Page 24 of The Priory of the Orange Tree

Triam Sulyard was sitting by the hearth. He was soaked to the skin.

“By the Saint’scodpiece—” Niclays stared. “Sulyard!”

The boy looked wounded. “You should not take the Saint’s intimate parts in vain.”

“Hold your tongue,” Niclays snapped, heart pounding. “My word, but you are a lucky wretch. If you’ve found a way out of this place, say it now.”

“I tried to leave,” Sulyard said. “I managed to evade the guards and slip out of the house, but more were by the gate. I got into the water and hid beneath the bridge until the Eastern knight left.”

“The Chief Officer is no knight, you fool.” Niclays let out a growl of frustration. “Saint,whydid you have to come back? What did I do to deserve you turning up to threaten what little I have left of an existence?” He paused. “Actually, don’t answer that.”

Sulyard was silent. Niclays stormed past him and set about lighting a fire.

“Doctor Roos,” Sulyard said, after a hesitation. “Why is Orisima so closely guarded?”

“Because outsiders cannot set foot in Seiiki on pain of death. And the Seiikinese, in turn, cannot leave.” Niclays hooked the kettle over the hearth. “They let us stay here so they can trade with us and absorb odds and ends of Mentish knowledge, and so we can give the Warlord at least a hazy impression of the other side of the Abyss, but we cannot go beyond Orisima or speak heresy to the Seiikinese.”

“Heresy like the Six Virtues?”

“Precisely. They also, understandably, suspect outsiders of carrying the Draconic plague—the red sickness, as they call it. If you had taken the trouble to do yourresearchbefore you came here—”

“But they would surely listen if we asked for help,” Sulyard said, with conviction. “Indeed, while I was hiding, I had a thought that I might simply let them find me, so that they might take me to the capital.” He seemed not to see the appalled look Niclays dealt him. “Imustspeak with the Warlord, Doctor Roos. If you would only hear what I have come to—”

“As I said,” Niclays said tartly, “I have no interest in your mission, Master Sulyard.”

“But Virtudom is in peril. Theworldis in peril,” Sulyard pressed. “Queen Sabran needs our help.”

“In terrible danger, is she?” He tried not to sound too hopeful. “Life-threatening?”

“Yes, Doctor Roos. And I know a way to save her.”

“The richest woman in the West, venerated by three countries, needs a squire to save her. Fascinating.” Niclays heaved a sigh. “All right, Sulyard. I will indulge you. Enlighten me as to how you plan to spare Queen Sabran from this unspecified peril.”

“By interceding with the East.” Sulyard looked determined. “The Warlord of Seiiki must send his dragons to help Her Majesty. I mean to persuade him to do this. He must help Virtudom put down the Draconic beasts before they fully wake. Before—”

“Wait,” Niclays cut in. “Do you mean to say that you want . . . analliancebetween Inys and Seiiki?”

“Not just between Inys and Seiiki, Doctor Roos. Between Virtudom and the East.”

Niclays let the words crystallize. The corner of his mouth twitched. And when Sulyard continued to look grave as a sanctarian, Niclays threw back his head and laughed.

“Oh, this is wonderful. Glorious,” he declared. Sulyard stared at him. “Oh, Sulyard. I have had precious little entertainment in this place. Thank you.”

“It is nojoke, Doctor Roos,” Sulyard said, indignant.

“Oh, but it is, dear boy. You think that you alone can overturn the Great Edict, a law that has stood for fivecenturies, just by asking nicely. You really are young.” Niclays chuckled once more. “And who is your partner in this splendid endeavor?”

Sulyard huffed. “I know you are mocking me, sir,” he said, “but you must not mock my lady. She is someone for whom I would die a thousand times, whose name I cannot tell. Someone who is the light in my life, the breath in my breast, the sun to my—”

“Yes, all right, that’s quite sufficient. Did she not wish to come to Seiiki with you?”

“We planned to go together. But when I visited my mother in Perchling in the winter, I met a seafarer by chance. She offered me a place on a ship bound for Seiiki.” His shoulders hunched inward. “I sent word to my love at court . . . I pray she understands. That she forgives me.”

It had been a while since Niclays had indulged in a bit of court gossip. It spoke volumes for his boredom that he was all but salivating for it. He poured two cups of willow tea and sat on the mats, stretching his sore leg in front of him. “This lady is your betrothed, I take it.”

“My companion.” A smile touched the cracked lips. “We took our vows.”

“I assume Sabran gave her blessing to the match.”

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