IT WAS STRANGE, DIANORA THOUGHT, STILL MOVING THROUGH the crowded Audience Chamber as spring sunlight filtered down on Brandins court from the stained- glass windows above, how the so clear portents of youth were alchemized by time into the many-layered ambiguities of adult life.
Sipping from her jeweled cup she sidered the alternative. That she had simply allowed things to bee nuanced and difficult. That the real truths were exactly the same as they had been on the day she arrived. That all she was doing was hiding: from what she had bee, and what she had not yet done.
It was the tral question of her life and once more she pushed it away to the edges of her awareness. Not today. Not in any daytime. Those thoughts beloo nights alone in the saishan when only Scelto by her dht know how sleepless she was, or find the tracks of tears along her cheeks when he came to wake her in the m.
Night thoughts, and this was bright day, in a very public place.
So she walked over towards the man shed reized a her smile reach her eyes. Balang her chalice gracefully she sketched a full Ygrathen salute to the portly, soberly dressed persoh three heavy gold s about his neck.
"Greetings," she murmured, straightening and moving nearer. "This is a surprise. It is rare ihat the so-busy Warden of the Three Harbors deigns to spare a moment from his so-demanding affairs to visit old friends.」
Unfortunately Rhamanus was as hard to ruffle or discert as he had ever been. Dianora had been trying to get a rise out of him ever sihe night hed had her bundled like a brown heifer out of the street in front of The Queen and onto the river galley.
Now he simply grinned, heavier with the years gone by and, latterly, his shore-bound duties, but unmistakably the man whht her here.
One of the few men from Ygrath she genuinely liked.
"Not so much flavor from you, girl," he mock-growled. "It is not for idle women who do nothing all day but put their hair up and down and up again for exercise to criticize those of us who have stern and arduous tasks that shorten hts and put grey in our hair.」
Dianora laughed. Rhamanuss thick black curls—the envy of half the saishan—showed not a trace of grey. She let her gaze linger expressively on his dark locks.
"Im a liar," Rhamanus ceded with untroubled equanimity, leaning forward so only she could hear.
"Its been a dead-quiet winter. Not much to do at all. I could have e to visit but you know how much I hate these goings-on at court. My buttons pop when I bow.」
Dianora laughed again and gave his arm a quick squeeze. Rhamanus had been kind to her on the ship, and courteous and friendly ever since, even when shed been merely another new body— if a slightly notorious one—in the saishan of the King. She knew he liked her and she also knew, from dEymon himself, that the former Tribute Ship captain was an effit and a fair administrator.
She had helped him get the posting four years ago. It was a high honor for a seaman, supervising harbor rules and regulations at the three main ports of Chiara itself. It was also, to judge from Rhamanuss slightly threadbare clothing, a little too he seat of power for any real gains to be extracted.
Thinking, she clicked her tongue against her upper teeth, a habit Brandin teased her about. He claimed it always signaled a request or a suggestion. He knew her very well, which frightened her at least as much as it did anythin