“Why else would I be here?”
“If you knew how bored I am guardingdoorways, you might find it in your heart to visit me.” A frowndragged her mouth out of shape.
“Where’s Cole? He could keep youcompany.”
Lessa shifted her feet but kept her backstraight and eyes alert. “We’re spread thin with these visitingdignitaries for your coronation. What with the news about Coveybeing here, every young lady is demanding a guard escort. And ifshe’s the adventuresome sort, it’s the lord who’s requiring weprovide protection.” She leaned in. “Chaperonage, by anothername.”
“I think Covey has other things on his mindthan finding adventuresome ladyships.”
“Well, he should have it announced so I cango about my usual guarding business,” she grumped.
“And spend some time with Cole.”
Lessa rolled her eyes, but it didn’t hide theblush that rose on her face.
“What if I required an escort?” Kambry asked.It wouldn’t be hard to shake Lessa once she arrived at the audiencechamber. She could set her to guard the throne for a few minutes.“Could I steal you away?”
“No,” she said and rolled her eyes. “But Drewis in the next corridor. I don’t think he’s assigned toanyone.”
She’d prefer Lessa, but she hardly thoughtshe could convince Drew to trade places with her. “Where’s yourmom?”
“Guarding the Laurentses.”
“Oh, yes.” That was probably for the best.Getting Dorvea to follow her orders would have been a genuine testof her leadership over Kavin. She wasn’t up to that challenge, atleast not today.
“You should hurry,” Lessa said. “I don’t knowhow much longer Drew is going to be available. He may already haveleft.”
Kambry would have to settle for Drew. Notthat she didn’t like the fellow, but he was an even bigger sticklerfor protocol than Gordy. She’d practically had to order him out ofthe rose garden when she met with Russal, and it had only oneentrance, and he’d stationed guards around the perimeter. She’dhave to come up with something to get him to leave her on her own.If she traipsed through the hallways alone, it would get back toRussal, and the last thing he’d said was he wanted her to haveguards in tow wherever she went. It seemed like an unfairrequirement. He didn’t have guards in tow. Of course, there wereall those guards that hid about the place. She needed to find outwhere they hid. Could she enter the inner map room without beingseen?
“I’ll see you later, Lessa, when you’re notbusy with adventuresome ladyships. I’ve things to take care of.”She headed off down the corridor and was certain she could hearLessa shaking her head. She rounded the corner at the end and foundDrew with two other guards. They turned their heads together togaze at her.
Drew smiled. “Your Majesty, what are youdoing out and about all by yourself?”
“I live here and now kind of rule the place.It seemed like something I should be free to do.” Maybe acquiringDrew for an escort wasn’t a good idea.
The two guards returned to their posts, bothappearing to avoid taking part in the discussion.
“Perhaps you’ll accept my company then. Justpretend I’m not a guard. We’re probably going in the samedirection.”
She knew he was going to be hard to dislodge.“Guardsman Drew, I do not need any company.” She attempted to hurrypast him, but he stepped in beside her.
“An escort then.”
She really didn’t want to have aguard. “I’m not some adventuresome ladyship.” She lengthened herstride, but she couldn’t outstride a man several inches taller thanshe was.
Drew easily kept up. “There are some whowould voice a different opinion.”
Fine, he could walk with her, but that didn’tmean she had to stay where he left her. “I’m heading to the Queen’sSalon. Would you care to walk with me?”
“It would be an honor.”
It was also a short walk. She strode into theroom, took a seat and picked up a book resting on a table nearby.“Thank you, Drew. I’ll be here for a while. I’ll pick up a newescort when I head out again.”
“Very well, Your Majesty.” He bowed out ofthe room.
Looking down at the book in her hand, Kambrysnorted. The Garden of Fellowship. She turned the pages andreminded herself she hadn’t yet read the book. Drew needed time tomove on. It was possible he would stop at every guard, checking inon them. He seemed to have taken up some of Gordy’s duties. Shewondered if Burty had distributed them among the guards or handedthem all to a single one. It would seem more likely that Cole wouldbe in line for such a promotion before Drew, but she wouldn’tpresume to know the marshal’s preferences. Though she supposedRussal would have some input as well.
Burty was probably still sputtering over herassigning Justinia to her parents. He hadn’t actually disagreed. Hedisliked Kambry shifting the guards without his notice. She wasunwilling to apologize, especially after receiving her first reportfrom the guard. Justinia was a thorough woman, and Kambry was toopleased with assigning her to her parents’ safety to give anyapology.
She turned another page and stopped to peermore closely. A red fox sat in high grasses, the wind pressing atthe blades revealing his hiding place. Across the page the panther,donkey and rabbit sat sunning themselves. The caption stated thefox was both envious and plotting. Even with those selected words,it remained ambiguous what he was plotting. Did he want to jointheir group or tear it apart?
She flipped past a few pages of pastoralenjoyment for the three companions. The fox appeared again,sectioned by a cluster of saplings, his bright-red tail a flameamong the brilliant-red leaves of a bush. Even his pointed, maskedface revealed only a half-hidden bit of mouth between leaves, theturned-down lip because of sadness as much as disdain.
The book was almost prophetic, and she turneda couple more pages, then set the book down. She hurried to thewide white doors that opened up into another less private room, asort of antechamber to the salon. Gently turning the knob andresting her hand on the stile of the door, she eased it open andgazed into the room. It was beautifully appointed in mauve andblack and appeared empty. She
