subject as a bare minimum; that was the rule she had drilled into them so relentlessly that all of them accepted it now as unquestionable truth. At the same time, she would never allow them to empty out the compound. Someone must be left behind to patrol the grounds to prevent trouble from breaking in while the residents were merrymaking elsewhere.
“Glad to go,” he said. “You?”
She hesitated. With Jasper gone, she would have the evening entirely to herself, except for what portion she spent taking her turn walking the perimeter. But what would she do with herself on a night completely free of distractions? Play cards in the barracks? Pick out another book from the library and read? “Probably,” she said. “I like to keep my eye on Karryn. But you can round up the others.”
“Best uniforms, I suppose,” he said.
For these had finally arrived, handsome gray outfits set off by black trim, black cuffs, and black sashes sewn with mock pearls. They had all pretended to laugh at the extravagance of the material—high-quality wool, with piping of satin—but all of them were secretly pleased to own such fine sets of clothing. Karryn and Serephette had ordered new boots for the lot of them as well, polished black leather with tough soles. Very smart and very practical. The guards loved these, too.
“Outings like this one are the reason we got the uniforms in the first place,” Wen said.
“Good. I’ll be ready to go in ten minutes.”
Of course, it was closer to six hours before the small caravan was ready to depart from Fortune and make the short trip to the Coverroe place. Serephette and Jasper climbed straight into the coach, but Karryn paused to show off her dress to the guards. It was a very dark burgundy, full in the skirts and the sleeves, tight at the bodice and the cuffs, and its dramatic color flattered her skin and her dark hair. Its primary ornamentation appeared to be ribbons, for long thin streamers of burgundy fluttered from each wrist and were woven into the braids that formed part of her coiffure. Another ribbon was tied around her throat and supported a great dewdrop pearl that fell just where her housemark was branded into her flesh.
“Don’t you simply love this dress?” she demanded, dipping into a curtsey for them, to demonstrate how the skirt belled out around her.
“It’s lovely, serra,” Moss replied, managing to keep her voice serious.
“I’d trip over the hem before I took three steps, but it is beautiful,” Wen agreed.
“Can’t imagine anyone will look prettier than you do,” Davey said.
Serephette called from the coach. “Karryn! What can be taking you so long? Get in the carriage right now.”
Davey stepped up to lend her a hand, and Karryn smiled at him and climbed inside.
The trip was short, but the way was crowded. Wen preferred open road to a crowded thoroughfare any day, because you could see your probable hazards and had room to maneuver. She rode behind the carriage and spent the whole journey restlessly scanning the buildings they passed, gauging the striking distance of a weapon thrown from one of the windows, and eyeing the clumps of vegetation, wondering if they harbored assassins. She was pleased, when she glanced at Malton next to her, to note that he was doing the same. Not a skill most of these soldiers had practiced much before they came under her tutelage. Before she was done with them, any one of them would be good enough to ride to Ghosenhall and offer to serve the queen.
She could not decide if she would be filled with satisfaction or despair if Amalie completed the ranks of the Riders with someone Wen had trained.
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