Garia rides up to enter the immense pile of stone which guards the confluence of the Sirrel and the Palar. She settles in and meets Gilbanar's nobles of which group she is now a member. The evening banquet and subsequent dance has predictable results but an offer of help is made. Later, Jenet makes an unexpected request.

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2011-2012 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Terinar walked his frayen toward Garia, Keren and Merizel.

"This is going to take some getting used to," he said with a half-smile. "I'm not sure how to handle myself around mounted women. Where are your maids? Do they ride as well?"

"We have a wagon on the ferry we came on," Garia explained. "Our maids will come up with that. I'm sure we'll manage without them for a bell or so."

"Are you sure? This is outside my experience. I can't think of any time I've ever met a women who didn't have a maid by her side."

"Terry," Keren said gently, "these two have been riding for several weeks now. Both women and both maids are happy with the arrangement. Shall we move off? We're blocking the way."

"Milady," Feteran put in, "do you wish us to accompany you or the wagons?"

"You go with the Baroness, Feteran," Gilbanar decided. "I'll arrange an escort for your wagons, either my men or my brother's. Don't worry," he grinned, "we won't steal much."

"As you desire, Your Grace," Feteran said with a straight face.

"Let's go, then," Terinar said. "Follow me."

Garia let Keren ride beside Terinar while she fell in behind, beside Merizel. Her men formed up at the rear. Terinar led the way east out of the square, the curious onlookers pulling aside to let them through. The road here was cut out of the cliff-side, with the harbor below them on their right and a forbidding wall of rock sloping up to the left. After a very short distance the road forked, the right angling down to a jumble of buildings while the left started climbing across the cliff face.

Very soon Garia noticed that the surface to her left had become an incredibly high wall of dressed stone. Ahead an arched gate, wide enough for a wagon, stood over their route. They passed into the gateway and through a long stone passage to emerge into a wide paved area. There were walls, and outcrops of rock, and towers and buttresses of dressed stone. There were crowds waiting here, too, and Garia had little chance to properly inspect her surroundings before they were intercepted by two people she recognized. Terinar stopped and dismounted, the others following his example.

"My goodness!" Duchess Vivenne exclaimed. "You certainly are a fast worker, aren't you?"

She grabbed Garia in a hug, ignoring an amused Keren. Korizet just stared at Garia in amazement.

"Welcome to our humble castle, my dear," Vivenne added. "Welcome to you also, Merizel. Highness, welcome back."

She stood back, regarding the three of them thoughtfully. "I see we have many things to talk about, don't we? Much has obviously changed since we last met." Her eyes narrowed as she caught a glint on Garia's diagonal sash. "What's that? May I?" She came forward and looked closely. "A Guild badge? On top of everything else I see, you've managed to become a Guildswoman? Maker! Did my husband notice this?"

"No, Your Grace," Garia said. "He had enough shocks just seeing us ride up from the slipway together."

Vivenne regarded Garia even more thoughtfully. "Good," she said finally with a nod. "It's about time the balance was put right. Korizet?"

"Yes, mother?" Korizet answered faintly, still staring at Garia and Merizel.

"The answer is yes, you may have your own frayen to ride. Now, let's get you all inside before we start a riot. I'll have someone take your beasts to the stables."

Vivenne looked around for one of her men, but Feteran stepped in.

"Your Grace, I know the way. If you would permit me, I will take care of the beasts."

"Feteran? Yes, of course. I'm glad Garia has someone like you by her side. Are you taking charge of her wagons as well? Will she need you?"

Feteran looked at Garia, who replied, "I'll be fine for a while on my own. When the wagons come up our maids will be with them. They'll tell you what needs to be unpacked and so on. I assume Jenet has been here before?"

"Of course, milady. She knows the castle well."

"Good. I'll leave it in your capable hands then, Feteran."

"Come this way, all of you," Vivenne directed. "I'll see you settled with some pel but then I'll have to come back out to greet the King and Queen."

"Uh, they might be some time," Garia said. "One of the ferries didn't manage to get into the harbor. And -"

"Yes, dear?"

"None of us has eaten anything since breakfast, Your Grace."

"Are you hungry?" asked a surprised Vivenne. "It is not yet lunch-time."

"It isn't?" Garia looked equally surprised. She turned to Keren. "I thought... didn't it just take us most of the day to get across?"

"No, it barely took us two bells," he replied. "One of the fastest crossings I can remember. Still," his eyes went to Vivenne, "Garia's right. I feel like I need a little something myself. If you could provide some snacks for us with the pel, Aunt Vivenne, we'd all be grateful."

Vivenne led the way into a large public entrance and along a short passage, coming out in a huge open area. There was a reception desk, several corridors leading off and other doorways, the whole effect was like the foyer of a large hotel. To left and right ramps led both up and down and they were shown up one of these, to find another open area with a corridor running ahead and behind, curving as it did so. The walls up here were all wood-paneled with richly-appointed doors spaced along them. Vivenne led them to a set of double doors and showed them within.

They entered a spacious room, also paneled, with ceiling to floor windows looking over a terrace filled with people all leaning over a low wall away from them. The room was sumptuously furnished with well upholstered chairs and settees and a rich, oriental-looking carpet covering most of the floor. A huge fireplace, unlit at this season, occupied one end of the room.

"Find yourselves seats, children," Vivenne instructed. "I'll arrange for food and drink to be brought. You might as well remain here until the King and Queen arrive, should they do so before lunch. Garia, I'll let Jenet know where you are when she arrives."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

"I think I hear enough of 'Your Grace' from our own people, Garia. You shall call me Aunt Vivenne when we are in private. After all, I've heard you call my husband 'Uncle Gil', haven't I?"

"As you wish, uh, Aunt Vivenne."

The Duchess looked around, checking, and then departed. Keren and Merizel found seats near each other and sat down. Terinar grinned at each of them then opened one of the full-height doors and walked out onto the terrace. Korizet stood staring at Garia, who had just discovered a disadvantage to wearing swords on her back.

