Tamir - The Bone Doll's Twin Part 42

'All these belong to the Crown until you're of age, of course," Tharin said, frowning down at the map.

"That worries you."

'It's nothing we have to think about for now." Tharin tried to smile as he put the map away. "Come and see my room."

They walked to the next door along the pa.s.sageway and Tharin showed them in.

This chamber was austere to the point of severity by comparison, with plain hangings and few comforts. The only exceptions were a fine collection of weapons hung on one wall, collected from many battlefields, and more of Tobin's little creations on a table near the window. Tobin went over and picked up a lopsided wax man with a wood splinter sword in one round fist. He wrinkled his nose. "I remember this one. I threw it out."

Tharin chuckled fondly. "And I saved it; it's the only portrait ever done of me. These others were gifts from you, remember?" He pulled a crude little wooden Sakor horse on a knotted bit of string from the neck of his tunic. "This is the first one you ever made for me. All the other men have them, too. We wear them for luck."

'You should have him make you a new one," said Ki with a laugh. "He's improved quite a lot since then."

Tharin shook his head. "It was a gift from the heart. I wouldn't trade this little fellow for all the horses of Atyion."

'When can I go to Atyion?" Tobin asked. "I've heard tales of it all my life. Even Ki's seen it, but not me! And Cirna and all the other estates and holdings?"

There was that hint of a frown again as Tharin replied, "You'll have to speak to Lord Orun about that.

He's the one who must arrange any travel outside the city."

'Oh." Tobin made no effort to hide his dislike here. "When do you think the king will come back? I'm going to ask him to give me a new guardian before he goes away next time. I don't care how rich or powerful Orun is, I can't stand the sight of him!"

'Well, I've been hoping to have a talk with you about that. That's one of the reasons I brought you here today." Tharin closed the door and leaned against it, rubbing a hand over his bearded chin.

'You're young, Tobin, and you've no experience of court life. I can't say I'm sorry about how you've turned out because of that, but now that you're here, it may hurt you, not knowing how things are done.

Illior knows, there hasn't been much time to speak of all the changes- It took us all by surprise when he showed up. But now that we're all split up this way, there are some things you need to hear. I swore to your father that I would watch over you, and I don't know of anyone else who can tell you what I'm about to tell you. Ki, you listen well, too, and don't you ever breathe a word of it to anyone."

He sat the boys on the edge of his bed and pulled up a chair.

'I don't care much for Lord Orun, either, but you keep that to yourselves. He's the king's friend, and one of his highest ministers, so it wouldn't do you any good if that's the first thing your uncle hears from you when you meet. Understand?"

Tobin nodded. "Prince Korin says I should be careful of him, because he's a powerful man."

'That's right. At court you must say less than you think and only speak as much of the truth as will do you good. I'm afraid that's something we didn't teach you before, but you always were a good one at keeping quiet about things. As for you, Ki- Ki blushed. "I know. I'll keep my mouth closed."

'It's for Tobin's sake. Now, it costs me some pride to say it, but I want you both to keep on Lord Orun's good side while you have to." 'You sound like you're scared of him!" Ki blurted out.

'You could say that. Orun was already a powerful lord at court when Rhius and I were in the Companions. He was only the third son of a duke, but his father was rich and had the mad queen's ear. I mean no disrespect to your family, Tobin, but your grandmother Agnalain was mad as a cat in a high wind by the end and Orun still managed to come out alive and with power. Erius likes him, too, which is more than your father or I could ever fathom. So crossing Orun is only fouling your own nest. Keep peace between you. And..." He stopped, as if unsure what to say next.

'Well, if either of you has any trouble with him, you come to me. Promise me that."

'You know we will," Tobin replied, though it seemed to him that Tharin was looking at Ki as he said this.

A knock came at the door and Tharin went to deal with a courier who'd arrived. Tobin sat a moment, pondering all he'd been told, then rose to go back to the hall. When he came out into the pa.s.sage, however, Ki tapped his shoulder and whispered, "I think our friend is here. I've been feeling him since we were upstairs."

