The Dragon of Despair

by Jane Lindskold

  "No," Baron Archer answered. "I cannot. Your grandfather won this land for us with his bow. I have upheld the tradition. My sister Zorana is a fine enough archer that she was welcomed in the ranks during the last war. I will not have the heir to this grant unable to even shoot."

  "I can shoot!" Elise protested, but even she knew her protest was weak. Her training to this point had been with a target bow so light and with such an easy draw that a child of eight could manage it. Baron Archer wanted her pulling a bow proper to her weight and strength.

  Her father's only reply to her protest was to extend her bowùsomehow dropped when the string had slapped up against her cheekùin mute command that she restring it and they continue.

  Elise obeyed, leaning with her full weight on the bow to string it, then putting arrow to string and pulling it back. Her arm shook slightly and she could feel sweat beading down her temple from the effort. When she loosed the arrow, the string snapped against her wrist guard, not her face, but the arrow went wide, burying itself for a moment in the outermost ring of the target before gravity pulled it loose and it toppled to the ground.

  Baron Archer handed her another arrow. Elise fit it to the string. So it went, sometimes the arrow flying wide, sometimes hitting the target, rarely placing anywhere near the center. Still, Elise didn't injure herself again and she counted that as a small victory. What Baron Archer thought, she didn't know, for he rarely said anything and when he did it was always to remind her to adjust her stance or posture or some such thing.

  If Elise hadn't known that her father mostly approved of her, the entire process might have made her furious, for, despite her fair-haired loveliness and the sea green eyes about which had been written several poems, she was neither weak-willed nor a fool. She simply wasn't a warrior and that was something Baron Archer could not understand.

  Previously, Baron Archer had concentrated his efforts at military training on his nephew Purcel, but Purcel had died in King Allister's War and his younger brother, Kenre, was only eight years old. Perhaps, even if Purcel had been alive, Ivon's attentions would still have shifted to his daughter. Events over the past year had forced Ivon to think much more about the reality that Elise would be his heir.

  The sun had shifted so that the target had to be moved at least once, and it might have had to be moved again before Baron Archer relented, but Ninette, Elise's confidential maid, came hurrying down the path.

  "A messenger has arrived, Baron," she said. "Lady Aurella thinks you and Elise both need to come and read what he has brought."

  Elise lowered the bow, grateful for the respite. She didn't doubt that her mother had asked Ninette to come down rather than one of the other servants because she was one of the baron's cousins and he always treated her with family courtesy he sometimes forgot with his servants.

  Or with his daughter, she thought, reaching up to finger the welt on her cheek when the baron's back was turned.

  Aurella Wellward knew perfectly well that her husband hated to be interrupted, but that he wouldn't take his pique out on Ninette. Indeed, he was quite courteous.

  "Thank you, Ninette," he said, glancing up at the sun as if he'd just noticed it had movedùthough he himself had been the one to shift the target. "Perhaps we have been at this long enough. Is the news so urgent that we need attend immediately, or does Elise have time to change?"

  "I believe the news can wait at least that long," Ninette said, knowing that Elise would prefer a chance to get clean.

  "Very well." Baron Archer took his daughter's bow. "I'll put this up for you, Elise, and we'll see what news awaits us. Meet us in our sitting room. By the way, not too bad at the end there."

  Elise smiled, knowing this was all the praise she was likely to get and grateful for it. As she and Ninette hurried up the path to the house, Ninette fussed over her mistress's cut cheek.

  "Does it hurt terribly?"

  "It stings," Elise admitted. "Is it likely to leave a mark?"

  "Not if we clean it well and put some of that salve Hazel Healer sold us. What is your father thinking? Doesn't he value his heir's beauty? He's lucky to have you, himself such a dour sort!"

  Elise wanted to fall in with Ninette's condemnation, but she was no child anymore and felt she had to be fair.

