Conquests and Crowns

by S E Meliers

  ‘Well, the Hallows,’ Mire glanced warily at Charity from under his eyelashes, as if expecting the Lord to explode at any word. ‘Then there’s the necromancer and his skeletons-’

  ‘Necromancer?’ Cedar, Charity and Zeal said in almost synchrony. ‘Necromancer?’ Cedar repeated.

  ‘Yes, he serves the Lady Patience,’ Mire nodded wisely. ‘He does her spying, her murder, and her plotting for her, I guess.’

  ‘But she does her own fvccanting, no doubt,’ the Lord of Amori said venomously.

  Zeal was gape-mouthed.

  Mire giggled. ‘Well, it’s said she is with babe, and that it’s that Shoethalian Prince’s, so, I guess so.’

  Charity said nothing and looked away.

  ‘Who has been murdered?’ Cedar decided to change the subject whilst Charity was present.

  ‘We haven’t seen any bodies, but they say it’s happened, the others who use the walkways,’ Mire shrugged. ‘Hallows killing Priests and other Hallows. The Necromancer cut out a man’s tongue too. And he kills someone every other week and makes a skeleton out of them.’

  ‘Makes a skeleton out of them?’ the odd phrasing caught Cedar’s attention.

  ‘He makes it so the bones walk around like people, doing his work,’ this impressed Mire greatly. ‘I’ve seen ‘em.’

  ‘That sounds appropriately macabre for a necromancer,’ Cedar acknowledged. ‘How many necromancers can there be?’ he wondered aloud.

  ‘Not many, be my guess,’ Zeal commented.

  ‘How are my children?’ Charity asked his voice heavy.

  Mire glanced at him and at Cedar for assurance. ‘They are doing good, my Lord,’ he said. ‘The Lord Charm is getting real tall, and I seen him with his tutor learning his numbers. The little girl is always running around every place and getting into things she shouldn’t, which is pretty normal for kids her age,’ he said with the wisdom of one raised in a big family. ‘They’s treated with respect and the Lord Charm is Lord Charm heir to Amori whenever somebody speaks of him.’

  Charity nodded with a jerky movement and pushed himself up, walking off swiftly, but not before Cedar saw that his eyes were wet. Cedar felt a sudden sharp sympathy with the displaced Lord, separated from his young family and estranged from his wife.

  ‘He is sad,’ Mire said with surprising insight. ‘The Lady, she is sad too. I know she is bad, and all that, for being the whore of the Prince, but she is not so bad, really. They say she saved all these kids from the dungeons where the Priests were chopping their fingers off and eating them. She sent the kids away somewhere safe, and not long after, the not-so-bad Hallows killed all the bad Priests and bad Hallows.’

  Cedar blinked, trying to make sense of the story. ‘Is that so?’ he said absently.

  ‘Yes,’ Mire nodded wisely.

  ‘Let us walk down to the beach, and you can tell me more as we look for mussels,’ Cedar decided.

  ‘Sure,’ Mire grinned. ‘I can tell you about the really scary metal monsters they’ve put in the walled place.’

  ‘Scary metal monsters?’ Cedar repeated with a feeling of dread. ‘Were they called crayfish, by any chance?’

  Mire was deflated. ‘Oh, you already knew.’

  ‘No, I have just… heard of them before.’ Cedar had heard of them, for sure. He had been student to the inventor of them. ‘Tell me about the scary metal monsters and anything else they’ve been doing in Amori, please.’

  This could be trouble, he thought.

  Rogue

  ‘Gallant must be desperate,’ Rogue was pleased. ‘He has been resistant to crowning Cinder although the Prince long ago earned that honour.’ They strolled through the shadowy recesses that lined the main corridors of the castle. Traffic was light at this time of the day, though she noted two scruffy boys playing a game of dice in one corner. The castle seemed to be plagued by scruffy little boys, she thought to herself, and made note to investigate them.

  ‘He is already King in all but title,’ Chain agreed, his voice low. ‘That crown was destined to sit upon King Cinder’s brow.’

  ‘Yes,’ she thrilled with the success. ‘Yes, it was. Let us ensure it makes it there. Send Athame to the High Priests in place of this messenger. Tell her that she is charged with obtaining that crown and bringing it safely to rest on Cinder’s brow, and let nothing stand in her way of completing this vital task. This will include ensuring that the messenger does not recover from his incident with the Necromancer.’

