‘What are reasonable terms?’ she asked.
‘Let’s worry about that after we can convince someone in the imperial household that Kesh needs to be reasonable, and not try to dictate out of a presumption of victory. The armistice is unsteady, to my eye.’
‘None of this makes sense,’ Franciezka observed.
‘It does if the reason behind it is not what you would think.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You and I have had enough experience with distraction to know it’s value. What if this war is simply a distraction?’
Her eyes grew wide. ‘Then it’s a distraction of heroic proportion. What could anyone gain from throwing three nations into turmoil?’
‘That is the question, isn’t it? I’m of the opinion that there are three people who might be the only ones able to answer.’
‘Lord John Worthington, Sir William Alcorn, and Prince Harfum,’ said Franciezka.
Playfully smacking her on the backside, he said, ‘Time to get dressed. I’m as curious as anyone what is coming next. And I need some time to talk to our newest duke, find out what he’s learned from the Princess you sent him to protect, and then insinuate myself into the King of the Isles’ company as if I was there the entire time.’
She pushed hard on his chest, forcing him back down on the pillow. ‘We have a little more time, and I’m damned if I’m letting you out of here to get yourself killed before I’ve had my way with you!’
He laughed and cried, ‘Mercy!’
‘Never!’ Running her hand down his chest to his stomach she said, ‘And somewhere in all this there is that one topic we need to return to …’
His eyes widened for a moment and he seemed to lose his breath. ‘And that would be …’
‘The subject you and I have been avoiding for more than three years, Jim. Us.’
‘I swear by my life, Frannie, if we survive this, somehow, against the wishes of kings and gods, there will be an us.’
‘That’s all I wanted to hear,’ she said, tossing the bedsheets aside.
Hal sat up suddenly as a curtain in his room moved. He was reaching for his sword when a familiar voice said, ‘If you’re not safe here, Hal, you’re not safe anywhere on this world.’
Lord Jim Jamison came out from behind the curtain and bowed. ‘My lord,’ he said. Then he took a step forward and gave Hal a hug. ‘I’m so sorry to hear about your father.’
‘I didn’t know you knew him, Jim,’ said Hal.
‘I made it my business to meet every noble of consequence in my travels. When I was young I ventured to the Far Coast and met your father and mother, back when you were a baby. I encountered the Duke a few times when he visited Krondor. He was … old fashioned in a good way. Solid, reliable, with no hint of guile. What the conDoin line was at its pinnacle.’
‘Have we fallen that far, for you to phrase it so?’ asked Hal.
Jim smiled. ‘Not you, nor your brothers if the early reports of Martin’s actions against the Keshians is accurate. He and Brendan did your name proud.’
‘He lost Crydee.’
‘Delong the Great would have lost Crydee given what he had to work with and what he faced,’ answered Jim. ‘He saved lives and he’s held Ylith for now. The Kingdom will negotiate from a stronger position because of his actions.’
‘Negotiate,’ echoed Hal.
‘Leave that for the King and his ministers. I came to speak with you before the festivities begin tonight.’ He sat on Hal’s bed.
‘What do you wish to know?’ asked Hal.
‘Right now emissaries from the Isles and Kesh are probably arguing about which monarch enters first and who bows to who first. King Carol has an advantage: this is his island, so he gets to sit on his throne. My best guess is both Emperor Sezioti and King Gregory will enter together, bow to King Carol, who will bow back, then the two will bow to each other at the same time. Now, this will probably take an hour or two to decide, so we have time for a chat, because after that they’ll argue about who gets to sit to Carol’s right and who sits to his left. So, why don’t you just start by telling me what happened on your little adventure and don’t leave out anything, even if you think it’s unimportant. A seemingly insignificant detail might provide some information useful to our king.’
Hal said, ‘You’re not just some minor noble who happens to be the Duke of Rillanon’s grandson, are you?’
‘Let’s say I occasionally run special errands for my grandfather, and this is one of them.’
Hal smiled. ‘Very well,’ he said, and he began to narrate his story.
Nearly an hour later, Jim had heard the full tale. He sat back taking it in, then said, ‘I don’t want you to feel your time with the Princess was an unnecessary risk or waste of your time. I know you endured some uncomfortable days out there along the coast, and killing men, even pirates, is never easy, even if they deserve it. But I think had Stephane remained in Roldem, things today might be different.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Hal.
Jim waved away the question. ‘I can only speculate at this point, but the rumours about Lord John’s son and the Princess were sudden and persistent. I note that even though the Princess is returned for this festival of peace orchestrated by Lord John, her three brothers are still absent.’
Hal fixed Jim with a narrow gaze. ‘Lady Franciezka’s doing, no doubt.’
Jim laughed. ‘You’re not quite the rustic you seem, are you Hal?’
‘I had the pleasure of the lady’s company on a few occasions while we were in hiding. She’s very adroit at being a step ahead of Lord John. Which leads me to believe she occupies much the same role here in Roldem as you do in Rillanon. Only she’s running the occasional errand for the King of Roldem.’
Jim merely spread his hands and said nothing.
Hal reflected for a moment on how deep and profound his feelings for Stephane had become and said, ‘Nothing involving the Princess’s safety is a waste of my time, Jim.’
Jim studied the young noble, then changed topics. ‘What do you think of our friend Tyrone?’
Hal laughed. ‘He’s a fine fellow. I’m happy to call him a friend.’
‘Good,’ said Jim. ‘It’s just the last time I looked you two were strutting like competing peacocks before Stephane, and I just wanted to make sure there was no rivalry. You may need friends and find few about.’
‘I think he’s turned his attention more towards the Lady Gabriella.’
‘Ha!’ laughed Jim. ‘That may prove … awkward.’
‘Why? Is she betrothed to another man?’
Jim chuckled. ‘Leave it that her interests lie elsewhere.’
‘Oh?’ said Hal. This his eyes opened wide. ‘Oh!’ He couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘Poor Ty.’
‘Given our young friend’s reputation in Olasko and here in Roldem, there’s nothing poor about him when it comes to the ladies. Though he may make a fool of himself over Gabriella if he thinks she’s merely playing hard to get. You know how some men can be, wanting what they can’t have.’
‘All too well,’ said Hal, feeling his mood fall.
Jim stood up. ‘Should anyone ask, I shared quarters with you and Ty coming over from Rillanon, but was fighting a fever for most of the journey and stayed in my cabin. Understand?’
‘Yes, Jim,’ said the young duke. ‘What now?’
‘We enjoy the festivities and see how much bloodshed we can avoid, eat the King’s food, drink his wine, perhaps chase a maid or two, who knows? But above all else, listen and observe. There are men and women here who desire nothing more than to plunge this world into chaos.’
‘But why?’ asked Hal.
‘If I knew that,’ answered Jim. ‘I might have some idea who they were.’
Jim stood to Hal’s right, keeping Ty between himself and Sir William Alcorn. If the two twin nobles, Lord John and Sir William, had any issue with people recognizing their resemblance, they masked it well. Granted the fashions and hair styles were different enough it made more of a difference than had they dressed alike, and the Prince Harfum was deep enough in the Emperor’s entourage that between that and his Keshian court dress — a
