Kings Of The North Part 3

Marrakai leaned across the table toward them. "Of course-Verrakai's seat has been vacant since your uncle's treason, but as Duke, you're ent.i.tled to a Council seat unless the king changes his mind. You will have to spend hours-I was going to claim a headache, but you and the Marshal-General made that impossible."

Duke Serrostin, next to Marrakai, laughed. "You're incorrigible, Selis. You could let Duke Verrakai decide for herself if Council meetings are boring. Besides, complaints or no, you always show up early and are the last to leave."

"It's my duty," Marrakai said, hand over his heart. His eyes twinkled. Dorrin smiled a little uncertainly.

Serrostin smiled at her. "You'll find, Duke Verrakai, that we three are sometimes considered difficult. Once there were eight dukes in Tsaia, but after the Girdish wars only five intact dukedoms remained. The new king-the one the Girdish allowed-chose to break up the others into counties or redistribute the land to those who were left. The Code of Gird recommends dissolution whenever there's a break in inheritance-and for various crimes as well. Tsaian law doesn't require it, but the Fellowship has pushed for fewer large estates. At any rate, the Escral t.i.tle died out about a hundred years after the Girdish war-that was in the northwest, bordering Fintha. Dirga, perhaps a hundred years after that-they bordered Lyonya in the southeast, from the mountains north to your own domain."

"What Counts Konhalt and Clannaeth hold now?"

"And others. There are some free towns. Brewersbridge is one, nominally in Clannaeth's rule, but it has special status. Fiveway-well, actually that's in Harbin's, I think. Counts can propose barons to the Crown Council-so there are baronies within counties-or the Crown sometimes grants them independently, when it's believed the baron will develop into someone who could manage a county."

"But very few dukes," Dorrin said.

"Yes. Well, that's natural. King at the top of the mountain, dukes next. More counts than dukes, more barons than counts, more commoners than anyone else."

"But are there only we four?"

"There's Gerstad," Marrakai said. "But he's old and never leaves home. Had no children-well, he did, but they all died in a fever. Bitter as gall, and I can't wonder at it, but he's never at court and his domain's in sad state. If it weren't for Count Rundgren-and you, Serrostin-"

Serrostin shrugged. "I do what I can," he said. "It isn't much; he won't allow it."

"So it is mostly we four," Mahieran said. "At this level, anyway. Which made it very difficult when your uncle was Duke, as we were not exactly close."

Next morning, all the n.o.bles appeared for the Council meeting: the king named his new officers of the court, confirmed the new Marshal-Judicar officially as a royal appointment and Juris Kostvan as the new Knight-Commander of the Bells-a popular choice, Dorrin gathered, from the reaction. Then he named his Council. The others stood and applauded, then filed out, while the Council gathered around the table.

"I welcome you all," the king said, "both those who were on my Regency Council and those who are new to this gathering. As events this year have proved, threats loom over Tsaia, but together and with Gird's aid we will prevail." He looked around the table; Dorrin saw the others smile and nod. "Now," the king said, "Duke Verrakai will report on the danger we face from Verrakaien magery."

Dorrin repeated what she had explained before about the transference of personality into unwilling victims. "And as I wrote the king, we found children-" she said.

"Their own children?" asked Oktar, the new Marshal-Judicar.

"I am not sure." Dorrin explained what she suspected about the parentage of at least some of the children who had suffered the death-sickness and "recovered."

"I do not know how you found the courage to kill them," Mahieran said softly, looking down. "I am not sure I could have, in your place."

Dorrin felt tears burning her eyes again. "My lord-I cannot say-only that the real children-the child they had been-had already died and this was a usurper. I fixed my mind on that, but it was not easy."

"I imagine not, even for a seasoned soldier like yourself." Mahieran paused, then went on. "Do you know, I think you may have more military experience than any other peer-at least until Phelan's other captain, Arcolin, comes to be confirmed at the Autumn Court."