"Can you really use those swords?" Korizet asked. "They are such a surprising thing to see on a woman."

"I can, but I've only practiced with them," Garia replied. "They are intended for defense only. I'm not going to get involved in any pitched battles if I can help it." She grimaced. "And now I've discovered a problem." She looked at Keren. "I can't sit down while I'm wearing them. Certainly not on furniture like this."

Keren bolted out of his chair. "Of course. I'll help you take them off."

He helped Garia undo the straps and they managed to remove the harness without disturbing her diagonal sash.

"Even that seems strange to my eyes," Korizet said. "A Prince doing the work of a maid. Or, dare I say it, an armorer. May I?" she asked, holding out a hand. "I have never seen swords like this before. Are they from your own world, Garia?"

Garia and Keren looked at each other. Garia said, "No, they are from a remote part of Alaesia. They are actually designed to be used by women defending themselves from pirates and brigands. I really shouldn't say too much more right now."

"May I draw one?" Korizet didn't wait for an answer but wrapped a hand round one of the hilts and pulled a blade out. She inspected it closely. "It's odd-looking," she said. "It's so thin and there's no edge at all. How do you -?"

"There is an edge," Garia said, "but it's right at the tip. The rest is just designed to trap or deflect your opponent's blade." She smiled. "I'm almost certain that I'm going to be giving demonstrations, aren't I, Keren?"

"As you say, Garia." He grinned. "I know you wanted a bit of a rest, but I suspect you are going to be giving a lot of demonstrations in the next few days."

She sighed. "I know. Still, every little helps."

"We'll make sure you have some time to rest, Garia," Korizet said. "The castle is big and it's very easy to find somewhere quiet to go if you want to be out of everybody's way."

A female servant in the Duke's livery of red and dark blue appeared bearing a tray of drinks followed shortly by another with a tray of pastries. Korizet's maid served them their drinks and they occupied themselves with satisfying their appetites.

Garia found a seat beside Merizel. "Speaking of which, this is a peculiar place to my way of thinking. You call it a castle but it's not like any castle on Earth."

"The reason is, Garia," Keren explained, "because it hasn't been needed as a castle for many years now. It's really just like our palace is, a home for the ruling family and the local seat of government."

"But all this," Garia objected, waving her arm around to indicate their plush surroundings. "You'll forgive me for saying so, but some of the furnishings here seem richer than we have in the palace."

"North Palarand is a rich land," he replied. "There's some history here as well. Dekarran was the capital of Palarand for many centuries, because it sits squarely on a junction of two trade routes, the one along the north side of the Great Valley and the route from Moxgo to the tropics through the valley of the Palar. It was a proper fortress then, from what my history tutors have told me, because the whole area was very unsettled, completely different than it has become these days.

"Both the castle here and the palace in the Valley first started out as fortifications built, we think, by the Chivans. Gradually a custom evolved such that Dekarran was the capital part of the year and Palarand the capital for the rest, the whole court moving north in the spring and south after the end of the rains.

"When it became apparent that the Sirrel was going to cut Palarand in half, the King of the time sought treaties with Kendeven and Brikant since it was obvious what would eventually happen. Of course that meant that Dekarran would be the wrong side of the Sirrel and cut off from most of the kingdom's lands so it was agreed that the capital would move permanently to the city in the Valley which gives Palarand it's name. This castle then became the home of whoever governed North Palarand in the name of the King. By that time the situation had gotten more peaceful and Korizet's home became less of a fortress and more of a grand residence."

"I see," Garia said. "It doesn't matter to me, of course, I was just surprised by how well furnished it all was. I expected, I don't know, rough stone walls and dim smoky torches."

"Is that what castles are like on Earth?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Garia shrugged. "I have no real idea, Keren. There aren't any proper castles in Kansas. I'm not sure there are that many in the whole continent of America. All I know is what I've seen in movies." She noticed the blank looks. "Uh, we have like, moving picture stories which people make up for entertainment. Sometimes they are based on real events, mostly they are just pulled out of their... imaginations. They last from one to two bells or so and... if you can imagine that painting, there, but instead of just showing that man sat on a frayen all the time it moves and tells you his story. And you can hear what people say to each other in the story."

Korizet stared. "If I hadn't realized before, Garia," she said, "that last statement really tells me you come from somewhere else entirely. Do you really have moving pictures like that?"

"Uh, no, we don't," Garia told her apologetically. "What I've tried to describe is something that you might understand, in terms of things you know about. What actually happens is a lot more complicated than that and -" she screwed up her face in frustration, "- is next to impossible to describe to you in ways you might comprehend. Heck, a lot of what goes on I don't comprehend. I just leave that kind of stuff to the people who make those things. All I have to do is know how to use them."

Korizet frowned. "Your world sounds very complicated."

"You're right -"

Garia was cut off by the reappearance of Terinar from the terrace. "Come outside, friends. Some of your wagons have arrived, I think."

They followed him out onto the terrace, which Garia now saw was the roof above where they had entered the castle. The spectators lining the rails gave way immediately they saw who was coming, bowing and curtseying in deference, mostly in Keren's direction. The teens lined up along the wall and peered over.

Three wagons had arrived to be welcomed by Vivenne. Jenet and Dalenna were seated beside the wagoneer on the first one while Dalenna's maid and Bursila were on the next. The third wagon held Rosilda. All the women dismounted, or were helped carefully down, and curtseyed to Vivenne. She greeted each in turn, giving Dalenna a hug. Then she turned and scanned the terrace above the entrance, picking out Keren and Garia and pointing to them. Jenet curtseyed again and led the women inside.

