Read Finder: First Ordinance, Book One for Free Online Page B

smiled and set the egg down again. "Come. We'll visit my mother's old suite. Nirok will return later today; he has two of your uniforms ready—one regular and one dress, with a few other necessities. In the meantime, we'll explore a little, eh?"
    I followed Amlis as he left his suite, crossing to the door directly opposite. "I've not been here since I was five turns old," Amlis mused as he walked toward the back of a massive, darkened suite. Dust was raised as he jerked window coverings back, revealing a huge window. "I'll instruct the maids to clean," he said after his sneezing fit was over.
    Light now filled the suite and we found ourselves inside what was once a well-appointed receiving room, with settees and chairs scattered about, along with tables and other necessities required for entertaining. Most of it was sheet-draped, and I might have given anything in my earlier life to have those sheets to lie on at night, instead of patched and worn castoffs. As aged as they were, none bore a hole or stain anywhere.
    "My mother used to sit here, and I would crawl onto her lap while she was drinking tea and entertaining her friends," Amlis rambled, his eyes unfocused with memory as he touched the top of a sheet-draped chair. "They're all dead, now, those friends." He sounded troubled over that. "Timblor and I would tussle on her bed, too, but we'll explore that on another day." Amlis was done with his memory trip and heading for the door while I fell in behind him. "I'll have the maids come," he repeated and shut the door once we were both out.
    * * *
    "Serve the wine on the left, and if Amlis desires anything, you will get it promptly, do you hear?" I was getting a lesson from the King's personal servant. I nodded vigorously; Etlund, a tall and exceedingly thin man, seemed to demand that reaction to his instruction. "Otherwise, you will stand at his left elbow and keep your eyes straight ahead, do you hear?" Of course I heard. He spoke loudly, too, as if my mute condition indicated poor hearing as well. Vigorous nodding followed his question.
    "Very well. Perform poorly and you will be beaten, do you hear?"
    * * *
    "That mouth has never been kissed, brother," Timblor drew back his bow and let loose the arrow. It thwacked into the target forcefully, very near the center. Timblor, restless after the cancelled hunt, had dragged Amlis to the practice range inside the single-story guards' quarters below the gate.
    "Why are you speaking of my page in this manner?" Amlis drew back his own bow, prudently aiming just to the left of Timblor's arrow before releasing the bowstring.
    "Is that all she is? A page?" Timblor's voice held disbelief.
    "You know Father and Mother have someone selected for me already. I am not the heir and an alliance with Firith will ensure that Lironis never wants for wine or fine cheeses. Father is most enthusiastic over the match, as you recall."
    "So, you'd rather ride to a brothel in the freezing cold when you have something readily at hand?"
    "Yes. Why is this so hard for you, brother?" Amlis glanced at Timblor. "She is inexperienced—you said so yourself. Why waste time in the teaching, when the well-taught is not far away?"
    "I see your point," Timblor said, taking aim again. "Fifty gold pieces says I hit the center this time."
    "Done," Amlis nodded. Timblor released the arrow.
    * * *
    Dinner that evening was a sore trial, and placed me in much trouble. Amlis sat at Tamblin's left while Timblor took the Heir's position at the King's right. Yevil sat past that, scowling while his own servant offered wine. Hirill and seven others, all members of Tamblin's inner circle, were scattered down the long table. A few had wives or lovers at their elbow and personal servants cared for both.
    Amlis' plate was poisoned, but he was served the same as the King. No suspicion would be cast, once the King's personal servant tasted the veal in an elaborate sauce. Even if there were a cry raised, Wolter and the kitchen staff