Elation preened, though her feathers were clean by now.
Blind Seer, pretending to doze in the thin winter sunshine, sniggered.
"I am impressed," Firekeeper repeated. "From what Derian and his maps tell me, we afoot will need four or five full days to cover the same distance."
Elation's arrival had found their company somewhat scattered. Doc had been tending to Grateful Peace and making arrangements for the crippled thaumaturge to be moved to Doc's family holdings in the Norwood Grant.
Peace had survived the journey, but that was the best that could be said for his condition. Ideally, he should have been allowed to stay in one place and heal, but the danger to his life should he remain so close to the border was very real.
As Firekeeper understood it, the New Kelvinese One—Apheros the Dragon Speaker, a ruler who was not a king, who served a king but was more powerful than that king… this Apheros would not simply let Grateful Peace disperse from the New Kelvinese pack.
Peace's actions would be seen as more heinous than stealing meat from a weaning pup and for them the penalty would be death. Whether or not assassins, such as those who had come to Sapphire and Shad's wedding, would be sent could not be ascertained, but in any case, Peace would be safer away from the border.
Derian, for his part, was replenishing their sadly depleted supplies. Edlin was assisting him—at Derian's invitation.
However, with Bold's help, Firekeeper collected her stragglers before the morning was much older. In a private room with a thick door and Bold outside the windows to make certain none snooped on their conference, she informed them of what the peregrine had discovered.
"So," the wolf-woman concluded, "how soon can we leave?"
Derian frowned thoughtfully.
"I'm nearly finished with my purchases. There are farms along the way, even a tavern or two with rooms to let. We don't need to carry as much."
Edlin nodded agreement and seemed to be about to launch into one of his incomprehensible speeches when Doc spoke up.
"Have we thought this through?" he asked. "So we go. What are we going to do when we get there?"
Firekeeper honored Doc for his healing talent—a talent he had insisted on using to her benefit as soon as he had recovered some, so that her hip no longer ached and the bruises were fading to a nasty purplish green. Because of how she honored him, she held back her exasperation.
"We must ride for days and days," she reminded him gently. "Maybe we can plan on the road?"
Doc nodded a trace impatiently.
"We can and shall," he said. "However, do you really think that the few of us can take Smuggler's Light?"
Firekeeper was sincerely puzzled.
"We not take this light. We take Citrine. She is very small."
"Firekeeper," Doc persisted, "they won't give her to us, not just for asking, nor do I suspect that she's going to be particularly easy to steal away. This matter has advanced beyond our ability to handle it alone."
"I say! I'd wondered about that," Edlin said diffidently. "I mean, this Endbrook is an ambassador, what? Wouldn't our going after him—and I know you, Sister, you're not going to let him hurt Citrine and then go free as air—I don't particularly want to let him go myself… But what I was saying is, wouldn't our going after him create a diplomatic incident?"
Firekeeper felt her patience melting.
"Not again!" she wailed. "Isn't anything simple?"
"Maybe among the wolves," Edlin said kindly, "but not among humans, what?"
"And not among wolves either," Blind Seer added from where he lay beside her on the floor. "If it was, you wouldn't be here. By the way, have you considered how you're going to get the artifacts you gave to Elise and Wendee away from them? They sleep with them at night and wear them under their clothing by day."
"Shut up!" Firekeeper growled at him.
The humans blinked at her and she slouched down.
"Not for you, Edlin," she apologized, for it was clear that everyone thought she'd been snarling at Edlin.
"That's all right," he beamed.
Firekeeper sighed.
"This diplomatic incident," she said, sounding out the words carefully, "how do we prevent it and rescue Citrine still?"
She had expected this simple question to start another long wrangle, but Doc surprised her by saying:
"I have an idea. It will take some cooperation from your wingéd-folk allies, Firekeeper, but I think it's time we brought in Princess Sapphire. Citrine is, after all, her little sister. Sapphire's not likely to refuse a call to come to her aid. If the crown princess decides an ambassador is out of line, she can act against him…"
"Boot him out, you mean," Edlin translated happily.
"That's right," Doc concurred. "She can also bring in some of the Royal Guard to enforce her wishes."
Elise asked a trace hesitantly, "But didn't Princess Lovella fail to take Smuggler's Light with an army?"
"True," Doc replied, "but Sapphire isn't Lovella—and she'll have Lovella's failure to learn from. Sapphire won't be looking to take the tower, just to remove two of its residents. I think the pirates may see reason and surrender Baron Endbrook and Citrine if their choice is that or losing the light house."
"I could ask Elation to carry words," Firekeeper said, glancing over at the peregrine, "but she is one. Do you need more that you speak of allies?"
Doc nodded. "I also suggest that a message be sent to King Allister. From court gossip following the wedding, I know that he was planning to have ships patrol the coast lest Queen Valora get ambitious. He may be able to divert a ship or two to cover the coastal side of the swamp—just close enough in so that we can inform Baron Endbrook that there's no escape that way."
Elation moved uneasily on her perch, lifting first one foot, than the other.
