The King's Peace (27 page)

"He sent asking for help against Urdo," she said. "He sent to all the kings and all the lords, everywhere. He asked us to be ready to help him." The implication of this hit me rather thoroughly at once in the pit of my stomach.

"They'll think it's war." I realized I was reaching for my sword only when my hand jarred at my empty belt. Had Urdo possibly planned to remove Flavien? His father had been a traitor, but Borthas was dead. I thought of Urdo's table piled up with urgent things that needed doing. I thought of what he and Raul had been shouting at each other. "I am sure that is not what's in Urdo's mind," I said, as firmly as I could. "I spoke to Urdo just before we left, and everything he said was to do with moving troops to be ready when the truce ends with the Jarns. They are allied now, Sweyn and Ayl and Ohtar Bearsson of

Bereich. Urdo's planning to go back down to Caer Tanaga soon, to be there by the time I get there. I don't think Tinala's in any danger from Urdo at all. But gods help us, Mother, he asked me to bring three pennons from here, and he is gathering in pennons from elsewhere to swell his alae. If Flavien has written to all the kings and then they see Urdo gathering in troops, what will they think? Will they take up arms against us?"

"Some will," said Veniva. "And whether Urdo fights them or not, then the Jarns will have us. It will all be the same as when Avren died."

"Only worse," said Duke Galba, looking grim. "I will send to all who trust me to tell them Urdo is no fool and will not do it, on your word Sulien. I would have sent Flavien no help in any event, but there are many who would."

"What gods do they want to rule in this land!" I said, forgetting to be quiet. People turned and looked, and then looked away. Galba and Emlin took a step towards me, then stopped as I waved them away. "Yes, what gods?" I asked again, quieter, a thought coming to me.

"Who benefits most from this? Maybe it was not Flavien who sent the message. He may be
Page 97

a fool and afraid, and surely his sister is angry with Urdo, but would he be such a fool as to do that unprovoked? Maybe. But maybe it was Sweyn who sent.

Did you know the messenger?" Duke Galba shook his head.

"She was a woman of the north," he said. "She had the accent and the look of Tinala."

"Or Tevin?" I asked. He drew in a sudden breath.

"When we have eaten, let us all sit down and talk and see exactly what we know," said Veniva, decisively. "After that there will be time for sending messengers when we know exactly what we want to say and who to say it to. It must be half a month since you left Caer Avroc. Who knows what might have happened."

"I have got to get back to Urdo. I have to take the ala to him. You can do better than I can to calm fears of allied kings."

"As you say," said Duke Galba. Then he put his hand on mine. Behind him I could see Galba and Aurien, their heads bent together in the lamplight. "We are allies, Sulien, we are one family already. We will stand together, and we will stand by your word as the High King's." This was the first real trust that had been given me as praefecto, and I drew myself up to be worthy of it. I realized suddenly how much Urdo's trust in me meant—

not just that the near three hundred people of an ala were within my command, but that I could sway the great events of the island. My position made me an equal to Galba, and to my mother, and between us we could stop this new civil war before it was begun.

"You can leave immediately after the wedding," Veniva said. "Some of the messengers can set out tonight. Whether or not it was Sweyn who sent, we can say that it was.

Everyone fears the Jarns. Most people will be uncertain what to do, and decisive action now will catch them if we are in time."

She caught a signal from a servant and raised her hand to signal dinner. Duke Galba took my arm to lead me in. Gwien and Veniva led the way, then Galba and Aurien, Duke Galba and I, Uthbad and Idrien, then Morien and Kerys ap Uthbad. Cinvar ap Uthbad came last, alone, looking a little sourly at me. We went into the family alcove, the others followed, and Daldaf fussed around seating them in other alcoves. I saw Duncan and Emlin and others I knew, mixed with strangers. The dining hall looked splendid, hung about with pennon banners like the one at Caer Tanaga. Veniva smiled at me as she sat beside Gwien. I realized that she was dealing with a crisis without suggesting sending to ask anyone for help. Show your mother that you've grown up, Urdo had said. It seemed to me that she had grown up a great deal, too.

