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papers, were again properly housed in the library, and for a time the subject of the Cursed Lands was half forgot.

    However, the perusal of ancient records was not all that busied us. Each morning we went to the exercise hall, which had been set aside for us by our father when he had first accepted the keys of Grosper. There we worked at the ritual of swordplay he had taught us, used snaplocks to chip stone from the circled target painted on the wall, and honed our skills with the common spears of the North. We might not ride out for the present, but we could maintain our training in the meanwhile.
    From the wielding of steel, we turned to another art of defense. This was the warfare against bodily ills which was our mother’s Gift, the distilling and mixing of various herbal potions against fever, sepsis, and all wounds and sicknesses that might afflict the people of a land on the brink of war.
    On the seventh day after the party for the Truce Meeting had ridden forth, Loosy came to us.
    â€œâ€™Tis a peddler from the North, my ladies,” she announced.
    I placed my sword in the rack. I had been fencing with Cilla, trying to break through her long-perfected guard. Bina laid aside the snaplock she had been loading.
    â€œDo we, or do we not?” I asked.
    Peddlers had many uses beside the mere transport and supply of unusual and needful wares. They were also, by tradition, accepted as the purveyors of news. Sometimes they bore specific messages and warnings.
    Both Bina and Cilla shook their heads. At that dissent, I turned to Loosy.
    â€œListen well.” I deliberately drew myself up to my full Scorpy height to look down at the maid, a posture I believed would give my words additional force. “We will not see this peddler. However, get you Hanna, and bring her here quickly.”
    Hanna must have been waiting just without the door, for Loosy had only to go to the portal to return with her.
    â€œNow, then.” Bina took the lead. “You will say that we are keeping to the tower as our father ordered—you may, indeed, let it be known that we rest under his deep displeasure. Do you know what this wanderer offers for sale?”
    â€œYes,” the maid was quick to answer, “he has pomanders and ribbons, sleeve- and bodice-knives, combs for the hair, some laces, and the like.”
    â€œTrifles,” Cilla commented, “but such as are well chosen to catch a lady’s eye.”
    In the exercise gallery, we wore breeches and shirts for freedom of
movement. I now picked up the cloak I had brought to cover this mannish garb, for we all paid tribute to Dame Modesty on our journeys through the halls. From the inner pocket, I brought out a purse.
    None of us had been moved as yet to spend any of the pin-money granted us upon our latest birthing date, which had fallen some weeks before. I shook a few coins from the bag into my cupped hand.
    â€œTake these, and select what pleasures you desire. For us, procure the answers to some questions. Why does this peddler bring his business to Grosper when he would surely find better custom at the Truce grounds? Where does he come from? Does he sell for himself, or is he one of those trusted ones who serve a greater merchant and goes about on his master’s purpose?”
    â€œAlso,” Bina added, “mark well any question he asks you. If he wants guesting rights for the night, send him to—Heddrick.” She paused as she swiftly mind-touched each of us. Wordlessly we agreed.
    When Cilla offered a last suggestion, she startled the serving-girls but not their ladies. “’Twould be best were you to put on some of Appy’s ways.”
    Loosy grinned, and Hanna’s look of surprise changed even more noticeably. Rolling her eyes, the maid pressed her plump hands together and exclaimed, in the broad speech of the country folk, “Lawks, m’ lady, I ne’er did see sich pretties afore!” Then she turned in a