Keish- January 31, 2005

January 31, 2005
Dear Arri,
If I had known that King Menion himself was going to appear in my sitting room I wouldn’t have been so quick to send my letter off yesterday.
Likely I also would have put on a nicer gown instead of an old traveling dress.  Maybe.
Apparently while I was writing to you Jace told Caden that if the king wanted to see me he would have to wait because I wasn’t leaving our suite.
I think Brooksby was secretly thrilled.  “His Royal Majesty, King Menion Garedah,” he announced in his most perfectly proper tone as King Menion swept into the room, followed closely by Caden.
Jace leapt smoothly to his feet and bowed low.
I was far less graceful, unfortunately.  Due, I’m sure to a combination of surprise and lingering exhaustion.  “Your Majesty!”  It came out as more of a squawk as I tried to move my lap desk and the blankets Jace had me cocooned in.
“Please don’t get up, Lady Pren.  I understand you are still recovering from your efforts yesterday,” the king said.
I think I just gaped at him.
Jace, thankfully, was still in possession of some courtly manners.  “Please won’t you sit down, Your Majesty?”  As the king did so Jace motioned to Brooksby who was still hovering in the doorway.
Caden cleared his throat.  “I’ve explained what happened as best I could, Keish, but I think we should all hear it from you.”
“From the beginning,” the king added.
Just then Brooksby returned with a tea tray (in record time, one of the maids must have already been bringing it up) and Papa slipped into the room behind him.
I poured tea and began my story.  No one interrupted, though I think they sometimes wanted to.
When I was finished King Menion asked, “And young Master Brio?”
“I don’t know,” I said softly.  “We’d hoped to perhaps hear something in an official report or dispatch.”
King Menion nodded.  “There was a dispatch, but it was very short-- mostly informing me that the Elcaran royal family was safe and expressing appreciation for whatever it was you had done.  There weren’t any details.  I’m sure King Trunsle will appreciate a full explanation.  I’ll write to him for you, Lady Pren, since I’m sure you need to rest.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said in relief.  I was already going to have to write it out again for Imato-- I didn’t really want to write to King Trunsle.
“However, I will need clarification on a few details if I am to do that,” the king said briskly.  “Perhaps we’ll start with the castle wards?  You broke them?”
“No, Your Majesty.  It was more like realizing I had the key to a locked door.  The wards were not compromised at all,” I assured him.  “It’s similar to having a ward attuned to someone.”
“I’m afraid magical theory was never a subject I studied deeply.”
“It’s demonstrated easily enough, Your Majesty,” I said.
“Keisha,” Jace said in a low voice.
I smiled at him.  “Would you ask Ryland to join us please?”
Jace relaxed visibly and went to the door.  I picked up his empty tea cup and placed it alone on a small footstool.
Ryland appeared almost immediately.  “Yes, My Lord?”
Jace indicated me as he returned to his seat and Ryland looked at me expectantly.
“I need a small favor, Ryland,”  I explained.  “Would you please place a physical ward around this teacup?  Attuned to Jace?”  (With recent events I had taught several wards to Ryland as a precaution.)
“Certainly, My Lady,” Ryland said, formality covering confusion.  He held a hand over the teacup for a moment and stepped back.
“Thank you.  If you’ll wait a moment,” I told him.  I returned to my explanation.  “Now there are many types of wards, of course, but a physical ward will prevent anyone or anything from entering a space.  Would you try touching the teacup, Caden?” I asked, slightly mischievously.
“No thank you,” he replied succinctly.
Jace laughed.  “Come now, Caden.  It’s not one of Imato’s wards after all.”
Caden scowled.
“I’ll try,” the king declared.  He reached for the cup but his hand stopped an inch away.  “Strange,” he said as he pulled back.
“Now Jace,” I said.
Leaning forward, Jace picked up the teacup.  He held it out to the king.  “Your Majesty.”
King Menion reached for it, but again could not touch the cup.  He looked at me thoughtfully.  “I think I understand.”
Jace motioned for Ryland, who removed the ward and then removed the tea things also.
After a moment’s contemplation the king looked intently at me.  “I understand Sir Etautca is very skilled at wards.”
I smiled.  “My cousin is very skilled indeed.  It is his gift.”
“Perhaps when he returns from the border he would be willing to come examine the palace wards.  I’m sure they are not Brio wards and could stand strengthening.”
“I think he would be honored,” Jace responded.
The king nodded decisively then returned to the current situation.  “Was Bradford working alone?” he asked me.
I shook my head.  “I’m sorry, Your  Majesty, but I do not know.  I was unable to divine enough about him without arousing suspicion.”
“So this may not actually be over.”  It wasn’t a question so I didn’t respond.
King Menion sighed and turned to Caden.  “I know I’ve been asking a lot of you, but I’d like you to continue keeping your ears open.  For the time being that will likely have to include not openly ‘renewing’ your friendship.”
Caden nodded.  “I understand.”
“At some point, we also need to figure out why.  Why now?  Why Queen Elspeth?”
“Why any of it,” Papa added dryly.  “Though certainly the timing cannot be coincidental.  Not with the increasing skirmishes at the border and the Sand Tribes joining the fight openly for the first time in at least two decades.”
The king’s face darkened.  “Indeed.  I am considering calling up another division…”
I missed whatever else he said as the room began to spin.  I closed my eyes.
“Keisha?” Jace’s voice was concerned as he put a hand on my arm.
I opened my eyes to find the king standing and everyone staring at me.  “I’m sorry.  Perhaps I am still more drained than I had thought.”  I tried to stand, but Jace wouldn’t let me.
“I have kept you from resting for too long, I’m afraid,” the king said gallantly.  “Please accept my best wishes for your recovery.”  He turned to leave but stopped in the doorway and turned back to Jace.  “I almost forgot.  This was with the dispatch I received.”
Jace moved to take the small slip of paper and Papa showed the king out.
Caden stayed behind.  “What is it?”
Jace unfolded it and chuckled.  “A note from Tulson.”
He held it out and I took it.  There was only a single line:

