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black wool robe with silver embroidery along the edges, and his eyes sparkled when he looked at her. His face was young and striking, with wide cheekbones and thick brows over deep, brown eyes.He would look handsome when he was an old man, Ailsbet thought. His face had good bones, and he moved with grace.
    Ailsbet glanced at her mother’s face and thought she saw a rare hint of anger there. She was surprised; surely her mother was used to her father doing whatever he pleased by now, even where her own kinsmen were concerned.
    “Lord Umber of Weirland, Her Highness Princess Ailsbet of Rurik,” said the king, completing the introduction.
    Ailsbet curtsied to Lord Umber, remembering now that he had fled Weirland and come to Rurik to ally himself with King Haikor. He had information to offer, though he had given up his title and his land.
    In return, Lord Umber bowed deeply to Ailsbet. “I am honored to meet you at last. You are even more beautiful than your father promised me.”
    “And I am honored to meet you,” she replied with a smile. But she felt nothing at all, not fear, nor happiness, nor despair. Was the taweyr interfering with her ability to think?
    Suddenly, Queen Aske stood up and left the Great Hall without a word. The whole court stared after her. But King Haikor said nothing, turning back toAilsbet and Lord Umber as if the queen had never been there.
    “Princess Ailsbet, Lord Umber has just now agreed to the terms of your betrothal,” said the king. “There will be an official betrothal on the first day of the new year, and you will marry on the first day of spring.”
    Betrothed in three months and married not three months after that? “Is there some reason for haste?” Ailsbet asked her father.
    Lord Umber answered gallantly, “Your beauty and my undying love for you are reason enough for me.”
    He almost made her believe it, his words were so smooth. But Ailsbet was no romantic. Marriage to Lord Umber would make an invasion of the other kingdom easier for King Haikor. Did her father expect Ailsbet to thank him because the man was also young and handsome and well spoken? At best, she could hope for Lord Umber to treat her kindly for the sake of her father and her title. Now and again, he might even be enjoyable company. She had to admit it could have been much worse.
    Ailsbet looked up and found that Lord Umber was looking back at her with eyebrows raised, waiting. “I thank you, Father,” said Ailsbet, then turned to Lord Umber. “I am eager for our betrothal and marriage,milord.” The words tasted like large, whole eggs in her mouth. She was afraid of cracking them and spilling the yolk down the sides of her face.
    “Pleased? It sounds as if you are speaking of a pair of boots, rather than a living, breathing, hopeful nobleman,” said Lord Umber.
    Ailsbet forced down anger at his flippant tone.
    Then King Haikor began to laugh out loud, and Ailsbet found she could not help herself. She joined in, and so did the rest of the court. When King Haikor laughed, they all laughed.
    “I am very fond of a good pair of boots,” Ailsbet said to Lord Umber.
    “That I believe,” said Lord Umber, and he smiled at her with what seemed genuine pleasure. “Perhaps once you have broken me in, I shall live up to your expectations.”
    “We shall see,” said Ailsbet. “You are an interesting man, Lord Umber,” she added.
    “Interesting? I shall consider that high praise from King Haikor’s daughter, who is so often bored by everyone and everything she sees.”
    “Is that what they say of me?” said Ailsbet. “I have never heard it.”
    “Well, of course, they could not say it to your face. It would only bore you more.”
    “Indeed,” said Ailsbet. “Nothing is so boring as being told about being bored.” Suddenly, she was aware of the eyes of the whole court on her and Lord Umber.
    For a moment, it had felt as though they were having an intimate conversation, but that was an illusion, a