  ‘Do you think that coincidental?’ Chain asked quietly.

  ‘No, absolutely not,’ she acknowledged. ‘And we will keep an eye on that man to see what he does with the information. At the moment he is allied with the Lady Patience, and for that reason only he continues to live. If he proves disloyal to her, he will find his life shortened considerably.’

  ‘I will double the watch on him,’ Chain nodded.

  ‘I also need a favour from you, my friend,’ Rogue paused and drifted across the main walkway to an open window. The ocean was especially bright this day, the sun set sparkles across its surface like the finest Shoethalian Lady’s jewels.

  ‘I am listening,’ Chain’s expression was bland.

  ‘The Lady Patience will be leaving her children here when she travels to Truen, and I shall be accompanying her. She expressed concern for their wellbeing and I assured her that I would see to it that they were guarded by one I trust. Now that we know Gallant lives, her anxieties will be doubled.’

  ‘You wish me to assign someone to guard her children?’

  ‘There is none amongst us that I trust as I trust you,’ she replied. ‘I would charge you with this. Guard the Lady Rue and the children of Patience.’

  Chain considered her request. ‘There are some who would be insulted to be assigned as babysitters for Rhyndelian brats,’ he commented dryly, ‘when they might have taken charge in your absence.’

  ‘Not just any Rhyndelian brats,’ she replied. ‘The heir to Amori, and the children of Patience, Lady of Amori, expectant-mother of Cinder’s heir and his future Queen.’

  ‘You know this?’ he asked with the emphasis on ‘know’.

  She smiled. ‘Why else do you think my interest in Patience has always been so keen and attentive?’ she asked him amused. ‘It is one of the surest visions I have had. It is true that guarding the Lady Patience’s loved ones means you will have little time to oversee the rest of affairs in my absence, but I believe that this is the greater of the tasks, and do you no dishonour by assigning it to you. You must keep these three safe, Chain, much counts on it.’

  ‘I will accept the duty,’ he acquiesced with a small nod.

  ‘Good,’ Rogue turned from the window with a sigh. ‘Now, I must break the news regarding Gallant to the Lady Patience. It is not a conversation I relish. She must travel to Truen, and the children must remain behind: this I have seen. I fear that she will not wish to leave them knowing that Gallant is alive to work his mischief and menace.’

  ‘I do not envy you this task,’ he replied.

  ‘I will introduce you another time,’ she decided, ‘rather than emphasise the trip and risks in leaving her children by introducing her to their guard.’

  ‘That would probably be wise,’ he smiled. ‘I will begin my task regardless and look into the safety of their current abodes.’

  ‘Yes,’ she considered. ‘You may wish to have them moved. She is currently on a very public passage and the rooms her children occupy are not joined. Rue is also placed some distance away.’

  ‘I will see to it,’ he clasped her shoulder briefly and affectionately. ‘Good luck,’ he grinned, and walked away quickly.

  ‘Good luck,’ she muttered at his retreating back. ‘I need more than luck.’ She made her way to the Lady’s chambers. The pregnancy wearied Patience, and she was often to be found napping in her rooms. Rogue was glad of this: it made guarding her easier. As she reached the rooms, she noted Scythe attentive in the shadows. ‘Anything to report?’ she
asked of her.

  ‘The Lady is most watched,’ Scythe replied.

  ‘By whom?’ Rogue was alarmed and intrigued.

  ‘A bevy of boys practicing a clumsy deception, trade shifts at regular intervals,’ Scythe sneered. ‘A posse of posturing nobles wishing to allay the Lady to forward their aspirations at court by way of her influence with the Prince. And a scare of skeletons set to guard by a nosy necromancer.’

  ‘And a humorous Hallow, apparently,’ Rogue snorted. ‘You have been bored?’

  ‘To madness,’ Scythe laughed. ‘All eyes watch, but none approach. There is nothing to do but to watch the watchers and ponder their purpose.’

  ‘Interesting,’ Rogue considered. ‘Most interesting are the bevy of boys. Would you mind fetching me one or two when you next have the opportunity to do so. I would like to find out, for myself, their purpose here in watching the Lady.’

  ‘Well, that sounds like fun,’ Scythe smiled, pleased.

  ‘Do not maim them,’ Rogue warned. ‘They may be allies.’

