Magician (23 page)

Pug blanched. “You heard?”

Kulgan pointed to a spot where the
floor and wall met. “That fire-pot thing of yours exits the
wall a foot below there, and it seems a marvelous conduit for sound.”
Absently he said, “I’ll have to look to see how it
conducts sound so well when we return.” Returning to the boy,
he said, “In any event, I was working late and didn’t
mean to eavesdrop, but I heard every word.” Pug flushed. Kulgan
said, “I don’t mean to embarrass you, Pug. You acted
rightly and showed surprising wisdom.” Putting his hand upon
Pug’s shoulder, he said, “I’m not one to advise you
in such matters, I fear, as I’ve had scant experience with
women, of any age, let alone such young and headstrong ones.”
Looking Pug in the eyes, he said, “But this much I do know, it
is almost impossible in the heat of the moment to understand
long-term consequences. I am proud you were able to do this.”

Pug smiled self-consciously. “It
was easy enough, Kulgan, I just kept my mind focused on something.”

“What?”

“Capital punishment.”

Kulgan laughed, a sharp barking sound,
then said, “Very well, but the potential for disaster would be
as high for the Princess, too, Pug. A city-bred noblewoman of the
eastern court may indulge herself in as many lovers of any rank that
she can enjoy while maintaining discretion, but the only daughter of
a frontier duke who is so closely related to the king has no such
luxury. She must be above suspicion in all things. Even suspicion
could harm Carline. One who cares for her would take that into
consideration. Do you understand?”

Pug nodded, fully relieved now that he
had resisted temptation the night before.

“Good, I know you’ll be
careful in the future.” Kulgan smiled. “And don’t
mind old Tully. He’s just cross because the Duke ordered him to
stay behind. He still thinks he’s as young as his acolytes. Now
run along and get ready. Dawn’s less than an hour away.”

Pug nodded and hurried off, leaving
Kulgan to regard the piles of books before him. With regret he picked
the nearest one up and placed it on a nearby shelf. After a moment he
grabbed another and stuffed it into a sack. “Just one won’t
cause any harm,” he said to the invisible specter of Tully
shaking his head in disapproval. He put the rest of the books back on
the shelf, save the last volume, which he shoved into the sack. “All
right, then,” he said defiantly, “two!”

A
light wet snow was falling.

Pug shivered under his greatcloak,
sitting astride his horse. He had been in the saddle for the last ten
minutes, waiting as the rest of the Duke’s company made ready.

The courtyard filled with hurrying,
shouting men, lashing supplies onto the balky mules of the baggage
train. Dawn was just commencing, giving the courtyard a little color
instead of the blacks and grey that had greeted Pug when he came from
the tower. Porters had already carried his baggage down and were
securing it among the other items being brought along.

A panicked “Whoa!” erupted
behind Pug, and he turned to see Tomas pulling frantically at the
reins of a spirited bay, his head tossing high. Like Pug’s own
sleek, light war-horse, he was a far cry from the old draft animal
they had ridden to the site of the shipwreck. “Don’t pull
so hard,” Pug shouted. “You’ll saw at his mouth and
make him mad. Pull back gently and release a couple of times.”

Tomas did, and the horse quieted down,
moving alongside Pug’s own. Tomas sat as if the saddle had
nails sticking through it. His face was a study in concentration as
he tried to guess what the horse would do next.

“If you hadn’t been walking
post yesterday, you could have gone riding, getting in some practice.
Now I’ll have to teach you as we go.”

Tomas looked thankful for the promise
of aid. Pug smiled. “By the time we reach Bordon, you’ll
be riding like the King’s Lancers.”

“And walking like a ruptured
spinster.” Tomas shifted in the saddle. “Already I feel
like I’ve been sitting on a stone block for hours. After just a
little way from the saddling post.”

Pug jumped down from his horse and
looked over Tomas’s saddle, making Tomas move his leg so he
could examine under the saddle flap, then asked, “Who saddled
this horse for you?”

“Rulf Why?”

“I thought so. He’s paying
you back for threatening him about that sword, or because we’re
friends. He doesn’t dare threaten me anymore, now that I’m
a Squire, but he thinks nothing of knotting your stirrup leathers. A
couple of hours riding like this, and you’d be standing at
meals for a month, if you didn’t get pitched on your head and
killed. Here, get down and I’ll show you.”