Garia watched the wagoneers dismount and begin to lead their dranakh around the corner to the right, presumably to somewhere where they could be parked and unloaded. Her view was stopped by a wall of rock and she looked up, shading her eyes.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Keren said. "I was wondering when you'd notice. "

To her immediate left the terrace was ended by an immense mass of raw rock. On top of the mass, a buttress of dressed stone continued skywards. At the top a slender arch went out over the courtyard to meet a cylindrical stone tower at least a hundred feet high, also built from dressed stone, rising from the far side of the courtyard. From the rear of the buttress another arch went back to a further buttress and finally into the upper levels of the castle, which she could now see went up the mountainside in a series of tiers. Turning her attention back to the tower she saw faces peering over the edge at the commotion below.

"My God," she breathed.

"The King's Tower, we call it," Keren told her. "It has a clear view right up the Sirrel and up the Palar, at least as far as Teldor. We can even see right out to sea from up there. Would you like to go up and have a look some time?"

"Me? Go up there? Keren, my legs feel funny just looking up at it."

Terinar said, "It's perfectly safe, Garia. And if you don't fancy climbing all the steps inside the tower, you can walk up all the ramps inside the castle until you get to the Upper Guardroom and then go along the walkway there." He pointed upwards. "It has substantial walls. You won't even know you're up so high."

That option sounded even worse. Garia gulped. "I'll think about it, Terry. Let's get settled in first."

The door to the terrace banged open and Dalenna bore down upon Keren.

"You left me behind, Highness!" She was angry but dare not lash out against the Prince as she might have against a servant. "I had to travel up on a wagon!"

"Dalenna! I'm sorry that we forgot you," Keren apologized. "I'm not sure what else we could have done, though. The ferry crew had all the frayen riders get off first before they started unloading the wagons. We were so occupied with our mounts none of us thought of you at all."

"Still." Dalenna was mollified - very slightly.

Keren spread his hands. "What could we have done then? Since you have no mount you could not ride with us. I'm not sure you could have ridden behind Garia, say, or in front of myself or Terry. Not dressed the way you are, anyway. You would have had to walk all the way up beside us, or wait for a carriage from one of the other ferries." He grinned. "Next time, it will be different, won't it? By then I expect we'll all have mounts, won't we?"

Dalenna's eyes narrowed and then she smiled. "There is much in what you say." She curtseyed. "I apologize, Highness, for my anger."

"Let's go back inside," Terinar suggested. "It's beginning to get hot out here."

"Of course," Keren smirked. "That's why we live in a house of wood and not one of stone."

Inside, Dalenna's wandering eyes found the snack table. "Ooh, food! I'm starving. Is there any pel left in that pot?"

"It's been there a while, Dalenna," Korizet said. "If there's any left, it's almost certain to be cold. I can call for some fresh pel, if you wish."

Dalenna had reached the table and crammed one of the remaining pastries in her mouth. Turning, she noticed the amused expressions around her. "What?"

"It isn't even lunch time yet, Dalenna," Keren said with a smile. "Don't worry, we all felt hungry as well. Must be something to do with the crossing. Don't overdo it though, or you'll have no room left when lunch is announced."

Dalenna spotted the swords, discarded when Korizet started eating. "Swords! Whose are those? They look strange... Terinar, is this some new idea you've had? Why are the scabbards... Oh." She swung to face Garia. "They're yours, aren't they? Are they from that other world of yours?"

"No," Garia said, "all locally invented and produced. We'll talk about my swords later, when we have our get-together. Terry, I suppose we can do that? Like we did in the palace?"

"Yes, Garia, we can," Terinar confirmed. "There's plenty of odd rooms we can use. Now, I think we'd all better concern ourselves with lunch. Mother said that it won't be formal, since it looks like some of the King's party won't arrive until later, so I believe you may all attend dressed as you are. This evening we will have the proper welcoming banquet my father is famous for. Perhaps I should conduct you all to your quarters so that you may freshen up, and then we can find ourselves some proper food and drink."

~o~O~o~

"This is something father wanted to do," Terinar said, "before we all become involved in this evening's banquet. I think he particularly wanted to make sure that his nobles understood who and what you are, so there are no surprises later on."

Garia smiled as they walked through the stone-lined passages. "You mean, like when we met you and your father at the jetty?"

"Oh, yes! The King's message said that you had begun to ride frayen, since you could ride before you came to Anmar, but father certainly didn't expect to see a mounted girl warrior complete with swords!" Terinar grinned. "I'm not quite sure what he was expecting, since I don't think he's ever seen a woman ride using a saddle before. Ah, here we are." They paused before a set of closed double doors. "Let me just make sure -"

Terinar opened one of the doors and poked his head into the room.

"Yes, they're waiting. Come on, let's introduce you to the rest of North Palarand's nobles."

The room was bigger than Robanar's Receiving Room, but because of the stone construction a line of thick pillars went down either side to help support the vaulted roof. Despite Keren's earlier jest about wooden buildings the chamber was cool and airy. There was plenty of light, though, from the semi-circular windows at the top of the walls on the northern side, the sunlight at this hour of afternoon striking the opposite walls and indirectly illuminating the whole room.

There were chairs lined against the walls, but only two people were sitting, Gilbanar and Vivenne. Everyone else, a mixture of men and women, stood around their liege lord talking casually. All heads turned as Terinar led Garia into the chamber.

"Ah! There you are!" Gilbanar beckoned with a hand. "Come join us, Garia."

They walked the length of the chamber to stand before Gilbanar, Garia curtseying.

"Men! This is the latest addition to our little band. May I introduce Milady Garia, who has been made Baroness of Blackstone by our great King."

Garia went down on one knee in front of Gilbanar, bowing her head. "My liege," she said. "I beg to inform you that I am ready to begin my duties." Still on her knee, she reached over her shoulders with both hands and pulled out her swords with a hiss, laying them parallel on the floor in front of Gilbanar. "I am at your service, Your Grace."

