A Darkness at Sethanon (4 page)

A tall, rangy,
dark-haired man entered, dressed in muted brown clothing of fine
weave, his shoulders covered with the red mantle of his office. He
paused, his brown eyes narrow, while the herald announced the
Princess. When the slender, red-headed Princess of Krondor joined her
husband, the merry glint in her green eyes caused him to smile, and
the crowd began to cheer in earnest. Here was their beloved Anita,
daughter of Arutha’s predecessor, Erland.

While the actual
ceremony would be quickly over, the introduction of nobles took a
great deal longer. A cadre of palace nobles and guests was entitled
to public presentation. The first pair of these was announced. “Their
Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Salador.”

A handsome,
blond man offered his arm to a dark-haired woman. Laurie, former
minstrel and traveller, now Duke of Salador and husband to Princess
Carline, escorted his beautiful wife to her brother’s side.
They had arrived in Krondor a week before, to see their nephews, and
would stay another week.

On and on droned
the herald as other members of the nobility were introduced and,
finally, visiting dignitaries, including the Keshian Ambassador. Lord
Hazara-Khan entered with only four bodyguards, forgoing the usual
Keshian pomp. The Ambassador was dressed in the style of the desert
men of the Jal-Pur: cloth head cover that left only the eyes exposed,
long robe of indigo over white tunic and trousers tucked into
calf-high black boots. The bodyguards were garbed from head to toe in
black.

Then deLacy
stepped forward and called, “Let the populace approach.”
Several hundred men and women of varying rank, from the poorest
beggar to the richest commoner, gathered below the steps of the
palace.

Arutha spoke the
ritual words of the Presentation. “Today is the three hundred
tenth day of the second year of the reign of our Lord King, Lyam the
First. Today we present our sons.”

DeLacy struck
his staff upon the ground and the herald cried out, “Their
Royal Highnesses, the Princes Borric and Erland.” The crowd
erupted into a near-frenzy of shouts and cheers as the twin sons of
Arutha and Anita, born a month before, were publicly presented for
the first time. The nurse selected to care for the boys came forward
and gave her charges over to their mother and father. Arutha took
Borric, named for his father, while Anita took her own father’s
namesake. Both babies endured the public showing with good grace,
though Erland showed signs of becoming fussy. The crowd continued to
cheer, even after Arutha and Anita had returned their sons to the
care of the nurse. Arutha graced those gathered below the steps with
another rare smile. “My sons are well and strong, they are born
without flaw. They are fit to rule. Do you accept them as sons of the
royal house?” The crowd shouted its approbation. Anita
reflected her husband’s smile. Arutha waved to the crowd. “Our
thanks, good people. Until the feasting, I bid you all good day.”

The ceremony was
over. Jimmy hurried to Arutha’s side, as was his duty, while
Locklear moved to Anita’s side. Locklear was formally a junior
squire, but he was so often given duty with the Princess that he was
commonly considered her personal squire. Jimmy suspected deLacy of
wanting to keep himself and Locklear together so watching them would
be that much easier. The Prince threw Jimmy a distracted half-smile
as he watched his wife and sister fuss over the twins. The Keshian
Ambassador had removed his traditional face covering and was smiling
at the sight. His four bodyguards hovered close.

“Your
Highnesses,” said the Keshian, “are thrice blessed.
Healthy babies are a gift of the gods. And they are sons. And two of
them.”

Arutha basked in
the glow of his wife, who looked radiant as she regarded her sons in
the nurse’s arms. “I thank you, my Lord Hazara-Khan. It
is an unexpected benefit having you with us this year.”

The weather in
Durbin is beastly this year,” he said absently as he began to
make faces at little Borric. He suddenly remembered his station and
more formally said, “Besides, your Highness, we have a minor
matter to finish discussing regarding the new border here in the
West.”

Arutha laughed.
“With you, my dear Abdur, minor details become major concerns.
I have little love for the prospect of facing you across the
negotiating table again. Still, I’ll pass along any suggestions
you make to His Majesty.”

The Keshian
bowed and said, “I wait upon Your Highness’s pleasure.”

Arutha seemed to
notice the guards. “I don’t see your sons or Lord
Daoud-Khan in attendance.”

