Farrell’s stomach rumbled, demanding he make up for skipping lunch. Food would need to wait. He’d been underwater so long he reeked of saltwater, and his mouth tasted like he’d swallowed the Kessan Ocean.
“Oh, right. I did. Three times.”
“Who are you talking to?” Lisle stood in the doorway to his study. “And why do you smell like the Yar-del docks?”
“I had to spend my day in Rastoria.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to get the smell out of your clothes when you go play fish?”
“Yes.” He looked away to avoid glaring at her. “You’ve told me several times. Do you think I go just to make your life difficult?”
When she didn’t answer, he turned toward her and found her a step away. She looked on the verge of tears. “No, child, I don’t. I’m sorry to have picked at you. No doubt you had a good reason to go.”
She’d done this several times since he told her about the Door in his bedroom. He didn’t regret telling her if it activated it meant he was dead. Someone needed to get the children to safety, and he knew she wouldn’t fail. But he hated to see the angst it caused her.
“It wasn’t important.” He took her hands in his and squeezed gently. “It may never open, but I had to make sure Geena and Bren are safe.”
“I know.” Water pooled at the edge of her eyes and she gripped his hands tighter. “My babies need to be safe.”
She pulled away and headed back for the study. Before she crossed over the threshold, she whispered, “All of them.”
Farrell knew she didn’t mean for him to hear her, so he didn’t react. She’d been his rock for so long, he didn’t trust himself to respond. Instead, he quickstepped to his room to change.
As he pulled off the sweat-soaked clothes, he considered what to do next. It was too early for dinner. Miceral wouldn’t be back for another two hours. Geena was at school and Bren had started his nap only minutes before Farrell got home. He thought about returning to the safe room to read but felt too restless for that.
Finally he decided food and something sweet to drink would improve his mood. The cooks fussed when he interrupted their evening meal preparation, but they always found him something he liked. Stepping into his boots, Farrell liked the plan. If he timed it right, the cheese bread would still be warm.
Farrell’s guards were on edge as they marched through the Endor section of Haven. They didn’t like the unknown. This was the first time he’d visited Jursten since he’d returned from Agloth. But it was more than just being in a new place. The community felt tense. Even Farrell felt it.
The first time Endor guards stopped them, it surprised Farrell. When it happened a second time, he snapped. He ordered them aside and threated to expel them from his realm if they didn’t. It worked, but it also brought Prince Jursten to investigate.
“You could have sent a page to summon me instead of bullying my guards.” Jursten smiled and held out his arm.
“If they’d let me—” He saw Jursten’s smirk and tried to sneer. “I hate you.”
That proved to be the wrong thing to say. One of Jursten’s guards reached for his sword. Farrell’s dwarves surrounded him and assumed a fighting stance.
“Oh for the love of Falcron.” Jursten eyed his men and shook his head. “Stand down. All of you.”
The last bit was directed toward the dwarves. Farrell was grateful Jursten said something. Had he spoken, it would have been to freeze every soldier—in both companies.
“Do as Prince Jursten says.” Farrell prepared to enforce his will if necessary. Fortunately Vregar had led enough details to order the others to relax. Turning his attention back to his friend, Farrell asked, “What’s going on?”
Jursten frowned. “Let’s talk in my quarters.”
Farrell nodded. If he’d known his visit would cause so much trouble, he’d have stayed home. “Lead the way.”
Farrell didn’t speak on the brief walk to the royal suite. It still felt off walking into these quarters and not speaking to Clement. He pushed those thoughts aside and followed Jursten through the rooms and out the “back.”
When designing the king’s suite, Clement had requested a place that mimicked a courtyard. Farrell had modeled the space after one of the main squares. The forty-foot ceilings and changing light system wasn’t a perfect replacement for outside, but psychologically it served the purpose.
They maintained their silence until they entered the open space. Jursten grabbed Farrell’s upper arms. “It is good to see you, despite the commotion you always seem to bring with you.”
