Ullsaard absorbed this as he filled his plate with slices of roasted fowl and dark bread.
"He's not joining the Brotherhood," the general declared heavily.
"Not at all," said Meliu, passing her husband a platter of hardbaked grain cakes. "He is going to study city law, not criminal. Like Ahsaam and Heriot, he said."
"Never heard of either of them."
"Me too," laughed Meliu. "I think they were advisors to the last king. He is so clever."
Ullsaard turned his gaze on Luia.
"Urikh is expanding his mercantile influence quickly," he said. "Kolubrid breeding, part ownership of a ship, and now copper. I suppose he'll want me to put in a word for him with the legion provisioners again."
"It wouldn't hurt," replied Luia. "Though he says he already has a contract with a consortium of Ersuan kettlemakers."
"Kettlemakers? Not interested in making armour and weapons?"
"He thinks that the legions are well-equipped as it is; he sees little profit in military supply at the moment. But every farmwife and kitchen master needs a good copper kettle."
"And where is he at the moment?"
"In Caprion, talking to his Ersuan customers. He could be back quite soon, perhaps before you leave. You might see him. That would be nice, wouldn't it?"
"You are staying for a while, aren't you?" asked Meliu.
"I've no idea," Ullsaard said with a shrug. "For all I know, I'll be packed off down the Greenwater come tomorrow. We'll have to wait to see what Aalun and the king have to say this evening."
"Please at least try to stay for a few days," Allenya said quietly. "Enjoy the comforts at home."
Ullsaard smiled and sank his teeth into a peach, the juice running into his beard. His eyes stayed on Allenya. He took another bite and sighed.
"If I stay too long, I'll get used to all this again, and then it'll be harder to leave."
"Let's not talk about leaving then," said Allenya. "You have only just come back to us."
"Good idea. So, I know about my eldest and my youngest, tell me about Jutaar."
"He remains in service to Governor Allon. He is still third captain."
"Not yet made second?" Ullsaard could not hide his disappointment.
"He doesn't have the fire of his father," said Luia. "He has neither Urikh's ambition nor Ullnaar's wit. You really should find something more suitable for him than the legions."
"Perhaps a foreman somewhere," suggested Meliu. "He is very practically minded."
"He loves being a soldier," said Allenya, directing a frown towards her sisters. She turned her gaze upon Ullsaard with a slight smile. "Allon writes to me frequently, praising Jutaar's dedication to duty and steadfastness. Our son is content, happy even, which is more than can be said for many who aim above their means."
"It is just as well that Urikh has a mind to grow the family's fortunes in the years to come," said Luia. "If Jutaar were your heir, his happiness and contentment would see our grandchildren labouring in the fields or mines."
"That won't happen," said Ullsaard. "Despite your extravagances, there is still enough put by to give our grandchildren a good start in life."
"A good start?" There was a sneer in Luia's tone, though her face did not betray her scorn. "I want my granddaughter to have more than a 'good start'. Luissa will be the envy of noblewomen across Askh, perhaps even marry a prince."
"She is only four, I think we should stop gossiping about Luissa as if she were come of age," said Meliu.
Ullsaard laughed, but there was no humour in him. He leaned an elbow on the table and pointed at Luia.
"Not a chance! You may have lofty goals and ancestors of name, but there is not a drop of the Blood in this family's veins. You think your granddaughter will marry into noble lineage? No Prince of the Blood will look at her twice. You might have your fine Askhan heritage, but her name is wrong, her grandfather of Enairian stock. Perhaps you should set about finding her a wealthy merchant or perhaps a respectable officer."
"Something else to thank my wise sister for," Luia said, darting a venomous stare at Allenya.
"Enough!" growled Ullsaard, slapping his hand down, sending a wine jug spinning, its scarlet contents splashing across the lacquered wood of the table. He fixed Luia with a stare. "I am not ashamed of who I am. I have given you healthy sons, provided food for your table and brought you to the palace of the king. Do not think you have somehow missed out in life because of your marriage to me! Lands in my name rival those of the oldest Askhan families. Lands, I might add, that I took by my own hand, unlike most of those entitled bastards that are our neighbours."
"You have done well by us all, husband," said Allenya.
"I would choose no other," added Meliu. "You know that, don't you?"
Ullsaard kept his gaze on Luia, who returned it with an expression of apathy. Ullsaard mentally dared her to show some sign of defiance. Instead, she smiled thinly and stood up.
"You are one of the greatest generals of the empire and any woman would be proud to call such her husband," Luia said. "Please excuse me, husband, I am quite worn out by the excitement of today."
Ullsaard nodded, eyes still fixed on his middle wife. When Luia had gone, he turned to Meliu. Her lip quivered and she gripped the edge of the table fiercely.
"Ignore your sister's barbs. She is just jealous that you are younger and far prettier than she is."
"Yes, she is," replied Meliu with a half-smile. She glanced between Ullsaard and Allenya and the flicker of a smile disappeared. "Please excuse me also; I wish to write a letter to Ullnaar."
"Of course," said Ullsaard. He took two steps towards Meliu with an outstretched hand, but she turned away hurriedly and left.
"You confuse her," Allenya said quietly.
"I do not mean to," Ullsaard said, pulling Allenya to her feet. He stooped to embrace her, burying his face in her thick hair. He whispered in her ear. "She is a lovely woman, full of joy and devotion, and brings out a lust in me that I cannot control. But she is not you, my love."
Allenya stroked the back of his head and kissed him on the cheek.
"I know," she sighed. "Do not trouble yourself over it. I will talk to her. And Luia."
"If Luia is the price I pay for you, I gladly accept it." Ullsaard tightened his arms around the wife he loved and wondered why he had ever agreed to the stupid Askhan custom of marrying her sisters.
"Luia is the price you pay for Aalun's favour," said Allenya, guessing his thoughts. "You know I would have married a captain and lived happily in Enair."
"I know," replied Ullsaard as he straightened. He looked at the thick hangings on the wall, the plates of food on the table, the marble underfoot. "But then we would have none of this, and you deserve all of it."
A gong sounded from outside, echoing through the palace. It was followed quickly by two chimes of a bell. Ullsaard pulled himself away, as reluctantly as if he peeled off his own skin.
"Second hour of Dusk," he sighed. "I best get ready and go to the king. Hopefully I will not be gone long."
Allenya took his hand and followed Ullsaard as he made his way back to the hallway, where servants stood waiting with his armour. He gave her hand a squeeze and let go, gesturing to the servants to approach.
"I will wait up for you," Allenya promised. Ullsaard nodded and his eyes followed her as she walked through the archway to her rooms, his gaze lingering there for a moment after she had disappeared from view.
IV
Ullsaard entered the king's hall with little ceremony; a captain in dress armour opened the high door and announced the general's arrival. Stepping through, Ullsaard saw four men. All looked down the narrow hall towards the door. King Lutaar sat upon a throne of black marble, slight and severe, his skin heavily folded, his hair close-cropped to his balding head. Beside him, Prince Aalun sat on a high-backed chair, his golden sash dangling over its back. On the other side, Prince Kalmud lay on a low bier, head and torso propped up by a hill of cushions. There was a waxy, sallow sheen to his skin and his eyes were sunk in the sockets, dull and listless. The fourth man stood at the king's right shoulder, clad in a black robe with its hood thrown back, face concealed by a silver mask blank save for a mouth-slit, and two oblong holes behind which dark eyes regarded Ullsaard carefully: Udaan, head of the Brotherhood.