Kings Of The North Part 44

Morning brought snow, fat flakes out of the sky with only a little wind. Arian startled the servant who was bringing up her clean clothes when she opened her door to carry her pack downstairs.

"You're not leaving, lady? Not so early? My lord will want to breakfast with you, at the least. And I have your things-"

"Thank you," Arian said. "When will breakfast be? I have far to go, and must start early-"

"Not long," the servant said. "My lord breaks fast early, and Cook's at work. Let me pack this for you-" She reached for Arian's pack.

"Well, then, if you'll bring it down when you're done, I'll just go see about my mount."

Downstairs, she heard voices in the kitchen. Dorrin had said the kitchen opened to the stableyard; Arian looked in. Cook-no doubt about which of the cooks working there bore the t.i.tle-braced meaty fists in the pile of dough she was kneading and gave her a challenging stare.

"You're that ranger, I'll be bound. It's not ready yet-"

"Dorrin-my lord Duke-said this was the short way to the stableyard," Arian said. "I want to see my horse."

"Ah. Yes, it is. That side of the table, please, and out that door-" Cook pointed with her elbow and went back to kneading. Arian edged around the opposite side of the table, and out the door she found snow falling more heavily, covering the pave stones of the stableyard. Arian made her way across to where horses were stamping and whinnying for morning hay.

She found Gwenno and several of the militia inside, feeding and watering the horses, including her own. "I gave him only hay," Gwenno said. "I didn't know if you'd be leaving today or not, and-"

"Good thoughts, Squire Gwenno," Arian said. "But yes, I'm leaving; he should have a bait of grain. I hope he behaved while you groomed. He's somewhat ticklish-"

"About that off hind. I noticed," Gwenno said. "But he stood at a word. He's a bit stiff in the back, too."

"I came with only one mount," Arian said. "Two would have been better, but-" She shook her head. "Thank you for grooming him," she said, laying a hand on the horse's haunch.

"It was nothing," Gwenno said, flushing. "I like horses. All the Marrakai do."

"Will you breakfast with us?"

"No, lady. I am on duty; I will breakfast with my squad." She looked down the stable aisle at the men. "My lord Duke says it is always good to see what the troops are eating and let them know you can eat the same."

"That's true," Arian said. "Good day to you, then. I don't know if I'll see you again before I leave, and if not, thank you for all your courtesy, both in the woods and on the way. Should you visit Lyonya, I will be pleased to greet you."

"Thank you!" Gwenno said. "Will you want your horse saddled? I can do that-"

"No, thank you," Arian said. "I am not sure how long I will be, since it would be discourteous to leave before speaking to the Duke. He should not stand saddled too long. He can have a bait of oats, however; he'll work that off today."

She made her way back across the stableyard. The snow would fall heavily for another gla.s.s or two, she thought, but then end...she should be able to make good progress. Inside, she found the kitchen crowded with children-the last thing she expected-all lined up along the table with cloths tied around their necks, Cook supervising as they kneaded little lumps of dough. Arian edged past them; Cook gave her a nod, and paused long enough to say, "Small dining room. My lord's down now."

The small dining room had a fire lit and a great covered tureen that smelled of porridge in the middle of the table. Dorrin looked up as Arian came in. Today she was dressed in dark woolen trousers, a gray woolen shirt, and a well-worn leather doublet, marked with obvious signs of a sword and dagger. "Your horse all right?" She pointed to a place set with plate, bowl, and eating utensils.

"Your squire Gwenno had already groomed him; he was eating hay. I must leave-"

"In this snow? Surely you can wait a day-I judge it will end later but be deep in places."

"I'm used to winter travel," Arian said. "The taig woke me; there's something wrong in Lyonya." She uncovered the tureen and served Dorrin a bowl of porridge, then one for herself. "Your cook is-"

"A tyrant in the kitchen. I know. Are the children in there yet?"

"Yes. I think she's teaching them to make bread."

"We all think-their tutor and I and the Marshal-General of Gird-that learning practical, useful things will be good for these children. I do not want to dwell on the life they had before. I'm trying to make it different in every way. How did they seem?"

"Energetic. Busy. I did see one of them throw a lump of frozen mud at another yesterday afternoon, from my window."

Dorrin shrugged. "We can't make them adult in a day-or even in a year, I suspect. A little mischief-it's much less than it was-doesn't worry me as much as cringing fear or sullenness. That's disappeared since about the Autumn Evener. We keep them busy, active, and learning. If you can believe it, there were eight-winters children who had never learned to read. Not even started."

Arian paused, spoon partway to her mouth. "Your taig-sense-it's not for the land as much as for the people-the children."

Dorrin looked surprised. "I suppose so. I never thought of that as taig-sense...but you and I were both trained in leadership." She went on eating.

Arian nodded. "Yes, leadership. What you're doing with the children-the way you talk about them-I can feel your attention to them, and it's much like mine to the taig. Did you never think of having children?"

"Never," Dorrin said, with emphasis. "This was a responsibility I never looked for. But the children deserve far better than what they had."

