The Sieur smiled. “We can discuss all this at our leisure. I just came to wish you luck, Temar. You’re certainly going to need it.”
His brothers murmured their agreement, but Ustian surprised Temar with a friendly wink. “Don’t look at me like that, Fresil,” he rebuked his brother. “Think it through and then argue if you must. While you do, I want a drink.” The Esquires and Sieur bowed and walked away, their conversation amiable.
“They’ll be talking about this dance for years to come.”
“Ryshad!” Temar turned gratefully to find the chosen man at his elbow. “Where were you?”
“With Casuel.” Ryshad nodded. “He’s choking on the ruination of his plans to be Imperial Sorcerer and Velindre’s planning some come-uppance for Planir, if I’m any judge.” He broke off. “It looks as if the Sieur Den Ilmiral wants to speak to you.”
Temar heaved a sigh. “I would rather wait until I have some notion of what to say. Could we leave without causing undue offence?”
“Not really.” Ryshad frowned. “But you can say you don’t want to talk business on the last day of Festival. That’s always been the custom, and if anyone doesn’t like that it’s their problem, not yours.”
“I hardly think that would be courteous, given the precedent the Emperor has just set,” muttered Temar glumly. “How much longer does this entertainment last?”
“Not long, and I’ll watch your back.” Ryshad managed a half-smile. “The Emperor’s Dole is distributed to the commonalty on the eighth chime of the day. That’s when most of the nobility will leave.”
“If the populace is coming here to claim their bread and meat, can we risk going home without tripping over peasants and street urchins?” asked Temar sarcastically.
“The Emperor hands out coin these days, Temar.” Ryshad stepped aside to take a dutiful stance at his shoulder. “Just smile politely and don’t commit yourself to anything.”
Temar took a deep breath as the eager Sieur Den Ilmiral hurried over.
The Imperial Palace of Tadriol the Provident,
Summer Solstice Festival, Fifth Day,
Early Evening
You must dine with us before you go. overseas again.”
“As soon as I know what my plans are, I’ll send word to your Steward.”
“Your Steward will contact his.” As the senior Esquire Den Haurient moved off, I leaned forward to murmur softly over Temar’s shoulder. The lad was doing well with polite platitudes but there were still things he needed to learn.
We were circulating slowly around the anteroom while a few indefatigable dancers begged a few last tunes from the musicians. Temar paused to exchange some observation with the Maitresse D’Istrac before raising one eyebrow at me. “What Steward?”
“You’ll need one, now you’re a Sieur,” I told him with a grin. “And sworn men, and a residence, an archive, a Designate, a Maitresse, come to think of it.”
“I hardly think all that will be needed in Kel Ar’Ayen,” he began forcefully. He stopped and glared at me. “You are joking?”
“Pretty much,” I allowed. “But you do need a Steward of sorts.”
Temar looked thoughtful, but before he could speak the doors to the outer court opened and Tor Tadriol lackeys began discreetly alerting various nobles to the arrival of their carriages. “Can we go now?” he asked instead.
“As soon as possible. We don’t want to get caught up in the crowds coming for the Emperor’s Dole.” I looked round for the Sieur and saw him coming towards us with Esquire Camarl at his side. “Messire.” I bowed low.
“Ryshad.” He acknowledged me with a friendly nod. “Temar, what are your plans for this evening?”
Temar looked nonplussed. “Are we not going back to the residence?”
“I think we deserve a little time to ourselves, don’t you?” Messire responded. “Camarl and I are going to take a drive through the city, to find a quiet eating-house. Would you care to join us?”
“The residence will be full of girls giggling over the Esquires they danced with and comparing notes about dresses and fans,” Camarl added. He seemed in a better humour now.
“I’ve no wish to spoil my dinner with Fresil and Leishal arguing over today’s surprises,” said Messire with unexpected frankness.
“Are they very displeased?” Temar enquired, equally blunt.
“Not so much displeased as wrong-footed,” said Messire judiciously.
“And yourself?” Temar asked.
“There’s no sense in repining for what never was,” smiled Messire. “Reason’s a prop for a wise man or it’s a cudgel for a fool.”
Temar looked at him somewhat uncertainly. “So we all go forward as best we can?”
“Quite so.” Messire acknowledged a hovering footman with a nod. “Are you joining us?”
“To show anyone wondering that we are still on good terms?” Temar hazarded.
“Festival is over, but the board will be set for a new game tomorrow,” Messire conceded. “There’s no harm in marking out our ground.”
“Getting ahead of those who’ve been so keen to trip us these last few days,” Camarl added.
Temar grinned. “Then we will join you and gladly.”
“We’re taking Ustian’s expensive new equipage,” the Sieur explained as we walked out into the paved courtyard. “He’s going home with Fresil and Leishal.”
Temar wasn’t listening and I saw he’d noticed Allin waiting, pleasantly pink and clutching her dance card like a talisman. “Are you waiting for someone?” he asked her.
“Demoiselle Avila, if she can tear herself away from her conquests.” Something was amusing the young magewoman. “Velindre was here a moment ago, but she’s just been invited to supper with the Maitresse Den Janaquel.”
Voices behind us made me turn my head. Casuel was stalking along beside the leader of the musicians. Amalin Devoir had shed his coat and, with shirt collar loose and sleeves rolled up, he offered a sharp contrast to Casuel’s precisely buttoned-up appearance.
“No, Cas, I insist. I’ve been well paid, and with a Festival gift from the Emperor himself I can buy you the finest meal in the city!” To my ear, Amalin’s offer stemmed less from good will than from desire to lord over his brother.
“Ah, Master Devoir, my compliments,” the Sieur called. Casuel was about to reply but realised just in time Messire was talking to his brother. “Your music was a perfect blend of the traditional and the innovative.”
The musician made a perfunctory bow. “It was a day for novelty all round.”
Casuel bridled at this impertinence but Messire looked merely amused.
“Anyway, Amalin, thank you all the same but I’d better escort my apprentice back to her lodging.” Casuel nodded proprietorially at Allin but it was clear he’d just seized on the excuse she offered.
“She can come too,” countered Master Devoir promptly.
“Come where?” The excitements of the day seemed to have lifted years from Demoiselle Avila’s shoulders.
Messire bowed. “We’re about to take a turn round the city and find a quiet place for supper.”
“I can recommend the Golden Plover,” Amalin interrupted to Casuel’s obvious irritation. “That’s where we’re going.”
Avila tapped her fan across her palm, a combative glint in her eye. “Do you propose we all travel in that?” She pointed the bedraggled blue feathers at Ustian’s open carriage, which had just drawn up, plainly only suitable for four passengers.
Amalin Devoir put finger and thumb in his mouth and split the genteel murmur of the courtyard with an ear-splitting whistle. “My gig, as soon as you please!” A man in Den Janaquel livery turned to offer a gesture that would probably have been obscene if we hadn’t had ladies standing with us. Seeing the Sieur D’Olbriot he sent a lad running out of the gates instead and a flashy gig soon came bowling into the courtyard. It was an expensive, tall-wheeled piece of work, driver’s seat perched high in front of a highly polished body whose interior was luxuriously upholstered in purple. Ustian’s carriage with its plain lines and dark green leather was a model of restrained good taste beside it.