"None of them have clear right to the land," Ren growled. "Holy Mothers, the Wakecliffs didn't have clear right to it if you look closely. Ezra Wakecliff was supposed to deliver the t.i.tle deeds of twelve crown properties to the church during the Prinmae War for safekeeping, and she delivered eleven. The b.i.t.c.h stole it, and because her brother was married to our great-great-grandmothers, she was never called on it. We have as much a right to it as any of those women out there."

"She stole it?" Lylia asked.

Odelia nodded. "That's what the whole children's rhyme is about, the 'Wakecliff in the corner, eyeing queenly pies.' The t.i.tle deeds were inside pies, to disguise them in case Wakecliff was stopped by the enemy." Odelia made a rolling motion with her hand, indicating that the rhyme continued to be quite literal. "The 'plum' was a plum piece of property."

"'You know in whose bed her brother lies,' " Lylia finished. "Oh, I see. Her brother was prince consort."

"Well, it's time for us to take back what is ours." Ren rapped for a vote. "Agree."

"Agree," Lylia said, eyes glowing.

"Agree," Trini murmured.

"Agree," Odelia said.

"Once we separate Elpern Bank from the rest of the estate, we'll decide who gets the rest."

"I have found a young man who delights me." Ren had rehea.r.s.ed the speech for hours and days. She now faced her Mother Elder, alone at last, in the privacy of the queen's wing-weak-kneed for the first time in years. "He is warm, loving, intelligent, strong of character yet biddable, chaste, and very beautiful. I wish to marry him."

After a moment of pleased surprise, the Queen Mother Elder put aside the book she had been reading with a slight, worried frown. "Yet you say nothing of breeding. After the adventure you've told us, I doubt you've met anyone of acceptable breeding."

"His breeding is odd." Ren wished she could leave the whole of it out, but knew eventually her mother would dig out the truth, then hold it against her for omitting it. "His grandmothers were conceived in the Order of the Sword's cribs. Blacklisted from the army due to their Mother Elder's crimes, they joined the Sisterhood of the Night. Wellsbury employed them in the war as spies. They won the Queen Elder Cross of Victory, were knighted, and retired to a land grant."

"That would make him the very lowest of landed gentry I've heard tale of, Rennsellaer."

"During the siege of Tastledae, his grandmothers kidnapped Prince Alannon, and after they were knighted, they married him."

The clock ticked off the silence between them. In one of the many specimen jars that lined her mother's desk, a cotton weevil scratched on the gla.s.s wall of its prison. Ren felt a sudden sympathy with it.

"Yes, odd breeding," Queen Elder finally murmured. "Are you sure of their claims?"

"He wears the Emerald Hart."

"Which has been faked in the past."

"I believe their claim." Ren handed her mother the copy of Wellsbury's memoirs. "Wellsbury herself reports sending the Whistlers into Castle Tastledae during the time that Prince Alannon vanished. Trained thieves, desperate for a husband, and a missing prince-I don't know why no one has ever connected the two before now."

Her mother opened the book where Ren had placed a marker, scanned the page, and caught where Ren had underlined the name of Whistler, then skipped on to a pa.s.sage Ren had purposely not underlined. " 'As I hoped,' " she read, " 'the Whistlers have found ways to come and go un.o.bserved into the castle. Their intelligence indicates that we will not be able to take the castle by honorable siege, but will have to resort to mayhem. Fortunately, the Whistlers excel at mayhem.' "

Ren had chosen to ignore the pa.s.sage. Acknowledging it could only make things worse. "I visited the wall of sorrow this morning. The Whistlers all bear a striking resemblance to Prince Alannon."

"I see." Her mother set the memoirs down beside her own book. It was t.i.tled, Ren noticed now, Breeding for the Success of Pest Resistance Breeding for the Success of Pest Resistance-a Study in Genetics. Had her mother picked up this pa.s.sion for breeding before or after the princesses' marriage to Keifer? Most likely before-whatever her mother thought of Keifer, she couldn't fault his breeding. "I suppose one could argue that knighthood and a royal husband eliminate all black marks against a family."

