The Will of the Empress - By Tamora Pierce Page 0,95
medicines. I came as soon as I knew I could admire Your Imperial Majesty."
"You, my dear young man, are a flatterer," Berenene told him flirtatiously, tapping his cheek with the rose. "You mean to tell me that Rizu and my dear little Caidy held no charms for you? One of them hasn't stolen your heart?"
"Caidy has stolen my arm, perhaps, or maybe my breath, but my heart could only belong to you, great lady," Briar said, enjoying the flirtation. He knew better than to take it seriously.
"Then she has made more progress with you than my young men have made with Sandrilene," Berenene observed, gazing darkly at Jak and Fin. If they noticed, they showed no sign of it. Instead, Jak fanned Sandry gently while Fin offered her a plate of delicacies.
"She's not much of a player when it comes to games of the heart," Briar said. "If you sent them to engage her in such a game, Imperial Majesty, they were doomed to failure."
"Does she favour girls, then?" Berenene asked. She smiled up at Briar. "You see I will introduce her to anyone who might persuade her to make her home with us."
Briar scratched his head, then remembered it was vulgar to do so in normal company. "I don't know," he replied frankly. "But Sandry won't stay for a pretty face, whoever it belongs to. Some plants grow where they will, Your Majesty. You know that. Coax them, water them, light them, repot them, do as you like, they will only grow where they have decided to. The only way you can make them do as you bid is to kill them, which seems like a waste, if you ask me." He smiled cheerfully at her. "But there, I'm just a scruffy gardener, dirt under my nails and in my ears. I do better with what plants grow best next to which vegetables than I do with matches between people."
Berenene took a breath. Is she going to scorch me for my uppitiness? wondered Briar. Turn her mage boy on me? Or take it from one gardener to another?
The empress released her breath and reached out to slap Briar's arm with her free hand. "You are a vexatious youth, and an honest one. You have my leave to bring me some fresh berries from the food table."
*
It took a polite, blushing excuse that hinted of a need to use the privy to free Sandry of the courtiers who had swirled around her since Berenene's arrival. The moment she was out of everyone's view, she ran down two connecting hallways and out into the garden for some quiet.
What iswrong with them? she wondered, thinking mostly of Jak and Fin. They're sweet and funny and perfectly decent companions, except for wanting to flirt. Then my cousin arrives. Suddenly they act like every word from my lips is struck in solid gold! Green Man snarl them in vines if they cluster around me like that again! It's that or I'll set their breeches to dropping. See if they fawn over me while they hold their pants up.
Scowling, she found a bench in the herb garden and sat, letting the smells of rosemary and basil soothe her rattled nerves. With her eyes closed, she could pretend she was back on the step of Discipline cottage, bathing in the scents that came from Rosethorn's herbs.
She opened her eyes at last. My problems aren't at Discipline. They're here, and they have to be faced. I can handle Jak and Fin — I've been doing it since we got here. If they were the only ones bothering me, I'd send them about their business! The problem is, they aren't the only ones. At least three other of Berenene's . . . lapdogs have been sticking to me like burrs! How do I get her to call them off?
"I'm sorry — I didn't know anyone was out here," a man's voice said. "Forgive me."
Sandry turned and ignored the treacherous bump of her heart at the sight of Pershan fer Roth. Green is a very good colour for him, she thought, and smiled. "No, it's all right," she replied. "Unless you wanted privacy?"
He returned the smile, his brown eyes dancing. "I was just going for a walk. You're the one who looks as if she would enjoy some privacy. Or perhaps enjoy murdering someone."
Sandry put her hands to her forehead. "I don't like to be crowded," she explained. "I was being dreadfully crowded back there."