«And very fine work it is, too», Seisyll agreed. «Krispin, may I see that one?»

Nodding solemnly, Krispin plucked his boat out of the water and waded closer to Seisyll to extend it for inspection.

«Ah, yes, indeed», Seisyll said, laying hands on the craft but also overlapping the hands of its owner, holding it, turning it to other angles, but not actually taking it — for by doing so, he was able to make and keep contact, at the same time extending a probe.

«Yes, that's very fine», he said, tilting the boat this way and that. «When I was a boy, I had a boat very like this one. My father made it for me — and one for my brother. We used to race them across a millpond in the village green near Tre-Arilan.

«I believe that was the summer I dreamed of becoming a great sea-farer, for my father had taken us to Orsalia earlier that summer, on one of the great galleys of the Duke of Corwyn's caralighter fleet. As I recall, he made the boats for us while we were on that journey. At the time, I didn't realize that sea voyages can actually be quite tedious. To me, it was sheer excitement».

All three boys had been listening with rapt attention as Seisyll shared this boyhood reminiscence — which was time enough for the master Deryni to note several startling similarities between Krispin's psychic resonances and those of the king.

«Was it very fast, my lord?» Krispin asked eagerly.

«Not very», Seisyll said lightly. «I expect your boat is far faster. In fact, mine was appallingly slow. And it hadn't nearly as nice a sail as yours».

He used the boy's pleasure at this compliment as cover for deftly disengaging his probe, also setting a gentle blur over any memory of the contact. It would not hold up to close scrutiny, but no such scrutiny was likely if no suspicion was raised.

«No, yours is far finer than the one I remember», Seisyll went on. «The sail is particularly fine. May I ask who made it for you?»

«Lady Marie did the stitching, my lord», Krispin replied, beaming as he stood a little straighter. «She's ever so nice. But Mother gave her handkerchief, and Lady Muriella helped me gather the right herbs to dye it. And Lady Zoë painted the lion on Brion's one». He cocked his dark head wistfully. «It must be an awful lot of work to be a girl, my lord».

Chuckling, Seisyll gestured toward the other two boats, now beginning to catch the breeze and move back toward their respective owners. Glancing back in that direction, Krispin smiled sunnily and turned to set his own boat back in the water, giving it a gentle push to send it on its way. As its sail caught a breeze and continued to move, the boy straightened to watch it go. Beyond, a duty squire entered the garden with a travel-stained knight in tow — apparently a messenger carrying dispatches, for he was rummaging in a leather satchel slung over one shoulder.

«Look, a messenger!» Prince Brion cried, pointing.

«Where do you think he's come from?» Krispin said.

«Let's go see!» said Isan.

Instantly the three boys bolted in that direction, leaving the boats abandoned in the fishpond. Smiling, Seisyll bent and willed the boats close enough to retrieve, then set them in a row at the edge before following after. Unless he was greatly mistaken, the just-arrived messenger was one of the knights who served Ahern de Corwyn — which meant that there would be news possibly requiring the attention of the crown council.

Deeper in the main garden, not far from the royal apartments, the arrival of the messenger was also noted by Marie de Corwyn, as his attending squire led him in the direction of the queen's solar. She had washed her hair earlier that morning, and was combing it dry in the dappled sunshine underneath a rose arbor. She rose expectantly as the messenger drew near, about to pass not far away, and he saw her and raised one gloved hand in greeting.

«Jovett!» she called. «Have you anything for me?»

«That I do», the young man replied, grinning as he held up a folded and sealed square of parchment. «And your brother also sends you his duty and respect».

She blushed prettily and ran to take it from him, standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek, then ran her fingertips over the seal as he continued on. It was a scenario enacted half a dozen times in the course of the summer, as the king's expedition in Corwyn stretched on, and no one thought it odd.

One discreet observer, in fact, welcomed it, for it provided the opportunity she had been waiting for. A little while later, when the queen had received the messages and assembled the crown council to deal with them, one of her ladies pressed a small package into the hands of a junior maid of honor, with instructions to bring it immediately to the Lady Marie.

«Say that the Corwyn messenger omitted to deliver this when he first arrived», Muriella told the girl. «I believe he said that it comes from her brother».

The girl's name was Brigetta Delacorte. She was a shy young thing, only recently come to court. A child, really. One who Muriella knew could be intimidated into silence, if the need arose.

«You'd best go now», Muriella urged, with a sweet smile.

«Hast thou children? Instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth».[19]

Marie had returned to her arbor seat and was reading Se's letter when young Brigetta Delacorte found her.

«Lady Marie, look what your brother has sent you», the girl said, offering the package timidly. She was young and petite, only barely come to womanhood, and awed with life at Rhemuth. «I suppose it must have been at the bottom of the messenger's pouch».

Marie looked up in some surprise at the small bundle the girl extended, wrapped in a piece of fine ivory damask and tied with a length of green ribbon. It was about the size of a man's hand — a box, by the feel of it, as she took it from Brigetta and hefted it in speculation.

«What on earth?» she murmured delightedly.

As she set it on her lap and pulled the tails of the bow to untie it, Brigetta stood beside her, watching eagerly as the length of green silk unfurled.

«What do you think he's sent you?» the girl asked, craning to see.

«Well, I won't know until I open it, will I?» Marie replied.

She handed the ribbon to the younger girl, then began unwrapping the box from its swath of damask. Beneath the folds of fabric, the box was revealed as quite a handsome item, polished smooth and lightly stained to a walnut shade. The confectionary scent of honey and almonds and roses drifted upward as she lifted the lid to discover more damask — and under it, half a dozen rose-shaped sweets, each adorned with real rose petals sticky with crystallized honey.

«Ooooh, marchpane!» Brigitta murmured. «Wherever did he get it? I love marchpane!»

Laughing, Marie took one herself and extended the box. «Have one, then — but only one. And I'll want to share them with the others».

«Mmmm», Brigetta sighed, as she bit into hers and savored the flavor. «Heavenly!»

«Yes, indeed, very nice», Marie agreed, nibbling at her piece. Across the garden, she could see Prince Brion approaching with young Krispin and Isan; she wondered what had happened to their boats. The crown prince was not fond of marchpane, but she knew Isan fancied it; she wasn't sure about Krispin. As they saw that she had noticed them, they broke into a run to join her. Smiling, she beckoned them closer, holding out the box as they came crowding around.

«What's that, Lady Marie?» Prince Brion demanded.

«Marchpane, which you don't like», Marie replied, offering the box to Isan. «But Isan likes it. And how about you, Krispin?»

Grinning delightedly, Isan plucked out one of the pieces and popped it whole into his mouth, cheeks bulging as he chewed it and pleasure lighting his blue eyes. Krispin, less adventurous than some, eyed the dwindling box of marchpane somewhat dubiously.