“Yes, Your Grace.”
Kaspar was dressed in a white tunic buttoned up the right side, with yellow piping. He wore red leggings and slippers, and his only decoration was the ornate silver buckle on his black leather belt. “Natalia,” he said, “we dine with the King tonight. A page will come and fetch you at the seventh hour. Squire, I have no need for you this afternoon. Why don’t you keep my sister amused until supper, then feel free to take your man and visit the city. Rillanon is quite an interesting place; you should avail yourself of the opportunity to learn about it.” He studied Tal’s face and softly added, “Learn it well.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Tal said with a slight bow.
“Now, I must go to another meeting. Run off and find something to do, you two, and I’ll see you this evening, my dear.”
Natalia kissed her brother again, and he departed. When he was gone, she turned brightly to Tal and said, “My brother commands us.”
Tal laughed. “Yes, and what is my lady’s pleasure?”
She slipped up close to him and kissed him deeply. “Pleasure is my pleasure. And I know exactly what will amuse me, Squire.”
Tal glanced around to make sure they weren’t being observed. It would not do for a potential Queen of the Isles to be seen embracing a lowly squire on the balcony of the castle. “This is hardly the place,” he whispered.
She smiled even more broadly and said, “Then let’s go and find the right place.”
Turning, she didn’t wait to see if he followed her, but walked imperiously into the hallway, turning away from her apartments, and without asking, led him back to his own room.
She opened the door to find Amafi busy polishing a pair of Tal’s boots. The Quegan rose and bowed.
“Leave us,” commanded Natalia as Tal entered the room. Amafi threw Tal a look as if asking confirmation, and Natalia’s voice rose. “I said leave us!”
Tal nodded. “Leave us for an hour,” he said in Quegan.
As Amafi moved to the door, Natalia spoken in Quegan as well, “Make that two hours.”
Amafi found himself standing outside the door, a pair of Tal’s boots in one hand and a rag in the other. For a moment, he stood uncertain of what to do; then he decided the King’s boots must need cleaning, so he’d go and find a page and ask directions to where such matters were addressed. Remembering he was to speak only Quegan outside the rooms, he hoped he could find one who might understand him.
Tal put down his cards and said, “Not this time.”
The man sitting directly across from him also folded his hand. The man to Tal’s right laughed as he raked in the coins. “Not your night, eh, Squire?”
Tal smiled. “Can’t win every night. Where would be the fun in that, Burgess?”
Tal was playing cards at a modest tavern called the Black Bull, located by the northern gate of the city. It was inhabited mostly by locals and the occasional farmer or miller from up the island staying there.
Tal had followed Kaspar’s instructions. He had spent the last three nights and two days learning everything about Rillanon he could. As he had suspected Kaspar might, after his first foray into the city Kaspar had peppered him with questions. They ranged from the location of critical intersections, where he had seen soldiers of the Crown, to what sort of people were on the streets after dark.
Each day more exploration and each day more questions. Tal’s skills in hunting and tracking and his sense of place and direction served him well. At this point he could probably draw a map of the city and get most of it right.
Kaspar informed him he was to continue his explorations until the end of the week, when the Duke’s party would be leaving for home. Tal had been to some of the seedier waterfront inns and several of the most luxurious brothels, gambling halls both low and high, and nearly every tavern worth mentioning. His only regret was that Rillanon lacked the dining establishments that were now all the rage in Roldem, so most of the food he encountered outside the palace was unremarkable.
“Your deal,” said the merchant.
Tal picked up the cards and began his shuffle. He had met Lyman Burgess the night before in a gambling hall down near the central market square, and the affable trader in luxury goods had suggested they meet at this inn. As promised, it was a convivial little establishment with decent food, better drink, and a friendly game of poker.