Tomas dismounted, halfway between a
leap and a fall Pug showed him the knots “They would have
rubbed the inside of your thighs raw by the end of the day. And
they’re not long enough.” Pug took out the knots and
adjusted the leathers to the proper length. “It’s going
to feel very strange for a while, but you’ve got to keep your
heels down. I’ll remind you until you’re sick of hearing
it, but it’ll keep you out of trouble when you do it without
thought. And don’t try to grip with your knees; that’s
wrong, and it’ll make your legs so sore, you’ll hardly be
able to walk by tomorrow.” He went on with a few basic
instructions and inspected the cinch, which was loose. He tried
tightening it, and the horse sucked air. Pug struck the gelding a
blow in the side, and the animal exhaled sharply. Pug quickly pulled
the cinch strap and said, “Sometime today, you most likely
would have found yourself listing to one side, a most discomforting
position.”

“That Rulf!” Tomas turned
toward the stable. “I’ll thrash him within an inch of
death!”

Pug grabbed his friend’s arm.
“Wait We don’t have time for brawling.”

Tomas stood with fists clenched, then
relaxed with a relieved sigh. “I’m in no condition for
fighting, anyway.” He turned to see Pug inspecting the horse.

Pug shook his head, then winced. “Me
too.” He finished inspecting the saddle and bridle, and the
horse shied. Pug gentled the horse. “Rulf’s also given
you a temperamental mount. This fellow would have probably thrown you
before noon, and be halfway back to the stable before you hit the
ground With sore legs and shortened stirrup leathers, you never would
have stood a chance. I’ll trade with you.”

Tomas looked relieved and struggled
into the saddle of the other horse Pug readjusted the stirrups for
both riders “We can swap our travel rolls when we take our noon
meal.” Pug then soothed the high-strung war-horse and climbed
nimbly into the saddle. Feeling surer hands at the reins, and a firm
leg on either side, the gelding quieted.

“Ho! Martin,” shouted Tomas
as the Duke’s Huntmaster walked into view. “Are you
traveling with us?”

A wry grin split the face of the
hunter, who was wearing his heavy green cloak over his forester’s
leathers. “For a short while, Tomas. I’m to lead some
trackers around the boundaries of Crydee. I’ll be heading due
eastward when we come to the south branch of the river. Two of my
trackers were on their way an hour ago, breaking trail for the Duke.”

“What do you think of this
Tsurani business, Martin?” Pug asked.

The still-youthful Huntmaster’s
face clouded. “If elves are given to worry, there is something
to worry over.” He turned toward the front of the assembling
line. “Excuse me, I must instruct my men.” He left the
boys sitting alone.

Pug asked Tomas, “How’s
your head this morning?”

Tomas made a face. “About two
sizes smaller than when I awoke.” His face brightened a bit.
“Still, the excitement seems to have stopped the banging
inside. I feel almost good.”

Pug gazed at the keep. Memories of his
encounter last night kept tugging at his mind, and suddenly he
regretted the need to travel with the Duke.

Tomas noticed his friend’s
pensive mood and said, “Why so glum? Aren’t you excited
about going?”

“It’s nothing. Just
thinking.”

Tomas studied Pug for a moment. “I
think I understand.” With a deep sigh, he sat back in the
saddle, and his horse stamped and nickered “I, for one, am glad
to be leaving. I think Neala has tumbled to that little matter we
spoke of yesterday.”

Pug laughed. “That will teach you
to be mindful of who you escort into pantries.”

Tomas smiled sheepishly.

The doors to the keep opened, and the
Duke and Arutha came out, accompanied by Kulgan, Tully, Lyam, and
Roland. Carline followed, with Lady Marna behind. The Duke and his
companions made their way to the head of the column, but Carline
hurried down to where Pug and Tomas sat. As she passed, guardsmen
saluted her, but she paid them no heed. She reached Pug’s side,
and when he bowed politely, she said, “Oh, get off that stupid
horse.”

Pug climbed down, and Carline threw her
arms around his neck, holding him closely for a moment. “Take
care and stay well,” she said. “Don’t let anything
happen to you.” She pulled away, then kissed him briefly. “And
come home.” Holding back tears, she hurried to the head of the
line, where her father and brother waited to say good-bye.