  Scythe shrugged. ‘I will just scare them… a little, a lot,’ she ran her tongue over her teeth and grinned.

  Rogue laughed. ‘I have never met a young boy who could not benefit from a little fright,’ she said wryly. ‘Just ensure that it is all. In addition,’ she lowered her voice. ‘Maintain vigilance with the Lady Patience. We have discovered that Gallant is alive and with the Prince.’

  Scythe’s face fell. ‘I hate that Priest,’ she muttered.

  ‘Yes,’ Rogue nodded. ‘You are not alone in that.’ She knocked on the chamber door.

  The Lady Patience opened the door herself. ‘Oh,’ she said falling back to allow Rogue entrance. ‘I am a little… tired,’ she said running a hand across her brow. She looked unwell, Rogue noted, her face was pale and her eyes shadowed with weariness.

  ‘I will not disturb you long, my Lady,’ Rogue assured her. ‘Would you like me to send for a healer?’ she added in concern as Patience sank into a chair near the window.

  ‘No, no,’ Patience waved a hand. ‘It is just weariness. It is not unusual.’

  ‘As you wish,’ Rogue raised her eyebrows. ‘I would not know what is usual and what is not.’

  Patience’s mouth curled at the corners. ‘It varies from woman to woman. Your time will come, no doubt.’

  ‘Hmmm,’ Rogue compressed her lips.

  ‘Hmmm,’ the Lady Patience mocked gently still smiling. ‘What is it that I can do for you, Rogue?’

  ‘I am afraid I bear ill tidings, my Lady,’ Rogue replied, taking a seat opposite to her. ‘Gallant is alive and with the Prince.’

  Something flickered in Patience’s eyes, and a muscle tightened along her cheek, but then it was gone. ‘You will be ensuring my children’s safety here,’ she said. ‘And accompanying me to Truen?’

  ‘Yes,’ Rogue confirmed. ‘I will bring Chain to meet you shortly.’

  ‘And you trust him, completely, with this task?’ Patience held her gaze.

  ‘I trust him with my life. He will not fail your children.’

  ‘Would you trust him with the lives of the EAerymen were they in peril?’ Patience asked quietly.

  Rogue was not surprised by her insight, though she wondered who else may have noted the EAerymen’s importance to her. ‘I would,’ she said without hesitating. ‘Chain is loyal, strong, and skilled.’

  Patience considered her for a long moment and nodded. ‘I would be pleased to meet him at his convenience,’ she accepted. ‘And I will proceed to Truen as planned.’ Her hand rubbed a slow circle over her stomach. ‘It is important that I see the Prince, soon,’ she said to herself.

  ‘I would say so,’ Rogue smirked. ‘I will leave you to rest, then, my Lady. Be assured, the safety of yourself and your children are paramount to the Hallows.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Patience said softly. Rogue hesitated in the doorway. There was something about the Lady’s expression, something about her quick assurance regarding the safety of her children that made her wonder… She shrugged. She would soon find out whatever it was through Scythe.

  It was, however, becoming very obvious that Rogue was correct in travelling to Truen. There was a Priest, after all, who was begging to be killed.

  Gallant

  ‘Well?’ he demanded.

  ‘Well, what?’ Prairie pursed her lips in annoyance. She was fletching arrows, and it took concentration to do it right.

  ‘Well, have you heard from the spies?’ he growled.

  She sighed. ‘These things take time,’ she wrapped the sinew around fletch and shaft deftly. ‘The spies need to actually spy something worthy of report, and then report it, before the Prophet can pass any information on to me.’ She set the arrow to one side, picking up the next. He had to admire the skill and beauty of her craftsmanship, even as he despised the woman.

  ‘What is the use of spies, if they take so long?’ he grumbled, displeased.

  ‘I do not know,’ she replied indifferently. ‘I am not the one engaging in espionage.’

  ‘Where are the dragons?’ he asked, suddenly distracted, looking out across the lake. The campsite they had occupied had been abandoned, the tents taken down and the wealth of the dragon-riders re-appropriated by the Truenites. The grasses had died where they had been trampled underfoot, leaving a barren bald spot to mark their departure.

  ‘Gone,’ she said.

  ‘Gone where?’ he was intrigued.

  ‘To the Dwarves, I think,’ she paused, frowned, and nodded. ‘Yes, the Dwarves. Some unpronounceable place.’

