Firekeeper Saga - Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart Part 9

"Gustin the First wasn't smart in a lot of ways," Shad agreed bluntly. "What he was was decisive, charismatic, and clever-but you can be clever without being smart. He saw the t.i.tles as a way of rewarding those who had served him well, and of binding them and their families more closely to him. I don't think he worried much about the consequences that might crop up a hundred years later."

"Like," Sapphire said with a disdainful sniff, "having the royal family's health overseen by a complete incompetent."

The porter's knock wasn't completely unexpected. Sir Jared also liked to make a morning check on his patients, but he waited until Lord Rory had come and had been given ample time to depart lest there be unpleasantness. Unlike Lord Rory, Sir Jared was warmly-if peevishly-greeted by the bedridden couple.

Elise found herself wishing that Sapphire reserved for Doc a trace of that courtesy she accorded to Lord Rory. Then she scoffed at herself.

Silly! Sapphire's only courteous to Lord Rory because she can't stand him. Her relaxed-if rude- way with Doc is her way of saying that she trusts him.

As for herself, Elise found herself unable to banter along with the others, who were describing-in increasingly colorful language-the agonies of their "imprisonment." She stood by and a.s.sisted the physician with his examinations, writing down pulse rates and other such figures, but she found herself suddenly without words. It troubled her, for she did not wish to seem either cold or haughty, but somehow the very ease with which Sir Jared accepted her help left her feeling out of place.

Elise distracted herself by listening to Sapphire's latest turn.

"Please, Doc," the princess was pleading, her tones theatrical, "release me from these silken bonds you have placed in my flesh, for they keep me from my new-made husband's side."

Sir Jared allowed himself a brief smile, gone almost as it formed, and turned from his inspection of Shad'swound.

"Your Highness would not wish to leak blood and pus onto that selfsame spouse, now would you? Trust me, had we pressed the wound too swiftly, that, rather than kisses, would have been what you would have showered upon him."

Sapphire wrinkled up her nose in distaste at this rather ugly image, then leaned back against her pillows.

"Honestly, Sir Jared. The wound feels so much better. Shad turned and let me look at his wound and it isn't even in the least bit angry-looking anymore. If we're kept like this much longer, I'll start thinking there's some conspiracy."

Sir Jared nodded. "Well, we can't have that. Let me have a look at you."

Sapphire opened the front of her gown herself, folding back the fabric matter-of-factly. Elise had to remind herself that her cousin was a soldier to keep herself from thinking Sapphire unduly immodest.

"There!" Sapphire said triumphantly. "Pink and clean and not a hint of soreness. Press harder if you'd like," she prompted. "I won't wince."

"I'd prefer if you would if there is need," Jared said sternly. "At the least suspicion that you're hiding anything from me, I'd wait. The st.i.tches won't be in danger of becoming ingrown for days yet."

Sapphire nodded. "I'm being honest with you. Do you think I'm such an idiot as to lie to my doctor?"

"It's been done," Doc said mildly. "However, my inspection agrees with your statements. The wound is clean of infection and knitting nicely. I can clip out the st.i.tches and report to King Tedric that I think you're ready for action-indoor action, no riding or sailing or such for several days yet. You've lost lots of blood and your body will have robbed muscle to rebuild it."

From his bed Shad asked, "And me, Doctor?"

Sir Jared grinned. "I would have given you a clean bill of health several days ago, but I'm not your doctor, nor did I care to challenge Lord Rory. I thought my patient would heal better in congenial company."

Prince Shad looked momentarily angry; then he had the good grace to laugh.

"Will you pa.s.s on your recommendations, Sir Jared? I'm certain that Lord Rory can be made to think that they're his own if my mother goes to work on him."

"Very well, Prince Shad. I'll do my best."

Doc turned to Elise.

"Would you a.s.sist me in freeing your cousin, Lady Elise?"

Elise longed to say something witty, something like, "If a bold knight like you needs a mere maiden's aid, then gladly, sir," but cleverness escaped her.

"I'd be happy to," she said, and fancied that she sounded stiff and formal.

But as always all awkwardness vanished once they were at work. Elise handed Doc scissors and tweezers, holding everything steady when Sapphire-who predictably refused anything to dull the slight pain of the removal-jumped at the tugging.Sir Jared distracted his patient by telling a funny story; then Shad leapt in with a sea tale about two men in a small sailboat with an overactive boom. The punch line was predictable, but set them all laughing nonetheless.

