There was, of course, the discomfort of having to be out among so many aristocrats in one place, but worse was having to see Lady Estora and King Zachary together.

Why have I been invited?

There had been plenty of other events she’d not been invited to. Why this? Why now?

She decided to ask the captain her opinion on the matter, for this was after all, an invitation. The last time she attended a ball put on by the king, she’d been ordered to go. Her chance to address the situation with the captain came the following afternoon when finally completed the payroll. When she reached officers’ quarters, the captain ushered her right in and together they went over Karigan’s figures.

“I’m glad you untangled this as quickly as you did,” Captain Mapstone said, settling into her chair behind her worktable. “Otherwise we’d have some anxious and unhappy Riders on our hands. I know there are a few who send their pay back home to their families. Have you, by the way, thought of anyone to back you up on the accounts when you’re away?”

Karigan nodded. It had not been difficult. “Daro.”

Captain Mapstone appeared pleased. “Yes, that’s who I thought of as well. I understand her family runs a dry goods store in Childrey.”

“Yes,” Karigan replied. “She’s very good at figuring and knows how to keep a ledger.”

“Excellent.”

They discussed Daro for a while longer and how to work some time into her schedule to train with Karigan. When the discussion ran its course and the captain looked ready to dismiss Karigan, Karigan spoke up.

“Captain,” she began.

“Yes? Was there something else?” The captain looked eager to be helpful and Karigan remembered she’d been told to come to her with any questions after their conversation about Blackveil. The captain did not send her Riders into dangerous situations blithely, Karigan knew, and would do anything in her power to be supportive. Karigan had spent enough time around the castle and military to know many officers were not of that mold; they cut themselves off from the people in their command and sent them into jeopardy without a second thought as if they were not people but pieces on a game board. It only elevated her respect for her captain.

“I received this.” She handed the invitation to the captain who regarded it with dismay. Why it should dismay her, Karigan couldn’t guess, but maybe it meant she wouldn’t have to attend the masquerade ball.

“I heard they were planning a masque,” Captain Mapstone murmured. She gazed at the envelope and Karigan’s name in gold ink.

“I was wondering if it’s something I have to attend.”

“Have to? I think not, but you’ll have to consider your position and what it represents.”

“My position?”

“Yes. You are now a knight of the realm. The only knight of the realm. See here, it’s not addressed simply to Karigan G’ladheon, or even Rider G’ladheon, but to Rider Sir Karigan G’ladheon. Your position, your status, is now more prominent and your absence would be notable to those who take account of such things, both friends and enemies of the king. You see, the king’s highest officers and vassals are symbols of his power and authority and if one of those symbols is missing? Some may view such an absence as a weakening of the king’s authority, a lack of support from one of his allies. Do you understand my meaning?”

Unfortunately, Karigan did.

“If you want to support your king, I’m afraid it’s highly recommended you at least make an appearance at the ball.” The captain frowned and gazed out her arrow-slit window. “I should have known this was coming, that you’d be drawn into the affairs of the court.” When she returned her gaze to Karigan she looked no happier. “I would guess this is not the last such invitation you’ll receive. If you decide to attend the masque, you must keep your wits about you. You are now more than a mere Rider, one whose position is of importance to the king. What you say and do will not only reflect on the king, but will be interpreted and misinterpreted by members of the court. You never know when something you say will come back to cause trouble years later. The wrong words or actions may be used against you; may be used to undermine the authority of the king and cause great harm.

“You are worthy of the honor Zachary bestowed upon you, but I wonder if he considered the consequences ...” She handed the invitation back to Karigan shaking her head. “I’m afraid with your knighthood you are entering the very thorny world of the royal court.”

The captain’s speech and grim expression were not at all reassuring. Karigan’s sense of dread increased tenfold.

And if what the captain had said was not enough, she added, “Yours is an unusual position, Karigan. I know you will choose wisely and act accordingly.”

Karigan tucked the invitation into the pocket of her shortcoat wishing the captain would offer some reassurance, but she only sat behind her table still looking troubled.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Enter,” Captain Mapstone called.

The door opened and a tall and rangy man in buckskin stepped inside. He was a Rider rarely seen and Karigan almost did not recognize him.

Captain Mapstone stood and rounded her table to clasp his hand. “Lynx! Welcome back.”

Not all Riders were always engaged in carrying messages. Sometimes they proved useful to the king in other capacities. Lynx, for instance, used his wilderness skills to keep watch on the northern boundary, aided by his special ability to communicate with the local wildlife.