Tricksters Queen (50 page)

Aly looked at her jumbled desk. "Well," she said wearily, "if I'm staying, I'd better recruit some more help."

The day after the end of Midwinter, the Throne Hall of the royal palace blazed with the light cast by a thousand lamps and candles. It glittered on gold and silver jewelry, hoards of gemstones, silks and satins, and in the hundreds of pairs of eyes that were fixed on the dais. Incense rose to form clouds against the high ceilings, scenting the air. Chimes tinkled as breezes moved through the hall.

Taybur Sibigat, captain of the Queen's Guard, knelt on the second-highest step of the dais, holding a cushion above his head. On it shone gold shaped as a crowned headdress at the front, with a spray of copper sprigs at the back, each dangling gold drops. Copper drops hung from a forehead plate. Dovasary Haiming Temaida Balitang, dressed all in silver satin patterned in black, reached for the Crown, made from old descriptions to look like the original Crown of the Isles. With hands that trembled, she raised it for her audience to see, then carefully lowered it to rest on her own head. It was how the Kyprin queens had always been crowned, since no one wanted to offend their peculiar god by claiming his priesthood.

The onlookers, noble and common born, sent up a thunder of applause and cheers that startled the small winged horses from the beams overhead. They swooped around the new queen, who stood there patiently, waiting for quiet.

To the side, tucked into the shadow of a pillar, her spy-master leaned against Nawat Crow with a happy sigh.

Epilogue

At the Kudarung Inn Rajmuat in the Copper Isles April 2,464 H.E.

In the morning the Tortallan delegation would sail home, with reports for their monarchs on the new queen and her government. For this occasion some of its members had taken a private room for a very private dinner. Their two local guests came separately, one as a crow who changed into human form once he reached his father-in-law's chambers. Aly came disguised as a Carthaki lady, complete with veils.

She and Nawat sat at the table with her family, everyone full of good food and busy with lively talk. Aly, whose morning sickness extended sometimes to evenings, had contented herself with a mild broth and fruit juices. She looked frequently at the slight swell of her belly, mystified by the thought that another human being was taking shape beneath her navel.

She sat between her father, George Cooper, baron of Pirate's Swoop, and her mother, Alanna the Lioness, lady knight and King's Champion of Tortall. From that position she could look at her brothers. Alan wore a squire's gear. His knight-master had allowed him to carry word to his parents that it was time to come home, and to attend his twin's wedding before he returned with them. Thorn was bouncing Sar-ralyn Salmalin on his knee, explaining to the two-year-old the difference between a star and a moon, while Sarra beamed up at him. Next to him Veralidaine Salmalin, known as Daine the Wildmage, gently rocked baby Rikash and talked softly with the crowd of darkings assembled on the table before her. Her husband, the mage Numair, was deep in conversation with Aly's grandfather, Tortall’s official spy-master, Myles of Olau. Eleni, lady of Olau, discussed bird lice cures with Nawat.

"Well, I never thought you would do it," Alanna remarked as she sat back in her chair.

Aly gave an inward sigh, certain she was about to get a speech in how she ought to behave. "Do what, Mother?" she asked, keeping the impatience from her voice. It's the last time I'll see her, she scolded herself. I can take a little lecture from her, surely.

"Find a cause that caught you up and gripped you in your very veins," Alanna replied quietly, her eyes on the raka tapestries on the walls. "Find some passion that would consume you. Make you a fool with the rest of us fools."

"I'm
hardly
consumed," Aly began to say. Then she looked at her mother, at the lines at the corners of her mother's famed violet eyes, at the blue pearl drops hanging from her ears, Aly's Midwinter gift, at the callused and scarred hands that Alanna had folded on the table. Slowly Aly's sense of reality overcame her. Her mouth twitched. Her mother was right. Aly
had
found something to consume her, even if she didn't show it as her mother did. "Have I ever mentioned that I hate it when you're right?" she asked instead.

Alanna shook her head. "No, I don't believe you have. As far as I could tell, you never thought I was right."

Another bubble of vexation fizzed up out of Aly's belly and popped. She could see a smile tugging her mother's lips. "Since you mention it, no. Except now, Mother." She offered her hand.

Alanna took it and kissed Aly on the cheek. "Goddess bless you each and every day," she whispered. "The Great Mother is surely too wise to hold a grudge simply because you helped her brother."

Finally Aly and Nawat had to go, or fall asleep on the table. Aly took leave of her family, hugging everyone hard, fixing their faces in her mind. She saved her father for last. Standing on tiptoe, she whispered, "Da, I'd like all of your agents out of the Isles by the end of the month. Elsewise I'll arrest them and ship them home."

George looked down at his daughter, his eyes lighting up with amusement. He raised an eyebrow at her.

