Exile's Honor

That will cut through any objections. I'll have your six women report in the morning, and the rest to you within the week.'

He would have liked it to be sooner, but that was probably the best that could be done. Replacements would have to be found, schedules juggled, and all of that took time.

Time—which was now working against them.

'Selenay, I want as well,' he added. 'Best it is, that she learn her guards to work with.'

'Right,' Dethor agreed. 'And if we can get Sendar down here to work with his—' He stopped at the grimace that Talamir gave.

'Ask for the moon, and you're more like to get it,' the King's Own said grimly. 'If he sees his bed for more than four candlemarks in a night now, I'll be surprised, so don't expect him to come down here for what's 'only' a little arms practice.'

'Then his Companion, we shall have!' Alberich said, in a burst of inspiration. 'One at least of the pair shall we train with!'

:Done, Chosen,: Kantor said instantly.

'And you'll have Taver to stand in for me, because I must be with Sendar,' said Talamir in the same moment. 'That way at least one half of the pairs will get some practice in this.'

:The sensible ones,: Kantor said.

Alberich was not disposed to argue with that assessment.

«»

Six women—two in Herald's Whites, three in City Guard blue, and one in the darker, near-midnight blue that marked the Palace Guard—stood at attention before Alberich. Three of the six were older than he by three or four years, and were probably at least as tough. But there was not a jot less than honest deference in their expression, and though all six of them looked sober, they did not look anxious. That was good; it meant that they trusted him, his competence, and his orders.

'You six have I selected, as Selenay's bodyguards,' he told them. 'Two each for each of three watches, day and night. Her side, you will not leave, while on watch, ever.'

He saw the two Heralds exchange a glance; noticed a slight frown of concentration on Lotte's face.

'Now will I ask, how paired you wish to be, and which watch you wish to take,' he continued. 'Sensible you are, and know you that no less honor there is, for the night watch than the day.'

'If it's all the same to you, I think Ylsa and I ought to be on day watch,' Herald Keren spoke up. 'Selenay will have to be in on all of the battle plans and councils and the like, and—well, not to be rude, but Heralds will just blend in with the background.'

Meaning, no one will object to Heralds being there, when some of the highborn might complain to see City Guard, particularly women that they might have seen hauling their erring sons home drunk.

'Objections?' Alberich asked, looking at the other four, who shook their heads.

'That splits the night with us,' said Berda. 'I'll tell you what, if it's all the same to you two, I'm used to the late hours after the taverns close, and I know that Haydee and 'Casti are on—were on— first night watch. Lotte, think you could handle the dawn watch with me?'

The Palace Guardswoman shrugged. 'It'll take me a bit to get adjusted, but I'll manage.'

Well, that sorted itself out painlessly. 'Make it so,' he told them. 'And once satisfied I am that your business you know, those watches you will take at Selenay's side.'

'Whether or not we're still in Haven?' Herald Ylsa asked, looking surprised.

'Whether or not. Used to your presence, I wish her to be. Invisible, I wish you to be.'

Nods, no objections. 'What do you want us to do that we haven't done before?' asked Lotte.

He proceeded to show them.