"You're really wearing ten blades right now?" Keel asked in disbelief.
"Rispah has more," Alanna said.
"How many?" Coram asked.
"Ooh, let's wager on guesses!" Raoul suggested.
Jonathan, Josiane, and Melody were off with the Copper Isles delegation for the evening, leaving the rest of the Tortallans stuck inside with only each other and a few bottles of wine for entertainment.
Thirty minutes later, the group was deep into their newly invented game. They took turns hiding knives on their person while everyone else guessed the number and placed wagers on it.
"Twenty-seven blades? How's that possible?" Coram asked.
"The key is eight in each pocket!" Raoul said proudly as Micah gleefully swept up the pot from that round of betting.
They all watched and laughed loudly as Raoul indeed removed eight blades from each pocket one by one with exaggerated flourishes.
They all froze as a knock sounded at the door.
Raoul tried to hide the pile of blades as Coram opened the door a crack. Standing at the entrance were Princess Thayet and her young guardswoman.
Alanna gently pressed her way in front of Coram and curtsied. "Princess, to what do we owe the pleasure?"
"We heard you playing a game…." Thayet began.
"Our apologies, Highness," Alanna said. "We'll try not to be so loud."
"Oh, no, that's alright, it's just - we were a little bored ourselves, and we wondered if we might - I'm sorry, it was silly of us-"
"You want to join us?" Alanna asked, surprised. "Prince Jonathan isn't here-"
"I am sorry-" Thayet said as she began to back away.
"No, join us, please!" Alanna said. "It's not your standard parlor game, though."
"It seems Buri was right that you Tortallans are a bit unconventional," Thayet said as she stepped into the now-crowded room.
"And proudly so!" Raoul said before handing the newcomers glasses of wine and introducing everyone in the room.
"I'm Thayet and this Buri," Thayet said. "Please don't stand on ceremony with us. We've had a taxing trip and a taxing...year. And for safety reasons, we aren't venturing out after dark except to formal events. Forgive my suggesting it, but I assume you have the same precaution?"
"Indeed. We haven't made ourselves overly popular with the locals," Alanna said.
"What are we playing?" Buri asked.
George explained the improvised rules as Coram went into the next room to stuff himself with blades.
"Thirty-seven," Alanna said, squinting at George.
"Forty-six," Raoul said.
"How many knives were even in the pile?" Coram asked.
"Forty-four," Rispah said.
"Want to change your guess?" George asked Raoul.
"No! You're tricky!" Raoul said. "Forty-six!"
"Thayet?"
"Twenty-five."
"Buri?"
"One."
The others laughed.
"Give him more credit than that, girl," Rispah said.
"One," Buri repeated.
"How many then, George?" Alanna asked.
George flipped a single knife out from behind his back. "One."
Everyone except Buri groaned as Alanna pushed the betting pile towards the young women.
Eventually, the newcomers left, Jon returned unharmed, and George and Rispah left for their nightly prowl.
"Anything?" Alanna asked quietly as George and Rispah slipped back into the room.
"Not really," George said. "They're certainly tryin' to bulk up on mages, but that's not so unusual. What records I could find about their military didn't seem remarkable."
"And all the talk we've heard is tournament-related or petty gossip," Rispah said. "Don't get me wrong, some very juicy tidbits in there - I'll tell ya later - but nothin' that we're lookin' for."
As they settled into bed, Alanna turned to George and asked softly, "Are you doing alright? This can't be easy, pretending to be intimidated and sullen when you're not."
"Easier than you might think," George said. "I am a commoner in a noble's world, and there is somethin' intimidating in that. I've prided myself on always seeming in control - it was a needed skill as king - but it's almost relaxin' not having to wear that mask."
"You usually make everything look so effortless," Alanna said, tracing the lines of his face with her fingers. "I forget how much of an adjustment this must be."
"We're both livin' out our truths this week, Lass. Me a newly ennobled commoner, and you a lady who grew up as a lad. The best ploys make good use of the truth."
"Well, I'm glad the messiness of my past has some good use! But you shouldn't feel intimidated. You're smarter and more capable than any of these strutting roosters think they are, and they think VERY highly of themselves. I still hate that you have to pretend otherwise."
"As long as you believe that about me, I'm a happy man." He wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed her softly. "Now, get some sleep."
