Untalented (8 page)

“Welcome to U’Veyle Castle. My wife Padvai held the education of those less fortunate close to her heart. To honor her memory you will be given the opportunity to enroll in U’Veyle’s guilds. You—”

A commotion at the back of the room interrupted Urdig. Eiden Callor entered the hall, intercepted by a flustered Master Guffin. They hurried to the king then huddled in conference with him. Saroya could not make out what they said, but saw the king take a parchment proffered by Callor. Master Guffin waved his hands in consternation. The king questioned his guard captain. Callor shrugged.

Nalini nudged Saroya. Even on tiptoes she couldn’t see past the crowd. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t tell.”

At a final word from the king, Master Guffin bustled out of the room, gathering a few pages as he left. Eiden Callor looked as though he wanted to protest but King Urdig waved him after Guffin as he turned to address the assembly.

“I’m afraid I must postpone this ceremony.” The nobles craned their necks in curiosity, as puzzled by Urdig’s actions as everybody else. “If our visitors from Adram Vale would please follow me?”

Urdig led the students to a smaller room. Saroya stood in the corner with Nalini, avoiding the muttered speculations of their peers. Soon Master Guffin and Eiden Callor reappeared, leading a group of servants carrying familiar-looking bags and trunks.

“You will recognize your luggage. I had my trusted lieutenant bring it here so that none might claim theft or other unfairness,” the king said.

Saroya gave Nalini a puzzled look. Her friend shrugged in confusion.

Urdig continued. “Please locate your possessions and remove all jewelry for inspection.”

Saroya sighed. At least they could not accuse her of theft: she had no jewelry anymore. She went to her saddlebags and emptied their contents on one of the long tables in front of her—clothing and travel gear, and nothing much else.

When all had rummaged through their belongings, most students either had no jewelry to speak of, or just small trinkets—family rings, a broach here and there, a fine gold chain.

Urdig strode down the line of assembled students, examining the items on the table. He stopped in front of Saroya and studied her face. His gaze lingered on her features but his expression remained unreadable.

“Show me your hands.”

Saroya held out her hands. Urdig did not find what he was looking for.

“Are you wearing a necklace beneath your tunic?”

Saroya shook her head. Urdig stepped away, giving her one last glance as he considered Nalini’s small pile of earrings and necklaces, before moving on.

He stopped in front of Martezha, and picked out an item from the messy pile in front of her. Saroya could not hear what he murmured to Martezha. Some great emotion crossed his face as he gazed at the object in his hand. Saroya strained to see it, but he had it cupped in his palm. Then he looked up at Martezha, kissed her on both cheeks, and embraced her, stroking her blonde hair. Martezha’s eyes grew huge. For once, she looked completely taken aback.

Urdig took her hand, and led her to the door. Eiden Callor intervened. Saroya thought she heard, “… can’t know if this is a trick … wait until we can confirm …” Urdig brushed him off, ushering Martezha through the door and back to the Great Hall. Master Guffin motioned for the students to follow and they filed into the room just as the king and Martezha mounted the dais. Saroya didn’t know what to think.

 
“My countrymen, friends. Please join me in a moment of great joy, and welcome to U’Veyle this fine young woman, Martezha. It seems she is a long-lost … relative of Padvai’s.” He slipped the object he had been holding onto Martezha’s finger. The room erupted in surprised outcry. Nalini gaped at the dais. Nobles shouted in a mix of disbelief and speculation. Saroya could not take her eyes off the ring finger of Martezha’s right hand—through the crowd, she thought she saw a silver band, with a small blue stone flashing and sparkling. She felt faint as her vision tunneled in to focus on that ring. She shoved through the nobles until she could see it better.

Her ring.

She had never been more certain of anything in her life.

The hubbub died down; Urdig was speaking. Nalini, who had followed as Saroya pressed forward, apologized to the people Saroya elbowed on her way through.

“This comes as a surprise to most of you. To me as well. There can be no doubt: she wears Padvai’s ring,” Urdig said.

