Eckert's punishment was left to Lord Uskevren's discretion, but Thamalon turned the question over to Tal. Considering the circumstances, Tal couldn't bring himself to prosecute the treacherous butler. He imagined that if one of his family were held hostage, he might have done the same.
Tal found Eckert at the tallhouse and informed him of his decision.
'Oh, thank you, sir,' said Eckert at the news. 'I knew you would understand my dilemma. I shall redouble my efforts to serve you in the most-'
'Oh, no,' said Tal. 'You're definitely dismissed.'
'Of course, Master Talbot,' said Eckert.
'I'm still angry with you,' said Tal. 'While I understand why you did it, the fact is that you betrayed me to enemies of the family. But what really makes me angry is that Chaney and Quickly both died because you did not come to me sooner.'
Eckert nodded soberly.
'I'm glad Maelin is safe,' said Tal.
'Thank you, sir.'
'Now go away,' he said. 'I don't want to see you again.'
Quickly's funeral was held at the Wide Realms, and all the public was welcome to the feast and the play that followed. Sivana turned up Quickly's will, which included instructions that her funeral feast conclude with a free public performance of her favorite play, The Widow of Marsember. It was a broad, raunchy comedy filled with crossdressing and pratfalls. It went beautifully, even reducing the audience to tears in an otherwise funny scene when Ennis wept openly during the widow's recounting of her dead husband's hundred flaws and one virtue.
When the show was over, the audience left in high spirits, as Quickly wanted it. The players sat on the floor and drank toasts to their departed mistress as well as Chaney, whom they all liked. There was as much smiling and laughing as tears and comforting embraces. Everyone in the company made a point of telling Tal he wasn't to blame. Much as he loved them for the gesture, he could not stop feeling guilty both for Quickly and for Chaney.
The next night, Chaney's funeral feast was held at Stormweather Towers. The intractable elders among the Foxmantles still refused to acknowledge him, though his cousin Meena ignored the ban and attended as a guest of Thazienne. Even the players at the Wide Realms received invitations signed by Lady Shamur herself, much to their astonishment. Every one of them came, if only to see the inside of Tal's family home, to which none of them would ever have been invited on other occasions. Shamur was not only civil but quite warm to the common troupe, joking with them at the scandal she was causing among her opera circles. When she saw that the feast was going well, Shamur led Tal away from the crowd and into her parlor.
'I looked for you that night,' she said. 'You could have come to me.'
'I know,' said Tal, 'but none of the other werewolves had to bring their mothers.'
Shamur tried to remain cross, but her smile betrayed her. 'Don't talk back to your mother.'
'Why not? You're good with a blade, but I beat you last time.'
'So you did know that was me? Why didn't you say something?'
'I didn't know how much you knew about my problem,' said Tal, 'and by the time your past came out, it didn't matter that I'd suspected something a few months earlier.'
'You should keep in mind that I'm not just your mother,' she said. 'You can come to me when you need help.'
'And become one of those mewling, spoiled children who run crying to their parents whenever they don't get their way? No, thanks.'
'Then don't come to me because I'm your mother,' said Shamur. 'Come to me because I'm your friend.'
That got Tal's attention. 'Even though I've known you all my life, I still don't know you very well.'
'Then let's make up for it. A new Thayvian opera opens in three days. You will be my escort.'
'Why does it have to be the opera?' complained Tal.
'Because I say so, and because I'm still your mother,' she said, 'and you're still my son.'
'Yes,' said Tal. 'I'm your son, but I'm not your little boy anymore. As long as you see that, and as long as the next time it's the playhouse or a bard at the Green Gauntlet, then it's a deal.'
Shamur sighed dramatically. 'Why is it so hard for you just to obey your elders?'
'Inherited trait, I think,' said Tal.
Shamur chuckled. 'You've always favored Thamalon so strongly that I never really saw it before.'
'What?'
'Except for your eyes, you've never seemed to take after me,' she said. 'It seems obvious now why we have three willful and disobedient children.'
'I don't think it's all your fault,' said Tal. 'Obedience isn't an Uskevren virtue, is it?'
'No,' agreed Shamur. 'It seems I married into the right family after all.'
Tal realized the time had come for another conversation, this time with the Old Owl. 'You know what is an Uskevren virtue?'
'What?'
'Negotiation.'
Tal found Thamalon in his library, tapping his chin with one finger while studying a chess problem. He had mingled with the funeral guests for a seemly time, so no one could blame him for seeking the privacy of his retreat. Lord Uskevren looked up as his son entered.
'Care for a game?' inquired Thamalon.
'No,' said Tal. 'I came to thank you for Chaney's feast.' Thamalon's offer to hold the event at Stormweather Towers surprised everyone.
'Very well,' said Thamalon. 'You may proceed.'
'What?'
'It was a joke, son,' said Thamalon. 'Perhaps not as good as those you're used to hearing in the taverns.'
'Sorry,' said Tal, relieved at Thamalon's friendly tone.
'I'm still an idiot sometimes.'
'It's hereditary…' said Thamalon.
'… among the Uskevren men,' they finished together.
Thamalon's black eyebrows twitched in surprise. They were a stark contrast to his snow-white hair.
'You've been talking to Larajin,' suggested Tal.
Thamalon nodded.
'Does Mother know?'
Thamalon's long pause indicated that she did not. 'So she told you, did she?'
'You could have told me yourself,' said Tal. 'After you warned me away from her last year, I thought-Well, never mind what I thought. But it was a lot worse than the truth.'
'We all have our secrets,' said Thamalon, 'as you demonstrated so dramatically.'
'I'm glad to be rid of mine, to be honest.' 'If you had come to me from the start-' began Thamalon.
'If you told me the truth about Larajin…' interrupted Tal.
Thamalon pointed a finger at his son. 'Challenger's point'.'
Tal chuckled. 'Where'd you get a sense of humor?'
Thamalon looked hurt. 'Your mother gave it to me for Midwinter,' he said. 'You'd remember if you spent more time at home.'
'I was… busy. Well, yes, you're right. These days I'll make more time. It'll be easier now that I don't have to worry about keeping a secret.'
'It occurs to me that we might all benefit from fewer secrets-at least among the family, mind you.'
