Storm Warning

now-dry cloaks. 'They might help those of us who aren't applying strict logic to the problem.'

'Certainly, my lady,' Master Tarn assured her, tossing the cloak over muscular shoulders. 'Now, by your leave?'

'I've sent for a carriage; at least you won't have to walk back in this mess,' Elspeth told her, and grinned at the gratified expressions they wore. 'Masters, I promise you, no matter what you've heard, I didn't turn into a complete barbarian while I was gone!'

They laughed, and Elspeth called for a page to take them to the carriage she'd ordered up. Once they had gone, she turned her attention back to Karal, who was waiting quietly for her to dismiss him.

'Was this your idea, sir secretary?' Elspeth asked, with a stern expression that was entirely spoiled by her glow of amusement and the twitching of her lips.

'Yes, Lady,' he replied. 'I don't know a great deal about magic—but Altra, a friend, told me to trust my own good sense. You all said you needed measurements and facts, and my own good sense said that if you were going to need facts and figures, you ought to have people who specialize in them gather them for you.'

'Well, your friend was right,' Elspeth declared. 'And I can't begin to thank you for going out and acting on your conviction. You do your order proud.' And with that, to his immense confusion and embarrassment, she kissed him, much to Natoli's open amusement.

'Now, you've done more than anyone else but the mages tonight, and you deserve some rest, so you ought to go get it,' she told him. Then she turned to Natoli. 'You are just as much to be thanked for seeing that the task was too large for a small group of students and acting on your conviction,' she added. 'It isn't every youngling who'd sacrifice personal glory for seeing that the job is done right.'

Natoli shrugged. 'A Herald's daughter learns not to let self-aggrandizement get in the way of the job,' she said.

'A Herald's daughter?' Elspeth looked at Natoli with speculation but did not ask so why aren't you a Herald, too?

'So that would be how you met Ulrich's young secretary?' she asked instead.

Natoli nodded. 'Father was the one assigned to escort them. He thought I might be able to help Karal get settled.'

Elspeth smiled. 'I'd guess you succeeded, since he managed to find the Compass Rose and its taproom! Anyone could get settled with a couple of Rose pints in them!' Natoli lost control enough to giggle.

But Elspeth wasn't finished yet. 'There's one thing I'd really like to tell you, Natoli. No matter what it may sometimes seem like, there are important, vital jobs that can't be done by Heralds, which is one reason why this land isn't hipdeep in Companions. You and your friends and Masters are and will be doing things as important as anyone who ever put on Whites, and don't ever let anyone tell you differently. We Heralds are there to be obvious symbols to the people, but the Guard and Bards deserve most of the glory we get.'

As Natoli flushed with confusion, Elspeth gave her a little salute and then left.

'Well!' Natoli said at last. 'What brought that on?'

Karal raised his hands and shook his head, although he had a good idea what had brought it on. Natoli's carefully veiled expression of envy on seeing Elspeth's uniform, and the flat tone of her voice when she mentioned that she was the daughter of a Herald. 'Heralds. Who knows? It was something she thought you ought to hear from her directly, though, or she'd never have said it.'

And given that little speech back there in the Compass Rose, I think you needed to hear it, he thought silently.

Natoli shrugged uncomfortably. 'Well—I need to get back to my bed. Coming here isn't going to excuse me from going out with the others at dawn.'

'Thank you,' Karal said, very softly, catching her arm as she turned to go. 'We couldn't do this without you. Elspeth was right. You did some very good things. I think you're going to do more of them. I really admire you.'

Natoli blushed again and averted her eyes. 'I've—got to go!' she blurted, and turned and hurried away. Karal watched her go and remained staring at the door for minutes after she was gone.

Karal made his own way back to the Karsite suite, his head so full he couldn't even begin to sort out his thoughts. He was only certain of one thing.

He'd better get some sleep, himself, no matter how much turmoil his thoughts were in. Whatever lay ahead of them—this was likely to be the last moment of peace any of them would have for a long while to come.