Sro Kenalt nodded several times. "Yes. Destroy ships." He lifted a finger to his lips. "Shhh.”
The majordomo had taken off once more and now returned with Jeff and our other outrider. The three of them helped Suiden climb into the carriage, while Kenalt supervised. Despite that, we were soon all aboard and ahorse, the coachman snapped the reins and we took off. I'd expected Suiden to fall asleep but he stayed awake, demonstrating with his sword belt all the different sailors' knots.
When we arrived at the embassy, I slipped off to my own room—where I discovered that the furnishers had been there too, moving in bunk beds for four. However, I also discovered that Groskin had moved out, taking not only his gear, but Jeff's and the other trooper's too. The trooper gave me a side glance before leaving; Jeff, however, stood in the middle of the room for a few moments. He then stripped down to his smalls and, choosing a top bunk, curled up on its bare mattress. I was too weary to feel much of anything, except to think that Groskin'd have an interesting time explaining to Suiden what he'd done, especially with the head the captain was going to have tomorrow.
For the first time in days I was able to get up the following morning without someone hanging over me, and I savored it. Jeff was already gone and so, after dressing, I went down by myself into the officers'
mess and stopped. It was also the first time I'd been in the officers' mess since it had been furnished. I stared about, seeing the same quiet elegance that was in the captains' office. There were round tables, dark brown against the white walls and polished to a mirror finish, with high-backed, intricately carved chairs. On each table was a vase with fresh-picked flowers from the courtyard, with place settings of silverware, linen napkins, crystal glasses, porcelain teacups with matching saucers. The courtyard doors were open and I could see tables and chairs out on the trellised patio, though these seemed to be made out of wrought iron painted white. I sat at a table and Basel immediately emerged from the kitchen.
"Good morning, Lieutenant," he said, beaming. He filled my glass with orange juice, poured tea into my cup, and then, after hustling back into the kitchen, reappeared with plates piled high with food that he set before me. "When you're finished, the captains want to see you, sir.”
So much for lingering over a pot of tea. I sighed and thanked him, starting in on my eggs. After a moment, I realized that he hadn't left and looked up. Basel gave me one of the goofiest smiles I'd ever seen, even on him, and did a little bow. "I made sure the eggs were fresh, sir. Went to the market first thing this morning to get them."
"Uh, thank you, Basel. And it's just 'Rabbit.' Please.” Basel's smile got goofier. "The fruit is also fresh-picked this morning." He took the cloth he held and wiped a smudge off the table. "Just let me know, sir, if you need anything else." He bowed again and, backing away, nearly fell over the table behind him. He teetered on one foot, caught his balance and bowed once more, still grinning as he went backwards into the kitchen door.
The relayed command loomed larger than trying to figure out why Basel was fawning worse than usual, so I finished my meal quickly and hurried to the captains' office—only to run a gauntlet of smartly snapped salutes, elaborate bows and greetings of "I give you good morning," and "Grace to you, Lord Rabbit." With everyone wearing Basel's same goofy smile. It should have been a short walk down the hall, but it seemed to take forever to reach the captains' office, my back and arm twinging from all the return bowing and saluting. I knocked on the door and heard Javes bid me enter. "Shut the door behind you, Lieutenant," Javes said. I saw Suiden sitting behind his desk, and did so very softly.
"Sit." Javes waited until I seated myself at a chair placed midway between his and Suiden's desks. "We have a problem, Lieutenant. It seems that word of your—marking has leaked out and now the Lord Commander is being pressured to take away your commission and discharge you from the army.”
One guess as to who leaked it.
"Groskin." I sighed. "I'm not surprised, sir. He moved his and everybody else's gear out of our room last night." Feeling my own headache starting, I rubbed a knuckle between my brows. "The king also knew about it.”
All of a sudden I had the absolute attention of both captains. "The king knows?" Suiden asked.
I dropped my hand. "Yes, sir. He questioned me about it last night."
"When Gherat took you to him?" Javes asked.
"Yes, sir," I said again, then added, "His Court was there."
"His Court!" Javes said. "All of them?”
I barely caught back a shrug. "I don't know, sir. The room was full. The Lord Commander was there too.”