The nobles roared their appreciation. Saroya swallowed bile. She steadied herself on Nalini’s shoulder. Nalini winced as Saroya tightened her grip, and shot her a worried look.

Urdig went on. “We will toast to new family. Come, I have provided a feast to celebrate.”

Saroya sucked in air past what felt like a vise around her chest.

“Saroya, are you all right? You look a little green.” Nalini dragged her over to a chair and pressed her into it.

Saroya could barely speak. “It’s my ring.”

“What?”

“The ring Martezha’s wearing. The queen’s ring.”

“I don’t understand.”

“My silver ring with the blue stone. The day I came back from the village. It’s my ring. The one that was stolen.” She was shouting now, and people turned to stare.

Nalini knelt in front of her and looked into Saroya’s outraged eyes. “Are you sure? How can you tell from here?”

“You’ve seen it, haven’t you? You don’t believe me? Look at it.”

“It’s not that, it’s just—you hardly ever showed it to me. Wasn’t it gold?”

“What do I do?”

Nalini bit her bottom lip and thought for a second. “Things are too crazy right now. Everybody’s in shock—it’s no use causing a scene. Let’s have dinner and let Martezha have her moment in the sun. Then we can go find Eiden Callor. Maybe he’ll listen.”

The food was indeed a feast, but the tender meats, delicate noodles and sweet desserts all tasted like sawdust to Saroya. She watched Martezha simper and smile at the now fawning nobles. Saroya caught her eye. Yes—a look of guilt flitted across Martezha’s impeccable features.

The meal finally over, Saroya darted up and dragged Nalini after her. The king was talking to Eiden Callor in a corner of the hall. After pouring a splash of cider into a goblet, Saroya ducked behind a column to eavesdrop. Nalini looked as though she would rather be anywhere else.

They heard snatches of conversation.

“… why would Padvai hide a daughter?” Callor asked. Saroya nearly choked inhaling her cider.
Daughter
?

“… Announce … heir … Houses must know,” Urdig said.

“At least wait until we send to Adram Vale to find out more.”

“… Rumors … can’t wait long.”

The two men moved away as a noble dragged them off to discuss the effect moving the boundaries of his estate would have on his taxes.

Nalini poked Saroya, jolting her out of her stunned silence. “Did I hear what I thought I heard?”

“They don’t think Martezha’s just any old relative. The ring makes her …”

“You mean, makes you the queen’s daughter.”

“Who’s going to believe that? I mean—how’s it even possible?”

They went in search of Eiden Callor. Saroya spotted him in conversation with a striking dark-haired woman. He leaned against a marble column, frowning at her last words. He glanced away in irritation, and Saroya caught his eye.

“Captain Callor, may we speak with you?”

The woman looked down her nose at Saroya. “My dear, we are in the middle of an important discussion. Come back later.”

Saroya flushed but dipped a quick curtsy, trying to appease. “Beg pardon, My Lady, but I must speak with Captain Callor. It’s urgent.”

Nalini plucked at her sleeve in warning as Callor raised an eyebrow.

“I am the queen’s sister and whatever your business with him, it can wait. Go return to that rabble you arrived with.”

Saroya clenched her teeth together and bit back a reply. The woman didn’t sound like someone who would welcome an Untalent into the family. Nalini shifted uncomfortably and tried to drag Saroya away.

“Isolte.” Callor’s features betrayed no emotion. “While I see your point, it is not my place to discuss tonight’s protocol with you. Better to take your complaint to Master Guffin. Please excuse me.” He moved away, then, as an afterthought, turned to Saroya and Nalini. “Master Guffin informed me that your mare pulled up lame, Nalini. I am off to see the stable master now. Join me?”

They scurried after him without waiting to hear Isolte’s protestations. They caught up to him at a small alcove down the hall.

“What’s wrong with Doni? She was fine yesterday …”

Callor shook his head at Nalini. “Nothing’s wrong with your horse. Although you could use something for your gullibility.” He turned to Saroya. “What is it? I only have a moment.”

