In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) (29 page)

Valfarn was an older lord, well past his prime. There was still strength in him, however, and Maelgyn approved of him at first glance. The old Duke reminded him of his swordmaster back in Svieda Castle, a pleasant man who had a hidden ferocity when the need arose. However, those similarities were no proof that Valfarn would treat Maelgyn the same way.

Along each wall, several members of the Council of Barons stood from their ceremonial seats, flanked by their personal armsmen. Even though Maelgyn had been told that some of the barons were unable to attend, the room still felt overly full. Especially with Euleilla, El’Athras, Dr. Wodtke, Tur’Ba, Wangdu, and a Nekoji woman by the name of Onayari representing Gyato’s forces accompanying him.

Onayari had been present during the signing of the treaty in Mar’Tok, showing up at El’Athras’ estate off and on since the riots had been quelled. She and Euleilla had quickly become friends, but there was something odd about her that disturbed Maelgyn. Euleilla agreed that Onayari felt odd, but didn’t elaborate as to why. Nevertheless, Onayari was the perfect Nekoji to represent her people before the Sopan court, as she had been an ambassador to several Human countries during her life.

When everyone else was standing, Valfarn nodded to the new arrivals. “My lord, before I rise from this seat and offer it to you, I have questions which must be answered,” he intoned ceremonially.

Maelgyn replied somewhat stiffly, barely remembering the proper wording. “I stand here to offer proof of my abilities for that seat. I will answer any inquiries and perform any tasks you deem required of a lord, swearing on my honor to speak and act truthfully.”

Valfarn nodded slightly. “Very well. First, I must ask – do you truly carry the Sword?”

In answer, Maelgyn drew the antique katana that symbolized his station, bringing it into a formal salute. “I carry the blade forged for the founders of Our Kingdom, the symbol of our strength and the proof of my birthright.”

“Do you know our laws in Sopan and Svieda, and are you willing to answer the call to enforce them?”

This was a tricky question, for there were several answers and Sword could give. It was one thing Maelgyn knew might prove a problem for him, because he could not truthfully give the strongest answer. Instead he gave one which he knew could delay his seating as the Duke, if Valfarn so chose.

“The laws of Svieda are well known to me,” Maelgyn acknowledged. “But the laws of Sopan are not. My dominion over this province may require your continued aid.”

Valfarn nodded. “This is no surprise, and should you take this seat I will remain to aide you in those matters. Will you defend our borders against all invaders, to the best of your ability?”

Again, there were several answers Maelgyn could give that would allow him to continue the ceremony, but he had the right to use the strongest answer this time.

“This Sword has already tasted blood by my hand in the defense of Svieda. I will continue to use it in the defense of Sopan Province while I still rule,” he stated.

“Very well,” Valfarn replied, then sat back in his chair and steepled his fingertips in front of him. The required questions had been asked, but a regent was entitled to three more that Maelgyn could neither anticipate nor refuse to answer. To Maelgyn’s surprise, his marriage was not the first topic of discussion.

“On whose authority did you enter into treaty with the nations of Caseificio and Mar’Tok?”

“On my own,” the Sword Prince replied. “In a time where there is no living king, any Sword may act in his place in foreign affairs. I am sure you are aware of Sword King Gilbereth II’s death, and to the best of my knowledge the Law of Swords is still in effect.”

“Very well,” Valfarn nodded. “Now, I may ask two more questions, but I choose to ask them of your wife. I have heard of your unexpected marriage, which was unsanctioned by the King or any other Sword. I wish to determine her fitness, so I ask her to step forward now.”

If Euleilla was surprised at being called upon, she didn’t show it. With a somewhat awkward curtsey, she presented herself before the raised dais upon which the Ducal Seat resided.

“My lord?” she prompted.

“My lady,” he replied. “While the laws allow a Sword to marry whomever he wills, all tradition goes against the marriage between a Sword and a commoner. There are always exceptions to these unwritten rules, however. You are not a noblewoman by birth, my lady, but I ask if there are any men or women of note in your bloodline?”

