The Will of the Empress - By Tamora Pierce Page 0,96

around a very old apple tree. Shan sat there, his long legs crossed before him, and leaned back. "How's this? I'm not crowding you in the least."

Sandry giggled. "Thank you," she told him. "But wouldn't you have more fun with the rest of the court?"

"Maybe sometimes I feel crowded, too," he replied. "You should see my family's lands. They're a bit like Landreg, only at the feet of the mountains. On a good day you can gallop for miles without seeing another living soul." He smiled, his eyes closed. "I used to shove bread and cheese into my saddlebags, maybe some apples, and just... ride." He opened his eyes to grin at her. "Fin and Jak finally remembered to be attentive to you."

"I almost had them broken of the habit before today," Sandry replied tartly.

"Poor little caged bird," drawled Shan. "Look at it this way: If you marry one of them, they'll leave you alone afterward."

Sandry glowered at him. "There's more to marriage than being left alone when you like it. And all this scrambling for my attention — having all these boys thrown at my head, it's just so ... undignified. Frankly, my cousin doesn't strike me as the crude type."

Shan grinned. "Ah, but you see, she's the victim of her own success. Since she took power, she's been slowly reducing the great estates of the realm, through taxes, and marriages, other stratagems. She offered one not-very-bright fellow a dukedom over thousands of acres near the Sea of Grass if he signed over his extremely wealthy Saghadat on the western shore of the Syth. Now he finds himself building castles and trying to create wealth from grass and nomads... ." He realized he'd come to a full stop and chuckled. "Sorry, I still find it funny. Anyway, the last untouched great holding, apart from the Ocmore lands, is —"

"Landreg," said Sandry.

"Landreg," replied Shan with a nod. "The man who weds you not only has a delightful lady for his wife —" Sandry glared at him, making Shan laugh. He continued: "He also has a very, very deep purse, as well as any alliances you may form with the Mages' Council. Since Ambros has saved you from losing lands to pay taxes, Her Imperial Majesty now has to scramble to keep you from the courtship of a man who is more seasoned and experienced. Someone who isn't under her thumb. She is putting you in the way of the young men she is sure of, men she can control even after they're married to you."

Sandry picked up a pebble and threw it into the garden. "Well, she's wasting her time. They're wasting their time. I don't want to be married at all." She stood, shaking out her skirts. "Shan, why don't we go for a ride?" she asked impulsively. "Down to the village and back? Just a quick gallop —" She stopped herself. He was shaking his head.

"The empress will have my guts for garters," he said plainly. "To her it would look as if I were trying to cut out the others. That would make her unhappy. It is such a bad idea to make Berenene unhappy."

"Don't you want to go for a ride with me?" asked Sandry, puzzled.

"I also want to keep my intestines right where they are," Shan informed her. "A man at the imperial court serves the empress first. We don't form ties of affection to anyone but her, no matter how hard it is. Take my word for it, the only reason those eager suitors are so eager? She's let them know they have her permission. Once one of them snags you, they'll be back at court, paying attention to her." Seeing that Sandry was wide-eyed with fury, Shan added, "She nearly had one of her maids of honour executed for marrying a nobleman behind her back. The priestesses of Qunoc had to intercede. Now the couple is forbidden to ever show their faces at court again."

"But that's silly!" cried Sandry.

"No," Shan replied. "It's the disadvantage of having a great, unmarried ruler who has always been exquisite. She can order us to dance to her tune, and we do it. There is always the chance that one day she'll fall madly in love with one of us and make that man emperor. Even if she falls in love and doesn't marry, she showers her lover with titles, lands, and income. Hers is the hand filled with gold. If she were ugly as a boot, we