only a moment, a tall woman with severe, distant features approached, wearing simple, elegant jewelry and a rich gown of a deep, compelling green, the majordomo at her elbow. She paused, studying them, and Tavi felt the weight of her gaze as palpably as the touch of a gentle hand. She frowned at him, and then frowned more deeply upon seeing Max. She dismissed the majordomo with a word and a curt flick of her wrist, and approached them.
She stepped into the area Max had protected from eavesdropping via wind furies and arched her eyebrow. Then she walked forward to stand over Tavi and murmur, "This isn't a missive from the First Lord, is it?"
Tavi opened the pouch and passed her a folded piece of paper. There was nothing written on it, but Tavi went through the motions for the benefit of those watching. "No, Your Grace. I'm afraid not."
She accepted the paper and opened it, glancing at it as if to read. "Oh how I love Wintersend in the capital. Good evening, Maximus."
"Good evening, my lady. Your gown is lovely."
One corner of her mouth quirked into a tiny smile. "It's nice to see you took my advice about offering compliments to ladies."
"I have found it to be a most effective tactic, my lady," Max replied.
Lady Placida arched an eyebrow, and said, "I've created a monster."
"Ladies sometimes scream," Max said loftily. "But other than that, I would hardly say that I was a monster."
Her eyes hardened. "Which is something of a miracle. I know your father is on the Wall, but I expected to see your stepmother here."
"She was forbidden," Max said. "Or that's what I hear on the grapevine."
"They don't write," Lady Placida said, more than asked. "I suppose they wouldn't, though." She folded up the letter, and offered Max a brief smile. "It's nice to see you, Maximus. But would you very much mind telling me why you've very publicly associated me with the First Lord in front of half of the Lords Council and members of the Senate?"
"Your Grace," Tavi said. "I came here to speak to my aunt Isana. I think she's in some kind of trouble, and I want to help her."
"So you are he," Lady Placida murmured, and narrowed her eyes in thought.
"Tavi of the Calderon Valley, Your Grace," Max said.
"Please, lady," Tavi said. "Can you tell us anything you know of her."
"I would take it as a favor, lady," Max added, and put a solid hand on Tavi's shoulder.
Lady Placida's eyebrows rose sharply at the gesture. Then she studied Tavi again, and more intently. "She was here, along with the Amaranth Courtesan, Serai. They spoke to several different people."
"Who?" Tavi asked.
"Myself, Lady Aquitaine, any number of nobles and dignitaries. And Lord Kalare."
"Kalare?" Tavi said, frowning.
A strident male voice boomed in the garden, and was followed by a polite round of cheering and applause.
"Well," Lady Placida said. "It would seem that Brencis has won his due) to claim Citizenship. What a surprise."
"Brencis couldn't duel his way through a herd of sheep," Max snorted. "I hate show duels."
"Lady, please," Tavi said. "Do you know why she left early?"
Lady Placida shook her head. "Not for certain. But they had a less than pleasant discussion with Lord Kalare immediately prior to their departure."
Tavi glanced aside in the passageway as he felt a sudden attention on him. Two young men stood not ten feet from him, and Tavi recognized them both. They were dressed in their nicest clothes, but blond and watery-eyed Varien and the hulking Renzo could not be mistaken for anyone else.
Varien blinked at Tavi for a second, then at Max. Then he muttered something to Renzo, and the two of them hurried away into the garden. Tavi's heart pounded. There was about to be trouble.
"How unpleasant a discussion?" Max asked.
"He struck Serai, openly." Lady Placida's lips pressed into a firm line. "I've little use for a man who strikes a woman simply because he knows he can."
"I can think of one or two things," Max growled.
"Be careful, Maximus," Lady Placida said in instant warning. "Guard your words."
"Crows," Tavi spat.
Both of them stopped to stare at Tavi.
"You say they left in a rush, Your Grace?" he asked.
"Very much so," Lady Placida answered.
"Max," Tavi said, his heart pounding, "those cutters we saw on the way in. They're going after my aunt."
"Bloody crows," Max said. "Aria, please excuse us?"
Lady Placida nodded once, and said, "Be careful, Maximus. I owe you my son's life, and I would hate to