The Provost, Raoul, and Gary exchanged glances. “Alex we don’t know about,” Gary admitted. “He locks himself for hours in his palace rooms—”
“He’s in one of the old wings, where the floor plans’ve been lost,” the Provost explained. “It’s possible there’s passages in and out of there we know little of. But we’ve no proof, of course. Unless his Majesty gives us a King’s Writ, we cannot search Sir Alexander’s rooms without evidence of wrongdoin’.”
“I won’t give such a writ,” Jon said. “If I give one now, with only rumor and imagination to support it, I’ll issue the next one more easily. If I wantonly break into any of Alex’s homes, even the one he keeps in my own palace, what is to stop me from breaking into yours? Of all my subjects, I am the one least able to break the law.”
“Let’s see what the news of the Jewel does over the next few weeks,” Myles suggested. “Send out messengers, until even the children know we have it. Perhaps knowing it’s in his Majesty’s possession will give people confidence in his reign.”
“And we’ll stay vigilant,” Gary promised. “I’d hate to learn, sixty days from now, that there is fire under all this smoke.”
They went on to other topics. It was noon by the time the meeting drew to a close. Jonathan signaled Alanna to remain behind while he showed the others out. She obeyed, still considering all she’d heard since meeting Raoul in Port Udayapur.
Jonathan closed the door after Gary and came back to Alanna at the table. “Please don’t feel that being Champion traps you in some way,” he said, somewhat concerned. “We’re far past the era when a Champion had to defend the king’s law with his sword. I imagine you’ll have all the time in the world to continue roaming.”
Alanna smiled at him. “That’s good. It’s not that I don’t like being at home. I just know there are places I haven’t seen. I’ll always be here when you need me, though.”
“That’s a comfort.” An awkward silence descended until she asked, abruptly, “Are you still courting that princess I heard about—Josiane? The one I met last night?”
Jonathan blushed and shook his head. “She likes being a princess too much. And she’s cruel. She hides it well, but she is.” He fiddled with the papers in front of him. “Are you jealous?” he asked sharply. “I noticed you didn’t waste time finding somebody to replace me. Two somebodies, if you count George and Liam Ironarm.”
It was Alanna’s turn to blush. “I’m not jealous,” she said at last. “I just thought you had better taste.”
Jonathan stared at the table. “My offer of marriage stands, if you want.”
She looked at him. Part of her wanted to say “yes,” but it was a very small part. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Jon, but we’re very different people these days. I didn’t realize how different until this council meeting.”
“It’s funny,” he replied, thinking. “I look at you and realize you’ve been to places I’ll never visit.” He smiled regretfully. “You turned into a hero when I wasn’t watching.”
“Don’t say that. I’m still me.” Alanna walked over to sit on the table in front of him. She took his hand, and feeling more at ease, she tickled his palm. “Jon, if we were married we’d make a mess of things. You know it as well as I do.”
Now he did look at her. “I don’t want to go back on my word,” he explained. His eyes gave his other feelings away. “I asked for your hand—”
His obvious relief hurt, but it didn’t keep her from knowing she did the right thing. “And I said no. Thank you, but no. I love you, Jon. We’ve been through a lot. But what we want from life—” She pointed to his papers. “You like this king business. I like action. I like to say what I think.” She saw a rough sketch half hidden by other documents and pulled it free.
“Don’t, you—” Jon started to say, but he was too late.
Alanna waved the drawing of Thayet in front of him, grinning wickedly. “You still want to marry me, Sire? Or were you just checking to see if the road is clear?”
Jonathan was beet red with embarrassment. “Don’t tease. You know I’d marry you if you said ‘yes.’”
“Then thank the gods one of us has sense.” She examined the drawing closely. “Your artwork’s improved. The one you did of Delia made her look like a cow.” Pursing her lips, she added thoughtfully, “Though now that I think of it, maybe that was your subject matter—”
Jon laughed so hard tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. When he regained his self-control, he said, “I need you home, if only because you make me laugh.”
“I’m not sure that’s a compliment,” she said dryly as she gave him the sketch.
Jonathan caught her hand, his eyes serious. “I love you, too, Alanna. You’re a part of me—my sword arm.”
She kissed his forehead. “Fine. I like that. But you need a queen, too. Thayet would be a good one.”
“Are you sure?” he wanted to know. “Are you positive we couldn’t make a good marriage?” She returned his look, equally serious, and he sighed. “You’re right. Still, it would have been interesting.”
Her head spinning from the events of the last three days, Alanna went to earth. She was all but invisible at palace social functions. Jonathan, knowing that she needed time to think, left her alone. Instead he asked for Thayet when he called at House Olau, taking her for rides or to the palace. He invited Buri on these excursions, guessing—accurately—that the little K’mir would prefer several deaths to making polite conversation with noblemen. Thayet could make no threat that would cause Buri to act as a chaperone at such times. Instead the princess’s companion joined Alanna as she refamiliarized herself with Corus and the palace grounds.
Alanna introduced her to the remnants of George’s court and to her friends among the palace hostlers and servants. They joined Liam in extended hours of exercise and sparring. George took them on picnics beside the river and on explorations of the city’s catacombs. Buri learned how to pick pockets, and Alanna relaxed in the thief’s company. The pair found themselves drilling the city’s urchins, boy and girl, in staff- and sword-play, and running races with local youths. Alanna brought Buri into the morning practice sessions in the palace, where the K’mir met Raoul, Gary, and the other knights and squires. Many of these young noblemen, particularly those who didn’t know Alanna well, were unsure of what to make of two females—one an unproven stranger—joining their practice. Their attitudes soon changed to respect for Buri and awe for Alanna.
Because the body concerned was hers, Alanna didn’t know how much she’d improved under Liam’s teaching. If she beat her old friends, which she often did, she decided they had been riding chairs too much recently. Alex never challenged her, George could still best her with knives, and Liam always won.
“It keeps me humble,” she told Coram with chagrin after one session with Liam. Coram laughed and ruffled her hair.
She watched Duke Roger. He was often present when she visited Thom. These glimpses were enough to confirm her feeling that she trusted him less than ever. She relayed her suspicions to everyone who mattered; there could never be too many eyes on the Duke. Still, he continued to act conspicuously innocent. Instead of easing her fears, such behavior only increased them.
The days slipped away. She was fitted for dresses, which she wore during quiet evenings with her family and on leisure excursions with George or her friends at court. Summer began with the June festival of Beltane. Since this was the time of year men approached their chosen ladies (the excuse being the custom of leaping over fires hand-in-hand to ensure a bountiful harvest), she looked for George to renew his courtship. Certainly he’d had time to see that she no more belonged to Liam than to the moon! George, however, remained simply friendly; after his enthusiastic greeting on her return, he showed no other signs of warmer feelings.