Rebel's Honor(25)

Lynx shrugged. She had sort of noticed it.

Kestrel shook her head, smiling. "Oh Lynxie, can't you see? A people who can create such magnificent art can't be all bad?"                       
       
           



       

"I'll take your word for it," Lynx said doubtfully. "But don't forget, they're also the bloodthirsty bastards who killed Hare."

They reached a narrow stone archway leading to an even narrower flight  of slippery stairs. Lynx assumed they were climbing one of the palace  turrets. Finally, they reached a large room, brilliant with oil lamps. A  nest of comfortable sofas waited on a brightly colored rug in the  center of the space, inviting conversation.

Kestrel sank into one.

Lynx looked around, seeing two doors leading off the room. She peeked  through the closest doorway. A giant four-poster bed, nothing like her  bedroll in her tent back home, stood in the middle of the room. She  guessed the other room was a bedroom, too. She instantly missed her  familiar tent.

One of the guardsmen spoke. "Your Highnesses, I've stationed two men at  the top of the stairs. You can sleep peacefully, knowing you're well  protected."

Monitored, more like it, Lynx thought.

He bowed low and then nodded to his companions, leading them out of the room.

Lynx considered throwing the cushions from the chairs onto the floor,  but sooner or later, she had to get used to life in the palace. She  eased down into one of the sofas, trying to get comfortable in her  bustle.

Kestrel stretched out like a cat on her red velvet chair. "I might hate  those ghost-things, but I could get used to this luxury." She grinned.  "No painful slumping on cushions in the Avanov palace."

Lynx frowned, then decided there was no point debating with Kestrel  about which seating arrangements were better, Chenayan or Norin. "So,  Tao?"

Kestrel's face fell, and her voice was flat, filled with disappointment.  "He's fine . . . if I wanted to marry a Norin. Which I don't."

"I'm sorry. Really I am. If it's any consolation, though, I think Tao's an infinitely nicer person than Lukan. For a Chenayan."

"How would you know, given that you hardly spoke a word to Lukan during the meal?"

The sharpness in Kestrel's tone surprised Lynx.

She answered in kind. "He made it very clear that he didn't want to talk  to me." A sigh, and then she admitted, "Any more than I wanted to talk  to him." She stood and paced across the room, stopping to lean against  the wall between two oil lamp sconces. "I worry about you. You seem  determined to become like them."

Kestrel sat bolt upright. "And what's wrong with that? I never fit in at  home. This is my chance to belong, to be happy, and I'm grabbing it  with both hands." She frowned. "But it goes against all my dreams to  have to marry a man who looks like every boy who ever rejected me  because I wouldn't raid an egg."

"Tao is more than just his looks."

"By that argument, so is Lukan."

Lynx grunted, acknowledging that Kestrel had a point. Her gaze settled  on her sister's face, wishing they were closer. She longed to tell  Kestrel about her mission here. If she confided in her, maybe Kestrel  would become the ally Lynx needed as she searched for the truth. After a  moment's hesitation, she decided to risk sharing her task.

Kestrel cut her off. "There are far worse things that could happen than  making love to someone as gorgeous as Lukan. And as for that diamond  next to his eye! Well, I have never seen anything so incredible or so  beautiful. Did you notice that it's bigger than Tao's?"

Lynx shook her head, glad now for the interruption.

Kestrel looked at her, face etched with concern. "Wolf said I was to  support you. So, Lynx, my advice would be to forget your hatred and  appreciate what's being offered to you on a golden platter." She flopped  down onto the sofa. "And if Lukan gets bored with you, you can always  make a play for Axel. The two of you seem to have some kind of lusty  thing going. He's probably good in bed, too."

Mortified Kestrel had sensed her reluctant interest in Axel, Lynx  protested, "Axel! In my bed! You have got to be joking. I'd rather  befriend the she-witch."

"Keep telling yourself that, Lynx, and maybe you'll begin to believe it. Just as well Heron is seven days away by train."