Ren struggled to find the thread of the argument she had hammered out over the last five days. "His family has maintained the status of landed gentry since the war. Their farm is well ordered and bountiful."

"No crimes, lapses into thievery, or joining the army?"

Ren was not sure if this was a truthful question or a sarcastic comment on the Whistlers' background. "No." She returned to her planned discussion. "He is one of four sons, and has three uncles."

"Seven males in two generations?" her mother asked with sudden, sharp attention.

"I've checked the best one can, and his three uncles and one set of split-off aunts all have sons, somewhere between a confirmed two and a rumored five."

"You argue your case well."

"He has thirty-one sisters and brothers, all healthy as horses, sharp-eyed, quick-witted-sound teeth-pretty enough to put most of the peers to shame, hardworking, polite-"

"Enough, enough." Queen Elder held up her hand. "You said 'chaste' earlier. Are you sure?"

"'Perhaps it is my vanity speaking, Mother, but I cannot imagine him refusing me after accepting another woman." She caught her mother's look, and found herself blushing hotly. "I wanted him, and pressed him close. He allowed kisses-no-he delighted in kisses, but for his family's sake held the line on further pursuits."

"Dear, how many times have I told you? Don't dabble before marriage, or you'll be blinded by your heart. As Eldest, you have to be the clear thinker now."

"He was very sweet. With his father gone, he tends the babies as if they were his own, and he is gentle, firm, and loving with them. He understands honor, pride, and loyalty. He can withstand the pressure of a wanton princess when he is but poor landed gentry." She found herself scrambling for more, for her mother's look was hardening. "He is the one that went down to the creek and carried Odelia home because his younger sisters left him and his baby sisters alone."

"And you're already in love with him." The look was stone-cold now.

Ren closed her eyes, hoping her mother would not deny the suit based on that alone. "Yes, I believe so."

"And what does Odelia think of this wonderment? Did she meet him? Kiss him?"

"She lay in bed an extra day in hopes he would come nurse her through. I don't think she managed to obtain a kiss; I think she would have gone on at great length if she had."

"I see."

"Please, Mother, let us consider him. He is almost sure to throw healthy children with good chances for a boy or two. He would certainly be a good father. His royal blood balances the thieving soldiers turned landed gentry. He seems to have the strength of will to be the royal husband-he can resist temptation and do the right thing. He is beautiful-very, very beautiful."

"Let me consider."

With the statement. Ren fell silent. Any further arguing would only damage her cause. After that royal decree, one could only retreat, wait, and hope.

Queen Mother Elder gave her verdict later that night. "If your sisters agree, you can marry him. I will send for him, on pretense of a reward for saving your sister. There is no need to taunt his family with hopes of a match that might not come about."

"Thank you. Mother."

Chapter 6.

"Rider! There's a rider coming in!"

The call echoed over the farm. Jerin came to the kitchen door to see the solitary rider coming up the lane. His youngest sisters and little brothers stopped their game of "recon" to stare out toward the road. Middle and elder sisters came drifting out of the barns and outbuildings. Before the rider had reached the bottom of the hill, Heria picked up Kai, took Liam by the hand, and started toward Jerin. Doric followed reluctantly, throwing curious glances over his shoulder. Eldest went into the house via the front door and came back out wearing her pistols.

Princess Ren's captain of the guard. Raven Tern, cantered her horse up to the beaten dirt of the barnyard. She pulled her horse to a halt before Eldest. "Eldest Whistler, greetings to you."

"Greetings to you. Captain."

"I carry a message to you and your sisters from the Queens."

Eldest took the message with a trembling hand, broke the seal, and read it. When she reached the end, she took a deep breath, and tension went from her. "I'll have to talk to my sisters about this. Birdie will help you stable your horse. You're welcome to dinner and to spend the night."

