were “on her side.” The only difference between a cliche and a truism was the skill and intricacy with which the latter was presented. And, unfortunately, Norris was a much better actor than the tawdry plays he presented for the common folk would have suggested. If he was, indeed, coaching the Prince—
:Have you talked with Caryo about this?: he asked his Companion, as he rolled over on his back and stared up at the ceiling.
:Not yet. Right now she’s very hurt that Selenay didn’t even hint of this to her. And, frankly, angry with herself for not seeing it. And she should be:.
Well, he wasn’t going to be the one to say anything, but Kantor was right. In retrospect, Selenay had virtually handed everyone a map to her feelings with that masque, and all anyone had thought, if they’d thought at all, was how clever she was to have devised something that would entertain and honor all at the same time. Kantor was right; in this case, Caryo had been as thick as two short planks. And so had they.
:Least said, soonest mended,: the Companion said philosophically. :I am keeping my thoughts to myself until Caryo is ready to talk to the rest of us. But I think that where Selenay is concerned, our voices must be raised in a song with but a single refrain—:
:Which is, “All we want is your happiness,” I think,: he replied. :It’s true enough.: At least the feeling behind that phrase would be absolutely genuine. All any of them did want was Selenay’s happiness. They just wanted it without the Prince’s presence involved.
:Meanwhile, I don’t think you should give up chasing Norris,: Kantor continued. :Now, I think that young Devlin was probably his contact in the Court to pass him information about Selenay herself. So I don’t think you should take your eyes off Devlin either.:
He smiled grimly up at the ceiling. :Ah, now, nor do I. In the first place, Norris might not have been tutoring the Prince. In the second place, if that was indeed what was toward, we may someday need the evidence. Because what I overheard makes me think that once there’s a wedding, the Prince will slip. Selenay might excuse him a time or two, but she won’t put up with it forever. And then we can prove to her how she was manipulated.: Then, because he was honest, he had to add, :If she was. He might really be in love with her; he might be everything he seems. But my gut says he isn’t.:
He felt Kantor’s satisfaction. :You’re better at this business than you were.:
He sighed. :I could wish that there was no reason to be. The Weaponsmaster is all I ever cared to be.:
:We play the game we’re put into, Chosen,: said Kantor, which seemed to be about the only possible answer.
***
After that, however, it seemed as if a whirlwind had suddenly engulfed them, and the whirlwind’s name was Selenay.
Alberich never had a chance to voice any opinion at all, because it was never asked of him. Selenay simply seemed to assume that because she was enchanted by the Prince, everyone else was, too. She had never before had anything that she wanted, really and truly wanted so much as Prince Karath—except, perhaps, for her father to be alive again. But the latter was impossible and the Prince was entirely within her reach. She was lonely, she was in love, and at the moment, there was no more potent combination. She could not imagine living without him, and she was taking steps so that she wouldn’t have to.
Alberich was not present at the Council meeting that day after the masquerade where she announced—not asked, not even for advice—announced, arbitrarily and making it clear that she would brook no opposition, that she and the Prince were going to wed. And that it would be within the month. He was told about it later that evening by Elcarth.
Elcarth, Kyril, Jadus, and Talamir were all in Alberich’s quarters, which made it a bit crowded once Myste, Keren, and Ylsa joined the group. Elcarth was looking more than a bit dazed, Kyril a little grim, and Talamir very— quiet and contained. Inhumanly so, actually. It made the hair on the back of Alberich’s neck rise.
But they all had other considerations at the moment.
“You ladies wouldn’t have known her father when he was at his most stubborn,” Elcarth said, rubbing his hands over his temples. “When there was something he knew he wanted done, and he wasn’t going to take ’no’ for an answer. He was a force of nature, and there was no point in getting in his way, any more than there is in standing in the path of an avalanche and expecting it to stop because you want it to. It was like seeing her father all over again, with the addition that she was positively fixated on getting her way in this, as if it not only would be, it had to be, or the world would end.”
“She simply rode right over the top of any opposition,” Kyril seconded. “Not that there was very much, not when Orthallen and Gartheser threw in on her side. But still—I’ve never seen her like this, she became a petty tyrant, in fact. It was as if anyone who said anything contrary to her just didn’t exist—”