Aly knew what he meant by it. He would simply recruit new people in the Isles, because that was his job. Smiling wickedly, she raised one eyebrow of her own.

Back in their palace quarters, Nawat watched as Aly walked onto the veranda. The late-night air blew around her, molding her light nightgown to her body. "You will find ways to see them, and they to see you," he called to her. "They are not lost to you, or you to them. They will always be your flock."

"I know," Aly called, looking up at the sky. The sliver of the moon and the dots of the stars were as they had been in the months before the gods had waged their battle in the Divine Realms. Kyprioth had reclaimed his true throne in full, and Mithros and the Goddess were still searching for their shields. "I know. There's no reason we can't see each other, if we're discreet. Though we're going to be frightfully busy."

"There is much for us to do," Nawat agreed. "But there must be time for fun as well. Fun, and sparklies, and nestlings, and all the other things that make life interesting. For example, you could make my life interesting right now, if you chose."

Aly laughed. "And where would you be if I didn't choose?" she asked, walking inside once more.

Nawat smiled at her, the smile of a man who loved a woman. "Right here," he said confidently. "I would wear you down."

Aly was drifting off to sleep when a familiar, crisp voice whispered in her ear,
There's a girl. You get some rest. The Isles will give you all the interesting things you can stand.
Kyprioth added,
And so will I.

Acharn Uniunu -
boy noble, member of Dunevons court

Adona         -
luarin noble house

Alan of Pirates Swoop     -
Alianne s seventeen-year-old twin brother

Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau  -
the Tortallan King's Champion, lady knight

Alianne of Pirate's Swoop-
daughter of Alanna and George of Pirate's Swoop, former slave

Ankoret Obeliten -
noblewoman at regents' court

Atisa Libo-
pretty, plump, Guchol's sister, one of Aly's spy pack

Bacar -
footman for a Balitang neighbor

Bean- 
darking placed in the palace

Boulaj-
raka warrior, maid to Sarai, one of Aly's spy pack

Bronau Jimajen-
Rubinyan's deceased brother, murderer of Mequen Balitang

Callyn -
spy recruit, works for the harbormaster

Chenaol -
free raka head cook for the Balitangs, armorer for rebels

Dori/ize -
Nuritin's maid, member of raka conspiracy

Dovasary (Dove) Balitang -
Mequen's half-raka daughter from first marriage

Druce Adona -
nobleman, one of Sarai's suitors

Dunevon Rittevon -
boy king of Copper Isles

Edunata Mayano -
luarin noblewoman, one of Imajane's ladies-in-waiting

Eleni of Olau -
Myles's wife, Aly's grandmother

Elsren Balitang -
Dunevon's heir, luarin son of Mequen and Winnamine

Eyun -
part-raka warrior, determined, member of Aly's spy pack

Faithful -
supernatural cat, Alanna's former companion

Feather -
darking placed in Teak Sitting Room, Balitang House

Fegoro -
hard raka warrior, member of Aly's spy pack

Ferdolin Tomang (Ferdy)-
one of Sarai's suitors, count, wealthy luarin

Fesgao Yibenu -
raka sergeant of Balitang men-at-arms, rebel war leader

Flame -
darking placed to spy on Duke Nomru

Gazlon Lelin -
boy noble, member of Dunevon's court

Genore Tomang -
dowager countess, Ferdolins mother, member of luarin conspiracy

George of Pirates Swoop -
Alanna's husband, Aly's father, baron and second in command of his realm s spies

