Page 100 of Six Wild Crowns

“May I sit beside you?” Voda Kelaverinn says. She nods, glad of his company but hoping that he won’t wish to talk at length. Thankfully, Howard immediately invites her courtiers to sing and play for their entertainment, and there is little opportunity for conversation. Howard sits in front of Seymour and Kelaverinn, laughing and encouraging as she fiddles with her hair.

“Are you and Vadoum Howard very close?” Kelaverinn asks Seymour in a lull between songs.

“Not very,” Seymour admits. “I had hoped we might be, but I think I was mistaken.”

Howard shifts in her chair. Her lap dragon climbs up her chest and watches Seymour over its mistress’s shoulder.

“There is a riddle I heard while on my travels through Alpich,” Kelaverinn says. “What is the sapling with no leaves, the prize with no worth, that once lost cannot be found?”

Seymour has never heard the riddle before, but she can deduce the answer.Youth.

“I have no aptitude for riddles,” she says.

“Have you not?” Kelaverinn says mildly.

Howard stands up suddenly, blocking their view of the room with her back. Her lap dragon takes flight, puffing its discontent at the sudden loss of its seat. “It is my turn to play,” she announces. There is a barb in her voice that leaves Seymour in no doubt that Howard overheard their conversation.

Howard sits at the harpsichord, the one that must be inlaid with Plythe’ssunscína, and strikes up a tune. It’s a familiar jig, played often at family or local dances. Seymour has never liked it, finding the words too jarring alongside the jolly music.

There was a maiden who loved to dance

Upon the green of Cnorgleo Town.

With dainty feet she pranced and pranced

And her green gown did spin all around.

Beatrice was the maiden fair

Whose dancing was beyond compare.

Beatrice ne’er did stop to sleep

For the music it carried her onwards.

There came a lord to Cnorgleo Town

A mighty man with gold and land.

He was a man of some renown

Three score armies he did command.

The lord he stood at the Fietherford

And there he spied the maiden fair.

He lay down shield and he lay down sword

And to love her for ever did swear.

They wed one morn on a summer’s day

Before god and King and Cnorgleo Town.

Then off they went all bright and gay

To their castle before sundown.

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