Tobin turned in surprise, realizing that Ki meant Brother. "You can feel him?" he whispered back. He'd lost track of the spirit upstairs and hadn't seen him since.

'Sometimes. Am I right?"

Tobin looked around and, sure enough, there was Brother behind them, beckoning for Tobin to follow him down the pa.s.sage in the opposite direction. "Yes. He's there. I didn't call him, though."

'Why should he act any different here?" muttered Ki.

Following Brother, the boys pa.s.sed through a succession of narrower pa.s.sages and out into a small disused courtyard surrounded by a high wall. There was a summer kitchen here, but the mossy roof over the outdoor oven had fallen in years ago and never been repaired. Near the center of the yard stood a huge, dead chestnut tree. Its twisted branches stretched their broken fingers over the yard like a netted roof, grey and scabrous against the blue sky. Its k.n.o.bby roots humped up out of the packed earth like serpents writhing across the ground.

'Can you still see him?" Ki *whispered.

Tobin nodded. Brother was sitting at the base of the tree between two big roots. His legs were drawn up tight against his chest and his forehead rested on his knees. Tangled black hair hung down, covering his face. He looked so forlorn that Tobin slowly moved closer, wondering what the matter could be. He was within a few feet of the spirit when Brother raised a pale, tear-streaked face to him and whispered in a dry, weary voice Tobin had never heard before, "This is the place," and faded from sight again.

Baffled, Tobin stared up at the tree, wondering what was remarkable about this spot. He'd understood about the bed; Brother had been stillborn upon it and seemed to remember it. But why would he remember this yard, or this tree? He looked back at where Brother had been sitting and spied a small opening beneath one of the roots. Squatting down, he examined it more closely. It was larger than it had looked at first glance; eight or ten inches wide and a few inches high on the outside. It reminded Tobin of the sort of place he used to look for in the forest as a hiding place for the doll.

The soil here was sandy and hard, well sheltered by the tree. Curious, he reached inside to see if the hole was as dry as it looked.

'There could be snakes," Ki warned, hunkering down beside him.

It was larger inside than he'd have guessed, large enough for the doll if he could get it through the opening. His fingers found no snakes, only a few spiky chestnut husks among the dead leaves. As he moved to withdraw his hand, however, his fingers brushed across a rounded edge. He felt more closely, then got enough of a grip on it to dislodge it from the soil. Drawing it out, he saw that it was a gold ring set with a carved stone like the one Lord Orun had given him. He rubbed it on his sleeve to clean it. The large flat stone was the same deep purple as the throat of a river iris, and carved with the intaglio profiles of a man and a woman, side by side with the woman's foremost.

'By the Flame, Tobin, isn't that your father?" asked Ki, peering over his shoulder.

'And my mother." Tobin turned the ring over in his hands and found an A and an R engraved on the gold band behind the stone. 'I'll be d.a.m.ned. Brother must have wanted you to find it. See if there's anything else."

Tobin felt again, but there was nothing more in the hole.

'Here you are!" said Tharin, coming out into the yard. "What are you doing down in the dirt?"

'Look what Tobin found under this dead tree," said Ki.

Tobin showed him the ring and Tharin's eyes widened. "It's been years- How did that get out here?"

'Was it my mother's?"

The tall man sat down and took the ring from him, gazing at the two profiles on the stone. "Oh, yes. It was her favorite among the betrothal gifts your father gave her. It's Aurenfaie work. We sailed clear to Viresse just so he could have the finest carvers make it for her. I remember the look on her face- We never did know what happened to it after she got sick, or some of her other things either." He looked down at the hole. "How do you suppose it ended up out here? Well, it's no matter. It's found now, and yours to keep. You should wear it in their memory."

It was too large for Tobin's fingers so he hung it on the golden chain with his father's seal, then looked at the carving again. His parents looked young and handsome together, not at all like the troubled people he'd known.

Tharin reached down and took the ring and seal together on his palm. "Now you can carry something of both of them close to your heart."

