Against the cold and weariness a dram of schnub-liquor had been thrust in his hand. "The next," he'd say.
"Here's Laven Long-tongue, Havaldson, a Vulking Ally at the causeway battle when Salmoness' was overthrown."
"Who calls him Ally?"
"I."
A burgher touched Airar's shoulder. "It is his wife's brother who speaks, and this Laven's an ill-wed man."
"I judge that Laven shall be held for two days to be judged in a court regular before witnesses."
"I'll bear witness here and now," cried the accuser.
Airar: "And by what token? Were you, too, with the Allies in that field?" Then there would be a hoot from the onlookers, Laven led away and another thrust forward, avery Vulking by his black look, who squealed in his own case that he had Vulking blood, but was Morarday, a simple wool merchant of Mariupol, come on lawful business.
"No wool merchant at all, but a spy," cried one. "But he has bought at a fair price," another, and the matter seemed insoluble, but that Rogai peered at him in the flickering light.
"Ha, ha, I have seen you before, my friend," he said. "You were captain and deserion to the Vicount Isele; were at the murders of Mariupol and later in the house of Madame Slitgullet there, which you left without doublet or badges, which still I have.'"' He drank. "A,toast to your neck, which you will not have long. Master Airar, this is a Vulking of the war service, a palpable spy. I bear witness."
"Head him, then," said Airar shortly, as the man began to shriek that he had but acted under orders and not of his own free will, screaming for a priest to give him the consolation of heaven.
Rogai said something through a laughing lip; Airar thought he might have caught a glimpse of one of the sons of Viclid in the press and wondered what that old neighbor would think to see him sitting there, but no time now, two men more were being driven forward with a prodding of points. But when he turned to them the childe of Trangsted caught breath and the weight of three nights of sleepless struggle fell on him; for through the mist of eyes he looked on Alvar Airarson of Trangsted, his own father that had given him birth and upbringing, with Tholo, of the same parentage.
Airar stood; it would be the schnub-liquor that made him sway, the wound in his leg was stiff, and he saw in the waxing light how he was all one draggle of mud and blood.
"Now will I judge no more today," said he, "for these are kinsmen of mine, and no man judges kinsmen well. Is there a bed in Naaros?"
35 Naaros: "I Am Free"
"I HAVE TRIED to be a good father to you, Airar," said the old man. "It would be a grave sorrow to your mother to see you like this."
His aspect was woe-begone, beard scraggy, a smaller and more whitened man than Airar's memory-picture; now with torn clothes. Yet the manner of speaking unchanged; a minute and Airar realized half-angrily that the thrill running through him was a shiver of fear for a clout beside the ear. He ground out:
"I do not see that my case is so very evil. Had it been otherwise, your own were not so good but now."
Alvar Airarson laid out a wizened hand, where bones and high veins fought to make a mountain system. "My son, my son, you are still too young to see. You thought it unwise of me to give up the stead; yet now look where the clinging to it has brought you—to be an outlaw and a wolf's head, in open battle with our good Count, and under the Empire's ban. I do not know that even Leonce Fabrizius, who has so much influence in Briella, can have you pardoned."
"I'll take no pardon from him or any other. We are to throw down Fabrizius and all his kind—aye, and your good Count that lets murder children in his name."
The old man sighed, as one given a burden too heavy to be borne. "Airar, believe me, you should seek a priest, or, it might be, take the peace of a house of religion for a space. Do you not know that all these tales of murderings are lies spread bv the evil men with whom you have fallen in— those who would break the peace of the Well, as the companions of Os Erigu, who are but thieves with sword in hand; and the rebel Carrhoenes, that would restore in their own cities the old bad ways of life where a few had all power and benefits, no security against their exactions?"
Airar could but sniff. "Sir," said he, "it does not seem to me that under Vulk all are exactly as free as might be."