"Thank you. I'd like that." Captain Tern dismounted. "If you decide to accept, I'm to provide escort."

Eldest looked surprised, then schooled her emotion. "That would be an honor." Eldest signaled to Corelle. "Show her where she can put her things, and get washed up for dinner."

Corelle led Captain Tern off, clearly annoyed that she'd be the last to learn what the Queens' letter had to say. No sooner than Captain Tern was out of sight did the rest of the family gather around Eldest.

"What does it say? What does it say? Are we getting knighted?" The youngest bounced in place from excitement.

Jerin clasped his hands together hard in order not to tear the letter from Eldest. The letter was good news-that much was clear from Eldest's relief-and Captain Tern was going to act as an escort, so someone was going to Mayfair. Suddenly his heart was like a caged wild bird, beating madly against his ribs, crying, "Ren! Ren! Ren!"

Eldest held up her hand, signaling for silence. "The Queens send thanks for saving the princess Odelia's life," she started, once her gathered family fell quiet, "and as a token of their thanks, they've invited us to bring Jerin out at the capital. Jerin and I, and one or two others, would stay at the palace and be sponsored by the Queens." Eldest was shouting now to be heard. "It would allow us to meet the most influential families in Queensland, and thus make the best possible trade of brothers."

As his sisters whooped and hollered, Jerin stood, stunned silent, hands clasped so tight they were white.

Eldest caught sight of him, and sobered. "Get ready for dinner," she told everyone. "Remember we've got company. Go on!" As she spoke, she caught Jerin's shoulder and guided him away. "Are you all right?"

"I don't know." Jerin felt a strange hollowness in his chest, as if that wild bird of his heart had burst out, leaving nothing behind. "For a minute there, I thought that maybe Princess Ren was sending for me."

Eldest cursed softly. "Oh, Jerin." She looked down at the letter still in her hand. "This is a shining coin, Jerin. You'd be presented as an equal to all the n.o.bles in the land. We could never match this again. If we refuse this, we only have common country b.u.mpkins, the likes of the Brindles, to choose from."

"Holy Mothers, no!" Then, fearing she misunderstood, he caught her wrist and said as clearly as possible, "I do not want to marry the Brindles! I hate them! They're like rabid dogs!"

"I wouldn't give you up to someone who would hurt you."

"They might not turn on me, but it's nearly a sure thing that I'd have to watch my children grow up to be just as mean. People are saying Balin tumbled his mothers to father his sisters. It's not like the Brindles would tell us, if it was the truth; we'd have to wait until after the marriages to know for sure, and then it would be too late, at least for me. Besides, they say apples only come from apple trees; the family might have practiced incest for generations now. They all could be inbred monsters."

A smile quirked onto Eldest's mouth. "Well, it would explain why they're all so G.o.ds-awful ugly."

"Eldest, please, please, don't make me marry them!"

"I'm not asking you to. We're invited to the palace, remember?" Eldest rumpled his hair. "Quite frankly, Jerin, I'd rather marry a pig than Balin Brindle. I don't understand what Corelle sees in him. He's a smug, ugly little thing, and his sisters have always made my skin crawl. I'd hate to have a houseful of children that looked like them."

Jerin giggled.

Eldest held up the Queens' letter. "Will you do this?"

"It's not like I don't want to marry. I just want to be picky!" He winced as he realized he was whining. He tried a more adult tone. "I want a family of clean breeding, one that doesn't fight, well, at least no more than we do, and-and ten to fifteen wives at the most. None of this thirty wives or more! Mothers above. I'd feel like a wh.o.r.e! I'd have a different woman every night for a month mounting me."

She laughed a moment, then gazed sadly at him. "I hadn't thought of the Brindles in quite that way. I'm glad that we're able to afford more than one husband. I'd hate it if I had to wait a whole month for one night of pleasure, and only twelve chances a year to catch a baby. Years go quickly when measured in twelve days. I don't have many years left before my time of change comes."

