To our amazement, we were favored with a slight smile. "You show well your training, Tamara. Am I right in believing that you also, Drucilla, Sabina, share this astute guess?"

We nodded, daring to feel slight relief. Surely we had been summoned for punishment, as we had gone directly against her orders. However, the tone in which she addressed her last question was the one she had always used at lesson time when she was pleased with how well a particular subject of instruction had been absorbed. But before she spoke again, our father was with us. Once more we rose to pay him full honor.

He bowed slightly in return and pulled up another chair to join our mother. Perhaps he had been appointed to be our judge in this matter.

"Tamara," our mother ordered, "give us again this suspicion you hold."

I repeated my words as Father listened.

"So," he commented when I had finished, "you have concerned yourselves with peering behind outward action to find causes. Indeed, it well becomes Scorpy minds to interest themselves with strange ways that may lead into the Dark."

"First," he held up his right hand, turning the fingers under and using only the thumb to keep record, "Lord Starkadder remains under this roof. Two or three of his major kin have argued with him, and he told them to ride out if they wished, but he was not calling for his mount."

"Second"-forefinger arose beside thumb-"that graceless son of his sought out the king's man, Udo, but the Chosen did not appear to welcome him with either trumpet or drum. It was also plain that Starkadder himself did not find his whelp's action acceptable. One of his lesser retainers was sent with an order which, like a hound's leash, brought the cub back to his sire fast enough."

"Third"-Father's middle finger added to the tally-"such musing as you have just voiced, my daughters, is given greater strength by what I have heard during the past months of my striving to arrange a Border court. Rumors are flying, some of them outside belief, but others easily latched to the actions here."

"Fourth," and his ring finger straightened, "Starkadder has continued to agree to the court. I voiced a way to save face-I suggested that his son had perhaps been overcome by our potent Southern wines and forgot where he was, and the chief accepted that calmly. Never believe, daughters, that these clan leaders are slow-wits. Their underlings and close kin may sometimes be judged so, but one such as Starkadder, who has led the largest clan in Gurlyon for near thirty years, is as wily and shrewd as our Chancellor Yan of Kork. I therefore gravely doubt that this play was of his planning; it was too crude and ill-timed. No, I believe he was left ignorant of it by some courtier, or"-Father paused for a moment, enabling us all to fill the gap with the name of another type of hanger-on with equal reasons for starting an intrigue-"someone who did not understand how clever his countryman really is."

"It is true," he continued, after a pause, "that King Arvor wishes his throne free of any Merven standing behind it to whisper orders. He had a taste of war when he defeated the Harsorean Fleet two years gone, and he then showed himself capable of the strategy a true leader needs. His victory was followed by the prompt arrival of the Chosen from out of the mountains. I think the timing not lacking in significance."

As Father raised his little finger, then lowered his whole hand, his Scorpy signet caught the lamplight with a fiery blaze of red-gold.

"I do not," he said in a quiet voice that sounded even more dangerous than his earlier tone, "like this hint of greater powers somehow controlling us and belaboring men and women for so-called 'sins.' However, it is said that the king has welcomed this Voice from the mountains, and perhaps he has. If that is so, I foresee war-such conflict as could blast this poor country out of existence. Few of the Gurlys have visited Alsonia-they can only guess at what strength we can summon. That fiasco in the Year of Nar, wherein our army remained here at the Border without invading, might well induce the gullible to believe we cannot summon the wherewithal to defend the South from invasion. The men of the Border on both sides are used to raiding. To force blackrent, by which a landowner must pay two taxes-one rightfully to the Crown and the other, outright theft, to a neighbor stronger than himself-is common practice. The Northerners look South and lick their lips at the feast of our riches. At present, they are unable to raise a force great enough to invade-the memory of Erseway remains too fresh to permit this. But should the king pledge all his own army to such an attempt-" Father pursed his lips.

"War?" asked our mother.

