"Grace to you, Ambassador Laurel," the chancellor said. Her russet eyes flicked over me, rested on the captain for a moment, then snapped back to the Faena.
"Honored chancellor," Laurel said, rising from his own bow. He turned and gestured for me to join him.
"May I?" At the chancellor's nod, Laurel directed me to lay my burdens down on the table. As soon as I did, I moved back to where Jeff was trying to find an inoffensive place to put his feet, and Suiden joined us.
Chancellor Berle looked down at the staff, shield and hauberk. "My goodness, Ambassador. What are these?”
"The reason why I've come to speak with your king, Chancellor," Laurel said. "They are what's left of two Border citizens.”
"I see." Chancellor Berle stared with dismayed fascination; then she gave a wry smile. "Well, I was going to invite you to be seated, but I don't think that would be appropriate now.” At the captain's high sign, Jeff and I grabbed chairs and moved them away from the table. The chancellor gave another wry smile.
"Thank goodness for ingenuity. Shall we?”
Despite Suiden's prejudice against gambling, I'd been in a few high stakes games where it was as much bluff and reading the other players as it was skill and luck of the draw. Chancellor Berle and Laurel Faena sat facing each other as if one had bet the family estate and the other was determined to win it.
The chancellor made the opening bid.
"I wish to apologize, Ambassador Laurel. You've come a long way to receive such a poor welcome.”
"Thank you, honored chancellor." Laurel saw the chancellor's bet and raised it. "I admit it was a little disconcerting.
Chancellor Berle nodded. "Unfortunately, I was away from the city and did not get word that you had arrived until I returned last night." She made a discard. "And contrary to appearances, the treasury clerks do not set foreign policy."
So much for Losan eso Dru.
"However, I trust that you've managed to get everything arranged to your satisfaction?”
"Yes, honored chancellor. Through the efforts of Captains Suiden and Javes, the embassy should soon be completely furnished.”
"Good." Chancellor Berle shifted in her seat. Time to show cards. "So, Ambassador, as I said, you've come a long way. Why?”
Laurel Faena stood and walked over to the table. He looked at me and held out his staff. At the captain's nod, I walked over and took it from him, starting a little at the warmth that spread over my hand and up my arm. Laurel bent over and removed the shroud from Prudence Oak's body. The chancellor rose and stood next to the Faena.
"Are you familiar with spritewood, honored chancellor?"
"Yes, Ambassador.” Surprised, I looked up from the table and met Chancellor Berle's eyes as she watched me over Laurel's shoulder.
"Then I don't need to explain what this is." Laurel traced over the dead sprite. "Her name was Prudence Oak, Chancellor. I knew her and grieved hard with her sister over her murder. So imagine my shock when I discovered a church elder using her body as his Staff of Office." Laurel pointed at the hauberk.
"Or my horror when I saw a commander in the Royal Army wearing the skin of Dragon Gwyyn, a son of a dear friend." Laurel looked up. "The commander said that he was told it came from the Royal Armory."
Laurel moved back to his chair, sitting down. "For the past five years we have suffered predations from runners—”
"Runners?" Chancellor Berle asked, also seating herself once more.
"Smugglers and raiders, honored chancellor. They run wood, pelts, ivory and such into Iversterre and the lucrative markets here." Laurel held out his paw and I handed his staff back to him. "Where no one asks any questions about the origin of an exotic fur, or whether the apothecary's potion contains real dragonheart."
"This is very distressing, Ambassador.”
"We're not too happy about it ourselves." Laurel leaned forward. "There is talk of war.”
There was silence. "I see," Chancellor Berle finally said. "Are you sure that these smugglers are from here?”
"A fair question. Some runners have been caught"— Laurel's lips drew back, showing his eyeteeth—"and questioned diligently. They were all from Iversterre."
"Are there Border folk involved too?"
Laurel shrugged. "It's possible, but so far we've found no evidence.”
"I see," the chancellor said again. She folded her hands in her lap. "Tell me, how does Lieutenant Rabbit fit into this?” I'd been distracted by a particularly nubile mermaid, but my head snapped up at my name.