Gilbanar rose and bent right over to place a symbolic finger on one of the blades, his eyes narrowing as he saw the steel up close for the first time. Straightening up he said, "Rise, Baroness. Be welcome in my court. These about you are your fellows in my service - and their wives."

Garia rose, lifting the swords by their hilts. She gave them to Terinar and turned and curtseyed left, then swung and curtseyed right. She saw that there were ten or so nobles, each accompanied by a woman she presumed was the noble's wife. The expressions she noted on all faces ranged from interest to curiosity to dislike to puzzlement.

"What is this, Your Grace?" an older man asked. "She is but a girl. Is she then to be married to your son?"

Both Garia and Terinar blushed. Gilbanar guffawed.

"No, Rokar! She holds the title in her own right. Though she would be eligible to marry my son, I doubt the two of them have had time to consider any such match. Let me explain, if I will. Milady Garia comes from a distant land, somewhere else entirely. She has ended up in Palarand by merest chance, and my brother has taken pity on her and granted her leave to remain in our lands. Where she comes from they do things somewhat differently -" he grinned at Garia, "- and she has given freely of her knowledge to us. My brother gave her a title as a small reward for what she has offered us and I in turn found a spare patch of land to name the title for her." He shrugged. "It seems that my brother also intended that making her a noble would provide her some additional protection, but judging by those knitting pins on her back I doubt she needs much extra help."

Garia stood still while Terinar slid the blades back into her scabbards. Because of their location it was awkward for her to do it by herself, although she could of course manage it when necessary. She thanked him and then stood by Gilbanar's side, Terinar moving to stand with Korizet alongside his mother.

Another noble pointed. "Those things aren't toys, then. They didn't seem to have much of an edge, Your Grace."

Gilbanar shrugged. "I know as much about them as you do, Trosanar. This is the first time I've seen them drawn." He gave a wry smile. "And my sneaky brother didn't so much as mention them in his letters! I knew Milady Garia had hidden depths, I didn't know they extended to cold steel." He turned to her with a speculative look. "Is there anything else your liege lord ought to know, milady? That might have slipped the King's memory when he wrote to me, perhaps?"

"I'm not sure, uh, Your Grace." Garia remembered not to call him Uncle Gil in front of his nobles. "It's been a while since we last met, at the Festival, and much has happened. I'm sure you and your nobles will be kept informed of any new developments as the King sees fit."

Trosanar's wife stepped forward. "Did I see you riding earlier, Garia? Is this the custom where you come from?"

"It is, uh -"

"Lasalenne, my dear."

"Lasalenne, yes, there's no difference between men and women these days when it comes to what they can do. Well, not much anyway. That didn't always used to be the case. Women ride as often as men do, although our animals are different to those here."

"Do you find the saddles uncomfortable?"

"The ones they use here, I did do. Uh, Your Grace, that's one of the new developments. We've designed a new kind of saddle which will allow your men to ride faster and fight better while mounted. It's based on one we use in Kansas, though it's been modified to fit a frayen's back."

There was immediate interest from all the men, since that was something that would be operationally important to them. Garia tried to give a description and then Gilbanar said it would be a lot simpler if they all went down to the stables and just looked at the things.

He held up his hands to quell the questions. "Tomorrow, men! Ah, and Ladies. We cannot make sensible conversation without seeing the new equipment." He turned to Garia with a raised eyebrow. "You intend to make it known throughout the land that a woman may ride, milady? The King approves of this?"

Garia caught Vivenne's eye. "Uh, Your Grace, perhaps it would be better to say that the King permits myself and Lady Merizel to ride. I was not privy to the discussions between the King and Queen over the matter - though their voices could be heard from some distance away."

Gilbanar looked thoughtful, then turned to his wife, having noted Garia's glance.

"So, that's how the wind blew, was it? I presume you played some part in this?"

"I did, husband. Perhaps a private word later with your brother and with Terys - but the wine has been spilled, you will not put it back in the bottle." Vivenne waved her hand at the other women in the room. "There are many wives and daughters here who have already seen Garia riding her frayen, shall you deny the inevitable? Besides, I know that some here customarily ride while on their own lands to the objection of none. It will be a change of custom, my husband, that most will see as sensible."

"And do you wish them all to carry swords, my dear? Would that be a sensible custom as well?"

Vivenne looked at Garia for support. "I know nothing of such arts, husband, and I suspect that few women would wish to do so either. Garia? Shall you explain for us why you do such a thing?"

"As you command, Your Grace. Originally, it was for my own safety. These swords are meant for defense only, Your Grace, should I be attacked again as I already have been. You remember the Harvest Festival, Your Grace?"

Gilbanar nodded. "How could any forget that day, Garia. A kidnap attempt, killings, and even the appearance of a ptuvil... That day will be hard to forget."

Some of his audience had heard some of the tale, and so it was necessary for those who had been present to fill in the gaps for those who had been elsewhere.

"You said originally, Garia," Gilbanar reminded her when they had finished their accounts. "Your thinking has changed since that day?"

"Your Grace, the situation has changed since then, and will continue to change for many years to come. Uh, I think the King would probably explain it better than I can. But one reason I wanted to wear the swords was just to show that a woman can do most anything a man might turn his hand to, should it be necessary. Women are a great untapped resource here in Palarand, and you'll need their talents and abilities in the years to come. My prancing about on a frayen with swords on my back is just to show that it is possible, not that every woman has to do what I do." She hesitated. "Part of it is because I'm so small, I think. If I was the size of Korizet there I think I'd probably be able to look after myself better."

"As you say, Garia. Is not your size against you when you fight?"

Garia grinned at Gilbanar. "Your Grace, you watched me demonstrating unarmed combat at the palace. Size isn't everything. Besides, have you ever been stung by an insect?"

Gilbanar grinned back. "I yield, milady. I would not wish to face you on any field of battle, that is for certain." Several of his barons looked stunned at this statement and he waved a hand at them. "Oh, just you wait until Milady Garia here gives her demonstrations in the coming days. You will learn that she is not to be trifled with."