“Honestly, I just came to say hello. I didn’t expect to set off an incident.” He waited until just before Jursten spoke to add, “As I recall, you created just as many incidents as I did. Probably more.”
“No, you recall poorly.” He motioned toward the bench to his right and they sat. “You did at least twice the stunts I did, but unlike you, I got reprimanded every time I did something. Father only called you on things if it was truly serious. Even he didn’t want to risk overstaying his welcome.”
“As if I would’ve sent either of you away.”
Jursten grinned widely. “Father often employed the wisdom of Falcron.”
“Unlike his son.” Farrell winked. He missed their banter. “So why did you set your guards on me? Did they have orders to stop me?”
“Ah, that.” Jursten lost his amusement. “Word has come to me that Corvis is angry at me.”
“For what?” He considered the ways to torture Corvis. “Is this about that incident over the markets?”
Jursten shook his head. “Yes and no. He blames me for you and Horgon screaming at him, but that’s only part of it. Alicia is the other.”
“What does she have to do with this?”
“Despite being joined, Corvis made an advance at her. You can imagine how well that went over with Alicia.”
Farrell laughed at what he imagined she’d have said. His humor faded after a moment. “When did this happen?”
“Two weeks ago.” He shook his head. “And before you ask, no, we didn’t tell Horgon or Miceral.”
“But she’s our guest.”
“She means something to me as well.” A bit of color flushed Jursten’s cheeks. “It was trifling compared to the other issues the world and you face. It’s also a matter of honor.”
Farrell understood why his friend would want to handle the situation. Justen still should have told someone. “So why the extra guards?”
“Alicia’s response was mild compared to mine.” There was a fire in his eyes that Farrell recognized. Just because Jursten wasn’t the military expert his father had been didn’t mean he was weak. “I marched to Corvis’s chambers with five hundred soldiers and threatened to cut out his tongue if he spoke to her like that again.”
“How did you get five hundred soldiers to Corvis’s rooms without a fight?” And how had this information not reached his ears?
“In a bit of good fortune, there were no Respital guards along our route.” Jursten chuckled. “I might have spoken to Bendict before I descended on his liege.”
Farrell raised an eyebrow. “I wonder what Corvis said to Bendict about that.”
“My guess is very little. Bendict all but begged me to tell you about this.” Jursten picked a bit of string off his blue pants and flicked it to the ground. “I’m sure he reminded the king how he fared the last time he appeared before you.”
“But if Bendict didn’t care you accosted Corvis, why the extra guards?”
“Bendict is a good man. He warned me that Corvis is trying to hire someone to assassinate me.”
“He what?” Farrell yelled so loud he feared the guards might have heard him. “Jursten, this is serious. You should have said something.”
“I was going to.” He held up a hand. “We only got word yesterday, and you’ve been hard to reach lately.”
Farrell shook his head. He doubted that was the real reason. “Horgon or Miceral were
available.”
“This is personal.” The edge returned to his voice. “I wanted to tell you myself.”
“Fine.” He stood and reached into his pocket.
“Farrell.” Jursten got up. “Where . . . what are you doing?”
“Finding out what’s going on.” Farrell removed the Ear and the Eye. “If Corvis tried to harm you or Alicia, he’s gone. I’ll execute him myself if need be. I should have let Bendict depose him by now.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” He moved until they were facing each other. “Had you done that, none of us would have felt safe under your roof. We’d wonder when you’d tire of us and find a replacement to your liking.”
“Throwing my words back in my face?” That had been the reason he gave Bendict when the subject was raised.
“It was a shrewd and wise decision. As a devotee of Falcron, I can appreciate wisdom when it is presented to me.”
“Don’t try to distract me.” He pointed to the bench. “Sit so I can find out what he’s done.”
Jagwin squeezed and released the grip on his war hammer. He’d stationed hundreds of guards around the palace. He also had the military deploy troops across Trellham. Farrell nearly said something, but he noticed Thrinton toying with his weapon as well.
