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It didn’t hurt that she knew how to dress to make the best of her assets—Melina had been a good mother in that matter at least.
    Sapphire’s husband, Crown Prince Shad, entered the king’s sitting room with his wife. Shad wasn’t as physically striking as Sapphire. Fair, with rounded lines that he had inherited from his mother, a noblewoman of Bright Bay’s Great House Oyster, Shad was far more serious than someone in his early twenties should be, but then he’d trained at sea, fought in several major battles within the last year, and now was taking on the challenge of an arranged marriage with a very strong-willed woman.
    Derian—his thoughts still fixed on family relationships—wondered how Shad felt about being away from his parents and siblings. He’d seemed particularly close to his father, the recently coronated King Allister of Bright Bay, but his relationship with his brother, Tavis, and twin sisters, Minnow and Anemone, had seemed free and easy, more like relationships in Derian’s own family than what he’d observed in those noble families he’d been close enough to observe.
    Maybe it’s because Shad’s siblings didn’t really have prospects to compete over, Derian thought. And maybe Shad’s doing all right, here in an alien land. Those Bright Bay families can’t feel the same about proximity as we do. They’re always going off on sea voyages and things like that.
    Derian didn’t really believe it. He’d spent a good deal of the last year away from his family, and he was aware of an almost physical tug of eagerness to be back among them.
    All these thoughts darted through his mind as Derian rose, made his bows, answered a few polite inquires after his health, about travel conditions, and the health of Duchess Kestrel and her family. When such gossip was taken care of King Tedric brought matters around to business.
    “We here are all aware,” he said to Derian, “of the contents of the letters Firekeeper brought from House Kestrel—the information regarding Melina’s remarriage and such. Do you have anything specific to add on that point?”
    Derian shook his head.
    “No, Your Majesty. Duchess and Earl Kestrel requested that I discreetly probe for rumors regarding Melina’s doings as I made my journey here. I did my best—and without boasting I’ll say I’m pretty good at gathering roadhouse gossip—and I heard nothing new, nor any indication that the news of Melina’s remarriage is common gossip.”
    The king nodded gravely.
    “That, at least, is good.”
    Derian continued, “If I had your permission to bring my parents—or at least my father—in on this matter, I could find out if he has heard anything. Lots of travelers come through our stables—and not just our stables here, but our affiliates as well. While we do have connections to the south, one of our busiest lines is between here and Port Haven. Rumor may have traveled by sea that has taken longer to cross the White Water River.”
    “By sea and over the Sword of Kelvin Mountains,” Sapphire reminded him. “That would be a long haul, especially if the passes are closed by snow.”
    Derian acknowledge her words with a short bow.
    “Yes, Princess. I wasn’t saying that there would be any rumors from that direction, only that if there were any rumors my father and mother may well have heard them.”
    The king and his two heirs debated this point for a few minutes, reaching the conclusion that Colby and Vernita Carter were known to be loyal subjects and, as their interests were intertwined with those of their son, they would be certain not to begin rumors themselves.
    Derian listened, evincing more patience than he felt. He couldn’t help but feel that if he’d been dealing only with King Tedric the king would have given him a direct and decisive answer. This discussion, weighing and considering, seemed somehow to diminish the monarch.
    Then again, Derian thought, maybe I wouldn’t feel that way if it wasn’t my