Now here was proper food. And paired with the most interesting conversation she'd had in days, Tahni felt like she'd finally caught a break. She picked up a slice of heavily buttered halfbread and bit into it with conviction.

"An evil stepmother, huh?" she said after she'd swallowed. "Classic."

Ederra was toying with her fork on the flat cake platter, tracing idle patterns in the cinnamon sauce. She'd eaten more than Tahni had expected, what with her recent digestive troubles, but it only made her more inclined to like the strange northerner. She certainly didn't regret inviting Ederra for breakfast in her room. She'd tidied up one corner of the floor, which was to say she'd picked up the scattered items and deposited them on the bed. If Ederra felt uncomfortable at the sight of the mess, she'd given no indication, and Tahni was beginning to wonder what it would take to ruffle the girl's placid feathers.

"Well, yes. But without the evil part."

Tahni raised her eyebrows, pausing mid-chew. Prompted by the silence, Ederra went on.

"They've been nothing but nice, solicitous, caring, and sympathetic. All of my stepmother's family. It was so frustrating."

"I can imagine," said Tahni in a hollow voice. She wondered at someone being able to complain about finding something frustrating in such a level tone.

"I wish they were rude, or suspicious, or even indifferent. By comparison, they wouldn't have made my father seem so..."

"Evil?"

"Well, no. He never actively hurt me."

"Right. Just ignored, neglected and disconsidered you. Stellar parenting, I must say."

"I can't really blame him for it."

Tahni threw her hands up and groaned. Now this was how one showed proper frustration. Perhaps Ederra might learn by example.

"Don't start making excuses for him. My father has an official function too, there's a massive age difference between us and I can confidently say we have nothing in common. But I know I can rely on him, or ask him for advice, or tell him how my day has been. And he listens. Then he speaks and I listen. We're not best friends, but we get along."

"And how often do you do that?"

"Not very often. Maybe once a week? But we don't schedule it, it just happens."

"Does he know about your... hobby?"

"Not likely. But I don't think he'd mind as long as I don't touch his collection."

"You must be comfortable when you're together."

"Yes, that sums it up. Some relationships are like that and everybody's happy."

"I see," mused Ederra, tapping her delicate chin with the tip of her fork handle. "Maybe I find it so strange because it's a middle ground and I've only seen the extremes. I felt like my stepmother was smothering me sometimes, and all with good intentions. It made me want to go to my father."

"And bask in his chilly presence?"

Ederra chuckled. She put down the fork and turned her attention to the peach bowl.

"Perhaps I should have gone to him. It's not likely he would have noticed anyway."

Tahni chortled before she could stop herself. Covering her mouth with both hands, she glanced guiltily at Ederra.

"Sorry, I shouldn't laugh," she apologized, her words coming out muffled.

Ederra shook her head. She still hadn't decided on a particular peach, hand still hovering hesitantly above the bowl.

"I was content to be ignored. When he finally remembered I existed, it was because he needed a marriage contract. It was either your brother or some geriatric merchant."

"But why my brother in the first place? I still don't get that."

"Our families have bordering estates in the Western provinces, which we didn't even know about until two months ago. But mostly, it was because Uncle wanted a trade agreement. He was actually surprised when I accepted."

Tahni cast her a sly glance through slitted eyes.

"But you didn't actually accept, did you?" she whispered.

Ederra blushed and oh, could it be that she was becoming flustered? Unfortunately, the possibility remained unexplored as Tahni's mother picked that very moment to barge into the room.

"Your salvation is here," she trilled. "You'll no longer waste away in idleness and... Merciful Channa!"

Screwing up her nose in disgust at the state of her daughter's room, Belis turned to call for the housekeeper.

"Nazar, see that the girls tidy up the place, though I'm sorry to say they might be at it for hours."

"No!" protested Tahni. "What are you doing here?"

Her mother's happiness did not bode well for her, since she knew they were opposites in almost every respect.

"I am here to inform you that you are attending the Queen Consort Nomination Ceremony." Her very tone told of the decision's finality and as Belis drew breath, Tahni shrugged back into herself, waiting for her inevitable damnation.

