The Crimson Crown (42 page)

“On our way back from the council meeting, Alister surprised us in the tunnels just outside Aerie House,” his father said. “Or, perhaps we should say, we surprised him.”

Micah looked from Fiona to his father. “What happened?”

“He attacked me with a knife,” Lord Bayar said. “No doubt he intended to finish what he started that day at the market.”

“Why would he use a knife?” Micah asked, noting that his father seemed none the worse for wear. “An amulet would be—”

“Perhaps mine was meant to be the next body to surface in Ragmarket. Or Southbridge, since Ragmarket has been reduced to ash. Fortunately, we were able to overpower him.”

He reached into a strongbox next to his chair and lifted out an object. “To our surprise and delight, he was carrying this.” He handed it across to Micah.

The blood-colored metal rippled like flame in Micah’s hands. He traced the sharp edges with his fingertips, touched the rubies in their elaborate settings. “The Crimson Crown? Where would he get this? And why would he bring the crown of the gifted kings to a murder?”

“We assumed it was because he’d just come from the armory,” Fiona said. “He hadn’t had time to stow it first.”

“So
Alister
has the armory?” Micah said, stunned.

“He did,” Lord Bayar said, with a feral smile. “And now
we
have it.”

“Where is it?” Micah demanded, his mind leaping ahead. With the armory, there might be a way to…

“I am not going to allow you to put the armory at risk, charging off to rescue our round-heeled queen,” Lord Bayar said bluntly.

Before Micah knew what he was doing, he was out of his chair, standing over his father, fists clenched to keep from taking hold of his amulet. “What? You can’t be serious.”

His father thrust out a hand. “Sit down.”

Seething, Micah sat.

“Don’t you see how perfect this is?” Lord Bayar said. “While we consolidate our power among the gifted, the southerners will finish off the Gray Wolf line. Our hands are perfectly clean. That opens the way for us to come back to power—on our own this time. We will establish a permanent line of gifted kings.”

“And queens,” Fiona put in, scowling at their father.

“And the copperheads?” Micah said. “What about them?”

“We don’t need them anymore,” Lord Bayar said, all but rubbing his hands together. “With any luck, they will choose to die defending our mixed-blood queen.”

Micah tried to swallow down the metallic taste on his tongue, the words that crowded up in his mouth, begging to be spoken.

No. It’s Raisa’s life, he thought. I have to find a way. To buy time, he rose, crossed to the sideboard, and poured again. Then he leaned his hips back against the bar and faced his father and sister. If he exhibited any sign of weakness, he was done.

“Do you think so?” Micah said, swirling the liquor in his glass. “Do you think the southerners will finish the Gray Wolf line? Or will Gerard Montaigne marry in, like he proposed to do back at midsummer? That will buy him a legitimate claim to the throne, and it might win over the Valefolk.”

“Do you think our headstrong queen will marry Montaigne after she refused to marry you?” His father shook his head. “She’d cut her own throat first.”

Probably, Micah thought, but didn’t speak it aloud. “You would be surprised how practical Raisa can be when the situation demands it.”

Not practical enough to marry you
, a voice said in his head. But that could change.

“If Montaigne marries Raisa, who knows what the copperheads will do?” Micah said. “They trade with the southerners, and they both like the idea of wizards in collars. Copperheads were the ones who came up with the idea in the first place. I’ll bet they’re willing to make more.”

Micah paused, letting his words sink in. He was making headway with his father—he could tell from the storm clouds on his face.

“I haven’t seen the armory,” Micah said, “but I’ll take your word that it’s a fabulous asset. It may win all of the gifted to your side, but it won’t be enough.”

Setting his untouched glass down, Micah paced back and forth, pounding his fist into his palm with each point. “The gifted have been hit hard by Ardenine attacks. Our numbers are the lowest they’ve been in years. If we want to evict the southerners, we need an army, and we don’t have one. We can’t get one, either, at least not overnight. Arden’s bought them all up.

“Remember the copperhead saying—arrows are quicker than jinxes. We may not need the copperheads, but we need
somebody
to stand between us and the Ardenine Army, catching arrows while we cast our charms. As soon as the army gains control of the city, they’ll turn to us.”

“We’re safe here on Gray Lady,” Fiona said. “Let the southerners try to climb through our barricades with a dozen wizards raining charms down on their heads.”

