custom then held on to it, saying, 'In the court of the Elector of Ostron Isle there are poets who claim Ostronite women are the most beautiful in the world. I believed them… until I met you.'
Elina blushed but Piro laughed outright.
Cobalt flicked an annoyed glance in her direction. 'Little Piro, so good to see you again.' He dropped Elina's hand to reach up to Piro's head. 'Hold still, you have hay in your hair, child.'
He threw something away with a practised flick. Resentment filled Piro. She was not a child.
While the stable boys ran out to take their horses, Elina smiled and accepted clumsy compliments from Brookfield and Dellton. She was all kind forbearance as they tried to outdo Lord Cobalt. Lence let them flounder for a few moments, then took over. His line of compliments was much more polished.
Compliments usually bored Piro. Today they annoyed her.
'Well, Piro.' Cobalt turned to her. 'I did not think to see you here. Where's Byren?'
The truth would not do. Piro searched for inspiration. 'He's gone hunting with Orrade.'
'Really? There won't be much game along the canal, too many travellers.'
'Then it's just as well they're on horseback,' Piro told him. 'Hunting's good up near the lookout.'
'I wish them luck,' Cobalt said. 'Though I'm sure they won't need it. They tell me Byren is a remarkable hunter.'
The conversation between Elina and Lence faltered to a stop.
Cobalt turned to Elina. 'Lence has been singing the praises of your cook. He says Queen Myrella has offered her a place in the king's castle but she wouldn't leave Dovecote.'
'Yes, father would never part with her. Shall we go inside?' Elina offered her free arm.
Brookfield and Dellton both tried to take it. There was almost a scuffle. Lence saved them from themselves by walking off with Elina. Piro smirked. Silly boys.
'Father will be so pleased to see you, Lence,' Elina told him. 'He was sorry to miss the Midwinter's Day celebrations.'
As Piro watched Brookfield and Dellton hurry after them, she caught herself wishing Lence hadn't arrived. She still didn't know if Elina was going to meet Byren.
Elina paused and looked back over her shoulder. 'Come on, Piro.'
Piro caught Lence's impatient glance. It seemed she was a nuisance and it occurred to her that maybe Lence hadn't come out of his way just to see Elina, maybe he was also here to discover why Orrade had been disinherited.
'Cousin Piro?' Cobalt offered his arm.
The last thing she wanted to do was take it. She'd much rather go back and play with the puppies. Dredging up a smile, she accepted Cobalt's arm and tried to do her mother proud by making polite conversation. 'How did negotiations go with the warlord of Cockatrice Spar?'
'That's not for me to discuss,' Cobalt told her.
Piro flushed and ground her teeth. He was acting as if she was too young to be involved in strategy discussions, but they'd thought her old enough to marry the Cockatrice warlord.
Brooding over this, Piro hardly paid any attention when Lord Dovecote greeted the new arrivals. Once again, Lence introduced Cobalt as their cousin, making it clear that King Rolen had acknowledged the blood tie, and Piro had to listen to the sad tale of the Utland raid all over again. It would have touched her, if she hadn't known that Cobalt felt nothing.
While Elina played the perfect hostess and called for wine, arranging to have bed chambers opened and aired, Piro watched Cobalt set out to charm Lord Dovecote. He was up to something and she didn't like it. Suddenly she knew what Seela meant, when she said her nurslings had all grown up and had to play the game of Duelling Kingdoms for real.
Old Lord Dovecote proudly showed off his latest dove crossbreed. This one had fancy feathers down its legs. Piro thought it pretty enough, but she had seen them all before.
'Play with me, Piro?' Garzik suggested, beckoning her over to where he was opening the carved box that held the Dovecote's Duelling Kingdoms game.
'Of course.' Piro joined him, relieved one male wasn't behaving like a besotted idiot, but then, Elina was his sister. As she helped Garzik lay out the board she leant close enough to whisper. 'Do you think Lence is here to find out why Orrie was disinherited?'
After casting a quick glance to their visitors, Garzik caught her hand, placing her piece in her palm and squeezed her fingers. 'Don't worry, none of the servants know, only the family. And we're not going to tell.'
So she settled down to play.
Later, when they went upstairs to clean up for the evening meal, Piro finished dressing quickly and darted down the hall to the room Lence always used. She tapped on his door and thrust it open to find Cobalt with him.
Both turned towards her, startled by the interruption.
'Sorry,' Piro said, perfunctorily. She'd been marshalling her arguments since Cobalt refused to discuss the Cockatrice warlord negotiations and was determined to hear what Rejulas had said. 'Did you manage to patch things up with Rejulas, Lence? Is he coming to the Jubilee? Is he mad about — '
'Quiet, Piro.' Grimly, Lence pulled the strings of a small velvet bag closed and handed it to Cobalt.
'Well?' Cobalt asked.
'You've convinced me,' Lence said, with reluctance. 'Go. Do what's got to be done.'
'As you wish, kingsheir.' Cobalt tucked the bag inside his vest, cast Piro a swift glance then left.
'Well?' Piro pressed as the door closed.
Lence focused on her with a distracted frown. 'What?'
She rolled her eyes. 'What did Rejulas say? You can't put me off. I want to know.'
'It's none of your business and besides — '
'I was there, at the war table, when father sent you. I was the one Rejulas was going to marry.' Piro relished saying this, certain she was on solid ground. 'I think that makes it my business. After all, I am a kingsdaughter.'
'You're a spoilt brat, Piro. And, after spring cusp you won't be a kingsdaughter bred to serve Rolencia, you'll be a lowly nun serving Sylion Abbey!'
She gasped, taking a step back. It was true and she hated him for it.
'Now get out,' Lence told her, voice rising. 'And knock next time!'
A year ago she would have told him just what she thought of him. But not now, for he was wrong — she was no longer a child. Collecting her dignity, Piro gave Lence a stiff little bow and backed out. It was only later that she wondered what had been in the bag Lence gave Cobalt and what it was he'd sent Cobalt to do.
Byren packed the entrance to the snow-cave to seal it and crawled back to his side. Orrade knelt on his haunches as he stirred their food, a small pot of stew, prepared back at Rolenhold and preserved with spices. The glowing coals of the brazier made his pale skin ruddy.
It was time. 'Why didn't you tell me Cobalt blackmailed you to be his spy?'
Orrade went utterly still for a heartbeat, then continued stirring the stew. 'How did you know?'
'I was there in the devotional box.'
Colour crept up Orrade's cheeks. 'Then you know I was not a willing party to this deception.' He glanced at Byren. 'Why didn't you bring it up before?'
'Why didn't you tell me before?'
Orrade made a helpless gesture. 'I didn't want to worry you. I've cost you too much already.'
In all honesty, Byren couldn't deny this.
'If you knew, why didn't you say something?' Orrade asked. When Byren didn't answer, the slow burn of anger made his black eyes gleam. 'I'd never betray you, Byren.'
'No?' His chest felt so tight it was hard to speak. 'What did you tell him, when we got back from Unistag Spar? He would have been expecting a report.'
'He was.' Orrade met his eyes. 'I told him only what he needed to hear — '
'Piro?'
'Nothing of Piro. When your men spoke of Lady Unace's unistag, he put two and two together, but I claimed I knew nothing. I told him we hardly speak any more, that you blame me for losing Elina's love.'
