“What were you doing on the street?” Briar asked, resting his hands on his thighs.
“Thank you for stopping. I am, of course, on my way to Duir with ideas for his coronation vest.” I settled down with a relieved sigh. “And how does the day find you?”
Briar slid a hand inside the open folds of his shirt. “Ahh, the blasted wound aches. I cannot bear anything touching it, not even the softest of fabrics. Look here.” Briar removed his hand and opened his shirt across his chest to where a long, dark, purple and blue bruise spread from below his right nipple to above his navel. “I must wear my garments open like an old man in dressing gowns. I look a fat fool!”
“You were lucky to not be killed, Briar. You will not joust for some time, I would guess.” I moved my pack onto my lap, then directed my attentions to the open carriage window and the passing street traffic. I dared not look at Briar’s bare chest. You fool, my mind warned. Look away, think of other things, and keep your truth hidden well!
“You should take up the joust, Virago, and know the thrill of it.” Briar’s voice cut through my anxious thoughts.
“Aye, easy for you to say, who doesn’t make their living with their hands and fingers. I am amateur at such sport. For now, I leave the field to you.”
He smiled, revealing white teeth and a dent in his plump upper lip. “And I will take it from you! Enough of sport. What of Auberon’s marriage to Tienne?”
“I know only what he himself has revealed, which is little except to say that I am entreated to make his marriage vest and the vests of the men who will stand by him.”
His smile widened. “It is a surprise he will marry before Duir. Had it not been Lady Tienne of Duir’s family, I would imagine Auberon would be hearing a rant of kingly magnitude.”
“Indeed, and who will stand by Auberon?”
“Why Duir, of course, as will Cale and so will I!” he announced in mock surprise. “How can you wonder such things? We are brothers, always of one mind in all we do!”
“I must plan to be busy, and ought to plan on fitting you all at my shop once the coronation is over,” I answered thoughtfully.
“Aye, but you’re right, master tailor.” He bowed at the waist. “I will be Auberon’s most humble servant and your most humble model, too. If I were a woman, I would be your whore!” This time he laughed. He nodded in the direction of my sack. “What’s in there? The head of a fool?” He reached for it, but I yanked it out of his reach.
“Material for Duir’s vest, which will be beyond anything seen before. In fact, I am tempted to make Auberon’s vest and those for Cale and you of the same cloth. You may be all of one mind, but I think I will make vests of different colors for each of you, lest you look like a juggler’s troupe!”
Before Briar could beg a peek, the carriage stopped. I quickly opened the door, and bowed low to Briar. “I thank you for the ride. I must make my haste to Duir. If all goes well, I will have you by the shop for measuring.”
* * * *
“His Grace is indisposed,” Horace, an elderly man who served as Duir’s chief personal attendant barked as I approached Duir’s chambers. The two guards at the doors stiffened.
“By god, Horace, surely he will see me. Announce me and if he turns me away, I will lap cream in the kitchen like a cat!” I snapped. He doesn’t yet wear the crown and already the tides are turning I thought nastily as Horace glared at me, unmoving. Before I could take up a second tact, a familiar voice boomed from behind the door.
“For the love of my father, who is it now? The baker or the pie maker?”
I could tell by Duir’s tone that he’d probably been bothered by every minutiae from the kitchen up in preparation for his coronation.
Before Horace could stop me, I yelled. “Only the tailor, Your Grace. Pray may I be allowed to enter? I have tidings of your vestments!”
There was a brief silence followed by the sound of footsteps approaching the door and Duir’s laughter.
“Only the tailor! Put him in the tower and hang my clothes, I shall be crowned naked!” He opened the door much to Horace’s disgust, wearing hardly more than his own skin.
“Your Grace!” Horace started to say, but Duir held up a hand.
“I’ve told you,” he said, his tone full of royal authority. “There are those who are always granted my audience. Surely you have not forgotten Virago is one of them.”
“No, Your Grace, but surely, you must—”
“I must do nothing! I am to be King and, as such, I do as I please, not as you or any other man dictates.” Duir winked at me while he berated Horace and I could tell he was fighting his mirth. “Come.” He grasped me around the shoulders. “Tell me everything you are planning and let me be amazed.”
Behind me I heard the doors close and Horace’s shrill commands at the two long suffering guards.
Duir had not moved into his father’s chambers, for they were being made ready for him. As we walked and Duir talked of his immediate frustrations, I wondered how many days we spent as children playing in these rooms. While they had changed some, the bones were the same, and once Duir removed to the king’s chambers, they would be lost to me forever.
“Enough of this drudgery. What do you care of political dramas? Show me what you have brought in your mysterious pack. Horace must be certain you plan to kill me with its contents. I only hope you have chosen a swift death for your old friend Duir.”
“King Duir,” I corrected him as I found