“A dozen wizards,” Micah said sarcastically. “That’s how many are here? At this point, Arden has at least that many. We may be better armed, but numbers will tell. Besides, how long can we last up here? What do we have in the way of food? Do either of you know?”

After a long charged silence, his father shook his head. “We don’t keep much food on hand because we’re so rarely in residence. There’s no way of knowing what’s dispersed among the families up here, but I’m sure that—”

“You’re sure that everyone else will share with you?” Micah laughed. “Maybe you can trade amulets for food.”

“Maybe we can,” Fiona said acidly.

“I wouldn’t bet my life on that,” Micah said. “Wizards don’t play well together, and they hate being ruled by us. How long before talk about your copperhead chance child begins to surface again? Don’t forget—the Demon King held the armory, and it didn’t save him.”

“Things are different now,” Fiona said, with desperate confidence. “Given the threat from the southerners, the gifted will do what’s in their best interest.”

“We need all parts of the Fells to survive,” Micah said. “The Vale is where the food comes from—especially now that we’re at war with the south. Not only that, Queen Raisa is beloved in the Vale. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I have. If we are allied, they will fight for her. If we retreat to the mountains, we’ll be the copperheads of the southern regime—marginalized, sneaking about in the uplands, getting off a nasty charm now and then.”

Lord Bayar slammed his hands on the table and pushed to his feet. “You cannot let your lust for a woman cloud your head!”

Micah faced his father across the table. “Like you never did,” he said, his voice low and venomous.

Lord Bayar went white to the lips, his blue eyes like sapphires against his pasty skin.

“I’ll do this with you or without you,” Micah said. “I’ll get into bed with the bloody copperheads, too, if that’s what it takes.” He paused. “They have a wizard of their own, thanks to you.” Micah squared his shoulders and met his father’s frigid gaze, those eyes that had withered him so often in the past.

Lord Bayar looked away first. He strode to the sideboard and splashed three fingers of brandy into a glass. He turned back to face Micah, a hint of grudging admiration in his eyes.

“Very well, then. You’ve made your point. But I will not risk our limited gifted
assets
, as you call them, to break the siege on Fellsmarch castle without a commitment from the queen.”

“Father,” Fiona began heatedly, “don’t listen to him. This is just another—”

“Shut up, Fiona.” Lord Bayar shot a warning look at her and returned to the table. “All right, Micah,” he said. “Let’s see how persuasive you can be. Go down to the capital. Tell the queen that she must return with you to Gray Lady and marry you if she wants to save her skin. We will establish a court here and use all of our resources to drive the southerners and their allies from the Fells.”

“And if she refuses?”

“Then she’s on her own.” His father’s eyes glittered. “But I’m sure you won’t let that happen.”

Micah eyed his father warily. “Where is the armory? I’ll need some kind of proof if I’m going to convince the queen.”

“You’ll see it when you return.
If
you return. You’d best be on your way if you want to beat the southern army. Assuming your personal charm won’t win the day, take the Crimson Crown with you as proof.” He paused and tacked on a mocking smile. “We’ll tell your lady mother to prepare for a wedding. The woman needs something to do.”

The conversation was over, Micah could tell. He stood, unsettled by this turn of events. His father and Fiona had teamed up in his absence. Could he trust his father to keep his promise?

He really had no choice. Once the Ardenines established a cordon with their mages, it would be doubly difficult to spirit Raisa away.

Resolve hardened within him. His father would keep his promise, one way or another. Micah tucked the Crimson Crown into his carry bag, still looking for a better hand to play. Clearly, his father wasn’t going to show him the armory. Might there be a way to find it on his own? Not that it would do him any good, by himself, but…“What about Alister?” Micah asked casually, drawing his riding gloves back on. “Is he still downstairs?”

“The thief?” Lord Bayar cocked his head, as if surprised at the question. “He’s dead, of course.” He reached down, groping in the strongbox at his side, and came up with a cloth bag. He tossed it toward Micah, and it landed on the table with a clank. “Here are Alister’s belongings, save the Waterlow amulet,” he said. “Feel free to present them to the queen.”

Raisa’s decimated council awaited her in the hall where General Klemath had meant to ambush her. The assembly included Char Dunedain, Lassiter Hakkam, Amon, Cat, and Nightwalker, standing in for her father.

Not a wizard among them. But two women, at least. That was progress, wasn’t it?

