Dragon's Treasure (17 page)

His bellow toppled the castle spire;

O, the Red Boar, the Red Boar of Aidu.

The looks on most of the faces made it evident that most of the people there had not heard the song before. By the time it ended, they were clapping and swaying in their chairs. Karadur sat still, hands folded tautly in his lap.

"More!" said Daniello Marichal.

The woman in gold stepped back, leaving Azil alone on his stool.

Azil said, "This is the story of Kani and Tori." He stroked the harp again. His voice easily filled the pavilion.

Two brothers went a-hunting, upon an autumn day;

See the wild geese fly over, fly over.

Two brothers went hunting on an autumn day;

And the wild geese rise in the morning.

"Now, Kani and Tori were brothers, the sons of a king. Both men were fair and strong and beautiful. And Kani was a man of great heart, and he loved Tori. But Tori above all loved power, and so he hated Kani, for Kani, being the elder, was destined to rule.

"Consumed with hatred, Tori rose in the morning, and went to bed at night still hating. But Kani knew nothing of his brother's feeling. And it came to pass that Kani and Tori went hunting together one misty autumn morning.

"(See the wild geese fly over, fly over.)

"And on that soft autumn morning Tori took his brother prisoner, and bound him with chains, and brought him east, into the impassable desert, and imprisoned him in a tower without doors. He set his soldiers about it, and ordered them to kill any who tried to enter it. And he told his father and all the people that Kani was dead.

"And so it came to pass, as is the way of things, that the old king died. And the people came to Tori and said, 'Your father is dead, and your brother is dead. You must rule us now.'

" 'I will,' Tori said. And they gave him the crown, and scepter, and the sword that had been his father's. It was an ancient blade, sharp and puissant, and none but the king could wear it. And he made a decree that throughout the kingdom no one, not even the smallest child, was to speak Kani's name, for—he told them—the grief that came upon him when he heard it was too great for him to bear.

"(And the wild geese rise in the morning.)

"But Kani had a friend, a good friend, who loved him above all things. That friend's name was Arum. And Arum did not believe that Kani was dead. One morning Arum went hunting.

"(See the wild geese fly over, fly over.)

"And a goose came flying from the east, and the feathers of that goose were gold. And the golden goose stooped over Kani's friend, whose name was Arum, and said, 'Follow me, and I will show you what you most long to see.'

"Arum followed the goose into the impassable desert, to the doorless tower.

"(See the wild geese fly over, fly over.)

"It was guarded by Tori's men. They carried spears, and bows. 'Go away,' they said, and leveled their spears.

" 'What shall I do?' Arum asked the goose.

" 'Mount my back,' the goose said.

"So Arum mounted to the golden goose's back.
(See the wild geese fly over, fly over.)
The goose rose up. The soldiers shot at it, but missed. It brought him to the window of the tower, and there, within a small, round room, Arum saw his friend. Kani was gaunt, but his back was straight and his eyes clear. 'Kani!' Arum cried.

"And Kani heard, and came to the window. Thus the dear friends were reunited.

"(And the wild geese rise in the morning.)

" 'My dear friend and king, let me take you from this place,' said Arum. But there seemed no way to do that. For the window was barred, and the space between the bars was narrow. Despite his leanness, Kani could not get through it. The friends despaired.

" 'Do not lose heart. I will help you,' said the goose.

" 'How?' Kani asked.

" 'You must kill me, and take my skin, and wear it.'

" 'I cannot do that,' Kani said.

" 'Then you will die here,' said the goose.

"(See the wild geese fly over; fly over.)

"And they saw that what the goose said was true. So the goose flew in the window, and Kani snapped its neck. He took Arum's knife, ready to skin the goose, but as he touched the golden feathers, they sprang from the goose's body in a brilliant cloud, and wove around him like a cloak. Then Kani was gone, and there was only a goose. It flew through the window.
(See the wild geese fly over, fly over.)
Arum mounted its back. The goose flew from the tower, past the arrows and spears of the soldiers, westward, into the mountains.

"And there, in the mountains, Kani regained his strength. And he rode out of the mountains, to the city ruled by his brother.
(See the wild geese fly over, fly over.)

"And the people knew him, and followed him. He reached the citadel, where Tori lived. 'Call the challenge,' he said to his herald. The herald lifted his horn, and blew the challenge.

"Tori came from within the citadel.

" 'Who dares challenge me?' he cried.

" 'I do,' said Kani. He strode forward. The cloak of golden feathers shimmered in the sunlight. 'This kingdom is mine. You took it from me. Now I will have it back.'

"And Tori's heart shrank in his breast, for he knew his brother's claim was just. But the greed that had brought him to take the kingship from his brother still governed him.

" 'You will not,' he said, and drew the sword that had been his father's. 'Take up your weapon!'

" 'I have none,' said Kani. He showed his hands. They were empty.

" 'Then you will die,' Tori said.

"But as Tori advanced upon his brother, the cloak's golden feathers caught the sunlight, and dazzled him. He could not see. He staggered, and the sword dropped from his hand. Kani picked it up.
(And the wild geese rise in the morning.)
Then, in the sight of his people, Kani killed his brother, and regained the kingdom.

"He ordered that the body of his brother be entombed beside their father.
(See the wild geese fly over, fly over.)

"And Kani decreed that there should be made a great banner, and ordered it to fly over his kingdom. The emblem on that banner was a wild goose.
(And the wild geese rise in the morning.)

"And Arum and Kani remained friends all their lives."

9

The harp called triumphantly, and went still. There was blood on Azil's gloved fingers. Rising, he bowed to Cirion, and to the Lemininkai.

