“Of course, a crowd of off-duty officers and men had gathered around to watch; we don’t discourage the pastime, for observation, too, is a form of training. At any rate, Lord Alexandros pulled off his helm and asked if any of the onlookers would care to give him a bout. When no one immediately came forward, he suggested that the swords be tarred and offered a silver piece for every tar mark an opponent could put on him.
“With my approval, the weapons master took him on … and lost. Then he took on two other officers and a dragoon sergeant of the Harzburk Ambassador’s retinue.
When he finally tired and took off his brigandine and helm, there was not one speck of tar
on either!”
Mara shook her head in wonderment. “What did this champion, after all that?”
“He threw spears for a while, and then we had a swim. And he’s like a fish. I’ve never known a man who could swim so far under water!”
“How did he spend that night, Fil?” Mara was again friendly, her worry erased. “Another banquet?”
“No, Your Grace, he said that he felt like having a quiet evening. We dined in his suite, played zahtreekeeohee for a while—he checkmated me quickly, two out of three times, and I’m not sure but that he allowed me my one win—and then we simply sipped wine and talked.”
“Of what did you and he talk, Fil?” “Of so very many things, my lady, that I hardly know where to begin. He asked many questions concerning the court—who were the leaders and principal members of the various cliques, which cliques favored which high-lord or high-lady, the names of the most powerful men, and what were their vices or weaknesses. He asked many questions concerning our customs, not only of the court and palace, but of the city and countryside. He had me tell him all I knew of the Horseclans, He asked me to tell him of my hereditary city and lands, of my boyhood, of my campaigns and the different tribes I had fought, of my service and duties and various assignments since I entered Your Grace’s guard, of my future plans, of my hopes and aspirations. He dismissed me near midnight.” “What did he do the next day?”
“Pemtee, he arose and broke his fast early, then spent the entire day, until sunset, in the palace library. My lady must, I fear, ask the librarian what Lord Alexandros read, for I assigned some guards and went about other duties of mine.”
Mara shrugged. “I can’t see that what he read is of import. And what of that night?”
“Dinner and entertainment at the palace of Lord Strahteegos Gabos.” The young officer grinned wickedly. “Yes.” Mara cracked a knuckle. “I heard of that rout. Jtt
Two duels came out of it, one a death match. And what sort of swath did our Sea Lord cut through the ranks of the grass-widows?”
“Lord Alexandros could have had any woman in that palace, Your Grace, merely by a nod or a look or a crook of one finger. The Lady Loanna never took her eyes off him from the moment he arrived. In the course of the evening, she and a number of others managed to corner him, and the language used in some of their invitations would have embarrassed a stone statue!”
“And his replies were … ?” prompted Mara impatiently.
“The essence of diplomacy, Your Grace, and if he was dissembling, he hoodwinked everyone … including me. His tale was guaranteed to touch the heart of almost any living female. He declared that, soon after his arrival, he had seen the woman of his dreams, had fallen in love with her at a single glance, but could not declare his passion, as she was the honorable wife of a powerful lord. He admitted that, though he might never be enabled to consummate his love for her, his needs must await the improbable chance, since the charms of no other woman could any longer stir him.
“My Lady, they all wept for pity of his plight; a few swooned. When the tale got about the gathering, Lord Alexandros was put to a merciless questioning to establish the identity of his love, but he simply answered all with a sad smile and a shake of his head. I think that each of the ladies offered at least once to plead his case, if he would but tell her whom to approach; several of the gentlemen suggested that there were numerous persons in the city who, for a modest fee, could quietly and discreetly dispose of inconvenient husbands . . . permanently. He refused them all,