Vladic returned the grin with a nod. ‘Constantly.’
James said, ‘Fortunately, my friend Locklear is on his way north to serve along the border for quite some time. We will be spared the spectacle of you having to skewer him early one chilly morning. I prefer to sleep in, given the chance.’
‘As do I,’ said the Crown Prince. ‘Given the length of the journey—’ he glanced around the room ‘—and the unlikelihood that I have time until the end of the gala to meet a receptive woman of rank, I think I shall retire.’
Kazamir glanced around the room, and then said, ‘I concur. I think a warm bed is more welcome than drink and dalliance tonight.’
Instantly James motioned for a page and when the youth approached, he instructed him to escort Princes Vladic and Kazamir to the guest apartments. He bid them both good night and then returned to the dais.
The musicians played on. As soon as he was again at Arutha’s side, James heard the Prince’s voice under the music. ‘What do you think about this visit?’
James spoke in tones just loud enough for the Prince to hear. ‘I think it’s odd. On the surface, it appears that the duke is looking for a suitable marriage of state for his daughter while indulging himself in some local hunting.’
‘On the surface,’ repeated Arutha, his gaze still on the dancers.
‘As there are few sons of suitable rank in this part of the Kingdom – well, none over the age of ten, anyway – that reason barely holds up under scrutiny.’
‘What other reason do you imagine?’
‘Well, the son says they want to hunt dragons and trolls out in the Trollhome, but I find that a bit difficult to fathom. We fought trolls near Romney just a few weeks ago, and I’m sure we left enough of them behind to entertain the duke and his companions for a lifetime. As for hunting dragons, even the dwarves don’t go looking for them. They wait until they show up, then turn the entire community out to fight them. No, the duke may be crazy enough to really want to hunt dragons and trolls, but that’s not his reason for coming west. I suspect the real reason for this journey will be found in Durbin.’
‘What could he want in Durbin? There are twenty major Keshian ports he could reach in the east.’
James shrugged. ‘If we knew what it was he was seeking in Durbin, we would know why he’s lying.’
Arutha glanced over at James. ‘You suspect something.’ He turned his attention back towards the dance floor.
James nodded. ‘But nothing I can give voice to. Just a vague sense that this all ties together, these murders, the disappearance of citizens, the arrival of this outland noble.’
‘If you discover the whole of the parts, let me know.’
James said, ‘You’ll be the first.’
‘Did you sleep?’
‘Earlier? Yes,’ said James, knowing what was coming next.
Arutha said, ‘Good, then you know what to do.’
James nodded, bowed to the Prince, crossed to bow to the Princess, then removed himself from the hall. As he left, he signalled for a page to follow. The young man fell into step behind him.
James hurried towards the tapestry room and found it empty. He quickly moved on to the Princess’s garden and found a very flushed William standing next to the Princess Paulina, obviously reduced to little more than a near babbling fool as the girl held tightly to his arm, chatting about the flowers.
‘Ahem,’ said James.
The relief on William’s face was abundantly clear as James bowed to the Princess. ‘Highness, this page will escort you to your quarters. Your father and brother have turned in for the night.’
‘But it’s early,’ said the girl with a pout.
‘If you prefer, he’ll escort you back to the gala. But Cadet William’s presence is required elsewhere.’ She seemed about to object, but James said, ‘By the Prince’s orders.’
She frowned, then forced herself to smile as she turned and said to William, ‘Thank you for being my guide. It is a pity things ended prematurely. Perhaps we’ll have time to continue later during our visit?’
‘M-m’lady,’ William stuttered.
James was seized by a rush of desire as the girl passed close to him while he bowed. As she retreated, the feeling faded.
James turned to find William blinking, obviously confused, and asked, ‘Are you all right, Willy?’
‘I don’t know,’ he replied, still blinking. ‘While we were together, I … I don’t know how to explain what I felt. But now that she’s gone …’
‘Magic,’ said James.
‘Magic?’
‘She employs magic, according to her brother,’ said James. ‘To heighten her charms.’
‘I find that difficult to believe,’ said William.
‘What an odd thing for someone raised on an island of magicians to say,’ observed James as William blushed. ‘Believe it.’ He put his hand on the young soldier’s arm. ‘I’ve got to take care of some business for Arutha, and you look like you could use a drink.’
‘I think I could,’ said William, ‘but I have to return to the Cadets’ Quarters.’
‘Not if you come with me,’ said James.
‘How does Arutha’s business involve me getting an ale?’
James grinned. ‘I have to poke around a few places, and the cover story of being out with a friend jumping from tavern to inn is just the thing.’
Sighing in resignation and trying hard not to imagine Swordmaster McWirth’s reaction to whatever plan James had in mind, William fell in beside his friend and they left the garden.
WILLIAM KEPT HIS EYES FORWARD.
He knew his every movement was being closely scrutinized by Swordmaster McWirth. The old soldier had always paid slightly more attention to William’s progress over the last year than with the other cadets, but with his commission set for the end of this week, it seemed lately that every single gesture and word was being evaluated.
William tried to attribute it to his having been an exceptional student, perhaps the best swordsman with the long two-handed sword in the garrison, as well as a proficient student of tactics and strategy. He also considered that his odd situation of being a royal cousin by adoption might have contributed to his being a ‘special project’ of the swordmaster’s. But no matter how he tried to please the old teacher these last few days, there was always something lacking in his efforts. Either a thrust was a hair’s breadth too low during sword practice, or his decision to reinforce a position in field training was a bit premature. William wondered briefly if the swordmaster had something against him personally, but then pushed aside the thought as McWirth came to stand before him. In a friendly tone, the old soldier said, ‘Late night, cadet?’
William still felt sand in his eyes from too little sleep, but he tried to will aside any shred of fatigue that clung to his bones. ‘Sir! Late enough, swordmaster!’ he said as briskly as he could.
‘Tired, cadet?’
‘No, swordmaster!’
‘Good,’