CHAPTER 26
The wagon rumbled awkwardly as it passed under the Palace gate. There were several chests piled in the foremost part of the wagon leaving room for the passengers to ride on the back. Eagle pranced with his head up watching everything that was happening around him.
She was fairly certain she didn't have that many clothes. If Eagle hadn't been tethered to the back she would have doubted the wagon being hers.
:You rode that!: Quin commented beside her.
"He is a sweetie, I swear." Sherri assured him. She had an apple in her pocket as a treat for her loyal horse, which was necessary since he was known to rip pockets off searching for his deserved treat if he wasn't offered it immediately.
Eagle pranced and acted foolish when stable hands came to collect him. A stable boy glanced at Eagle then at her. She could tell he doubted she could handle the feisty stallion.
:I am doubting it, too.: Quin commented.
Sherri whistled and Eagle spun his head around to look for her. "There's my pretty boy."
Eagle calmed down and reached his head as far towards her as he could manage. Sherri quickly untied him and led him to the side so the passengers could get out with out fear of being trampled.
Sherri felt Eagle lip at her collar and knew she was about to lose her tunic if he didn't get his treat out. Quickly she pulled it out and offered in to him, then turned the horse over to a stable boy. "Is this all mine?" She called to the driver, one of the guardsmen who had served her for years. She also recognized the four outriders as some of her guards.
"Aye, milady. The lasses packed all they thought ye would need for court." The driver answered.
A pair of feet appeared over the edge of the wagon and a lanky, fifteen year old slid out. "Milady, I hope you don't mind I came."
"Gen, it is good to see you."
Gen relaxed and made a small curtsy.
"Enough of that. I was Chosen, that means I am no longer a Countess."
"Chosen! Really?" Gen gaped. "Does Kori know yet?"
"I wrote him a letter. I hope it doesn't bother him."
"I doubt it will." Gen grinned.
"Enough gabbing girl and help an old lady out." Daya ordered from within the wagon.
Sherri grinned as she helped Daya from the wagon. "I have missed you."
"Of course you did. Now what's this you are wearing?"
"I was Chosen." Sherri tugged at her tunic. "My Companion is just over there."
"The one staring at your Eagle?"
"That's the one." Sherri smiled towards Quin. :Eagle is a fine horse, old man, He may look like a brute but he is very well trained and an eager mount.:
:Old man? Aren't you supposed to give your father some respect?:
:If my father looked older than I did, maybe I would.: Sherri retorted.
"So you will be staying here."
"Favram is the new Count."
Daya nodded. "Wise choice. The other boys weren't gifted with the land sense of a mouse."
"I am glad to see you are back on you feet." Daya appraised her critically. "Are you happy here?"
"Yes."
"Good. It seems all my apprentices are going to Haven, I thought I may as well join you." Daya stepped carefully to the side and allowed the muscular servants to remove the chests. "Leave that one in the wagon. We are going to an inn after this."
"What is everything?" Sherri asked.
"Your weapons and instruments, Jyra and Gen made some court gowns for you, I hope you find a use for them other than as cleaning rags, your books that you had in your room, several potions and lotions, that sort of thing. There is actually very little clothing."
"What are your plans? I had a brilliant idea a few days ago."
"Oh? Do tell." Daya looked interested.
"Why not set up shop as an apothecary or the like. You know, sell the same potions as what the healers hand out only better tasting, and cosmetics, that sort of thing."
Daya nodded slowly. "Is this your way to get me to retire?"
"I wouldn't call opening a shop retiring. You could hire a couple of girls to help with the work."
"I could help." Gen volunteered. "I could make dyes that we could sell."
Daya smiled fondly at the lanky blonde. "Perhaps we could consider it."
"I know some Heralds who would love to get their hands on your Gift-Tea."
"No doubt you do. But you remember what I said, never more than a cup a day and for no longer than two weeks."
"I will remember." Sherri promised. "I will make certain the others know as well."
"You are looking rather thin, milady. You should eat more." Daya scolded. "Are your uncles still here?"
"Only Favram and Avren. The others were shooed off by the queen."
"You know the queen." Gen said in awe.
"She is my cousin."
"You're almost royalty!"
Daya and Sherri exchanged a glance. "Well dear, we better go. Tell Hanna I will come by a visit her tomorrow. For now this old lady needs to sleep."
Gen looked rather disappointed, she had wanted to see more of the grounds. "I packed several tapestries for you. They are all of the forest so I hope you like them."
"I am sure I will."
Sherri stood next to her piled luggage and watched as the pair climbed into the empty wagon. She quickly handed out the money she had begged off her uncle to the out riders and to Daya and Gen, enough to pay for a month's lodging in a decent inn. She ordered them to wait for orders from Favram before going back. He may need them to carry up his goods, not likely but possible.
Thankfully the wagon had arrived in the evening when she had a free candlemark. A few hulking servants started hauling the chests to her room. She shouldered one herself and soon all had been moved to her room, covering three quarters of the floor.
It wasn't until it was nearly dark that she finally got a chance to start sorting.
"I see your stuff has arrived." Kevyn commented as he wove around one chest she had already opened to discover her everyday dresses. She was in the process of hanging them in the wardrobe.
"It arrived just after supper." Sherri explained. "Could you pass me an armful?"
Kevyn obliged her. "This is all your clothes?"
"No. Only three chests are clothes, the rest are things they thought I would need for a turn at court. And some books and instruments."
