Shadowplay

24

Three Brothers

Listen, my children! Argal and his brothers now had the excuse they needed

and their wickedness flowered. They went among the gods claiming that

Nushash had stolen Suya against her will, and many of the gods became

angry and said they would throw down Nushash, their rightful ruler.

— from The Revelations of Nushash, Book One

"THIS DOES NOT SEEM A GOOD IDEA to me," Utta whispered. "What does he want from us? He is dangerous!"

Merola

know much, but I know my way around these things."

"But…!"

She fell silent as the new castellan, Tirnan Havemore, walked into the chamber. He held a book in his hands and was followed by a page carry¬ing more books with-rather dangerously-a writing-tray balanced atop them. Havemore wore his hair in the Sya

Havemore stopped as though he had only just realized the women were in the room. "Why, Duchess," he said, peering at them over the spectacles

perched on his narrow nose,"you honor me. And Sister Utta, a pleasure to

ve you, too. I am afraid my now duties as castellan have kept me fearfully

busy of late-too busy to visit with old friends. Perhaps we can remedy that

now. Would you like some wine? Tea?"

Utta could feel Merola

"1 will not take anything, either, sir," the duchess said with better grace than Utta would have expected. "And although we would love to have a proper conversation with you, we know you are a busy man. I'm certain we won't take much of your time."

"Oh, but it would be a true joy to have a visit." Havemore snapped his lingers and waved. "Wine." The page put down the books and the teeter¬ing tray on the castellan's tall, narrow desk, a desk which had been Nynor Steffen's for years and which had seemed as much a part of him as his skin and his knobby hands. Unburdened, the page left the room. "A true joy," I lavemore repeated as though he liked the sound of it. "In any case, I will have a cup of something myself, since I have been working very hard this morning, preparing for Duke Caradon's visit. I'm sure you must have heard about it-very exciting, eh?"

It was news to Utta. Hendon's older brother, the new Duke of Summerfield, coming here? Doubtless he would bring his entire retinue-hundreds more Tolly supporters in the household, and during the ominous days of the Kerneia festival as well. Her heart sank to think of what the place would be like, full of drunken soldiers.

"So, my gracious ladies," said Havemore, "what can I do for you today?"

Utta could not imagine anything that Tirnan Havemore could do for them that would not immediately be reported to Hendon Tolly, so she kept her mouth closed. This was Merola

"But Lord Havemore, you must know what you can do for us," Merola

on your time, which is valuable to all of Southmarch, and especially to Earl Hendon, our selfless guardian."

Careful, Utta could not help thinking. Merola

"Hendon Tolly is a great man." Havemore's grin looked even more wolfish than before-he was enjoying this. "And we are all grateful that he is helping to guard King Olin's throne for its legitimate heir."

The page returned with wine and several cups. Utta and Merola

"You mean for King Olin, of course," Merola

"Of course, Your Grace, of course. I misspoke. However, the king is a prisoner and his heirs are gone-perhaps dead. We would be foolish to pre¬tend that the infant heir is not of the greatest importance."

"Yes, of course." Merola

"Ah, now it is you who feigns i

"That is truly kind, Lord Havemore," said Merola

"Ah." Havemore, like many ambitious young men, did not like being re¬minded of allegiances that predated his own arrival. "I see. So there is noth¬ing I can do for you?"

"You can remember your kind offer to share yourself more with the rest of us castle folk, Lord Havemore." The duchess smiled wi

He narrowed his eyes, not entirely sure how to take her remark. "Very kind. But there is still a question, Your Grace. I can understand your desire to reminisce with your old friend Lord Brone, but what brings Sister Utta along on such a mission? Surely she and Brone are not also old friends? I had never heard that old Count Avin was much on religion, beyond what is necessary for appearances." Havemore smiled at this little joke shared among friends and for the first time Sister Utta felt herself chilled. This man was more than ambitious, he was dangerous.

"I do consider Brone a friend," Utta said suddenly, ignoring Merola

"I am glad to hear you say that." Tirnan Havemore now looked at Utta closely. "I worked for him for many years and always felt his best qualities were ignored, or at least underappreciated."

Merola