Sapphire inspected the healing incision with the help of a small hand mirror. Then she said in the tones of someone who is trying out a plan for the first time, "Elise, what do you think King Tedric would do if I asked him to make Sir Jared Hawk Haven's Royal Physician? I've been thinking that if we did that and if we acted as if the t.i.tle had been in place-just that no one had thought to mention it to Lord Rory-that would smooth out these matters of precedence rather nicely."

"Isn't there already a person who holds that post?" Elise asked. "I'm certain I've met him."

"There is," Sir Jared said. "It's a job, not a t.i.tle, and the man who holds it is very good. He's probably responsible for King Tedric and Queen Elexa being as healthy as they are. The only reason he isn't on this trip is that he strained a shoulder in a riding accident shortly before their departure and agreed to stay behind because he could ask me to take over for him."

"I see," Sapphire said thoughtfully. "Let me think a moment."

After slightly more than a moment she said, "Still, there should be something we can do. Let me write a note to King Tedric explaining Doc's difficulty."

"I really don't have any difficulties with Lord Rory," Jared protested. "I simply avoid him when possible and humor him when necessary."

Sapphire looked annoyed.

"You shouldn't need to," she said bluntly, "not with your talent and your training. Elise, could you reach me writing materials?"

Elise did so, aware of her own mixed emotions on the matter. On the one hand, she agreed with Doc that he could deal with Lord Rory, t.i.tle or not. On the other, she would like to see him recognized for what he could do. After all, King Tedric's physician might not have enough time to deal with all the members of the newly expanded royal family-especially if Sapphire and Shad got down to the business of producing heirs.

Although he never had spoken of it to her, Elise had the feeling that without Earl Kestrel's patronage, Sir Jared would lead a rather hand-to-mouth existence. Knighthoods were nice, but as a younger son of a small landholding family, he could expect little or nothing in the way of inheritance. Official patronage by the royal family would practically guarantee him a thriving medical practice.

While Elise was musing thus, Sapphire finished her letter. After sanding the wet ink and shaking the paper, she leaned over to slide the damp missive over to Shad.

"What do you think?"

Elise was impressed that Sapphire would bother to consult anyone-another change from the headstrong young woman she had known all her life. How much of that arrogance might have been Lady Melina's influence or, conversely, how much of Sapphire's new tact might be due to King Tedric?

Perhaps most importantly, how lasting would the changes be? Once the thrill of her new t.i.tles and marriage had worn off, Sapphire could quite easily lapse back into her former manner."Clear, concise, and well thought out," Shad said, setting the letter down on the table. "What King Tedric's reply will be, however, I cannot say."

"Nor I," Sapphire said, blowing lightly on the letter to make certain that it was reasonably dry before folding and sealing it. "Now, Sir Jared, see if you can get an appointment to deliver this to King Tedric in person. If you cannot, at least make certain that it is delivered to him."

Sir Jared dipped a bow that, to Elise's eyes, was at least a trifle mocking.

"As Your Highness commands," he said. "Perhaps I should take my leave immediately so as to better effect your wishes."

Sapphire arched an eyebrow slightly, as if not entirely certain whether or not she was being teased.

As Doc took his bag in one hand and the letter in the other, Shad said, "And Sir Jared, you will use your influence wherever possible to get me a clean bill of health?"

"I promise," Doc said, and with a bow to Elise and another to Sapphire, he departed.

"You were pretty quiet, Elise," Sapphire said. "Don't you like Sir Jared? I think he's quite fine-interesting, intelligent, even handsome if you like that type."

Elise managed a smile. "I like him fine, too, cousin. I just didn't have anything to say."

And, she added to herself, I'd better practice finding things to say unless I want to chase him off completely. After all, once we leave this place how often are our paths likely to cross again? I'd hate to lose a friend just because I think I might like him a bit more than just as a friend.

Admitting this to herself, for the first time she wondered what her parents would say if a penniless man of no t.i.tle came courting her. Discouragement flooded her breast as she realized that no matter her own wishes in the matter her father, the baron, would probably show Sir Jared the door.

The next day, Firekeeper and Blind Seer were granted permission to go for a long run through the scrub forest bordering one edge of Silver Whale Cove-the actual cove rather than the city that bore the same name.

The water table here was quite high, enough so that even in the driest weather the ground a few feet under the surface was damp and water tended to collect in shallow depressions.

