Trouble with Kings Read Free Page A

not.”
    Garian straightened up. “Sleep.” To Netta, “Bring water when she needs it, then take it away again.”
    He left, I lay back down, and slid into dreams—but not for long.
    When I woke this time, it was from a cold breeze. One of the windows stood open. And outlined in front of it, a silhouette.
    I opened my mouth to scream as the figure dashed across the room. Before I got out much more than a squeak, a hand clapped over my mouth.
    “Don’t squawk, Flian. It’s only me.” It sounded like a young man.
    “Who’s that?” I tried to say, but it came out sounding like “Grmph?”
    The hand lifted, a tentative movement, and a male voice said, “I know I’m not much of a bargain in your eyes, but you have to realize by now that I’m preferable to them.”
    “Well, who are you?”
    I heard him draw in his breath. “You don’t recognize me? I’m Jaim.”
    “Jaim who? I ought to add that I managed to misplace my memory—”
    He stilled, profile outlined against the glass, then slid out the window and was gone.
    My door slammed open. One of the liveried men entered, his sword drawn, and behind him Netta, a lamp swinging in her hand.
    “My lady?” Netta gasped. “Did you cry out?”
    “He went out the window.” I pointed.
    The guard ran out, bent over the balcony rail, and peered in all directions. Then he ran back in and through the door, boots and weapons clattering, a contrast to Jaim’s silent step.
    Garian and Jason appeared, fully dressed, each carrying a weapon. Netta hadn’t been idle; the room was lit by then, and I had my nightcap off and shawl on.
    “Seems to be a night for excitement,” Garian commented, grinning. “Someone was here?”
    I shrugged. “Seems odd to me too. He said his name was Jaim.”
    “Damnation.” Garian sent a look at Jason, who did not react.
    Several more armed men appeared at the door, and Garian gave out commands for a search.
    When they were gone, Jason said, “It has to be Jaim. No one else could get past your guard. I trained him myself.” That last with a sort of wry smile.
    Garian opened his mouth, then glanced my way. They both did.
    Garian forced a hearty smile. “Go back to sleep. The, ah, thief will be apprehended. Not to worry.”
    “What did he want in here?” I asked. “Jewels?”
    Jason turned away, but not before I saw that he was on the verge of laughter.
    “What did Jaim say to you?” Garian asked.
    “Nothing that made any sense.”
    Jason’s stone face was back. “He’s an enemy of mine. No one for you to concern yourself with. Good night.”
    They left, and soon after I heard footsteps outside the door—a posted guard. Poor soul, I thought as Netta fussed about me. What a boring job.
    She offered to stay with me. I apologized for waking her and assured her that whatever guarding I needed could best be done by the fellow outside the door, and I lay back down.
    This time I made it all the way to morning without incident.
     
    After breakfast, Netta brought me a pale green silken underdress and fine, dark green cotton-wool gown that laced over it. In the corner was a cleaning frame; I did not feel like insisting on a bath, so I stepped through, and the magic sparked over me, leaving me fresh and clean.
    As I dressed and she combed out my hair, we chattered about little things: birdsong, the season. She told me about her daughter, who was a hairdresser.
    Once I was dressed I walked to the window, which opened onto a balcony. I stepped out into summery air, which was filled with the delicious scent of flowers and trees after a rain. My headache had receded to a distant throb, only nasty if I moved or turned quickly.
    Below the balcony lay a garden, which sloped away down a steep hill to a stone wall with sentries walking along it. Adjacent to me were the corners and towers of a fairly large castle. The rest of the mountain the castle was built on was hidden in forest and morning shadows. Above the castle, snowy peaks etched jagged