The Eagle And The Nightingales

would resort to a direct attack.'

'A direct attack?' T'fyrr said sharply. 'There have been three thus far, old friend, one on me alone and one on Nightingale yesterday that I became involved in! That is why we were not here last night!'

'What? What?' Harperus sat up abruptly_too abruptly, for he sank back down again, holding his hand to his head. 'Does Tyladen_'

'Tyladen knows all about it, since we confronted him about it this morning,' Nightingale replied, glad that they had all switched to the Gypsy language, though she had not been aware that T'fyrr knew it. Then again, with all the Gypsy songs he learned and has been learning, I suppose he would have had to. And I know Harperus has some sort of machine that puts languages into one's head. 'And since I spent the better part of an hour reciting what happened to you at those listening devices in T'fyrr's room, he knows about what happened to you, too.'

'Whether or not he can be persuaded to come out of the safety of Freehold to do anything to help you is another question altogether,' T'fyrr added, and clacked his beak. 'And this open chattering is another reason why Nightingale and I have been reluctant to work with you_you may hope that there is no listening post in the walls, and that no one else here knows this language, but I would not hope for it very hard! This is the Palace after all, and I would wager that the King's Spymaster has a man in every room, and an expert in every tongue on Alanda!'

Oh, well said, my love! she applauded mentally. It isn't likely that anyone within listening distance actually does know the Gypsy tongue, but they could very easily find someone to listen, now that they know we're likely to use it among ourselves. Since I am a Gypsy, it is logical to assume that we are using that language.

Harperus shrank down into his pillows. 'I am rebuked,' he said in a small voice. 'Justly rebuked. And I apologize for all that has happened so far.'

'Cease apologizing and start thinking how you can protect us,' Nightingale replied, switching back to the common tongue. 'That will be apology enough.'

At that moment, both Harperus' food and the Captain of the Elite Bodyguards arrived, and Nightingale and T'fyrr got out of the way.

'Do you think we need to spend the night here?' she asked him in an undertone.

He shook his head. 'There is no point in trying to silence him now,' the Haspur replied. 'What would be the point? If he saw anyone he knows, he'll tell the Captain. I think we can return to the suite and get some rest of our own.'

She licked her lips nervously. 'I wonder,' she said, tentatively, 'if we might leave Nob here to take care of him? They've replaced all his servants, and I'd like someone here tonight we can trust.'

He blinked at her, and she sensed his speculation and growing excitement as he realized that they would be alone in the suite if they left Nob here. He was probably wondering if she meant what he thought she did.

Well, I'm wondering if I really mean what I think I do....

'I believe that would be a good idea,' he replied. He beckoned to Nob, who was sitting in a chair in the corner, pretending to read.

'I'd like you to stay here with Lord Harperus tonight until we can bring him a body-servant that we know can be trusted tomorrow,' T'fyrr told the boy soberly.

Nob glowed with pleasure at the implied trust. 'Yes, Sire!' he said eagerly. 'I'd be happy to, Sire!'

'We're relying on you, Nob,' T'fyrr added. 'There isn't anyone else in the Palace I trust as much as you. We're leaving his safety in your hands. I must count on you to be clever and cautious. Test his food before he eats it_watch anyone who comes in that is not one of the Royal Elite Bodyguards. And if anything seems amiss, do not confront the person yourself, go get the Bodyguards.'

The boy sobered, but continued to glow. 'You can count on me, Sire T'fyrr,' he replied fervently. 'I won't fail your trust.'

T'fyrr parted his beak in a smile. 'Thank you, Nob.' He waited until the Captain had finished questioning the Deliambren, then brought the boy over to Harperus' bedside.

'Well, that was a bit of bad news and good,' Harperus said as the Captain left. The bed-curtains had been drawn back, and the bruise on Harperus' forehead stood out in vivid ugliness. 'The bad news being that my prisoner escaped, the good that I knew one of the others by name_he was a common guard I'd had to complain about to his superior. He's likely still on duty, or at least in the Palace garrison; probably doesn't know I have a damned good memory for names and faces. They'll have him in a real gaol within the hour.'

'We're leaving Nob with you for the night,' T'fyrr told him, resting one hand on the boy's shoulder as Nob stood straight and tried desperately to look older than his years. 'He's the only one we trust to see to you until we