The gate of the aviary was slightly ajar, but Tess stopped just outside. "Viane!"

"Come in, Tess," Viane called from within. "I'm feeding the birds."

"I'll wait." Tess peered warily through the lattice at a huge parrot balanced on Viane's slender arm. "You like birds?"

"Oh yes." Viane lifted her arm and the parrot flew up onto a branch in the tree next to her. "Aren't they beautiful?"

"Very nice."

Viane looked at Tess in surprise as she moved toward the lattice door. "You're afraid?"

"No such thing."

Viane gazed at her in wonder. "Yet you told me you loved horses. How can you be afraid of these gentle creatures when you have no fear of those huge monsters?"

"Horses don't scatter their bounty from above with a singular lack of discrimination."

Viane burst out laughing. "True, but I'd still rather watch one in flight than be on the back of a fierce stallion."

Tess braced herself and said in a rush, "Galen gave me Pavda. I thought you should know."

"Why?" Viane raised her brows. "I have no interest in riding her.”

Tess frowned in puzzlement. "That's what Galen said, but I couldn't believe it."

Viane studied Tess's bewildered expression before smiling gently. "You must understand. I'm not like you, either in nature or upbringing. I'm not bold, and I have no desire to go beyond my limits."

"How do you know what your limits are, if you don't try to go beyond them?"

"Why, I don't—" Viane started to laugh. "You see, we're not at all alike." She closed the aviary door and moved gracefully across the terrace. "You left the palace very early. Let me order tea for you."

"How did you know that?"

Viane flushed guiltily. "You must not think I'm spying on you. Since my mother died, the servants have looked to me to oversee the running of the palace, and Galen has made no objection." She continued hurriedly, "But since you are now the majira, perhaps you—"

"Me?" Tess looked at her blankly. "You jest. Good heavens no! I intend to spend more time at the stable than the palace while I'm in Zalandan."

"While you're in Zalandan?" Viane gazed at her in confusion. "What do you—"

"Are those pigeons?"

Viane nodded.

"The Count owned pigeons. He trained them to carry messages to his cousin in Paris. It was most interesting."

"Carry messages?"

Tess nodded. "The Count said pigeons have been used to carry messages since the twelfth century before the birth of Christ, sometimes for distances of hundreds, even thousands, of miles." She whirled to face Viane, her face alight with eagerness. "I know, we will train our own pigeons."

Viane frowned. "I do not think—"

"Of course we will," Tess interrupted, her eyes sparkling. "Why not? It's a splendid idea. You'll teach me about birds, and I'll teach you about horses." She linked her hands behind her back as she began to stride back and forth across the terrace. "I learned a little from the Count. It seems the instinct is there in most pigeons, and one must only give them the opportunity. If the Count could manage it, I'm sure we can do even better, for he was not at all clever. By the time I leave Zalandan, I'll know all I need to know about—"

"Leave here? Why should you leave here? This is your husband's home."

Tess hadn't meant to let her enthusiasm run away with her. "That doesn't mean I must stay here forever. It's not that kind of marriage."

"There is only one kind of marriage. You must not think these thoughts." Viane added flatly, “Galen will not let you leave him."

"You will see." Tess paused in midstride and turned to face her. "I understand you are to marry yourself next summer."

"Yes." A soft flush dyed her cheeks as she glanced back at the pigeons, now on a low branch of a pepper tree. "It was arranged by my mother. Kalim is a good man, and very kind to me."

"And you are content?"

"As much as I can be," Viane said haltingly. "I think some women are not meant for marriage. I feel very shy when I think of Kalim."

"Then don't think of him," Tess said. "Who knows what will come before next summer?" She grinned. "In the meantime we'll have a perfectly wonderful time training your pigeons. Do they have names?"

"Alexander the Great and Roxanne."

Tess laughed. "You see? Alexander the Great was a prodigious traveler. You must have somehow known what his destiny would be."

Viane smiled ruefully. "I assure you that in my wildest moments I had no idea I would ever use my pigeons to carry messages."

"But won't it be exciting?"

Viane's gentle smile widened, her gaze on Tess's luminous face. "Yes, I believe it will prove very exciting, Tess."

Chapter 5

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"You choose. I don't care," Tess said impatiently. She gazed without interest at the bolts of shimmering fabrics spread on every chair, table, and divan in her chamber. "I'm weary of looking at all this."

"You tire easily." Galen leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs before him, crossing his booted feet at the ankle. "You've scarcely glanced at the fabrics."

"It doesn't matter. This is taking too long." She looked anxiously at the setting sun. “I thought I'd have time to take an apple to Pavda before supper."

"The midnight-blue brocade is exceptional, Majira," the bearded fabric merchant said coaxingly.

She cast an indifferent glance at the shimmering fabric unfurled on the floor. "Yes, it's very nice." She turned to Galen. "Did I tell you about the pigeons?"

"Twice," he said solemnly.

"Nice?" the vendor murmured faintly. "The brocade was brought from China, and the pearl embroidery took seven months to complete."

"Very nice," Tess said impatiently. "I have no quarrel with your goods."

"She'll take the brocade." Galen stood up. "And the green chiffon and the gold." He strolled around the room, selecting and rejecting fabrics with brisk efficiency. "You have the majira's measurements and my wishes as to the fashioning of the gowns. I'll expect the first to be ready for fittings by next week."

"Certainly, Majiron," The little man appeared relieved. He snapped his fingers, and his young assistant began to gather up the bolts. "And the garments for which you previously gave me instructions will be delivered by eight tomorrow morning."

Tess turned to look at Galen. "What garments are those?"

"Your riding habit, among others." Galen waved the merchant and his assistant from the room and sat down again. His lips quirked as he saw Tess's expression of enthusiasm. "Ah, I've fired your interest."

"How is it to be fashioned? Will I wear trousers?"

"Of a sort." He grimaced. "However, I have no desire to see you garbed as a man. The garment resembles a divided gown."

"Velvet?"

"For this climate? I ordered it made of the same material as my robes."

Tess smiled with satisfaction as she remembered its texture. "How pleasant."

"That was my intention." He smiled slowly. "To bring you comfort and pleasure. Of course, you will wear nothing beneath any of the garments."