"Uh, Your Grace? While we're taking about women with swords, you ought to know that four women are being trained as part of an experiment to see if they can join the Palace Guard." She looked at the nobles surrounding them. "All four can swing normal sized swords and two can pull full-sized bows. You might need to consider your own position."

Gilbanar looked startled then thoughtful. He opened his mouth to speak but Vivenne interrupted him.

"Women as part of the castle guard? That sounds like an interesting idea, Garia. Husband, I would not object to having women guard myself and Korizet. In fact, that might be a good idea, since they may go where a guard who is a man may not."

Gilbanar looked thoughtful again, then turned to Garia.

"I should know what to expect from you by now, child. Is that the only thing that's happened since we returned home?"

"Oh, no, Your Grace. There have been some more inventions, and in fact, because the Guildsmen are all becoming involved in each other's work, at the end of the year all the Guilds are going to be merged into a new body called the Royal Palarand Institute of Engineers."

This news caused a buzz of interest in the chamber. Gilbanar's eyes narrowed and he asked, "Is this likely to cause me trouble, Garia? Some of our miners can be difficult at times."

"Tell her the truth, Your Grace," Rokar said. "Most of the miners are difficult most of the time."

Gilbanar gave Garia a wry grin. "Rokar speaks but the truth, but the question remains."

"The situation is complex, Your Grace," she said. "Perhaps we need to talk about it in council."

He nodded, taking the hint. "As you say, milady. Is there anything else we should be told?"

Garia considered. "We-ell," she said slowly, "there is the small matter of the Questors, of course." She gave Gilbanar a knowing smile which told him he might not like what she would say next. "The King has dissolved the Society of Questors as well and created a new College which will offer higher learning to any in Palarand who is smart enough to want it. This will also begin in the new year."

Gilbanar gave a wave to stop Garia from adding anything else. "Young woman, you are giving me a headache. As you said before, much has happened since we last met. There is much for us - all of us - to think about. Come, I think we have dallied here long enough. Let us prepare for the feast." Vivenne rolled her eyes since she knew what her husband's appetite was like. Gilbanar ignored her and asked Garia, "I trust you do not intend to attend the banquet in arms?"

Garia smiled at him. "Your Grace, tonight I shall be nothing more than a sweet, young maiden. Unless, of course, your orchestra is as bad as the King's, in which case I shall rapidly develop a headache of my own."

~o~O~o~

Her chamber was smaller than her bedroom in the palace. This was, after all, one of the guest chambers, about the size the Lilac room had been, her first quarters. The bed was smaller, though, and there was no dividing curtain across the room. A door led into a dressing room with a rail along one wall, empty until Jenet unpacked their clothing chests, shelves over the rail, and space for the chests themselves along the other wall... next to a small bed where Jenet was obviously expected to sleep.

Garia went to one of the two modest-sized windows letting light into the bedroom and pulled one of them open, noting that the stone wall was almost two feet thick. Unlike windows at the palace the panels hinged inwards rather than out as she had expected. Her chamber was up several levels and on the northern side of the castle, which meant it had the full benefit of the sunshine whenever the sky was clear. At this hour of the day the sun was already behind the mountains to the west, her left, so that much of what was visible was already in shadow.

Looking out she could see the lowest part of the Palar valley just before it ran into the Sirrel. In front and below the ground dropped steeply away, first the tiers of the castle, then a jumble of rock, next a narrow road threading between industrial buildings, some narrow warehouses and then a line of wharves along the bank of the Palar as far as the eye could see. Dimly she could see this pattern repeated on the far side of the river, here about three hundred yards wide. Most of the wharves were occupied by a mixture of wooden sailing vessels and barges of all shapes and sizes. It was impossible for her to know whether the ships and boats she could see were local craft or sea-going, she just didn't have any knowledge of marine matters at all.

She leaned carefully out of the window to discover an expanse of vertical wall which went down at least four floors before meeting a narrow terrace. She pulled herself hastily back into the room.

No getting out of this one by sliding down the roof to land in a bed of herbs. Still, I should be more prepared now than I was then.

There was no en-suite bathroom.

"Do we have to go find the bathroom, Jenet? We ought to freshen up after our journey."

"Of course, milady. Bathroom and toilets are at the end of the corridor, not far to walk. I have already requested hot water for us, but the castle staff knew we were arriving today and are already heating it. What shall you wear this evening, milady? It will be a full banquet before the King so will require one of your better gowns."

Garia pulled a face. "I'm not so sure I like these big dos, Jenet. Something awkward always seems to happen to me."

"Most dinners should be less formal, milady, once tonight is past. Tonight you will be before the King, his brother the Duke, and all the barons and their wives. There should not be anyone present that you haven't already met so you need not be so concerned, milady. Will you choose a gown now or shall you wait until we have bathed?"

"Let's go, Jenet. I need to soak a bit and loosen up."

"As you wish, milady."

The bathing facilities were on the rock side of the corridor so had no window. The walls and floor were, like those in the palace, completely tiled but the tub, instead of being sunken, was half a huge barrel standing on the floor. Hot water was supplied in more huge barrels dragged to the bathing rooms on hand-carts by sweating male servants. The water was laboriously baled from the barrels into the tub by the men before the door was shut and the women had privacy.

"Ah, that's better!" Garia slid into the soapy water.

No hot-and-cold running water here, then. Of course, it's a lot harder to run pipes through solid rock than it is through timber, I guess. And pumping the water up this high wouldn't be easy, either.

Clean and back in their chambers Jenet located the chest which held Garia's evening gowns. After some discussion one was selected and the rest were hung up to release the creases. Garia and Jenet dressed each other, Jenet now wearing the Blackstone house colors. Garia's hair was brushed, her tiara and ear studs positioned and her sash with its identifying brooches smoothed into place. Since she was not certain about the floor surface throughout the castle she opted to wear a pair of white sandals and Jenet was adjusting the strap when a knock came at the door.