Arian ate the rest of her porridge before it chilled. One of the a.s.sistant cooks came in with a platter of sliced ham and another of eggs stirred with vegetables; she could see bits of green and red.

"Try that," Dorrin said. "It's a southern dish. I picked up the spices in Verella when I was there. It's very warming."

"What are they?"

"The fruit pods of some plant; they come in green, yellow, orange, red. With eggs, we don't use the hottest."

Arian tasted carefully...the inside of her mouth warmed, but she liked the flavor.

"Kieri tried to grow them up at his stronghold, but the summers were too short and cool. They never set fruit. I think I can grow them here, if I give them some protection," Dorrin said. Then her expression changed. "You say the taig told you something was wrong in Lyonya-could you tell what?"

"Not exactly. I'm too far away, and your apple tree doesn't know me well. But it's serious."

"Serious enough for me to gather what militia I have and send a message to the king in Verella?"

"I should wake the tree again," Arian said. "It might be, or it might be something...something with our our king. Last night I couldn't tell exactly." king. Last night I couldn't tell exactly."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"Thank you, yes."

They wrapped up in cloaks before venturing out into the snow. Arian felt something from the taig even before she got to the tree; as soon as she touched it, she felt the urgent call more clearly. Kieri wanted her-the taig wanted her. Something was wrong-something attacked the taig, in the north.

"The Pargunese," she said.

"Again?" Dorrin sounded more disgusted than alarmed. "They should've learned their lesson last time." She laid her hand on the tree. "Thank you," she said.

Arian felt the tree's response to Dorrin; she wanted to say something, but could not think what, the taig's call to her was so strong. She put her own thanks into the tree through her hand, along with the a.s.surance that she was on her way home.

"I can't come with you," Dorrin said. "The king put me in charge of Tsaia's defense; I must mobilize what troops I can and warn other lords to ready theirs. It will be another day at least before I can start. But I will send an escort as far as the border, lest you run into a Pargunese patrol."

"I'll be fine," Arian began. Dorrin interrupted.

"You're a ranger, yes, and a King's Squire, and I do not doubt your skills or your courage. But you're also Kieri's future wife-and for that last, I will not let you go alone and unprotected into danger." She led the way inside, walking fast enough that Arian had to stretch her legs to keep up.

They found Gwenno in the kitchen. "There's danger," Dorrin said. "Gather your squad; you'll escort Arian to the border-will you go north toward Harway, Arian, or straight across?"

"I-hadn't thought of Harway. I was going back the way we came."

"If you choose to go by Harway-and I do not urge it if you need the other route and expect to meet rangers on your side-I can use Gwenno's squad to take word that can be pa.s.sed by royal courier to Verella. Otherwise I'll send another."

She felt the danger north and east, not south of east; if Kieri had gone to meet it, he might be there. "I'll go to Harway, then. On our side of the border, I'll find troops."

"Gwenno, have you eaten yet?"

"No, my lord, but I can eat in the saddle-"

"There will be time while your squad a.s.sembles, packs supplies. It won't be a long delay, Arian, but I judge a necessary one."

Arian was on fire to go at once, but in Dorrin she recognized someone with far more experience in war-if this was war. "I will wait," she said.

"Good," Dorrin said. "Then I won't have to knock you down." Her grin was friendly but firm. "Gwenno, tell your squad to get ready to leave but make sure they all eat first. You do the same. I'll be writing my message to King Mikeli."

By the time the group left, the snow had eased off, though the sky promised more to come. Arian worried a little about Dorrin, left with house staff and children, but the Duke said another squire would be arriving with his squad that day.

"The Duke worked on the road north to Harway," Gwenno said. "It's much better than it was."

"That may be," Arian said, "but snow hides any-" Her horse lurched as one hoof found a hole beneath the snow. "-problems." She looked over the group: Gwenno, one of the famous Marrakai family she'd heard of. Friends of Kieri's. Five soldiers who'd been in Dorrin's cohort when she was Kieri's captain. Ten who were born and bred here, in Verrakai lands. The five former Phelani, though wearing Verrakai blue livery, were easy to pick out even though Arian had never seen mercenaries before. They looked harder than the others.

Near dark they stopped in a shelter Dorrin had ordered built: larger than the rangers' huts but on the same plan. Before they had even finished supper, they heard a horseman approaching; the rider hailed the camp. "Where's the Duke?" he asked. "I have a message-"

"If it's trouble with the Pargunese, she knows it," Gwenno said. "She's gathering her troops."

Again that night the taig woke Arian. She left the shelter to lay her hands on one of the trees; the taig-sense surged through her. More fire, more anger, to the northeast; the tree she touched, as part of a forest that ran from there east into Lyonya with few breaks, gave her much more information than the old apple back at Dorrin's garden. The taig recognized her as a ranger and called her to help. She felt cautiously through its fabric for the Lady-surely she would be active-but found no taste of her and little of elves. Kieri she did find, as a steadying influence, but he was too far away, and too immersed in the taig, for her to know exactly what he was doing.