"Those are free who do not resist the wave that will heal all our tomorrows. Others are traitors still, to race and fellow man. O Airar, my son, let me persuade you. I have fallen out with friends and have lost much to the edge of death; but it has been for you—to make you a place in the new world where Vulking and Dalecarle are one. Fail me not now; my hope has been set on you since you were so young."
On Airar's thought fell black despair. Briella! And there was much to do. He looked around the little stone-floored room. "Sir, you are my father, ever dear to me as to my mother. I'll call on you again. A guard stands by the door to keep you safe."
"And hold me within," said the old man, spreading his hands.
No more of that for now; Black Gallil was come, looking glum, and the leaders must meet, of whom Pleiander in high humor, since his leadership in the taking of Naaros was a thing to ring through the world beside the famous ambush of Poliolis, that had given the five Star-Captains much of their renown. Alsander was more questioning, careful; when Gallil said their feat exposed the town to certain danger, he nodded his head.
"Aye; but here's hot war and we shall freeze to death with mere precautions. Let us have no regrets, but speak on what we are to do."
"By my word," said Pleiander, never hesitant, "you shall call up all the local levies and bid the world defiance. We have the sea and the monies of a commercial town. With their aid—"
"Touching which," said Evimenes, "we brothers have been good companions without pressing a word of the agreement that brought us to these northern lands. But now you Dalecarles will have a full treasury from the confiscation of your disagreers, and I say fair and forward that it's time to talk of pay."
Eyes swung to Alsander, who averted his own but did not deny. Said Rogai: "I say nay—not to your claim of payment, Master Evimenes, for I helped make that treaty myself and will see it honored, never fear. But there's more urgent matter now, the detail of our war; and I say nay to standing any attack here. We'd be borne down in the long. I say rouse the Iron Ring—all Skogalang, Hestinga, the Whiteriverdales. It must be done some day, and we will have no fairer hour than when the main strength of our enemies is pinned in the north. We'll be helped by Sir Ludomir as well from oversea."
Lank Erb coughed for attention: "Masters, I be no deep war-thinker, but I just say we go to Gentebbi, like a said foretime. Where's force for us, in town or field, against all they tercias?"
Dark Gallil: "Sir, whose name I do not know, you have said most truly. We are not many; might make a fight of it among the woods of Skogalang or the heights of the Hogsback, but what of this brave city? I fear me heads will rot on spikes at Naaros gate before we're free of what your rashness has brought upon us."
To this point Airar had listened, saying never a word. Now he would have spoken against this despairing counsel, but Os Erigu's lord burst forth: "Bah! Gabble-babble, chip-chop, and no counsel, as with you Dalecarles ever. Seldom have I seen men make less of their benefits. You have captured a great city, with many a heart and hand to help you keep it. Why, Os Erigu maintained a hundred years with less!" He blew his nose on two fingers. "And for why? Because my great-grandfather called a pest on councils and was chief in the castle, saving only the right of all free companions to withdraw. You need a duke, a leader, to give you the word of command; and I'm not the man my fathers were, so you can do no better than choose young Master Airar here, who may bring you something of Imperial aid, since he hangs sheep-eyed round that Princess what's-her-name."
"Oh, nay," began Airar for decency's sake, but Evadne of Carrhoene cut across this with: "In our country we have no single dukes, lest they make themselves tyrants, like Sthenophon. It is a wise rule that gives all a voice in what concerns al
l, save when we yield to deeper knowledge, as to Pleiander in matters of siege."
"Aye, wise for Carrhoenes!" cried Rogai, sharply, and Airar marked him as of Mikalegon's advisement, but the Earl with a tale to tell forbore such quarrelsome manners. "Hark," he said, "I'll be quick and straight. A few minutes since, there was question of reward for Carrhoene blades in the service of Dalarna, and well enough; it was their treaty. But it seems to me that when hireling says how master shall do, then he makes himself tyrant, many heads or one. Is that not fairly so, old Bag-of-Bones?"
Alsander nodded, somewhat poutingly. "You have right in certain ways, but—" and checked as Gallil held forth his hand for urgent speech.
