It was a terrible insult that neither could reply to when spoken by the High Prince—and which would be duly reported to Cabar and Andry for suitable reply on a level approaching Rohan’s. But they had forced him into this locked room. It was their own fault that they had underestimated him and, rather than use either of the doors they had so smugly provided, he had chosen to climb out an unsuspected window instead.
But he was furious that he had been put in this position to begin with. He knew his decision would be perceived as an arbitrary action of the autocrat he wasn’t. Neither Cabar nor Andry would be satisfied, the other princes would feel threatened, and the whole mess already left a bad taste in his own mouth. And then there was that poor young woman. She was not an abstraction of an issue. She was a person caught in wretched circumstances.
He eyed Barig, Oclel, and the lawyers for a moment, then said brusquely, “Thank you for your attendance upon us. You have our permission to withdraw.”
All four left with frowns. Rohan did not much care. He sprawled back in his chair and blew out a long sigh. Sioned poured wine and handed him a cup.
“What will her punishment be?”
“Damned if I know,” he admitted. “Barig’s right, the man’s family must be compensated—monetarily, at least. Andry will have to disgorge a bit, which won’t make him happy at all.” He grimaced at the understatement. “But I think Gevlia will have to perform some service as well. I just can’t decide what.”
“This will follow her for the rest of her life.”
“I know. What’s worse, she undoubtedly knows it. What future for a Sunrunner found guilty of murder by accident and incompetence? You faradh’im are so much more visible than the common people, after all.”
“She did the best she could.”
“But failed. Somehow I’ll have to find a way of having her publicly pay her debt while restoring her confidence in herself. But you know, out of this may come something I’ve spent years trying to find a good excuse for doing.”
Her brows arched. “And now I’m supposed to guess what.”
He grinned at her. “Mm-hmm.”
She rose to pace slowly back and forth before the gigantic tapestry of the Desert in spring—but not a spring like this one. No artist could have guessed at this year’s glory of flowers. Rohan indulged himself in appreciation of beauty just as glorious as far as he was concerned: his wife’s. His gaze followed the graceful swirl of rustling silk skirts, the supple lines of shoulder and arm, waist and hip. But her frown and her occasional mutterings ruined the picture of regal perfection. He would not have had it otherwise; what use had he for a lovely lackwit?
At last she spun on one heel to face him. “You’re going to do something about training physicians, aren’t you?” she accused.
Rohan nodded. “I’m surprised it took you this long to think of it. I gave you enough clues,” he teased.
Sioned ignored this remark. “A school, I take it. Like the scriptorium on Kierst-Isel.”
“More or less. The only available training in medical arts is at Goddess Keep or as apprentice to a working physician—not all of whom are of equal skill. A school would allow standardized techniques, shared knowledge, and improved treatments—or so one hopes. What do you think?”
“I think you’re a devious son of a—dragon. Is there anything you can’t turn to an advantage of one sort or another?”
“Haven’t run into one yet,” he replied immodestly. “Andry won’t like this much, either. He’ll see it as a threat.”
Sioned blinked in surprise. “But Sunrunners will continue to be trained—”
“Of course! Aside from their importance in communications, having someone with at least a basic knowledge of medicine at all holdings is essential. But if they wish to be certified, practicing physicians. ...”
“They’ll need credentials from your school. Where will it be?” She grinned suddenly. “How about Gilad?”
“You can be rather devious, yourself.”
“It might mollify Cabar a little. But what are we going to do about Andry?”
Rohan shrugged. “He’ll get used to it.”
“I doubt it. Rohan, we must tread carefully with him,” she warned.
“On the contrary, my love. It is Andry who must learn to walk a little more softly around me. Those scrolls Urival and Morwenna brought with them weren’t read only by you and Pol. In them I discovered my right to decide certain Sunrunner questions.”
“But there are limits.”
“And wise ones. I confess to sharing Andry’s admiration for this Lady Merisel. She seems to have been a remarkably crafty woman.” He laughed. “I have a taste for the type. I’d even bet she was a redhead.”
Sioned was in the Great Hall, staring in wonder at the flowers Rialt had brought back to decorate the dinner tables when Andry stormed through the open doors. She watched him stride up the center aisle and engaged herself in a private debate. Then, deciding that his anger did not merit a gawking audience, she gestured to the servants. They abandoned the dozens of vases and beat a hasty retreat, closing the double doors behind them.
“Is it true?” Andry demanded.
Sioned met his blazing blue eyes for a moment, then picked up a small, sharp knife and began trimming stems. “Yes.”
“He has no right. None! It’s given to me to judge a Sunrunner!”
“I presume Oclel told you Rohan’s reasoning. It’s all perfectly legal.”
“That doesn’t make it right!”
She poured water into a vase and selected flowers for it. “Then petition for a change in the law. For now, it stands.”
Andry pulled in a long breath obviously meant to steady himself. “Sioned, you’re a Sunrunner. Even though you don’t wear the rings, even though you’ve been High Princess for so long—surely there’s some loyalty left in you for the traditions of Goddess Keep. Would you see those rights and privileges smashed for the sake of your own power? That’s not worthy of you.”
Sioned refused to be baited. “Neither is it worthy of you to imply that I would place power above what is right and just. I forgive you for it because I know you’re angry. But if you’ll think about this, you’ll understand that it was the only thing Rohan could do.”
“What he should have done was force Cabar to hand Gevlia over to me! I wouldn’t have found her innocent—is that what you were all afraid of? I don’t dispute that she’s guilty of causing Master Thacri’s death. But Sunrunners are disciplined by the Lord of Goddess Keep. Not the High Prince!”
One vase filled, she started cutting flowers to fit a shorter one. “I don’t think you entirely appreciate the position you and Cabar placed him in.”
“Oh, come now, Sioned. Surely you’re not complaining that you’ve had yet another chance to demonstrate how powerful you and Rohan are!”
She slammed the knife on the table so hard the empty vases rattled. “Lord of Goddess Keep you may be, but it hasn’t taught you much about what power really is!”
“Lord of Goddess Keep chosen by Lady Andrade—who taught all of us about power!” he snapped.
Sioned forced calm into her voice, reminding herself that this was a proud and potentially dangerous man. And still so young—only twenty-nine. “Andry, I was a Sunrunner long before I was a princess. Do you forget that I pleaded with your parents to allow your training as a squire to end so your chosen life as a Sunrunner could begin?”
“And have you come to regret it?” he asked bitterly.
“Don’t be a fool. I don’t always agree with you. I didn’t always agree with Andrade. We all have our own functions, duties, responsibilities—”
“And Rohan has usurped mine!”
“You gave him no choice! Can’t you see that? There can’t be one code for Sunrunners and another for everyone else! The woman’s negligence brought about a man’s death. You yourself admit her guilt. You and Cabar both came to Rohan, agreed to abide by his decision—”