Kushiel's Mercy

straightened, stung. “I am. I earned this post, my lord, and I am loyal to her highness.
    These men . . .” He gestured. “They’re off duty, your highness. We completed drills this morning. There is no license here, if that’s your thought. We know our duty. Any one of us would lay down our lives to protect the Dauphine.”
    There were shouts of agreement from a few guardsmen within earshot who forgot to pretend they weren’t eavesdropping.
    “Is he good at his job?” I asked them.
    “Too good, my lord,” one called amid rumbles of laughter and agreement.
    “A strict taskmaster?” I asked. “Willing to share every hardship? Given to painstaking measures of precaution when it comes to the Dauphine’s safety?”
    “By the seven hells, is he ever!” Alfonse said fervently.
    I raised my brows at Claude de Monluc. “Well, then. I have no interest in your post, Captain.”
    He flushed. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be,” I said. “After Maslin de Lombelon’s ambitions, and with the gossip surrounding me, I don’t blame you for wondering . . .” A thought struck me. “Do you and your men drill on horseback?”
    “What?” De Monluc looked startled. “No, only on foot. We’re guards, not cavalry.”
    It was Maslin’s name had made me think of it. We had a long history. He had been the second in command of the Dauphine’s Guard, and, briefly, Sidonie’s lover. After they had quarrelled, he’d set out to find me in Vralia, determined to prove to her that he loved her more than I did. Instead, he’d found out a great deal about himself, including the fact that his feelings for Sidonie were a dubious mixture of yearning, ambition, and idealized romanticism.
    And that I, on the other hand, truly did love her.
    “You should,” I said. “The men who attacked me in Vralia were mounted. Maslin thought he could handle them, but good as he is with a sword, he doesn’t fight well in the saddle.”
    “And yet he saved your life, did he not?” de Monluc asked in confusion. “Or so I heard.”
    I hadn’t said any more than that publicly, reckoning it was true enough in its own way.
    “He did,” I said, lowering my voice. “Of a surety, I would likely have died if he’d not been there. But let us say I had more of a hand in my own salvation than Maslin would have liked.” I laughed at the memory. “He told me that he was hoping I’d have to spend the rest of my life knowing I owed every breath I drew to him.”
    “He said that?” De Monluc stared. “And you think it’s funny?”
    I shrugged. “In its own way, yes. Anyway, ’tis a serious weakness. What if Sidonie were attacked in the middle of a hunting party or riding from some pleasure jaunt?”
    “Do you think there’s reason to fear such a thing?” he asked.
    “Elua, I hope not!” I shuddered. “Still, people are capable of terrible things, my lord, and I daresay there are a few out there willing to blame Sidonie for the unspeakable sin of falling in love with Melisande Shahrizai’s son. Why not take every precaution?”
    “You’ve a point,” de Monluc said.
    Another thought struck me. “Ask Barquiel L’Envers for assistance,” I suggested.
    “Blessed Elua knows I can’t abide the man, but I’ve always heard he fielded an excellent light cavalry.” I laughed again. “Tell him it’s because you mistrust my intentions and you want Sidonie’s personal guard trained to deal with any possibility. He’ll leap at the chance.”
    “I’ll do that.” Claude de Monluc drained his ale. “You’re not exactly what I expected, Prince Imriel de la Courcel.”
    “Imriel,” I said.
    He nodded. “Imriel.”
    I finished my ale and rose. “I nearly lost my wits when my wife was slain. If anything like that were to happen to Sidonie . . .” It was so awful to contemplate, I couldn’t find words. “I don’t know.” I shook my head. “I couldn’t live through it twice. I’d die. And that’s really all you need to know about me, my lord de Monluc.”
    “Claude,” he said, rising and putting out his hand.
    I clasped it. “My thanks. Let me know what arrangements you make. If you don’t mind, I’d like to train with your men, so long as it’s not L’Envers himself doing the training. I could use some lessons on fighting in the saddle.”
    “Of course.” He smiled. “Sounds like you managed well enough in Vralia.”
    I smiled back at him. “Oh, I was on foot.”
    He stared. “On foot?”
    I laughed. “I spent