The climb to the terrace was a trial for Morgan’s bad leg, but she made it without having to stop. “Stephen, you’ve got to put steps on that hill. I can’t make it anymore,” she said as she accepted Stephen’s help to climb over the low wall.
“I wondered how long it was going to take you to come visit, Morgan,” Stephen said as he handed Morgan a glass of wine.
Morgan sipped before she spoke. “Well, with news like this, we thought we should go straight to Java, but we can’t get into the palace.”
Emily stood quickly. “News like what?”
Dannett stepped forward, speaking rapidly. “You don’t know? They made Java the heir. Duke Arten and Duchess Naria adopted her.” Dannett’s eyes were wide, the whites showing all around.
“What!” Emily shouted as she staggered back to her seat. She seemed stunned as she looked at her archers. “They did what? Where did you hear this?”
“The whole city is buzzing with the news. At court today, Duke Arten and Duchess Naria adopted Java and made her the Heir to Hiddendell,” Morgan said softly. “We heard the news at an inn. We heard other things as well.”
“I’ll bet. Stephen…” Emily began as she surged to her feet, but her brother was already moving.
“I’m on the way. Are you coming?” he asked over his shoulder.
Sergeant Whitehall led her archers through the manor and out the gate in formation, following on Captain Corban’s heels.
“What could Arten and Naria be thinking?” Emily asked, looking to her brother for answers. “Adopting a child would make sense. But Java? Gods!”
“They may be thinking that the heir might need to protect herself. You don’t know the climate in court these days,” Stephen said over his shoulder.
“That was part of what we heard, sir,” Cindy put in. “A drunk was spouting off about how Lord Broward would never allow a lowborn bitch on the throne.”
“He’s probably right. But Lord Denver has never tried his tricks against a merc. And especially not against a Firewalker.” Stephen smiled nastily at his sister and her friends. “I want to see him try.”
“Java’s going to need extra protection, no matter how you look at it,” Emily said softly. “She’s going to need her friends.”
“That’s why we’re here, Emily,” Ari said, smiling. “I’ll bet Java is fit to be tied.”
Captain Corban reached the palace gates and marched through without stopping, the Firewalkers on his heels. The Guards at the gate started to interfere, but a single look at Emily’s face convinced them to step back. Some of them knew exactly who she was, and knew better than to make her mad.
Stephen stopped a servant as soon as they entered the palace. “Where are Princess Java’s rooms?”
“This way, Lord Corban. But the lady—I mean princess, isn’t there. She’s still in the court, at the party,” the maid said quietly. Gossiping was forbidden in the palace. For servants, at least.
“Very well,” Stephen said as he turned and strode away. The Firewalkers followed on his heels as he walked through the palace to the courtroom. The Guards saw them coming and stepped forward.
“Captain, you can’t bring these women into the court. You know that, sir,” the senior sentry began, but the captain cut him off.
“Stow it, Ranston.” Stephen pushed past the Guards, but Emily stopped her archers.
Without looking she raised both hands and pointed up the hall in both directions. “Post. Cover the entrance,” she instructed, and her archers instantly obeyed. The patrol spread out, each woman taking a position to watch the corridor in one direction or the other.
Sergeant Ranston started to object, but thought better of it. With Captain Corban here, only the duke or duchess could overrule him. He and the other two sentries tried to watch all the women at once, but it was in vain.
Java burst through the doors and past the startled sentries. “Ari!” she shouted, surprising the sentries further.
Ari held out her arms and picked Java up into a hug. “Well, little friend, what’d you get yourself into this time?”
Java laughed. “It’s not my fault!”
Dannett claimed Java next, hugging her as hard as she could. “Oh, Java! What are we going to do without you?”
“Without me? What do you mean?” Java asked, concerned as to what her friends had heard.
“We heard they made you the heir. That means you have to stay here from now on,” Darla put in.
“No, I don’t. I told them that I’m still myself, and still a Firewalker.” Java hugged Darla, Agness and Cindy. Kerry Falkenburg stood back until Java reached for her. “Don’t be shy, Kerry. When you joined the patrol, you became family too.”
