Ten Arrows

Chapter 15

Feeling quite uncertain all of a sudden, I simply stood there on the balcony, staring at Tenarreau as he sat there in his chair, a fairly unfamiliar and oblique smile on his face.

We stayed that way a while.

"Oh come now - there's no protocol for something like this, or so I'd imagine," he eventually said, idly waving at the open doorway that separated us. "However, if you absolutely insist . . . I invite you in. And you do look like a man who could use some tea - frightfully chilly out tonight, neh? Come, it's no trouble. I've got kava, chicory-vimroot, felberry, and a rather delightful elderflower and silverleaf blend you may wish to try."

And then, as though there was nothing unusual at all about my sudden appearance on his balcony, Prince Tenarreau dropped down from his chair, unhurriedly fetched two white cups from a nearby shelf, and went about preparing some water. At one point he actually began to whistle softly to himself.

For some reason I was very much reminded of my encounter with Lord Redforne just over a year ago . . . though it appeared my role was reversed this time around. I was now the interloper, breaking into his domain, and he was the one cheerfully offering me a drink. Was he scared as all Hades, just as I'd been at the time - trapped inside my own keep by a completely unexpected guest? Or was he really as relaxed and unconcerned as he seemed?

Had he planned this? Was it some kind of trap? Had he put Talia in danger just so I would do this very thing?

I mean, here I was outside of his bedchamber, fully prepared for him to be startled and unnerved by my sudden appearance, and what was he doing? He was offering me tea, as though I were paying him a social visit. The very first words he'd spoken even suggested my presence had been expected.

I hate it when things don't go exactly as I've imagined them.

"Yes. Vimroot, if you please," I said tightly, (again, shades of Redforne) stepping into the room and shutting the doors most of the way closed. I made sure they were left the slightest bit open, just in case I needed to exit the room in a hurry during the next few minutes. Several palace alarms had been tripped, after all, and this whole thing could merely be an act as he stalled for time, waiting for several of his guards to arrive.

I sat down on the edge of a nearby chair located a good distance from his desk, and I studied Tenarreau intently as he worked - setting water to boil, measuring out herbs for the small metal tea strainers, arranging everything just so. If he wasn't completely calm and relaxed right at that moment, well . . . he was a much better actor than I could ever hope to be.

"I do have to congratulate you on your handling of this little 'war' of ours, Tucat," Tenarreau called over his shoulder at me. "Some rather innovative and clever tactics. If any Lords or Ladies were daydreaming of challenging you for territory before all this started, doubtless they're having some second thoughts right about now. Staggering to think on it, neh? A year ago you were a fairly minor but well-to-do Lord, quietly minding your own business. Now, you'd be hard pressed to track down someone who doesn't know who you are, what with the inherent talent you seem to have for spectacle."

I found myself becoming even more perplexed. Though I couldn't see his face, his voice made it sound as though he was relaxed and smiling, perfectly at ease. Additionally, I was finding it rather hard to become upset or irate with him right then, like I'd somehow misplaced my anger and couldn't find it amongst all of the wary confusion I was feeling.

Maybe he'd lit a few candles to calm himself earlier, and their effects were still lingering about the room. I quickly scouted the room for candles or some other sign of drugs, but could see nothing obvious.