Chapter 32 | The Queen Who Ruled by Herself

The Dark Woman's Secrets

"Here, you! What do you think you're doing!" Camma had squawked as a small fleet of footmen had tromped into Sedra's study that night.

At the back of the line had been the Teacher. "We are looking for reflections and covering them. It's a matter of great importance."

"'Matter of great importance,'" she muttered now as she pulled back the curtains in Sedra's study to let in the early morning sun. "How's she supposed to dress without a mirror? No one bloody tells me anything."

"D'you really want to know everything, Camma? And good morning," said Sedra from the bedchamber doorway.

"Oh, your highness, good morning," said Camma ruefully. "And no, I don't want to know everything. The less I know, the less I can give away, eh? I do hate people poking their noses into your business, though! Especially that old bat Teacher!" Camma walked through the bedchamber into the bathroom to start the taps running in the tub. Sedra began brushing out her hair with a wooden-backed brush, her shiny silver one having been banished to a dark drawer; Camma laid out Sedra's clothes in the room they called the wardrobe that was bigger than most people's bedrooms, and joined the princess in the bathroom to take her robe and nightdress. "Miss, you're done with that Teacher, aren't you?" she asked earnestly. "He looked so fierce when he came in here last night, as if--well, I can't honestly say I don't want to know how a reflection could do you harm, miss. If his face was anything to go by, it was a near thing!"

"I'm in no real danger, Camma, I promise," said Sedra gently as she stepped into the hot water.

"It's those Travelers, isn't it, miss," said Camma. "My gran always warned us girls against going to their camp. She said they had all kinds of wicked ways, and they'd as soon enchant you as have you to tea!"

"Oh, Camma, enchantments? You don't believe that nonsense, do you?" said Sedra, sliding down to her chin in the water.

"I'm sure I don't know, miss," muttered Camma, "but you can never be too careful about magic."

In the meadows of the Kings Woods, two horses and their riders wandered lazily in the early morning sun. "Magic?" said Brinnid. "What d'you mean, little brother?"

"Do the kings of Sairland have any?" said Temmin.

"What an odd question! D'you mean pulling coppers out of children's ears? Why would you think I'd have magic?"

"Because we do," said Temmin steadily. "Or rather, Teacher does on our behalf."

"Does he, now," said Brinnid noncommittally. "Come, it's almost breakfast, Temmin, and you're a growing young man!" He took off at a brisk gallop towards the trail leading back to the Keep, and Temmin had little choice but to follow. Brinnid didn't take the direct route to the stable, though; he took a side track into the woods until they ended up at the Travelers' camp. Here he stopped briefly and turned to Temmin with a questioning look.

"The Travelers stop here from time to time," said Temmin in explanation.

"And you let them?"

"They have the run of the Kings Woods. It's traditional," shrugged Temmin. "In exchange for a service they did for us many centuries ago."

"And what was that service?"

"I couldn't really say," said Temmin noncommittally, and turned Jebby toward the stables. But Brinnid turned toward the other path leading out of the camp that ended up at the Inchari folly and the reflecting pool. He looked up at the Keep, noting Temmin's windows, then turned and followed Temmin back to the stables, and thence to breakfast.

That meal turned out to be an ink-stained affair; Brinnid sat next to Sedra and read over her shoulder, idly commenting on the stories until she finally handed him the paper and said, "By all means, please, take it. That way you don't have to wait for me to turn the page."

"Oh no, ma'am, I much prefer reading it this way," he answered gravely. He handed it back and winked at Ellika under cover of newsprint. Sedra gave him a sharp look, folded the paper in question and ate the rest of her breakfast without one.

"He'll charm her yet," whispered Ellika to Temmin as they walked up the stairs to their rooms. "He's certainly charmed me. D'you like him, Temmy?"

"I'm not sure yet," said Temmin. "I'm altogether unsure I like charming."

"You like me!" she said.

"That's true!" said her brother, kissing her on the top of her head and opening her door for her before entering his own study, where the Teacher waited.

"You have to tell Sedra the story," the Teacher said with no preamble.

"I'm sorry, what? Why? She told me she knew it," blinked Temmin.

"She only knows part of it. She was learning it--elsewhere."

Temmin kept his eyes on a distant point as he threw himself into his habitual chair. "Eddin's tits, that explains it!"

"What, explains what?" said the Teacher, startled.

"She's been visiting the Travelers! That's where she's learning it!"

"You knew?"

"I'm right?!"

"Yes, you're right!" said the Teacher irritably. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why would I have? Why should you care if she were getting her fortune told?" said Temmin in equal irritation. "Hang on, how d'you know, then, if I didn't say?"

"I caught her yesterday," answered the Teacher.

"Caught her doing what? They're gone!"

The Teacher sighed. "Visiting old haunts. She confessed. Now. On to work." Temmin frowned, but pulled the book toward him.

Temmin came to with a shudder, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. "How am I supposed to tell Sedra this story?" he whispered. "I am finding it increasingly difficult to sit through on my own."

"Let me think on it," said the Teacher. "I promised her I would somehow tell her the rest of the story, and somehow I will without disobeying your father. In the meantime"--here Jenks entered--"it is time for you to fill that gaping maw of yours once again."

"Come again?" said Temmin.

"He means it's time for lunch, sir," said Jenks.

"Oh! Well, then!" said Temmin, cheering up. "Lunch!"