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inner bailey with the
three vassals close at their heels. Alinor's men-at-arms did not follow. The
Queen's retainers would be lodged in the keep itself; Alinor's would have to
make do with whatever accommodation they could find in sheds and tents. It
would be no hardship in the fine summer weather.
    In the inner bailey the better class of castle servants were
assembled, and a wave of movement passed over them as they knelt to the Queen.
Sir Simon, Sir Andre, and Sir John dismounted, bent the knee briefly, and went
to help their ladies down. Once on the ground Alinor prepared to curtsy again,
but the Queen stopped her.
    "Enough, child. You make me giddy with all your bobbing up
and down. And I am fain to be in a cooler place." She gestured at the
kneeling crowd. "You may rise and be about your business. See that you are
as brisk about that as about staring and louring."
    When they had passed through the forebuilding into the large guard
room, three sturdy retainers hurried forward. One stood between the foreshafts
of a high-backed, armed chair covered with fine new cushions, and two others
held the newly affixed strong rear poles. They knelt promptly, which set the
chair down on its legs. The Queen stared at the sumptuous affair with starting
eyes. Alinor blushed poppy-red. Sir Simon burst into a guffaw of laughter that
rang through the huge chamber.
    "For what is that, may I ask?"
    "I beg your pardon, Your Grace," Alinor gasped sinking
into a curtsy again. "It is—oh, dear— My grandmother—if she climbed the
stairs, she could not find her breath and a great pain took her across the
breast— And she was younger than you. Oh, dear! I beg Your Grace's pardon. I—I
did not know you were so—so young."
    The surprised indignation faded from the Queen's face. She
extended a hand and lifted Alinor to her feet, drew her close and kissed her.
"You are a kind child, and very thoughtful. Of course you have my pardon.
None is needed for an act of kindness. You have my thanks for your goodwill to
me." Still holding the blushing girl close, she turned on Simon. "And
what are you laughing at, you old warhorse? It is fortunate I shall never see
an equal consideration from you, for the surprise would slay me outright."
    Simon tried to swallow his laughter and succeeded only in choking
himself, so that he was speechless for some minutes. Finally he wiped his eyes
with the leather inside of his gauntlet and bowed to Alinor. "I was not
laughing at the kindness of the thought," he began gravely, but his
sobriety did not last. He began to laugh again. "She does not know you,
Madam, but to me, who have had much ado to keep pace with you, God help me, you
and that chair together are funny."
    The Queen stared at him enigmatically for a moment. There was not,
nor had there been, any anger in her face in spite of her sharp words. In fact,
although her expression was grave enough, her eyes were dancing with mischief.
    "Funny, eh?" she said softy. "Well, well, my Simon.
You have had your laugh, but I have just thought of a fine jest. We shall see
if you laugh as heartily at that."

CHAPTER 2
    Although the Queen had lightly climbed the steep and winding stair
to the Great Hall and even the second flight to the women's quarters, she was
burdened by her years. Having arrived in the solar, she was glad indeed to sink
into a chair by the great hearth and then drink the goblet of sweet wine Alinor
hurried to bring her. Then she smiled wryly.
    "I am too proud. Perhaps I had done better to accept your
chair, Alinor. I am weary, sore weary."
    "Come then to the wall chamber, Your Grace, and lay you
down," Alinor urged. "It will be some hours until dinner is ready, I
am sorry to say. It is late, but I did not know when you would come, and all
was held back half done so that a fitting meal might be set before you."
    The Queen nodded absently and followed Alinor toward her own
bedchamber, which had been swept and garnished, the huge bed—her grandfather
and