"Terinar! Do come in. Is there something I can do for you?"

The young man grinned at her. "I've come to escort you to dinner," he said. "I see you're almost ready." He paused and examined her carefully. "You've changed quite a lot since I last saw you," he said.

"What, it must have been all of a bell, if that."

"No! I meant, since we visited you in Palarand. You seem... more confident, I think." He eyed her again. "And, if I may suggest, you appear more beautiful, if that's possible. Your hair is a little longer than it was before and I think the length works better with the shape of your face." He smiled at her. "You would be a wonderful catch for any man."

She glanced at him, a half smile on her face. "What, Terry, after my lands already?"

He reddened with embarrassment. "Me? Uh, no, I'm not - What I meant was, you have beauty as well as brains. Your husband will be a very lucky man."

It was her turn to redden. "Terry, I have no time to think of such matters yet, as you well know. Still, I suppose I must thank you for your comments, I know you mean them honestly."

Terinar sketched an elaborate bow. "As you say, milady. Now, if I may offer you my arm? Jenet, are you and your mistress ready to leave?"

"We are, milord."

Terinar conducted them through passageways and down ramps, some stone-lined and some elaborately paneled. Garia became lost almost at once.

"This place is huge," she commented as they walked. "I thought the palace was bad enough but I can't work out this pile of stone at all."

"It takes a while to learn all the different levels and routes," he explained. "The castle flows up the mountain and of course it's grown over the centuries, so there's no real structure to the corridors or chambers. Levels have been added from time to time and certain Kings and Dukes have made alterations so it is quite easy to become lost if you're not careful."

"I don't suppose you get lost, though."

"No. Korizet and I have grown up here so we spent our childhood running all over the place. There are plenty of quiet corners we can find if we wish some peace."

"I bet. Why does it have to be so large, though? It seems to be far too much space for those who might live here."

"Well, the castle, like the palace, is also where the province is administered from, so we have tax people and so on working here during the day. We also don't have anything like the barracks the Palace Guard use, so all father's men-at-arms - and their mounts - have to be quartered within the castle. From time to time the castle has acted as a shelter for the townspeople, although that doesn't happen so often these days. At one time when there were pirates and brigands operating along the coast we had all the townsfolk quartered here for nearly a year. There are huge vaults in the lowest levels capable of storing food and water for such sieges. Sometimes when the Palar gets too high we have to evacuate the town as well. We're quite used to it, but it does mean a lot of room at other times."

"Oh. I never thought of it like that. Where I come from we don't have a history of big stone castles like this one. I never thought about how such buildings might work in practice."

Terinar nodded. "I can't imagine you would. I've visited some of the nearby towns and cities and there isn't anywhere I've been that's much like Dekarran. Ah, just through here, Garia. Straight ahead."

The dining room was not the one where Garia had lunch. This one was larger and richly paneled and carpeted. Most of the people standing around were those Garia had met earlier, but as soon as she was announced Terys and Vivenne descended on her and took her into their circle. Terinar good-naturedly bowed and headed for a small group containing Keren.

"Your ferry managed to arrive first, dear," the Queen said. "I would have given much to have seen Gilbanar's face when he saw you ride up into the square."

"As you say, ma'am. He was good, though, he managed not to swear out loud in front of everybody."

"Huh," Vivenne said. "That doesn't usually stop him. Still, he's becoming used to the idea now."

"Is this something you two dreamed up between you, ma'am?" Garia asked suspiciously.

"No, dear," Terys replied. "Everything was just chance but we would be fools if we did not seize that chance, would we not? Still, what is to be will happen whether we command it or not so we must do our best to ensure that we and our people make the most of what will come. Dear, have you plans yet for the coming days? Vivenne has expressed interest in the clothing she has seen you in, both your riding outfit this morning and when you presented yourself to the Duke this afternoon."

"I have no plans at all, ma'am. Not knowing what I was coming to, there was no point. I don't even know how long I'm supposed to be staying here before we go north."

"Garia," Vivenne said, "you know you are welcome to stay here as long and as often as you wish. We are delighted to have you stay with us."

"Thank you, Aunt Vivenne." Garia considered. "Uh, ma'am, I imagine that I'll be expected to give a number of demonstrations of various kinds now I'm here. The Duke is interested in my swords and of course his men will want to watch some unarmed combat. I believe that Master Parrel and Master Gerdas will want me to talk to Guildsmen and Questors in the north as well. I'll have to get Merry to start drawing up a schedule."

"Of course, dear," Terys agreed. "When you do that, make sure you leave yourself some time to relax. This is supposed to be something of a vacation for all of us even though we shall all have many meetings to attend." She rolled her eyes.

Garia curtseyed assent. "As you command, ma'am."

The entrance doors to the chamber opened and four men came in carrying a chair by means of poles lashed to the legs. The man seated in the chair looked middle-aged and had one leg raised on a padded slat tied across the front of the poles. Behind the procession was a woman and two familiar teenage boys. There was movement among those in the chamber as Robanar, Gilbanar and Visselen walked over to greet the arrivals trailing officials and nobles in their wake.

"Norvelen!"

"Sire! I beg you forgive me, I cannot make obeisance as I would wish. If you might wait, I will attempt to get out of this contraption and present myself formally to you."

"Nonsense, Norvelen! You stay right there if that is the most comfortable place for you to be." Robanar pursed his lips as he peered at the raised leg. The thin cloth of the tights hid the scarring but it was plain from the shape of the calf that the injury had been severe.

"Norvelen," Gilbanar said, "You have my sympathies. I know how you liked to ride, and to hunt. Such a foul chance which robbed you of your entertainment."

"Not quite, Gilbanar. I may still sit astride a frayen, though it is a major undertaking getting me upon the beast's back to begin with. Hunting, of course, is another matter entirely and I do regret I am no longer able to follow the chase."