“They
conduct the business I would normally oversee among my people in the
Jal-Pur.”

“These?”
said Arutha, indicating the four bodyguards. Each was dressed
entirely in jet, even to the scabbards of their scimitars, and while
their costuming was similar to that of the desert men, it was
different from anything Arutha had seen of Keshians.

“These are
izmalis, Highness. They serve as personal protection, nothing more.”

Arutha chose to
say nothing as the knot of people around the babies seemed about to
break up. The izmalis were famous as bodyguards, the finest
protection available to the nobility of the Empire of Great Kesh, but
rumour had it they were also highly trained spies and, occasionally,
assassins. Their abilities were nearly legendary. They were reputed
to be everything just short of ghosts in their ability to come and go
undetected. Arutha disliked having men only one step away from
assassins within his walls, but Abdur was entitled to his personal
retinue, and Arutha judged it unlikely the Keshian Ambassador would
bring anyone into Krondor who might be dangerous to the Kingdom.
Besides himself, Arutha added silently.

“We shall
also need to speak of the latest request from Queg regarding docking
rights in Kingdom ports,” said Lord Hazara-Khan.

Arutha looked
openly amazed. Then his expression changed to one of irritation. “I
suppose a passing fisherman or sailor just mentioned it to you as you
disembarked at the harbour?”

“Highness,
Kesh has friends in many places,” answered the Ambassador with
an ingratiating smile.

“Well, it
will certainly do no good to comment on Kesh’s Imperial
Intelligence Corps, for we both know that” - Hazara-Khan joined
in and they both spoke in unison – “no such group
exists.”

Abdur Rachman
Memo Hazara-Khan bowed and said, “With Your Highness’s
kind permission?”

Arutha bowed
slightly as the Keshian made his farewell, then turned to Jimmy.
“What? You two scoundrels drew duty today?”

Jimmy shrugged,
indicating it wasn’t his idea. Arutha noticed his wife
instructing the nurse to return the twins to their nursery. “Well,
you must have done something to warrant deLacy’s displeasure.
Still, we can’t have you missing all the fun. I understand
there’s supposed to be a particularly good barrel-ball game
later this afternoon.”

Jimmy feigned
surprise, while Locklear’s face lit up. “I think so,”
said Jimmy noncommittally.

Motioning the
boys to follow as the Prince’s party began to head inside,
Arutha said, “Well then, we’ll have to drop in and see
how it goes, won’t we?”

Jimmy winked at
Locklear. Then Arutha said, “Besides, if you boys lose that
bet, your skins won’t be worth a tanner’s trouble by the
time the other squires get through with you.”

Jimmy said
nothing while they moved toward the great hall and the reception for
the nobles before the commoners were admitted to the feast in the
courtyard. Then he whispered to Locklear, “That man has an
irritating habit of always knowing what’s going on around
here.”

The celebration
was in full swing, nobles mingling with those commoners granted
admission to the palace courtyard. Long tables stood heavily laden
with food and drink, and for many in attendance this was the finest
meal they would eat this year. While formality was forgotten, the
commoners were still deferential to Arutha and his party, bowing
slightly and using formal address. Jimmy and Locklear hovered nearby,
in case they were needed.

Carline and
Laurie walked arm in arm behind Arutha and Anita. Since their own
wedding, the new Duke and Duchess of Salador had settled down
somewhat, in contrast to their well-reported and stormy romance at
the King’s court. Anita turned toward her sister-in-law and
said, “I’m pleased you could stay this long. It’s
so much a man’s palace here in Krondor. And now with two boys .
. .”

“It’s
going to get worse,” finished Carline. “Being raised by a
father and two brothers, I know what you mean.”

Arutha glanced
over his shoulder at Laurie and said, “It means she was spoiled
shamelessly.”

Laurie laughed,
but thought better of comment as his wife’s blue eyes narrowed.
Anita said, “Next time, a daughter.”

“Then she
can be shamelessly spoiled,” said Laurie.

“When are
you going to have children?” asked Anita.

Arutha turned
from the table with a pitcher of ale, filling both his own and
Laurie’s mugs. A servant hastened to present wine cups to the
ladies. Carline answered Anita by saying, “We’ll have
them when we have them. Believe me, it isn’t for lack of
trying.”