Dorrin's heart rose. "Will he, then? I am glad to hear it. He's a fine man, Jandelir Arcolin."

"Surely you knew-"

"That he was given temporary authority, yes, but not that he would be confirmed in the grant."

"It is the king's decision, with the Council's advice-and we are now the Council." A murmur of agreement from around the table. "I favor it myself, though whether he should be made duke at once-"

"It's a big step, from captain to duke," one of the barons said, looking at Dorrin. Brenvor, she remembered after a moment. "What do you think?" His voice was challenging.

"Me?" Dorrin had not expected to be asked. "Arcolin has more years with the Company than I, and he was Kieri's senior captain all those years. He's served as his agent with all his business; he knows it thoroughly. If not a duke, what would you?"

"Count, perhaps," Brenvor said. "Even I can see the domain-and the Pargunese danger-needs a higher rank than baron to head it. But I'd like to see proof he can meet the challenge, before we grant the higher t.i.tle."

Dorrin wondered what challenges Baron Brenvor had ever met, but knew she was being unfair. They had seen Arcolin only as a loyal subordinate, not in command.

"But as to the danger of those hidden Verrakaien," the king said. "Duke Verrakai, do you know any way to identify them, other than your own powers?"

"No, Sir King."

"Can you sense them from a distance without seeing them?"

"No, Sir King, I cannot."

"Then I must ask you to stay in Verella until you have examined the entire staff and all peers." He held up his hand to still indignant murmurs. "My lords, I do not suspect any of you-I know you to have been loyal for years-but so was the groom whose body was taken over. Unless Duke Verrakai has some other way of detecting the threat, we must one by one pa.s.s examination."

"Not you, Sir King," Dorrin said. "Nor any in this room or at the coronation banquet last night. For those I am sure are not taken over."

"Are you, indeed? Then it is Gird's mercy, I say, that so much has been accomplished." The Marshal-Judicar's voice held a slight note of mockery.

"But, Sir King," Dorrin said, ignoring the Marshal-Judicar for the moment, "I do think those Verrakai in custody awaiting trial or sentenced to prison must be killed unless I can a.s.sure you they have not been taken over. Confinement does not lessen their powers, as yesterday's events prove. Any still alive could attempt a transfer-to a guard, to a servant bringing food-and might be successful. I know you do not want to kill the children-or what seem children."

"You're talking of a summary judgment on the basis of your examination? Without a trial?" the Marshal-Judicar asked. He sounded angry. "That's against the Code-everyone has a right to a trial."

"A speedy trial," Serrostin said. "We cannot risk anything long enough to allow them to change bodies. And think of the harm to the person whose body they take."

"I take your meaning." The king looked sad. "My brother's best friend is a Verrakai-was a page here, now in prison-and Camwyn's sure he's innocent. He keeps asking to visit him."

"He must not," Dorrin said. "If the Verrakai boy is actually no child, he might take over the prince."

"Could you tell if the boy is one of those-or guilty of anything?"

"If he is someone else, yes. But I'm not sure I could tell if he was part of the conspiracy."

Duke Marrakai stirred; the king shot a glance his way. "I know, my lord, what you said about the lad's att.i.tude toward your son Aris."

"It's not just that," Marrakai said. "It's what the prince has told Aris since."

The king's brows raised. "Do we need to call Aris to testify?"

"If you wish. But haven't you noticed the difference yourself in the prince's demeanor and attention since he's no longer close with Egan Verrakai?"

"Yes." The king shook his head as if to clear it. "It's a bad, bad business. I cannot take chances with the realm, or with my brother's life. Duke Verrakai, you will visit the prisoners and determine if any are harboring ancients of your family. Do we all agree that such is evidence of treason and punishable by death?" Every hand smacked the table. "Then I will appoint witnesses to go with Duke Verrakai, including at least one Marshal and one judicar. But we must finish the other tasks of this meeting as well." He cleared his throat. "I have received reports from Lord Arcolin warning that Aarenis continues unsettled. Though he was hired to put down brigands, thought to be vagrants from Siniava's War, he has found instead organized bands willing to give battle and clearly supported from without, he thinks by the new Duke Alured of Immer. Duke Verrakai, you know of this Alured, do you not?"