However, slightly inland there was a point of higher ground, uncontaminated by the brackish water of the bay. Here the castle had been built, possibly sh.o.r.ed up by some of the same Old Country sorcery that had once lit its interior. In the vicinity of the castle and the fine natural harbor, a city had grown up, but there was still enough open land that no effort had been made to drain the nearby scrub forest. Strong winds off the waters kept disease bearing insects to a minimum and the tides washed the pools and puddles so. that only under the worst conditions did the damp area bear fever.

By tradition, the forest belonged to the castle and only those with permission hunted for waterfowl and small game along its banks or under its trees. True, children did sneak away to play there, drawn into its shadow-haunted reaches and mysterious pools as children have always been drawn by places unused by their elders-as places that they can claim as their own.

Firekeeper found the scrub forest quite fascinating. She had never been near a land ruled by the tides,and the marks they left even away from the sh.o.r.e were intriguing. She lost one of the boots Derian had insisted she wear when she stepped in a sinkhole, and gleefully threw the other away. True, the ground was cold, but she was accustomed to being physically uncomfortable in some fashion. Only recently had she been otherwise more often than not.

Blind Seer also enjoyed the chance to get out of the castle grounds and stretch. He ran circles around his two-legged companion, darting off after interesting scents, starting rabbits and chasing them for the fun of watching their panicked flight. He didn't kill any, however, for he'd been kept well fed-even overfed-by a castle staff terrified of the consequences if the giant wolf should feel even the least bit hungry.

Together they explored, Firekeeper pausing to admire the iridescent interiors of sh.e.l.ls vacated by the mussels that clung to the rocks along the sh.o.r.e, Blind Seer rolling in a particularly odoriferous fish so long dead that its species could only be guessed at. They were crouched on the edge of a tide pool-Firekeeper poking at something that snapped at them with claws from behind a cl.u.s.ter of small rocks, Blind Seer barking in excitement-when a shrill screech interrupted their play.

An enormous peregrine falcon-as large as an eagle and thus as oversized for its species as Blind Seer was for his-stooped from above and came plummeting down from the clear autumn skies. Inches above the waters, it caught itself, banked its wings, and lifted. Flapping strongly but effortlessly, the peregrine rose, causing ripples like the kisses of. a flirtatious wind to distort the surface of the tide pool. Then it came to a perch on the outthrust branch of an oak that had been half-killed by the proximity of brackish waters.

Folding its wings neatly, the peregrine commented sardonically, "Well, the two of you haven't changed much. Still mad. Well, all wolves are mad and humans who think themselves wolves are probably twice mad."

She was a magnificent falcon, even as a representative of a species that many humans-as Firekeeper had learned-regarded as the most handsome of all the falcons. Her compact body was feathered a deep blue-grey, while her head was capped in plumage the color of slate. White feathers along her throat and underbody provided contrast, while darker bars across the white added dimension. Her eyes were dark brown, rimmed with gold.

"Elation!" Firekeeper cried, the greeting echoing across the waters like a wolf's howl so that those who heard it shivered at hearing such a sound at midday. "Elation, you have returned!"

Pleased, the peregrine ruffled her feathers and preened.

"Well, you didn't think I'd gone forever, did you?"

"We didn't know what to think," Firekeeper admitted. "Derian said that one day you simply flew away. I knew," she said in the tones of one who is verging onto unfamiliar grounds, "that many of the winged folk migrated. I thought perhaps that impulse had seized you."

Elation chuffed. "We Royal Falcons are not as bound by such things as our cousins are. True, we often have the sense to take pa.s.sage to better climates rather than winter where food will be scarce and conditions hardly pleasant, but we can overcome the impulse."

"Oh."

"So where were you?" asked Blind Seer. "You said nothing to us of leaving.""I am not," the falcon snapped, "required to report to you."

Blind Seer lolled out his tongue in a wolfish laugh. "Never said that you were. You're touchy today. Gone short of food?"

"I wouldn't say no to a rabbit or so," the falcon admitted. "Harvested fields offer less variety in hunting than I could wish."

"Mice," the wolf sniffed in understanding. "If my mere presence hasn't scared all the game to earth, there are plenty of fat rabbits in the woods."

"I'd prefer duck," Elation said, "and the ones my coming startled should have settled to the water again by now. Bide a moment."