"I cannot be everywhere." she said. "Nor do I care for the idea of flying over the sea searching for ships. I begin to understand why Doc speaks of 'allies.' "
"So do I," Firekeeper replied, impressed and unsettled at the scope of Doc's vision. "You will someday be among the Mothers of your people," she continued. "If you went with Doc's message to King Allister, could you convince some of the Royal Gulls to seek out the ships?"
"I could try," Elation said, "but I can no more promise for a seagull who isn't here than I can promise for the wind."
"Elation will try," Firekeeper said aloud, "but she cannot promise. Bold could carry the message to Eagle's Nest. He is not a falcon nor yet is he known to Princess Sapphire, but you can make the writings talk for him. Consider what you will write and write it small. I go and speak with Bold."
She leapt to her feet and hurried outside, not wanting the others to see how Doc's idea had troubled her world. A few moons ago, Doc had not known of the Royal Beasts. Now he had swallowed the idea that there were beasts intelligent enough to serve his needs and was turning them to his use.
Somehow she felt that Grateful Peace was not the only traitor to come back out of New Kelvin.
Chapter XXXV
King Allister of the pledge had escaped to the castle roof. Somehow, he had never imagined that the greatest irritant of his new kingship would be a houseful of adolescent women.
Royal politics he understood—he'd lived them all his life. Great-Aunt Seastar with her continual angling for position was a problem. So was his perennially offended royal physician. Lord Rory had never forgiven Allister for permitting Sir Jared to treat the newlyweds. So were a multitude of lords and ladies of various stripes of nobility, all determined either not to lose privileges that had been their family's since the days of Gustin I, or to gain new privileges under the new—and presumably manipulable—monarch.
But these things Allister understood. These things he'd been prepared for in some shape or form since Queen Valora first set him to try for the throne of Hawk Haven—never dreaming, of course, that he would end up instead with her throne.
What he didn't understand were young females. He'd brought
back four with him from Hawk Haven, and they seemed to have unfolded like the petals of an exotic flower ruffling into multiples of itself. The proliferation had started with a tea party or so, become circles dedicated to embroidery or dancing or some other delicate pursuit.
Pearl had told him that many of the local nobles were offended because their daughters had not been invited to stay at the castle. Gossip said that King Allister expected both of his sons to marry foreign women, and this had encouraged every mother in the kingdom with a remotely eligible daughter to find some excuse to bring her by the court.
Tavis was besieged by every type of woman imaginable. Blushing maidens so shy they could hardly speak above a whisper were at least not offensive, but watching coquettes play their flirtatious games with a youth hardly into his sixteenth year was enough to make Allister's blood boil.
Minnow and Anemone were no better than the rest—though, of course, they were not interested in their brother. However, the hunt for his favor had made them prematurely aware of their own importance in the marriage races. A few moonspans ago at the wedding they had hardly known how to move in a formal gown. Today Allister had seen Anemone modeling a dress—a gift to her from some well-wisher—that made her look far too sophisticated for his tastes.
Until, that is, he had protested too bluntly and she had dissolved into tears, racing for her room trailing brocaded silk and lace after her.
Pearl had given him a look that held a mixture of exasperation and understanding before hurrying after the girl.
And Allister had headed for the roof.
There was a spot on one of the crenellated battlements that he particularly liked when he needed to think. Higher than much of the surrounding castle, it provided a good view of both the bay and the town. Whyte Steel approved of it for security reasons—a single guard could hold the base of the tower, though two were usually posted there. Allister couldn't complain. He hadn't forgotten the assassins.
Hood pulled up around his ears, Allister was leaning back against one side of the battlements, looking out over the ocean, when a peregrine falcon plummeted out of the sky behind him and perched on the stone.
Allister's first thought was Here's a danger Whyte didn't anticipate, or he wouldn't have let me up here either!
The falcon, however, broke from its stoop short of the king and perched on the edge of the battlement.
Allister thought that the bird looked vaguely familiar. As it cocked his head to look at him, he felt certain. He'd never seen a peregrine as large, but for one. It studied him with a certain regal arrogance and then emitted a chuffing, churling noise that so seemed a greeting that he responded.
"Elation, isn't it? Lady Blysse's bird?"
It hunched its shoulders and shrieked softly. Then it lifted one taloned foot. For a moment, Allister thought it was going to preen. Then he saw the lead capsule tied to the leg.
The bird lowered its head and rubbed against the capsule, churring encouragingly—or at least Allister hoped the noise was meant as encouragement. He felt rather nervous for his fingers as he brought them within reach of that cruelly curved beak and those deadly sharp talons, but the bird held its ground and suffered him to remove the capsule—indeed, it seemed grateful to have it gone.
With a preliminary stretching of its wings, it dove off of the tower. King Allister watched it plummet downward, then level off and soar gracefully as if glad to be free of its burden.
Curious and unwilling to face the probable distractions that would meet him if he descended, Allister hunkered down so that the wind might not blow the contents of the capsule from his hands and used his belt knife to cut open the lead.
As he had expected, there was a small curl of parchment within. On it was written in painfully tiny print:
King Allister—
If the Ancestors still smile on us, Elation will get this to your hands. Citrine Shield has been taken hostage by those who hold Smuggler's Light. To save her we need their ships prevented from departing into the ocean.
