If it came from Verrakai, it was definitely evil. If not … maybe not. Beclan’s had been awakened during an attack by Verrakaien … but was it by the Verrakaien or, as Mikeli had told him, by Gird allowing its use for his protection? Camwyn took that confusion to his lessons and wished he dared ask the Marshal-Judicar directly. Inattention earned him a rap on the head in the Marshal-Judicar’s class and two bruises in weapons practice.

“I don’t know where your head is today, my prince,” the armsmaster said, “but if you go fluff-minded like that when beset by an enemy, you’ll be dead. Feel that—” He tapped unerringly on the bruised spot under Camwyn’s banda on the left side. “Tell me now if you remember what lies under it.”

Camwyn recited the relevant organs and admitted he would likely be dead after a while.

“And not soon enough, in that pain,” the armsmaster said, scowling at him. “It would be a miserable sweating, groaning death you’d have, amply long enough and far too late to repent ignoring your lessons. You’ve improved this year, but it’s no time to be letting your mind wander.”

“Yes, armsmaster,” Camwyn said. That was all one could say in such straits, and his rib still hurt.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

By the end of the first few days of formal meetings, receptions, and dinners, Arian felt stuffed with new knowledge about Tsaia, its people, and its history. She very much needed a quiet day among trees and flowers where she could think and try to make sense of it all. But the palace complex had no quiet gardens, not even a tree-shaded walk. How could people live this way?

When she mentioned her desire for time outdoors, among trees, the king quickly arranged a picnic with peers’ wives and children. The party, already a little boisterous, rode out to a grassy field bordered by trees, just off the main south road. Arian relaxed in the open air, smelling grass and trees instead of stone and fabric. She laid her hands on one of the trees … but it had no root-connection to others beyond the stone-paved south road, no communication with the eastern forest.

Family groups gradually dispersed in the shade of the trees, leaving Arian with her Squires. No one intruded on her privacy but the servants who replenished food and drink. After a while, Arian noticed two girls shepherded by an elderly woman: Mahierans, she overheard. Silence fell whenever they neared one of the groups sitting in the shade, and they looked miserable, not joining any of them.

“Ask them to come here,” Arian said to Lieth. “They might sit with us awhile.”

“Are you sure?” Lieth asked.

“I’m sure it’s not fair for those girls to be so miserable.”

Lieth walked down the field, spoke to the old woman, and then walked back with them. Arian rose to meet them.