“No,” she stated proudly.

Maelgyn hesitated, and then stepped up beside her. “My lord, while my wife may not be aware of any notables in her bloodline, I would like to remind the peerage that blood isn’t everything. She has, since the age of twelve, been fostered by a man who would surely have been made a peer of the realm had the crown not incorrectly believed him dead.”

“Oh?” Valfarn said, surprised. That was news not just to the Duke, but also to all present in the chamber. Even Euleilla looked a little surprised at that. “I’m afraid, my Lord, that statement on her behalf will require more information.”

Maelgyn nodded. “Certainly, Milord Valfarn. The Hero of the Flight of Borden Isle, Admiral Ruznak, is alive, and has been the foster father for my wife for the last several years.”

Murmurs arose from the Barony, clearly surprised at this news. Euleilla had regained her composure, but Maelgyn was able to feel a certain tenseness in her muscles which was not normally there.

“That, milord,” Valfarn acknowledged, “is indeed a pedigree worth noting, and sufficient in my opinion. Now I only have one remaining question for your wife: Please, milady... let me see your eyes.”

There was a pause, but Maelgyn knew right away that this would be a disaster. Anger showed on Euleilla’s face – an expression she had never demonstrated in his presence, before – and her magic was practically crackling around her. Thankfully, there was no way of seeing that force unless you were also a mage, but its presence told Maelgyn enough to realize that he was in trouble.

“No,” she answered coldly, and the entire Barony gasped.

Valfarn raised an eyebrow. “Did you say... no?”

Maelgyn swallowed, and finally recovered his voice. “Forgive her, my lord,” he said, trembling slightly. “I am aware of why she has declined, and it is understandable. She is not from Sopan Province, and is unaware of the protocol for this ceremony. Please, allow me to explain it to her.”

Valfarn merely nodded.

“Maelgyn,” Euleilla whispered, “I won’t do it. He has no right—”

“He has every right,” Maelgyn sighed. “In this case, you must answer his questions.”

“But—”

“Do you want to be my wife?” he asked desperately.

That brought her up short. Slowly, she nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“Then you have to show him,” Maelgyn explained. When Euleilla did nothing to protest, he smiled sadly at her. She would have to show her eyes, but maybe he could make it more comfortable for her. “Milord Valfarn,” he called.

“Yes, Milord Maelgyn?”

Maelgyn straightened his stance, and in his most commanding tone, ordered, “Clear the room.”

Baron Mathrid, unable to restrain himself, stepped forward. “What is the point of this? All Lord Valfarn wants is to see the eyes of the girl. Why is that such an issue?”

Maelgyn raised an eyebrow. “Baron Mathrid, the right to protect a secret has customarily been granted in these inquiries. In order to show her eyes, my wife will have to also display something she would rather be kept hidden.”

“Like what?” Mathrid protested. “A tattoo on her forehead, perhaps?”

Maelgyn stiffened at that, although Euleilla didn’t seem to know what he was talking about. A certain tattoo on someone’s forehead could indicate any number of crimes, and the implication that she was a criminal disgusted him.

“Never,” he snapped. “There are no tattoos on my wife’s forehead – this I swear.”

“Mathrid,” Valfarn warned, looking thoughtful. “Leave us. The rest of you, as well. If what she is hiding is something I feel should be explained, trust me, I will explain it.”

“Milord!” Mathrid exclaimed.

“Mathrid!” Maelgyn barked, his voice frosty. “If you continue to impugn the honor of my wife, then I assure you things will not be pleasant for you should my claim to the Dukedom of Sopan be upheld.”

Mathrid opened his mouth to reply, and then closed it. “My apologies, my lord,” he finally said. “I do not mean to offend you, or your wife. I merely wish to know that the ones who are put into lordship over me and my people are truly the ones who should lead us.”

“That, Mathrid, is why
I
am here,” Valfarn said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

One by one, the barons slowly filed out of the room. Mathrid was the last to leave, sending a fierce glare back over his shoulder, but he left as well.

