Kings Of The North Part 9

"Would you say she had no part in it?" the Marshal-General said. "Was the Duke's Company the same for her being in it, even before she came to Fin Panir?"

"Mmmm...no. She kept Kieri from torturing Siniava, and then-when she left-it was as if by her leaving he recognized Alured's cruelty..."

"And then she found Luap's scrolls in that elf place, whatever it was, and brought them to us. Her capture in the far west, all that happened after..." The Marshal-General's voice faltered; Dorrin glanced over to see tears on her cheeks. "Her healing by a Kuakgan, her time in Lyonya as a ranger, all of that led inexorably, I see now, to her finding that Kieri Phelan was in fact the heir to Lyonya's throne. Once she named him, once Paks's sacrifice saved him from the Bloodlord-" She spat aside. "-all your lives changed. All our our lives changed. Tsaia and Lyonya cannot be the same. Even Fintha and the Fellowship of Gird cannot be the same. She was the rock falling from the cliff; all our lives were set in motion by that fall." lives changed. Tsaia and Lyonya cannot be the same. Even Fintha and the Fellowship of Gird cannot be the same. She was the rock falling from the cliff; all our lives were set in motion by that fall."

"And yet-"

"And yet she is a sheepfarmer's daughter from somewhere beyond Three Firs, and Three Firs, which I'll wager you've never seen, is nothing but a village stuck to the side of a hill by the roots of its three fir trees. We sent someone there to learn more about her. End of the peddlers' track, it is, one of a hundred such villages where the good land meets the moors. I heard all about the pig farmer's family her family wanted her to marry into-the boy was relieved; he was scared of her and is happy with the baker's daughter."

Dorrin laughed. "I cannot see her as a wife, no."

"Nor I. She asked that a sword be sent to her family if she died in Verella. One will be, for her family deserves to know what she did, but we're trying to gather the stories of her, as we do for all paladins."

"Will you tell the bad things?"

"We must." The Marshal-General looked away. "That is why the stories of paladins are not quickly told, or lightly. I want her to come back to Fin Panir with me and share the tale of her deeds, all of them."

"The Lady of the Ladysforest, who brought her people to us in our greatest need," Dorrin said, "offered to rid her of her memories of the worst. She refused. But she does not talk about it."

"There is a thief in Verella. Well, he says he's not a thief-"

"Paks mentioned a thief helping her after-"

"When I sent word that I wanted more of her story, he came to one of the granges and asked to speak to the Marshal. His version has been written down, but it did not prepare me for that circle on her brow."

"I will miss her when you take her away," Dorrin said, "but I know she must follow the G.o.ds' call. I do wish I had her touch with children. I have no idea how to be a proper aunt, let alone parent. I brought that tutor from Verella, as you know, but-what now?"

"You were a child; you must remember-"

"Nothing good," Dorrin said. "I told you. I do not know how it is possible to have a childhood free of fear and evil. That's what I want for them, but if there is more..." She shook her head.

"I find it amusing-no, ridiculous-that I, leading a Fellowship which did its best to rid the world of n.o.bles like you and households like this-should be asked for advice by one. And yet, before I was the Marshal-General, I managed a grange, and then a group of granges, as High Marshal. Though I never wanted children of my own, I loved the children of my grange."

Dorrin glanced at her and saw an expression she a.s.sociated more with mothers than warriors. "So-do you have advice?"

"Think far ahead, Dorrin. What do you want for them when they're grown? Surround them with people who are that-the kind of adults you want them to be. Children are such mimics...if they see honesty and fair dealing and kindness, they will copy that."

"Paks has been here four or five tendays-"

"And you saw how they were when you arrived. Was that a big change?"

"Yes," Dorrin said, thinking back. "They were improving, I think, before that, but not this exuberant."

"Do they have ch.o.r.es, or do the servants do all for them? Peasants, you know, teach their children to work."

"I don't think they do," Dorrin said. "I would have to ask the nursemaids."