"Did you know he was so good at this?" Alanna asked Jonathan the next day as they sat in their box, watching as Raoul saluted them with his lance.
"No. I knew his knight master had taught him how to joust, but I had no idea he had any skill," Jonathan replied.
They both winced as they watched Raoul strike a hard blow directly to his opponent's shield, causing the lance to shatter. The man stayed in his saddle, but barely. He looked like the wind had been very thoroughly knocked out of him.
The man had landed a hit on Raoul too, but his lance had only glanced off his shield. Raoul was as upright and unwinded as if he were out for a pleasure ride on a spring morning.
The Tortallan's cheered before resuming shaking their heads at their comrade's unexpected ability.
"He's a man of many talents, isn't he?" Thayet said as she, Buri, and two men-at-arms came up behind them.
"Well, at least one," Jonathan said puzzledly. No one had informed the Prince that Raoul was the previous night's leader in knife-concealing.
"Princess Thayet," Josiane practically purred. "How good to see you. It's so nice to get away from the troubles of home sometimes, isn't it?"
"Indeed," Thayet said.
"Jonathan and I simply must pay a visit to your Court! But once things settle down, of course. It's such a shame that it could be a long while," Josiane continued.
Alanna stole a glance at George and Coram and saw that they were bristling at Josiane's comments just as she was. How did someone master the art of being so seemingly kind and yet so cruel at the same time?
"I have long wished to see Sarain," Jonathan said quickly. "I've heard that your palace is stunning in the winter."
"The tales don't do it justice," Thayet said wistfully.
"Something to look forward to," Josiane said. "I hope you have a pleasant afternoon."
"And you," Thayet said, bobbing a quick curtsy and nodding to George, Alanna, and Coram over Jonathan's shoulder. All three nearly missed the nod as they were too busy glaring at Josiane behind her back.
"That was not courteous," Jonathan said softly to Josiane once Thayet had gone.
"Forgive me," Josiane said, resting her head on Jonathan's arm. "I just can't help but act a little jealous of my handsome prince."
Jonathan gave her an appreciative smirk and let her continue to rest against him.
The following two days passed in much the same fashion.
They attended the joust during the day, where Raoul did far better than any of them, himself included, had anticipated. Jonathan and Josiane hobnobbed with the other dignitaries while the rest of the Tortallans either quietly accompanied them or found ways of amusing themselves in their small palace rooms.
None of them had encountered any threats of violence or open hostility, for which they were all grateful.
At night, George and Rispah slunk around the palace, looking for anything interesting and listening to whatever could prove helpful.
The morning of their fifth day in Tusaine, George and Rispah gave yet another lackluster report.
George shook his head. "Still nothin'. There's too much goin' on. They aren't focused on you. I think it's time you start kickin' the hornet's nest."
Jonathan sighed. "Alright, but carefully! We don't want to do diplomatic damage with anyone else."
Raoul, Alanna, and Coram nodded. "So cause trouble, but not too much trouble. Got it," Raoul said.
"Beat that Tusaine back just like we did at the Drell!" Coram yelled from the stands just as Raoul was about to tilt his last match.
"That lousy excuse for a knight knows he can't take a Tortallan in a fair fight!" Keel added to the jeers of the Tusaine around them.
They quieted for a moment as Raoul expertly smashed his lance into his opponent, then followed wild whoops with a loud chant of, "Goldenlake! Goldenlake! Tusaine men are sure to break!"
Raoul and his opponent rode against each other one final time, each scoring a hit but neither falling to the ground.
"The winner of the round is Sir Raoul of Goldenlake!" a herald called out, "Making him second runner up in this week's tournament."
Raoul did a victory lap and stopped in front of Jonathan. "Always a pleasure to find victory in foreign territory with you, my Prince," he shouted before giving a deep bow and then completing his circuit of the tournament field.
At the banquet that evening, Jonathan found himself seated just down the table from Duke Hilam, so he stuck up a polite conversation which he eventually steered to tournament logistics.
"You know, we've been considering hosting a tournament of our own," Jonathan said. "But we need new grounds. I thought the area you cleared on the western bank of Drell might be perfect. What do you think? You probably know that land better than anyone."
"It's a bit far from your capital to be practical," the Duke said flatly before suddenly turning to talk with a dinner guest on the opposite side of the table.