Laurel's whiskers swept back again, this time his smile showing fewer teeth. "Honored Two Trees—Lord Rafe ibn Chause—was instrumental in getting the High Council to try diplomacy. He recommended his son as a go-between, due to both Lord Rabbit's Border ties and his kin in the human kingdom." Laurel chuffed. "It was either that or send a retinue of Border folk, and we didn't think Iversterre was ready for that."
Chancellor Berle nodded. "And Captain Suiden?”
Laurel's brows drew together as he stared at the unexpected card he had just been dealt. "Captain Suiden?"
"He is the son of the sister of the Amir of Tural.”
I couldn't help it. I stared—along with Jeff and Laurel— at my captain. And Prince Suiden smiled faintly as he bowed to the fox.
I made a mental note to never gamble with Laurel Faena. Instead of disclaiming any knowledge of Captain Suiden's royalness, or denying that he was plotting with the Amir of Tural, the cat shrugged.
"I am sure your army commanders knew who he was when they appointed him head of my escort."
Laurel looked at Chancellor Berle, his face calm. "The good captain's antecedents do not interest me.
The illegal running does. The moon season will begin at the full moon, and the blood of the slaughtered will then sing out for vengeance. A most dangerous time, Chancellor Berle, when all will be reminded of friends and family who have been murdered.”
The chancellor's face was impassive. Another gambler to avoid. "What is it that you wish us to do, Ambassador Laurel?”
"Stop the smuggling. To this end, I wish to meet with the king and the rest of his advisors.”
Chancellor Berle allowed a judicious frown to come over her face. "I can present you at Court—”
"No, honored chancellor," Laurel interrupted. "Forgive my rudeness, but there's no time for courtly airs and graces. It must be addressed immediately." He waved a paw towards the table behind them. "If this doesn't stop, war will happen.”
Sometimes, no matter how good a player you are, it's wise to fold your hand and quit the game. The chancellor rang a bell for tea and refreshments, and settled down to an even politer version of Captain Javes' genteel haggling with the shop owners. Finally, they agreed on Laurel meeting with King Jusson in two days.
"I will send a servant tomorrow with the time, Ambassador Laurel," Chancellor Berle said, finishing her tea. She smiled. "I will try to have it as early in the day as possible, to avoid any competition from the heat.”
"I am very appreciative, honored chancellor," Laurel said.
Because I was there as the Faena's liaison, protocol allowed me to share in the food. But I wasn't about to eat while my captain and mate had to stand and watch, no matter that I last ate the previous day while they had a full breakfast that morning. However, I was hungry, and I stared at Laurel, willing him to get a move on. And got not only his return stare but one from Suiden too.
"Have patience, Lord Rabbit," Laurel said, setting his cup down and rising. "As soon as I prepare the staff and dragon skin, we will leave."
"Uh—”
Laurel smiled. "I'd forgotten that you hadn't eaten today." He turned to Chancellor Berle. "Lord Rabbit has been a little under the weather.”
"I'm sorry to hear that, my lord," the chancellor said, frowning as she realized she'd missed something. "Is it the heat?”
"Yes, Chancellor," I said. I rubbed my palm against my leg as it started to burn.
After Laurel redrew the wards, I picked up the death staff and dragon skin and joined the rest of the group and waited while Chancellor Berle, who had walked with Laurel Faena to the door, finished the ceremonial small talk. The chancellor then looked at the captain. "It was nice to see you again, Your Highness. Do you have a message for the Turalian ambassador?”
Suiden shook his head. "No, thank you, Chancellor. I am sure I will see my cousin shortly."
It was still morning when we left the palace wing, the sun having yet to reach its zenith. The servant awaited us with our horses.
'That's all right," Suiden said. "We won't need your escort."
The servant looked at the captain.
"We're going to stop by the garrison and I'll have one of the soldiers take us back.”
There's nothing to do when a prince tells you—however politely—to bugger off, except to bugger off, and the servant bowed, handing his reins back to a groomer. As we rounded the trees back to the broadway, though, I looked back and saw him talking with someone on the steps. Startled, I first thought it was Slevoic. Then the man turned to go back in the palace, revealing a thicker frame, and the sun glinted on the silver in his light brown hair. Not the Vicious.
Laurel waited until we were hidden by the trees before stopping. "Honored captain—or should I say Your Highness?"
"Captain will do.”
