Reltheus sipped his and nodded. “Even in these times, you still serve excellent wine, my dear. How ever do you manage it?”
“Oh, I have my ways,” she told him. She turned to Alec
with a roguish pout. “What brings you here tonight? I’m sure it’s not to seek my custom.”
“Your company, of course, dear lady,” he replied.
Eirual laughed and turned to Reltheus. “I had no idea you knew this pair of rogues.”
“I’ve only met them tonight, and soon learned that it’s better to play on their side than against them.”
“I’ve lost many bets to them,” Malthus told him. “Yet I can’t seem to forgo their company.”
“I’m beginning to understand why,” Reltheus declared, and Seregil could tell the man was more than a bit drunk, and comfortable in these surroundings, as he’d hoped.
Seregil raised his cup to him. “May we have many more such nights of debauchery. What is life without pleasure?”
“To pleasure!”
Seregil and Alec sipped their wine sparingly while the others indulged more deeply. When the duke was flushed and merry, Seregil gave him a wink and said, “I understand you attend Archduchess Alaya’s salons. Does she entertain in this fashion?” He took Eirual’s hand and kissed it.
Reltheus laughed and Selin blushed. “Not these days,” the duke declared. “But she’s a grand woman still. To the lovely old thing!”
They all drank to that.
“I think she would appreciate the ‘lovely,’ but not the ‘old,’ ” Eirual chided. “No woman likes to be reminded of the passing of time and beauty.”
“Time does not end beauty, but transforms it,” Reltheus replied gallantly. “I’m sure your charms will never fade, lovely lady.”
“The archduchess must still be very youthful, to have the honor so late in life to be the confidante of the princess royal,” Alec remarked, steering the conversation back on topic.
“Oh, she dotes on the girl,” said Reltheus.
“I wonder what Princess Elani is like? They keep her so closely guarded. Have you met her?”
Reltheus nodded. “I have the honor of knowing her rather well. She can be very serious, like her aunt the queen, but she
has a girlish side, too. She’s wickedly adept with sword and bow.”
“She’s what, about sixteen now?” asked Seregil. “Has there been any talk of finding her a husband yet? I suppose the queen must be anxious to see her bear a daughter.”
“Not as yet, but-” The duke paused. “I do have hopes.”
“You?” Alec asked ingenuously.
“By the Flame!” Reltheus burst out laughing and slapped Alec on the shoulder. “I think my wife would have a thing or two to say about that. My mistresses are enough to vex her.”
“The duke has several handsome sons, Alec,” Malthus told him. “Danos is twenty, now, isn’t he, Reltheus?”
“Twenty-three,” Selin told them, “and a captain in the Queen’s Horse Guard, under Princess Klia’s command. Seregil’s friend Micum has a daughter who’s a captain and squadron leader in the Guard, too.”
“She was the leader of the famous Urghazi Turma before her promotion, I believe,” said Reltheus. “I’ve heard ballads sung about them and their exploits. She has a brilliant reputation.”
“I’ve heard your son’s bravery well spoken of, too,” Seregil lied. “And he is of an age and station to be considered for a consort, don’t you think?”
Reltheus smiled. “I’m in hopes that he may catch the queen’s eye.”
“And the princess royal’s, as well, I suppose?” said Malthus dryly.
“They have hunted together,” the duke said, ignoring the barb. “Elani’s mother birthed a fine string of girls, and I have four daughters myself. Queen Phoria is said to be taking such matters into consideration. Skala can’t afford another uncertain succession.”
On one hand, it was tempting to mark down the duke as just another social climber, trying to position his heir to ascend the royal ladder by way of the royal bed. But there was something about the cold-blooded manner in which he spoke of the match that fueled Seregil’s suspicions. It wasn’t the tone of a would-be father-in-law. There was often truth to be found in wine that didn’t come out otherwise.
“But I’m not the only one with a connection to the royal family, am I, Seregil,” said Reltheus. “I believe you and Alec here know Princess Klia.”
“They’re good friends with her,” said Eirual.
“We have that honor,” Seregil replied, puffing up a bit. Something in the way Reltheus was looking at him now twigged his suspicions. As innocent as the question seemed, he sensed more than ordinary interest and thought again of the list Alec had found with their names on it. “I’ve known her since she was just a little thing, and Alec came to know her well while we were in Aurenen.”
“What do you think of her? I understand she’s a delightful woman, and a fearless warrior.”
Alec nodded. “She’s as brave as she is beautiful and intelligent.”
“Spoken like a true devotee,” Reltheus said with a smile. “I suppose that’s what makes her such a fine commander. And there are those who think she’d make a fine queen.”
“I suppose there are,” Seregil replied noncommittally.
“Well, you are lucky young men, to be counted as friends of one so near the throne.”
“So near, yet so far.” Seregil watched for a reaction.
“Indeed,” said Selin, shaking his head.
“Word around court is that the queen is cold toward her youngest sister,” Reltheus said. “Do you know anything of that, Seregil?”
“Klia doesn’t bear her sister any ill will that I know of. As I understand it, they had their differences over allying with Aurenen.” Once again, this was common knowledge. “The queen had already chosen Elani as her successor, though. That had nothing to do with her decision, as far as I know.”
“Why do you suppose Queen Phoria recalled her sister from Aurenen so suddenly?” wondered Reltheus.
Seregil laughed and waved a hand. “I’m sure I don’t know. We haven’t seen Klia since she came back, and we’re certainly not privy to the queen’s reasoning.”
“Oh, of course not,” the duke replied. “I was only curious as to your opinion.”
“Queen Phoria must need all the commanders in the field
she can get, given how many she’s lost since the war started,” Alec offered.
“What else could it be? Or do you think differently, Reltheus?” asked Seregil.
“As you say, Seregil, I’m not privy to the queen’s thoughts. But we grow too serious. Bilairy take politics!” He raised his wine cup. “To the queen!”
The rest joined the toast.
“And the princess royal,” Seregil added, and saw how Reltheus’s gaze flickered his way. Surprise, perhaps?
“Alec, young Selin here tells me that you’re a good man with a bow,” said the duke.
“He can shoot the eye out of a woodcock at a hundred paces in the dark,” Malthus told him.
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Alec demurred.
Reltheus clapped him on the shoulder. “And modest, too. That’s a good trait in a young man. I must have the two of you out to my estate for the hunting. You do hunt, don’t you, Seregil?”
“Not well, though not for lack of Alec trying to teach me.”
“And sadly, he’s not just being modest,” Alec put in with a grin.
For the next hour Seregil and Alec took turns telling altered tales and outright lies for the amusement of their companions, and the duke called them both “friend” before the night was over and renewed his invitation to come with him to the duchess’s salon as he and the other visitors took their leave.
Seregil and Alec lingered behind in Eirual’s room.
Eirual yawned behind her hand. “Pardon me, it’s been a long day.”
“We’ll leave in a moment,” Seregil told her. “But first-”
She gave him a knowing smile. “You want to know more about Duke Reltheus?”