—18—

I have been a prize in a game

I have been a queen on a hill

From far and far they flocked to see me.

White am I, among the shadows, My shoulder is noted for its fairness The two best men in all the world have loved me.

My crown is of apple, bough and blossom.

They wear my favor but my arms are empty.

The boat drifts heedless down the dark stream.

— "The Three Great Queens of the Island of Tir Tanagiri"

As I came up to the shining citadel of Caer Tanaga my heart rose. It always did at the sight of those gleaming walls and rising towers. They seemed graceful and airy even in the last of the light in a day made darker by icy rain. We had made very good time. The banner of the ala of Caer Gloran was flying under the flag of the kingdom, but no other ala banners. We were here before Urdo. Emlin looked at me inquiringly as I drew Beauty to a halt and called the decurios
Page 98

up.

"Find everyone barracks. Sort it out with ap Rhun. The place is going to be crowded, and I don't doubt lots of us will be sleeping in tents, but not tonight. Let them get to the baths, they've earned it." They smiled at me. They looked tired. We had come half the breadth of Tir Tanagiri in six days. We had taken the ferry crossing at Aberhavren and.ridden as fast as we could without hurting the horses. We were here. We had done what we could. Galba and Uthbad and my father had sent out messengers to all those who trusted them, or might trust them, to keep the country calm. I had written to the commanders, though I did not know them well and did not know what weight my words might have with such as ap Mardol and Luth of the Breastplate. I did not know yet if this had done any good.

The decurios led the troops off to see to the horses. I took Beauty myself into his familiar stable. Sorrow for Apple swept over me in a great wave and almost bore me down as I went inside. Tears came into my eyes. This had been his home for so long. It still seemed to smell of him. I chased off the grooms and cleaned and settled Beauty myself.

Then I went to say hello to Starlight, who was outside in the near field. She was grown now, and trained. She came to me at once, protesting that she had missed me, she was desolate, though it was clear she had been very well looked after and regularly exercised. I had to make my mind up soon whether to ride her or breed her this year. I had been intending to breed her. Now she was grown she was one of the most beautiful greathorses I had ever seen, with perfect coloring and clear markings. She looked like her mother, the High King's Twilight, except for the star she had on her head. But now, without Apple, I would need another mount if there was war, and there would be war. I could not decide. I was telling her Garah would be home soon and promising her a ride as soon as day came, when Marchel came out into the field towards me.

"Ap Gwien?" she called.

"Here!" I said.

"I might have thought to look here first," she said. "I mean, greetings and welcome to Caer Tanaga, and can you please come in right now because you're needed urgently."

I left Starlight and walked towards her. I looked at her in surprise. "Urgently? But Urdo isn't here yet—"

"Just come on." I followed her out and into the streets. The night was closing in already. "Urdo isn't here, no. The Queen is here, and I am here, and we have a Jarnish visitor who came with half a company of infantry and assorted followers, including a couple of wellborn Jarnish women, one of them young and veiled, which means unmarried among their people. And he won't talk to foreigners, as he so politely puts it." She snorted.

"A Jarnish visitor?" I followed her up the street. "What are you talking about? From Guthrum of Cennet?"

"Nobody I know. A stranger. He has a herald's branch, but he has not given his name nor accepted the peace of the hall. Why would Guthrum send like that? With women? You know how much that is against their custom."

"I thought he might send word if he has heard of civil war brewing among the Tanagan kings.

Flavien ap Borthas, or possibly Sweyn, is trying to stir up trouble among them.

That's why I rushed back. Or he might want to tell us if Sweyn is offering him an alliance."

"This man came from the east, not the southeast, but he might have come from Cennet through Aylsfa. I hadn't thought of that. He came from across the river. He is clearly a person of some consequence, and he has the troops with him. He has given up his weapons in accordance with the herald-peace. He said he wanted to see the king. He was disappointed that he wasn't here yet, and demanded to see the war-leader." Marchel was almost running, and I lengthened my stride to keep up. "When I got there he took one look at at me and refused to
Page 99

talk. He has spoken inconsequentialities about the weather with the Queen and asked politely if she is increasing, but he demands to speak with the king or a high-ranking Tanagan officer. He is here under a herald's peace, and he cannot eat or drink and make himself our guest-friend until he explains himself."