"I do not think it would be wise to take me to the royal barracks.” Suiden's emerald green eyes glowed down at the Faena and in the bright sun I could once more see the clan markings on his face.
"We aren't going to the barracks, Sro Laurel." Suiden urged his horse forward. "Lieutenant Rabbit is going to the mess to eat, I am going to the garrison commander's office to see if there are any dispatches or instructions, and Trooper Jeffen will attend you while you meditate by one of the many ornamental lakes on the royal grounds." He looked back down at Laurel. "It should only take a short while.”
Laurel rumbled with annoyance, but my stomach growled even louder and he gave in with a short laugh.
"All right. But as soon as Lord Rabbit is finished eating, we return to the embassy."
The captain nodded. "As you wish, Ambassador."
Laurel laughed again. "Right."
We followed the broadway back down towards the gate, until we came to an avenue that branched off.
Suiden turned onto it and I could see the purple tiles of the garrison. As we approached, the sound of the breakers grew louder and I wondered what it would be like to always have it in one's ears.
"I grew up in a city on the sea's edge," Captain Suiden said. "My family's wealth and power comes from it."
"The trade routes, sir?”
Suiden actually laughed. "Not so naive, Rabbit." We could see the blue water beyond the promontory edge. The captain looked out over it, his eyes unfocused. "There's nothing like being at sea. The tide race and that first shuddering jolt as the sails fill and the ship lets you know she's glad to be back where she's queen. As she dances before the wind, singing and laughing under your bare feet, riding the waves with the dolphins leaping before her prow. Even the mighty storms where you and she together wrest fate from the ocean's grip, and then fling it back, defiant and alive."
"Fiat," I said, my voice soft.
"Fiat," Suiden repeated, tasting the word. "Oh, yes. Fiat.”
Laurel had cocked his ears back to listen, while Jeff had pressed forward. Pulling even with me, Jeff took a breath, then asked, "Do you miss it, sir?” I shut my eyes, thinking that Ryson's stupidity had spread through the entire troop.
"Do I miss it?" Suiden sounded almost amused and I cracked one eye open. "I guess you can say that.
Tell me, Rabbit. Do you miss the Border?"
Both eyes sprang open. "Sir?”
'Trooper Jeffen has asked if I miss the place where I was born and raised. Do you?”
The image of my parents smiling as pale old men led me away rose up and I began to say that I couldn't care less, but then other memories pushed it aside. The forest in its wild spring greenness. Summer swimming holes and crisp fall mornings. Winter nights, mulled cider, and traveling bards' tales of swords and sorceries. Playing chess with Dragoness Moraina while she spoke of beginnings and endings, and how the latter were foreshadowed in the former. Honor Ash Faena's biting humor as she let me tag along on her strides of the Weald. I had to blink to clear my suddenly blurred vision. "A little, sir.”
"Both of you so very far from home," Jeff said as we rounded a bend and the garrison came into full view. "And so very different from what you once thought you'd be." He then snapped upright in the saddle as he remembered whom he was talking to. "Uhm, sir.”
"Well, as Lieutenant Rabbit is always saying, I wanted to see the world," Suiden said.
Yeah, right, I thought hard, and then waited. But Suiden just smiled.
"I am who I have always been, honored Jeff," Laurel said, "and where I'm supposed to be. At this time, in this place, with my present company.” We reached the garrison just then, saving any of us from having to respond. While there wasn't a guard gate, sentries stood on each side of the garrison entrance—their eyes wide as they took in the Faena. I heard pounding feet and two groomers ran up, while Laurel bowed to the captain. "I will await you by that lake." He pointed at one down a shaded lane that had a gazebo and vine trellis with ripening grapes hanging from it. "Until then, Your Highness." Without waiting for the captain's reply, he walked off, leading the packhorse. After saluting, Jeff followed him.
"It appears that Sro Laurel isn't too happy with me because I won't allow him time alone with you,"
Suiden said, dismounting.
"Yes, sir," I said. I dismounted also, wondering if he'd heard Laurel's and my conversation earlier as we left the Border embassy or if he'd made a lucky guess.
"I don't guess," Suiden said and, handing the reins to the groomer, walked away.
I stared after him for a moment. Then, realizing that I was standing in the hot sun, I thrust the reins into the other groomer's hands and hurried down the path, catching up with the captain just as he entered the garrison door.