could order that. If he tries, refuse.”
I snorted. “Brother, you’re a babe in arms.” He colored. “The crown’s at stake; Uncle Mar wouldn’t hesitate to lay a hand on me. He never has. Remember last year when he caught us at his hawks?” My uncle had boxed my ears, and sent me wailing on my way with a contemptuous kick in the rear.
I took the key from round my neck, and felt unclothed. Reluctantly, I extended it to Rust, pulled back my hand. What if he sold the key and my kingdom to Margenthar? Rustin’s moods were legendary.
“Keep it.” His tone was curt, as if he’d read my mind.
“A day ago you knocked me from my horse, shoved my face in the mud. Now I’m to rely on your loyalty?”
Rustin’s voice was thin. “Is there anything else you want of me this day?”
I drew a breath. “I’m going to see the Chamberlain.”
Elryc asked, “Isn’t all you said about Willem still true?”
“Of course. But I’ll know to guard my speech. And I won’t carry the key.” I hesitated again. Without faith in Rust, life seemed too bleak. I stood, opened my hand, tucked Mother’s golden chain into Rustin’s brown tunic. “Keep it safe, my vassal.”
“You’re sure?”
“I have to trust someone. Besides, they’d never imagine you carried it.”
“Your grace inspires me.” His tone was acid.
I sighed. I might as well accommodate myself to Rustin’s moods. As much sense to complain as about the weather.
Chapter 4
W E PERCHED ON A BENCH in the chamberlain’s anteroom. He was engaged, his clerk told us, and would see us when he was able. I’d begun to drum the bench with impatient fingers, when Earl Cumber, my great-uncle, hobbled in, accompanied by his valet. “What are you boys doing here? Clerk, announce me.”
I gaped. “Uncle Cumber?” I made the bow of courtesy. “How did you get here so fast? Cumber Town is nearly to the Norland passes—”
He turned to his valet. “Hah. The boy teaches me the lay of my lands.” He favored me with a scowl. “We were en route to Council when word came of the misfortune.”
Paying me no further notice, Great-uncle Cumber tapped his staff on the flagstones. Within a moment, he was ushered in to Willem.
We waited.
After some moments the Earl left, and the Chamberlain’s door shut again. Over an hour passed, while we fidgeted like tykes at Ritehouse.
“Might as well give it up, Roddy. He won’t see us.”
Furious, I crossed to the Chamberlain’s private door, thrust it open without a knock.
Behind me, the scurrying clerk. “My lord! You can’t—”
I strode in. Willem of Alcazar sat at his carved desk, quill in hand. “What’s this?”
I said, “We’ve waited half the afternoon. I’m sure you weren’t told.” Coolly, I took my seat.
“I was—these accounts must be paid.”
“We won’t be long, will we, Rust?” I crossed my legs.
His expression tight, the Chamberlain waved away his clerk. The door slammed shut. “Very well. Proceed, my prince.”
“We were discussing the vault.”
His eyes met mine. “Can I offer you some wine? Cheese, perhaps?”
“No, thank you.” I realized I was famished, and my stomach began to churn at his offer.
“Sorry if I seemed abrupt. It’s just that ... a terrible day.”
I said nothing.
Willem took the bit in his teeth. “Rodrigo, I can’t get you into the vault. Only your mother had access.”
“By her key alone?”
“Please, Roddy, this is a very awkward matter. My duty is to the crown, and there’s no declared—”
I leaned forward. “It took two keys to open the vault, and you have one. Give it here.” I held out my hand.
His hand shot to his neck, returned almost instantly to the table. “What use would it be without the Queen’s key? Have you that?”
“In its time. I’ll start with yours.”
Willem offered a placating smile. “The Duke has pledged to guard the assets of the realm until there’s a proper accounting by the regent. Don’t make that
I snorted. “Brother, you’re a babe in arms.” He colored. “The crown’s at stake; Uncle Mar wouldn’t hesitate to lay a hand on me. He never has. Remember last year when he caught us at his hawks?” My uncle had boxed my ears, and sent me wailing on my way with a contemptuous kick in the rear.
I took the key from round my neck, and felt unclothed. Reluctantly, I extended it to Rust, pulled back my hand. What if he sold the key and my kingdom to Margenthar? Rustin’s moods were legendary.
“Keep it.” His tone was curt, as if he’d read my mind.
“A day ago you knocked me from my horse, shoved my face in the mud. Now I’m to rely on your loyalty?”
Rustin’s voice was thin. “Is there anything else you want of me this day?”
I drew a breath. “I’m going to see the Chamberlain.”
Elryc asked, “Isn’t all you said about Willem still true?”
“Of course. But I’ll know to guard my speech. And I won’t carry the key.” I hesitated again. Without faith in Rust, life seemed too bleak. I stood, opened my hand, tucked Mother’s golden chain into Rustin’s brown tunic. “Keep it safe, my vassal.”
“You’re sure?”
“I have to trust someone. Besides, they’d never imagine you carried it.”
“Your grace inspires me.” His tone was acid.
I sighed. I might as well accommodate myself to Rustin’s moods. As much sense to complain as about the weather.
Chapter 4
W E PERCHED ON A BENCH in the chamberlain’s anteroom. He was engaged, his clerk told us, and would see us when he was able. I’d begun to drum the bench with impatient fingers, when Earl Cumber, my great-uncle, hobbled in, accompanied by his valet. “What are you boys doing here? Clerk, announce me.”
I gaped. “Uncle Cumber?” I made the bow of courtesy. “How did you get here so fast? Cumber Town is nearly to the Norland passes—”
He turned to his valet. “Hah. The boy teaches me the lay of my lands.” He favored me with a scowl. “We were en route to Council when word came of the misfortune.”
Paying me no further notice, Great-uncle Cumber tapped his staff on the flagstones. Within a moment, he was ushered in to Willem.
We waited.
After some moments the Earl left, and the Chamberlain’s door shut again. Over an hour passed, while we fidgeted like tykes at Ritehouse.
“Might as well give it up, Roddy. He won’t see us.”
Furious, I crossed to the Chamberlain’s private door, thrust it open without a knock.
Behind me, the scurrying clerk. “My lord! You can’t—”
I strode in. Willem of Alcazar sat at his carved desk, quill in hand. “What’s this?”
I said, “We’ve waited half the afternoon. I’m sure you weren’t told.” Coolly, I took my seat.
“I was—these accounts must be paid.”
“We won’t be long, will we, Rust?” I crossed my legs.
His expression tight, the Chamberlain waved away his clerk. The door slammed shut. “Very well. Proceed, my prince.”
“We were discussing the vault.”
His eyes met mine. “Can I offer you some wine? Cheese, perhaps?”
“No, thank you.” I realized I was famished, and my stomach began to churn at his offer.
“Sorry if I seemed abrupt. It’s just that ... a terrible day.”
I said nothing.
Willem took the bit in his teeth. “Rodrigo, I can’t get you into the vault. Only your mother had access.”
“By her key alone?”
“Please, Roddy, this is a very awkward matter. My duty is to the crown, and there’s no declared—”
I leaned forward. “It took two keys to open the vault, and you have one. Give it here.” I held out my hand.
His hand shot to his neck, returned almost instantly to the table. “What use would it be without the Queen’s key? Have you that?”
“In its time. I’ll start with yours.”
Willem offered a placating smile. “The Duke has pledged to guard the assets of the realm until there’s a proper accounting by the regent. Don’t make that
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