Kushiel's Dart

daggers rang free from their sheaths; I don't think he'd taken two steps before the lordling dropped my arm and the others began backing away, hastily sheathing their steel. The Eglantine flautist continued to play, no less merry with this new entertainment, and the singer took up a tambor while the tumblers threw tricks.
    "Enough, enough!" cried one of the ladies of the party, traces of hilarity still in her voice. She curtsied in Joscelin's direction. "Cassiel's Servant has amused us enough for one evening, I think."
    His glare could have chiseled stone, but their laughter echoed on the air as they departed. He turned his glare on me instead.
    "I suppose Delaunay sent you?" I asked reluctantly.
    "You are to return with me." His jaw clenched as he nodded toward Delaunay's coach, parked some distance away. The coachman looked apologetic. " Forthwith ."
    Hyacinthe leapt down from the barrel and ran over to give me a hasty farewell kiss. "Come when you can," he said, trying not to turn his laughing gaze on Joscelin, whose expression made it quite clear that that would be never, if he had any say in the matter. I prayed he didn't. "I always miss you."
    "Me too." I made a point of kissing him again, grabbing his black ringlets in both hands. "Take care, Prince of Travellers."
    We didn't speak in the coach, though Joscelin radiated fury like a forge. His ash-grey clothing had been pulled askew, and a hank of hair fell along his face; I am certain he never in his life imagined a Cassiline
    Brother could be subjected to such indignity, and it was obvious that he held me to blame.
    Which gave me cause to think about facing Delaunay. I did not look forward to it.
    If I expected to meet Delaunay's cold, implacable anger, I was mistaken, though not through any saving grace of my own. Joscelin conducted me to the library, hand at my back, nearly marching me along-and by this time, I was sufficiently aware of my guilt to make no protest. But when we arrived, Delaunay merely glanced up, raising a letter in one hand.
    "It's come," he said briefly. "Barquiel L'Envers will see me in two days' time."
    "My lord." I kept my voice steady with an effort. "Good news indeed."
    "Yes." He studied the letter as if dismissing us, then looked up again and this time his gaze held all the emotionless resolve I had feared. "Phedre. I warned you once; I will not do it again. If you leave these walls again without my permission, I will sell your marque. That is all."
    "Yes, my lord."
    My knees were trembling, and it took all the strength I had to turn and walk out without giving Joscelin Verreuil the satisfaction of seeing it. Before I closed the door behind me, I gained some measure of reparation in hearing Delaunay say to Joscelin, in quite a different tone, "What in the seven hells happened to you, lad?"
    It was a pity I didn't dare stay to hear his reply.

THIRTY
    There were terms, it seemed, to the Due L'Envers' agreement. He would meet with Delaunay on his own territory, on the L'Envers estate an hour's ride outside the City; not the seat of his duchy, which lay in northern Namarre, but a pleasure-retreat he used when attendant on the Palace. In addition, there was to be an escort of twenty of L'Envers' men-at-arms. The Due was taking no chances with Delaunay.
    This much we knew, so it was no surprise when the escort arrived en masse and the Captain of L'Envers' Guard knocked on the door. Delau-nay's horse was saddled and ready; although Joscelin was prepared to accompany him, he was minded to go alone. If it went well, he had said, there would be no need of Joscelin's aid; if it did not, then one Cassiline Brother alone would not suffice to protect him, not against those odds. A half-dozen might, or even four, but not one.
    Delaunay's plan, however, was laid in vain; Barquiel L'Envers had made other plans. The Captain of the Guard looked Delaunay up and down, folding his arms. He wore light chain-mail, under a tunic of deep purple with the L'Envers' crest on it in gold: a stylized bridge over a fiery river. "I was told to bring the others."
    "What others?"
    "D'Essoms' girl and the other, the boy who claims to know." The Captain looked smug; Barquiel L'Envers had done his schoolwork. Delaunay paused, then shook his head.
    "I vouch for their word. They stay here."
    "Then so do you." Turning on the doorstep, the Captain gave his men a hand-signal, and they wheeled their mounts.
    "Wait." Alcuin pushed past Delaunay. "I'll go." He turned before