Tricksters Queen Read Online Free PDF Page B

demands of being a spy. In a land governed for three hundred bloody years by strangers, they had lived like spies to survive. Aly had simply taught her pack a number of new tricks, while they taught her their old ones.
    "And what of Lady Nuritin's servants?" she asked. "How safe are they?"
    "Safe," replied Olkey, one of the men. "Her maid is a luarin, a cousin, and devoted to Nuritin. Stays by her side, doesn't snoop. The other woman, Jesi, is more of a clerk, and writes all the lady's letters and notes. She belongs to the conspiracy."
    Aly nodded. That was another worry she need not have. "Good," she said. "I'll take reports in here during the afternoon resting time. If you need me to meet one of your recruits, bring her, or him, in." As they nodded, she looked them over. "Playtime's over, children," she said with a grin. "Nice job on the Example pier, by the way. There were soldiers screeching at each other as we sailed by."
    Her pack smiled or looked down, depending on their natures. Jimarn met Aly's eyes steadily. She was in charge of the Example operation.
    Aly took a deep breath. "What do you have for me?"
    Once her people had brought her up to date, Aly ate her cold pasty and went to the kitchen to beg another from Chenaol. As she ate that, the older woman settled in for a good talk. The cook had been Aly's first friend in the household. In her mid-fifties, plump and wickedly humorous, Chenaol had some gray in the black hair she wore in a long braid. She could flip any kind of knife or cleaver and send it straight to the center of a target faster than watchers could see, and could tell good steel from bad at a glance.
    They were discussing the missing tax collectors when a messenger boy came into the kitchen. "Her Grace is wishful of you both coming to the ladies' sitting room," he told Aly and Chenaol. "She's got a cloud on her face."
    Winnamine must be about to pop, wondering how we paid for all this splendour and why Nuritin is here, Aly thought as she and Chenaol followed the boy.
    The room where the family relaxed during their leisure time was light and open, overlooking the flower gardens and the courtyard pool. The cushioned chairs and couches were elegant but comfortable. Nuritin sat in an armchair, facing Winnamine and Sarai, who shared a couch. Dove had taken her usual position, off to one side. Aly slid into her spot behind Dove as Chenaol, with a nod from the duchess, took a chair. Ulasim took his post next to the main door, the consummate footman. Ochobu entered and closed the door behind her.
    "Aunt, I don't believe you know Ochobu Dodeka," Winnamine said. "Lady Nuritin Balitang, Ochobu." The two older women looked each other over thoroughly as Winnamine explained, "Ochobu joined the household at Tanair. She is an excellent healer and mage, so we are honored to have her. Ulasim is her son."
    Aly crossed her fingers. Ochobu did not always deal well with full-blood luarin, but she would have to if Lady Nuritin was living at Balitang House. Ochobu's stony gaze was not promising. Though barely five feet tall, she gave the impression of being much taller. Her long nose always looked as if it held a sniff, particularly when she looked on luarin.
    If Ochobu's stare disconcerted Nuritin, the noblewoman showed no sign of it. Instead she turned her attention to Winnamine. "You will find that many things have changed from last year," Nuritin said. Like Ochobu, her Gift showed in Aly's Sight, though Nuritin's was glowing embers compared to Ochobu's fire. Nuritin continued, "I have explained everything to the people you sent ahead"—she nodded to Chenaol—"and they certainly understood how things will be different." She looked at Sarai. "Stand up and turn around, girl."
    Sarai obeyed with a pout. Nuritin looked her over as she might a horse. With satisfaction she said, "We'll have to take in the gowns I've had made. It's just as well I had Ulasim here escort the seamstresses to your rooms during lunch. You lost