Maelgyn glanced over his shoulder, noticing El’Athras and the remaining representatives of the new alliance were still present. “Gentlemen, I asked for the room to be cleared. That includes you, my friends.”

“We respect your privacy, we do,” Wangdu agreed. “And never let it be said otherwise.”

The Elf led the others back out of the Great Hall, taking Onayari on his arm courteously. Finally, the doors closed behind them, leaving Maelgyn and Euleilla alone in the large chamber with Valfarn. The older lord leaned back in the chair and smiled darkly.

“All right, so what was such an important secret that even your own friends may not know it? After all, they are only eyes, aren’t they?”

“Why?” Euleilla asked, voice trembling – with fear or anger, Maelgyn couldn’t tell.

“Why what?”

“Why do you want to see them?”

Valfarn shrugged. “Originally, I had no other real questions. Your hair, however, irritates me – I want to push it aside, and see what’s beneath. Now, however, I am quite curious about this secret.”

Euleilla laughed sadly. “I’m afraid the secret is that I cannot show you my eyes.”

“What? But you agreed—”

“Because I no longer have eyes,” she explained, lifting her hair.

Valfarn stared at the scars, looking momentarily ill. “Dear god... what happened to you?”

“I was attacked,” she explained. “Twice. Once for each eye, by two different individuals.”

“Who?” he exclaimed.

When she didn’t answer after a minute, Maelgyn answered for her. “An assassin for a mining conglomerate attacked her father, an alchemist working for a rival business. There was an explosion, and the blast... well, let’s just say that took care of the first eye.”

“And the second?”

Maelgyn winced. “I said her foster father was Admiral Ruznak, and that, milord, is true. However... he is her second foster father. Her first, an old friend of her father’s, was a violent drunk on a fairly regular basis after the news of her father’s passing. One night... if an approximately ninety-year old Admiral Ruznak hadn’t still been in fighting shape, she might have had worse injuries than blindness.”

Valfarn nodded. “I can see why you might want to hide your scars, milady Euleilla, but you cannot keep it hidden forever. Soon, someone will notice that you are not able to see.”

“I can keep it hidden,” she said. “For, even without eyes, I am not blind.”

“How?” the elder lord exclaimed doubtfully.

Maelgyn sighed, and pulled from a hidden pocket in his robes a bag full of magic powder. “Here,” he said. “Show him.”

“Fine,” she said, dumping out the contents of the pouch. Around her a slow spiraling stream of the iron dust formed.

Valfarn’s eyes widened. “You’re a mage!”

“Indeed,” she said, smiling enigmatically.

“A powerful one,” Maelgyn noted. “Not certified, but I will attest that she is a First Rate. I’ve only encountered one mage who
might
have been more powerful, and that was that accursed Prince Hussack of Sho’Curlas – who held off the entire Svieda Castle Guard, singlehanded.”

“But... how can magic help her see?” he asked, confused. “I understood it could only be used to affect metallic elements, and only some of those.”

“I do not see,” she answered. “I am merely not blind.”

“She can sense latent magic,” Maelgyn explained. “And anything else magic might effect. Also, through the use of magic powder, she can feel most of the area around her. She has... problems... in some situations, such as heavy wind or rain. It takes more of her concentration to ‘see’ when something is blowing against or tamping down her magic powder. In most cases, however, she can ‘see’ better than you or I can.”

Valfarn nodded slowly. “I understand. But still, that doesn’t explain why you wish to keep it so secret. Are you truly willing to defy the entire council of barons and myself to do it?”

Maelgyn turned to see Euleilla’s answer, himself, not really sure of her mind on this.

“I do not want to be judged on my eyesight or lack thereof,” she stated. “The people and barons of this land will grant me whatever respect they have without knowing of my blindness, or that respect will be tainted in my mind.”

Valfarn gave an understanding nod. “Then you won’t be judged upon it.” He stood up, and stepped down from the chair. “Your Highness, please take your Seat. Sopan Province is yours. Milady, none shall find out your secret from me.”