A Posse of Princesses Read Free

opportunities
to find another boy you might like better—and you’ll have the time
to get to know one another. And meanwhile, you will be an
ambassador for our own kingdom. Good relations with our neighbors
is important.”
    Rhis laughed. “Being an ambassador might not
be romantic, but the parties and dances sound like fun!”
    Queen Hailen patted her cheek. “I think it
will be. Flirt all you like, but remember you cannot marry until
you are at least twenty. That might be a comfort.”
    Comfort , Rhis thought indignantly.
    Her mother went on with a smile, “At sixteen
we often make vows about the rest of our life, but the truth is,
the rest of our life usually looks very different at seventeen, and
even more different by eighteen. Enough talk! You have a long
journey ahead, so you must prepare. And part of that preparation is
to listen to Elda. She knows a great deal about the etiquette of
court life. This is something I know nothing of, which is why she
undertook to teach you, and not I.”
    Rhis bit her lip. She did not want to
complain about Elda, but she did not look forward to extra
lessons.
    Her mother took both her hands in her cool,
strong fingers. “Part of being a ruler is to recognize that
everyone has something of value to offer. What isn’t as valuable
can be . . . overlooked.”
    Overlooked. Did that mean that the queen knew
as well as Rhis did that Elda was a sour-pie?
    The queen gently squeezed Rhis’s hands. “I
see you understand what I mean.”
    It was all she said, but suddenly Rhis felt a
lot more grown up. “All right, Mama,” she promised. “I’ll learn as
much as I can.”
     

CHAPTER TWO
     
    Once the decision had been made that Rhis
should go, Elda took over the organization of her journey. With her
customary brisk and indefatigable energy, she not only insisted on
doubling Rhis’s lessons in proper royal etiquette, she also made
certain that Rhis would travel with an entourage fit for a princess
of Nym—complete to a new wardrobe.
    This last item made all the tedious lessons,
and lectures, worthwhile for Rhis. For the first time, she realized
what being rich meant .
    Though no one would know it to look at them
all in their sturdy castle that had for several centuries held off
ferocious winter winds, and equally ferocious warriors, Nym’s royal
family was wealthy. Queen Hailen only had a single jeweled and
embroidered velvet gown not because they couldn’t afford any
others, but because she only wore it once or twice a year, and
thought it impractical to order more. She was more proud of her
mage’s robes anyway—those she’d earned, she’d told Rhis once.
    Nym was small, mountainous, wealthy—and not
the least romantic any more.
    Rhis could recite Nym’s history without much
thinking about it. Its gemstones were world famous, and its
mines—most of them made by magic centuries ago by the mysterious
Snow Folk, whose descendents lived in the fog-shrouded Summer
Islands to the east—difficult for anyone but the people of Nym to
find and exploit. Many had been the attempts over the years to
conquer Nym, and failing that, to raid the caravans that left twice
a year to sell gems. For ages they had been protected by the tough
mountain fighters who had honed their abilities in Nym’s
interminable clan feuds, but after the country was united, the king
had chosen to protect his interests through magic rather than
bloodshed.
    Rhis had learned her history, but until now
the only part of it that had interested her were the old romances.
Not that there were many, but those few had been fairly
spectacular—night-time raids, escapes, abductions (planned by the
princess in question herself, so it would go right)—and most of
them happy. She didn’t like the ones that had come out
tragically.
    Finally the last day arrived. Everything was
packed, and loaded, and guards picked, and all the servants that
Elda thought appropriate for a Princess of Nym were also ready.
This included a