Cascet of Souls

Lord Alec’s ma

Unlike the area around the old theater in Basket Street, Atre’s new haunt was an unlikely place to meet with footpads, but he still kept a sharp eye out as he passed under the swaying street lanterns.

Thanks to the largesse of their several patrons and the success of the plays, he and his company had been able to rent a large house in Ga

Here he’d already begun to surround himself with fine things again-rich furnishings, luxurious linens and hangings for his carved bedstead, a few tapestries and carpets. He’d filled two wardrobes with excellent clothes and had caskets overflowing with jewelry, most of that gifts from his ever-growing circle of admirers.

The house was quiet when he arrived, flushed with turab and success. His aspirations among Skalan nobility reached far beyond Lady Kylith and Lord Seregil; meeting the princess royal and her mother had been an unexpected turn of luck. He could tell that his performance had pleased Elani far more than that poet woman’s drivel. Another potential co

The large, sparsely furnished front room was dark except for a candle someone had left burning for him in a clay

holder. Taking it with him, he climbed the creaking stairs and unlocked the door at the far end of the hallway. Entering his room, he set the candle on the dressing table and studied his handsome face in the gilt-framed glass on the wall, looking for flaws and finding none.

He thought again of the fascinating Lord Seregil. It was a shame, really, that title. The man was wasted on nobility. What an actor Atre could have made of him! Not that he’d share a stage with such competition, but with another handsome principal actor to build a second cast around, Atre could expand the repertoire still further, perhaps even acquire another theater. Yes, it was a pity, but having the man’s patronage was something, and his interest. He’d seen the way Seregil’s gaze had fixed on him now and then, and the way the princess royal had been looking at Seregil’s young lover. Indeed, such a pair could prove useful. And there was the matter of Seregil asking him to spy for him; it seemed he’d gained the man’s trust.

Sitting down at the dressing table, he began sorting the night’s jewels. For each one he wrote out a label with the name of the previous owner and tied it on with a bit of blue silk thread. Some went into a jewel casket on the dressing table. A few others were set aside for special safekeeping.

Brader came in without knocking.

“Look!” Atre showed him the amethyst ring on his little finger. “A gift from the princess royal herself.”

Brader raised a disapproving eyebrow.

Atre closed the jewel box with a dramatic sigh. “I can’t help it if people give me things. The rest of you have your own little collections, too.”

“We don’t flaunt them. And we don’t label them.”

“How else can I be sure to wear the right ones when I’m with the person who gave them to me? They want to see them on me, as you very well know.” The frown tilted into a fond smile as he fingered the jewel hanging from his ear. “It makes them feel special.”

There was a touch of malice in Brader’s answering smile. “Yet not all of them give you gifts. Or do you have a new bauble or two in there from our lesser patrons?”

“Lord Seregil and his boy give me money, and they have some useful co

“And did they find you amusing tonight?”

“Of course! I told you we’d be entertaining royalty before you know it.”

“Nothing less is good enough for you, is it?”

Atre gri

The big man shrugged. “You’re the master of the company. But your ambition and vanity have led us-”

“My ambition and vanity have kept us alive and prospering. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m tired and we have a full rehearsal tomorrow. You should get some sleep, too, cousin. You’re looking a bit haggard. Are you eating well? Shall I fix you a little something?”

Without a word Brader turned and left, shutting the door softly behind him.

Smiling to himself, Atre admired the princess’s amethyst ring again. He was indeed fortunate in his patrons.

CHAPTER 15. Rubbing Shoulders with Royalty

ALEC was sitting on the kitchen floor, playing with Marag, when Seregil came in with a letter.

“Aren’t we the popular fellows!” he said with a grin, passing the letter to Alec. “A royal page just delivered this. That’s Elani’s personal seal, by the way.”

It was written on expensive parchment, and had an impressive seal dangling from it on a ribbon, showing the image of a coursing hound ru

“Apparently your little show of possession didn’t put her off the notion,” Alec noted.

“She seems a levelheaded girl. Maybe she takes after her aunt Klia.”

Alec was sweating in his light coat before they’d crossed the Harvest Market, though it wasn’t due to the weather. The air was blessedly cool at this hour, and the lowering clouds held the promise of a summer shower. He pulled nervously at the quiver strap across his chest. The shatta clicked and rattled together against his left hip in time to Windru

Riding beside him on Cynril, Seregil glanced over at him and shook his head. “Stop looking like you’ve been sent to the Red Tower!”

“I hope I don’t land myself there before this is over,” Alec muttered.

“Just remember your ma

At the appointed hour they showed the invitation at the gates of the royal park and rode into the grounds surrounding the forbidding Palace. The Palace was built against the side of the i

The royal lists were located in the south garden; archery was a favorite pastime of the nobility, as well as a martial skill. Courtiers of both sexes had already gathered with the princess, including Princess Aralain. A few of the women and girls were dressed in men’s clothing, the princess herself in something like a military uniform, with her fair hair in a braid over one shoulder, and a fine bow and quiver over the other.