“You?” she said to the horse. It raised its head, flicked an ear, and blew a soft whuffle. “You are Paks’s horse—”

A stamp of hoof. Dorrin understood that Paks belonged to the horse, not the other way around.

“There’s a comfortable stall in the stable,” she said. The horse scratched an ear with a hind hoof and turned away, walking down toward the stream. Dorrin heard a chuckle from her escort; she shrugged and rode on into the stableyard, her heart lighter at the thought of seeing Paks.

She went in through the kitchen. The cook looked up. “You’re later than I thought you’d be. Them villagers keep a-wrangling till dark?”

“No,” Dorrin said. “They had a surprise for me.”

“A wet one, I see,” the cook said, glaring at Dorrin’s boots and the floor.

“That’s why I came in this way,” Dorrin said. “Where are our guests?”

“Front hall. What happened? They throw you in the river?”

“No, there was a problem with the well.” Dorrin squelched on through. “I need a bath; I’ll go straight up.” At least she could now bathe in more privacy than the servants’ bathhouse without fear of being killed by some clever trap.

She came down, wearing the soft slippers she favored in the house. Paks and the royal courier were seated around a small table someone had moved from the kitchen, and one of the kitchen maids was dishing out something that smelled almost as good as the fire-roasted lamb. The maid glanced up and saw her.

“My lord Duke—shall I set a place in the dining room?”

“No—I’ll sit here. Just bring a plate and things.”

The courier had jumped up, almost knocking his chair over. “My lord Duke—”

“Sit down, both of you.” Dorrin dragged a chair to the table. “I’m sorry I was later than I said I’d be. The visit did not go quite as planned.”

“A judgment?” Paks asked.

“I thought it was to be a judgment, but as it turned out, it was several other things as well. But let us talk of lighter things as you eat. You were at Kieri’s coronation, Paks, were you not?”

“Indeed.” Paks swallowed hastily. “The Lady was there—it must be strange to have your grandmother as co-ruler.”

“And you had good weather on your journey here?” She had no idea where Paks had been in the meantime, but that could wait.

“It rained one day,” Paks said. “But the road was sound. And you?” she said, turning to the courier.

“Two days,” he said. “How long is the ride to Chaya? I have a message for the king.”

“And I a message for your prince from the king,” Paks said. “He regrets he will be unable to attend the coronation, for concerns of state in his own realm. He will send an envoy.”

After he finished, the royal courier excused himself to use the bath Dorrin had offered.

“I just found out today is my birth-day,” Dorrin said when they were alone.