"All you have said is stamped with right, and I doubt not that Master Airar has made himself a high captain. Grant him sound purpose, grant his skill but there's a nasty spot that will not disappear—to wit: that his father's a Vulking Ally. The Iron Ring will never have him. I give you instead Master Rogai."
Meliboe was sitting with them; Airar saw his eyes narrow to speech, but Rogai was quicker: "Nay, the Iron Ring will not have me, neither, for I'll be no duke. Airar's the luckiest of us all, the best leader, least caught in all contentions, and a clerk moreover. Now hear me: I do pledge my word to follow Airar Alvarson while this war shall last and as much longer as need be—for myself and the Ring of Mariola, saving Mariupol city, which is not in my delegation. Who follows?"
He laid his hands in Airar's, who felt his heart swell. "I'll pledge the same for Norby," said Oddel, and: "I for Gentebbi Isles, as far as can be," Erb. Gallil pledged, darting restless glances right and left, and Airar realized he was either jealous or feared a vengeance for that threat of torture long ago.
"I, that know little, must have a main deputy," he said, "for such matters as judgments and governments in the city and Vastmanstad, and therefore if you have me to be your leader, the first thing I will do is name Gallil for that." The man's face relaxed somewhat, and after all he was a good captain. Mugs and meads were sent for and they drank to the Ring and the pledge, while Airar explained what he could make of war-plan, bespeaking advice from all.
He was (he said) of Mikalegon's thought regarding Naaros city, that to give it up would throw all doubters to the Vulking side. "But siege? Sirs, we war to make Dalarna live, but to stand here is her death, for the town will be beat to pieces and many people hurt that are not hurt in battle. I'll have none warring but those who do it uncompelled."
"Well said," said Alsander, "to which I will add one thing more, that it is in the field of battle Briella's great, and there we must make her less. Master Airar?"
"As to that," says Airar, "I do not know today, but when we come to the pinch, there is one thing I have marked ever since we went with Duke Roger to the causeway before Marskhaun, and that is how they set their battles in order, so that light-armed move with light-armed and heavy with heavy, all being Vulkings without other distinction. But we oppositious still march by provinces. If I'm to be leader, I'll have done with that, the more since we have good captains among us for every wing. So do I now name Rogai master of the bowmen, who shall be captain of all archers and light spearmen whatsoever, be they of Skogalang or Mariola, Gentebbi or Korsor. Evimenes shall lead the lancers, for I have seen him do it before; and your Carrhoe'ne sergeants shall captain the companies under him. But as for you, my lord Earl, I count on you to conduct what heavy-armed foot we may raise, as spearmen and axemen."
"What of our brother Pleander?" said Evimenes.
"Ah! There is a thought on that. Have you not marked how these Vulkings in the field, when they are menaced of riders, draw into tight knots like a fortress? I had thought we might loosen 'em out with bowshot, but do you not think, Sir Pleiander, that engines like those on walls could be builded, yet light enough to take the field and batter these fortresses of flesh?"
All now began to talk this way and that, wondering how So-and-So of Shalland, who was an axeman, would find it to be under Earl Mikalegon, the former enemy of his land, but mostly saying Airar had done well, till Gallil returned to his glooms with: "Very fine is this, and I can see Vulk the Unreasonable almost hanging from his own palace gate, but for one thing—where's this great host to come from that you lead so lightly to the wars?"
That checked them for a little and they began to reckon. Four hundred and more had come with the ships. Gallil thought they did not know too well the use of weapons. Vastmanstad province might get as many as four times such a number of first-class fighting men in Naaros city with the revolt proclaimed, and some more who did not know too well the use of weapons. Vastmanstad province could furnish few, thanks to the strong farmers having been taxed out; Mariola had been so raided by Isele that though the Iron Ring lived there it was in evil case. Skogalang is little populous, but its forest-masters live so much by weapons and hunting that every man of them was worth double; the people of that part said as many as thirteen hundreds could be had with speed and more to come behind when the torch was raised. Of Gentebbi none knew; their fishercraft had not visited Naaros at all the winter.
