"Well, Leslac seems to be another of the same sort. It's common knowledge in my entourage that the poor dear is absolutely head over heels with him. And his music. He, naturally, has been languishing at her feet, accepting her presents, and swearing undying love when no one else is around, I don't doubt. I can see it coming now; he figures that when I find out, I'll confront him -- he'll vow he isn't worthy of her, being lowborn and all, I'll agree, and he'll get paid off. But I actually have no objection to lowborn-highborn marriages; I expect Reine's family will be only too happy to see the end of the stream of vultures that's been preying on her, and I can see a way of doing two friends a favor here. I'm certain that the threat of royal displeasure if he makes Reine unhappy will keep the wandering fancy in line once I get him back with me."
"I," Tarma said fervently, "will be your devoted slave for the rest of your life. Both of you."
Stefan shook his head at her. "I owe you too much, Tarma, and if this will really make you happy -- "
"It will! Trust me, it will!"
"Consider it ordered, Roald. Now I have a question for you two fellow-conspirators over there. What can I do for you?"
"If you're serious -- " Kethry began.
"Totally. Anything short of being crowned; unless the Sword sings for you, even I can't manage that. Titles? Lands? Wealth -- I can't quite supply; Char made too many inroads in the Treasury, but -- "
"For years we have wanted to found a joint school," Kethry said, slowly. "'Want' is actually too mild a word. By the edicts of my own mage school, now that I'm an Adept I just about have to start a branch of the White Winds school. What we need, really, is a place with a big enough building to house our students and teachers, and enough lands to support it. But that kind of property isn't easily come by."
"Because it's usually in the hands of nobles or clergy. I'm disappointed," Stefan said with a grin, "I thought you'd want something hard. One of Char's hereditary holdings was a fine estate down in the south, near the border -- a large manorhouse, a village of its own, and an able staff to maintain it. It is, by the by, where I was supposed to end my days in debauchery. It has an indoor riding arena attached to the stable because Char hated to ride when it rained, it has a truly amazing library; why it even has a professional salle, because the original builder was a notable fighter. Is that just about what you're looking for?"
Tarma had felt her jaw dropping with every word, until, when Stefan glanced over at her with a sly smile and a broad wink, she was unable to get her voice to work.
Kethry answered for her. "Windborn -- gods, yes I -- Stefan, would you really give it to us?"
"Well, since the property of traitors becomes property of the crown, and since I have some very unpleasant memories of the place -- Lady Bright, Im only too pleased that you want it! Just pay your taxes promptly, that's all I ask!"
Tarma tried to thank him, but her voice still wouldn't work. Kethry made up for her -- leaping out of her chair and giving the King a most disrespectful hug and kiss, both of which he seemed to enjoy immensely.
"Furthermore, I'll be sending my offspring of both sexes to you for training," he continued. "If nothing else, I want them to have the discipline of a good swordmaster, something I didn't have. Maybe that will keep them from being the kind of brat I was. This will probably scandalize my nobles -- "
"Oh, it will, lover," Mertis laughed, "But I agree with the notion. It will do the children good."
"Then my nobles will have to live with being scandalized. Now, I want the rest of you to decide what you'd like," he said when Kethry had resumed her seat, but not her calm. "Because I'm going to do my best by all of you. But right now I fear I do have a Council session, and there are a lot of unpleasant messes Char left behind him that need attending to."
Stefan rose, and gave his hand to Mertis, and the two exited gracefully from the library. The rest clustered around Tarma and her partner, congratulating them --
All but Jadrek, who had inexplicably vanished.
* * *
The partners made their weary way to their rooms. It had been a long day, but for Tarma, a very happy one.
But Kethry was preoccupied -- and a little disturbed, Tarma could sense it without any special effort.
"Keth?" she asked, finally, "What's stuck in your craw?"
"It's Jadrek. He hasn't said anything or come near me since the night of the rebellion." She turned troubled and unhappy eyes on her partner. "I don't know why; I thought he loved me -- I know I love him. And this afternoon -- just disappearing like that -- "
"Well, we're official now. He's reverting to courtly manners. You don't go sneaking around to a lady's room; you treat her with respect."
"Courtly manners be hanged!" Kethry snapped. "Dammit Tarma, we'll be gone soon! Doesn't he care? If he doesn't say something -- "
"Then you'll hit him over the head and carry him off, like the uncivilized barbarian mercenary I know you are. And I'll help."
Kethry started laughing at that. "I hate to tell you this, but that's exactly what I've been contemplating."
"Go make wish-lists of things you think you'll be needing for this new school of ours," Tarma advised her. "That should keep your mind occupied. I have the feeling this is going to sort itself out before long."
She parted company with her she'enedra at Kethry's door. They had rooms inside the royal complex now, not in the visitors area. Stefansen was treating them as very honored guests.
She knew she wasn't alone the moment she closed the door behind her. She also knew who it was -- without Warrl's helpful hint of :It's Jadrek. I let him in. He wants to talk,:
"Tarma -- "
"Hello, Jadrek," she said calmly, lighting a candle beside the door before turning around to face him. "We haven't been seeing a lot of you; we've missed you."
"I've been thinking," he said awkwardly. "I -- "
She crossed her arms, and waited for him to continue. He straightened his back and hfted his chin. "Tarma shena Tale'sedrin," he said, with all the earnest solemnity of a high priest, "Have I your permission to pay my court to your oathsister?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Can you give me a good reason why I should?"
Her question wilted him. He sat down abruptly, obviously struggling for words. "I --- Tarma, I love her, I really do. I love her too much to just play with her, I want something formal binding us, something -- in keeping with her honor. She's lovely, you know that as well as I do, but it isn't just her exterior I care for, it's her mind. She challenges me,
like nobody I've ever known before. We're equals -- I want to be her partner, not -- not a -- I don't know, I want to have something like Mertis and Stefan have, and I know we'll give each other that! I want to help you with your schools, too. I think it's a wonderful dream and I want to make it real, and work alongside of both of you to make it more than a dream."
"We're something more than partners, she and I," Tarma reminded him. "There's certain things between us that will affect any children Kethry may have."
"I took the liberty of asking Warrl about that," he said, blushing. "I don't have any problem with -- children. With them being raised Tale'sedrin. Everything I know about the Shin'a'in, everything I've learned in working with you -- I would be very, very proud if you considered my blood good enough to flow into the Clans. Tarma, this is probably going to sound stupid, but I've come to -- love -- you. You've done so much for me, more than you guess. What I really want is that what we've built with the three of us in the last few months should endure -- the friendship, the love, the partnership. I never had that before -- and I'd do anything right now to prevent losing either of you."