Cirion raised his glass. "Honor to the singer!" They shouted it, and drank.

A page brought Azil a harp cover. He slid it over the instrument and handed the instrument to the page.

Ydo Talvela said brusquely, "Juni. Pour some wine for the singer and bring it to him." Juni Talvela's dark eyes were wide as a deer's; he looked dazed, as if he had a fever. "Juni!" Talvela cuffed the boy's head. Juni rocked where he sat.

Rising from his chair, Karadur walked to Azil. The singer rose and faced his friend.

The dragon-lord said softly, "You said you wouldn't come."

Azil said, "I changed my mind."

"You rode alone?"

"I wanted to," Azil said. "But Lorimir insisted I take companions. Arnor and Tallis are with me."

"When did you get here?"

"Yesterday."

"How did you know where to go?"

"I went to an inn in the Pleasure Quarter, and spoke to some musicians. They knew my name. They brought me to the palace. I asked to speak to Laslo Umi. He remembered me."

Cirion came up to them. "Thank you for your music," the prince said to Azil. "I have never heard a harp played like that." He smiled at Karadur. "My lord, it was the singer you missed, I think, not the song."

Servers entered, carrying trays laden with bowls of sherbet. Azil said, "You have not said that you liked the song."

"I liked the song."

"And that you are pleased I came."

Karadur lifted his hands and set them on his friend's shoulders. Then he slid his palms down the singer's sides to his rib cage. Azil caught his breath.

"Later," Karadur said softly, "when we are private, I shall show you whether I am pleased, or not."

The singer in the golden gown glided up to them. She said imperiously, "Azil, you promised."

Karadur lifted his hands. Azil said, "I have not forgotten. My lord, allow me to present Khorrem Hazari. She is part of a trio called the Golden Sparrows. She and her friends have been most kind to me."

Karadur said, "Khorrem Hazari, thank you for your music. You have an extraordinary voice. Do you and your companions travel?"

"We do, my lord."

"Come to Atani Castle, and play for me."

Spine supple as wire, the singer bowed.

"Sir," said a boy's voice. It was Juni Talvela. He held a wineglass. He extended it toward Azil. "You must be thirsty."

The singer smiled, and took it. The boy's gaze was worshipful.

Lukas Ridenar spoke at Azil's back. "That was an elegantly told tale. I've never heard it before. Did you make it?"

"Yes," said the singer.

"Very nice." He looked thoughtful. "Is that how it was, Atani? Your war?"

Karadur said, "Yes."

Outside the tent, a voice was raised in sudden anger. A fold of cloth was flung back. Breathing heavily, Marion diSorvino thrust his way into the tent.

"So this is where you are hiding!" he said thickly. "Kalni, I want to speak with you."

The Lemininkai glanced up from his keph game. "I am here," he said mildly.

Sarita Leminin said, "Will you sit, my lord?"

"I will not," said diSorvino. His face was red. "Kalni, you have Treion Unamira in your custody. I want him. You know I want him. Tell your men to release him to mine."

The Lemininkai said, "Marion, surely this can be kept for another time."

"No, it can
not
," diSorvino said tightly. He snapped his fingers at a page. "Wine, damn you. Merignac, if you have it."

Lukas Ridenar said quietly, "Kalni, is this so? Has Unamira been taken?"

"Yes," the Lemininkai said. "It is so. I have him. He was captured some weeks ago, in Kameni. Honoris Imorin sent to me, to ask what I wanted done with him. I asked that he be conveyed to Ujo for judgment. There was another man with him, who has long been under sentence here for crimes against children. He's dead now."

Ydo Talvela said, "I know naught of this. Who is Unamira?"

Lukas Ridenar said, "An outlaw."

DiSorvino said, "Kalni, I want Unamira. You know what he did in Bruna, Alletti, and Maranessa. You have to give him to me."

The Lemininkai said, "I know you want him, Marion. But the men who died at Castella were mine. Castella was under my protection. Rodolfo Mino was my deputy."

"Bah! A troop of incompetents and a glutton: small loss. Castella was one town. The bastard burned four of my villages! Where he did not burn, he looted and despoiled. I want him. Give him to me." DiSorvino's hands clenched into fists.

Conversation in the tent had ceased. The Lemininkai said, "Lukas, what do you think?"

Lukas Ridenar said quietly, "You know my feeling."

The Lemininkai glanced across the table at his keph partner. "You smile, Allumar."

Allumar Marichal's right hand was closed about the Summer Princess. He opened it, and set the ivory figure lightly on the board. Leaning back in his chair, he said, "The situation appears to me to be moderately amusing."

DiSorvino rasped, "I fail to see its humor."

The Lemininkai said, "What amuses you?"

"The knowledge that ultimately, whichever one of you executes him, for whatever crime, the man—Unamira, is it?—will still be quite, quite dead."

DiSorvino grinned with terrible malignancy. "You are right, Marichal. Give him to me, Kalni. My men are quite skilled, Lukas. I promise you, it will take him weeks to die."

There was no mistaking his meaning. The Lemininkai looked at Lukas Ridenar. Ridenar spread his hands. "I do not contest it," he said.

"Excellent! Then we are agreed." DiSorvino set his glass on the table. "Tell your men to release him to my custody." He turned to leave the tent.

Karadur spoke. "A moment, my lord. I believe I have first claim upon this man."

DiSorvino whirled. "What? What claim?"

"Last fall, months before his attack on your towns, and long before the sack of Castella, Treion Unamira raided a farm in northern Ippa, and in that raid men were killed. You know this, my lord of Ujo: they were father and brother to Dennis Amdur, your cavalry commander." The Lemininkai nodded. "For those two deaths alone his life is forfeit."