Tricksters Queen by Tamora Pierce Read Free Book Online Page B

there is very little food for us here. We are here to win our wager with the god, not to sit about preening ourselves." He glanced into Aly's upturned face and away. "I am here to do more than preen myself."
    Ulasim nodded. "He has a point," the big raka admitted. "At Tanair the crows were our watchers and patrols."
    "We'll find something for him to do," Aly said impatiently. The thought that Nawat might leave made her chest go tight. "Gods help us, we only arrived today."
    No one else commented. Nawat was considered to be under Aly's command. The rebel commander had agreed that winter to make their subordinates and work areas separate for the most part, though they would share any news and special requests at the nightly meetings. On occasion some areas might need to work with different ones, but those cases would be determined as they arose. It was a rebel's way to fight, rather than the way a government would do things. If the Crown captured some of them, the rest of the movement would still be able to continue the rebellion.
    Aly looked at Ulasim. She knew it was pathetic to change the subject to get rid of that tight feeling near her heart, but what she had to say was important. "In the meantime, may we now bring Sarai and Dove in on this? The country is trembling on the sword's edge—we could all feel it on the way here. It's the girls' destiny at play."
    Ochobu made a face. "To risk all on the discretion of a pair of girls . . . Not yet."
    "I agree," Ulasim replied. "At least, not as regards Lady Sarai's discretion."
    Someone rapped on the door. It could not be a stranger to the household, since the servant s wing was kept under watch. Ulasim stood to open the door and admitted Dove.
    "Sorry," she said, finding a vacant chair. "It was hard to get away from my chess game. I had to let Aunt Nuritin win. I'll never hear the end of it now."
    Ochobu glared at her son. "You could have said she knows."
    Aly hid a grin as the big footman shrugged. "She came to me after supper to tell me,” he explained to his mother. "It seemed only reasonable to ask her to come here."
    "It's so obvious Petranne could see it," Dove said wearily. "The way the raka watched us all the way to Tanair and back, the crows, a household with all the servants but Aly who are raka full and part-bloods, servants who used to work for the Temaidas. . . . My mother belonged to some branch of the Haiming clan, didn't she? A small one that escaped the luarin's eyes. It explains a great deal."
    Fesgao smiled at her. "You are right, my lady, it does."
    "The timing makes sense," Dove continued. "We have only two people with a claim to the Rittevon throne left. Dunevon is a child; his regents make Stormwings look tenderhearted. But do you mean to kill Elsren? Because Sarai and I will never permit that."
    "We shall ford that river when we come to it, my lady," Ochobu said. "For the present we gather allies, identify our enemies, and look for the regents' weaknesses. There is unrest all over the Isles. It will be war by summer's end."
    "Then don't tell Sarai or Winna," Dove advised. "It's quite possible Winna will have Elsren swear a blood oath not to try for the throne. She hates it at court." Dove looked around at the raka's faces. "You were going to tell Winnamine, weren't you? Or is she supposed to die in the fighting?"
    "We have made no decision in that area, either, my lady," Fesgao said with grave respect. "Many things must take place before we shall be forced to consider such choices."
    Dove leaned back in her chair. "Tell me," she ordered.
    Aly watched as the raka straightened, new life and purpose in their eyes, even Ochobu's. One after another they explained how things stood. Doves arrival had given them something real to look at. She might have been only their future queen's little sister, but she had the same blood in her veins and the same quick wits.
    When they had finished, Dove massaged her temples. "It's so much bigger than I could have imagined,"