By the next evening, they were near enough Harway to push on, arriving after dark.

The Count of Andressat found the journey to Verella, escorted by the Phelani cohort, safe enough but unpleasant: why would anyone choose to live so far north? Cold, wet, sunless country...but then the sky cleared on the last day, revealing the city ahead as if cut in crystal. At noon, they were close enough to hear the bells peal. Jeddrin felt his heart lift.

Duke Verrakai's letter gave him instant entrance to the palace, where he was a.s.signed a comfortable guest room.

"The king will see you before dinner," a palace servant told him. The man was richly dressed, Andressat saw, an upper servant, surely, unless he was a n.o.bleman. He wished he'd paid enough attention over the years to learn the colors and symbols of rank in this kingdom. In the interval he was offered a bath and refreshment, and by the time the summons came, he felt much better.

The king surprised him: so young a face, and yet so firm, and yet at the same time so welcoming. A young man of breeding, Andressat would have said, even without the crown he wore and the chain of office. Two armed guards stood either side of the king's chair. Andressat bowed low; the king waved him to a chair and invited him to sit.

"Duke Verrakai has written some of what you told her, but I would like to hear it all from you," the king said. "If it takes long enough, we can dine here, in my study, or break until after dinner. I normally dine with a few friends and my younger brother."

"As you wish, Sir King," Andressat said. He began as he had with the others, explaining about the family archives, about Alured's ambitions, about the rumors.

"What rank did your own family have in Old Aare?" the king asked. "Is there a chance you yourself are the heir?"

"No, Sir King." It was easier to admit to this young man, whom he had never insulted. "Though I long thought my family's descent came straight from Aarean n.o.bility, in truth many lesser t.i.tles were created after the flight from Aare, and mine is one of those."

"It is what men do that matters," the king said. "By all accounts-what I have heard from Duke Phelan, who is now a king himself-you have governed well and bravely, as did your fathers before you. I merely asked to ascertain if you had a counterclaim to Alured's. As far as I am concerned, you are equal to any count of my realm."

Andressat blinked back the stinging in his eyes. The king could not realize his words were both rea.s.surance and rebuke...for he himself had long considered northern counts as meaningless. He went on with his a.s.sessment of Alured's menace; the king asked pertinent questions about Alured's resources and the likelihood of war in the south spilling into the north.

"He believes there is an ancient crown in the north," Andressat said. "And he wants it."

"You think he would try to bring an army over the mountains?"

"He might-he was bold in Siniava's War and in a few years may have enough wealth and power in the south to do so-but my concern is that he will send agents to steal the crown he's heard of-and if they do not succeed, he will fabricate one and claim it is legitimate."

"My lord Count," the king said. "I would show you something except that it has withdrawn itself from our sight."

"Sir King?"

"It is true that Duke Verrakai found relics in her family estate that might indeed be from Old Aare. It is certain that they have magical powers. However, though they are housed here, only she can access them. An attempt to move them when she was not present proved...impossible." The king shook his head. "We do not know for certain where the items came from, and we know only a few of their powers: Duke Verrakai says they talk to her."

"She said nothing to me."

"I commanded those who knew to say nothing more. I myself have seen the crown-yes, there is a crown-rise from its housing and offer itself to her, but she did not take it."

"Why not?"

"She is my va.s.sal; she knows it would be treason unless I commanded it-and I was not then crowned. Would I crown another in my stead? No. This land is mine, whatever land that crown belongs to, and whatever head it finally rests upon."

Andressat could not think what to say. After a pause the king went on.

"You say your archives gave you some description of items of royal regalia. Please tell me what they said."

"I brought a copy," Andressat said. "Copied into our modern trade language." He handed it over.

The king's brow furrowed as he read. "A crown...a goblet...rings...armbands...necklace..." He looked up. "What are 'jewels of sun and water'?"

"I don't know," Andressat said. "I dared not ask jewelers, on my way here, lest Vaskronin hear of it and know I was seeking them. If it simply means color, I would think pale jewels-blue or green, perhaps-"

"Blue," the king said. He gave Andressat a sharp look. "I know no more of you than I've heard from Kieri Phelan and his captains-they all thought highly of you as a man of honor. But if we discuss this more, you must give me your pledge to keep it to yourself."

"I-I-" Andressat struggled to express what he felt. This was not his king, but saying so would be rude. He had pledged fealty to no one but his own idea of who the real heirs of Aare might be, and still reeled from the discovery that they were not as he had imagined them.

"I'm not asking for an oath of fealty," the king said. "Merely that you pledge to keep secret what I may tell you or show you about what was found at Duke Verrakai's estate."

"That I can do," Andressat said. "I swear on Camwyn's Claw-" He saw the king's brows go up. "Camwyn Dragonmaster," he said. "Do you not acknowledge him as a saint?"

"Indeed we do," the King said. "Though here our patron is Gird, we recognize Falk and Camwyn as well-my younger brother, in fact, is named Camwyn in his honor; that's why it startled me."