A Darkness at Sethanon (66 page)

Anita looked up
into her husband’s face. “The Queen is with child - the
announcement was made while you were gone - and Father Tully sends
word to Lyam that it seems all signs indicate a prince. Tully claims
he’s too old for the road now. But his prayers have been with
you.”

Arutha grinned.
“So I can be done with being Heir soon.”

“Not too
soon, the baby won’t be here for another four months.”

A cheer from
within told them Carline had passed along the news of her own
pregnancy to her husband, and another cheer said that Tully’s
message had been given as well.

Anita hugged her
husband and whispered, “Your sons are well and getting big.
They miss their father, as I have done. Can we slip away soon?”

Arutha laughed.
“As soon as we make an appearance. But I’ve had to give
my quarters to Jimmy. It seems Locky’s developed an amorous
nature and Jimmy had nowhere else to sleep. So we’ll have to
use one of the guest tents in this pavilion.” He walked inside
with his wife, and the assembled nobles rose in greeting to the
Prince and Princess of Krondor.

The Keshian
Ambassador, Lord Hazara-Khan, bowed, and Arutha extended his hand.
“Thank you, Abdur.” He introduced Anita to Hokanu and
again repeated thanks. Dolgan was speaking with Galain, and Arutha
congratulated the dwarf on his assumption of the crown of the western
dwarves. Dolgan threw him a wink and a smile, then they all fell
silent as Laurie began to play.

They listened
closely while Laurie sang; it was a sad song, yet brave, a ballad he
had composed in honour of his friend Roald. It spoke of Laurie’s
sorrow at his passing, but it ended on a major chord, a note of
triumph, then a silly little coda that made all who knew Roald laugh,
for it somehow captured his raffish nature. Then Gardan and Volney
came up and the Earl of Landreth said, “If we may have a brief
word with you, Highness.”

Anita indicated
she didn’t mind, and Arutha let the two men who had ruled in
his absence lead him into the room next to the King’s chamber.
A bulky figure lay upon the bed, breathing heavily, and Arutha raised
his fingers to his lips, indicating quiet.

Gardan craned
his neck and whispered, “Amos Trask?”

Arutha said
softly, “It’s a very long story, and I’ll let him
tell it. He’d never forgive me if I didn’t. Now, what is
it?”

In a low voice,
Volney said, “Highness, I want to return to Landreth. With your
supposed death, the city’s been a rats’ warren to
administer. I’ve done my best for the last three years, but
this is enough. I want to go home.”

Arutha said, “I
can’t spare you, Volney.” The stout Earl’s voice
started to rise, and Arutha hushed him. “Look, there’s
going to be a new Prince of Krondor soon, so we’ll need a
Principate Regent.”

Volney said,
“That’s impossible. That’s an eighteen year
commitment. I refuse.”

Arutha looked at
Gardan, who grinned and held up his hands. “Don’t look at
me. Lyam promised me I could return to Crydee with Martin and his
lady. With Charles the new Swordmaster, I can leave the soldiering to
my son. I plan on spending my days fishing off the breakwater at
Longpoint. You’re going to need a new Knight-Marshal soon.”

Arutha swore.
“That means if I don’t find someone soon, Lyam’s
going to name me Duke of Krondor and Knight-Marshal both. I am going
to try to get him to give me some quiet Earldom, like Tuckshill, and
never leave home again.” He thought hard and silently, then
said, “I want ten more years, from both of you.”

“Absolutely
not!” said Volney. The stout noble’s voice rose in
indignation. “I’m willing to stay one year, to aid any
transition in administration, but no more.”

Arutha’s
eyes narrowed. “Six, six more years from each of you. If you
agree, you can retire to Landreth, Volney, and you to Crydee, Gardan.
If not, I’ll find some way to drag you off to nothing but
trouble.”

Gardan laughed.
“I have Lyam’s permission already, Arutha.” Seeing
the Prince’s anger growing, he said, “But if Volney
stays, I’ll also stay on a year - all right, two, but no more,
until you get things under control.”

An almost evil
light entered Arutha’s eyes. To Gardan he said, “We’re
going to need a new ambassador to the Tsurani court, now that the
rift is again opened,” and to Volney, “and we’ll
need another ambassador to Great Kesh.”

Both men
exchanged glances and Volney said, in a harsh whisper, “All
right, blackmailer, three years. What are we going to do for three
years?”

Arutha smiled
his crooked smile. “I want you to take Jimmy and Locky’s
training in hand, personally, Volney. You teach them everything about
administration you can. Pile the work on until they’re ready to
drop, then give them more. I want those overactive minds turned to
good use. Make them the best administrators you can.

“Gardan,
when they’re not in the office, learning how to govern, turn
them into soldiers. That young bandit asked for a reward a year ago,
and now he’s got to show me if he really is a match for that
request. And his young partner in crime has too much talent to let
him go back to Land’s End. Locky’s the youngest son, so
he’d simply go to waste there. With you two gone, we’re
going to need a new Duke and Knight-Marshal and, with me gone as
well, he’s going to be acting as Principate Regent; he’ll
need an able Chancellor to help him shoulder the burdens of office.
So I don’t want either of them to have five loose minutes in
the next four years.”

“Four
years!” shouted Volney, “I said three!”

Then from the
bed came a chuckle and a sigh as Amos said, “Arutha, you have
an odd idea of reward. Whatever gave you such a nasty turn of mind?”

Arutha grinned
openly as he said, “Get some rest, Admiral.”

Amos fell back
heavily on the bunk. “Ah, Arutha, you still take all the fun
out of life.”