Father Aswick advised summoning Corvis to Trellham to deal with the situation. His reasoning had been sound. Haven was the northernmost reach of Trellham. The kings of Trellham had jurisdiction.
Calling Thrinton and Drendar to bear witness wasn’t as clear, but he trusted the priest. Miceral sent word asking their brother kings for help. Their instant acceptance reminded Farrell he didn’t understand dwarves.
“They’re coming,” Rothdin said.
Farrell also didn’t understand peregrines or unicorns. His father asked to be present and a moment later, Nerti made the same request.
“Thank you, Father.”
It didn’t take long until the familiar sound of dwarf soldiers marching filled the throne room. Greigel appeared a minute later at the head of the procession. Miceral had sent over a thousand dwarves to arrest Corvis. The show of force had been sent in the hopes the few guards loyal to Corvis wouldn’t put up a fight.
Corvis shuffled through the doors, his arms bound in chains. The plaintive expression did nothing to cool Farrell’s anger. When Corvis glanced up, his gaze met Farrell’s and he recoiled.
“You’re glaring at him like you want him to burst into flames,” Miceral said.
“He’d be lucky if that’s all I did to him.” Farrell would have said more, but Bendict followed behind his king. Although not in chains, he also appeared to be in custody. “Why is Bendict under arrest?”
“He’s not.” Miceral pointed as Bendict peeled off to join Zenora, Jursten, and Darg. Nerti, Rothdin, and Horgon stood opposite the other rulers. “I told the guards to bring him with them to ensure his safety. We’ll need to sort out who is still loyal to Corvis.”
Shock turned to anger as Corvis realized Bendict wasn’t in custody. Farrell stood.
“Bring the prisoner!”
All eyes in the room focused on Farrell, but his attention stayed on just one person. He’d never liked Corvis. In truth, after the fall of Yar-del, he disliked all of Ardus’s monarchs other than Clement. Corvis, however, earned extra disdain for being inept and imperialistic. Now that dislike turned to hatred.
“How dare you!” Corvis’s attempt at bravado only grated on Farrell.
“No. How dare you.” Farrell flicked his hand to cut off Corvis’s response. “You will be silent!”
The two stared at each other; then Corvis blinked and looked down.
“Did you really think you could assassinate Prince Jursten?”
“I never tried to kill him.”
Whether anyone believed the lie didn’t matter. Farrell needed to prove beyond any doubt it was true. He removed the Eye and Ear and held them aloft.
“I have seen and heard you do just that.” He nodded to Jagwin.
“Bring out the prisoners!” his captain shouted.
A company of dwarves dragged four men into the hall. The quartet looked worse for the experience as they stumbled under the weight of their chains.
“You gave these four a dozen gold crowns each and promised them ten times that once they killed Jursten. The Eye of Honorus and the Ear of Lenore do not lie. But before you try to deny it, these men confessed. They even had your gold in their pockets.”
Corvis’s jowls quivered as his eyes darted everywhere but to Farrell and his prisoners. Finally he looked up. “You have no authority over me. This is a matter between Respital and Endor.”
“Wrong!” Miceral stood and marched down the stairs. If Farrell had been visibly angry, Miceral’s ire boiled quietly. “Heminaltose didn’t know when he opened his school, but Haven is part of the Kingdom of Trellham. As kings of Trellham, we’ve allowed Haven and its people to remain, but you are still subject to our laws.”
Drendar and Thrinton rose and stood beside Miceral.
“Fracturn and Colograd stand ready to defend Trellham’s borders,” Drendar said.
Corvis’s triumphant expression vanished and he started to shake. Farrell ignored it and reminded himself what the man had tried to do.
“For your acts, we are ready to impose our sentence.” He paused for the expected objection.
“No! Please!” Corvis tried to move closer, but three dwarves yanked the chain and pulled him back. “Farrell. Your Majesty, please. Jursten invaded my land.”
“Your land?” Spit flew from Farrell’s mouth when he shouted. “Your land? Didn’t you hear what Miceral said? All of Haven belongs to Trellham!”
