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It ry to see people afraid, because my father served with distinction as a spider scout in his first years in the Efean army I squeeze Amaya’s hand "People should re to sneak into villages and towns! They should be thankful, not scared!"
"Denya says the king never calls theainst his erous secret enemies," she whispers "Anyway, they’re creepy Don’t you wonder how the priests use ic to wake up a h to think about," I est event of my life is about to happen
The victory processionthe Avenue of Triue takes a side street up the Queen’s Hill to the City Fives Court Mother’s eyes are still closed, as if she is seeing the parade again in her mind’s eye
After what seee arrives at the plaza in front of the court
A Fives court is the naae, round, roofless stone building, several stories high, that rings the playing field and where spectators sit to watch, gossip, bet, eat, drink, and cheer
Fro into the court to find seats Trials are held every Fivesday but because of the victory procession today’s trial will be especially crowded
Our carriage comes to rest in a fenced-off yard reserved solely for the Patron-born We wait until Father arrives He has changed out of his arth fitted tunic and a draped ankle-length skirt called a keldi and worn only by h a private entrance that leads past the tiered seating where Coether and up to the special section where only Patrons ames as a family, Father rents a box in this section with cushioned benches and attendants to hold umbrellas to block out the sun
Today, however, he leads us to the private tiers where Patron lords enjoy the trials, cordoned off even frouards, Father flashes an ivory token The guards wave hireat victory They carefully do not glance at Amaya, but they eyehow I fit in
Father ushers us toward a balcony box e of Lord Ottonor’s clan Lord Ottonor stands at the entrance greeting each of his guests They are all men whose careers he has sponsored in the military, the adreets Father with the look of adiscovered gold baked within a humble loaf of bread
"Captain Esladas! You have brought glory upon Clan Tonor!"
"It is all due to your nanimity, Lord Ottonor," says Father in his usual serious tone
Lord Ottonor’s s Father the chance to excel When he sees Mother he blushes a little and clasps his hands together like a shy lad who doesn’t quite knohat to say He is careful not to touch her "Here is the lovely Kiya ‘What a soothing sight beauty is to the weary heart’"
It is a quote froes before Patrons She has the knack of sracious welcohters, Lord Ottonor"
"Your daughters!" His eyebrows arch as he sees us standing behind her
"This is Jessamy," she says
Obviously I a so like a Coracious welcome honors us, Lord Ottonor," I say in limpse toward Father to see if ivesnod
"Here is Amaya," says Mother as Araceful bow, one perfectly appropriate to an un an elderly lord "‘What honor the generous lord bestows upon we the huhts his face "A line from The Hide of the Ox Do I make the acquaintance of another devotee of the theater?"
She arranges her prettiest expression on her pretty face "I am the most ardent of devotees of the theater, Lord Ottonor I have seen you there in your box, if you do notso Of course my family attends e can I am also sometimes allowed to attend with Captain Osfiyos’s household His daughter Denya is my particular friend"