Bright Swords of Serena

Chapter 3

The Great Bell rang fifth hour as Hollander stood up. He signaled to his friends to wait, and circled the table to catch Pacey.

"Yes?" she said tightly.

"You look tired."

"Yes?"

"And you were late," he added.

"Your point is what, Anders?"

"Where were the two of you?"

"I'd take it kindly if you wouldn't pester me with questions right now. I have things to do."

"You have responsibilities to the Council for your whereabouts."

"King Raidon is satisfied as to my whereabouts," she said, mouth tight in her dark round-moon face, "so if you have any complaints, talk to him. Excuse me. I have to talk to Daren."

She walked away, calling Daren Viendi, leader of the conservative alliance, before Hollander could stay her further. Quen Weaver, the Deputy, had quietly disappeared. Frustrated, Hollander turned back for Devran, Clark and Gardner. Devran said, "That was short."

"Zina was short. So I don't know what it was about. Also, Zina just trotted off to catch Daren."

"What does she want him for?" said Gardner.

"Well," Devran hazarded a guess, "Quen's third term is over at the end of the year, he's sixty-one, and nobody knows if he's going to run again. Daren's the obvious choice for Deputy if Quen steps down, if you go strictly by seniority."

"By seniority, but not a shoe-in?"

"Yah," Devran said, "since Rhea comes after him, and they're on opposite ends of the spectrum, politically speaking. But we don't have time for this now. Let's read these reports and figure out what we're going to do about them."

*******

They settled into Clark's quarters, around her worktable, for once ignoring her view over the gardens. For some time they concentrated on the report. Then Gardner said, "I wish they'd hurry up with lunch."

"Hungry?" Hollander said, looking at her white face. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she said, "I'm just... um..."

"Hungry?"

"Hungry."

"Seed crackers in with the tea things," Clark said, and Hollander went and got them, giving Gardner the tin box. She pounced.

"Camille..."

"Yah?"

"Is it at all possible that you're pregnant?"

She blushed, an improvement on her pallor. "It's that obvious?"

"My mother was a midwife. Not to mention I lived with my wife throughout her pregnancy. You learn."

"I mean, I know thirty-five is a little late to start," Gardner said through a mouthful of cracker, "but we only got married last year. It's a contract. My wife's cousin helped us out."

"And is he going to do his contracted duty and stick around till the baby's born?" Hollander said.

"Well, he has to. He lives next door."

"And he knows the rest of it? The sting in the contract?"

"Of course he knows. But nothing's going to happen to either of us, so he won't have to take custody."

"Forgive Anders asking," Devran said. "He's nosy."

"I am not!" Hollander said indignantly. "I just like to know these things."