Norvelen turned in his chair, identifying those who surrounded him.

"Your Majesty," he bowed towards Terys, "as radiant as ever. I'm sorry I could not attend this year's Harvest Festival, from what I hear you had some excitement."

"As you say, Norvelen," Terys replied. "Since Garia blew into our lives like a major storm we have had many days of excitement since. Garia, stand forward and greet Duke Norvelen of Kendeven and his wife Duchess Shenna. Norvelen, Shenna, this is Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone who we have written about."

Garia came to the front and curtseyed in front of Norvelen, then turned to curtsey to Shenna. Behind their mother Willan and Stebenar grinned a welcome at her.

"You're so young!" Shenna exclaimed. "I expected someone larger and older." She smiled at Garia. "I'm sorry, my dear, I don't mean to be rude. When one is described by letter the image that is built up in the mind can sometimes be quite different than that person in the flesh."

Garia smiled. "I know what you mean, Your Grace. I'm not quite as young as I might seem, though. It's difficult to compare the days here with those back home but I'm about the same age as Keren is. Uh, I mean, the Prince. Unfortunately, I've just been made on the small side."

"As you say, my dear." Shenna cocked her head. "Still, you're very pretty. I was also led to believe that you held interesting ideas concerning clothes and appearance. I see nothing of that here this evening."

"Your Grace, I have learned that a woman may dress different ways according to circumstances. This evening I am nothing more than what you see before you."

"Of course, dear. And most delightful you appear, too."

"Shenna," Terys said, "We women will have our usual get-together tomorrow while the men indulge in beer and crude tales." Willan and Stebenar rolled their eyes. Terys flashed them a quick smile then continued, "We have brought our senior seamstress with us and you will all be able to ask her for details to take back with you. Rosilda has worked closely with Garia on the specialized clothing she wears and I'm sure that what she will show and tell you will give you much food for thought."

"Ah? Then we shall look forward to tomorrow, ma'am."

"Come with me a moment, Shenna. There are other matters I must tell you before we sit down."

Terys led the Duchess away and the boys zeroed in on Garia.

"Well met, Garia," Stebenar said. "Uh, greetings, Merizel. You two both look perfectly magnificent tonight."

The other teens crowded round and exchanged greetings.

"How did you get here, Willan?" Keren asked. "We weren't sure you would be coming this time, and we never expected your father at all. Was it awkward getting him on and off the ferry?"

Willan shook his head. "We didn't come by the route I assume you used. We went east to the Viridor ferry and came up-river by ship. It's a much shorter land journey that way." He grimaced. "Getting him up the hill into the castle was the most awkward part. That roadway is steep."

Keren gave a knowing grin. "We know. Fortunately Garia didn't have that problem. She rode up on her own frayen."

The two boys gaped at Garia, then their expressions changed into grins.

"Might have known," Stebenar said. He brightened. "I'm glad we came, now! These journeys all over the country used to be boring, but not since Garia arrived. I'm sure you'll have many interesting things to tell us, Highness?"

Keren gave another broad grin. "Believe it, Stebenar. Wait until you see her swords." The boys gaped again. "Look, we're about to be called to our seats. We'll have ample time to tell you everything in the days to come."

There were two long tables for dinner and the teens were grouped together at one end of the table which held most of their parents. Willan sighed with pleasure as he inspected the fork provided for each setting.

"Garia, if you did nothing else at all for us, all Palarand would give you thanks for the introduction of forks. It is difficult to describe the change it has made in the eating of our meals each day. Such a simple thing!"

"Many of the best ideas are simple," Keren said. "Somebody still has to have the idea, though."

The meal progressed and Garia wondered why it was so quiet in the hall. Then, as she adjusted her chair, the answer came.

"Keren, why don't we have carpets in the palace? It makes a considerable difference to the noise level in the room."

"It's not quite the same, Garia," he replied. "They use carpets more here because of the stone walls. It helps to keep the noise down, as you say, and it also helps keep the place warm during winter. The palace is mostly of wood so noise and cold aren't so much of a problem. Besides, with the numbers of people we have at home we'd wear through a carpet very quickly, don't you agree? And it's not easy to dance on carpet, either."

"Oh, I see. But... this whole room is carpeted, isn't it? Does that mean they don't hold the sort of receptions here that we do in the palace?"

"There is another room for that, Garia, which has a specially laid wood floor. We'll go in there after we've eaten."

"Ah. I've gotten so used to the way things are done in the palace I've assumed that everyone does the same thing."

Terinar said, "We have a few customs here different than those in the Valley, Garia. I'm sure you'll find others while you're here. Don't worry, you're smart, you'll quickly discover how we do things in Castle Dekarran."

Sure enough at the end of the meal everyone rose and followed the King and Queen out of the doorway, along the corridor and into another large chamber. This one, while still richly paneled, had wooden floors and the vaulted ceiling was bare stone. There were the usual chairs all round the perimeter with a group of better-quality chairs at one end and a small platform with the orchestra at the other. Some people made for the side chairs, others stood around talking. Robanar and Terys took the center of the better seats with Gilbanar and Vivenne either side, while Visselen and Sindenna sat at one end and Norvelen was helped to a seat alongside Shenna at the other. By unspoken agreement the teens found seats in a group near Shenna, the boys standing in front of the seated girls to talk.

"Shall you dance this time, Garia?" Terinar asked. She could see that he was almost anxious to get her on the floor and find out what her dancing was like.

"Regretfully no, Terry. I've had no time to learn anything like that since we last met, I've been really busy! If it isn't making strange devices for people, or teaching them a new number system, I've been teaching unarmed combat, designing clothes or learning to look after a frayen." She sighed, slumping a little in her seat. "That's one of the reasons I wanted to do this trip. I thought the change of scenery might allow me to relax a little."

