The King's Bastard (37 page)

Piro tickled the foenix's chest. 'How's my pretty?'

His chest scales were becoming more pronounced. Eventually they would be hard as armour to protect him in mating fights. She wasn't sure how long it took for a foenix to mature but she hoped they would be able to capture a female for him.

'Here he is, Temor,' her mother said, her voice carrying in the quiet of the menagerie.

Piro came to her feet, creeping between the hothouse plants. What was her mother doing here with the captain? Had Byren come back?

They had entered through the far door and now they stood in front of the unistag enclosure. The creature had a stall, fresh hay and space to wander but Piro had always felt sorry for him. He should have been wandering the high mountains, lithe as a mountain goat. Instead he'd spent all his life here, after being captured as a new-born by her grandfather, founder of 'Mad King Byren's menagerie.'

Temor lifted a horse's halter and stepped through the gate, advancing on the unistag making soft noises. It would have worked with a horse, but this was an Affinity beast, never meant to wear a halter.

The unistag reared, spinning on its rear legs, cantering off to the far side of the enclosure.

Her mother opened the gate and entered. 'I'll herd it towards you.'

'That will never work,' Piro told them, climbing onto the top rail of the fence. Her foenix flew up to land next to her.

Both Temor and her mother gave a guilty start, which intrigued Piro.

'You can't capture a unistag, you must woo him.' She jumped down. 'Go back and let me show you.'

It was only when they latched the gate that she realised how dangerous this was. The unistag had been one of her friends for years, but more recently it had become very fond of her because she let it absorb the excess Affinity from her skin by licking her fingers. This had helped her limit her use of dreamless-sleep. She hated the way the drug made her feel thick-headed and stupid. Since she'd begun feeding the unistag her unwanted Affinity, the beast's coat had improved and its spiral horn gleamed again.

It trotted over, intelligent silvery eyes fixed hopefully on her, velvet muzzle quivering, but she didn't want to betray her Affinity in front of the others. She gathered her will to halt the build-up, finding it harder than she'd anticipated. It had become habit, and habit was hard to break. Too late, her fingers tingled with unwanted Affinity and the unistag snuffled eagerly. She put her back to her mother and Temor in the hope that this would hide what she was doing. The exchange worked on touch, so it was very isolated. She prayed that unless someone was looking for Affinity, they would not notice.

The rasping tongue of the unistag tickled and she smiled as she stroked his muzzle.

'There, see,' she called over her shoulder. 'He's friendly really. You just have to know the way to go about it. Why do you want to put a halter on him anyway?'

When she turned to face them, the unistag nuzzled her neck giving her goose bumps.

Temor and her mother exchanged glances.

'Could Captain Temor lead the unistag across the Dividing Mountains?' her mother asked.

Piro laughed. 'He couldn't lead him out of the enclosure.'

'But the unistag will follow you?' her mother prompted.

Piro nodded.

Temor sighed. 'We'll have to tell her. It won't work without Piro.'

'She'll have to go with you,' her mother agreed, not sounding pleased at all.

'Go where?' Piro asked, consumed with curiosity.

'But that means she will have to stay with the unistag as long as it is needed,' Temor countered.

'She'll need a disguise,' her mother said. 'I'm sure I can rig something to make her look like a goatherd from Unistag Spar. We've plenty of props in our stage craft chest.'

'I'm going to meet up with Byren?' Piro pounced on this eagerly.

Temor cleared his throat. 'It will be dangerous. Warlord Steerden is a ruthless man and even if this works, Lady Unace still has to take back the stronghold.'

'I'm going to help Byren win the warlord of Unistag's loyalty?' Piro guessed.

Her mother fixed on her. 'You'll have to obey your brother implicitly.'

Piro nodded. She could do whatever she liked. Byren always forgave her.

'No running off on escapades of your own.'

She shook her head. Only ones that would help Byren.

'You'll have to keep your mouth shut,' Temor warned, 'or your accent will give you away.'

'Arrh, but you're wrong there,' Piro countered.

A surprised laugh escaped Temor.

Her mother smiled. 'You always were a quick study.'

Piro basked in her mother's approval for a change.

'Very well,' the queen said. 'Temor, get Seela to pack enough food for the journey. No one must know you've been here. You'll leave as soon as possible.'

He hurried off.

Piro couldn't stand still, could hardly believe her luck.

'Come here,' her mother beckoned.

She darted over, stepping through the gate as her mother opened it. The queen snatched Piro's hand and lifted it to her face to inhale.

Piro froze. Could her mother sense the Affinity she'd used to lure the unistag?

Queen Myrella's eyes widened and Piro's heart missed a beat.

'You reek of Affinity. Why didn't you tell me, Piro?'

'Seela said -'

'Seela knew?'

Piro nodded. 'She told me not to tell you because you would be disappointed.'

The queen let her hand drop. She looked pale and her fingers trembled visibly. 'Oh, Piro. I am so sorry. Your father will be devastated.'

'We don't have to tell him. We can hide it,' Piro insisted. 'After all, you've been hiding yours for years!'

'Seela told you about me?' Her mother went even paler.

Piro nodded. 'I've been careful, just like you.'

'You just gave yourself away!'

'But only because you knew what to look for,' Piro insisted.

'The abbey mystics know. Our Affinity warders will guess -'

'They haven't so far and my Affinity came on at autumn cusp.'

'You'll give yourself away. I know you.' Her mother sank to sit on the lower rail of the enclosure, head in her hands.

Piro rubbed her back and the foenix came over, making soft interrogative noises in his throat. Piro knelt to reassure him, as well as her mother. 'I won't slip up. I stood right next to the mystics mistress at midwinter and she sensed nothing.'

