James P. Hogan Read Free

exhausted after her confrontation with Zileg to be up to taking on another one. “You don’t understand….”
    Leetha shook her head incredulously, golden curls swirling above her pale green gown. “I don’t understand you . What kind of woman would spoil a future like that? To be the wife of a dashing, fine-looking military officer, who could one day be the most powerful ruler in the entire region. If you weren’t the first in line… It isn’t fair. Ugh! It makes me so angry.”
    Vaydien sighed tiredly. Leetha was as blind as Zileg, but at least she had the excuse of being young. If the truth were known, Leetha very likely was destined to become a powerful lady in the land one day – but not as the wife of Zileg. If Vaydien guessed their father’s designs correctly, Zileg would be discarded when Erendred’s domain was overrun to become a part of Arigane, which was why he was being set up now with a wife who would be expendable. Leetha’s mother would have no argument with that. Getting Vaydien out of the way to clear the way for her own daughter’s future would suit her very well indeed.
    But talk along such lines would be shameful and unbecoming – as well as futile. Before Vaydien could respond, a soft knock sounded on the door. She turned her head toward it. “Yes?”
    “Mirsto.”
    “Yes, of course.”
    The door opened to admit a portly, aging, white-haired, bearded figure, clad in a blue robe. As the court physician, Mirsto was one of the few males permitted free access to this part of the palace. Even Zileg had overstepped protocol in entering – but Vaydien had expected nothing better. Mirsto gave Leetha an admonishing look.
    “Do you need to be here right now? Your sister has a lot to do today, preparing for tonight and then leaving tomorrow. She should be getting some rest.”
    “She doesn’t deserve —” Leetha began, but Vaydien cut in.
    “We were just talking. Leetha was about to leave anyway.” Vaydien shifted her eyes. “Weren’t you?”
    A moment passed. Leetha seemed reluctant to move. “Vaydien and I do have private matters to discuss,” Mirsto told her pointedly. She took in the look on his face, sniffed, and let herself out with a haughty toss of her curls. Mirsto moved to close the door behind her.
    Vaydien let several seconds pass, releasing her tension in a long, drawn-out breath. Mirsto reached out and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. The gesture was well-meant, Vaydien knew, but it felt empty. “I saw her follow Zileg in,” Mirsto explained. “It seemed better to wait until he’d left.”
    Vaydien could feel her eyes moistening with tears of frustration and helplessness. “I’m being sacrificed to Shandrahl’s ambitions, just as my mother was. Nothing but evil rules the world. Is that what ended the last one?” Then she saw that Mirsto’s eyes, still sharp and bright despite his years, were twinkling. “Why do you look like that? What place can there be for mirth, on today of all days?”
    “Oh, I don’t know that it’s all evil,” he replied. “I seem to remember a certain young gentleman who entertained the court here some time ago, who displayed fine manners and principles. He knew of wondrous people who talked of building a new world. And he promised one day to come back, I do recall.”
    Vaydien stared at him searchingly, as if fearing a poor joke. “At this late hour. How could it be?”
    “There is talk of surprise entertainment at the banquet tonight. And he was extremely well-received the last time.”
    “You really believe it could be possible?” Vaydien whispered. Mirsto led the way through to the rear room where she had been before, with the large windows opening out to the garden of the inner court. His voice took on a more serious and confidential tone.
    “I’ve had reports from the town. His wagon arrived in the hills above Escalos the day before yesterday.”
    Just when Vaydien had given up hope. She found herself trying to laugh, but