To Raoul and Alanna's chagrin, the tournament ended with a ball just as it had begun.
"You came in third in the tournament," Melody gushed to Raoul as they walked toward the ballroom, "You'll be one of the most sought-after dance partners of all tonight! I hope you aren't too tired."
"I wasn't tired a moment ago, but now that you mention it…." Raoul seemed to think he could really use this as a means of escape, but one look from Jonathan disabused him of that notion.
"We don't want to be ungracious guests, now do we?" the Prince asked pointedly.
Raoul sighed.
"Dance with that young Sarain girl," Alanna suggested. "I'm sure you two can find something to talk about."
"The guard girl? But she's not even a noble," Melody said, genuinely puzzled.
"But she does seem to have an eye for knives. Maybe I will," Raoul said thoughtfully.
Melody decided for about the fifth time that week that she would stop trying to understand these strange people.
Early on in the ball, Hilam's son, Lord Winston, asked Josiane to dance. When the song was done, Winston bowed over Josiane's hand and said, "Princess, you are as graceful as you are beautiful. Might I call on you soon? I do wish to get to know you better."
Josiane gave him a disgusted look and snatched her hand away. "Prince Jonathan of Tortall is courting me!" she spat loudly. "I'm only interested in victors!"
"Did we put her up to that?" Alanna whispered to Raoul.
"No, that's just her," he said, trying to hide his amusement.
Just then, Dain of Melor appeared in the ballroom. Jonathan and Alanna noticed him at the same time and immediately began searching for each other in the crowd. They made eye contact, and Alanna gave a slight nod to let Jon know she was game.
Dain had just finished bowing to King Ain when Jonathan approached, followed closely by Alanna. "Sir Dain, how good it is to see you again!" Jonathan said.
"And you, Prince Jonathan," the man said warily.
"Allow me to introduce Alanna of Trebond," the Prince said.
"It's wonderful to meet you," Alanna said in a high-pitched voice as she dipped a quick curtsy. "You're the one that made my brother famous!"
"A pleasure, your ladyship," the man said, completely bewildered by Alanna's exuberance.
"I'd ask for a rematch in his honor, but then if I won, you would have lost to a girl and a squire. That would be quite embarrassing, wouldn't it?" Alanna said, punctuating her question with a high-pitched giggle she hadn't previously realized she was capable of.
Dain did not look amused. Hilam and Ain, who were both in earshot, were now staring at them.
"I've heard so many thrilling stories of that duel!" Alanna continued, doing the best Delia impression she could muster. "Everyone says it was - what's the word? Oh, yes, foreshadowing! One glorious victory proceeding another. My brother left quite the legacy for one so young, don't you think?"
"Indeed. Excuse me," Dain said, pushing past her and into the crowd.
"Well done," Jonathan said as he escorted Alanna off in a different direction. "I don't know if I have ever before been more impressed with you than I am in this moment. George is going to be so proud!"
"You're too kind," Alanna said with another high-pitched giggle. "And now, Goddess, help me; I shall never make that sound again."
Raoul did attempt to dance with Buri, but she turned him down with the excuse that she didn't know the steps. He danced with Thayet instead, and then shared a pleasant conversation with both women before being swept off by another eager young lady.
Eventually, the ball drew to a close, and the Tortallan nobles headed back to their rooms to pack for the following day's journey.
"Those cursed Tortallan bastards!" Jem shouted. "If only...aaaaaaaaah! It makes my blood boil." He slammed his fist into the desk, sending papers flying.
"Patience, Brother, we will have our revenge," Hilam said, calmly reaching down to pick up the scattered papers. "This week only reinforces what we already knew: the father is weak, but the son is strong. Our plans will proceed as scheduled."
"And your sorcerer still believes such powerful magic can be done?" Ain asked.
"Yes, but he needs more time and more recruits. We have to be selective in the gifted ones we choose and the allies we groom. This must go down without a hitch," Hilam said.
"Just as long as I can be there to see it," Jem said sullenly as he rubbed his sore knuckles under the table.
"We all will, brothers. And this time, there won't make any more mistakes," Ain said.
Once the men had moved onto other topics, George slipped out from his perch below the window, where he had been listening. He found Rispah, who had been keeping watch, and they quietly moved back toward their rooms in the palace with grim faces.