Her mother lifted her face to Piro, black eyes swimming with tears. 'You've no idea what it means to live your life as a lie. Sometimes, I... but then I look at you children and think, if I'd joined the abbey, I wouldn't have you. Only now you and Fyn are both cursed. Oh, Piro, I'm so sorry!'

And then her mother... her proud, regal mother... burst into tears.

For a moment Piro stared, stunned. Then she put her arms around the queen's shaking shoulders. Tears stung her own eyes. She laughed at herself. 'Oh, Ma. It's not so bad. It's not like anyone's died!'

Her mother pulled back. 'But don't you see? It means the seer was right. And if she was right about us being alike, what else was she right about?'

The seer had forecast death for the queen's loved ones. Piro fought a moment's panic, then rallied. 'But the mystics mistress said there are many possible future paths. We're lucky we know about this one. Now we can make sure it doesn't happen!'

Her mother smiled through her tears, visibly regaining her composure and strength of purpose. 'I'm lucky to have you, Piro. For you the cup isn't half full or half empty, you're always topping it up.'

Piro laughed and her mother joined her. It felt good.

Byren had timed everything and planned for every contingency. He knew how long it would take Temor to trek back to Rolenhold and how long it would take to return with the unistag. If Temor arrived at the Lower Portals, the camp below the pass, before Byren did, he was to wait for him just off the track in a cave Byren had chosen.

Today was the day he had to fight with Unace and storm off with his men. She had been quick to understand his plan and embellish it, suggesting that he march off about mid-afternoon and then she could reconsider overnight and follow him the next morning, seeking reconciliation. This would explain how she happened to be in the high mountains to find the unistag.

Byren hadn't warned his men to pack. Their reaction had to look authentic. Lucky for him, the wait had given Garzik a chance to recover and he would be well enough to make the journey.

'There you are, Byren,' Unace announced as she strode into the open area in front of her snow-cave. They wanted a public place for the fight. 'I'm getting tired of this waiting game. My fighters need to be home by spring cusp to put their crops in. I need to take the stronghold and avenge the murder of my kinfolk.'

'I understand but my hands are tied,' Byren protested. 'I could support you if the warlord of another spar attacked Unistag, but not with an internal war.'

'What kind of man are you?' Unace demanded. 'Here I am, wronged, cast out, facing a ruthless kin-killer and you -'

'I can't -'

'You can't do anything. You're useless!'

There was a hushed intake of breath. The healer, who was the only other person to know of their plan, stepped in to play his part.

'Lady Unace,' he pleaded. 'Think -'

'Too late,' Byren snapped. 'Rolencia has been insulted. I cannot stay.' He glanced at the sun as if to gauge how much time he had before nightfall. 'We'll march now.'

'Lady Unace?' Seagrass repeated.

'Good riddance,' she snapped and strode into her snow-cave.

As Byren went back to his snow-cave, news travelled apace with him. Old fighters sent him worried looks, young men muttered under their breath. The scattering of women, some camp followers, the rest shield-maidens, exclaimed at the news then discussed the argument, their high voices carrying above the men's.

The healer caught up with Byren as if to try and persuade him to stay.

'We'll meet you at the Lower Portals, midday tomorrow,' he confirmed.

'All being well, Temor should be there with the unistag,' Byren whispered, then raised his voice. 'No. I won't be insulted. Tell her she can come crawling to me!'

By the time he entered his own fire circle the men knew. They were gathered uneasily, waiting for him.

'Orrie, see to the packing,' Byren ordered. 'We march as soon as we're able. I won't spend another night in this camp.'

Orrade left Garzik's side and approached him, speaking softly. 'Byren, stop and think. If Rolencia pulls out now -'

'Warlord Steerden may hear of it and open the gates to attack. So be it!' It had been a possibility he had discussed with Unace. People would think him ill-tempered and hasty. He'd thought himself ready for this but, now that he saw the disappointment in Orrade's eyes, he was surprised by how much it stung. Byren wished he could have been honest with Orrade of all people, but the fewer who knew about this trick, the more chance it had of succeeding.

He consoled himself with the thought that they would reach the Lower Portals just after dusk, where Temor and the unistag would be waiting just out of sight.

Piro perched on the ledge, watching the track below the Lower Portals, while trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. Now that their meeting was imminent, she realised Byren was not going to be pleased to see her, but she had their mother's support. As far as the rest of Rolenhold knew the kingsdaughter was in bed with a sore throat, refusing to see anyone but Seela.

Above her the sky gleamed like mother-of-pearl, but here on the steep slope twilight cloaked the jagged rocks. Chilled from sitting still for so long, Piro blew on her hands to warm them. The soft snort of a tired pony made her listen intently. Yes. They were coming.

She jumped from the ledge, running down the path to meet them and test her disguise. Would Byren and the others recognise her?

Taking up a stance, she leant against a rock, watching them come round the bend.

The first man-at-arms was tired and grumpy, obviously not looking forward to making camp in the dark.

'Out of the way, goatherd,' he muttered, brushing past her.

She stepped aside and let them pass. They hardly cast her a second glance. Out of devilment she fell into step beside Garzik's pony which Orrade was leading.

'Spare a coin for a poor goatherd, kind sor?' she whined, holding up a hand and cringing as if she expected to be kicked.

Orrade barely glanced at her, eyes on the track ahead. Garzik looked tired and his gaze went right through her. That's right. Temor said Garzik was recovering from the amfina bite, that explained Orrade's distraction. Trust Garzik to get in the way of an enraged amfina.

Piro spied Byren leading another pony.

'Spare a coin for a poor goatherd, kind sor?' she repeated, hand extended palm up. 'Please, sor.'

Byren frowned and felt in the pony's pack, pulling out a roast chicken wrapped in calico. He tore off a leg. 'Here, take this and be off with you.'