"Who can guess? However, now we know that they would involve us, the House of Scorpio, in their intrigues. Perhaps they even hope to besmirch our name before the queen. Her Majesty is known to loathe war, though she does not hamper plans for the a.s.sembling of defense."

"Of this much I am sure: you must not not allow personal concerns to override the order I now give. You will not accompany us to the Truce-in fact, it will be suggested that this is a punishment given you-" He paused and favored us with a warm smile; thus he had ever been able to charm us out of the sullens. "A punishment given you," he repeated, "for your improper forwardness of bearing. I trust you each to don the face of maids who have been well chastised when you appear in public." allow personal concerns to override the order I now give. You will not accompany us to the Truce-in fact, it will be suggested that this is a punishment given you-" He paused and favored us with a warm smile; thus he had ever been able to charm us out of the sullens. "A punishment given you," he repeated, "for your improper forwardness of bearing. I trust you each to don the face of maids who have been well chastised when you appear in public."

Then he was wholly serious, and again he held each of us in turn, eye to eye, for the s.p.a.ce of a breath or two. "Be also aware that you may still be marked as proper prey to incite your family-even Her Majesty, with whom we share a bloodline-into some wrong move. From now on, you must be very careful of speech, thinking twice, even thrice, before you speak anything of moment. I would, if I could, leave Tweder with you, but I must show my Captain of the Guard with me at the Truce. Your mother will also accompany me, for our appearance should be as always. Do not at any time ride out-you cannot do so safely without more guards than I dare leave at Grosper. Lock your chamber at night, and see that your bosom knives and snaplocks, as well, are ever with you."

He stood up, his hand raised in salute, as if we were men of a squadron he commanded, and-better still-considered crucial to his strategy. We echoed the gesture, warmed by the knowledge that he thought us worthy to be taken so far into his confidence.

So it was that we did not appear in the lower halls of Grosper again while the clansmen were guests. Instead, we were supplied certain books and papers. Those we studied diligently, realizing that, by means of their information, we were being made privy to the tangle of men and motives that required all our father's efforts to bring peace to this ever-troubled, blood-soaked Border country.

I drew from between two thin wooden protectors a map, linen-backed and badly worn by time and usage, to spread it out on the bed, and lay, propped on elbows, my nose nearly touching the faded paper as I studied it.

"The Yakins," I read. "Look you here-"

Look they did, laying aside their own materials of study. The surface of the map I was examining was so rubbed and dulled that we could scarcely determine anything but age damage.

I sat up, freeing my left hand to tap with a fingernail at three spots set close together.

"What do you see?" I demanded.

Both answered, "Nothing."

"But that is what matters-there are are no markings! Look here-and here-and here-" My fingertip moved swiftly to other areas. no markings! Look here-and here-and here-" My fingertip moved swiftly to other areas.

Oh, certain features were present, right enough, some indicating trails, one a warn tower. But the area I had first indicated, save for a stain and slight crease or two, held naught but emptiness.

Bina sat farther back on the bed, no longer peering at the map. "Wool from the highland pastures is prized-was not a cloak of it sent to the queen as a New Year gift, a season agone? Goodly trade comes in from that territory. But mere pastureland would not be marked on a ranger's map such as this-"

I glanced from her to Cilla. As if in response to some silent order, she once more bent over the map. It was her turn to point and call out what she saw scribed thereon.

"Here be the hunting land which is the king's own. Then here is a holding marked 'Langrun,' and here one 'Slagenforth.' But see-the Cursed Land lies beyond-the Lair of Baltiwaight!"

"Many tales of evil are told of that place," supplied Bina. "No proof of their truth was ever offered, at least not since the time of the Loathy King-he who became the Demon of Gurlyon's past. He reigned five hundred years ago and, even though his sins may have mountained in the telling, it is known that he ruled long and wickedly. It could well be true that the country folk nurse a dislike for a strip of country darkened by such history."

"In the Yakins, this Chosen Forfind lived a hermit," I added.