We understand that you have ships patrolling the coast north to the Waterland border, lest certain parties get ideas. Pray divert one or more of these ships to the area near the lighthouse. Keep any ship from leaving.
Explanations can be given to any emissary you would send, but we must beg you act without more than this. Our role is not official, but we will also be begging aid from King Tedric. We do not expect to be refused as Citrine is his heir's sister.
Elation can bear news to us. She will find you a carrier if you wish messages borne to your ship captains. Pray, do not delay. The life of a little girl—at the very least—rests on prompt action.
This peculiar note was signed "Jared Surcliffe, Knight of the White Eagle."
Allister was reading the note over for the second time when Elation landed again on the battlement. He noticed a pair of gulls riding the wind slightly above his tower. They were not calling or complaining as would be usual when confronted with a bird of prey in their territory. The king did not think this was coincidence.
"Come," he said to Elation. "I have a reply for you to carry."
He started to hold out his cloaked arm, remembered how cruelly talons could pierce even leather, and added:
"Do you by chance know where my private library window is? There is a balcony outside."
The hawk shrieked, but whether this was "yes" or "no" he couldn't be certain.
He compromised by saying: "I will have a red scarf hung out when I am ready. Please, take your leisure and hunt your fill in the meantime."
The peregrine leapt in the air with such promptness Allister had to believe he had been understood. The gulls followed one at a time, peeling off like soldiers in formation.
Shaking his head in wonder, Allister headed down the stairs, his footsteps becoming more and more rapid as he approached the bottom. He shook off several attempts to claim his time, stopping only to speak with Calico, his court clerk.
"Two tasks for you," the king said. "First, find out how quickly Waveslicer can be made ready for departure. Second, find Queen Pearl. Tell her I would speak with her—not immediately, for I must write several letters first, but at her earliest convenience."
Calico bowed. Curiosity was writ large on his patched face, but he valued the king's trust too much to pry.
King Allister had just finished drafting a reply to Sir Jared and three missives to the captains of those ships that should be in closest proximity to the Smuggler's light, when a knock came on his door. Pearl entered on the heels of her knock.
"Read this, my dear," Allister said, pushing across to her the missive Elation had brought, "but hold your questions while I check these letters."
Queen Pearl did so, her round face becoming quite grave before she finished. When Allister looked up from his own correspondence, he saw that her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"What madness is this?" she asked, her voice calm and steady. "Who has laid hands on this child?"
"I don't know," Allister admitted. "I know no more than do you. My guess is Queen Valora is somehow at the bottom of this. Her assassins failed to kill Sapphire and Shad, and for some reason she has settled on working her revenge on Citrine. That, however, is just a guess."
"And you will send the ships as Sir Jared requests?"
Allister tapped the instructions he had just written and began to roll them into thin spills that could be inserted within carrying tubes.
"They are here along with a reply for Sir Jared. He doesn't mention timing, but my hope is that any assault from the land will be held until my vessels are present to close off escape by water."
Pearl laid a finger to one side of her face and nodded.
"Surely," she said comfortingly, "that is not an unreasonable hope. Why request support and then not wait for it to arrive?"
"My thoughts exactly."
"But why would anyone go after Citrine without waiting?"
Allister rose and opened the doors onto his balcony,
answering Pearl as he secured a red kerchief onto a bit of ornamental carving. Outside, the wind had risen and he was glad to close the door behind him and return to his desk by the fire.
"Because, I fear, Sapphire is hotheaded and impulsive. I don't know what fondness she feels for this youngest sister, but even if she cares little for her…"
"I think she rather likes her," Queen Pearl interrupted.
"… she is quite likely to go to her rescue, even if only to revenge the insult paid to herself."
"Would Sapphire be so impulsive?" Pearl asked, then answered herself. "Of course she would be."
"But that is just a guess," Allister continued. "I desire more information. To get that, I must go to where the conflict is. You will reign in my absence."
"You can't go!"
"Yes," he replied firmly. "Tavis is too young to act as my emissary. Shad is in Hawk Haven. I hate to admit this, but as of yet there is no one immediately available in Bright Bay—other than your father, who is too old for such a voyage—who shares both prominence of rank and my trust. We have been in power too briefly. Therefore, I must go myself. Sapphire and Shad are my heirs as well as Tedric's. Their actions reflect on me—more so if I am not present to deny my sanction to any wilder course they may contemplate."
"I understand," Pearl said. "You will take Waveslicer?"
"Precisely. The shoals that flank Hawk Haven's bit of coastline would force a larger vessel to divert further out to seas. I am sending messages to the captains of the Boisterous, Damselfly, and Sea Stallion. Boisterous is to patrol the ocean side of the shoals to prevent a ship from escaping through there to the Isles. The other two are to come in closer to shore.
"Hawk Haven," Allister continued a trace smugly, "has a navy, but their people are not sailors like ours. Most of their vessels will be in dry dock for the winter. I suspect that is one reason Sir Jared appealed to me."
"One reason?" Pearl prompted gently.
"The other may be something to do with Sapphire or with Valora or some other mystery I don't yet know enough about to understand."
Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart Page 65
