Tooth and Claw (33 page)

“That’s wonderful,” murmured Penn.

“And now I know you still break the laws of the Church from time to time, how about a day’s hunting when we get back? All of us, Felin and Selendra too?”

Penn opened his mouth, couldn’t speak, caught between tears and laughter. After an endless moment, laughter won.

T
he Illustrious Daverak brought his household to Irieth for the hearing. Only the dragonets and the as yet unhatched eggs stayed in Daverak, along with sufficient servants to take care of them. Although it was not the time of year for Irieth, he had Daverak House aired out and completely opened. Haner, clutching her Order, came along meekly. She brought Lamith, less to burnish her scales than to run interference. She had plans of her own for how to spend her time in the capital. With Lamith on hand to say she was unwell or engaged in female pursuits she could be free to go about her own business.

They came up by train and arrived on the seventh day of Deepwinter, a week before the day set for the trial. Haner spent the first day overseeing the servants as they draped the walls with tapestries packed away while the house was empty. Only the sleeping caves were underground, in what amounted to arched cellars. Most of the house stood clear in the air. Some rooms even had windows. Haner had never seen anything like it and didn’t like it at all.

Daverak, not without some hesitation, had listened to his attorney’s advice and invited Frelt to stay with him. This was a
complete surprise to Haner. She only just managed not to recoil when she saw him in the outer corridor of Daverak House. He was his usual dapper self, well burnished and handsome enough in his conventional way.

“Respected Agornin,” he said, bowing. “I’m glad to see you well, and offer you my condolences on the loss of your sister. May she be reborn with Camran.”

Haner had never liked the slightly proprietary way Frelt spoke about the gods. She bowed. “Greetings, Blessed Frelt, what brings you to Irieth?”

“The same thing that brings you, this sadly mistaken court case your foolish young brother is bringing.” Frelt shook his head in mock sadness.

“You are to give evidence?” she asked.

“Yes indeed.” Frelt nodded several times. “I shall be one of the most important witnesses I’m afraid, witnessing to what was said and done in the undercave as well as to your father’s beliefs and state of mind.”

Haner looked down her snout at him. There was no point in saying that he knew nothing about her father’s state of mind. “I hope you’re not nervous about it,” she said.

“No, a parson gets used to standing up and talking,” Frelt said. He smiled at Haner, showing his teeth. She was the youngest of the Agornin sisters, and not the prettiest, he thought, but she was more timid than Berend and quieter than Selendra. She might be just what he needed.

“Where are you staying?” she asked, conventionally.

“Why, Illustrious Daverak has been kind enough to offer me the hospitality of his house,” Frelt said, with a leer.

“Then we shall no doubt be seeing a lot of you,” Haner said, her heart sinking.

“How pleasant that will be,” Frelt said. “Do you miss Agornin?” he asked.

“Yes,” Haner said, stepping unobtrusively a little away from him.

“I have been considering taking a wife,” Frelt said, baldly.

“I hear that many maidens come to Irieth to find husbands,” Haner said, backing even farther away.

Frelt laughed. “You included? I wondered if you might like to return to Agornin with me, Haner?” He advanced towards her.

“No, sir,” she said, and fled. She could hardly believe his effrontery.

She fled to the dining room, where Daverak was waiting. “Here you are at last, Haner,” he said. “Have you seen the Blessed Frelt?”

“He’s just coming,” she said. In Daverak’s presence she felt safe at least from being pressed as Selendra had been pressed. She thought of dear Londaver and felt reassured. A moment later Frelt came in, as composed as if nothing had happened. He ignored her and talked to Daverak. The conversation largely concerned the forthcoming trial. Haner sat quietly saying nothing, and was ignored. Food was brought in, beef that was not very fresh. Haner ate as swiftly as she could, hoping to be able to escape sooner.

“Mustan tells me they may well ask about Bon’s intentions in making the will,” Daverak said.

“As I said at the time, I’m quite sure they were as you think,” Frelt said.

“Haner?” Daverak asked.

“What?” She looked up, surprised to be addressed. “Father’s intentions? I knew nothing about them, I told you that and I shall tell the court that.”

“Good. I know you won’t say anything to harm me. You understand
where the meat comes from to sustain you at least.” The threat was veiled only by the thinnest smile.

Frelt smiled at Daverak’s hard tone. “I’m sure Respected Agornin would do nothing impious,” he said.

“I will tell the truth as it says on the Order I was sent,” she said in an even tone. “I may not know much, but what I know I will say.”

“When I have destroyed your brother you will have your reward, in your dowry, as I told you,” Daverak said. Haner shuddered a little, and knew that Frelt saw her shudder.

“I’m not sure the maiden wants to marry,” Frelt said, silkily.

“Oh, she has a hanger-on already, Londaver, a neighbor of ours at home,” Daverak said casually, but not cruelly.

“That explains it,” Frelt said. “She should have said that when I made her an offer, instead of running away. I don’t know what she was expecting.”

“You?” Daverak looked up at him, blood from the beef dripping from his jaws. He managed to put more contempt into the single word than Haner could have managed in a week.

Frelt laughed, awkwardly. Haner stood. “I’ve finished, I think I’ll retire,” she said.

“No,” Daverak said, shortly. “Sit down.”

Haner sat obediently.

“Frelt, I don’t know if you’re ill, or what it is that makes you think you could aspire to marry someone connected with my family, but put it entirely out of your mind,” Daverak said. This was much more polite than he would have been had he not known he needed Frelt’s evidence. “You should marry someone of your own station, a parson’s daughter,” he went on. “I’ll see if I can find one to put in your way. Now do enjoy the hospitality of my house, but leave my sister-in-law alone.”