"I didn't think you'd like having babies."

Eldest shrugged. "I'd like to have at least one, to see what it was like. Our mothers seemed so miserable pregnant-puking in the morning, bloated up like something dead left in the sun too long, and waddling around like a force-fed goose." After the birth of thirty siblings. Eldest could mimic the walk quite well, making Jerin giggle. "I don't know why anyone would want to live through it. Yet, at times, it seems like that's when they were the happiest. They'd get that smug, satisfied smile, and practically glow." She reflected a moment, and then nodded. "I think one baby will be enough to leave me content, more than happy for my sisters to bear the rest."

They fell silent.

Eldest took out the letter and read it silently once more. "It's a shining coin, tossed up in the air for us, and all we have to do is reach out and catch it."

"Let's catch it, then."

Surprisingly, Captain Tern came down for dinner in her dress uniform, boots polished to a gleam, her chest covered with medals. Tucked under one arm, she carried a long leather case that the Whistlers had missed in their excitement for the letter.

She spoke quietly with Eldest, who nodded soberly, then called the family to standing attention.

"Heria." Eldest motioned for her to come forward.

"Me?" Heria startled and, with a worried frown, pushed back her chair to come around the table to where Eldest and Raven stood.

Captain Tern snapped open the catches of the case, opened the lid and held it out to Heria. "Their Royal Majesties. Queen Mother Elder and her royal sisters, have charged me this duty. As a duly appointed representative of their royal will, I present this gift to you in thanks for saving Princess Odelia. Please accept this honor for your selfless courage."

"Holy Mothers!" Heria's eyes went round in surprise, and she whispered, "They're beautiful!"

She took the case and turned so her family could see. An engraved rifle and matching pistols lay in the case, each in a compartment lined with velvet. There was a moment of stunned silence, and then a roar of approval.

After several minutes. Eldest called for order, had Heria put up the gun case, and commanded the family to dinner. Everyone sat, but, with the exception of baby Kai and little Liam, ignored the food, gazing expectantly at Eldest and Raven.

Eldest broached the subject as it became apparent that no one was going to eat until the course of the future was plotted. "I've talked to my sisters. We're going to accept the Queens' offer. We haven't decided who will go."

This triggered cries of "Take me, take me" from all the youngest. The middle sisters looked silently wistful, except for a sullen Corelle, who was still in extreme disfavor and unlikely to go.

"We haven't decided," Eldest repeated firmly. "We expect our mothers any day. I would feel better if they were here before I left with any of my sisters. I'm leery of leaving the farm shorthanded of adults."

Captain Tern nodded. "I have business in Heron Landing. We're still trying to find the Prophets. I'm checking back with the Queens Justice to see if any more information has surfaced on the thieves." Raven glanced meaningfully to Jerin. "I thought you would need a few days before sending your brother out to be married."

With a sudden ring of silver on china, Doric dropped his fork on his plate. "Jerin won't be coming back, will he? Once he goes off to get married?"

"I'll be back," Jerin said with careful cheerfulness. "It will be just like our cousins. You'll see me from time to time."

"I don't want Jerin to go away like Papa did!" Bunny, the littlest of the youngest sisters, suddenly wailed.

"Papa died, honey." Jerin reached across the table to pat her. "I'm not going to die. I'm just going to live at someone else's house."

"No!" Bunny cried, ducked under the table, and scrambled up into his lap. "I don't want you to go!"

It triggered a wave of crying little girls. Most of the youngest over five years old managed to contain themselves. The three and four-year-olds, though, could not be consoled.

He hugged them, four and five to an armful, rocking them. "Hush, hush, this is a wonderful day for the Whistlers. We shouldn't be crying. We should be happy and celebrating." The words were like ash in his mouth, but to show his own pain would only make his little sisters unhappier. "I know-let's forget about dinner and make ice cream and cake."

"Ice cream?"