Saroya let out a grateful breath, and collected her thoughts. How to broach this?

“My lord—”

“Captain.”

“Captain.” She swallowed. “The ring the king found in Martezha’s pile.”

Nalini darted worried glances back and forth from Callor to Saroya. Saroya’s courage left her and she nearly fled. Nalini nodded in encouragement.

“What of it? Speak up, girl.”

Saroya steeled herself and looked him in the eye. “The queen’s ring. It is silver, with a blue stone, and knotwork etched around the band. The inscription on the inner rim reads ‘Ashra, welcome to Roshan—Airic’.”

Callor frowned. “Martezha has shown you this ring before?”

“I know that ring like I know my own hands. The Adept who gave it to me said it came from my mother.”

Callor stepped toward her. She drew back, intimidated, Callor’s no-nonsense manner now menacing. “I have no use for schoolgirl pranks.” He brushed past her.

“Please, Captain! I beg you—”

He rounded on her. “Beg. Yes—that is exactly what you’ll be doing when Guffin hears of this and puts you out on the street where you belong. I had thought better of you.”

Saroya babbled as her hold on the situation slipped. “You don’t understand—”

“I understand all too well. Did you really think this scheme would work?”

“It’s not a scheme!”

“Then explain why, if the ring is yours, it was not in your possession.”

“It was stolen from my room at the Cloister two months ago.”

“How convenient. Did you report this theft?”

“Nalini tried to, but the Adepts wouldn’t listen.”

He turned to Nalini. “Can you confirm it is the ring you saw tonight?”

Nalini’s anguished look took away all Saroya’s hope. “No. I don’t know. The stone was blue. I can’t remember for sure.”

Saroya held out one last possibility. “The Adepts. They can tell you!”

“The Adept who gave you the ring can verify all this?”

Saroya shook her head. “No, she died last year. But Doyenne Ganarra or someone else at the Cloister likely knows.”

“You waste my time. If you had some proof … but, no.” Callor turned to go. “If I hear so much as a whisper of this tale from anybody in the castle, I will personally see to it that neither of you are welcome in U’Veyle again.”

Loric seethed beside Isolte in the carriage on the way home.

She tried to placate him with news of their son. “The Adepts sent Oran back from his latest Testing.”

“And?”

“Commerce and trade. Like me.” He could see the relief in her face. Their son had a Talent.

The good news failed to distract Loric from his simmering anger at the man he’d sent to Adram Vale. “I’ll have him flogged! Strapped to a fence and flayed within an inch of his life. Maybe that will teach the fool to do a job right.”

Isolte wisely did not defend the man.

“He told me he found the ring in the Untalent’s room,” Loric continued. “And what do we get instead? A beautiful, accomplished singer. The Houses will just lap it up.”

He drummed a hand against his thigh.

“Where’s the scandal, Isolte? For all anybody knows Padvai was eccentric and wanted a child brought up outside the court.” It had been done before—King Turlac a hundred years ago was so worried about assassination he did not admit to having heirs until his deathbed.

“But that was during the Darlan Revolt, dear. The Houses are united now.”

“When we thought the child was Untalented, it was the perfect setup. Now? Urdig’s position is even stronger than before.”

Isolte smiled. “What are the odds that a red-headed Untalent among that particular group would not be my sister’s daughter?”

Loric’s hand stilled. “You’ve seen this Untalent?”

“Didn’t you notice her, my love? She’s the spitting image of Padvai. Different color eyes, and wavy hair where Padvai’s was straight. An educated observer would see a resemblance.”

“So why did Urdig not install her in the royal apartments?” Loric asked.

“Ah, well. I followed her and her little friend when they went to plead their case to Callor. The fools never noticed.” She related the scene she’d observed in the corridor.

“Do you believe her?”

“She seemed most upset. And sincere. Factor in the family resemblance … I suspect Callor brushed her off because he recognized the implications for Urdig. Loyal to his liege, that one.”

“But she has no proof.”