  "He knows my inheritance is dowry enough that I could look like a tracking hound with bloodshot eyes and giant nose, and it would be no matter. Why he doesn't understand that just because my grandfather won this land with a bow doesn't mean that I need to hold it with one…"

  She let her words trail off.

  "Anyhow," Ninette added in wry agreement. "He probably looked at the welt himself and saw it wasn't a maiming injury. Ivon's not a cruel man, just hard."

  Elise nodded and shifted to other matters.

  "Any idea what the news might be?"

  Ninette glanced around, pausing to make certain they were alone.

  "The letter bears the royal seal," she said softly.

  "I hope nothing has happened to Sapphire's baby!" Elise exclaimed.

  The two women hurried inside and up to Elise's rooms before continuing the conversation. As Ninette dabbed at Elise's face with a cloth dipped in warm waterùsent up ahead doubtless by Aurella, who was very good at anticipating her household's needsùshe continued:

  "I don't know if it has to do with Princess Sapphire or some other matter. Had Lady Aurella not sent me to get you, I would have slipped by the servants' hall to gather any gossip."

  "Do," Elise said, "when I go to my parents. The messenger may have details that won't be included in any official document."

  Ninette nodded, her eyes shining. She rather enjoyed ferreting out gossip.

  Sponge-clean, her pale golden hair combed out and then rebraided and fastened in a neat coil at the nape of her neck, Elise hurried down to her parents' sitting room. Baron Archer was there before her and must have told Aurella about the incident with the bowstring, for though Aurella's gaze went to the welt and her gaze was sympathetic, she asked no questions.

  "I've waited for you before opening the packet," Baron Archer said. Such courtesies were among those he had started to extend Elise over the past winter, little acknowledgments of her right as his heir to be fully involved in the business of the estate. They made up a great deal for his impatience with her in other areas.

  Elise nodded and seated herself, folding her hands in her lap and trying to look attentive, not eager. A maid entered, carrying a pitcher of spring water flavored with strawberry juice and a tray of glasses. Baron Archer waited until everyone had been served and the maid had departed before breaking the seal and unfolding the several heavy sheets contained within. He glanced over them for a moment, his eyes darting across the document, gathering the gist.

  "It opens with the usual string of formalities and wishes for health and the like," he said, "which I will skip if that suits you ladies."

  Aurella and Elise nodded, and Ivon continued:

  Certain rumors may have reached your ears regarding the situation of certain people with a presumed relation to the throne. However, given the far southern location of the Archer Barony, and its relative isolation at this season when spring rains contribute to flooding and marshy ground, we take it upon ourselves to inform you how matters stand in full.

  If any rumors have reached your ears, we ask that you recall them and compare them to the facts as we know them at this time. Possibly they may contain kernels of truth unknown to us. More probably, they will contain distortion of the truth. Either will be useful to us.

  Ivon paused to drink, and Aurella commented:

  "Cryptic and portentous, not at all like King Tedric's style. I see the hand of the heirs in this."

  Ivon nodded, setting down his glass and lifting the missive once again.

  "Perhaps, my lady. However, King Tedric can be quite cryptic when he wishes. I wouldn't lay the blame entirely at the young couple's door." He read on:

  In the early days of Horse Moon, confid
ential messengers arrived to us from House Kestrel bearing information just arrived from New Kelvin. As you know, last autumn, Melina, once the bearer of both the title 'Lady' and affiliation with House Gyrfalcon, traveled across the White Water River into our neighboring country of New Kelvin in company with Baron Wain Endbrook of the Kingdom of the Isles. Her actions both there and in this country before her departure were such that we were forced to renounce her relation to our kingdom and to exile her from our land.

  House Kestrel sent the first information we have had of her since last Wolf Moon. Melina has apparently made an advantageous marriage for herself, becoming the bride of the Healed One of New Kelvin. There is evidence that the marriage was kept secret, at least for a time, giving rise to speculations that perhaps this marriage was thought to be no more welcome to some of New Kelvin's citizens than it was to ourselves.

