Page 40 of Stardust Child

His fingers sank into her hair and his thumb stroked her cheek, a rough caress that made her hastily lower her gaze. Her eyes looked all right in the mirror, she had checked, but Remin was getting very good at reading her face.

“Are you sure?”

“I missed you.” His arms went around her and even wet from the rain he was so warm, she closed her eyes and burrowed into him. She had made mistakes today. But they weren’t so bad that anyone was likely to mention them to Remin. If only the books would come soon, she knew she could learn, if she just had a chance. And in the meantime…

Again, she looked at her papers with a thrill of fear and hope.

Tomorrow, she would try harder.

* * *

To His Grace Remin, Duke of Andelin, Savior of Lomonde, Vanquisher of Valleth, Shield of Argence, Supreme Sword of the Court of War…

Seated two chairs down from Remin at one of the longer tables in the storehouse, Miche listened with his eyes glazed over as Edemir read off Remin’s list of titles. It wasn’t often that someone took the trouble to write out all of them.

The last of the petals have been swept from the streets of Segoile in the wake of Your Grace’s triumphal progress, and as the dust settles in the halls of the Five Courts, I take this opportunity to express my hope that the many works of Tresingale proceed well. As you can imagine, there is much interest in the capital over so singular an endeavor as the resurrection of the Andelin, and surely it is exceptional to have such a great and eclectic collection of talent gathered at the furthest end of the Empire.

Several grunts greeted this as Edemir paused for breath. It would take Juste to unpack all of that, but if nothing else, it was a very polite way of saying that the business of Tresingale was being monitored.

I would be remiss if I did not offer belated congratulations on Your Grace’s marriage. The capital is still reeling from the news that the Emperor has kept a secret daughter these many years, elder sister to the Crown Princess. Tales from Aldeburke, Celderline, and Granholme tell of a shy beauty, doted upon by a generous husband, an altogether praiseworthy young lady. With all my heart, I wish the blessings of the stars benevolent for a joyous and fruitful marriage.

Remin had already read this letter, and that was the paragraph that made his hackles rise. Those compliments might conceal a threat. Generous husband to a shy wife; that could not be a guess. And noting that Ophele was the elder sister was no accident, either.

There were many more paragraphs in a similar vein, and Remin’s knights frowned as they listened, the twisting words like the elegant motion of a sidewinder serpent.

The restoration of a ninth Great House to the duchies of the Empire must naturally rouse interest and curiosity, and much mathematical uncertainty as well. It is my hope to personally welcome you among us upon the commencement of the next social season. I will be in residence in the capital beginning in March, and would be proud to extend the hospitality of my House to the first Duke and Duchess of Andelin, particularly for Her Grace’s social debut…

“Going to take him up on that offer, Rem?” Miche asked, cocking one blond eyebrow.

“Absolutely not.”

“Yours sincerely, et cetera et cetera, Duke Ghislain Berebet.” Edemir handed the letter to Juste. “He’s closer to the House of Agnephus than House Melun, Rem, but the last direct link to the Imperial family was four generations ago. He has no celestial lineage.”

The spectrum of power in the Empire currently stretched from the House of Agnephus at one end and House Melun at the furthest opposite pole. It was well known that the Emperor loathed his Empress. Everyone else was fodder for the struggle between the two. Sometimes Remin thought the Emperor dispatched assassins whenever he was frustrated that he couldn’t kill his wife.

“The Berebets are gamblers,” said Tounot. He and Edemir were always good at providing the background of Argencian nobility. “A few times it’s almost ruined them, but they have a record of backing the right horse when it matters most.”

“This letter doesn’t mean Remin is their horse,” Miche said dryly. “I met his daughter when we were in Segoile. She was very curious about the Supreme Sword of the Court of War, until I distracted her with mine.”

That was a good one, Remin had to admit.

“Both his daughters are married, aren’t they?” Auber brought this up because everyone at the table needed to know whether to beware another husband that Miche had outraged.

“That didn’t seem to concern her,” Miche drawled. “But in her case, she went to such trouble to seduce me, it seemed only polite to find out why. Other than the obvious,” he added, with a jerk of his chin that somehow considered and approved his own beauty.

“What did she want?” asked Remin.

“At the time, I thought it might be an opening bid. Like that,” Miche said, flicking his fingers at the letter in Juste’s hand. “I saw her again, but she didn’t repeat the offer, so I let it go.”

“We’re not going to the capital next year.” Remin resolutely turned his mind from such filthy matters. It was likely that Miche would’ve bedded her anyway, but he didn’t like to think of anyone doing that sort of thing on his behalf. “In a few years, perhaps, after House Andelin is well established, but not until then.”

He and Ophele would have at least two children before he risked either of them going to the capital. And even then, the bare thought of taking her within a hundred miles of the Emperor made it hard to breathe.

“We ought to have connections to other Houses, Rem,” Edemir replied, with sympathy. He was the son of a prosperous county, and had been raised in the labyrinth of aristocratic politics. “It will not help us in negotiation if we are viewed as a foreign power, no matter who we are negotiating with. They will not give us favorable terms.”

“We’re already considered a foreign power,” Miche pointed out. “That last contract with the mason’s guild was highway robbery. I say we go to Daitia for our masons if the Court of Artisans won’t deal with us squarely.”

“That is a dangerous precedent.” Juste set the letter carefully on the table. “The way to bargain for better terms is to build a position of power, not to refuse to play the game.”

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