Passion Play (River of Souls 1)

He stood with a groan. Ilse bit her lips against any offer of help. That would only make him more prickly. She would have to send another message to Mistress Hedda and hope that Hax did not find out. He disliked any interference.

Sighing to herself, she returned to her own office and tried reviewing her accounts—they needed no review. She started a new inventory, but that, too, was unnecessary make-work. She had no desire to listen to Nadine’s teasing, no matter how charming, nor to Josef’s ever-changing stories about his past. She was not in the mood to be entertained.

When the library, too, proved unsatisfactory, Ilse retreated to the kitchens. At this hour, only Janna and Rosel were at their workstations, and none of the scullions were about. Even so, there was a sense of soothing purpose about the place—the sharp scents of freshly ground pepper, the yeasty smell of baking bread, the clatter of spoons and knives and other implements.

More soothing than when I worked here, she realized with an inward laugh.

Kathe sat at the makeshift desk, writing out lists of supplies for the coming week. “You look out of sorts,” she observed.

“Maester Hax has given me a holiday.”

“Oh, what torment for you. What’s wrong?”

Ilse glanced around the kitchen. Janna and Rosel both pretended to be absorbed in their work, but she could tell they had overheard Kathe’s greeting. Kathe followed the direction of her gaze. “I have some errands to run,” she said

mildly. “A few items that I should attend to myself. Would you like to come with me? Just wait a moment while I fetch a few things.”

A few things turned out to be a purse of coins and a market basket. She and Ilse left the house by the back door, and continued through the gardens into the neighborhood beyond the pleasure house. It was a bright sunny day. A cool breeze blew in from the harbor’s direction. A good day for a walk, Ilse thought, then wondered how many of her errands were simply a means to get her away from the pleasure house, while Maester Hax and Lord Kosenmark met about Lord Kosenmark’s private activities.

“So tell me,” Kathe said. “What is wrong?”

Ilse shrugged. “It’s not me.”

“Then it must be Maester Hax. Or Lord Kosenmark. Or both.”

Ilse gave another shrug, thinking she had said too much already.

“I saw Lord Kosenmark earlier,” Kathe said cautiously. “Anyone could see he was in a foul mood. And I heard from Mistress Denk that he canceled his appointment with the tailor this afternoon. Then you come to me, all glum and distracted. If I were guessing, I would say that Lord Kosenmark received unpleasant news from Lord Dedrick. Am I right?”

Ilse nodded. “Though I don’t know what the news is.”

“Hmmmm.” Kathe glanced around, but they were alone in the lane. “Most likely, Lord Dedrick wrote to say he cannot attend Lord Vieth’s banquet—possibly more—and that Lord Kosenmark is severely disappointed.” She sighed. “It’s not the first time. Either Lord Dedrick quarrels with Lord Kosenmark, or Lord Dedrick’s father forbids him to visit. The effect is the same.”

“It seems an unhappy kind of love,” Ilse said, thoughtfully.

“They do make amends, eventually, but you’re right. If I were to love someone, he would have to be a great deal more restful than Lord Dedrick. What about you?”

“I don’t know. A friend once told me I should marry a scholar.”

“A scholar? No, too quiet.”

“I like quiet.”

“You do, and you don’t. You like quiet for reading, but I think you would want a lover who also makes you laugh and think. Someone with a spice of danger, even.”

Shadows and light. The image of Theodr Galt appeared in her mind, and she shivered.

“What about Lord Kosenmark?” she asked hurriedly. “When did he first meet with Lord Dedrick? Was it in Duenne?”

“Ah, no. They met here, in Tiralien, at a dinner party given by Lord Dedrick’s father. Baron Maszuryn sometimes curses that invitation, but I don’t.” Kathe fell silent for a few moments, her gaze on the paved street, apparently absorbed in memories. When she spoke again, her voice was subdued. “I was nine when Lord Kosenmark came to court. I remember what a wild reputation he had that first year. A disappointment with his cousin, they all said. Well, it was the same here in Tiralien. He refused all his father’s letters. He stayed at home. Eventually Maester Hax persuaded him to accept a few invitations. But then Lord Kosenmark met Lord Dedrick and things improved. So for all their quarrels, I thank Lir and Toc for Lord Dedrick.”

“A love to fill in the gaps and insufficiencies of life,” Ilse murmured. She had once hoped to find such a love during her yearlong visit in Duenne. Someone to laugh with, as Kathe put it. Someone … like a friend, as Baron Eckard once said. Lord Kosenmark, at least, had found such a love, in spite of his own peculiar situation. She wondered what kind of place Lord Dedrick held in Kosenmark’s shadow court.

“You should see your face,” Kathe said. “I would give a dozen silver denier to hear what you were thinking just now.”

“Nothing,” Ilse said quickly. “Just considering whether we should take the long path to market, or the short one.”

“Oh, the short one,” Kathe said. “I dare not leave Janna and Lys alone for long. Talk about quarrels!”