by Simon Brown
Satisfied, he took his seat. Areava, the chancellor and the two priests had not yet arrived. He wondered what could be holding them up. Maybe they were already discussing giving Dejanus command of the new army? That would make sense; they would give the council a decision already made and with the throne's approval, There were two other vacant seats: Prince Olio's and the prelate's. He did not seriously expect Olio to appear, but the prelate had never missed a council meeting. Dejanus had no idea which way Edaytor would vote on the matter, not that it would affect the outcome. Perhaps he was in the same meeting as the queen and Orkid…
Just then Orkid walked in by himself, and the intricate story the constable had made up in his mind evaporated, leaving behind a great and hollow doubt. He could feel his heartbeat quicken. Perhaps he had been telling himself stories all the time. Maybe Orkid would call his bluff and refuse to support his bid for command of the army. Perhaps…
He bit his lip, the pain clearing his senses. This was no time to get carried away with fancies and illusion, Wait and see. Just wait and see.
Soon after Orkid came the primate with his new secretary. What was his name? Father Gown or something. He should know. He should know all these details. He dimly recalled approaching Powl on the night of the great fire and suggesting some kind of alliance, but could not recall how the idea was received. It did not bode well that Powl had avoided him ever since. Still, there may still be an opening there. Dejanus knew he had to increase his power base in the court. He had a lot of catching up to do before he had all of Orkid's connections and easy influence.
He started drumming his fingers on the table. Where was the queen? She was becoming increasingly erratic, he was sure. A sign of trouble. Did she not have some ancestor known for his madness? Or was that some other noble family? He had trouble keeping history straight. A good thing, considering his own secret history. A king slayer, an ex-mercenary who fought against Grenda Lear in the last war, and an ex-slaver to boot. No need to remember that history. Only the future really counted. Especially if the future included command of an army. No! he told himself. Command of the army. Where was that bloody woman?
Areava was standing in the south gallery looking over her great city, the heart of great Grenda Lear, and feeling for the first time in her life that she might lose it all. She had wanted to see Olio, to hold him tightly—even the Olio who thought he was still ten years old and that their mother still ruled over a blessed Kingdom—but when she had not been able to find him had remembered he was on an outing with Edaytor Fanhow. So she stood here looking out over Kendra and held herself instead.
'Your Majesty,' Orkid had said as she was leaving to go to the council, 'I have bad news.'
She hated that phrase: in the last year it had heralded one brutal shock after another to everything she lived for. She had said nothing, but waited for the chancellor to continue. His skin was grey, his eyes deep sunk. She braced herself. It was going to be terrible.
But she had no idea how terrible.
Daavis fallen. Her hated half-brother Lynan was now a conqueror as well as a murderer. He was like a demon from the old myths, but she was no god to counter him. What could someone of flesh and blood do against something like Lynan?
The afternoon sun was always kind to Kendra, its yellow light making it golden. But today the sun made the city look wan, ephemeral, as if it might evaporate leaving nothing behind but Areava with her illusions and callow, impossible hopes for a peaceful future.
'God damn you, Lynan!' she shouted. Startled pigeons fluttered into the air.
Oh God damn, damn, damn you, she said to herself. God damn Mother for ever marrying the General, God damn her for giving you a Key…
She stopped herself, her expression startled. 'No, I'm sorry!' she cried. She had not meant any of it. She just wanted things to be the way they were supposed to be, with Berayma on the throne and her and Olio helping him rule wisely and justly, and with little Lynan kept busy and out of the way.
But what God had given her was the nightmare opposite of everything she had ever wanted. It was Lynan who held power to rival that of the rightful monarch of Grenda Lear. Commoner blood or not, Lynan was fighting against his own, slaying his own, destroying his own. And she would never, never forgive him for it.
I will fight you, brother, she promised.I will fight you until you are dead or I am slain. This Kingdom will have one and only one ruler.
She realised she had made an irrevocable decision. Her course was set, and there was no turning back. With some relief she also realised the decision meant her next action was clear.