"Well, those above seven winters should, in my opinion. We have children in the grange do simple things-things they can see are useful. We think it's good for them, as long as they're not overworked and underfed." They rode on a little ways before the Marshal-General spoke again. "And I know you will want them taught skills of arms, but do not value those over the skills of peace, or make everything a compet.i.tion."

"That I understand," Dorrin said.

"Do any of them have mage-power like yours?"

"Not that I know of," Dorrin said. "But beyond looking for those who had invaded others, I haven't looked for it."

"You must. Like any talent, it must be trained for the right reasons, in the right ways."

When they got back to the house, they found Paks and the squires at weapons practice, surrounded at a safe distance by fascinated children. Dorrin and the Marshal-General joined them, hot as it was. They had not yet crossed blades; Paks waved the others away to give them room. Dorrin stretched first, as did the Marshal-General, and then suggested they use practice blades.

They began slowly, with the usual drill, speeding up as each found the other able. They were well matched in height and reach, but Dorrin's years of battle experience soon told, and she made two quick touches with the blunted practice blade.

"Too much sitting; not enough fighting," Arianya said, breathing hard. "I should spar with you again."

"Every day, if you like," Dorrin said, feeling pleased with herself. Sweat rolled down her back, tickling under her clothes. "But perhaps in the morning or late evening. It's a bit warm."

The Marshal-General laughed; her own face was sweat-streaked. "Next time with hauks, if you have them."

"I'm sure we do, somewhere," Dorrin said. "Or sticks, if nothing else. And I'm not as practiced with them."

Two days later, the Marshal-General and Paks rode away; the children had cried when they knew Paks was going. Dorrin looked at her squires. They had been brought up in good homes; they must know what children needed. They had not become her squires to learn child rearing, but she needed their experience.

She gathered squires, tutors, and all but one nursemaid together while the children were playing on the lawn outside.

"You know already that I have no children and no experience with them. These children have had a bad start. Leaving aside what they were taught and what was done to them, their parents and elder siblings have all been taken away. Thanks to you-" She nodded at the nursemaids. "-they are better than they were. I have brought Master Feddith from Verella-tutor to another n.o.ble family and recommended by your father, Daryan-to teach the scholarly arts. I have talked to the Marshal-General and Master Feddith at length, but one man and four nursery-maids cannot do it all themselves. Master Feddith has already suggested bringing in older children to provide a more ordinary mix of ages. You squires must understand that you are the only good models of young people these children have ever seen. They will look to you the way you yourselves looked at knights and squires when you were barely out of shortlings. They will copy you-good for good, fault for fault."

"Will you want us to...to care for them?" Beclan's lip did not quite curl, but distaste crept into his tone.

"Not as nursery-maids, of course," Dorrin said. "But as if they were your younger siblings, when you happen upon them, yes. These children are as impoverished as those in the villages: they have never known any other home or anyone but the family that's now gone." She paused to let that sink in. "At times, I may ask you to take one or a small group on outings, under your protection. Think-how old were you when you left the confines of your house for the first time?"

"I don't remember," Beclan said. "I can't remember not knowing both of the nearer villages...the house in Verella, of course, and I was taken to the prince's birthday party for the first time when I was-maybe-four winters."

"They have been here their entire lives. None have been so far as Kindle, let alone Harway. That must change. You will be exotic to them, fascinating," Dorrin said. "So you must be good elders, as I believe you will be."

In two turns of the gla.s.s, they had worked out a preliminary daily schedule and even-Dorrin insisted-outings at least once a tenday to more distant parts of the domain.

"I'm glad you're including ch.o.r.es," Master Feddith said. "It's something I recommend in every house where I serve, if it's not already done."

"They've never had to do aught," the nursemaid said. "By the old duke's orders, they was born to rule, not serve." She flushed and ducked her head.

"It won't hurt them," Dorrin said. "It may take them awhile to learn, but when they see the squires serving, they will understand-we all serve, one way or another. You know them best right now; all of you and Master Feddith can decide which ch.o.r.es. Keep them busy enough they won't get into mischief."