Amon looked haggard—hollow-eyed with worry. He stood when Raisa entered, but when she waved them back to their seats, he sat and rested his hands on his trousered knees.

Cat took the seat closest to the door. Raisa’s uncle, Lord Hakkam, sat as far as possible from Cat, radiating disapproval at her presence.

“Let’s begin with General Dunedain,” Raisa said. “Char, can you give us an update?”

“Private Abbott has returned,” Dunedain said. “She got in late last night, after you’d gone to bed.”

“Thank the Lady,” Raisa said. A strong swimmer, Talia had volunteered to swim through the water gate and make contact with supporters outside. “Have you spoken to her? what did she say?”

“I wish I had better news,” Dunedain said. “The Demonai harassed the flatlanders all the way through the mountains, but didn’t stop them. Then a group of young wizards ambushed Montaigne’s forces just as they descended into the Vale. They had some success, but Montaigne’s wizards launched a counterattack, and ours retreated. Some were captured, and were either conscripted or burned alive. The Ardenine Army broke through two days ago, and now they’re marching across the Vale with nothing between us and them save some loyalist farmers.

“We expect Montaigne will be here day after tomorrow; in three days at the latest,” Dunedain continued. “We also received a bird from Chalk Cliffs. A small army of highlanders has collected there from the out-flung keeps, awaiting orders. There aren’t nearly enough to challenge Klemath’s mercenaries, let alone Montaigne’s oncoming army.”

“We’ve received word from West Gate,” Amon said. “Apparently, Montaigne sent a small force up through Tamron, into the Fens, meaning to take the keep and prevent escape that way.” A faint smile came and went. “Dimitri Fenwaeter reports that Montaigne’s soldiers mysteriously disappeared in the misty marshes.”

Once again, I owe Dimitri
gylden
, Raisa thought. I hope I live long enough to pay it back. “Have we heard from Gray Lady?” she asked.

Amon shook his head. “I don’t think we can look for help from them. They’re not even responding to our messages.”

“Why won’t they come?” Raisa wrapped her arms around herself. “Why wouldn’t they come now, before the Ardenine Army arrives?”

Amon tightened his jaw. “I’m guessing they’re worried that if they leave Gray Lady undefended, Montaigne may detour and take advantage. If Montaigne’s wizards are still poorly equipped, he might hope to recover flashcraft from the Council House. With better weapons, he could win control of all of the Seven Realms.”

“We could use better weapons ourselves right now.” Raisa paused, swallowing hard before she continued. “What about the High Wizard? Lord Alister? Is there any news of him?”

Amon shook his head. “Nothing at all. Perhaps he’s on Gray Lady with the others.”

“Maybe the Wizard Council will act once the flatlanders have committed themselves,” Lord Hakkam said.

“Once they’ve surrounded us, you mean?” Raisa snapped. She couldn’t help herself.

“Or…” Hakkam spread his fingers. “Perhaps we can still negotiate with King Gerard.”

“Negotiate?” Nightwalker said. “Let him take his army back to the flatlands and dismiss his mercenaries, and then we will talk.”

“Perhaps he felt that he had no choice but to invade, given the cost of the civil war in Arden and his need for capital,” Hakkam said. “Desperate men do desperate things. Arden, Tamron, and the Fells were joined once before—to everyone’s advantage. As long as the nobility retain their holdings and titles, it may be that life wouldn’t—”

“We were joined under the rule of the Gray Wolf queens of the Fells,” Raisa said. “Not under the heel of Arden.”

“We could propose a loose confederation,” Hakkam persisted. “Where each realm is independent, save for international affairs. King Gerard remains unmarried. A marriage between Queen Raisa and Gerard would raise our profile among the—”

“The Fells is not yours to give away, Lord Hakkam,” Nightwalker said. “It is sacred ground.”

“I’m not saying give it away,” Lord Hakkam blustered. “Just…lend it a while until we can regain our footing.”

“You would give our queen away, too? Or is she a loan also?” Nightwalker snorted in disgust.

Bless you, Nightwalker, Raisa thought.

“No one likes this situation, but we have to be realistic,” Hakkam said. He counted off on his jeweled fingers. “We have no army. The Wizard Council is in disarray. Montaigne has two armies, including mercenaries who know this queendom and its strongholds as well as we do. They also have gifted support, though we don’t know how much.”