She hurried out of the south gallery, swept down the great hall and past her own chambers and burst into the council room, slamming shut the doors behind her. Everyone in the room jumped in their seat. She noted that all were present except Edaytor Fanhow. She nodded once to all of them as she sat down, ignored the tide of well-meant blandishments and slapped her hand on the table.
'We have one overriding item to attend to,' she told them. 'The creation of a new army to combat Prince Lynan. The creation of a great army.'
'Forgive me, your Majesty,' the city mayor, Shant Tenor, said. 'But since the terrible fire that has destroyed so much of the old city many other issues of equal importance—'
'Daavis has fallen to Lynan and his army of Chetts,' Areava said, cutting off the mayor.
Shant Tenor looked as if someone had told him his daughter had run off and married an Amanite sheep herder. His expression would have been comical if the situation had not been so grim.
'How… how can you be so certain?' her uncle, Duke Holo Amptra, asked.
'I do not have final confirmation,' Areava said, 'but the information we have received indicates the worst.'
'What information?' asked Marshal Triam Lief, head of the Kingdom's armed forces.
Areava glanced at Orkid. 'I'm sorry, but that cannot be revealed at this point.'
'Did your information say anything about the knights of the Twenty Houses?' Duke Amptra asked.
For the first time he could remember Areava looked at him with something like kindness. 'I am sorry. I have no word on the knights, nor their commander, your son.'
Holo nodded and looked down at his hands.
'But this is incredible!' the marshal continued. 'How could Lynan take the city? He had been defeated by our army and was in retreat—'
'Obviously he did not retreat far enough,' Areava said harshly. 'We have no other news at this moment. Which brings us back to my first point. The creation of a great army.'
'A great army?' Shant Tenor said. Areava could tell from his tone he thought it sounded expensive. 'What exactly makes an army great?'
'It will be the largest army ever seen on the continent of Theare. It will include soldiers from every province.'
'How will we afford it?' the mayor asked querulously.
'How will you afford the Chetts running Kendra and the Kingdom?' she countered.
The mayor blinked in confusion.
'When will we have more details about the loss of Daavis?' asked Fleet Admiral Zoul Setchmar.
'I have sent messages to King Tomar,' Orkid said. 'He has military posts near the Hume border. Hopefully he will be able to give us a more complete picture of the situation to our north. I would expect to hear from him within two or three days.'
'Then perhaps we should reconvene at that point,' the admiral said. There were murmurs of agreement from around the table.
'And waste two, maybe three days?' Areava said. 'No. I will not allow it to be said that this council dithered while an invading army ate away at the Kingdom.'
'Put like that…' the admiral said, letting his voice fade away.
'I want every ruler in our domain to be appraised of the situation,' the queen continued. 'I want their best units on their way within ten days.'
'On their way to where?' Duke Amptra asked. 'This city is the largest on the continent, but it could not house and feed a force as large as the on
e you suggest.'
'I'm aware of that, uncle,' she countered. 'They will congregate in southern Chandra. Orkid will let Tomar know our intentions.'
The primate coughed into his hand. 'Your Majesty, have you given any thought as to who will lead this force?'
'Not yet—' she began, but Orkid interrupted her.
'I believe the army will require an officer of proven experience,' he said, his eyes resting on Marshal Lief.
Dejanus felt his skin tighten in shock and dismay. Orkid could not do this to him!
'But someone young enough to endure the rigours of a long and hard campaign,' Orkid continued, and now his eyes rested on Dejanus.
The constable felt his stomach heave. It had happened! Orkid was going to give him his support!
'I suggest the Constable of the Royal Guard.' Orkid ground the words out behind his teeth.
There was a moment's silence as people absorbed what the chancellor had said. The expressions on most of the council showed confusion rather than anger or rejection. The first to speak was the primate. His voice seemed uncertain and distracted, but he supported Orkid's recommendation. Then so did the other priest, and quickly after the majority of the councillors. All eyes turned to Areava. But before she could speak the doors opened and Edaytor Fanhow made an entrance. Everyone was now looking at him, except Dejanus who kept his gaze fixed on the queen.
