The Complete Soldier Son Trilogy: Shaman’s Crossing, Forest Mage, Renegade’s Magic. Robin Hobb

for me will become an important political ally, which is where I see all the difficulties arise, for my father and my mother have very different political ambitions, as you undoubtedly know.’

      I understood what she spoke of, but I pointed out, ‘So it has always been. My parents have chosen my wife for me, and my elder brother’s wife as well.’

      ‘Poor things!’ she said with heartfelt sympathy. ‘Assigned to boys before they are even men, with no more choice in their fates than an orphaned kitten has. When it is my time to wed, I intend to choose my husband for myself. And I will get me a man who respects my mind.’ And here she looked directly and very boldly at Spink. Spink glanced away, flushing.

      I suppressed my anger and merely shook my head to indicate my disapproval, but Epiny and Spink seemed to think I was commiserating with her.

      ‘Let’s walk the horses,’ Spink suggested, and they set off side by side. I went to get Sirlofty. When I caught up to them, Epiny was saying, ‘Well, I admit that women don’t seem to have minds adept at the maths and sciences, but I think we have other talents that men lack. Of late, I’ve been exploring them.’

      ‘My sisters are at least as good at maths as I am,’ Spink told her. I commented to myself that that was scarcely an endorsement, but kept my thoughts to myself.

      ‘Well, perhaps it is because they were set to such studies earlier in life than I was. I had but the rudiments when I was small, and my governess made it seem that learning to calculate was far less important than the ten basic stitches of Varnian embroidery. So I learned them for the week and promptly forgot them. Only later did I discover that even in needlework one needs to understand proportions in order to change a pattern, and ratios to adapt a recipe … but that is not what I am speaking about when I mention women’s talents.’

      The trail had led us down a gently sloping bank to a wide grassy space. Old foundation stones jutted up from the tall grasses and butterfly bushes that grew there. A corner of a demolished building still stood, and last night’s rainfall had pooled on the unevenly sunken floor. We let the horses drink there; I judged it better than risking the steep bank and stinking river water. I suspected the structure had been an old brewery. Soil had washed over the old stone floor in a shallow layer and grass had sprouted and died there. Without asking us, Epiny slipped Celeste’s bit and let her loose on the brownish tufts.

      ‘We cannot stay long,’ I protested, but she ignored me. Epiny seated herself on a wall of exposed foundation stones and stared out over the river. Plainly this was not the first time she and Celeste had come here. I sat down beside her and Spink sat down next to me. She seemed suddenly melancholy and against my better judgment, I felt sorry for her. She was very forlorn and alone. I spoke gently to her. ‘Epiny. I don’t understand why your future makes you unhappy, but I see it does. And I’m sorry for that. It can be hard sometimes but we must all endeavour to accept the roles the good god has set for us.’

      I don’t think she even heard me. She gave a sniff and sat up straighter. ‘Well. We all know what we must do now, and that is to find out exactly what was going on last night. We should hold another séance.’

      ‘We have no time,’ I said quickly. ‘Spink and I both have to return to the Academy this afternoon. In fact, we should return to your home very soon. Spink and I have to pack and then return to the Academy before nightfall. There won’t be time for a séance this afternoon.’

      ‘Well, of course not. I meant right now, and here. That’s why I brought you here, you know. It’s very private.’

      I was startled and unprepared. ‘But … it’s broad daylight. And I thought …’

      ‘You thought I’d have to set up some sort of trick. I don’t, Nevare. That is what is so upsetting to me about this talent. Ever since my first séance with Guide Porilet, it has been only too easy. I feel like she opened a window in my mind, and I don’t know how to shut it. I feel I must always stand watch between my thoughts and that other world. Those others stand there, right at my shoulder, just at the corner of my vision, waiting for a chance to speak through me. Pressing always against my boundaries.’

      ‘It sounds very uncomfortable,’ Spink said. He leaned out around me to speak to Epiny.

      She looked a little startled. ‘I am surprised you would understand that!’ she exclaimed, and then shocked me by saying, ‘Oh. I did not mean to be rude when I said that. It is just that I’ve become so accustomed to people saying, “I have no idea what you are talking about.” Even my mother, who first took me to a séance, says that. You know, I am not sure that she believes in what Guide Porilet does. I fear she thinks it is just a game she plays, a pretence she makes to win favour with the Queen.’ She, too, was leaning past me to speak to him. I stood up and stepped away, uncomfortable to be in the middle of their exchange. She immediately slid closer to him on the wall and held out a hand to him, adding, ‘I know that what we do is real. I think you know it, too. Shall we attempt it here and now?’

      ‘Attempt what?’ he asked her. A very foolish smile spread across his face like some sort of creeping rash.

      ‘A séance, of course. Nevare, come here and take hands. No, wait, this won’t do. Last night, something very dark and powerful was going on. If I am overtaken by spirits, I don’t want to go tumbling off the wall. Let’s find a more comfortable place on the grass and make a tiny circle.’

      ‘I’m afraid that we’ll be late getting back,’ I protested, backing further away from them. I didn’t even want to talk about last night or admit that anything had happened, let alone attempt a re-enactment. ‘Spink and I do have to return to the Academy this afternoon, you know.’

      ‘And you’re afraid. That’s natural, Nevare. But you don’t need to worry about being late. My father will scarcely leave without you. And you know that we must do this, for our own peace of mind. Here’s a good place. Come sit with us.’

      She had been moving as she spoke, drawing Spink along after her. She indicated a flat place amongst the ruins that did not look too damp, and then, folding her legs, sat down cross-legged, her riding skirt conforming to her body in a way that was entirely too revealing. She still had not released Spink’s hand, and with a tug, she pulled him down to sit beside her. ‘Hurry up, Nevare,’ she chided me.

      ‘But—’

      ‘If you are so worried about the time, do sit down and let us get this over with.’

      I eased myself down across from them. She immediately held out her free hand to me. I looked at it without enthusiasm. Honesty took me. ‘I’m not that worried about the time. I didn’t like what happened last night, whatever it was. Quite frankly, whatever it was, I’d prefer to ignore it and go on with my regular life. I’ve no desire to repeat that experience with another séance.’

      ‘Ignore it? You could just ignore it?’ she demanded of me.

      ‘Exactly what did happen last night?’ Spink asked almost at the same moment.

      ‘I don’t know, and I don’t want to know,’ I told them both. To Epiny I said firmly, ‘Whatever you did to me, I didn’t enjoy it. No more séances.’

      Epiny stared at me for a moment. ‘You thought that was a séance? You thought that – whatever it was – was something I did? I beg your pardon, cousin dear. Whatever happened last night was all you. All that strangeness came from you. I’m only asking you to let me find out what it was by asking the spirits. Because whatever it was, I think you need to know. I don’t think ignoring it will make it go away. That’s like saying of an ambush, “Oh, just keep riding and ignore those enemies. Hope for the best, that they’ll let us pass”. You need to stand your ground and face it, Nevare. Better to do it now while you have friends with you than to face it alone later.’

      ‘I’m not sure I agree with you,’ I grumbled. Her advice applied too well to what I was facing when I returned to the Academy. I wondered unhappily how much Spink had told her. Both she and Spink held out their hands to me, and I surrendered. I settled myself and unwillingly held out my hands.