learned that only after my wife spent half my fortune at the Fair yesterday. Still, the race will get me a big handful of rubies, and no stone suits my Tobin better.”
Rohan turned to the High Prince, who was seated two places down from him on the other side of the table. Roelstra had obviously been listening to the conversation, and smiled as Rohan said,
“That’s an interesting change of tradition—the crafters will have a lot of business to keep them happy.”
“That was the idea. They’ve been complaining that ladies don’t wear enough jewelry anymore and it’s hurting their trade. I’m counting on creating a demand again—and Princess Tobin will be the one to set the standard, as always,” he added with a slight bow to Chay. “But it wasn’t really my idea. Ianthe is responsible for it.”
“She’s a clever girl,” Rohan said. And meant it.
Wispy lavender clouds washed deep blue beneath like dragon wings vanished into blackness as the sun descended, and the dinner party came to an end. Rohan left with Chay after thanking their hosts, and the sweep of night air down by the river made him catch his breath. “Oh, but that feels good! Let’s go walk off some of this food or Akkal will refuse to carry you tomorrow.”
“Let’s try to sober up, too. I must’ve had enough tonight to float that damned barge of Roelstra’s.”
Chaynal slung a companionable arm across Rohan’s shoulders as they walked along the shore, where moonlight threw silver across the river.
“If only we had just a little of this water in the Desert,” Rohan mused.
“Then it wouldn’t be the Desert, would it?” Chay responded reasonably.
“Are you always so brilliant when you’re drunk?”
“Are you always so stupid about women?”
“What?”
Chay sank down onto the grass and stretched out long legs. Leaning back on his elbows, he squinted up at Rohan. “This Sioned of yours. I heard what that lecher Ajit said tonight. Your face froze up like Snowcoves in midwinter.”
“You’ve never been that far north in your life.”
“Don’t try to evade the issue,” Chay said severely. “Be more careful with your eyes, Rohan. I saw it because I know you so well, but if Roelstra catches on, your plan won’t work.”
“And what do you think you know about my plan?”
Chay snorted. “Sit down. I’m getting a neckache.” As Rohan crouched down nearby and began pulling grass up by its roots, he went on, “And don’t rip up the landscape, either. I watched you simper around the princesses, and I’ve also watched you watching while Roelstra agrees to sign. You’re dangling a marriage in front of him, aren’t you? I don’t know why it took me so long to see it,” he added in aggrieved tones. “You’re smarter than I would’ve guessed.”
“What a glowing compliment to your prince,” Rohan said irritably.
“If it’s taken me this long to figure it out, then I’d say it was an excellent compliment. Lord Narat asked me this afternoon if you were capable of ruling a princedom—not in so many words, of course, but that’s what he meant. And Lord Reze nearly said flat out that you’re a fool this morning in the Athr’im Council. You don’t need to worry about any of them, but if I were you I’d keep a careful eye on those princesses.”
“What could they possibly do to harm me?” He laughed.
“Marry somebody nearly as powerful as you and make your life hell.”
“The only prince who’ll come close to me in power will be Roelstra—and not for long.”
“Ambitious, aren’t you? But more to the immediate point, those daughters of his could make Sioned’s life hell.”
“They wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, no? Tobin mentioned that she and Sioned and Camigwen had run into Ianthe and the other pretty one—Pandsala? Yes, that’s her name. They tried to stick their knives into Sioned—and right now they think she’s a rejected bride! What d’you think they’ll be like when you present her as your wife?”
“Who says I’m going to?”
“Damn it, Rohan, stop it! I can’t help you if you won’t be honest with me!”
“If you’re telling me I should fear for Sioned, don’t bother. She’s being watched. I’m not that stupid.”
“Who’d suspect a woman, and a princess at that? Roelstra’s daughters want you, Rohan. Not for your charming self, but as an escape from Castle Crag and into power. It doesn’t hurt that you’re not a pockmarked, cross-eyed hunchback, of course. There’s lust in their eyes for you as a man, too. But once you reject them, you’ve made fools of them—and