“How did Duke Arten take that, Java?” Emily asked, walking forward to claim a hug as well.
“He wasn’t thrilled, but then I wasn’t exactly thrilled at being made his heir, either. Duchess Naria understands better than Duke Arten, but he does understand.” Java’s smile was contagious, and soon the whole hallway was full of happy women.
“Java, not everyone is happy about this,” Morgan began, but Java waved her away.
“We know. Lord Broward and his followers all left early. Duke Arten insulted him when he challenged their right to adopt me. We’re expecting trouble.” Java looked at “her” patrol and smiled. “Gods, what a mess.”
“As usual,” Ari quipped.
*
Java’s education began early that night. Her status as a single woman was known, and the single men who wished for power began courting her immediately.
“Robin, can you believe these notes?” Java asked as she laughed, handing a particularly ridiculous note to Robin.
Robin read the note aloud, laughing. “Princess Java, your hair is like the, what does he say? The velvet sky? Your hair isn’t black. Anyway, your lips are like cherries, your voice the song of a lark, he’s obviously never heard you sing, your… now wait one damn minute,” Robin said harshly. “How in the hells would he know what your breasts look like?”
Java leaned back in her chair, laughing. “I wonder who he actually wrote that for? Or if he actually wrote it at all? Sammy said most highborns don’t have the imagination to make up anything really good, so they pay others to do it for them.” She giggled for a moment. “Can you imagine Jah’Moke writing something like this?”
“Jah’Moke would say it to your face. But Gah! Who would pay for this tripe?” She waved a note in the air. “Honestly, Java, who do they think you are, some empty-headed court twit with nothing between your ears but fluff?” Robin was making faces to make Java laugh, and she was succeeding.
“Robin, stop that! My sides are starting to hurt. Oh, I don’t know who they think I am, and I don’t know who they think they are either. What right do any of them have to send me anything like this?” She held up another note, showing Robin the flowery script. “Oh, gracious Lady, I pray for your companionship through the years. My heart yearns for… you get the picture. I don’t care what Naria says, I’m wearing my uniform from now on. It makes me look like a boy. Although, there are certain advantages to being in a dress.” Java smiled sweetly, then tossed a grape down Robin’s cleavage.
“Hey! That’s cold. Oh, are you going to get it…” she advanced on Java with her fingers hooked into claws, but Java just laughed.
“If it’s what I think that it is, then I want it,” Java said, reaching out to Robin and pulling her down.
Robin resisted. “Java, Duke Arten warned me that we have to be careful,” she said softly, looking into Java’s eyes. “There are a lot of people who would make trouble for us if they found out that we’re Le’Ah. Wait until later, when we can be sure of being alone.”
Java looked at Robin, hurt shining in her eyes. “Are you sure you just want to be careful, Robin? You aren’t mad at me, are you?” she asked in a small voice.
“Oh, Java, no,” Robin whispered, caressing Java’s cheek with her fingers. “I’m not mad. I just want to avoi
d as much trouble as we can. A maid could walk in at any time. Just wait until tonight, when we can lock the door and be truly alone.” Robin kissed Java softly, then pulled away.
Java pouted a little, but the ridiculous notes got her laughing again. One note did not make her laugh. “Robin, check this note.” She held up the paper, but Robin shook her head. “It’s addressed to ‘Slut.’ You won’t see the winter moon, you slut. We will stop you from ruining our duchy. Duke Arten may have made you a noble, and his heir, but you are not immortal. Lovely. At least I can believe the sentiment in this one is genuine.”
Robin walked over and took the note from her. “Java, there’s no aura around this except for yours and the sentry’s. Whoever wrote this had a mage erase all traces of themselves from it.”
“I expect more of them before we’re through. Duke Arten warned me about Lord Broward, and you ran into him. What Ari told me matches this note. He’s not going to be happy having me in his way. Too bad for him I’m not some court twit. One of them would probably run crying home if something like this was directed at her.” Java grinned, and then flipped a knife into the wall.