"As a candidate!"

She'd known it was coming, but that did nothing to stem her visceral reaction. She flopped back onto the floor, groaning loudly, hands clasping her face. She even kicked her feet a little, but had to stop when she hit the table.

"Why?" she wailed at the ceiling. "We've been through this before! Everything I told you then still applies."

"Not quite," said Belis mercilessly.

Tahni struggled back to a seating position and eyed her mother with mounting scorn.

"Father is vehemently against it!"

"He's coming round. Crown Prince Essar is not likely to return and Eker needs only to marry to fully legitimize his rule. Next excuse, please!"

"The whole thing is a foregone conclusion."

"Again, no. The Amsters and the Chinchallas haven't agreed on who's to step back, so both families are sending their daughters. They say it'll be quite the fight."

Tahni gritted her teeth at her mother's ongoing exuberance, but she hadn't lost hope yet.

"I stand absolutely no chance."

"Everybody stands a chance, dear. That's the rule of the game, if you take part in it."

"I will embarrass you and bring shame on our family name."

"If you do, I'll personally ship you off to one of the cloisters until the nuns can assure me you've mended your ways."

Tahni goggled at her mother, anger giving way to disbelief.

"You don't actually think I'll be picked?"

Her voice had wobbled at the end, and there was no disguising her shock.

"Of course not, dear, I'm not an idiot. But it will give you the necessary exposure and we'll soon be able to make another match."

"Oh, just admit it already!" accused Tahni. "You want to get rid of me!"

"Absolutely not! If anything, I'm doing all I can to keep you in the capital. I don't want you to marry some noble who lives in a faraway province where I'll never see you again. Oh, sorry, dear..."

"Do not trouble yourself, Lady Belis. I am more than content and most grateful for my situation."

It was then that Tahni remembered Ederra was still in the room and enjoying all this delicious drama. One look at her seemed to confirm the girl's words, as she was leaning comfortably against the wall, chewing on a peach and holding the bowl close at hand. Tahni didn't really blame her. If this didn't directly concern her, she would have found it excellent entertainment as well.

"In fact," continued Ederra thoughtfully, "I was wondering if I might make a request."

"A request?" repeated Belis, blinking in surprise.

"I would very much like to accompany your daughter to the palace as an attendant. I have had extensive lessons in etiquette and would like to help as much as possible. I promise, I am a more than capable tutor."

"Oh," was all Belis could manage.

Yes, there was definitely more here than met the eye. Beneath the prim and proper facade, Ederra's devious mind began to emerge. Tahni didn't hesitate.

"At least let me have this!" she demanded. "Instead of some stuffy old governess you'll have a hard time finding anyway. I mean, look at her!" She waved a hand emphatically in the girl's direction. "No drop of peach juice anywhere near her clothes. And her nails are clean!"

"If it's not too much trouble..." began Belis hesitantly.

Ederra smiled, revealing a gleaming row of spotless teeth.

"Trouble? Not at all. It will be an honor."

"Wonderful!"

Tahni clapped her hands and stood up hastily, almost tripping on her cushion. She took hold of her mother's shoulder and pushed her towards the door.

"Now if you'll excuse us, we have to get me ready."

"So you'll go?"

Tahni bristled at her mother's almost giddy tone and kept on urging her out of the room.

"I believe we've established I have little choice in the matter."

"This is not something to be missed, dear. You'll thank me one day."

"I'm sure I will."

Tahni moved to shut the door in her mother's face, but the woman quickly put her foot forward.

"I'll send Nazar in with your dress in a moment."

"Yes, thank you very much."

"Thank you, Lady Belis!" called out Ederra cheerfully. Turning back to her after closing the door, Tahni noticed she'd finished the peaches and was now digging into the flat cake.

"Your stomach's better, I take it?" she asked dryly.

"Oh, yes. You were right about this food."

"What are you playing at?"

"Me?"

Ederra's surprise appeared so genuine, Tahni almost believed her.

"I thought you'd be all over this."