'Tphe weeks that followed pa.s.sed in a glittering blur. Life -L at the keep hadn't prepared either boy for such company, though neither wanted to trouble the other with his doubts at first.

Each morning the Companions ran to the temple to make their offerings, then worked hard on the training field until midafternoon under Porion's demanding direction.

Here, at least, Ki and Tobin both excelled. Porion was a strict taskmaster, but he was as quick to praise as to chastise. He taught the Companions the fine points of buckler work and how to fight and shoot on horseback, but they also learned to use the javelin and the axe, and how to wrestle and fight with knives.

'You fine n.o.bles may start the day in the saddle, but only Sakor knows how long you'll stay there,"

Porion was fond of telling them, and devised a good many drills designed to unseat them in various jarring ways.

After practice the remainder of the day belonged to the boys to amuse themselves as they pleased until mess time. Sometimes they rode about the city to see players or visit their favorite artisans and tailors.

Other times they went to the hills to hunt and hawk, or to the seaside to bathe, enjoying the last warm days of summer.

In these pastimes they usually were accompanied by a great crowd of young n.o.bles, and some not so young. Lord Orun frequently came along, together with others of his ilk-men who wore ear bobs and scent and hadn't gone off to fight. There were women and girls, too.

Ki soon realized that girls like pretty Aliya and her friends were beyond his grasp, and that a pretty face didn't necessarily mean a pretty heart. Aliya was Alben's cousin and proved to be as spiteful as her kinsman. Prince Korin liked Aliya well enough, though, and through the gossip of the squires Ki learned that she was one of several mistresses who regularly visited the prince's bed, hoping to get him an heir so he could go off to war. What the king would say to that no one cared to speculate.

Still, there were plenty of other girls who found Ki good enough to flirt with. One in particular, Mekhari, had given him several encouraging looks while endeavoring to teach him to dance. Skilled as he and Tobin might be at the arts of war, neither had a proper dance step between them, nor played an instrument; and despite Arkoniel's best efforts, they had the singing abilities of a pair of crows. Their ill wishers took no end of delight in this lack of graces and made certain to include them in any situation that would call attention to these shortcomings.

Tobin managed to redeem himself quite by accident one night at dinner when, in a fit of boredom, he whittled one of his little sculptures from a block of cheese. Soon the girls were pestering him to carve charms and toys for them, offering kisses and favors in return. Tobin modestly refused payment as he hemmed and blushed and carved away furiously for them, clearly not knowing what to do in the face of such attentions. This puzzled Ki. Tobin was nearly twelve and had heard enough of his tales to know what girls were about. While he might not be old enough to want one yet, it seemed odd that he'd be so standoffish about it. Two in particular seemed to plague him. Pale Lilyan, Urmanis' sister, had taken to flirting outrageously with him, though Ki was certain she only did it because she knew it made Tobin squirm.

But the other one, a slim brunette named Una, was another matter. She was skilled at hunting and riding, and had a quiet way about her that Ki found both pleasant and unsettling; she looked at you like she could read your thoughts and liked them fine. Yet Tobin was more stum-ble-tongued around her than anyone else. He'd nearly sliced off one of his fingers whittling her a cat.

'What in Bilairy's name is the matter with you!" Ki had chided, bathing the gash in a basin that night as they got ready for bed. "I bet Una would let you kiss her if you tried, but you act like she's got the plague!"

'I don't want to kiss her!" Tobin snapped, pulling his hand away before Ki could wrap the finger.

Scrambling across the bed, he burrowed under the blankets as far from Ki as he could get and remained there, refusing to talk to him for the rest of the night.

That was the first time Tobin had ever been truly angry with him. Ki laid awake heartsick half the night and vowed never to tease Tobin about girls again. He had enough to trouble him as it was.

J rince Korin had thrown several more of his lavish banquets since their arrival, ordering them up whenever the whim took him and he thought he could brook Porion's disapproval. Although this meant a respite from table service for the squires, Ki could have done without them. Everyone drank more, especially Korin, and Ki liked the Prince Royal a good deal better when he was sober.