Gian -
Elsrens manservant, spy recruit

Graveyard Hag -
trickster, primary goddess of Carthak, Kyprioths kinswoman

Grosbeak –
Topabaw’s spy, collector of information

Guchol Libo -
plump, good-humored, Atisa's sister, one of Aly's spy pack

Haiming -
former raka ruling house

Hazarin -
deceased former king

Herbrand Edgecliff -
luarin bookseller, member of raka conspiracy

Hessken -
soldier, Rittevon Guard

Hiraos -
handsome raka, member of Aly's spy pack

Huldean Obeliten -
boy noble, member of Dunevons court

Hunod Ibadun -
noble executed by the regents

Imajane Jimajen -
born Rittevon, King Oron's half sister, princess regent

Imgehai Qeshi -
priestess of Black God of death, member of luarin conspiracy

Inayica        -
female ship captain

Isalena Obemaek -
luarin, one of Sarai s friends

Jesi -
Nuritin's secretary

Jevair Ibadun -
noble, one of Sarai's suitors

Jimarn -
former slave, deadly member of Aly's spy pack

Jonathan of Conte - 
king of Tortall, Aly's godfather

Junai Dodeka -
Ulasim's daughter, Dove's bodyguard, one of Aly's spy pack

Kaddar Iliniat -
emperor of Carthak, patron and cousin of Zaimid Hetnim

Kadyet -
noble house, Balitang neighbor

Kioka -
pert raka, one of Aly's spy pack

Konutai -
female Stormwing, Taybur's friend

Kyprioth -
trickster god

Lace -
darking placed in raka meeting room, Balitang House

Lehart Obemaek -
luarin lord, member of luarin conspiracy

Lelin -
luarin noble house

Lohearn Mantawu -
Topabaw, duke, Crown spymaster

Lokeij -
raka hostler for the Balitangs, deceased

Ludas Jimajen -
second in command of the luarin invasion of the Copper Isles

Lutestring -
Topabaw's agent and information gatherer

Matfrid Fonfala -
Winnamine's father, lord, member of luarin conspiracy

Mayce -
soldier, Rittevon Guard

Meipun Kloulechat -
raka baron

Mequen Balitang -
deceased duke, father to Balitang children

Merani -
luarin noblewoman

Murtebo -
Balitang neighbor

Myles of Olau -
head Tortallan spymaster, Aly's grandfather, Alanna's adoptive father

Nawat Crow -
crow who turned himself into a man

Numair Salmalin -
powerful mage, Daine's husband

Nuritin Balitang -
great-aunt to Balitang children, unofficial head of extended Balitang family

Obeliten -
luarin noble house

Ochobu Dodeka -
mother of Ulasim, leader of mages of the Chain

Olkey -
chubby, thoughtful, one of Aly's spy pack

Own Rittevon -
deceased king of the Copper Isles

Otaviyu Lelin -
one of Sarai's friends, parents are members of luarin conspiracy

Pembery -
part-raka, Winnamine s maid, belongs to rebellion

Peony -
darking placed to spy on agent Grosbeak

Petranne Balitang -
Mequen's first child with Winnamine

Qovold Engan -
baron, royal astronomer, member of luarin conspiracy

Quartz -
darking placed with Countess Tomang

Quedanga -
Balitang housekeeper, head of communications, member of rebel leadership

Raoul of Goldenlake and Malories Peak -
lord, knight-commander of the King's Own,

Alan's knight-master

Rasaj -
handsome raka, member of Aly’s spy pack

Rihani -
raka healer, nursemaid to Petranne and Elsren

Rikash Salmalin -
Daine and Numair's infant son

Rittevon Lanman -
leader of luarin conquest of Copper Isles

Roald of Conte -
prince, heir to Tortallan throne

Roger of Conte -
King Jonathan's deceased uncle, rebel

Rosamma Tomang -
one of Sarai's friends, Genore's daughter

Rubinyan Jimajen -
luarin, husband of Princess Imajane, prince regent

Rufert -
soldier, Rittevon guard

Saraiyu (Sarai) Balitang -
Mequen's oldest daughter, half raka, from his first marriage

Sarralyn Salmalin-
Daine and Numair's daughter

Sarugani Temaida -
Mequen's first wife, raka, mother of Dove and Sarai, deceased

Sevmire Ambau -
Rubinyan's personal spymaster, luarin

Shinkokami -
princess, wife of Prince Roald, heir to Tortallan throne

Spot (now Secret) -
darking first placed in king's bedroom, then with Aly

Sulion -
royal governor of Tongkang

Taybur Sibigat -
captain of King's Guard

Temaida -
raka noble house, keepers of  the Haiming bloodlines, Sarugani s family

Thayet of Conte -
Queen of Tortall, co-ruler with her husband, King Jonathan

Thorn of Pirate's Swoop -
Aly’s older brother, a student mage

Tkaa -
basilisk, immortal and friend of Aly's family

Topabaw -
people's name for Duke Lohearn Mantawu, Crown spymaster

Trick -
darking who stays with Aly

Ukali -
wicked, dangerous, one of Aly's spy pack

Ulasim Dodeka -
head footman to Balitangs, general of rebellion, raka, Ochobu's son, Junai's father

Uniunu -
luarin noble house

Vedec Golzai -
young luarin noble

Veralidaine (Daine) -
half goddess, called the
Sarrasri Salmalin
Wildmage for her

skills with animals, Aly's adoptive aunt

Vereyu -
raka servant, head of raka conspiracy at palace

Vitorcine Townsend -
double agent, maid to Obemaek family

Vurquan Nomru -
duke, luarin, popular, member of luarin conspiracy

Wayan -
raka child, message runner at Bali tang House

Wesedi -
luarin noble house, friends of Winnamine's

Winnamine Fonfala Balitang -
duchess, mother of Petranne and Elsren, member of

luarin conspiracy

Yoyox -
cheerful, bold raka, member of Aly's spy pack

Ysul -
mage of the Chain, mute, member of raka conspiracy

Zaimid Hetnim -
handsome Carthaki healer, friend of the Carthaki emperor