"Questioned in front of witnesses," Suiden breathed. Then he glared at me, his eyes rather red. "You should've told us immediately—" He broke off, remembering his condition the previous night.
Javes gave a brief grin, then leaned forward. "What did the king say?"
"He rebound me to my oaths.”
Suiden joined Javes in leaning forward, both their faces intent. "Tell us exactly everything that happened,"
Suiden said.
"Everything," Javes echoed. "Do not leave a single thing out.” They listened as I recounted what had happened the night before after I had left Captain Javes and Laurel.
"Gherat was left outside while you were invited into the king's chamber?" Javes asked at one point.
"Yes, sir."
"Oh,jolly good.”
"The king kept calling you cousin?" Suiden asked at another. "And insisted that you do the same?"
"Yes, sir.”
They listened to the rest, frowning but saying nothing about the letter from the Magus, then sat back. The dragon and wolf looked at each other, then at me, dropping their muzzles into the same tongue-lolling, teeth-baring grins. The dragon picked up a teacup in his hand and took a sip. The wolf watched me for a moment, then gave a knowing look. "You're seeing our, uh, other selves, aren't you, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir."
"Your hand is glowing a bit."
I glanced down into my palm.
"Never mind all that." Suiden placed his teacup down. 'Tell me, Rabbit, are you aware of what the garrison at Freston is?"
"It's where the army dumps all its—screw-ups, sir.”
"Not just any screw-up, Lieutenant," Javes said. "But officers who, because of their connections, are allowed to retain their commission. Like Groskin who calls a doyen uncle. Or Slevoic, who's related to both the Commander of the Royal Garrison and Lord Gherat." Javes' mouth pulled down. "Which is why he's been able to get away with so much. It was considered a miracle that he was even sent to Freston."
"Politics," I said. "Uhm, sir.”
"Very much so," Suiden said, "as Freston is also where the army isolates anyone that they're not sure of but want to keep an eye on, like me, the nephew of the Amir of Tural.”
"Or me, the son of a very wealthy merchant who has strong ties to the Qarant," Javes said.
Remembering the looks of recognition Javes received last night, I wondered just how wealthy his da was and how strong his ties were to the Qarant.
"Or you, Rabbit." Suiden looked at me. "Directly related to two of the most powerful Houses in Iversterre. But brought up in the Border.”
"It didn't matter what was said about you when we were in Freston, as we were so far away from anything vital that no one cared." Javes said. "However, now we're in the Royal City, and between Groskin's hysterics and Slevoic's machinations—" The captain broke off as he shrugged.
"But with Slevoic being on report, what he says shouldn't matter," I said.
Suiden placed his teacup down and rubbed his face with his hands. "Commander Loel has determined that the lieutenant acted in self-defense.”
"What?" I stared at the captains, my stomach suddenly tight. "A review board wasn't held. Sirs.”
"A commander has the power of summary judgment over all who report to him," Javes said. "We were put under Loel's command when we arrived in Iversly.”
"He has it even over his kin?" I asked, the tightness creeping around to my spine.
"Yes," Javes said. "Welcome to the army, Rabbit.”
"I've sent a protest to the Lord Commander," Suiden said, taking his hands from his face. "But until he renders a decision, Slevoic is returned to the unit."
I sat still, stunned.
"And now those who questioned having someone from the Border in the army all along are not only demanding your discharge, but also wondering out loud whether you should be banished from Iversterre," Suiden continued. "It hasn't helped that neither Chause nor Flavan claimed you until last night"—his look turned back into a glare—"nor that you slammed that major in the Royal Garrison's mess, however annoying he may have been.” "Just so," Javes said. "But with the king rebinding you to your oaths and offices, those mouths are stopped and their teeth drawn." He smiled as he got up. "I'd give just about anything to be a fly on the wall right now in Lunkhead's office—" He broke off as he realized what he had called the garrison commander in front of me, and cast a look at Suiden.
Suiden's voice was mild. "So would I. Why don't you get Trooper Jeffen?" He looked at me. "Until this is all settled, Jeffen is permanently assigned to you, to prevent any untoward incidents."
Javes went to the door and opened it, shouting for Jeff.
A faint wince crossed Suiden's face as he poured more tea.
"Nothing's going to happen to Groskin either for blabbing, is it, sir?" I asked.