"That's ridiculous," I said. "Anyway, he might break bread with the Queen and give his business, he's unlikely to find himself across a spear from her. Or surely there are some strict priests here?" Priests of the White God swore to do no more harm to creatures of the world than they must. There were different schools of thought as to what was meant by must, some even going to the ridiculous length of saying that they should forego killing animals to eat. There were a number who considered that it precluded them from taking up arms except in immediate and personal self-defense. Such people were often used as heralds.

"He will have no priest near him." Marchel sighed.

"He can't be from Guthrum then. Guthrum is as devout a follower of the White God as even Father Gerthmol would wish."

"He is," said Marchel, very shortly. I sighed. We were never going to agree about matters of the gods, for as a follower of the White God she was never content to allow others to go about their worship in their own way.

"He ought to talk to you anyway. It's discourtesy not to."

"Oh and I know as much, but if he fears treachery from the Jarns and thinks I am one, then who knows? His brains may be completely addled, but he is dressed like a Jarnish noble and claims to be a herald. If we can't find out what he wants it's very difficult to know what to do with him."

We came up into the citadel and waved at the guard, who passed us in after a very perfunctory ritual challenge. Ap Rhun came out and called after us, asking me how many pennons I had brought and needed feeding. "Four," I called, as Marchel rushed me along.

"The decurios will see you about them." Ap Rhun had shadows under her eyes and looked unhappy.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked.

"Too much work, as usual. And I expect she wants to kill the queen for being prettier than she is." Marchel laughed.

"Ap Rhun's a good key-keeper, not just Urdo's leman," I protested.

"She'll be looking after another of his fortresses soon if he has any tact," said Marchel.

"The Queen's running her ragged trying to find everything out. Come on, he's in here."

They had put them in one of the smaller halls, but it looked huge and unfriendly and full of shadows. It was lit by a few wax candles around the walls. He was sitting on one of the carved chairs, and indeed, he looked just like a Jarnish nobleman, golden hair and beard and barbarian clothes in good dyed wool and leathers. He was about forty years old and looked well used to fighting. I had never seen him before, which made it very unlikely he was one of Ayl's people. We had been fighting them fairly regularly for years, and most of their great men were familiar to me. He might be from Sweyn. He straightened in his chair as Marchel walked in. He looked anxious and uncomfortable.

Marchel advanced into the room. "I bring to you the Praefecto of Urdo's Own Ala," she began.

The Jarn rose, looking relieved. I followed her in and bowed to the Jarn. He bowed to me, but the look on his face changed from relief to dismay. He muttered a word under his breath in his own language.

"I thought the Praefecto of Urdo's Own Ala was Osvran ap Usteg?" he said, in even and polite tones, but looking at me suspiciously.

"He was, but he was most regrettably killed at Caer Lind, and I now have that responsibility. I hope you have been made welcome in Caer Tanaga?" I asked.

"He has spoken to me but not broken bread with me," said a very low sweet voice in the
Page 100

doorway. She spoke in Tanagan although we had been speaking Vincan, as I always did with Marchel. I turned and saw a woman who could only be Elenn ap Allel, Queen of Tir Tanagin. She was even more beautiful than Angas had said, as beautiful for a woman as Starlight was for a mare. I had never seen anyone like her. She wore a very simple overdress in slate blue. She had a heart-shaped face and deep dark eyes. Her hair was as black as a raven's wing, and bound around it was a silver circlet set with pearls. It must have been an heirloom of her house, but it suited her as it would suit almost nobody else.

In stories flowers grow up in the footsteps of exceptionally beautiful women, and I almost looked to see if this was the case with Elenn. She was holding a taper in one hand. I bowed to her as she came forward and began to light more tapers around the walls.