They were immediately at the map again, pulling it a little away from me to examine it the better. However, at that moment a trumpet call sounded. We slid from the bed and crowded to the window to peer below, in time to see the combined parties of the clan chief and the High Lord Warden ride out together. We had said farewell to our parents earlier, and the fact that we did not appear in public to wish them safe travel would surely prove we were in disgrace.

I hammered my right fist against the windowsill. Bina and Cilla shared my anger, needing no words. It was a feeling that arose not from disappointment or humiliation but from the constraint that would now lie upon us for future wariness of action.

Now that the visitors had gone, though, we were free of our section of Grosper. Our study materials, the books and papers, were again properly housed in the library, and for a time the subject of the Cursed Lands was half forgot.

However, the perusal of ancient records was not all that busied us. Each morning we went to the exercise hall, which had been set aside for us by our father when he had first accepted the keys of Grosper. There we worked at the ritual of swordplay he had taught us, used snaplocks to chip stone from the circled target painted on the wall, and honed our skills with the common spears of the North. We might not ride out for the present, but we could maintain our training in the meanwhile.

From the wielding of steel, we turned to another art of defense. This was the warfare against bodily ills which was our mother's Gift, the distilling and mixing of various herbal potions against fever, sepsis, and all wounds and sicknesses that might afflict the people of a land on the brink of war.

On the seventh day after the party for the Truce Meeting had ridden forth, Loosy came to us.

" 'Tis a peddler from the North, my ladies," she announced.

I placed my sword in the rack. I had been fencing with Cilla, trying to break through her long-perfected guard. Bina laid aside the snaplock she had been loading.

"Do we, or do we not?" I asked.

Peddlers had many uses beside the mere transport and supply of unusual and needful wares. They were also, by tradition, accepted as the purveyors of news. Sometimes they bore specific messages and warnings.

Both Bina and Cilla shook their heads. At that dissent, I turned to Loosy.

"Listen well." I deliberately drew myself up to my full Scorpy height to look down at the maid, a posture I believed would give my words additional force. "We will not see this peddler. However, get you Hanna, and bring her here quickly."

Hanna must have been waiting just without the door, for Loosy had only to go to the portal to return with her.

"Now, then." Bina took the lead. "You will say that we are keeping to the tower as our father ordered-you may, indeed, let it be known that we rest under his deep displeasure. Do you know what this wanderer offers for sale?"

"Yes," the maid was quick to answer, "he has pomanders and ribbons, sleeve- and bodice-knives, combs for the hair, some laces, and the like."

"Trifles," Cilla commented, "but such as are well chosen to catch a lady's eye."

In the exercise gallery, we wore breeches and shirts for freedom of movement. I now picked up the cloak I had brought to cover this mannish garb, for we all paid tribute to Dame Modesty on our journeys through the halls. From the inner pocket, I brought out a purse.

None of us had been moved as yet to spend any of the pin-money granted us upon our latest birthing date, which had fallen some weeks before. I shook a few coins from the bag into my cupped hand.

"Take these, and select what pleasures you desire. For us, procure the answers to some questions. Why does this peddler bring his business to Grosper when he would surely find better custom at the Truce grounds? Where does he come from? Does he sell for himself, or is he one of those trusted ones who serve a greater merchant and goes about on his master's purpose?"

"Also," Bina added, "mark well any question he asks you you. If he wants guesting rights for the night, send him to-Heddrick." She paused as she swiftly mind-touched each of us. Wordlessly we agreed.

When Cilla offered a last suggestion, she startled the serving-girls but not their ladies." 'Twould be best were you to put on some of Appy's ways."

Loosy grinned, and Hanna's look of surprise changed even more noticeably. Rolling her eyes, the maid pressed her plump hands together and exclaimed, in the broad speech of the country folk, "Lawks, m' lady, I ne'er did see sich pretties afore!" Then she turned in a slow circle, mouth agape, as she expressed the amazement of a beggar newly introduced to the contents of a safe room.

