“I am glad to hear it, my lord,” the man said. “I will now lead you to the prince.” He turned away and Dorrin followed him across the great outer court to the palace entrance. Paks had described it; she recognized the stairs, the pillars, the carvings.
“I must beg your courtesy,” Dorrin said, as they neared the steps. “I spent my life as a mercenary captain, as you know. I had no training, after early childhood, in the etiquette of nobles greeting one another, or indeed a ruler, and none at all here in this court. Foreign courts were likely very different, and besides, as a mere mercenary …” She stopped. “The truth is, I do not know whether to bow or bend the knee to the prince when I meet him. I do not wish to offend in my ignorance, either this evening or at any of the ceremonies to come. To whom may I look for guidance?”
He almost stumbled, coming to a stop four steps up. “You—don’t know any court protocol?”
“Not at all,” Dorrin said. “I never came to this court, even when I came to Vérella. I did not wish to see my uncle the Duke, nor he to see me—my name was blotted out of the family records. Kieri or Jandelir reported to the palace—I mean,” she said, seeing his confusion, “Kieri Phelan and Jandelir Arcolin.”
“You will need a guide,” he said. “Unfortunately, I cannot serve as your guide, beyond this meeting; I have duties that fill my time. I can introduce you to the Master of Ceremonies, but he, too, is busy organizing the coronation.”
“I told Paksenarrion about this,” Dorrin said. “She suggested I find a boy she knew—Aris Marrakai—”
“Marrakai! She told a Verrakai to ask a Marrakai for help?” He rolled his eyes. “My lord Duke, that suggestion could have come only from a paladin! It is in defiance of all Tsaian history, ancient and modern.”
“I gathered,” Dorrin said. “But at the same time, it is a paladin’s suggestion, and a Girdish paladin’s at that. Have you another?”
“No.” He turned, and continued up the stairs. “I do not, and if Marrakai assents, it will do much to maintain your skin entire. Kirgan Marrakai is one of the prince’s closest companions, as is my cousin Kirgan Serrostin.” He nodded to the guards at the palace doors, which stood open to catch the evening breeze and led her inside. “I can tell you, my lord, for this first meeting you would be wise to go to one knee, heart-hand to your breast, like this—” He demonstrated, half-turned to her. “It is more formal than normally required, but it will look well.”
“Thank you,” Dorrin said. “I will do so.”
Her passage through the palace brought many long looks, some hostile; Dorrin ignored them. She had no idea which rooms were which. They went this way and that, up a set of stairs, down another passage. The officer spoke to a guard at one door, who knocked, and announced “Guard-Captain Serrostin and a visitor” then flung the door wide for them to enter.
In a room lit by oil lamps, a cluster of men stood at one side, near windows that let in a cool breeze. Most were young; the prince and his companions, Dorrin thought. The older man in rose and white would be one of the prince’s uncles; the other older man wore Marshal’s blue.
“My lord prince, Duke Dorrin Verrakai,” the officer said. Dorrin went down on one knee. She could feel the tension in the room.
The prince moved from the others and came to her, his expression guarded. “Duke Verrakai, do you come to tell me all your renegade family are safely confined?”
“No, my lord prince. I come at your request to pledge fealty and see you crowned rightful king of Tsaia.”
“I have heard, from sources I do not fully trust, of a secret crown and secret realm.”
Dorrin said, “My lord prince, there are matters we must discuss, but by your leave I would rather bring proof than words.”
“You name me rightful king. Do you mean that?”
“Yes,” Dorrin said. “With all my heart.”
He put out a hand. “Rise, then, lord Duke, and be welcome here until such time as you choose another allegiance or play me false.”
Dorrin took his hand and stood. “I intend neither,” she said.
“The gods do not always cooperate with human intentions,” the prince said. “Come, I will introduce you.”
“My lord prince,” the guard-captain said. “The duke’s arms?”
The prince looked at Dorrin. “You would have known the paladin Paksenarrion—”
“Yes, lord prince.”
“Where is she now, do you know?”
“Watching over Verrakai lands, my lord. She came from Chaya and urged me to accept your invitation, which I had been loath to do because I had not yet captured all you commanded. She said she would watch it for me, and indeed there is none I trust more.”
“Well then, I will trust you to bear arms in my presence the same as any other noble of your rank.” He nodded at the guard captain. “Return the duke’s arms, and inform the palace guard that the Duke is as privileged in that regard as any other peer.”
“At once, my lord,” the guard-captain said. He gestured to the soldier who carried Dorrin’s belt and sword. “If the prince will excuse me now—”
“Of course,” the prince said. He smiled at Dorrin. “And now, let me introduce you—”
Dorrin recognized the colors, and had seen some of the nobles on the streets of Vérella; she had never met them. The older man, Duke Sonder Mahieran, the prince’s uncle. High Marshal Seklis. Kirgan Marrakai, Kirgan Valthan Serrostin and a younger brother Rolyan, Kirgan Konhalt. All young men of breeding, near or just over majority, heirs of noble fathers. Dorrin bowed to each, and each bowed in return, though without real warmth.
“You arrived today, I think,” the prince said.
“Indeed, my lord. It will seem strange to all of you, but—having been estranged from my family for so long—I had never been to their residence here, and finding it—and making it safe to inhabit even in part—took up the rest of the day.”
“But you have been in Vérella before,” the prince said.
“Yes, with Kieri Phelan’s company, as his captain, guiding troops through the city. My dealings were with merchants, on occasion, or on Duke Phelan’s business with his banker. Not with my family, and not here, where I might have met them.”
“Your family’s property was forfeit to the Crown as a result of the bill of attainder,” the prince said. “I exempted the Verrakai lands, for the time, but the house here—we would have seized it, but that we could not. I grant you the use of it while you are here on court business, but nothing more, for the time being. Is that clear?”
“Yes, my lord prince,” Dorrin said.
“Funds in the bank your predecessor used have been confiscated—that banker, we found, was involved in the Thieves’ Guild, to the great embarrassment of the Moneychangers’ Guild where he held an office of distinction. The Crown will release such funds to you as you require for attending us at our command, but the rest will remain in our control until such time as we are satisfied.”
“I understand, Lord Prince,” Dorrin said. She understood, but she did not like the thought of applying to the prince’s clerks for money to buy every butt of water, every stick of firewood.
“We do not enjoy being harsh, but events—events have forced us to more caution than we otherwise would choose.”
“Of course,” Dorrin said.
“Then sit down with us. This is not a Council meeting, you perceive, but I wanted these men to meet you, and you to meet them. Two others will join us later.” The others took off their swords and put them in a rack to one side; Dorrin did the same. The prince waved to the table, and Dorrin sat where he bade her. Duke Mahieran went to the door and called for a servant to bring refreshments, then came and sat beside her.
39
“When did you join Phelan’s Company?” asked Duke Mahieran. “Was he then a duke?”