You must agree! he screamed silently. You must agree!
'Prelate Fanhow?' she said instead. 'Is everything alright?'
'Yes. Fine. I am sorry I am late. Have I missed much?'
Dejanus almost groaned aloud. He could not believe this was happening. As Fanhow took his seat the queen and the chancellor appraised him of the situation in Hume. Its retelling seemed to make the news more real for most at the table, and everyone's expression seemed to settle into the same despondent grimace.
'I see,' Edaytor said. 'And we were voting on the constable's appointment to lead the army?'
'Yes,' Areava said. 'Do you have an opinion on this?'
Fanhow glanced at Dejanus, but refused to meet his eyes. 'As much as I admire Dejanus, I am not sure he would be the best man to lead this army you propose. He is undoubtedly a brave and skilful warrior, but what you need, surely, is someone with experience at leading such a force?'
'Whom would you propose?' Orkid asked testily. Areava looked at him in surprise.
Edaytor could only shrug. 'I am not an expert on these matters, but surely someone like the marshal—'
'As you say,' Orkid interrupted, 'you are not an expert on these matters. Marshal Lief is a fine commander and administrator, but he has no more experience leading an army into combat than has Dejanus. Indeed, in the whole Kingdom the only man who had such experience was the previous constable, the outlaw Kumul Alarn, now thankfully dead.'
Edaytor blushed. 'I bow to your greater knowledge,' he said.
'How will you vote on this?' Orkid pushed.
'I will take your advice on this also,' he conceded.
Orkid turned to Areava. 'I believe the constable has the council's support, your Majesty. But as always, the final decision must be yours.'
God's teeth! Dejanus thought. Don't remind her!
Areava regarded Dejanus coolly. His skin tightened again, which he took as a bad sign. For a long while she did not speak, and he could not guess what she was thinking.
Come on, you bitch, he silently urged, his teeth grinding together.
'I will accept the advice of my loyal councillors,' she said, and not just Dejanus breathed out a sigh of relief. 'Constable, you are now commander of the Great Army of Grenda Lear.'
Olio had been left in his chambers by Edaytor and asked to stay there. He wanted to go to the south gallery. There he could see the Kingdom. Here all he could see was the royal bed and royal desk and royal night pot, and out his window all he could see were mountains. He was bored. Which got him thinking, mainly about Lynan. He could not understand how someone as young as Lynan could be made an outlaw. Whatever he had done must have been really bad. Olio thought about all the bad things he had done and wondered if he was next. It would explain why no one ever said anything to him about anything important. He sat on the edge of his window, his legs kicking against the wall, sucking between his teeth.
Bored.
He hoped Areava would come soon. God, he hoped anyone would come soon. There were two guards outside, but they would not talk to him. They would not even look at him. He must have been in a lot of trouble.
What had he done?
He tried to remember, but a part of his memory was blocked off from him. He could sense there was something there for him, but he did not know how to reach it, and every time he tried it was like slipping on a wet stone—he just ended up somewhere else with a headache.
He heard footsteps outside his room and heard the guards snap to attention. That meant it was Areava. No one snapped to attention for Edaytor. The door opened and his sister came in, followed by the prelate. As she always did, she looked Olio up and down.
'Get off the sash, Olio,' she commanded, but her voice was gentle.
Olio obediently jumped off and stood before Areava. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He thought she looked very pale and drawn. She looked older than he remembered.
'You've come to tell me about Lynan, haven't you?'
His sister blanched, but nodded.
'Is Mother going to outlaw me, too? I've tried to remember what I've done wrong, but I can't think of anything that bad. Don't be angry with me.'
He saw a tear in Areava's eye before she bowed her head so he could not see her face. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and looked up again. Olio thought she had the most beautiful eyes, like blue sapphires. The thought puzzled him. What's a sapphire?
