The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Hobb Robin Read Free Book Online Page B

one of her noble friends who artlessly reminded her of this, asking her if she would not go down in a pony cart to take in the sights of the fair that she had once so enjoyed. The Queen-in-Waiting, standing near her window, hand on her belly, had smiled bitterly and replied that she was far too heavy to contemplate even the short journey by cart to the fair. One of her ladies, thinking to be witty, asked if she did not wish to ride her Spotted Stud there. I could not be sure I heard a knife hidden in that question but I suspected one. I lifted my eyes from my sewing and looked directly at her, but the lady was smiling sweetly, with no hint of malice that I could see.
    I saw Caution flinch at her question, and took that as my answer. It stung. Had she made that lady privy to a secret that she had not entrusted even to me? Or had the lady divined it on her own? It did not matter. Some knew, or at least suspected. Cold rose in my heart and the babe in my womb squirmed uneasily. It was a danger to my lady, one I could not ignore. I had been a fool not to see it earlier. Head bent over my sewing, I looked through my lashes around the room at her gathered women. Some were there who had never before been in her circle.
    Of course.
    Anyone party to such a secret, anyone who asked a pointed question might then use that knowledge as a lever to raise her social standing. It pained me to see Caution like a stag surrounded by slavering hounds. I vowed to myself that I’d do all I could to see her not pulled down. I seethed in meek silence, wishing to kill them all.
    But first, I must deal with the Stablemaster. He and his Spotted Stud must be sent away, banished to somewhere he could never, by word or look, betray the Queen-in-Waiting. If I had been a man, perhaps I would have thought of ways to kill him. But I was a woman and guile is a woman’s best weapon, my mother had always taught me. And so I waited until the next morning when she was looking out the window and sighing to herself as Lostler stood in the stableyard and groomed the Spotted Stud. No other ladies were present, and I placed myself at her elbow and said softly, “I know it grieves you to look on that beast and know you cannot ride him. Soon you will be a mother, and after that, eventually the queen of all the Six Duchies. I know you can see he is no longer a fitting and proper mount for you. You should sell him now, just as you bought him. Send him out of your life and out of your thoughts. Once he is gone, you will not have to look at him and remember your wild adventures with him.”
    I spoke so carefully, and looked only at the horse, but I knew how she would hear my words. I felt her hesitation as she said, “Perhaps I should.”
    So I pushed her to the deed. “The horse fair lasts but another three days. Be decisive, my queen. Send him hence, out of your life. Let no one see your regrets, and others will recognize your strength in setting him out of your life. They will see that truly you are ready to bestride a throne instead of a Spotted Stud.” She was still silent and staring, but her hurt showing in her glistening eyes. I had to push harder. “Let everyone see you stand alone and strong, needing no one else to make your decisions for you.”
    She glanced at me, and then her eyes fell to my belly. She clenched her lips in a flat line and said nothing. A moment later, she resolutely crossed the room to a bell-pull, and summoned a page. Her words were terse. “I have decided to sell the Spotted Stud at the horse fair. He shall go to the first bidder, regardless of the offer. We have plenty and more than enough of his get at Buckkeep. It is time to send him away. I wish him taken there immediately.”
    The boy bowed. “I shall tell the Stablemaster immediately.”
    The Queen-in-Waiting shook her head. “No. Do not bother him with it. He will argue and it is a decision I have already made. Have the keep’s smith take him away right now. Tie him to the tail