The Will of the Empress - By Tamora Pierce Page 0,91

those who kidnapped Her Imperial Majesty were far more gentle with her, more careful of doing her harm, than are those who steal women who are not imperial heiresses. I think perhaps she had more opportunity to escape, so she believes we all have such opportunities to escape."

"Oh, dear," whispered Sandry. Horrified, she thought, That has the dreadful ring of the truth. No one would want to bruise a wife-to-be who might be empress one day, but it's a different kettle of fish for a poor girl who has no interest in the local miller. I'll bet Halmar tied Gudruny a lot tighter than anyone ever tied Berenene.

She watched Gudruny in the mirror as the woman briskly neatened Sandry's hair, then pinned the veil on her gleaming brown locks. She's certainly grown in confidence since our first meeting, Sandry told herself. It's a good thing I hired her, telling that husband that he had no more rights over her.

Once Gudruny was done, Sandry leaned forward and patted her cheeks to get a little colour into them, then bit her lips gently until they were more red.

"I have face paint," Gudruny offered. "Lash blackener, lip colour, something to make your cheeks glow."

Sandry got to her feet hurriedly. "I don't want anyone thinking that I, well, that I wanted to attract attention," she said, nearly stumbling over her own tongue to make her reply sound innocent. "I just thought my cheeks were a little rough, that's all." She turned and fled from the room.

Gudruny's right, thought Sandry as she prepared to descend the stairs to the main hall. I must have looked as if I were primping for ... someone whose attention I'm trying to get. And I'm not. I'm glad Shan — I'm glad my cousin is here, after all. I want to get to know all of my family, even if Cousin Berenene refuses to see that I don't intend to stay.

From the shadows in the hall, Chime glided over to Sandry and perched on the girl's shoulder. "Very well, you," Sandry murmured, tugging her veil out from under the dragon's hindquarters and straightening it. "But behave. No screeching."

Chime wrapped her tail gently around Sandry's slender throat. It felt as if someone had placed a ring of cool ice around Sandry's neck.

''Now we'll make an impression," Sandry told Chime. Slowly she descended the stairs as if she had not hurried in the least. She sailed out the doors in Ambros's wake. Everyone stood aside so that Sandry, as the highest in rank of the household, might go first. She pattered down the steps, knowing that the empress would not like her to remain higher than she was for long.

"Cousin!" she cried, settling into a deep curtsy in front of Berenene. "What brings you all this way?"

Berenene raised her up and kissed Sandry on each cheek as Sandry kissed her. "It was not so very far, my dear. I took it into my head to shift my household to the royal residence at Sablaliz, just twenty miles northeast of here, on the Syth. It's an agreeable summer residence — so much cooler than the palace! And it makes it easier for me to get to know my young cousin better while she attends to her home estates." She turned and looked at Rizu, Caidy, Jak, and Fin. "Have my four wicked ones kept you tolerably well-entertained?"

"They've been wonderful company, Your Imperial Majesty," Sandry replied. "I don't know how you could manage without them to amuse you."

"It was a sacrifice, I admit," said Berenene.

She looked at Ealaga, who promptly curtsied. "We have refreshments in the summer room," Ealaga said. "Rougher fare than you're accustomed to, Imperial Majesty, but I think I can safely say that our wines are good."

As the empress and her companions entered the great hall, Daja found that Rizu had somehow slipped out of the gathering around her patron and come to stand with her. "I suppose you'll be happy to get back to the round of court entertainment," Daja suggested, feeling a little depressed. It's just that the place was fairly quiet, and now it'll be all noisy, she told herself.

"I was enjoying myself here," said Rizu. "I manage to enjoy myself wherever I land. A good thing, too, when you're in the empress's service."

"Did she send you along with us to spy?" Daja asked, not looking at Rizu.

The young woman chuckled. "She doesn't need me to spy. The people she has for that are very good at