  Although the title of Healed One is often equated with that of reigning king or queen within our own land, we have been advised that the Healed One is less of an absolute monarch than we are. His role is mostly ceremonial, the actual business of government residing in a body called the Primes, headed by an elected representative called the Dragon Speaker.

  We apologize for repeating information that is known well to at least Lady Elise, she being one of our own most recent sources of information about New Kelvin, but we wish you to understand exactly how and where Melina's new alliance fits into the power structure.

  Horse Moon has waned and Puma shows her waxing edge since House Kestrel sent its initial information. However the passage of time has permitted us to confirm House Kestrel's news from at least two reliable sources. Moreover, as the White Water ceases its spate, trade has resumed between our lands and along with goods have come such rumors that we are certain that not much time can pass before the informationùdoubtless distorted and misunderstood by the bulk of the hearersùspreads to our people. These, lacking specialized knowledge of the New Kelvinese's peculiar government, will believe that this potentially dangerous exile from our own land has made herself queen of another.

  We have several charges to lay upon you as loyal servants of this

  throne. First, call your household to you and tell them the gist of this letter. Make certain all understand that although Melina has made herself a marriage, she has not made herself queen.

  Second, send messengers to the extent of your grant with the same news. If your resources permit, spread the news to the outlying freeholds as well. Give these messengers whatever information you can so that they will be able to answer any and all questions that are put to them. Rumor is our great enemy in this potentially delicate matter. We wish to smother it with truth.

  Third, we request that Lady Archer come to the castle at Eagle's Nest at her earliest convenience. We have no wish to create new rumors by having her speed to our side, but her knowledge of New Kelvin will be of great use to us as we seek to shape policy for handling this matter. There is no need to hide the reason for Lady Archer's coming to us. Indeed, there may be those among our subjects who will take comfort in knowing that we are consulting with our noble counselors.

  Baron Archer looked up, folding the missive and setting it on the table.

  "That's about all," he said, endeavoring to keep his tones even, though Elise had no trouble recognizing his pride at his daughter and heir being summoned to the royal presence. "There are the usual closing wishes, confirmation that despite morning sickness Princess Sapphire continues well and the pregnancy strong, and the like."

  Elise smoothed her skirt, trying to still her own rapidly beating heart before answering. She knew King Tedric well. Lady Aurella was one of Queen Elexa's most trusted companions and when the Archer family resided in the capital city, Elise spent much time at the castle. She knew Princess Sapphire as wellùthey were second cousins and had been playmates, rivals, and, more recently, friends.

  It wasn't fear of her rulers that made Elise's heart beat so hard. It was awareness that this was her first summons before them as one of their ownùas an advisor to the Crown. She thought how she had teased Derian Carter lor his awe when King Tedric had given him a counselor's ring. She hadn't understood then what an awesome and thrilling thing such a responsibility could be. When she spoke, she tried to be worthy both of it and of her responsibility to the Archer Grant.

  "I should leave tomorrow," she said, "or perhaps the day after if you think tomorrow would show undue haste. Along the way I can stop and speak to our landholders and to the freeholders to the north, passing on the news as King Tedric wished."

  Ivon Archer nodded, and the very matter-of-factness of that gesture made Elise glad she had weighed her words before speaking.

  "Good," he said. "If the roads permit, you can leave tomorrow. The very fact that you will make stops along the way will balance the fact that you depart so soon after the arrival of the messenger. The one will show your awareness of your duty to the Crown, the other your duty to our holdings."

  Aurella, who had been embroidering while her husband read, now rested her hoop in her lap.

  "I wonder if I should go with Elise. It is nearly time for me to wait upon Aunt Elexa in any case and we would be company for each other on the road."

  "That's a thought," Ivon replied. "Let us see how our people react and what rumors we hear before deciding if you should take your leave with Elise. It may be you will be needed here."

  Aurella rose. "Shall we do our monarch's bidding, then? The longer we wait, the more time our people will have to build new conjectures that might muddy the old."