Tomas let out a theatrical whoop and
laughed, while Pug remounted; the soldiers nearby attempted to
restrain their own amusement. “It seems the Princess has made
plans for you, m’lord,” Tomas gibed. He ducked as Pug
stirred to give him a backhanded cuff. The motion caused his horse to
start forward, and suddenly Tomas was fighting to bring his horse
back into line. The horse seemed determined to go in any direction
except the one Tomas wished; now it was Pug’s turn to laugh. He
finally moved his own horse alongside Tomas’s and herded the
fractious mare back into line. She flattened her ears and turned to
nip at Pug’s horse, and the short boy said, “We both have
accounts to settle with Rulf; he gave us two horses that don’t
like each other, too. We’ll trade your mount off with one of
the soldiers.”

With relief Tomas half dismounted, half
fell to the ground, and Pug directed the exchange with a soldier down
the line. The exchange was made, and as Tomas returned to his place,
Roland came down to where they stood and offered them both his hand
“You two watch yourselves, now. There’s plenty of trouble
waiting out there without your looking for it.”

They acknowledged they would, and
Roland said to Pug, “I’ll keep an eye on things for you.”

Pug noticed his wry smile, glanced back
to where Carline stood with her father, and said, “No doubt,”
then added, “Roland, whatever happens, good luck to you, too.”

Roland said, “Thank you. I’ll
take that as it’s meant.” To Tomas he said, “And
things are certainly going to be dull without you around.”

Tomas said, “Given what’s
going on, dull would be welcome.”

Roland said, “As long as it’s
not too dull, right? Take good care! You’re a bothersome pair,
but I’d hate to lose you.”

Tomas laughed as Roland walked off with
a friendly wave. Watching the Squire go up to the Duke’s party,
and seeing Carline standing next to her father, Pug turned to Tomas.
“That decides it I am glad to be going. I need a rest.”

Sergeant Gardan came riding back with
orders to move the column, and they set off. The Duke and Arutha rode
in the van, with Kulgan and Gardan behind. Martin Longbow and his
trackers set off at a run beside the Duke’s horse. Twenty pair
of mounted guards followed, with Tomas and Pug nestled between them
and the baggage train at the rear with its five pair of guards.
Slowly at first, then with increasing speed, they moved through the
gates of the castle and down the south road.

They had been riding for three days,
the last two through dense woodlands. Martin Longbow and his men had
turned east that morning as they crossed the southern branch of the
river Crydee, called river Boundary. It marked the border between
Crydee and the Barony of Carse, one of Lord Borric’s vassal
provinces.

The sudden snows of early winter had
come and draped the autumn landscape in white. Many of the denizens
of the forest had been caught unaware by the sudden winter, rabbits
whose coats were still more brown than white, and ducks and geese who
scampered across half-frozen ponds, resting as they migrated south.
The snow fell in flurries of heavy wet flakes, melting slightly
during the day, to refreeze at night, making a thin crust of ice. As
the horses’ and mules’ hooves cracked through the ice,
the crunching of leaves underneath could be heard in the still winter
air.

In the afternoon Kulgan observed a
flight of firedrakes circling in the distance, barely visible through
the trees. The colorful beasts, red, gold, green, and blue in color,
raced over the treetops and dipped out of sight, then reappeared as
they spiraled upward, with cries and small bursts of flame. Kulgan
reined in as the train passed and waited for Pug and Tomas to
overtake him. When they were alongside, he pointed out the display,
saying, “It has the appearance of a mating flight. See, the
more aggressively the males act, the more responsive the females. Oh,
I wish we had time to study this more closely.”

Pug followed the creatures with his
eyes as they rode through a clearing, then, somewhat startled, said,
“Kulgan, isn’t that Fantus there, hovering near the
edge?”

Kulgan’s eyes widened. “By
the gods! I think it is.”

Pug asked, “Shall I call him?”

The magician chuckled “Given the
attention he’s receiving from those females, I think it would
do little good.” They lost sight of the congregation of drakes
as they rode after the Duke’s train. Kulgan said, “Unlike
most creatures, drakes mate at first snow. The females will lay eggs
in nests, then sleep the winter, warming them with their bodies. In
the spring the young hatch and are cared for by their mothers. Fantus
will most likely spend the next few days . . . ahem, fathering a
clutch of young. Then he’ll be back at the keep, annoying Megar
and the kitchen staff for the rest of the winter.”