“Be calm, Farrell,” Miceral said.
“But he threatened me. Five hundred . . . He marched five hundred troops to my door. Why isn’t he charged?”
Farrell expected this defense. If he and Miceral ignored it, they would appear capricious. He looked across Miceral. “King Drendar. If King Thrinton made an advance on your daughter despite being joined, what would you do?”
“I’d confront him in the strongest way possible.” He patted the head of his hammer. “He would know my displeasure.”
“Would you notify King Miceral or myself before you took action?”
“I would not. Though I respect Your Majesty, matters such as you described would be a private matter between Thrinton and myself. The high kings would have no authority to get involved.”
Farrell raised an eyebrow. “Not even if you took an army to confront Thrinton?”
“Not even then.”
“Would you hire an assassin?”
Despite having rehearsed this exchange with Drendar, the older dwarf looked as offended as when he’d first heard the question. “No honorable dwarf would ever hire someone to kill an enemy in stealth. If any dwarf under my rule made such an arrangement, I’d kill him myself.”
“King Thrinton?” Farrell said. “Is there any law that addresses a situation like this?”
“None directly, Your Majesty. Our laws have never contemplated that rulers in exile would take up residence inside a dwarf kingdom.”
“What if one of your joined subjects propositioned an unjoined female?” Miceral took up the conversation to blunt the criticism that Farrell was protecting his friend.
“Though it would be extremely dishonorable, it would not be a crime.”
Corvis appeared more hopeful, so Farrell moved to squash that optimism. “What if they attempted to hire an assassin?”
“Such an act is foreign to our kind, but if one dwarf sought to have another killed, the law is clear, Your Majesty.” Thrinton paused and looked at Corvis. “Such an act is punishable by death.”
“But I didn’t kill him!” Corvis yelled. “Jursten is alive. I demand you release me.”
Farrell didn’t react right away. The easy answer was to chop off his head and end the problem. But to a world concerned he’d become his father, he couldn’t be quick to execute so
meone.
“Prince Jursten. Please approach the throne,” Farrell said.
Surrounded by his guards, Jursten ignored Corvis as he moved closer to the bottom step. He bowed deeply. “Your Majesties?”
“What is the penalty for plotting to kill a king of Endor?”
“If such a crime were proven, the sentence would be death. Typically by impalement, but the king may designate the method.”
“If I were to release the prisoner, do you lay claim to him to answer for his crime?”
“I do.”
“This is a sham!” Corvis tried to move again, but his guards had a firm hold on his restraints. “I am the King of Respital. You can’t treat me like—”
“Like you treat your subjects?” Farrell asked.
“You’ve always had it out for me.” Corvis unsuccessfully tried to face the crowd. “This ‘trial’ is a fraud. There is no evidence of any wrongdoing. Farrell and Jursten . . . they’re friends. They are conspiring to remove me because I embarrassed Jursten.”
Farrell laughed at the absurdity of the statement. When he stopped, he shook his head. “Corvis, you are a fool of the highest order. The only reason you have not been deposed already is because I prevented it. Your own people want to replace you.
“But King Miceral and I did not act without thought and consultation. We presented all the evidence in this case to Kings Drendar and Thrinton. They agreed with our assessment. If that wasn’t enough, we called the heads of the six temples to ensure we acted properly. Father Odis, can you attend us, please?”
The elderly dwarf leaned heavily on his staff as he moved closer. He stood next to Jursten and as befitted a high priest of Honorus, he did not bow. “How may the temple of Honorus assist the crown?”
In normal times, the pompous statement would irk Farrell, especially given his status as Servant, Chosen, and Champion. But today, he needed those words. “Greetings, Holy Father. Thank you for coming. Can you advise the crowd of our meeting yesterday?”
“With pleasure, Your Majesty.” He stood taller and faced those in attendance. “Yesterday the high kings made the unusual request that I convene a temple council. They explained what they’d learned using the Gifts of the Gods and wanted the advice of the temples.
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