toys. She held up a pair of carved wooden knights on horseback, one dressed in a red tunic with a white cloak, the other in the opposite combination of colors.
“The saddles are real leather,” Sioned told her. “And look—the cinches really work, and the swords come out of the scabbards, and the knights’ heads and arms move! Aren’t they wonderful?”
Each was a full two handspans high, the workmanship exquisite. Tobin knew the twins would be wild to own them. “And in Chay’s colors, too! Thank you for finding them, Sioned!” Then, eyeing the toymaker, who was preening himself at the praise, she asked, “How much are you going to claim they’re worth?”
While they bargained, Sioned picked up another toy. Tobin watched from a corner of her eye as the girl admired a glazed pottery doll dressed in the height of fashion. Big blue eyes winked from a lovely little face crowned by hair made of fine silk threads arranged in golden braids.
“I wish I knew someone who had a little girl,” Sioned murmured wistfully.
“You might,” Tobin said just as softly.
“A very reasonable price, my lady,” the toymaker said, scenting another sale. “The delight of any child—and another dress comes with her, too. See?” He brought out a box and revealed a gown of pink silk set with chips of crystal. “Look how it matches her necklace,” he urged. “What little lady wouldn’t adore a doll like this? If there’s no small darling in her cradle now at your keep, look to the time when there will be—imagine her playing with this little charmer!”
A smile touched the corners of Sioned’s mouth. But before she could speak, she was jostled from behind and nearly dropped the doll. She gave a little gasp and turned, brows slanting down angrily.
“How clumsy!” a sharp voice exclaimed. As Tobin looked around icily, the tone became all oil and honey. “Forgive me, cousin! Someone stumbled into us.”
“No damage done,” Tobin replied, looking Princess Pandsala straight in her wide brown eyes. “Cousins,” she added as an insulting afterthought to Pandsala and her sister Ianthe. She had met both yesterday on the pier, and had disliked them instantly. Either of them married to Rohan was unthinkable.
“How clever of you to bring your waiting-woman to assist you,” Ianthe said with a quick glance at Sioned. “Sala and I thought only to browse, but we’ve seen so many lovely things and we’re having to carry our packages ourselves.”
Tobin’s spine became a sword blade, but she made her voice as sweet as Ianthe’s. “I know how isolated you’ve been at Castle Crag all these years, but surely you recognize the rings of a faradhi. Allow me to make Lady Sioned known to you.”
“Oh, I beg your pardon,” Ianthe said. “Her fingers were lost in the doll’s clothes.”
This was not true, Tobin noted as she made the introductions; the emerald was certainly visible enough, gleaming from Sioned’s finger. The Sunrunner had recovered her aplomb and there was a little smile on her lips, but there was also a dangerous light in her green eyes.
Tobin went on, “We were just choosing gifts for some children. Perhaps you could advise us, being surrounded by so many little sisters. Undoubtedly you’re quite used to playing with their toys—to amuse them, of course.”
The barb hit with obvious impact, but Ianthe made short work of a tactical maneuver. “Sioned?” she asked. “Oh, of course—the Sunrunner proposed by Lady Andrade as Prince Rohan’s bride. It’s the talk of the Rialla.”
Pandsala nudged her sister. “Ianthe, you’re embarrassing her.”
“Not at all,” Sioned replied coolly. “Some may have matched us, but I have not. Princess Tobin has been an excellent advocate for her brother, but I find him a trifle. . . .” She finished with a delicate shrug that could imply anything.
Tobin admired her survival instincts, but decided she’d better help anyway. “Men are like that! It takes a woman to teach wisdom—and you’re just the one to do it, Sioned. But I really shouldn’t gossip about my brother’s private concerns,” she added, hinting with her eyes that she would like nothing better.
“It seems Prince Rohan is the concern of the whole Rialla,” Ianthe observed coyly. “I hope you find the toys to your satisfaction, Lady Sioned—even if Prince Rohan is not. Come along, Sala.”
The pair moved off and disappeared in the crowd. Tobin counted to thirty under her breath before whispering a particularly obscene oath that would have shocked her husband—even though she’d learned it from him. Sioned’s smile lingered,