Casket of Souls

hadn’t put his foot in it right off the mark. He was glad he hadn’t gotten carried away and split one of the arrows, which he could very well have done on such a calm day.
    A page cleared Alec’s arrows from the target and Elani took her place at the line. To Alec’s considerable relief, she let fly three of her black-and-white-fletched shafts in quick succession and landed them in a grouping just as tight as his own.
    “Well shot!” Alec cried, as the courtiers applauded. As soon as the words left his lips he wondered again if he’d overstepped.
    Yet Elani looked pleased. “Thank you, my lord. Shall we have another go?”
    They shot several more times, with Elani proving herself Alec’s equal each time.
    “May I try the Radly?” She could have commanded him, but instead asked with the respect one archer accorded another. You didn’t ask such a thing lightly.
    “Of course, Highness.” Alec traded with her, and held hers carefully as she sent half a dozen arrows unerringly into the target, making a star design.
    When she was done she ran a hand over it again. “It’s a thing of beauty, Lord Alec. You must tell me where I can get one like it.”
    “Please, accept this one, Highness,” he said, though the words came with a twinge; this would be the second one, another gift from Seregil, that he’d lost.
    But she shook her head and handed it back. “No, it would be as wrong to part you from it as to take one of your hands.”
    “Then at least accept these, Highness.” He untied half adozen of the best shatta dangling from his quiver and presented them to her, a collection of carved gold, silver, ivory, two jades, and a carnelian. “They’re from Aurënen, and they’re called shatta, which means ‘prize.’ Archers win them from one another in matches like this.”
    Elani held them up, admiring them. “Yes, I know. Aunt Klia has some, from her time in that land. I gathered from how many you have that you must be very good. Thank you for these. Perhaps I’ll start the custom here.” She turned to her uncle in the next list over. “How are you and Lord Seregil faring, Uncle?”
    Korathan gave Seregil a wry grin. “If we’re going to start that custom today, my dear, then Lord Seregil owes me a good many more shatta than that.”
    They sat in the shade of a large grape arbor after that and drank chilled wine, then it was clear that Alec and Seregil were expected to take their leave. Alec left with a parting promise to send directions to Radly’s shop in Wolde and set off for the stables.
    Reltheus excused himself and accompanied them.
    “You’ve certainly made a favorable impression on the princess,” he said as they walked along. “Especially you, young Alec. You should be careful, or you’ll make your lover here jealous.”
    “He has no reason to be,” Alec replied, coloring a little.
    Reltheus chuckled at that. “Many young men would be pleased with such a conquest.”
    “I’d hardly say he conquered me,” Seregil said with a smile.
    Reltheus blinked, then got the joke. “I’ve heard you called the most amusing man in Rhíminee, Seregil. Since I’ve gotten to know you, I think I may just agree. Will you dine with me tonight, gentlemen?”
    “Why, we’d be delighted!”
    “I’ll send a carriage for you. I don’t suppose you could bring that actor fellow along?”
    “I believe he’s onstage tonight, unfortunately,” said Alec.
    “Let’s go and see him, then! My wife has been badgering me to take her. We can dine afterward.”
    Bidding the duke farewell at the stable gate, they got their horses from the liveried stable boy and set off for home.
    “Well, how did I do?” asked Alec.
    “Very well, talí. But you noticed we weren’t invited inside with the others? Korathan whispered a little warning to me while you and the princess were shooting.”
    “Really? What did he say?”
    “Just that while Elani has taken a liking to you, Phoria will most likely put a stop to it when she comes home. We’re not the sort of company she’ll want her future queen to keep. Then again, maybe Elani will have some say in the matter. We’ll just have to wait and see. Enjoy it while it lasts!”
    “Are you certain you’re all right with this?” asked Seregil as they waited for Reltheus’s coach to arrive that evening.
    “Stop asking!” Alec muttered, less than happy with the night’s plan.
    The duke and his wife soon arrived, and they set out for Gannet Lane.
    Reltheus