The clerk went to a door set discreetly under a staircase and opened it with a flourish. “The water closet.” Her face declared us provincials. “There are others throughout the house.”
“Is that what that is?” Jeff whispered behind me. “Ryson thought it was a cistern and filled his waterskin from it.”
“Oh, jolly good. Indoor plumbing,” Javes said. “Now”—he waved his hand around the room—”what about the rest?”
“The ambassador is responsible—”
“And so it will be taken care of,” Laurel said. “If you will give me the name of a banker, please.”
“Banker?”
“So I may establish an account, no?” Laurel blinked again, then opened wide his eyes, his pupils dark and large, and the clerk shifted her feet. “I am sure the one who services the king will be fine.”
“The kingdom doesn’t recognize Border coin—”
“I heard you the first time.”
There was silence while Losan worked out that she really couldn’t ask the Faena what he was going to use as money. And that she had pushed the limits of her welcome. Laurel’s tail lashed one way, then another, and she shifted again.
“Uh, yes, Ambassador. When would you like an escort?”
“Do we have enough food for tonight, honored captain?”
Javes looked at Basel, who nodded. “Yes, sirs. For tonight and a couple of meals tomorrow.”
Laurel blinked again. “Come for me tomorrow morning, then.”
A quick bow and a quicker pace, and very shortly the front door opened and shut behind her.
I had followed just to make sure she didn’t get lost on her way out, and I started to return to the others when the door opened again. I turned around and saw Slevoic, his uniform plastered to his body with sweat, the aroma of horses hanging heavy around him. He stepped inside, crowding me. “Well, it’s my Lord Freak Sweet Cheeks.”
I crowded back. “What interesting dreams you have, Slevoic.”
“Let me tell you my dreams, puke—”
“No, thank you. Not on an empty stomach.”
“Oh, Slevoic, you’re back.” Captain Javes came wandering into the entry hall, followed by Groskin. “Are the horses all settled?”
The lieutenant moved away from me. “Yes, sir.”
“Very good. Please help Groskin with the room assignments. And Rabbit”—Javes gave me the same narrow-eyed stare I last saw on Suiden—”you’re with me.”
As was predicted, it was a tight fit, with some in bedchambers, some in the servant’s quarters, and some in sitting rooms, dressing rooms, and rooms that we had no idea what they were intended for. The only ones who had chambers to themselves were Laurel Faena, which we figured was all right as it was his embassy, and the death staff and dragon skin, warded in a closet, which nobody wanted to be around anyway.
Suiden returned as the sun sank towards the horizon, casting long shadows in the courtyard. I had convinced Laurel to sit on one of the benches to catch the afternoon breeze, and the rest of the men had decided that it was a good idea. We filled our waterskins from the fountain after the Faena cupped a paw, drank and declared the water fresh (Groskin made Ryson throw his skin away and wash his mouth out with the remaining soap) and we plucked fruit from the trees. There were all sorts, and Basel rubbed his hands together in glee as he went from tree to tree, making schemes for breakfast. I chortled myself when I found the pomegranates. It was only the second time that I had the tart small-seed fruit, and my lips and chin were stained red from its juice when Suiden entered the courtyard. There was a general stir as the troops tried to find the energy to stand, but the captain had pity and motioned for us to remain as we were. His green eyes caught the sun’s last rays as he headed my way and I scooted over to make room for him to sit.
“Well, that was interesting,” Suiden said.
Javes had sat on the grass (after spreading his kerchief) next to our bench, and he now lifted his head to look at Suiden out of wolfen eyes. I passed a pomegranate to the captain, who took his dagger and cut it open. Taking a bite, he sighed in pleasure and settled against the bench’s back, dirusting his booted feet out. He swallowed and released another sigh. “That’s good.” He listened to the fountain in the darkening courtyard for a few moments. “We are assigned to Ambassador Laurel until such time as the ambassador provides his own guards.”
Javes nodded while Laurel purred. “Excellent, honored captain.”
“Commander Loel did think that Lieutenant Rabbit should be reassigned to the Royal Garrison, but I pointed out that Ebner had made Rabbit liaison to Sro Laurel. And that only the Lord Commander or King Jusson could countermand his orders.” I had lulled myself into thinking I was going to be ignored but at Suiden’s words my shoulders tensed.
“So for now, we all abide here,” Suiden finished.
“Very good,” Javes said as he leaned back against the bench leg (also draped with a kerchief) and rested his arm on his raised knee. “You know, after pushing Commander Loel so hard, you’ll probably remain in Freston for the rest of your natural life.” Javes’ voice was very soft.
“There are worse commands, Javes, in worse places. Besides, I don’t see you campaigning so hard to leave.” Suiden’s voice was equally soft.
“As you say, my dear captain.”
Chapter Twenty-two
I bunked with Groskin, Jeff and another trooper that night in a second story room, all of us starting in our bedrolls, but soon crawling out of them in self-defense against the heat. Groskin did not argue when I threw open the windows that overlooked the courtyard—the room had ventilation openings on the opposite wall, so we had a cross breeze. While it wasn’t unbearable, to those used to mountain climates it came close.
The next morning after a breakfast that featured Basel’s fruit creations, Losan eso Dru showed up with two of her sister clerks. I was outside in the courtyard with Jeff, marveling—from a distance—at the big, many-colored spiders and speculating on the odds of them finding their way into our sleeping quarters. (We got a little quiet when we found a rather large lizard caught in one web, and we gave the weavers even more room.) When I felt a touch on my elbow, I nearly shot out of my skin. I snapped around, expecting to see an eight-legged beastie crawling up my arm. Instead, Groskin stood there, and I held my lips tight at his grin.
“Captain Suiden wants to see you two.” Groskin’s grin widened. “Though I’m sure that you’ve time to change your uniform, Rabbit, if you need to.” I almost but didn’t quite make a rude gesture at him (old fears die hard) as we followed the lieutenant into a salon where Suiden’s Perdan rug had been rolled out on the floor and his folding table and chairs placed on top. Suiden stood beside Laurel, who sat in one of the chairs, facing Losan and the two other clerks, and Captain Javes was propped against the wall next to the door that led into the interior hallway.
“Ah. A moment please, men,” Suiden said when we walked into the room. He turned back to Losan. “The Border will not be responsible for the Royal Army’s upkeep and, as this is not a barracks, we have permission to outfit ourselves as befits an ambassador’s residence.”
“We should take over this duty, Captain.” Losan gave a smooth smile. “This will keep both you and the ambassador from any hint of impropriety.”
“Oh, I say, one of Gherat’s clerks in charge of army procurement?” Captain Javes asked. “What would the Lord Commander say to that?”
Losan’s smile slipped a bit.
“I will keep the accounts,” Suiden said, “as per regulations.”
“Yes, but—”
“You overstep yourself, Losan eso Dru,” Laurel rumbled. “Iversterre was informed of my coming and the reasons for my solo state. Yet upon my arrival I am thrust into an intolerable situation, and every protest is met with excuses, justifications, and rationalizations. Now you wish to push yourself into the running of my household.” Laurel stood and grabbed his staff, which leaned against the wall, then faced the trio of clerks. “Enough. You have no authority here.” He started for the door. “I will be ready in half an hour. Please meet me in the entry way.”