"Our ally against Siniava," Dorrin said, nodding. "Younger than the other captains, said to be a former pirate, very ambitious. He supplied a company of woods-wise fighters, and we used his network of spies."

"Spies! In Aarenis only? Or beyond?"

"The ones we used were all in Aarenis, but now that he has a t.i.tle, I expect he will have spies everywhere, including here."

"Arcolin says he is ruthless."

"Indeed. We were with him during the capture of the Immer ports, after Siniava's death-that was the price of his earlier aid. Kieri-the king-regretted he ever made that bargain when we saw how cruel Alured could be. Alured wanted to hire him-us-through the winter and another season, but Kieri refused."

"Does he pose any present threat to us?"

"Not unless he gains control of the Guild League," Dorrin said. "I'm sure he now controls river trade down the Immer to the sea, but taking over the Guild League will not be easy or quick."

"That much should be enough for anyone," Count Halar said.

"It wasn't for Siniava," Dorrin pointed out. "And if he hadn't been stopped, he might well have cast his eyes northward."

"If this Alured heard about what you found," Duke Mahieran said, "would that influence him?"

Dorrin felt a cold chill down her back; she had not thought of that. "Alured? Certainly. He would want that crown as proof of his claim that he was descended from the old royal family of Aare. Impossible, of course, but a lost crown rediscovered would, in his mind, be his family's."

"No chance it could be his?" Serrostin asked. "I mean-your family's had it, and perhaps they were related. Could this fellow be a distant relative of yours?"

"I suppose," Dorrin said. She hated the thought, but Alured's cruelty and even his slight magery fit her family's pattern. "But our family records are so unreliable, with the transfer of personalities, that I cannot possibly tell. What I do know is that he had a vast network of spies in Aarenis during Siniava's War, and it would be folly to think he had none here."

"And if he had them here," Duke Marrakai said, "he will have heard the rumors that were going around the markets."

"And are now going through the court," Dorrin said, nodding. "How many people saw me battle my father in the courtyard? How many heard of the gifts I brought the king? Whatever is widely known, he will know, and things we think confined to a few he may also discover." She turned to the king. "The regalia, Sir King, are not safe: he will seek to have them stolen for his benefit. He will hire the Thieves' Guild."

"It's in my treasury," the king said. "He couldn't possibly get to it, nor could any thief of the Guild."

"Sir King," Duke Mahieran said, "remember the a.s.sa.s.sinations. We thought we had secured the palace then."

"If he has allied with my surviving relatives," Dorrin said, "he may have powers through them."

"True. You You had not mentioned Alured before." had not mentioned Alured before."

"No, my lord. I thought his menace confined to Aarenis and his domain large enough to keep him busy longer."

"Have you heard from Arcolin?"

"No, my lord." She wondered at that, since Arcolin had been writing to the king, but those messages would have been carried from Valdaire to Verella by royal courier; his to her would be by private messenger and no doubt slower.

The king nodded as if satisfied. "Is there any way we can interdict the spies' report?"

"No, my lord. If they deemed the information important-and I'm sure they would have-they will have sent it ahead already. Those rumors about the crown were circulating before your coronation."

Duke Serrostin spoke up. "It's possible that the Thieves' Guild could be convinced to cooperate with the Crown, after the scouring we gave them."

"For a price," Count Kostvan said.

"You would pay thieves not to steal?" asked the Marshal-Judicar, raising his brows.

"Isn't there a master thief the Marshal-General has invited to Fin Panir?" Serrostin asked, with a glance her way.

"Yes," the Marshal-General said, "Arvid Semminson, to tell what he knows of Paksenarrion."

"Well, it's my understanding he now stands high in the local Guild. I see no harm in asking him to report any offer he gets from this Alured."

