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shining; she had thatglassy-eyed look which he associated with women aroused, excited. For the first time since he had seenthe twins, he saw Ellemir as a woman, not merely as Callista’s sister, and found her sensually attractive tohim. Or was it that for a moment he saw in her the way Callista might, one day, look at him? He felt aflicker of guilt. She was his promised wife’s sister, in a few hours she would be his best friend’s wife, andof all women, she was the one at whom he should not look with desire. He looked away as she collectedherself, slowly coming back to ordinary awareness.
    She said, “Callie, we must have new curtains brought in; these have not been aired or washed,since—since”—she groped for analogy—“since the days of Regis the Fourth.” Andrew knew that shehad been in close contact with Damon, and smiled to himself.
    Just before high noon a clatter of hooves sounded in the courtyard, a commotion like a small hurricane,riders, sounds, cries, noises. Callista laughed. “It is Domenic; no one else ever arrives with such a fury!” She drew Andrew down to the courtyard. Domenic Lanart, heir to the Domain of Alton, was a slight,red-haired boy, tall and freckled, astride an enormous gray stallion. He flung the reins to a groom,jumped down, grabbed Ellemir and hugged her exuberantly, then threw his arms around Damon.
    “Two weddings for one!” he exclaimed, drawing them up the steps at his side. “You’ve been long enough about your wooing, Damon. I knew last year that you wanted her; why did it take a war to bring you to the point of asking her hand? Elli, will you have a husband so reluctant?” He turned his head from side to side, kissing both of them, then broke away and turned to Callista.
    “And for you a lover insistent enough to win you from the Tower! I am eager to meet this marvel,   breda   .” But his voice was suddenly gentle, and when Callista presented him to Andrew, he bowed. For all the exuberant noise and boyish laughter, he had the manners of a prince. His hands were small and square, calloused like a swordsman’s.
    “So you are to marry Callista? I suppose that crowd of old ladies and graywigs in the Council won’t like it, but it’s time we had some new blood in the family.” He stood on tiptoe— Callista was a tall woman, and for all his lanky height, Domenic was not, Andrew thought, quite full-grown yet—and brushed her cheek lightly with his lips. “Be happy, sister. Avarra’s mercy! You deserve it, if you can dare to marry like this, without Council permission or the   catenas   .”
    “   Catenas” she said scornfully. “I had as soon marry a Dry-Towner and go in chains!”
    “Good for you, sister.” He turned to Andrew as they went into the hall. “Father said in his message that you were a Terran. I have talked with some of your people in Thendara. They seem good enough folk, but lazy. Good Gods, they have machines for everything, to walk on, to lift them up a flight of stairs, to bring them food at table. Tell me, Andrew, do they have machines to wipe themselves with?” He shouted boisterous boyish laughter, while the girls giggled.
    He turned to Damon. “So you’re not coming back to the Guards, cousin? You’re the only decentcadet-master we’ve had in ages. Young Danvan Hastur’s trying his hand at it now, but it’s not working. The lads are all too much in awe of him, and anyway, he’s too young. It needs a man of more years. Anysuggestions?”
    “Try my brother Kieran,” Damon suggested, smiling. “He likes soldiering more than I ever did.”
    “You were a damn good cadet-master, though,” Domenic Said. “I’d like you back, though I suppose

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    it’s no job for a man, being a sort of he-governess to a pack of half-grown boys.”
    Damon shrugged. “I was glad enough to have their liking, but I am no soldier, and a cadet-master shouldbe one who can inspire his cadets with a love of a soldier’s