Tobin had taken to his cousin in his usual good-hearted way, but Ki wasn't so sure of his friend's judgment this time. Korin struck him as a weak reed when drunk, too likely to take on the colors of those around him instead of s.h.i.+ning with his own. He was more likely to tease then, and overlook the rudeness of others.

And rudeness abounded, though it was often thinly veiled in jest. Their skill on the training field had sparked jealousy among the older Companions, and Tobin's odd behavior that night in the old audience chamber had set a few tongues wagging. But they'd probably wagged before they ever arrived.

Still, seeing Tobin here brought back to Ki how strange the boy had seemed to him when they'd first met: the way Tobin talked to ghosts and witches and wizards as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and how he could read people's faces like others read tracks or weather, without even knowing he was doing it. He'd changed some since Ki had known him, but Tobin still had the eyes of a man, and still made little distinction in his manner toward n.o.ble or servant, highborn or low. He treated them all well. Ki had grown accustomed to that, too, during the slow, easy years at the keep. Here among these young lords, it was quickly brought home to him how unusual that was, and in ways that Tobin just didn't seem to understand.

But Ki understood, and so did the Companions-even the ones who were kind. Tobin hadn't understood the shame Ki felt when a drunken prince had slapped him so carelessly with a sword and dubbed him "Sir," bestowing on him a gra.s.s knight's hollow t.i.tle-with its boon of a warhorse and a yearly purse of money. For all the lessons and proper speech he'd learned from Arkoniel, everyone here knew who his father was and had seen how his "knighthood" had been earned.

No, Tobin couldn't understand any of that, and Ki kept his promise to Tharin and didn't tell him. Pride kept him from confiding even in Tharin, though they visited him as often as they could.

Still, it wasn't all bad, he often reminded himself. Tobin was like a drink of sweet water in a swamp, and there were those who knew how to appreciate him. Korin did, when he was sober, and so did the better ones among the Companions: Caliel, Orneus, Nikides, and little Lutha. Their squires were courteous to Ki out of respect for that, and some of them accepted him as a friend.

On the other side of the fence were Squire Mago and his faction; it hadn't taken Ki long to peg them as trouble. They spared no effort to remind him that he was a gra.s.s knight, and a poor man's son.

Whenever they could corner him out of earshot of the prince-at the stables, in the baths, or even when they were sparring in the sword circle-they hissed it at him like rock vipers: "Gra.s.s knight!"

To make matters worse, Moriel, the boy whose place Ki had taken, was fast friends with Mago andcousin to Quirion's squire, Arius. Evidently Model's appointment was to have been his way into the Companions.

There was something wrong there, Ki thought. Korin didn't seem overly fond of some of his own Companions, even though they were touted by all as a closely bound elite, the future generals and councilors of a future king. It seemed to Ki that Korin would do well to rid himself of a good many of them when he was old enough to choose for himself.

None of that is my concern, he reminded himself. He was Tobin's squire and in that he was content.

Nothing the other squires could say to him would interfere with that.

Or so he thought.

the end of Rhythin Ki was beginning to get his bearings at table. He could serve any type of dish through a twelve-course banquet without spilling a drop, knew all the right serving dishes, and was feeling rather proud of himself.

That night at mess it was only the Companions and Porion at table. Tobin was seated between the arms master and Zusthra. The older boy was still hard to read; he seemed sullen, but Porion treated him with high regard and Ki took that for a favorable sign.

Tobin seemed happy enough, if quiet. Korin was drinking and going on again about the latest report from Mycena. Apparently the king had routed a Plenimaran attack along some river and everyone was drinking to celebrate the victory, and growing more morose as they grew drunker, convinced the fighting would be over before they were allowed to go.

