“Don’t be a fool, Rohan!” Andrade exclaimed. “She must be there!”
Tobin judged it was time to change the subject before frayed tempers snapped. “Aunt, why wouldn’t anybody let me in your tent this morning?”
The Lady looked grimly amused. “I have a guest who doesn’t appreciate my hospitality. The Princess Pandsala.”
Andrade showed none of her usual enjoyment for the shocked silence that followed such an incredible pronouncement. She made brief work of the story, residual horror and disgust in her eyes no matter how strictly she controlled her voice. When she had finished, she considered each of them in turn, focusing at last on her nephew. “We’ve badly underestimated Ianthe, it seems. I don’t know what Roelstra believes, but I know Pandsala is telling the truth. The whole scheme was Ianthe’s, and the implications sicken me. She sat there cool as a cloud, without a trace of guilt—and I’m sure she feels none, for she’ll get at least part of what she wants.”
“Not Rohan,” Sioned stated flatly.
“She’ll have other means to power, you can be sure. We’ll have to watch her carefully over these next years. It’s said he’s given her Feruche.”
“No!” Rohan cried furiously. “Feruche is going to be mine! And I won’t have that bitch within a hundred measures of my lands!”
“There’s nothing you can do about it,” Andrade told him roughly. “Put someone you trust completely in command of your garrison below the castle. That’s your only move for the moment.”
“I’ll thank you not to decide the disposition of my troops for me,” he snapped.
Sioned placed a gentle hand on his arm. “What about the others, my Lady? The crew and servants—and those other women and their children. Did they escape?”
“The crew, yes. The servants, mostly. As for the women and babies—I don’t know. I’ve tried all morning to find trace of them, but. . . .” She shrugged, a casual gesture at odds with the cold fury in her eyes. “It’ll be a long, hard trip back to Castle Crag for the High Prince and what remains of his suite. You’ll make a tidy profit, Chay. I’ve heard you’ve upped your prices.”
“That was before I’d heard all this!” Chay shot back. “He can damned well walk! What kind of man could murder a woman who’d borne his children?”
“Daughters,” Tobin corrected softly. “That’s the difference, Chay.”
“No,” Andrade told them. “Palila died because she was guilty of treason.”
“So is Ianthe,” Rohan pointed out. “Roelstra’s arrogant, but he’s not stupid. He has to know she was behind it. Pandsala’s clever enough to think up the variation, but only Ianthe could conceive the original plan. The fact that Roelstra’s rewarding her with Feruche confirms it, as far as I’m concerned.” He held Sioned’s fingers more tightly, looking down at her. “He’ll want Ianthe’s talents directed at us now. Especially you.”
“That makes it even more important for me to appear tonight with you as we planned,” she insisted. “It’ll be a slap in her face and I’ve been looking forward to it.” She gave him a tight smile. “I’m not afraid of her, Rohan. You aren’t, either.”
“Exactly,” Tobin approved, winning a furious glance from her brother. “And aside from all that, she has to show up healthy and smiling tonight. There will be rumors all over the camps by now about—what did you call it, Aunt?”
“Dranath. Shut up, Rohan, they’re both right.”
Chay sat forward and interposed, “How can we help?”
Andrade scrutinized Sioned once more. “You look a fright. Tobin, you and Cami will have to do something about that.”
“Then the first thing is for her to get some rest,” Tobin decided. “Chay, Rohan—out.”
“I’m not leaving her,” Rohan said.
“Listen to me, beloved,” Sioned murmured. “I can’t rest when you’re sitting here looking like an avenging dragon.”
Chay took a handful of Rohan’s collar and drew him to his feet. “Come on. We have to get you prettied up, too, you know. Walvis can bring your clothes and so forth to my tent. Let the girl sleep. Goddess knows you didn’t let her get any rest last night!”
After a moment’s sulky rebellion, Rohan allowed himself to be led away. Sioned met Tobin’s gaze, whispering, “He was so happy. And now this.”
“You’ll be free soon enough,” Andrade told her.
“And with all the time in the world to be happy,” Tobin finished. “Close your eyes, Sioned. Camigwen and I will take care of everything.”
At sundown Sioned was looking into the mirror at the face of a stranger. Her eyes had been outlined in dark green pencil,