The Will of the Empress - By Tamora Pierce Page 0,53

shocked. "Who's issuing orders around here, Clehame?"

"Oh, splendid. Tears. That solves ever so much," snarled Tris. She flung the door open and stamped out of the room.

Briar followed her out after he allowed himself one lulling shot, "See you at dawn, my fine lady."

Sandry managed to wait for the door to close behind them before her eyes overflowed. I didn't feel so blue on the road, she thought, tears spilling over her cheeks. There was too much to do, and we had the Traders with us. But this court, with its standing and sitting and curtsying and sitting and bowing and standing and walking and gossiping and curtsying ... Uncle never makes anyone carry on like that! We bow or curtsy when we see him, and that's that for the day. And I never, ever felt like I was surrounded by envious people in Emelan, not like I do here. Everyone wants what I have, and I just want to go home!

Her soft mouth hardened. And Briar and Tris can just go and do as they like. Obviously we had something wonderful as children that we can't have now we're grown. I was a fool to think we could, and now I have more important things to worry about.

*

Tris climbed up the flights of stairs to her room and proceeded to shed the clothes she had worn to court as Chime fluttered around her in welcome. All of them had decided Chime was too excitable for their first day at court. Although her mind knew that Sandry had woven all kinds of protections against stains, wrinkles, and mishaps into the fine cloth and seams, Tris could never be as comfortable in her dress-up clothes as she could her other garments. Now she tugged on a linen shift and a blue cotton gown with a sigh of relief. Her court shoes came off to be replaced by leather slippers.

Comfortable at last, with Chime on her shoulder, Tris was on her way downstairs again when she nearly ran into Ambros fer Landreg. "Excuse me, Saghad" she said, curtsying for what felt like the hundredth time that day. They had been introduced briefly over breakfast that morning.

"Viymese Trisana," he said, with a bow. "Did you enjoy your visit to the palace?"

As much as I'd enjoy a rat pasty, she thought, but she did not say it. "Please, it's just Tris. I'm not much for titles as a rule."

"Then you must call me Ambros," he said in his quiet way. "You are Sandry's sister, after all, which makes us kin of some kind. At least we are better than acquaintances, or should be."

Tris smiled at him, appreciating that tiny hint of a joke. She liked this man; she had thought she might. Everything she had heard of him from the duke and from Sandry had spoken well of him. Sandry called him prosy and picky all the way here, but in her shoes, I'd want someone meticulous and careful looking after my affairs, Tris thought. Someone I could trust to check everything.

She realized she had a piece of information that he might want. "I'm afraid there are going to be a few more of us visiting Landreg than you had expected," she explained. "Her Imperial Majesty invited four of her courtiers to bear us company, and I think — I'm not sure — Daja met a friend she means to invite to stay for a while." It had been interesting to see Daja go all protective over someone as unendearing as a crazed beggar in the street.

Ambros grimaced. "I had anticipated the noble company," he admitted. "Her Imperial Majesty won't want Sandry to forget the attractions of life at court if it can be helped. I am grateful we have only four extra nobles. I half-expected Her Imperial Majesty herself to come to call."

"Shan fer Roth mentioned something about a cousin from Lairan coming to visit the palace," Tris offered.

"Ah. That would explain it. Thank you for the warning, though, Viy — Tris." Ambros smiled at her. "You'll find Landreg can house all manner of guests. My family is already there." He bowed and headed on up to his rooms, while Tris continued down to the kitchen.

Wenoura, the cook, looked at her from where she chopped onions and gave a leopard's grin. "Someone I can trust to chop without dismembering herself," she said. She and Tris had gotten acquainted the day before, when Tris had needed something to do with her hands. "Aprons are