Ki went out for more platters, and by the time he came back Caliel and Korin were arguing about why hounds didn't like Tobin and hawks did. Ki wished them luck with that one; even Arkoniel had had no answer for the dog question. They'd had to give Tobin's gift hounds away, but he'd turned to out be a fine hand with falcons. Caliel spent a great deal of time with him, teaching Tobin how to use the hoods, jesses, and whistles. In return, Tobin had fas.h.i.+oned a beautiful ring for him from wax, in the shape of a hawk with outstretched wings, and had a goldsmith cast it. Caliel wore it proudly and was the envy of the Companions. Thanks to that, Tobin had switched from wood carvings to jewelry making and their room was littered with gobs of wax and sketches. Tobin already knew half the goldsmiths near the Palatine, and was making inroads among the gem carvers as that took his fancy. Korin dubbed him the Artist Prince.

Ki was pleasantly lost in these happy thoughts as he balanced two half-empty sauce basins back to the kitchen. He was nearly to the sideboard when Mago and Arius cornered him. He glanced around quickly but Barieus was nowhere in sight. The cooks and scullions were busy with their own work.

'No, it's just we three," said Arius, guessing his thought. He jostled Ki on one side and Mago did the same on the other until they had him backed into a corner. Ki barely managed to get the sauce basins down onto a table before they spilled.

'Well done, gra.s.s knight," snickered Arius.

Ki sighed and waited for them to back off now that they'd had their fun. But they didn't.

'Well done, for a horse thiefs son," sneered Mago, not even bothering to lower his voice.

Ki felt his face go hot. "My father's no thief."

'He's not?" Mago made round eyes of surprise at him. "Well, then you're the cuckold's b.a.s.t.a.r.d I took you for all along. Old Larenth has been stealing my uncle's horses for years and everyone knows it. He'd have hanged your brother Alon if he hadn't run away to the war before the bailiff caught him."

Ki faced him down, holding his clenched fists against his thighs. "He's no thief! And neither is my father."

'Then he's not your father," said Arius, pretending to reason with him. "Come on now, which side of the blanket were you born on, Sir Kirothius? Or do you even know?"

It doesn't matter. Ki clenched his fists so tightly he felt the nails bite into his palms. Only honor matters. Don't dishonor Tobin by losing your temper.

'What's a prince doing with a gra.s.s knight like you for a squire, I wonder?" said Mago.

Arius leaned in closer. "Well, you know what they say about him-"

Ki could hardly believe his ears. Were they daring to insult Tobin now? Both boys turned and weregone before he could gather his wits to respond.

'Ki, don't stand there dreaming. Fetch in the damson tart!" snapped Chylnir, who'd just come in.

Honor. Ki summoned Tharin's voice in his mind as he hoisted the heavy pastry dish. Whatever a squire does reflects on the lord he serves. Keep that thought first in your heart, no matter what, and you'll always do what's proper.

Thinking of Tharin calmed him. By the time he reached the dining room, he could wish Mago and Arius dead without so much as frowning in their direction.

JLnstead, he brought all his anger and resentment to the training fields the next morning and every day after. Whenever he could, he paired off with his enemies for swordplay or wrestling, and let his body speak for him. The other boys were good fighters, too, and he didn't always best them, but they soon learned to avoid him when they could.

He and Tobin were hailed as equals of all but the r oldest boys, and Ki wasn't sure they couldn't have taken some of them on, but Porion wouldn't allow it. Crowds gathered to watch the new prince fight.

Some of the squires and other blades, including Lutha, began to adopt plainer garb on the training field, though nothing so worn as Tobin's old jerkin. Ki had even sided with Molay and Lord Orun on this issue, trying to talk Tobin into adopting better garb to suit his station, but he wouldn't be moved. He'd wear any finery they wanted to feasts and around the city, but remained stubborn on that point, even when he overheard some of the onlookers joking that they couldn't tell him from Ki in a match. In fact, it seemed to please him.

It was only much later that Ki realized that Tobin understood and resented the petty meanness directed at them as well as Ki did, and chose his own ways of fighting back.

Autumn came on in a series of terrible thunderstorms that swept in off the sea. Lightning flashed down, striking buildings and sometimes even people. Rain ran in torrents from rooftops and through the streets, was.h.i.+ng the year's refuse down to the sea.