Agreed: that the tale of resources of people was enough to deal surely with one tercia, perhaps with two if their baron commanding were a fool on whom some vantage of time or place could be secured. The leaders looked at one another; finally Airar drew from his mind the thought of taking what force they could gather up the great north road into the Whiteriverdales. Ravines and narrow passages would make it easier for the fewer there. That province must hear the trumpet as well; would furnish a good few of heavy-armed till they need no longer fear a second tercia.
"What if they march on Naaros by the roundabout through Marskhaun, Mariupol, and the southern coast road?" asked someone.
"Hestinga will warn us."
"Nay," said Airar, and held them for a moment while he sought to fix the thought that moiled in the back of his head. "Hestinga must rise also, hazard life and fortune with the rest. Alsander has right—we must think always on battle, and I do not see how we are ever to overcome these people without a strong force horsed, for in heavy-armed afoot we shall not be so many nor so well skilled as those who spend their lives at it."
At this point Gallil said dryly that he had heard most of this discussion before—at the Inn of The Old Sword in this very city, a long time gone, when this same thought of rousing the middle provinces was rejected and for good reason—"a mistake then, no doubt."
Said Meliboe the enchanter dreamily, but loud enough to be heard: "You have hit it there, master, though meaning only bone-biting. When we make an error, the same problem's repeat, in this world or another, till solved correctly; and this is why so many events are like those that have passed. For God or the gods wish nations and men to reach their own high level, where all is rightly done. So now you of the Dalecarle cities must change the decision that led to the battle of the Red Hills, long ago, when merchant would not stand by peasant; and so the later error of not all rising when beckoned from Mariupol must be expiate. So do I, a Stassian, travail for having thought Vulk's rule meant forward. But as to who these gods be, I cannot tell you, nor—" and his voice trailed off in mumblings.
Through Airar's mind flashed the thought of Gython and Argyra. Rogai was saying no need now for hot haste in moving to the Dales, since it would take Vulk at Lectis Minima a good month to learn the tale of the fall of Naaros—"and cannot we make somewhat of this? I mean with those in Naaros citadel; build them a bridge of smiles, let them go free in a vessel to that Count with the word that we're but a band of quick freebooters, so he will come on us fast and with less force than he might, or perchance send us a little baron to be eat up?"
Meliboe doubted whether the Vicount that would be in command of the castle would be so gulled, but Airar thought the plan worth trying, nevertheless. They rose, the junior leaders to recruit, muster levies, count up arms, but Airar to wait on the Princess Argyra, whom he had not seen since leaving the ship.
Alsander was before him, talking to
Aurea; she chat-chattering on how uncouth a man was Erb, till Airar moved in his place and wondered how any could hear such converse without discomfort. The dark-haired sister caught his unease and drew him from the fireside where the others were to a casement window overlooking a bright green tree with pink flowers; Naaros had lodged the two with dignity befitting the Imperial name. She was as eager to hear his tale as he glad to tell it, backward foremost, that he was now leader against Vulk and Sthenophon the spadarion, and he was clever enough not to fail mentioning the last. But as the story went on she grew more quiet, and at the last sat with both hands in her lap, sighing against the bright spring.
"Have I done wrong?" he asked.
"How can I tell? I only lingered a moment on the thought of the man you had the head from in the square, and there was no son to save him, though what had he done that your father did not do?"
"Would you have me send my kinsman to the block?"
He made to rise. She stopped him with a hand. "Nay, surely, you know I would not have it so. But it is a hard law that bears on one and not another; a Carrhoene law."
"I was brought up to know that under all law we owe a first duty to those that bore us," he said; and she: "Oh, aye, and where there's love, no laws are needed, for laws are made to hold men from deeds in which love has no part. Yet still I feel that it is somehow hard to end the life of a man who did but do his duty to his Count and State, as Alvar Airarson to his son."
Well of the Unicorn Page 33
