Jimmy smiled. “A dozen or more. You walk around the roof a little and you’ll see some very wide walls and odd bends in passages.”
Arutha said, “Gardan, I want every foot of these passages mapped. Take a dozen men and uncover where this one leads and where else it may empty. And see if the royal architect has a clue if any of these passages are shown in old plans.”
Gardan saluted and left. Vandros appeared deeply troubled. “Arutha, in all this I have had little time to adjust to thoughts of assassins and Dark Brothers secretly working with them.”
“That’s why I wanted this talk before the festivities get under way.” Arutha sat down. “The palace is overrun with strangers. Every noble in attendance will have dozens of people in his retinue. Kasumi, I want your Tsurani in every key location. They would be impossible to infiltrate and are above reproach. Coordinate with Gardan, and if needs be we’ll have only Tsurani, men I know from Crydee, and my personal guards inside the central palace.” To Jimmy he said, "By rights I should have you strapped for this little escapade.” Jimmy stiffened until he saw Arutha smile. “But I warrant anyone who tried would end up with a dagger in the ribs to show for his efforts. I heard of your confrontation with Squire Jerome.”
“That snot thinks himself boss cocky of the yard.”
“Well, his father’s very upset, and while he’s not a very important member of my vassalage, he is certainly very loud. Look, you leave Jerome to play head rooster all he wants. From now on, you stay close to me. I’ll tell Master deLacy you’re relieved of further duty until I say otherwise. But keep your prowling under control until you tell Gardan or myself you’re going up on the roof. One of my more excitable guards might put an arrow into you before he recognized you. Things have been somewhat tense around here of late, in case you failed to notice.”
Jimmy ignored the sarcasm. “The fellow would have to see me first. Highness.”
Brucal slapped the table. “Got a tongue in his head, that one,” he said with a guffaw and approving nod.
Arutha smiled as well. He found it difficult to stay out of sorts with the young rogue. “Enough. We’ve receptions and banquets for the next week. Perhaps our concerns are for naught and the Nighthawks are no more.”
Laurie said, “Let us hope.”
Without further discussion, Arutha and his guests dispersed to their own rooms.
“Jimmy!”
Jimmy turned and saw the Princess Anita coming down the corridor in his direction, accompanied by two of Gardan’s guards and two ladies-in-waiting. When she caught up with him he bowed. She presented her hand and he kissed it lightly, as he had been shown by Laurie.
“What a young courtier you’ve become,” she observed as they resumed walking.
“It seems fate has taken an interest in me, Princess. I have never had ambitions above becoming a power in the Mockers, perhaps even the next Upright Man, but now I find my life has much broader horizons.”
She smiled while her ladies whispered behind their hands. Jimmy hadn’t seen the Princess since her arrival the previous day, and again felt the faint tugging inside he had known the year before. He had put his boyhood infatuation behind, but he still liked her very much.
“Have you developed ambitions, then, Jimmy the Hand?”
In feigned scolding tones he said, “Squire James of Krondor, Your Highness,” and they shared a laugh. “Look, then, Princess: this is a time of change in the Kingdom. The long war with the Tsurani robbed us of quite a few men with titles. Earl Volney is acting the part of Chancellor, and there are no Dukes yet in Salador or Bas-Tyra. Three dukedoms without masters! It seems possible for a man of wit and talent to rise high in such an environment.”
“Have you a plan?” Anita asked, her delight at the boy’s impudence showing in her bright green eyes and her smile.
“Not as yet, not fully at least, but I can see the possibility someday of a title beyond Squire. Perhaps, even . . . Duke of Krondor.”
“First Adviser to the Prince of Krondor?” Anita said in mock astonishment.
Jimmy winked. “I am well connected. I am a close personal friend of his betrothed.” They both laughed.
Anita touched his arm. “It will be good to have you here with us. I’m pleased Arutha found you so quickly. He didn’t think it would be easy locating you.”