Anita stifled a
laugh behind her hand, while Arutha and Laurie exchanged glances.
Carline looked from face to face and said, “Don’t tell me
you two are blushing?” To Anita she said, “Men.”

“Lyam’s
last missive said Queen Magda might be with child. I expect we’ll
know for certain when he sends his next bundle of dispatches.”

Carline said,
“Poor Lyam, always such a one for the ladies, having to marry
for reasons of state. Still, she’s a decent sort, if a little
dull, and he seems happy enough.”

Arutha said,
“The Queen isn’t dull. Compared to you a fleet of Quegan
raiders is dull.” Laurie said nothing, but his blue eyes echoed
Arutha’s comment. “I just hope they have a son.”

Anita smiled.
“Arutha’s anxious for another to become Prince of
Krondor.”

Carline looked
at her brother knowingly. “Still, you’ll not be done with
matters of state. With Caldiic dead, Lyam will rely more upon you and
Martin than before.” Lord Caldric of Rillanon had died shortly
after the King’s marriage to Princess Magda of Roldem, leaving
the office of Duke of Rillanon, Royal Chancellor - First Adviser to
the King - vacant.

Arutha shrugged
as he sampled food from his plate. “I think he’ll find no
end of applicants for Caldric’s office.”

Laurie said,
“That’s exactly the problem. Too many nobles are seeking
advantage over their neighbours. We’ve had three sizeable
border skirmishes between barons in the East - not anything to have
Lyam send out his own army, but enough to make everyone east of
Malac’s Cross nervous. That’s why Bas-Tyra is still
without a duke. It’s too powerful a duchy for Lyam to hand over
to just anyone. If you’re not careful, you’ll find
yourself named Duke of Krondor or Bas-Tyra should Magda give birth to
a boy.”

Carline said,
“Enough. This is a holiday. I’ll have no more politics
tonight.”

Anita took
Arutha’s arm. “Come along. We’ve had a good meal,
there’s a festival underway, and the babies are blessedly
asleep. Besides,” she added with a laugh, “tomorrow we
have to start worrying over how we pay for this festival and the
Festival of Banapis next month. Tonight we enjoy what we have.”

Jimmy managed to
insinuate himself next to the Prince and said, “Would your
Highness be interested in viewing a contest?” Locklear and he
exchanged worried glances, for the time for the game to begin was
past.

Anita threw her
husband a questioning glance. Arutha said, “I promised Jimmy
we’d go and see the barrel-ball match he’s conspired to
have played today.”

Laurie said,
“That might be more entertaining than another round of jugglers
and actors.”

“That’s
only because most of your life has been spent around jugglers and
actors,” said Carline. “When I was a girl, it was
considered the thing to sit and watch the boys beat each other to
death in a barrel-ball game every Sixthday, while pretending not to
watch. I’ll take the actors and jugglers.”

Anita said, “Why
don’t you two go along with the boys? We’re all informal
today. We’ll join you later in the great hall for the evening
entertainment.”

Laurie and
Arutha agreed and followed the boys through the throng. They left the
central courtyard of the palace and passed along a series of halls
connecting the central palace complex with outer buildings. Behind
the palace stood a large marshalling yard, near the stables, where
the palace guards drilled. A large crowd had gathered and was
cheering lustily when Arutha, Laurie, Jimmy and Locklear arrived.
They worked their way toward the front, jostling spectators. A few
turned to complain to those shoving past but, seeing the Prince, said
nothing.

A place was made
for them behind those squires not playing. Arutha waved to Gardan,
who stood on the other side of the field with a squad of off-duty
soldiers. Laurie watched the play a moment and said, “This is a
lot more organized than I remember.”

Arutha said,
“It’s deLacy’s doing. He wrote up rules for the
game, after complaining to me about the number of boys too beat up to
work after a match.” He pointed. “See that fellow with
the sandglass? He times the contest. The game lasts an hour now. Only
a dozen boys to a side at a time, and they must play between those
chalk lines on the ground. Jimmy, what are the other rules?”

Jimmy was
stripping off his belt and dagger in preparation. He said, “No
hands, like always. When one side scores, it falls back past the
midpoint line and the other side gets to bring the ball up. No
biting, grabbing an opponent, or weapons allowed.”