She held up two amulets that hung from chains around her neck. 'Do you know what these are?'
He studied them closely. 'Pretty,' he admitted.
'You don't recognise them?'
'No.'
'Describe them for me,' Edaytor said.
Olio glanced at Areava and she nodded encouragingly.
'There's one with a stick on it. And there's one with a heart.'
'Do you know what the stick is?' Edaytor prodded.
'No.'
'It's a sceptre,' Areava told him. 'Only rulers have sceptres.'
'Then why do you have one?' he asked.
'Why do you think?'
Olio shrugged, blew air out of his mouth. 'Can we play something else now?'
'Why do you think I'm wearing a sceptre?' Areava persisted.
'Because you're a ruler, of course,' he said, and laughed to show he knew it was a joke. But neither Areava nor Edaytor laughed, so he stopped, feeling a little foolish.
'That's right,' Areava said solemnly.
'Does Mumma know you've got a sceptre?' His eyes widened suddenly. 'That is Mumma's sceptre. She is queen and should have it.'
'I am queen.'
Olio looked at his sister. For the briefest of moments her words made absolute sense. He shook his head to clear it; he understood what a ridiculous thing she had said, but a part of him absolutely believed it.
'This is the Key of the Sceptre, or the Ruler's Key,' Areava continued. 'It is one of the Keys of Power.'
'No!' Olio cried. 'Only Mumma has the Keys of Power. No one else can wear them!'
'That was true while our mother was alive. Just before she died she gave each of us one of the Keys.'
Olio blinked rapidly. 'Mumma's not dead. I don't believe you. She would have told me…'
'She gave you this Key,' Areava said, holding up the Key of the Heart.
'No,' he said.
'Let him touch it,' Edaytor told Areava.
She held it out to Olio, but he backed away from it. He ran into a wall and could go no further. 'Hold the Key,' she said.
He shook his head.
Areava took off the chain holding the Key and held it out to him. 'This is
yours. I took it away from you. That was wrong. I am sorry. I want you to have it back now.'
'It was mine?'
'Don't you remember?'
Olio groaned. 'Sometimes. I think I've seen it before.'
'Do you remember what it feels like to wear it?' Edaytor asked.
Olio shook his head again. 'No.' Then, in a much deeper voice. 'Yes. My Key.'
'Give it to him now!' Edaytor hissed to Areava.
She slipped the chain around her brother's neck and stepped back.
The first thing Olio felt was that the Key fell against his chest in the same way a proper key fitted the right lock. It was where it should be. But almost immediately the thought was squeezed out of him as if a giant hand had suddenly gripped his brain. He shouted out, not in pain but surprise. He closed his eyes, and burned in the back of his lids was the vision of a terrible blue river, startlingly bright, searingly hot. He heard a word repeated over and over and he chased it down with his mind until he heard it loud and clear. 'No!'
And he screamed the word out loud and collapsed to the floor before either Areava or Edaytor could catch him.
CHAPTER 15
The Horse Clan warriors gathered in front of Daavis's rebuilt main gate. Eynon, standing beneath the gate itself, gazed on them with immense pride, the sentiment matched only by his immense sadness there were so few. Except for another two hundred or so warriors too seriously wounded to ride back to the Oceans of Grass, the four troops before him were the entire strength of what had once been one of the Chett's largest and most powerful clans.
And it will be again, Eynon told himself, as he had again and again during the terrible siege of Daavis. He heard the rumble of more horses behind him and turned to see Lynan and Makon riding ahead of several hundred more cavalry. The two men stopped by Eynon and let the force ride by. Eynon counted three troops of lancers and three of the Red Hands.
'I promised them to you,' Lynan said. 'You may keep them under your command for as long as you need them.'
'Thank you, your Majesty,' Eynon said gratefully. 'It won't take long to hunt down the Saranah war band. You'll have your warriors back by winter.'