Lynx's face flushed, and a stab of longing pierced her heart. "Leave Heron out of this."

"Whatever." Kestrel lumbered to her feet. "I'm exhausted." At the  closest bedroom door, she stopped. "And by the way, keep your claws out  of Tao. He's mine."

Lynx's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon?"

"Tao. He's mine."

"Yes, I heard that, but-"

"Oh please, Lynx. I saw the way you were flirting with him during  dinner. Do us both a favor and content yourself with Lukan and Axel."                       
       
           



       

"What are you talking about?" Lynx demanded, unable to believe her  sister's temerity. "I was keeping Tao occupied while you cried over  marrying him! Trust me, I have no interest in your betrothed."

"So what if I was tearful?" Kestrel's face flushed, and she took a step  toward Lynx. "I came here to hold your hand, so how about repaying me by  minding your own business?"

"Strange. I thought Lukan was my business. You had no problem spending most of the evening ogling him."

"And we both know what business that is," Kestrel shot back. "To find out what's behind the gemstones."

Lynx rocked back. "How do you know that?"

"I have ears, Lynx, and after hours of listening to your tedious fiddle  playing, I finally came to tell you to shut up." Kestrel gave her a smug  smile. "I'm so glad I did, given the fascinating discussion I overheard  between you and Father. Even he believes I should have been the one to  get Lukan. He said I would make a wonderful empress! But, as usual, you  always get the best, leaving me with meager pickings." Kestrel stomped  into her bedroom. "I finally have a chance to make a life for myself,  even if it is with Tao, and I'm not going to let you mess it up. Forget  about the gemstones, Lynx, because you'll find no support from me if you  jeopardize our safety here." She slammed the door.

So much for Kestrel being an ally.

Angry with herself for how she'd handled that, Lynx's legs gave out, and  she slid down the wall, landing her bustled backside on the deep-pile  carpet.

She had her answer: Kestrel would most certainly not watch her back  while she scouted for information. The question now was: would her  sister actively work against her?





Chapter 17





Lukan drained his chenna and slammed the goblet down onto the table. His  father should have called an end to this interminable evening hours  ago. He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. Why was the old man  taking so long? Even the dogs that scrapped for bones under the table  had given up their vigil.

He glanced at Tao. His brother's eyes drooped, and his chin rested on  his hand. Like the dogs, all Tao needed was to start dribbling-or  snoring. Either would liven up the evening. Lukan smiled despite his  frustration.

The sound of shattering glass split the air, prompting Tao to jolt upright. The signal to leave.

His father had finally drained his chenna and thrown the goblet against  the wall. Before any other chair squeaked, Lukan jerked back from the  dining table and shot to his feet. Tao followed, relief blazing on his  face. His brother tried to catch his eye, but Lukan elbowed past him and  out into the passageway. It took all his self-control not to break into  a sprint for the stairs leading to his apartment.

Keep calm. People are watching. You have to be regal. Remember.

Tao caught up to him and grabbed his arm. "Want to play dice? Anything  to drown out the horror of this night. We can get Axel to join us."

Lukan shook his brother's hand off his arm. "He's the last person I need  right now." He hated Axel-the brilliant soldier, everyone's golden  boy-almost as much as he did his father, and Tao knew that. It had  always grieved him that Tao's loyalty veered toward Axel.

His brother sighed. "Okay, not Axel then, but not just the two of us, either. No offense, but I'm in need of decent company."

Lukan shoved Tao's chest. "What's gotten into you? I told you, I'm not  taking the blame for your marriage, so you can stop flirting with Lynx  and shoving your resentment at me. And how many times must I tell you to  show some respect for the Dragon? If we don't, how can we expect  loyalty from our subjects?"

"A game of dice, Lukan, that's it. I'm not interested in dragons, or  Lynx, or Kestrel, or marriage, or resentment, or anything else. Not  right now."