  ‘What?’ he was outraged. ‘What use are they to the Prince, if they are across the Narrow?’

  She shrugged. ‘Very little use, I would surmise.’

  ‘Why did they leave?’ he had no doubt that she would know, associating as she did with the dragon-riders and being a telepath. Everything the dragon-riders knew, Prairie would also. Whether she chose to share that information with him was another matter.

  ‘One of the dragon-riders is hiding from the EAerymen,’ Prairie shrugged again, ‘and they received word that the EAerymen were coming to Truen.’

  ‘Interesting,’ he absorbed this information, examined it, and wondered how he could use it to his advantage. How many EAerymen could there be in Rhyndel, after all? he pondered. They had to be Cinder’s drinking companions. The Prince, at least, would be pleased about their expected arrival in Truen.

  She looked at him blankly. ‘I have no idea,’ she answered his unspoken musing.

  ‘I was not asking your opinion,’ he said, but without heat. ‘They must have realised or heard that she was in Truen, and be following her here,’ he continued to himself, pacing the lake’s edge as he spoke. ‘They will probably follow her to the Dwarven lands once they realise that is where she has gone – unless they do not know she is a dragon-rider, and that puts them off pursuing her.’

  ‘What does it matter to you?’ Prairie asked, frowning. ‘What EAerymen do?’

  ‘I do not trust these particular EAerymen. They are too conveniently placed and congenial to Cinder. I would prefer them to be elsewhere to where he is.’

  ‘Truen is elsewhere to where the Prince is,’ she reminded him. ‘The Prince is over near Guarn, waging a war, remember?’

  ‘True,’ he pursed his lips. ‘And I should also be there,’ he decided. ‘You must follow me.’

  She sighed. ‘Must I?’ She cocked her head. ‘I guess I must,’ she muttered. He realised she had consulted with the Prophet and received her orders. ‘I will need to travel in your retinue,’ she added. ‘Guarn is under siege. The countryside between Truen and there is in upheaval. It would be dangerous for me to camp out on my own.’

  ‘Hmmm,’ he considered her disapprovingly, but could not argue her logic. ‘As my what exactly?’

  ‘Your guard,’ she rolled her eyes. ‘What else?’

  He was surprised by the practicality of the suggestion. ‘That is actually quite a good idea.’

&
nbsp; ‘Do not look so surprised,’ she half hid a smirk. ‘I am not stupid.’

  ‘No,’ he reviewed his opinion of her and adjusted. ‘No, you are not. I will need to have you outfitted appropriately, I guess. It would be good if you could disguise yourself a little. I told Cinder that you had returned to your people, so it would not do for you to be recognised.’

  ‘I can do that,’ she inclined her head in acceptance.

  ‘Good,’ he was pleased. ‘Very well. I will make arrangements.’

  ‘I will await your instruction,’ she returned to her arrows.

  He strode off through the trees, his mind working over ideas. It was not the normal process for more than one or two Priests to travel with the army, and they were normally Priests who were low down in the ranks as their placements were not without risk. He had also intended to be in Truen for the Lady Patience’s arrival, to confirm her pregnancy himself. However, whilst Cinder was away from him, Gallant had no opportunity to ingratiate himself with the Prince, and his words were not those echoing in Cinder’s ears. And, he did not doubt that Cinder would return to Truen upon Patience’s arrival, to hear her news in person, so by keeping company with the Prince, Gallant still would be able to confirm Patience’s expectancy.

  It was, he decided, the best thing to do. He cursed himself for not realising it earlier. It was Spider’s fault – he was distracted dealing with the mess she had left him in. He wondered if she would accompany the Lady Patience. It would make sense, he realised. Cinder had probably charged her with the Lady’s safety. Normally, Spider was lurking in Cinder’s shadow. It was unusual for her to be at Amori when he was not. Yes, he must have charged her with Patience’s safety, he confirmed to himself, which meant she would journey with Patience to Truen. This meant that he knew where and when his enemy would be. ‘Who needs spies,’ he muttered to himself wryly. ‘Simple logic is worth a thousand spies.’

  If he was with Cinder whilst the Hallow met her end, then he could not be blamed for her demise. Whilst she was in transit would be the best solution, then, he realised. But how to kill her in her journey from Amori to Truen without also endangering Patience and Cinder’s unborn heir? Who would attack a Hallow but leave Patience alive long enough for Cinder’s forces to rescue her?