Within a tenday, the children were settling into the new routine, even the youngest doing the simple ch.o.r.es a.s.signed. Master Feddith discovered that they were all astonishingly ignorant-only the eldest could read at all-and their general knowledge was less, he swore, than that of Serrostin's stablehands. Yet they were not stupid, he told Dorrin that tenday night.

"They are clever enough to learn but were never taught. They were told only a few tales of the Verrakai and their exalted place." From Feddith's expression, he didn't think much of it. "And about power and blood magery. That's all. Not even the proper terms of venery, which every lord's child I ever taught knew when I came. But they are learning now. And your squires are a good influence. Two of the eldest children have asked when they will be pages."

"Not for a while yet," Dorrin said.

"Good," Feddith said. "Make them earn it-and, if you'll take my advice, my lord, do not send any of them to other households. Let them learn here. Nor would I hurry them into weapons practice, not until you're sure all the taint of the Bloodlord is gone from them."

"Sound advice," Dorrin said. "And I will follow it. I don't want to forbid them all play, even play with toy swords, but it must be supervised. You are right; they had too much experience with cruelty and bullying before."

A few days later, she came around a corner of the house and found two of her squires red-faced and angry, and Beclan leaning on the wall looking coolly amused.

"What's this?" Dorrin asked.

"I am not a child, just because I'm younger," Daryan said.

"I never said you were," Gwenno said. "I was only trying to help-"

"I didn't need your help."

"I'm sorry!" Gwenno flung out an arm, whirling half around and glaring at Dorrin instead of Daryan. "I just thought-that's the tallest horse in the stable-"

"Stop this," Dorrin said. They fell silent. "Now, I will hear what you did, one at a time, no interruptions. Beclan, you first, if you please."

"We were to ride out and inspect the progress on the new road, as the Duke knows," Beclan said. "It was Daryan's turn to saddle the horses, and as he is...shorter...Gwenno offered to help, and Daryan took it amiss."

"You were the one-" Daryan began; Dorrin quelled him with a glance.

"Go on," Dorrin said.

"Well, I may have-I did-suggest that maybe he would need help with my horse, as he is the tallest and fidgets when being tacked up."

"And you have not trained him out of it?" Dorrin asked.

"Well...no...I'm not a horse trainer."

"And yet you have horses," Dorrin said, as mildly as she could. "I perceive you have had stable servants available your whole life to deal with the bad manners of your mounts. A wise knight makes sure his mount is reliable, Beclan. I will give you extra time to train yours."

"Me? The Marrakaien are the horse-lovers." Beclan shot a glance at Gwenno, who bit her lip but said nothing.

"Those who depend on horses must learn to manage them well," Dorrin said. "It is part of a squire's training that I will not neglect; I have seen squires die for lack of it-riding well is not enough."

"Die?" Gwenno said, before she folded her lips again.

"Yes," Dorrin said. "Unhorsed in battle, with a mount too skittish to stand, and thus easily surrounded and struck down." She looked from one to another. "Whatever else this is about-and I will ask more in a moment-you must all see that your mounts improve in training, and that starts with handling on the ground. From this day, you will each, every day, groom, tack up, and ride. You will rotate through all the horses, mine included."

"But-" Beclan began; Dorrin held up a hand.

"They are all up to your weight, Beclan, even if not as pretty as yours. You may someday have to use an enemy's horse when your own has been killed or run off. This is another essential skill."

"Yes, my lord," Beclan said. He dipped his head, but Dorrin could feel his resistance.

"You may tack up your own horse today, but tomorrow you will switch. I will write up a rotation." In all her spare time-but she foresaw considerable good out of this. "Stay and be quiet," she said to Beclan. "I will hear the others. Now, Daryan, tell me your story."