Robin looked at the knife and shook her head. “You have to stop doing that, Java. The paneling in this room is probably worth more than my parent’s mill.” She retrieved the knife, examining it as she walked back. “You know, your uniform isn’t a bad idea, but not your dress uniform. If you wear Scout standard, you can carry your knives.”
“No, not Scout standard. That wouldn’t sit well with the people I want to make friends with. But perhaps something of the nature. Maybe a less dressy dress uniform?” Java tilted her head, trying to gauge the effect of her words on Robin.
“Or more dressy knives?” Robin suggested. “Couldn’t you find some throwing knives that are polished and maybe have some stones in the hilt?”
“Oooo, I’d like that,” Java said, her eyes glittering. “Something with sapphire, topaz and emerald?” Java rubbed her hands. “And ruby and diamond for Sammy. But what about you and the triplets?”
“I’m a mage, not a scout.” Robin pointed out patiently. “But for the triplets, how about garnet and glass? Or let Sammy buy them something.”
“Oh, shit! Buy? I never thought… How do I pay for this?” Java looked stricken for a moment, but Robin just looked at her.
Sighing deeply, Robin sat next to Java. “Princess Java, you received one hundred and fifty gold royals from Linkville. Remember? And almost fourteen hundred in gold from Mountainstand County.”
Java shook her head. “But that’s in Greencastle. I need it here.”
“You only received one-tenth of your profits from Link County, oh memory like a sieve. You have about thirteen hundred gold royals in Linkville, plus whatever you’ve earned this year. If I remember right, it’s only about six days’ ride from here to Linkville. Or you can just send for it.” Robin smiled as Java remembered the note from Mayor Grendalstone and nodded.
Standing abruptly, Java dumped all the notes onto the floor. “Do you think Captain Freeholm would mind if I co-opted Emily and the rest? I could ask them to go to Linkville and retrieve it, or at least part of it?”
“She wouldn’t mind, Java, and Emily wouldn’t mind either. For right now, though, why don’t you ask Duke Arten if you can draw on the treasury? You have the money to pay him back. That way you can get started right away.” Robin grinned as Java rolled the idea over in her mind.
“Yes. I’ll do that in the morning, first thing. But for now, do I lay out the dress uniform, the Firewalker dress, or Scout standard for tomorrow?”
Robin considered for a moment. “Dress uniform, brooches and pin. And that dirk. The throwing knives will wait, but that dirk will fit in well enough. Frander’s mark will also give the gossips something to whisper about.”
“Other than us?” Java asked with a grin, but Robin’s answer was interrupted by the arrival of a maid and matron. The pair swept into the room without knocking or asking permission.
“Princess Java, we have been assigned to see to your needs. I will see to your bath, if you are ready?” The elder of the two said as she faced her new princess.
Java nodded, trying not to show her annoyance. “Thank you.”
The matron bowed and swept her arm, but Java was already moving, undoing her dress as she walked. “Princess, please. Let us do that. There is no need for you to continue doing for yourself.” She seemed slightly exasperated by Java’s actions.
“I’m used to doing for myself, thank you. I’m quite capable of taking off my own clothes,” Java said over her shoulder as she slid the dress adroitly off her hips and stepped out of it without stopping. She heard the matron gasp as her back came into view. She tossed the dress onto the bed, then slid the back sheaths off and tossed them on top of the dress. Java turned to face the servants with a deadpan expression on her face. “Take a good look,” she said softly, showing the scars of her arrow wounds.
“P-Princess, what happened?” the matron asked, horrified by the scars.
“This is who I am. I am a mercenary scout, first, last and always. I have been shot, stabbed, and lashed. Tell that to whoever you are reporting to. Now, excuse us. Robin and I can see to our own needs quite well.” Java gestured toward the door. The matron beat a hasty retreat, dragging the gaping maid with her.
“That wasn’t nice, Java,” Robin said reprovingly. “They were just trying to do their jobs.”
“Maybe so, but Emily warned me that the servants in the palace are often in the employ of someone in addition to the duke. Sammy and the triplets know, but they have less to hide than I do. Or did. I can’t wait to see the looks I get tomorrow,” Java said as she grinned. “Whoever she’s going to tell isn’t going to want to believe her.”