Suiden set his teapot down. "No. At least, not now." He glanced at Javes as he came back into the room. "Rabbit just asked if Groskin would be disciplined.”
Javes sighed as he sat behind his desk. "Factions, Rabbit. Groskin is protected by strong church interests. Arch-doyen Obruesk has already written letters to everyone and their mother stating how he is
'very uneasy about soldiers being subjected to magical influences.'“
Suiden nodded. "And Commander Loel has informed me that, as far as he was concerned, Groskin did not disobey a direct order but instead brought a dangerous situation to the attention of the appropriate people." The captain's eyes gleamed hard. "That too I've taken to the Lord Commander."
I studied the rune on my palm. "Why, sirs?"
"Why is Groskin acting this way?" Suiden asked.
I nodded.
"The lieutenant was assigned to Veldecke before he came to Freston, and had some things happen there that he still hasn't reconciled himself to," Suiden replied.
I frowned, feeling like a pawn in a game where I didn't know the rules. It gave me no comfort that Slevoic's faction was strong enough to challenge the king.
"No, not challenge, Rabbit," Suiden said. "At least, not this group. It's a jockeying for position. A fight for the king's ear, his favor, to stand at his right hand."
The power behind the throne drama.
"Exactly," Suiden replied.
"I wish you'd both stop that," Javes said, looking at Suiden, then me. "I feel like a stepchild.”
"Rabbit thought that Lord Gherat Dru was a rival for the throne," Suiden said.
"Good grief, no." Javes' eyes turned wolf yellow. "That would reave the kingdom apart and Gherat knows it. Besides, he doesn't have near enough lines to the House of Iver." He sighed again. "No, he's a childhood friend run amok—Jusson and he were fostered together, and Gherat milks that for all it's worth.” I blinked, thinking of the middle-aged Lord Treasurer and the king who looked only as old as me being childhood friends, and how no one seemed to notice how the king hadn't aged. Or at least said anything about it.
"They attribute it to clean living and good blood," Suiden said.
Javes thumped his desk. "Stop that. What are you saying now?” I opened my mouth to answer him but just then the door opened, and Jeff entered the room carrying a large silver tray piled high with white envelopes.
Suiden put down his cup, frowning. "What's that?”
"Lieutenant Lord Rabbit's mail, sir. It's been arriving all morning." Jeff placed the tray in front of the captain and then stood at attention. Javes joined him, staring down at the small mountain, as I rose from my chair and also approached Suiden's desk.
Javes had been right. A king's favor did do wonders for one's social life. I picked up an envelope and pulled out a gilt-edged invitation to a dinner to be held that night. I laid it down and picked up another; it was an invitation to a luncheon— "What's 'alfresco' ?'
"Outdoors," Javes said, reading over my shoulder.
"Oh, a picnic, then." I laid that one down and next read invitations to a ball, two soirees, three routs, another ball, a couple of boating expeditions, several afternoon teas, musicales, masques, more dinners—
I gasped and dropped the invitation I'd just opened. Javes picked it up.
'"Lord Kaspero and Lady Mael of Surask beg the pleasure of your presence at the presentation of their daughter, Nestae eso Surask.' Oh, I say, Rabbit. Your very first coming out ball. How exciting.” A feeling of being hunted stole between my shoulder blades.
Suiden, still frowning, also stared at the mail. "How in the world are we going to sort through this? I've been away too long and have no idea who we should embrace and who we should avoid like the pox.”
Javes waved the debutante invitation. "And all those matchmaking mamas circling like sharks smelling blood in the water." He did his silly ass smile. "Can you dance, my lord?”
The hair on the back of my neck rose as I thought of trying to maneuver through some complicated step while making small talk with a powdered, jeweled and coifed debutante with her mother looking on, planning the demise of my bachelorhood. "No, sir!" My palm burned and I added, "Except for the Festival dances, sir!”
"Stop scaring him," Suiden said, "and help me think of a way to sort through this mess."
"What about the king, sir?" Jeff asked.
We turned and looked at him, and his face flushed.
"The king, trooper?" Suiden asked.
"Couldn't you ask for his advice? I mean, as the king calls Rabbit cousin and all—" We continued to stare as he trailed off.