Firekeeper found a sunny patch and made herself comfortable against Blind Seer's flank. In the near distance there was the sound of squawking ducks, the dull thunder of many pairs of wings rapidly taking flight. Then the peregrine returned, a fat green-headed male mallard held strongly in her talons.

"They're complacent here," she said, ripping into it with a shower of feathers and gutting the body with a single skilled tear. "A pity that I won't have a chance to teach them due prudence."

"You're leaving again soon?" Firekeeper asked.

Elation lifted a b.l.o.o.d.y head from her meal. "We all are. I've come to take you home."

"Home?" Firekeeper asked, feeling an odd mixture of excitement and dismay. "Is all well with our pack?

What are you talking about?"

"And since when," Blind Seer asked with acuity, "have the winged folk run errands for the wolves?"

Elation gulped down the duck's liver in a single swallow. "I'll tell while I feed because I see you're confused. I'm not running errands for the wolves, nor is there anything wrong with your pack. By home I meant to the lands west of the Iron Mountains, the lands where humans rarely go."

"Eat first," Firekeeper said with a wolf's courtesy, because no wolf ever waits a meal. "A tale that has waited this long can wait until you have fed."

Still, though the peregrine reduced the duck to feathers and bones-and not overmuch of the latter-in very little time, the wolf-woman found the wait for her tale very long indeed.

"Soon after the war ended," Elation began, "I went with Derian back to Eagle's Nest. His family was very impressed with me, almost as much as they were with the counselor's ring he had received from King Tedric. Although I think Derian would have enjoyed having more time at home, soon he had to travel to Bright Bay for the wedding. I went with him, the finest member of the n.o.ble entourage that included Earl Kestrel and Earle Kite."

"We know all of this," Firekeeper interrupted, impatient with the falcon's self-aggrandizement. "Why did you go west?"

Elation ruffled her feathers, but otherwise did not acknowledge the interruption.

"We were within a day's ride of the castle at Silver Whale Cove when, to my great surprise, I was hailed by one who spoke my language. I had been so long gone from civilized lands that I had practically forgotten that any but you and Blind Seer could speak to me.""Birdbrain," muttered the wolf, and maybe the falcon didn't hear. Certainly she didn't comment.

"The speaker was a kestrel of the Royal kind. Had he seen him, Norvin Norwood would surely have done anything to add him to his aeries."

Firekeeper growled softly, but Elation would not be hurried.

"The kestrel-one Bee Biter-told me that rumor had come to the Royal Beasts of a great battle between hosts of humans. He asked me if I knew of any such battle. I said that I did, that I had witnessed it, and that I knew the reasons for its being joined at that place and at that time.

"Then Bee Biter charged me-using secret words known only to the winged folk-to come to make my report. I could no more have disobeyed and maintained my stature among my people than I could have eaten grain. Without any delay, I flew west, letting Derian see me depart. I was sorry to cause him worry, but I could not go against the charge laid upon me by the kestrel."

"Why," Firekeeper asked, "didn't you stop in Hope and tell me where you were going?"

"I accompanied you east," the peregrine replied haughtily, "as an agent of my people. I owed you no report.

"Also," Elation added after a moment, perhaps thinking she had sounded unduly harsh, "the kestrel set us a path due west and I did not wish to anger him by diverting north on the chance that I might find you-after all, you might have already have left Hope for Silver Whale Cove."

"True," Firekeeper admitted.

"We crossed the Iron Mountains with a speed and directness which I must admit I found welcome 'after months shackled to human pace. Once across, we went to a place I don't believe you have ever seen-the Brooding Cliffs, where many generations of falcons have fostered their young.

"Once there, I found that the Mothers of many aeries had gathered. In addition to the raptors, there were speakers for some of our corvid kin-the ravens and crows. There was even an owl or two. However, I soon realized that something greater than my coming must have caused this gathering."

Something in the peregrine's posture revealed the falcon's wounded vanity. Firekeeper smothered a chuckle, eager to reach the part of the story that would pertain to Blind Seer and herself.

"I told my story," Elation continued, "and found that parts of it had been known before me. Ravens and crows have ever been drawn to battlefields and the Iron Mountains are not a barrier to the winged folk as they are to those who are flightless. However..."

Here Elation straightened, pride recovered. "The ravens and crows had not learned all of the story, nor did any know in full the intricacies of the political maneuvering that had led to King Allister's War and the eventual truce between Hawk Haven and Bright Bay.