“Did you have another reason to want to be alone, Java?” Robin asked, knowing full well she did.
CHAPTER 7: SETTLING IN
Where there is love, there is home.
Ancient Wisdom
MORNING CAME SOFTLY TO THE PALACE, but Java had been awake for more than an hour before sunrise. Old habits die hard, and rising early was a habit she had lived by for years. Robin stumbled out of the bedroom, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
“Blagh, shut the curtain, Java. My eyes itch.” Robin was not a morning person.
Java laughed and brought her a mug of a fragrant tea that she had requested from a very surprised servant. A kiss sweetened it, and Java seated Robin by her desk. “Try this. Blackberry is an old favorite of mine.”
“Mmm. It is good. What are you doing?” Robin looked curiously at the notes on Java’s table.
“Things to do list. First, see Naria about choosing my own servants. I chased those two away last night because they were sent by someone, and I don’t think it was Naria or Arten. Second, go see the seamstresses again. After you fell asleep last night I kept thinking about what you said, about the knives. I’m going to have a dozen Firewalker dress uniforms made. Third, see Naria and Arten about drawing money until I can get someone to Linkville. Fourth, the knives and a dressy bandoleer. I want to incorporate the knives into a sash that I can pin the brooches to. Like this.” She slid a sketch to Robin.
Robin nodded. “I’d go see Duchess Naria about the money first. Then we take the patrol with us and go see about your uniforms, and something for them as well. They all deserve something nice.”
Java laughed and nodded. A knock at her door interrupted further conversation, and Java went to answer it herself. “Lord Ahern! What a pleasant surprise,” she said, smiling broadly.
Lord Ahern bowed, surprising Java. “I was trying to do this yesterday before Duke Arten and Duchess Naria arrived at the court.” He pulled out his pouch and brought out five gold royals. “You didn’t need to send me these. Your captain paid off your debt the spring after you ran away. And it was only seven silver in any case.” He smiled at her surprise, then shook his head and sighed.
“Jallan was a mistake. My mistake. Especially where
you were concerned. When your father told me how you reacted, Jallan and I had a—discussion. I don’t know where he got those ideas, but I explained the error of his ways. Then I had Andalissa take him aside and teach him how to be a man instead of an animal.” He grinned. “She broke him of his bad habits quickly. And apparently had a good time doing it.”
Java grinned and looked at Robin. “Andalissa is scary. She’s as big as Zahara Destrin, and as mean as Morgan.”
Robin whispered, “Oh, Gods Below.” Zahara was one of the largest Infantrywomen in the company, but had a really sweet personality, while Morgan tended to make grown men cry when she was angry.
“I have another surprise, Java,” Lord Ahern said as he stepped aside.
Java froze when she saw the people behind Lord Ahern. “Mama? Daddy? Oh, Gods! Mama!” Java cried as she rushed forward into her mother’s arms. Her detachment, her independence, everything she had told Captain Freeholm flew out the window as soon as she was face-to-face with her parents.
Nightingale Mountainstand held her eldest child tightly. “Oh, Java. It’s so good to see you. We thought you might have forgotten us.”
Ambros Mountainstand put his arms around his wife and daughter. “Sweetheart, we were so worried when you stopped writing. Then we got the news about you, and we were afraid that you didn’t want to remember us anymore.” Lord Ahern slipped around Java and out the door to give Java and her family some privacy.
Robin eased up behind Java, her lower lip caught up between her teeth. She seemed nervous about meeting Java’s parents. More nervous than she had been about meeting the duke. She stood silent until Java’s father noticed her.
Java felt her father look up, and glanced around. “Come in. I want you to meet someone.” Java led her parents into her suite and closed the door. “Mother, Father, I want you to meet Journeyman Mage Robin Cartwright.”
Nightingale studied the girl closely. “I am pleased to meet you, Mage Robin,” she said in a noncommittal tone. Ambros simply stared, surprised by Robin’s beauty.
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