Excerpt: The Queen of the Cold Islands

David was standing by the sideboard, a half-eaten pastry in one hand; he smiled broadly at Liore, and said, "These are excellent. I must remember to poach your pastry-chef away from you!"

"Hired for the occasion, I am afraid," said Liore. "I can give you his name - "

"Ah," said David, "that takes all the challenge out of it."

Liore smiled politely, and studied him through half-closed eyes. He was tall, as tall as she herself, and well-built, with a broad handsome face, bushy dark hair, and sparkling blue eyes. He had dressed well for the occasion; silk trews of a dark mulberry colour, gleaming black boots, and a fine woollen tunic with the vines and staves of Kindroyne embroidered across the chest. The heraldic device was a little showy, perhaps, but David was entitled; he had succeeded, more than a year ago now, to the earldom of Kindroyne, Kilfeuyle's neighbour and rival to the south. If he still grieved for his father's untimely death in a hunting accident, it did not show; he smiled broadly as he bit into the pastry again. "Really very good," he said. "More Kilfeuyle pork, I suppose?"

"Some of them," said Liore. "Others have fish, or chicken - or goat or sheep cheese; oh, we have all the variety we could provide - "

"From poor impoverished frozen Kilfeuyle? Why, I would have expected no more than oatmeal and a selection of lichens...." David's gaze swept up and down her body; those merry blue eyes held a distinct appraising glint. "You look well enough, though, for someone who must graze like a reindeer for half the year."

"And you are much improved, since I last saw you," Liore replied. "I am glad to see you have given up trying to grow a beard - that stubble of yours looked like lichen itself - "

"Ah," said David, "you could come graze on me at any time - Though I am sure I should not say that, to a woman betrothed."

"Oh, I am not offended," said Liore, "you may say what you please; though if you act on it, you must prepare to take the consequences."

David shook his head in mock sorrow. "Such a pity," he said. "I often thought that you and I would come together and put a harmonious end to the old rivalry between our manors.... but, it is not to be; you have chosen this Straden over me, and, honestly, I wonder at it."

"He is heir to a duchy," said Liore.

"And I am only an earl," said David. "But that is high enough for you, surely? - And he is a poor thing, in himself, for all his lineage."

"You do my betrothed a disservice, I think. He is still young; no doubt he will accrue honours of his own in due time - "

"It will not be for feats of arms, I think," said David. "Or, especially, legs."

"A childhood injury; scarcely his fault," said Liore. She raised her hand, and ran one finger down the vines embroidered on his chest. "And the earls of Kindroyne bought their position with the produce of their vineyards, did they not? - I suppose last year's vintage was a sort of warfare."

David reached up and caught her hand in his. "Ah, Liore," he said, "you are wasted on him, and you know it."

His grip was gentle and very warm. Liore waited just a moment, then carefully disengaged herself. "He will be here soon enough," she said, "so do not misconduct yourself, I pray you."

"It is a cold night," said David, "perhaps he will be delayed. In which event, I should be glad to console you for his absence."

"I have every confidence in my betrothed," said Liore. "I am greatly afraid, my lord, that you will have to console yourself."

"Then I must be inconsolable, without you," said David. "Perhaps I can find some poor substitute - everybody who is anybody seems to be here tonight." His eyes narrowed. "And some people who are not anybody, besides - who is that young woman in priests' garb, dancing with lights in her hair?"

Liore followed his gaze. "Ah," she said, "Marien, daughter of Sele - a priestess of the Indigo, and a friend to my sister Mara; a close colleague of the Red Primate is more than you can aspire to, I am sure."

"Since the Red Primate's sister is beyond my reach, you must be right," said David. "And that little man in brown - ?"

Liore raised an eyebrow at that. "His Holiness's confidential secretary," she said. "And he is deep in conversation with Master Dorind of Vate - See, you are incorrect; Duke Malchin is not here, he has sent only his steward to represent him."

"Well, that explains things," said David. "They are probably comparing notes, to see which of them has the more terrifying master."

"Then Dorind will win, hands down," said Liore.

"Really? I had thought Pope Egmund intimidating enough - but, then, I have no highly-placed relations in the Church; perhaps you have inside information that I do not."

"My lord David," said Liore, "surely, even you must by now have realized that that is invariably the case?"

David chuckled and smiled broadly. Then his eyes widened. "Alas," he said, "it seems you are correct on one point; your betrothed has arrived."