Kevyn opened a chest to discover the rolled tapestries. He unfurled the first one. "This is very impressive. Who made it?"
"Gen. She accompanied Daya down here." Sherri admired the work. "She is very talented."
"I'll say."
The next chest they opened were the court gowns Jyra and Gen had made. None were in the current style, or of any style they recognized. There were heavily embroidered insets on the high waisted skirt and long flowing sleeves of a light silk. The first they removed from the chest was midnight blue and silver had a high waist, bound just under her breasts, with a tapestry panel of white, blue, and silver flowers down the front, silver ribbon around the upper arm from which the remaining sleeve draped in sheer folds.
Sherri fingered the fine work. "My Housekeeper approved the purchase of the silver thread. It was supposed to be a surprise."
"But it is hard to keep anything from you. Obviously you knew of the purchase."
"Yes, I knew, but I never knew about the dress. At least I have something to wear to that ball Selenay wants me to attend tomorrow night. Will you come?"
"Of course, I wouldn't miss the chance to dance with you."
Sherri blushed. "I hope you are good at dancing, I never mastered the art."
~ * ~
People were packed into the grand ballroom for the summer ball, a custom that dated back centuries that had only been missed during emergencies and extreme weather. All the nobles returned to their townhouses for the event. Already the smell of human sweat, flowers, and perfume were threatening to overwhelm the poor, country bred Sherri.
"What do you think?" Kevyn asked as he guided her to a bare spot along the wall.
"I think it stinks." Sherri said succinctly.
"It does, but they aren't here to enjoy themselves, they are here to be seen. Mothers are evaluating the prospects for their sons and daughters. Lords and ladies are angling for more power. Or new lovers."
Sherri smiled but tightened her grip on Kevyn's arm unconsciously. She drew several strange stares for her strange gown and she could hear several twitters from people pointing at her.
"Relax love. They are wondering who you are." Kevyn leaned down and kissed her.
"Sherri, I am glad you could make it." Talia greeted her. "I love your gown."
"Thank you. I like yours as well."
Talia looked down at her velvet gown with her full skirt and layers of petticoats, not as full as most court gowns, but she much preferred Sherri's slimmer style. "You must give me the name of your seamstress."
"Gen and Jyra. Jyra is on my estate, but Gen just came down here. I am sure she would be glad to make a gown for you."
"It looks much more comfortable than this thing." Talia grimaced. "This is your first ball, isn't it?"
"Yes."
:Her first ball was to coronate Elspeth. She said I would look better with a wart.:
:You would. You just look too perfect to be real.: Sherri teased.
"What do you think?"
"I would rather be out riding." Sherri answered. "Could you point out the man I am supposed to look at?"
"He hasn't arrived yet. I will point him out as soon as he arrives."
Sherri saw a familiar person towering over much of the crowd. "I believe Dirk is looking for you."
Talia glanced over her shoulder. "I envy your height."
"He has spotted us." Sherri waved.
"My lovely one." Dirk kissed Talia in greeting drawing a twitter from the surrounding people who were all putting on their best faces for the benefit of the Queen's Own.
A group of bards started a festive dance and Dirk drew Talia off.
"They are very much in love, aren't they?" Sherri commented.
"They are lifebonded." Kevyn explained. "Would you care to dance?"
"I would love that." Sherri smiled up at him.
Sherri had never danced this particular dance before, but she learned the steps quickly, especially since Kevyn knew the dance quite well and he was holding her bare hand. She enjoyed the upbeat music and the pleasant company as they twirled across the floor.
"You look like a handsome hero." Sherri commented. "Tall, strong, handsome, slightly wicked."
"Wicked?"
Sherri grinned. "What else would you call that look in your eye? And you keep looking at my neckline."
Kevyn glanced at the low neckline that revealed a great deal of skin. "I would call it appreciative." He whirled suddenly and pulled her closer.
"Really? Very well, tall, strong, handsome, and more than a little wicked."
"Only with you my dear. Perhaps I will be 'wicked' and steal you away from this dull ball."
"Scoundrel." Sherri laughed.
"Only for you."
It was almost a candlemark later before Sherri's target arrived. She needed no one to tell her this was him. The double vision of two men standing in the same place wearing the same clothing made her eyes ache. He surveyed the crowd then stepped off to the side in an effort to be inconspicuous.
Sherri watched him as unobtrusively as possible as she committed his image to memory. The illusion was that of a plain man in his late thirties who could best be described as brown; brown hair, brown eyes, brown skin. Underneath the illusion was a man much closer to late forties with grey streaked black hair, dark skin, and black eyes.
Sherri used her Mage sight to examine the stranger. There was no glow to indicate an illusion being used.
Sherri racked her brain for a suitable explanation.
"Sherri, it's that man by the door." Talia said quietly as she stopped beside Sherri and Kevyn.
"He is a Karsite." Sherri said simply.
"A Karsite?"
"Late forties, I believe. If he is a Mage, he has some how rid himself of all magic." Sherri continued quietly. "I think he is using mind magic."
"But we are shielded." Talia protested.
"Not completely." Kevyn commented, not looking towards the stranger. "I don't use shields any stronger than necessary."
"Neither do I." Talia admitted. "We don't shield our Companions out. If he is using a subtle enough broadcast we would never notice."
Sherri nodded.
"What should we do?"
Sherri felt a twinge of fear in her stomach. This man was part of a very deep deception, she could tell with out even speaking to him. More than just his appearance was hidden.