"Why the hell would you think that? In case you hadn't noticed, I've been going out of my way to avoid it!"

"And I still can't understand you. Didn't you say it was your dream to cross the sea to Terevansia and start a business there? Well, you'll need money for that."

"No kidding."

"And if your mother's got it in her head to see you married, you don't have much time."

"Right."

Ederra stared at her as if she'd sprouted wings. Tahni frowned.

"What is so obvious that I'm not seeing?"

"The palace!" exclaimed Ederra in a show of emotion she had yet to display before.

"The...palace..."

"Your family estate is one thing, but this is several levels above that."

Understanding dawned and Tahni found herself outraged at the proposition.

"You want me to take stuff from there?" she hissed.

"You want to take stuff from there," retorted Ederra. "Didn't you tell me you just wanted to see if you could do it? Not to mention, you're bound to find more valuable things."

"And more guards and more consequences if I'm caught!"

"It's for you to assess that risk, Tahni. Do you want to remain as you are now, with the things you've taken from here, with time and opportunities running out? Or do you want a big score that might enable you to leave so much faster, after proving yourself capable of doing it? You might even set sail before they choose the queen."

"And combined with the thefts, they'll definitely know it was me."

"And why should that bother you? You'll be long gone by then."

Tahni mulled over this prospect, angry at herself for not trying to find further arguments when she knew that, in her heart of hearts, she wanted to agree with Ederra.

"And what about you, then? Are you looking for a man who'll take you in so you don't have to marry my brother?"

"This isn't about me. And yes, that might be an option, but certainly not the only one. I just want to broaden my horizons. It's now that I'm starting to see how limited they were. And you can't make me sorry for wanting to end this betrothal. From what you've told me of your brother, he likely doesn't even know he's engaged."

Tahni sighed, sensing defeat lurking.

"You're right," she admitted at last.

"About Meyo? Or the rest?"

"About everything. Though I'm right, too. I'll have to be very careful."

Ederra beamed up at her, her pale brown eyes unusually animated.

"You will. And I'll help."

Tahni wanted to collapse onto her bed from sheer mental exhaustion, but her own clutter wouldn't let her, so she sat back down on the pillow opposite her new lady-in-waiting.

"Save me half of that cake," she grumbled, picking up a fork. "I'll need my strength to put up with this."

***

Blinking blearily at the stray ray of sunshine piercing through the books stacked before the window, Meyo let his chewed-up pencil drop onto the frantically scribbled page. He had heard the rest of the household waking up and seeing to their tasks hours before, but it was only now that he allowed himself to feel tired. Glancing at the neat stack of hand-written research pages he had set aside on the corner of the desk, he also felt the first signs of professional satisfaction. Resting atop them was a thin, reed-like contraption, an intricate gear mechanism running down its side from the middle to one extremity. After he'd gone to pains to procure this prototype, Meyo had struggled to decipher its purpose, but now, at last, he seemed to have caught the gist.

His smile turned into a yawn, and then another, as he stretched and rolled his tense shoulders. Nazar hadn't come by to give him what would be his equivalent of a late-night snack, but he wasn't hungry anyway. He stood up at last, bracing himself on the desk's edge when a bout of dizziness overtook him. Slowly, he moved to retrieve the sleeping pallet and unroll it under the desk, while his mind kept replaying the experiment's next biggest concern.

The theoretical aspects had been more or less cleared - numbers added, equations carefully rechecked, probabilities considered. There was no avoiding the practical tests now, but if the device really did what Meyo suspected it to do, coming up with a way to safely test it was bound to be challenging. He briefly considered bribing one of his siblings to try it and then shuddered at his own audacity. No, he'll find another way. And after that...

He finally burrowed into his pallet, sighing at the onrushing relaxation. There was no gain in worrying. He could make no reasonable assumptions about what the future might hold, but he was relatively certain it would involve a very displeased former Crown Prince. Someone had to confront him though, and since nobody would see it coming, it might as well be Meyo.

Smiling in anticipation of that moment, he drifted into one of the most restful slumbers of his life.