Jace-- WHAT in the name of heaven is going on?  -Tulson

“I already have to write to Imato.  I refuse to write to Tulson too,” I declared, handing it back.  “Besides, he’s asking you.”
Caden said something, but the room was spinning again.  Jace started to answer, but broke off abruptly.
I had closed my eyes, but I heard the door open and close again as Caden left.
“Imato can wait, love.  You’re going back to bed.”
He lifted me before I could protest.  Had I been capable of protesting, that is.
I slept through the rest of the afternoon, the evening… straight through until this morning.  Jace had Cass take charge of my classes, insisting that I remain in bed.  He’s become very bossy indeed, but I suppose I worried him enough to justify it.

Keaton peeked in earlier.  “Jace said I could see you if I didn’t ask you to do any magic.”
He came all the way into the room and I laughed, instantly understanding why Jace had issued such a warning.
“I don’t suppose that had anything to do with the interesting color of you hair?”  Keaton’s hair is quite red, but not usually the shocking shade it currently is.
He nodded glumly.  “Master Zart says he won’t take me out anywhere as it is.  Not even to see Mistress Tish.”
“But you can’t quite manage the spell to fix it?”  He shook his head.  “What did Jace say?”
“That if I was going to try spells without asking it’s only fair that I should have to suffer the consequences,” Keaton recited.
“Sounds reasonable to me,” I replied with a shrug.  “Excellent motivation, really.  I’m sure you’ll have it worked out in no time.”
He didn’t seem overly excited about that, but he didn’t dwell on it.  “I have a letter from Liop.  He gave me some ideas for more experiments.  This page doesn’t make sense, though,” he said, holding out a sheet of paper and crinkling his nose.
I took it.  “Well, that’s because it’s enchanted and it’s for me.  But it takes no magic for me to read it, so I’ll do so,” I said with a small smile.
It was a note from Uncle W. explaining that while he had indeed discussed Liop’s ideas with him and approved them none of his ideas should be attempted without an adult present and there were several that should not be attempted in the same room.  I decided to write out the instructions for Master Zart just to be safe.
Keaton told me more about his studies and Thor’s latest antics before leaving to spend more time trying to restore his hair to a less vivid hue.
I turned my attention to writing a description of all that had happened for your brother.  Jace came in while I was working on the letter.
“You’ll add my congratulations?” Jace asked when he saw what I was doing.
I hesitated.  “I wasn’t going to say anything about it,” I said finally.
Jace looked at me quizzically.  “Oh?”
“I just… well, what if he doesn’t know?  It’s unfortunate enough that Arri may have learned of it from me first, how much worse if Imato should?”
“You don’t think Gretel told him?”
“I think if she wasn’t certain she may not have said anything.  It would be one more thing for him to worry about.”
Jace was silent for several moments as I continued to write.  Suddenly he said, “Promise me you’d tell me.”
He’d startled me out of my train of thought and I gave him a questioning look.
He reddened slightly.  “In similar circumstances… please promise you’d tell me.  No matter how I might worry.  Please, Keisha.”
I nodded.  “Okay.”
Jace smiled and went back to grading midterms.
“We don’t know that she didn’t tell him,” I said quietly.
Jace nodded.  “I know.  But I’m glad you promised.”


Feb. 1st
After finishing my letter to Imato and writing the above the room was spinning again, which is a sensation I am becoming heartily sick of.  I was supposed to grade my own midterms, but Jace noticed, of course, and insisted I go back to bed.
I guess I really overdid it this time-- I fell asleep immediately again.
Caden came while I was sleeping, offering to send a letter to Tulson or Imato using one of the pigeons he has access to if we had a letter ready.  Jace sent both letters with him, so Imato should receive mine in only 3 days or so, instead of it taking a week.  Caden even promised to use a bird who would wait for a response.  I’m not sure whether I’m happy about that or not.  How irritated do you think Imato will be with me this time?  I’ve been too tired to contemplate such things.
Today, however, I am feeling much more myself, though Cass has my classes again.  If this keeps up I may as well just turn the rest of the semester over to her.