"Indeed," the king said with a sidelong glance at the Marshal-Judicar, who had clamped his lips together as if to hold back something he might say later.

That first Council meeting lasted well into the afternoon, and Dorrin left it feeling even more that she had been caught up in a whirlwind. She knew less of Tsaia as a whole than any of the others; they talked of agriculture, industry, and trade in terms that confused her. But when the topic of defense came up, everyone looked at her.

"Duke Verrakai, I wish you to a.s.sess our readiness," the king said. "Review our resources and our training methods. If this Alured fellow tries force a few years hence, we must be ready."

Dorrin a.s.sented: he was right; she did have the expertise for this. But the looks she got from the other Council members suggested that not all of them would be eager to have her questioning the way they organized their troops.

A palace servant stopped her on her way out. "The Marshal-General would like to speak with you," he said. Dorrin followed him to the offices of the Knights of the Bells, the Girdish training order housed in the palace complex.

The Marshal-General was talking to the new Marshal-Judicar, Oktar, when Dorrin arrived. "Ah, Duke Verrakai. Have you a little time?"

"Yes, Marshal-General," Dorrin said.

"You gave us all a surprise yesterday," the Marshal-General said. "Like most, I believed all the magelords long dead or frozen in time like those in the far west. Safely distant. What I knew of your family's treason and the magicks used there, I thought due to blood magic alone. But you-" She shook her head. "Neither I nor any of the Marshals I've spoken to here have sensed evil in you. They tell me you asked for help from a local grange."

"Yes," Dorrin said. "And two Marshals came. We have not yet gone into the cellar, though, where I expect the worst."

"Now that I've heard some of your story," the Marshal-General said, "I agree the king made the right decision yesterday in sparing your life, but frankly, I find all magicks distasteful and the power you showed-and told us about-terrifying. It is one thing to face obvious evil, as I know Marshals here did in cleaning out Liart's lairs, but another to see great power and be uncertain of its source."

Oktar spoke up. "The Code of Gird, in one revision, allowed for the use of magery for specific reasons, including healing. And the Chronicles of Luap speak of a partnership between a mageborn and a Girdish peasant-"

"But that was overturned in the Edicts of Barlon-"

"I know, Marshal-General, but to my mind the discoveries made in the last few years-the scrolls that the paladin Paksenarrion brought from somewhere in the mountains and the discovery of Luap's Stronghold in Kolobia-bring those Edicts into question."

"So you would support removing all strictures on the use of magery?"

Oktar snorted. "No, Marshal-General, I would not, of course, suggest that a magelord be granted dispensation to use magery for any and all purposes, including evil."

"Good," the Marshal-General said. "Because I'm not going to take that that proposal to my Council." She grinned at him; he chuckled. Dorrin had noticed the Marshal-General's informality at Kieri's stronghold but, after her mood the day before, did not expect the almost teasing tone. She turned to Dorrin. "If it's convenient for you, I've got the rest of the day free, and I know Marshal Tamis is at your house now." proposal to my Council." She grinned at him; he chuckled. Dorrin had noticed the Marshal-General's informality at Kieri's stronghold but, after her mood the day before, did not expect the almost teasing tone. She turned to Dorrin. "If it's convenient for you, I've got the rest of the day free, and I know Marshal Tamis is at your house now."

"Certainly," Dorrin said.

When they arrived at the house, windows and front door stood open, with Eddes, one of Dorrin's escorts, sitting in the entrance hall polishing his boots. He jumped up, sock-footed as he was, and bowed. "Sorry, m'lord-didn't think you'd be back yet."

Dorrin waved a hand. "Go ahead, Eddes. Do you know where Marshal Tamis is?"

"Upstairs. I think the bedrooms."

"Thank you," Dorrin said. She would have to find someone else to watch the front door and explain to Eddes that boot-cleaning should be done out back. She led the Marshal-General and Oktar into the house. They found Marshal Tamis just coming out of the room Dorrin was sure had been her uncle's bedroom.