Frelt spluttered. “I had no intention of making unwelcome advances.”

“You can go now, Haner,” Daverak said.

For the second time that evening, Haner fled.

Felin could almost have felt sorry for the Exalt in the whirlwind of preparations that followed Sher and Selendra’s Deepwinter flight. Sher had always before tried to charm and cajole his mother, or else ignored her entirely and taken himself off. Now he was making demands, and being insistent. He demanded that Benandi House in Irieth be opened instantly, that they remove there immediately, that they hold an entertainment while they were there for whatever company might be found in Irieth in midwinter, and that hospitality be offered there to the parsonage family. In the midst of this, he demanded that his mother welcome his intended. Felin might have laughed at the confusion this caused, had she not been able to see the Exalt’s genuine distress.

“He’s completely set on having his own way,” she told Felin, grimly, while at the same time making lists of what must be packed. “I could have been doing this for weeks past except that he refused to consider a move. Now it’s all to be done at once. No, you can’t help, I know what’s to be done.” A hot tear trickled down her snout. “I have lost my son now. That it’s my own fault doesn’t make it any easier to bear.”

“You haven’t lost him,” Felin said. “Selendra will make you a good daughter-in-law if you’d just accept her.”

“After this beginning? I think not.” The Exalt sniffed, and was all practicality again. “You could tell me how many servants you’re
bringing, and if you really want to help, perhaps you could arrange to reserve four carriages on the train for us from here to Irieth.”

Felin left the Exalt to get on with creating order.

She found Sher sitting in the parsonage talking to Selendra and the children. Sher looked dazed, like any bridegroom. The children looked excited. Wontas was still limping, but only a little, Felin assured herself, as she did every time she saw him. He would heal so that nobody would know the difference. Nobody would think him a weakling in danger of consumption. Selendra sat curled up, with Gerin between her and Sher. She would have looked like a bride, except that she remained the shimmering and pure gold she had been since Felin had first met her. She would not talk to Felin about it, saying only that she had made conditions to Sher and would not go further than she might turn back until those conditions had been met. Felin feared for the conditions, and feared for Sher—except that when, as now, she saw Selendra looking at Sher she was reassured by the love that was plainly visible in her slowly turning eyes. Worse than Selendra’s refusal to talk about her conditions was Penn’s refusal to discuss Selendra’s coloring. He grew embarrassed and changed the subject every time Felin tried to raise it. Selendra was his sister, of course, but he was a parson and not usually squeamish about such matters.

The four of them were making ridiculous plans about what to do with the treasure. Felin still did not quite believe in the treasure, though she had been shown the pieces the dragonets had brought out, and Selendra’s chain. She supposed it would be some consolation if they were ruined to be rich and not poor, though riches without position are an empty thing, as Penn said. She could not quite take in either the riches or the ruin. Part of her still believed that life would revert to normal after the trial and that she would always live here.

“How is my mother?” Sher asked, after Felin had greeted him.

“Harried,” Felin said.

Selendra smiled. It was not at all a nice smile.

“She will do everything perfectly when it gets to it,” Sher said.

“I am so looking forward to Irieth,” Selendra said. “The theater. A rout-party.”

“We will go there in season and go to balls,” Sher said. “You may as well get what pleasure from it you can before it all gets dull.”

“We’ll have to get you some new hats,” Felin said, considering her own meager supply of headgear.

“Not too many,” Sher warned.

“Why?” Wontas asked. “We have the treasure, Aunt Sel can afford whatever hats she wants.”

“Yes, but have you never noticed how dragons buy hats to match their scales?” Sher asked, addressing Wontas but looking over at Selendra. “Aunt Selendra’s scales are a beautiful gold now, but soon they will be an even more beautiful bridal pink, and she’ll need a whole new set of hats.”

Felin was looking at Selendra and thought she looked distressed rather than flattered at the thought.

“The Exalt wants to know how many servants we are taking,” Felin said. “I thought just two?”

“Can we take Amer?” Selendra asked. “I know she’d like to see Haner and Avan.”

“I need Amer to stay here and look after the children,” Felin said. “I don’t like to leave them with just the nanny. Amer’s experienced.”

“Can’t we come?” Gerin asked.

“I’ve never been to Irieth,” Wontas said.

“We might find more treasure,” Gerin said, coaxingly.

“No,” Felin said, horrified. “The last time was more than enough treasure hunting. You could have all been killed.”

“Why not bring them, though, if they promise not to treasure hunt?” Sher asked. “There’s room.”

Felin had never been in Irieth either. Mixed as were the reasons for this trip, she would have liked to have been able to enjoy what she could of it without the responsibility of the dragonets. She could not say this while they were there, silently hanging on her every word. “They should stay here out of trouble,” Felin said. Both dragonets groaned. “The Exalt won’t like it,” she said, knowing this had a strong effect on the children.

“My mother won’t mind,” Sher said, as decisively as he had been saying everything recently. The children cheered.

A week later, having packed up everything possible, the seven of them, accompanied by nineteen servants, were on their way to Irieth, in five carriages. Penn looked abstracted, the children looked overexcited, Sher looked blissful, Selendra looked calmly golden, the Exalt looked like a barely contained volcano, and Felin was sure she herself looked as if she needed a week of sleep rather than a week of entertainments in the capital. It gave her some satisfaction to see the dragonets carefully settled with Sher and Selendra, and to seat herself comfortably in another carriage with Penn and the Exalt.

Haner left Lamith with strict instructions to say she was unwell and admit nobody. She was dubious as to Lamith’s ability to do this if Daverak insisted, but he was unlikely to insist, or even to be awake. It was still early in the morning when she ventured out of the establishment and set off for her appointment.