Later
I have a personal letter from Queen Elspeth thanking me.  I’m not sure what to say in response.  Knowing what I knew it’s not as though I could have not acted.  Beagan, Corey and Mendel were the ones who actually stopped Bradford.  Beagan was the one who was injured.

Feb. 2nd
I swear to you that if Jace didn’t still have me confined to the tower I would likely have to do something very drastic to, or at least about, Gretel’s mother.
Maybe you shouldn’t let Gretel read this part.
I’ve never thought Sir Aoweir controlled Lady Aoweir in any way, but apparently he kept her in check some because now that he’s gone she’s become entirely impossible.
I won’t repeat any of the things she’s said but don’t let Gretel look at her letters.  And I refuse to be the one to tell her about Gretel’s condition.  I’m not sure anyone should tell her.
I suppose it’s good that Jace is still playing at the tyrannical husband (he laughs as he reads over my shoulder) because a scene with Lady Aoweir is likely not the kind of attention I need right now.  Reports are coming in from Rousha, of course, and King Menion has been firm in his support and generous in his praise, but the tide of court gossip does not always change so easily.  Rumors are flying-- Caden’s hearing the most ridiculous and sometimes appalling things at parties.  It’s starting to make him wonder if Bradford had co-conspirators in Adya.
According to the official reports, Bradford refuses to say anything.  With the court magicians still recovering the interrogation has yet to have a magical component, but he may be skilled enough to block even that.  At least Brynn should be back in Rousha by now.  She spent the week in Darse rather than attending the Winter Festival.  Perhaps she can do something.

Feb. 3rd
I have your letter and I’m going to force myself to answer each and every detail in turn… If only to give myself something to do since Jace still insists I am not recovered enough to teach.  He finally relented about small magic after Keaton accidentally turned his face blue trying to restore his natural hair color, but in other areas he refuses to yield.  I think you’ll agree that it’s a testament to how weak I still am that I’m not fighting him on any of it.

Lunch with Tulson and Clara sounds like a wonderful diversion, though I’m not sure I’d have quite the patience you do for Tulson’s reflections.
I sent a message to Tish asking about the family’s magic but her response said that sadly she herself has none.  She rather wishes she did, especially as she watches Keaton try to combine science and magic.
Matches seem very useful, though I haven’t lit a flame with anything but magic in at least a year.  I’ve gotten too used to snapping my fingers at the candles, Jace says.
I’m glad they gave Gretel a passenger pigeon.  I feel better knowing that she can get letters to and from Imato more quickly.
It’s terribly unfortunate that you had to skip the food stalls, but I’m glad you got out shopping.  I didn’t think Gretel was that interested in weaponry-- do you suppose that’s Imato’s influence?  I certainly hope it isn’t a bizarre symptom of her condition.
I am so very proud of your healing skills.  Soon you’ll have people lined up asking you to heal them-- especially to remove smoke from lungs.  Dr. Stoddart should certainly know what his pipe is doing to his lungs.
Personally I’ve never understood why one would breathe in smoke of any kind on purpose.

It had never occurred to me, or to Jace (or Caden for that matter) that Gretel didn’t already know her condition.  Jace feels better that she didn’t tell Imato only because she didn’t know.  I suppose Gretel wasn’t happy to learn that Caden noticed.  He says he’ll send her a letter of apology.

Mendel’s scene was a masterful piece of comedy, though I resent his assertion that I interfered in his enjoyment of the joust.  Surely the FlyBy gave a detailed account of who won.  You may tell him that next time I shall be truly blatant if only so that he realizes how subtle I was.
As for the idea of Beagan being knighted, I say he deserves it.  And I distinctly saw him throw two punches, the second being interrupted by a knife was not strictly his fault.
You’re handling of Mendel was even more masterful-- well done indeed.

I am very relieved to hear that Beagan is well.

Absolutely NO ONE is making me a countess.  I refuse.  As for de-honoring me, Mendel is welcome to make the suggestion but somehow I doubt I’m lucky enough for anyone to take it seriously.
  Jace is declaring loudly, though not seriously, that Mendel would be wise to be more careful in speaking about another man’s wife if he doesn’t want his ears boxed.

Does Mendel have any thoughts as to how to ride a dragon without being eaten?

Of course Taty, Nysa and Liop can come to stay for a week!  Keaton will be thrilled.  Maybe I’ll give all magic lessons over to Nysa for the week-- it will be finals and would be a huge relief to me to know that Keaton was in good hands on that score.
I wish you could come too, though.

Master Grant seems very helpful.  I’m glad you can work with him.  Both Tish and I eagerly await descriptions of your experiments.

How does it feel, Arri?  It feels exhausting.  I’ve slept a ridiculous amount and I know that part of Jace’s protectiveness lies in the thought that if this is not over I may have to do something like that again.  I hope not quite on that scale or that level of urgency though.

I think I’ve responded to everything and the sun is actually out so I’m going to send Clotho off with this and sneak away from my keepers.  Not even Jace would begrudge me a half hour in my garden now that the sun is out.

Love Always,

Keish

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