The Seven Towers Read Online Free PDF Page B

she was exiled. Her husband went with her. Parrane and Iverly got into debt; they’re still around somewhere, but they don’t have much influence anymore. And you already know about Jermain.”
    Vandaris looked startled. “So many!” Her eyes narrowed. “And all of them people with strong opinions. I don’t like this at all; it’s worse than the Guild of Mages.”
    “What’s wrong with the Guild?”
    “They’ve been losing members by the score for the past five years or so. Not that it matters in Sevairn. Is Anareme still in charge of the army?”
    “So far,” Eltiron said. “Terrel’s been trying to get Father to replace her, but it hasn’t worked yet.”
    “I’m going to have to meet Terrel,” Vandaris said thoughtfully. “What’s his family again?”
    “Lassond.”
    “Lassond, Lassond, Terrel Lassond,” Vandaris said. Suddenly she looked up. “Not that gorgeous blond idiot from Miranet City? The one all the unattached women were after?”
    Eltiron nodded glumly. “The women are still draped all over him, but I wouldn’t call him an idiot,” he said.
    “No? Well, he may have changed.” Vandaris stared off into space for a few minutes, then grinned. “This visit may be a lot more fun than I’d thought.”
    “How long will you be here?” Eltiron asked.
    “I hadn’t planned on long, but I may change my mind,” Vandaris said. “Don’t look so gloomy; I’ll stay through your wedding, at least. That is, if you have one. We’ll have to see about that.”
    Eltiron smiled in some relief. He was more at home with his aunt than with anyone else at court, and he had not realized how much he had needed someone to talk to since Jermain’s exile. “Will you go to the King now? You really ought to; he’s sure to be angry if he finds out you came here first.”
    “Marreth will be angry as soon as he finds out I’m back, for all the good it does him. I have other things to attend to first. Are my rooms still empty, or has Marreth moved them?”
    “They’re empty; he couldn’t convince Orvel Seravis that they were needed for anything else. Every time he tried to put someone in them, Orvel found somewhere much better, and finally he gave up.”
    Vandaris grinned. “Rooms in an inconvenient corner and a castle steward who likes me. Handy combination, that; I’ll have to remember it for the future. Remind me to thank Orvel.”
    “If you aren’t going to see Father, what are you going to do?” Eltiron said. He felt a little uneasy; if Marreth discovered his sister’s breach of custom and courtesy, he would not hesitate to blame Eltiron, however little Eltiron could have done to prevent it.
    “I’m going to get my sword squire and my goods and move into my rooms before Marreth has a chance to think of some reason why I can’t,” Vandaris said. “Not that he could stop me, but it’ll be easier on everyone if he doesn’t have a chance to try. I’ll see him when I’m finished.”
    “Your sword squire? Father won’t like that at all.”
    Vandaris grinned again. “She’s only fourteen; it would take the worst gossip in Sevairn to make anything of it.”
    Eltiron felt his face grow hot. He had indeed assumed Vandaris’s squire to be a man, and somewhat older than fourteen, someone whose duties could be supposed to include more than cleaning swords and grooming horses. Knowing that his aunt had guessed his thoughts didn’t help his state of mind; what would she think of him now? “I’m sorry,” he said wretchedly. “I didn’t mean . . .”
    “What’s the matter with you?” Vandaris said, frowning. “Every other time you open your mouth, you’re apologizing for something. Morada’s smile, man, it’s not that important!”
    “I’m sorry, I—” Eltiron stopped short in midsentence and grinned reluctantly. “I see what you mean.”
    Vandaris looked at him sharply, but let the subject drop. “Come down with me and meet my sword squire,” she suggested, rising. “I left