The Duke's Ballad # with Lyn McConchie by Andre Norton

Author:Andre Norton [Norton, Andre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780765306364
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Published: 2005-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

XIII

Aisling murmured agreement, then looked at the two men.

"Something else occurs to me. We know Kirion was, shall we say, persuading those girls that Shastro wanted to love him, to get them to cooperate. But I've seen no signs of that since we arrived.

How willing will Shastro be to give up having the women he wants?"

Hadrann grunted thoughtfully. "Well, the last was young Jedena of Carmorskeep. Shastro wanted her. Jedena preferred a young man of the court, then seemed to change her mind and fall madly in love with our dear ruler. Everyone guessed that had to be Kirion's influence. The girl lasted quite well, but Shastro tired of her a couple of weeks after you and Keelan got to court. You wouldn't have noticed the girl much."

"I haven't noticed him with anyone."

"Which, knowing Shastro, means that this time it's someone willing. Likely some merchant's daughter who thinks it an honor. He likes to flaunt the noble or unwilling ones far more."

Keelan shrugged. "But his loves rarely last more than a few months. He'll be looking for another very soon. What did happen to Jedena?"

"I don't know. I'll make inquiries."

Aisling glanced up. "Leave that to me. I'm lunching with the Lady Varra. She's the biggest gossip in Kars as we all know. I have only to get her onto the right subject to hear everything she has heard or suspects." She grinned. "And if she doesn't know about Jedena, then no one will. I'll take her a fox fur and a pair of the hare furs. After that she'll talk all day if I am prepared to sit and listen."

She disappeared to change her garb and reappeared an hour later carrying the furs. She blew a kiss to both men and hurried out of the door. Her return was unnoticed some three hours later. Her companions were engaged in a hard-fought game of fox and geese. Ais-ling hung over them watching until the game resolved. Hadrann had beaten his friend, and they became lost in further discussion on strategy. Aisling waited, but when it showed no sign of abating, she coughed. They looked up.

"I think assassins are about to be hunting our dear duke again." That brought swift concentrated attention from Hadrann and her brother.

"By whom?"

"Jedena's father."

Hadrann stared, then looked grim. "I can guess the rest. The girl's killed herself. Where and how?"

"Varra only heard yesterday. From some relative who lives near Carmorskeep and knows the lord and his lady there. I think Varra writes to every relative she has. It's no wonder she has a bevy of servants; she needs them to take all her letters," Aisling added.

"Never mind Varra's servants. What about Jedena?"

"Well, according to Varra the girl left court and went home once Shastro tired of her. Apparently they had a fight before she went, and the duke said that he never wanted to see her again; that she was a bore, and he was tired of her. The girl went back to her keep, poured out

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