The Princess anchored the towel more firmly about her as they dumped the water into an outsize bucket and refilled the basin for Roane. Though this was far different from the more efficient freshers she had always known, she found it good. The soapy substance oozing from the matted fibers of the scrubber had a fresh, herbal odor she liked.
Ludorica sorted a pile of clothing, holding up one garment and then another to measure against her body. She laughed.
“Nelis has the name of being one who does not notice women too closely. But this is proof his cold reputation is not deserved. These are a good fit. We shall go reasonably well clad. Now—the brown for you, and I will take the blue.”
Roane dressed in the unfamiliar clothes. They were clean, if creased, and to them, too, a good herb scent clung. There were no mirrors, but she thought the Princess right. These fitted well. The skirt was full, ankle length, and its folds felt odd against her legs so long used to coveralls. In contrast the bodice was tight, laced from belt to just under her throat with silken red strings. Embroidery of the same shade of red bordered those lacings. The dress itself was a pleasant yellow-brown. There was also a hooded cloak lined with red, and a close-fitting cap with a turned- back border, embroidered all over with small, very skillfully fashioned red feathers.
The Princess wore dark blue, her trimming a vivid green but otherwise differing none from Roane’s. There was no cap for her. Instead she combed and braided her long hair, allowing the braids to lie free on her shoulders.
“Very good.” She looked from Roane down along her own person, then back to Roane. “We eat now and then we ride. At least it is a clear night. Nelis thinks it will remain so, and he knows this country well enough to speak with authority.”
They descended to the lower room, where the table was once more set with food, rounds of cold meat, bread, and fruit. The man who rose to greet them was not in uniform but wore a dusty gray suit, with a close-fitting cap which allowed only his face free, for it had a lower frill lapped about his neck, fastening under the chin.
“Nelis!” Ludorica seated herself in the chair he drew out for her. “You?”
He laughed. “Did I not tell you that I knew these hills well? Do you think I would let you ride them alone, Your Highness?” Then he became serious. “You will have your escort of picked men, men from my own stead. They own me overlord as well as field commander.”
“But if Reddick learns you are gone, he may suspect—” “We have worked out a scheme for that. Remember, you are lost out of Hitherhow. I am searching for you with a flying column and am thus hard to reach, very hard. As far as this company is concerned—though we can answer for their loyalty—they will march within the hour to patrol west of Granpabar, which is territory I do not think the Duke dares invade as yet—seeing as how the lord there has good reason to dislike him.” “Trust you, Nelis—” The Princess laughed, too. “I hope you can, Your Highness,” he cut in, still sober. “I hope you can! I understand your reasoning, and it was ever the way of your House to play boldly at need. But there are many ways this play can go wrong. Do not be too confident—”
“Which urging I have had from you many times in the past! No, there is something now which gives me confidence, Nelis. Reddick could not have foreseen the arrival of Roane to spoil his plan. So far every throw of the wish sticks has turned up in my favor. Oh”—she held up her hand when he would have spoken— “I cannot count on such fair fortune’s continuing. But while it is with me, let us make the most of it, just as we shall now make the most of this most excellent food.”
They were not, Roane discovered to her silent relief, expected to ride duocorns alone. She had never guided such a mount in her life, and to begin riding lessons now—there was no time.
To keep their cover of peasant women, who did not usually ride alone, she and the Princess must ride pillion, the Princess with the Colonel, Roane behind one of the other men. All wore the drab civilian dress. And under the cloak she still had her belt, which she determined to cling to. Possession of that gave her the feeling that she was still Roane Hume, not a stranger to herself also.
By dawn, after threading a maze of dusky valleys and scrambling up hillsides where they must dismount to walk their animals, they reached a pass through which the wind blew cruelly cold. Roane was glad of the cloak. Twice they had halted to let the third man of the party scout ahead. But there had been no alarms. And now the Colonel pointed down the slope before them.
“Leichstan, but Gastonhow lies a good eight leagues on. We shall have to rest and change mounts before we reach there.”
“We cannot go to any inn,” the Princess protested.
“Neither can we go far on worn-out duocorns,” Imfry returned. “With those clothes you are of Reveny right enough, but many border families have kin on either side. There may well be a wedding to which we have been bid—”
“Not so! A wedding would have been far-cried. These people will know what chances even from hamlet to hamlet. It had better be a birthing, perhaps in a head homestead. We can pick straw for a babe garland as we go.”
“It never ceases to amaze me, Your Highness, how you know all customs—”
“But it should not, kinsman. Of what use is any ruler to her people unless she understands their ways? Oh, I know that there is in some countries the odd belief that there is no common meeting point between king and subject. But that is not so with my House and never has been.”
“A point which has kept your line safely enthroned.”
“Until nowl And then that dark shadow comes not from my own people but from kin. And kin quarrels are always the most bitter.”
But it seemed that the Princess’s plan was not to be put into practice, for their scout returned with the news that a party was traveling the main road to the nearest inn and that he had recognized one face among the travelers. “Kaspard Fancher!” the Princess repeated. “I fear”—the Colonel had dropped his voice a little—”that our period of favoring fortune is over. Fancher is—”
“I know well what he is,” Ludorica interrupted. “Which means that Reddick has given me credit for trying to reach King Gostar. But he also knows that I am not altogether stupid, however much he wishes that so. Very well. Fancher may be riding with all the support the Duke can raise for him, but Reddick is not yet King of Reveny, nor even close to the throne. I am the Princess, and Imbert Rehling was my father’s good friend. He will smooth my path to Gostar, and Reddick cannot prevent that.” “If we reach Rehling—”
“The Court is at Gastonhow, so all ambassadors will follow. It is early in the season for such a move, but King Gostar cherishes this young second queen of his. The rumor has it that she may present him soon with a princeling—so he has brought her to drink the waters of the Faithwell.”
“Superstition!”
“Perhaps—but then again perhaps not. Xhere was a Guardian at the Faithwell; that has been attested to beyond any doubt. And also there have been many cases of women in difficult childbirth being soothed by its waters. Why, Gastonhow was built by Queen Marget because she feared to lose her fourth child, having three others die as she still lay in bed from the bearing of them. She stayed there during the major part of her time of carrying and thereafter bore five sons and three daughters with no ills.”
“History! What does it matter now about Queen Marget? If the court is at Gastonhow and Fancher goes here, we must be very sure of our ground. Best send a messenger—”
“But why should we not just push on the faster to Gastonhow ourselves?”
“Not until I am sure what awaits us there.”
“Sure of what? That Fancher is here to make what trouble he can? We know that. Lord Imbert will prevent him from seeing the King, and he cannot work mischief with Imbert himself. But —perhaps— Perhaps you are right, Nelis. It is better not to spoil our plans now for the want of a little caution. And I shall give the messenger that which will get him speedy speech with Lord Imbert.” The Princess pulled at one of her long braids, breaking loose five hairs, which she counted carefully before she knotted them together. “Now a resuah leaf—”