36

But Sable wasn't blasted by the Sun Rune. For the next two years, aside from vague rumors of Arshtat's paranoia, the Sun Rune had no effect on our lives. In time, I even returned to court. It was as beautiful as ever, though I always felt a tension just below the surface, in the quick smiles that never reached the courtiers' eyes. I saw Arshtat, the Sun Rune like a little bloody drip on her pale forehead. Yet she smiled and was charming and even spoke with me from time to time. I never heard anyone mention Lordlake in her presence.

I came back to Sable with no little amount of relief. My first day home, helping Madelon unpack my clothes, I almost wanted to cry, I was so grateful to be in familiar, safe, surroundings. Of course I didn't.

It had been my first time to court without Mother. The Wildes had served as my chaperones (sort of), so Mother was keen to know all that had happened. I'd written letters every few weeks, but you know how parents are. I'd brought her back several bolts of silk to make into a new dress, and she was terribly pleased. For Father, I'd found one of the few books he'd never read. For Grand, I'd spent a tiresome dinner party wrestling an admission from one of his long-standing rivals that he'd been the best damned warrior south of Scarlet Moon, which Grand pretended to be nonchalant about, but I could tell he was secretly delighted.

I slapped my hand to my forehead. "I forgot to get you something!"

"That's all right, my lady."

"I can't believe it, I'm so stupid!"

"Certainly not, my lady." The corners of Dinn's mouth were twitching slightly. "It is of no importance."

"Oh, of course not, you're just practically one of the family."

"I assure you that I-"

"I don't think I bought anything that would be even remotely suitable. Er, would you like my new fan? It's a very nice one."

"Uh..."

Encouraged, I dropped it into his hand. "There you go. Now you have a present. Now you have absolutely no excuse to incite the military against me later."

With an unpracticed gesture, Dinn opened the fan and stared at it. "That's a weight off my mind."

I tapped the fan's thick lace edging. "You'll find it terribly useful. It's so hot in Sable, after all. And you can always remove one of the ribs and put a stiletto in it."

Dinn flicked the fan. "My lady thinks of everything."

I studied him. "I really think it...adds to your warrior demeanor."

Dinn closed the fan and put it through the first, second and third swordfighting positions. Then he handed it back to me.

"I am sorry," I said.

He grinned. "It's of no consequence, I promise."

"Are you sure?" I raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you need more funds for the military that Father feels are unnecessary? I'm sure I could bring him around. Maybe mittens for the guards who have night duty? Or a stuffed animal in every barrack?"

"I probably should've just accepted the fan..."

I walked off, waving my hand. "I'll think of something. When's your birthday? I'll have the cook make baklava."

"My birthday was last week, my lady."

That stopped me. I gave him a cold look. "I think, at this point, we can both say this mess is your fault."

Dinn sighed. "I'll accept the fan, my lady."

I passed it back. He bowed politely and tucked it into his belt.

Later on the season, Rocco began training his son Peter in riding. I'd come down in the morning to see them in a practice ring, Peter's pony tied to a long lunge line, trotting endlessly in circles around Rocco. It reminded me of my own childhood; Grand had helped teach me to ride. I remember once when I was five Mother and I came with him to Stormfist. I rode right between the front gates on my dumpy little pony with a lead shank tied to the saddle of Grand's enormous red stallion. On my own horse with my proud warrior grandfather next to me, even Marscal Godwin hadn't been able to frighten me.

One morning, as I was watching Peter as he begged to be allowed to ride without reins ("No", said Rocco), I heard Madelon. She sounded like she was walking, the noise of her chatter coming closer to me. My jaw tightened. Didn't she ever leave Dinn alone? He had more important things to do than pass the time with a house maid, no matter how curvy she was. I turned, vaguely formulating a plan to send Madelon on an errand.

"...and I always say that a warrior's most valuable assets are his arms. And his most attractive. You have fine arms, Sir Rhone, has anyone ever told you that? Such firm muscles."

Sir Rhone stared at her rather glassily. He was a young soldier, not even twenty, and had only just stopped the process of growing. Now that he was a full six foot five, he was in the process of filling out. Madelon had taken his left arm and was gingerly stroking his bicep.

Another maid from the house jogged up. "My lady, Lord Solis requests your presence in his study."

Ah. More lessons. After two hours of tedium, I ate lunch, collected Chaz and took a ride in the mountains to ease my subsequent headache. When we returned, I found Madelon in the courtyard again. She had managed to waylay Dinn and Rhone at the same time. Unnoticed, I brought Kiani closer under the pretense of walking her cool.

"So really Dinn, you shouldn't let a good thing like this slip through your hands. I've lived in Sable all my life. I know a great warrior when I see one." She clapped Rhone on the shoulder. "Rhone is a swordsman among thousands. With the proper training, he will be leading your men into the heart of danger and leading them away into glory."

Rhone gulped. Dinn waited to see if she was done. "I appreciate your interest in-"

"Rhone," Madelon said, stepping closer so that her hip just brushed his thigh for a moment, "will you come riding with me this afternoon? I'm afraid to go into the mountains by myself."

"Er...I have...er, I have...sword-training?" He ended it on a questioning note, the tip of his nose going red.

Madelon looked at Dinn and pushed out her lower lip slightly. "Won't you give him the day off, Sir Dinn?"

Dinn blinked. "I'm afraid not."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want him to accompany me?"

Dinn smiled. "Rhone won't lead my men in or out of anything if he doesn't attend his sword classes."

"Oh." Madelon tilted her head to one side. "Then, won't you go riding with me, Dinn?"

"No need," I said carelessly, leading Kiani over. "Chaz and I were just heading out again. We'll go with you."

I don't have quite the vocabulary to translate the look Madelon gave me. You see, my mother was very careful about that sort of thing. Chaz's look was also pretty hot stuff, but at least his was only flabbergasted.

"I'm sure," Madelon said carefully, "that your ladyship has some studying to do. You seem to have been...neglecting it lately."

"Don't forget your place," Chaz said automatically. Dear Chaz.

"Come now," I public spoke, "accompanying you is the least I can do for my faithful maid."

Cheery trip into the mountains.

If Chaz hadn't been there, she might've shoved me off a cliff.

"Madelon, I don't see what's wrong," I snapped for the fifth time. "If you want Dinn, just come out and tell him! Stop acting like a barnacle around Rhone!" Never mind that she'd never been to Estrise and had no idea what a barnacle is.

Madelon bit her lower lip.

"Is this some sort of power play?" I went on. "Are you trying to make Dinn jealous?" I stopped then, because I was pretty sure she was about to cry. I suddenly felt awful.

Madelon struggled to collect herself. "Maybe I'm not trying to make Dinn jealous. Maybe Rhone is the best I can do."

"Best you can do?" I repeated. "Madelon, you're gorgeous. Rhone could hardly believe his good luck just to be breathing the same air as you."

Madelon narrowed her eyes. "And Dinn? Did he care? Has he ever cared?"

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. Was there any nice way to tell her that she couldn't have everything she wanted?

"I thought you might get it." Madelon looked away. "You can marry a lord any time you want, but I don't see you getting married. No. You want something else."

I clenched my hands on the reins. "It isn't that simple! I -I have to think of Sable. Whoever I marry will-"

"Oh shut up!" Madelon snapped.

I let it pass.