"It's possible," Keren judged. "You'll be busy for a few days and then everything should slow down, I think. I know that my parents manage to relax when they visit the castle, so I can't imagine why you should not do so as well."

Korizet said, "If that is so, then perhaps we shall have time to teach Garia how to dance. We are nine including Merizel, so that would give us four pairs and someone to beat the time. What do you think? We can easily find a chamber to practice in, out of everyone's way."

"To teach Garia our dances?" Willan asked. "A good idea, Korizet. Normally I would guess that our parents might disapprove of us gathering in such a manner, but if it is for a good cause, then..."

"We also agree," Dalenna said positively. "It will do all of us no harm to practice that which we all should know."

Terissa added, "It would be wise to lay the scheme before our parents, though." Her eyes twinkled. "We all know what they think we want to do when we are alone."

"But we shall be chaperoned," Stebenar objected. "No-one could possibly imagine that anything unseemly would happen, surely?"

"They let us all meet in private at the palace," Garia reminded them. "No-one appeared to have any problem with that, did they?"

"As you say, Garia," Stebenar agreed. "Highness, would you present our idea to your parents?"

"Of course, Steb," Keren said. "I do not foresee any problem but, as you say, it would be best to meet objections before they are made."

The band struck up and Garia cringed. Most of her friends moved off to make up the dance party and she was left with Korizet for company.

"Do you really find our music to be bad, Garia? Our orchestra is said to be one of the best, even, it is said, better than those employed at the palace."

"I don't know what to say, Korizet. It's just... different than what I've been used to, that's all. It sounds very... inharmonious to my ears. Doubtless I'll grow to like it when I've been here long enough."

"You poor thing. You really look as if you are in pain. The music isn't that bad, surely?"

Garia shook her head to try and clear her brain. "I don't know, Korizet. Last time I attended a do like this I ended up drinking a lot of wine to try and numb my hearing." She looked at Korizet. "That's not a good idea, at least in my case."

Dance followed dance. Sometimes one or more of the boys would stay to keep her company. Sometimes one or more of Gilbanar's nobles would ask her to dance and she was forced to refuse them. She drank a little wine, talked to many of the guests, watched the dancing and the interplay of the others in the chamber, and was generally miserable. Finally Terys came and sat beside her.

"Dear, this evening is not to your liking, is it? Does something ail you?"

"Ma'am, the music sounds terrible to my ears and I can't dance because I don't know the moves. I'll put up with it, though. I'm not going to run out on you and the King just because I can't join in."

"I'm sorry, dear. The music sounds fine to me, but I have heard music from other parts of Alaesia. Occasionally we have travelers through Palarand who perform for us and their idea of music is not my own. Is this what you mean?"

"I guess it is, ma'am. Uh, the teens - I mean, Keren and all the others my age, ma'am - want to teach me the dance steps some time while we're all in the castle. Would you approve?"

"All of you? How many are there? Eight, I think."

"Nine, with Merizel. It's been suggested we find a quiet chamber and we can go through the steps as a group with me joining in. The ninth person can beat the time."

"An excellent idea, Garia! Yes, I do approve. I shall tell Robanar and his brother and we shall arrange something. Is that what you want?"

"I - I think so, ma'am. It wasn't my idea. We'd all have to be able to join in, so everyone will have to agree to whatever's decided."

"That's settled then. I'll make the arrangements with Vivenne. What about your other responsibilities, dear?"

"You'd best ask Merizel, ma'am. She knows what I'm doing for the next two weeks or so. She can organize everyone else to fit in whatever's decided."

"As you wish, dear."

~o~O~o~

As Jenet brushed Garia's hair before bed she asked, "Milady? I wonder... would you think it foolish of me to ask if I may learn to ride as you do?"

Garia turned, then remembered she was supposed to be holding her head steady.

"That's unexpected, Jenet. What made you want to do that?"

"Milady, this evening I was speaking to Captain Bleskin and his wife Taranna. He had asked me about our journey further north, wondered if we might travel together. He knows that you have never ventured to North Palarand, milady, but he did not know if I had."

"Oh, I see. And have you?"

"No, milady. The castle - and the town below - is the furthest I have ever been from the palace."

"So, what does that have to do with riding a frayen, then?"

"He was telling me that when he lived in those parts Blackstone was difficult to get to except by pack animal. I understand that a better road may have been laid since those days but neither of us knew for sure. I wondered if it might be better if our party were all to ride, if that might make our journey easier."

"As you say. But, you could still ride, by using a chair."

"I have watched you ride these past weeks, milady, and it seems to me that you appear much more comfortable in the saddle than ever I remember being in a chair." Jenet shook her head. "It may be that riding is beyond me, but I would at least like to try. With your permission, that is."

"I have no objection, Jenet." Garia stood and hugged her maid. "If it's something you want to try, then I'm not going to stop you trying. Like anything in this world - any world - you can't know if you can do something until you try."

Garia released Jenet and gave her a serious look. "Have you considered all the consequences, Jenet? Assuming you can do it, we'll have to find you a beast and have a saddle made for you, then we'll have to get Rosilda or someone here to make you a set of riding clothes. Two sets, maybe three. And what of Bursila? If this works the way you want it to she'll have to learn to ride as well."

"Milady, Bursila can already ride, although I do not think she has done so for some years. You remember, Lady Merizel rode on her father's estates, naturally she would be accompanied by her maid."

Garia considered, then nodded. "Very well. I'll make some discreet inquiries and then we'll see if we can find a quiet chamber and do some experiments. Like I did when I first started riding Snep. For now, I think it's time I found out what this bed is like. Though I'm tired enough I don't think much will keep me awake tonight." She had a thought. "Jenet, how do the bells work around here? We're not likely to hear them through all this rock, are we?"

"Duke Gilbanar's guard repeats the signals through the levels with hand bells, milady. We shall not miss any calls to meals or other events, you may rest assured of that."

"Ah. Good-night then, Jenet."

"Good night, milady."