We laughed at the contrast between the normally quiet Hanna we knew and this one suddenly stirred to such volubility. Loosy now also showed the wide-eyed stare of a simple backcountry maid bedazzled by hitherto unknown delights.

"You do properly," I noted. "Hunt well, sleuthhounds."

We separated as we went into the hall. Loosy and Hanna, at a pace near running, scurried to find the peddler, and we went our way to our mother's solar.

"Heddrick?" Bina made a question of the name.

At our nods, she stepped to the wall and, catching the wide, embroidered ribbon bell pull, gave it a st.u.r.dy yank. Her tug was answered by a clangor far louder than our mother had ever wakened. We had a very short wait before a scratching sounded at the door.

The man who answered our summons was tall and spare, and even under this roof he wore a helm and jack-coat, laced ready to ride out. Heddrick had been our father's man before our birth, and he would continue to serve Desmond Scorpy as long as his lungs drew breath. The order that bade him remain at Grosper had come as a bitter blow, for he had no desire to shuffle about its halls and chambers when our father rode out these days. Yet below his right knee the old campaigner no longer bore flesh and bone, but wore a wooden leg strapped on, and that maiming sealed him just as surely as Father's command to this exile from the life that had been so long his meed. However, his new post was not without its own power, for no bailiff in our father's absence ruled here without Heddrick's a.s.sent, nor ever would, not while Desmond Scorpy was in command.

Like Duty, the crippled soldier was a man of few words. Now he simply stood, asking nothing, awaiting our orders in place of his lord's. I spoke first, as was customary.

"A peddler has come," I began. Heddrick gave a slight nod.

"We wish to know more concerning him. Loosy and Hanna have started the game, but it needs further players. Nothing is of greater worth than the truth." I was quoting now, repeating words we had heard the present Lord Verset speak from time to time.

Heddrick returned at once. "M'ladies, the gallows-clapper will be ever under my eye. Should he be kicked out the gate now?"

"Not yet," I cautioned. "Peddlers learn things-they bring and they take. Might one bring solid substance and take smoke?"

"If that be the way of it, yea." The salute offered us was not quite that which he would give our father, yet it meant firm agreement.

We did not reach for any ch.o.r.e to occupy us as we waited. For the first time we were launching ourselves into such matters as had always been our elders' concern. I think we were all breathing a little faster but we did not mind-touch.

Bina startled us by a sudden recitation of places: "Murderers' Rock, h.e.l.l Cauldron, Killdeer Edge, Traitor Tod-this is a land of unseemly names. Was no place famed for good deeds, or loved for happy frolics? To hear that sorry list, an outlander might believe that nothing befell in this country save sin or sorrow."

In contrast to Bina's grim mood, Cilla was beating out a rhythm on the arm of her chair with light-tripping fingertips. Her eyes were half-closed as if her memory had withdrawn to another time and place.

I sniffed. "Come away from the dance, dear sister. It will be another year before you tread to that tune again."

Bina nodded. " Unless Unless-" What she would say was clearer in her mind than on her lips.

As one, we tensed. Already at our last birthing-day we had been two years past the usual age for betrothal. However, due to the isolation of our life in Grosper we were set apart from the social ways our peers in the South had known since they were hardly more than infants. We were also well aware that Scorpy women were never sought after by many, for it was the custom that the married ones drew their lords into our clan line rather than departed from it.

It was a subject we never dwelt upon, even among ourselves. What comments Bina might have awaited did not come. Then, once more, a scratching at the door came; this time it preceded Loosy and Hanna's arrival. They made profound curtseys as if being presented to a lady of the castle. Cupping Loosy's brown hair was a cap of netting that glittered with her slightest movement. Dangling from each side just above the ear were several cords of differing lengths, each ending in a bead of shining metal, the style a type of headgear altogether unknown to us. Her usual cap hung all but disowned from one hand. Hanna's well-washed (and somewhat work-worn) blue homespun gown had been gaily refurbished at the neck by a wide lace scarf whose ends were tied in front.