  Elise cleared her throat, slightly embarrassed to admit her own initiative.

  "As I was preparing to join you," she said, rising and smoothing her dress, "Ninette and I agreed that it might be wise to have some idea of what the messenger might say that wouldn't be included in the king's letter. Ninette has a steady mind and I don't doubt that she'll be able to remember what was being said before and what after."

  Ivon guffawed, much as he might with one of his militia captains, and clapped his daughter on one shoulder.

  "You may not be able to shoot an arrow straight," he said, "but I begin to think there's a field commander in you nonetheless."

  THERE WERE RUMORS, Ninette reported to the Archers.

  "First, the messenger coyly let on that he thought the king's letter might have something to say about doings in New Kelvin. Then Cook said she'd heard from her sister who lives west of Port Haven something about how Melina had joined some sorcerous cabal in New Kelvinùfor everyone knows that those New Kelvinese are crazy for magic."

  She stopped, glancing at Elise as if hoping Elise would deny the common belief, but Elise only nodded.

  "They are indeed," she said, "hard as it is for those of us raised in a more civilized tradition to believe. Their love for magic gave Melina her welcome there."

  Ninette shuddered. She had seen real evidence of Melina's power and feared it with all her devout soul. She steeled herself and continued her report.

  "Then the butler said that he didn't wonder if this hadn't been planned for a long time past, that wasn't it too neat that Sapphire takes the crown and her mother goes and makes alliances with a nest of sorcerers. It couldn't be coincidence, he said, and everyone nodded."

  "That's not good," Ivon muttered.

  "And it's completely untrue!" Elise said defiantly. "Sapphire broke with her motherùeveryone knows that. Melina did what she did in spite of the injury it would cause her children, certainly not to help them. Look to Citrine if you doubt it!"

  Lady Aurella smiled at her.

  "Easy for you to say, Elise, for you know more of the inner workings of those lives than most, but to commoners who hold their first alliance to their families, their second to their societies and guilds, and only their third to those of us who rule them, well… who can blame them for thinking that we place our priorities in some similar fashion?"

  And who's to say we don't? Elise thought, remembering the intricate m
aneuverings that the struggle for the throne had engendered only a year before. As a noble raised to inherit she belonged to no guild, but she did have something similar in the alliance of noble houses, nor was her society as essential to her advancement as it might have been, but she never missed a meeting of the Lynx Society when she might attend.

  "Should I tell them what I know?" Elise asked.

  "Tell them some," Ivon said, "but they will remember how you stood for Sapphire at her wedding and though some will heed you, some will think Lady Archer looks to advance herself and her family through keeping in good with the future queen' and so disregard your words."

  "It's maddening!" Elise exclaimed.

  "It is no different than how we would think in similar circumstances," Aurella replied, "and don't think that our people will think ill of you for it. On the contrary, they will brag of your intimacy with Sapphire and Shad from one side of their mouths, even as they trade scandal about that same young couple from the other. Only if you seem to be trading your honorùand oursùto gain royal goodwill shall you diminish in the eyes of your people."

  "And that's what they fear, isn't it?" Elise asked. "That Sapphire has traded her honor, by remaining secretly allied with her mother, and so dishonored her adoption by the king."

  Ninette interjected, "That's about it, at least from what the worst of the doomsayers offer. They don't really believe it, I think, not yet, not now, but if anything gives proof, well, the doomsayers will be delighted and others will be convinced."

  "Anything else, Ninette?" Ivon asked.

  "Just a small thing," she answered. "Princess Sapphire has not been much seen and people are using that as evidence against her."

  "She has morning sickness," Elise said indignantly, "and is throwing up her meals. Her last letter complained about it quite bitterly. No wonder she isn't out and about."

  "But it hurts her," Ninette persisted, "because she was so strong before. Folk don't want to think a princess is a normal womanùa warrior princess like Sapphire least of all. She's to be prancing about on her armored steed thrilling their souls with her power and warming them with her implied protection."