A crimson tunic might warm his skin tone, and a touch of gold embroidery at his collar would add sparkle to his eyes. He liked to dress plainly, but there was no law that said he had to wear blacks, browns, and dark blues without any bright colors. Inspecting his stark white shirt, black tunic, and breeches, Sandry decided she would have to do some thing about the duke's clothes.

The globe was larger than Sandry's, perfectly round and with out flaws, its light as steady as the suns. He was reading a sheaf of papers by the light shed by a crystal globe. There sat her great-uncle in a wing-backed chair. With a sigh, she trotted downstairs and entered the room, a small library. Uncle, she thought, vexed.Ěnd what odds that he hasn't been up since four? She plopped herself onto the top stair and tugged on her riding boots, then frowned.Ě light showed under the door of a ground-floor room that opened onto the entrance hall. The cloth shifted until it lay flat and neat on the wood.Ě silk rug knocked askew slid in her wake until it lay straight again. They would rise at dawn anyway – why cause them to lose as much as an hour of rest when they worked so hard?Īs she passed a high table, she noted that the candle sticks atop it stood on a rumpled length of embroidered cloth. No amount of persuasion that she could look after herself quite nicely, thank you, was enough to send them back to bed. In six weeks' residence at the castle, she had learned that most of them were light sleepers. It was because of the servants that she made so little noise.

Holding up her stone to light the way, Sandry padded down the corridor in stockinged feet. The hour was early enough that most of the servants were still abed, and the torches set to burn in the halls the night before had guttered out.

It shone brightly and steadily against the gloom. In the other she held a round blob of crystal threaded with dark lines. She was dressed for riding in broad-legged breeches, tunic, and blouse, and in one hand she carried her riding boots. Lady Sandrilene fa Toren opened the door to her room and stepped into the dark corridor.

Magic steps tamora pierce