Cilla shaded her eyes. "Lawk"-she used her own country voice-"this be a brave sight!"

Loosy giggled and pushed away one of the weighted strings tapping against her cheek, while Hanna smoothed her lace with obvious pride. Bina, however, was frowning.

"These fripperies are not usual wares," was her comment.

Loosy nodded. "I think, m'lady, that he did want you to see these, so you might wish him to show other things he has. He even had one case he did not open, but kept ever close to his hand."

I saw fit to call them to order. "What have you learned? Sit and tell us." I waved them to the footstools that served our chairs, and sit they did.

Four.

"He names himself Hal Shoan, my ladies," Loosy began the servants' report, "and he boasts that he is his own man and comes from Kingsburke. This be his first trip to the Border-he is testing how trade is hereabouts. All this he told without our asking." Loosy twisted one of her dangling cap strings about her finger.

"Surely he must have heard of the truce gathering, which would be a better place for trade," Bina commented as the maid paused.

"He said, Lady Sabina"-Hanna nervously smoothed the lace across her breast-"as how he did not hear of that till he was well along this way. Now that he knows, he will go there directly. He is very pleasant of speech, m'ladies, and seemed quite downcast when you could not receive him."

"Aye," Loosy nearly interrupted, "he is like no Border man, rough of manner or mien-he is more like one of the servingmen at the queen's own court. He is tall, with a chin-pointy beard such as his lordship wears, and his coat and breeks are well kept, dusty as he's been on the road, but with no patchin' you can see."

The thoughts shared by us three were knitting together rapidly. Every fact the girl added to her account set this Shoan further apart from most peddlers we had known in the past.

"Did he ask questions?" I asked a little sharply.

"No, m'lady. Master Heddrick, he came by and heard him. Said he could eat with those of the guard as stayed here and get him a straw pallet in the gatehouse. Told him to come right along if he wanted his vittles hot. Then he gave us a smile and went."

"But not afore he said something else, m'lady," added Hanna. "Told us to show our ladies what we had bought, he did. He said to say, too, that he took orders for the best as could be got from Kingsburke, and he thought he would be traveling special from there to here from now on."

"Well done," I gave credit where due. "You're the best scouts we could ask for. Get you to the kitchen now and have your Sundown. You can bring ours here later."

After they were gone and the door had shut behind them, our thoughts were open as always when a matter of importance was to be considered.

"From Kingsburke..." Bina spoke first.

"He must think us fools!" flared Cilla. "All folk in Kingsburke would know of a Truce Meet, for peace councils are always reported to the king."

"Yes, and no one can cap merchants and peddlers when it comes to news-they have their own ways of learning such things," Bina agreed.

"A peddler who is a little too polished for his calling," I mused. "First comes that Chosen, who is like gravel in a boot, and now a peddler, smooth as a court servant, both from Kingsburke-both from the king? What game is being played now?"

"One that bodes no good for us," Bina declared. "I tell you, sisters, this is like being handed the end of a strand of wool from a ball all knotted together. We shall see what Heddrick has to add. Loosy and Hanna are sharp of wit in homely concerns, but Heddrick is wise in affairs of a much larger world, and he has never accepted matters as they appear on the surface."

The maids brought us our simple meal of cheese and same-day-baked bread with dried cherries added to the dough, a goodly treat Cook Mattie had devised this season.

With the light supper came a bottle of wine and a pitcher of milk. As usual, we drank more of the latter than the former. Loosy reported as she served us that the peddler was in the gatehouse with his wares but that he was to be at dice later with Heddrick and the stable master.

We had exhausted all our guesses concerning what Shoan was or would do. We therefore occupied the hours remaining before bedtime in debating what might happen at the Truce. When Cilla had yawned widely at least twice, we at last took our candles and sought our tower chamber.