"Beclan said I might need help with his horse because it was so tall and I'm the shortest. He told Gwenno to help me. He's always telling us what to do." Beside him, Gwenno fizzed with impatience, but Dorrin ignored that; the girl needed to learn self-control. "I said I didn't need any help, and he laughed, and Gwenno said besides she was better with horses-and just because she's a Marrakai, and they think they know everything about horses. It wasn't her her brother who saved the king's life; it was Roly. I said that, and all Juris did was sit there like a stone-" brother who saved the king's life; it was Roly. I said that, and all Juris did was sit there like a stone-"

"He was spelled!" Gwenno burst out. "He couldn't-"

"Not now, Gwenno," Dorrin said. "Go on, Daryan."

"Well, then you came. My lord."

"I see." Dorrin folded her arms and gave him a hard stare. "It was ill-done to taunt Gwenno with her brother's having been spelled by the same magery that held the Marshal-Judicar, the Knight-Commander of the Bells, and the king himself in thrall, Daryan. Your brother, I understand, was not in the room when that happened, and absence left him free. Do you think Rolyan would approve your criticism of Juris Marrakai?"

Daryan reddened even more. "Um...no, my lord."

"Or your using it to anger Juris's sister?"

"No, my lord."

"Courtesy to all is one of the main duties of a squire. That includes courtesy to one another. When you are grown and knighted, and especially if you come to your father's estate and rank by the deaths of your siblings-"

"No!" Daryan cried, paling.

"You will many times face slights and insults better left unanswered," Dorrin said. "I am glad to see you unambitious for that place, and like you I pray that your elder brothers and sisters live long and thrive, but even so, you are a Duke's son and must learn to master your temper." She turned to Gwenno. "And now you, Gwenno. What is your tale?"

"My lord, much the same, and I, too, let my temper master my tongue. Beclan bade me help; I am used to helping my younger sibs, and I own I have thought of Daryan-because he is is younger, not merely because he is shorter-as I might a younger brother, not as a squire the equal of myself, which he surely is." younger, not merely because he is shorter-as I might a younger brother, not as a squire the equal of myself, which he surely is."

"Fine words," Dorrin said. "But I heard you quarreling."

"Yes, my lord, you did," she said, looking Dorrin in the eye. "I said, when he demurred and said he needed no help, that he should not fuss, that the horse was likely too tall and too difficult for him and I was glad to help. Then he said what he said about Juris-"

"Which was?"

"As he told you," Gwenno said. Her eyes shifted; Dorrin suspected it had been worse, but approved Gwenno's willingness to let it pa.s.s. "And so I grew angry and said Roly might be good enough with a map-stick but Serrostins sat their horses like sacks of redroots."

Dorrin bit her lip not to laugh. "I find you all at fault," she said. "You are bred of dukes; you inherit wealth and power. You all hope to be knights someday and do great deeds, but now you quarrel over whether someone helps tack up a horse? That is ridiculous." She let them wait in silence a long moment, then went on. "Beclan, you are the eldest, born to a royal house, and yet I find you setting up the cause of the quarrel and smirking against the wall as if it pleased you."

Beclan reddened. "My lord-"

"I did not give you leave to speak," Dorrin said, using command voice; he went still and silent. "You are the eldest, I say again, and it is to you that younger squires-and the children of this house-look for behavior to guide them. Consider the paladin Paksenarrion-is your behavior anything like hers? Do you think she she takes pleasure in quarrels or creates them for her own amus.e.m.e.nt? You may answer." takes pleasure in quarrels or creates them for her own amus.e.m.e.nt? You may answer."

"No, my lord," Beclan said. He looked sheepish now. "I'm sorry, my lord. I didn't-I didn't think-"

"You will think hereafter," Dorrin said. "You want, it is clear, to be seen as the wealthy son of power that you are, to be seen as knowledgeable, capable, skilled, a leader. You must become so, in truth...must be what you would seem. Be an example, be a true friend to your colleagues, your fellow squires."

"Yes, my lord. I will try."

"You will do more than try try, Beclan-you will do do, or I will send you home." She turned quickly to the others. "And the same is true of you, Daryan, and you, Gwenno. You were all reared in dukes' houses; you were taught courtesy, as I know, for I know your fathers. So there will be no trying trying-there will be courtesy, kindness, fairness among you all and to all you encounter. Is that clear?"