The Last Quarrel (The Complete Edition) (17 page)

“Cut him off! Don’t let him get away!” Fallon shouted.

Devlin sprang to obey, racing forwards, guards following him. Fallon raced forwards as well, hauling back on his crossbow string, wanting to close the distance quickly. The unhurt man bounced to his feet and hared off again, leaving another sack behind in his bid to escape. But Devlin could move deceptively fast and he brought the man down, one of the guards clubbing him over the head as he struggled. Two guards then grabbed his arms and dragged the dazed man back.

Fallon finished the job of pulling back the string and slammed a quarrel into the bow’s channel, just in case. He was relieved not to have shot the man down. It was something he had trained for but he would have struggled to forgive himself for hitting an unarmed man in the back, no matter the reason.

He looked around at the other guards. “See lads, not much of a selkie, eh?” Pinched, scared faces and reluctant smiles told him his joke was not the best one ever. “So check the other huts – there could be more of them!”

He spotted Casey and tapped him on the shoulder. “Not you, lad. Stay with me.”

He walked over to the first man, who was crawling along, swearing and clutching at his leg. “Who are you?”

“Bog off!” the man growled, leaving his bleeding leg and producing a rusty knife from inside his tunic.

“Don’t be a fool. Drop the knife or I’ll have to hurt you again,” Fallon said.

Cursing, the man clambered to his feet, holding out the knife and waving it at Fallon.

“I warned you,” he said, walking forwards.

The man slashed at him but Fallon stepped to the side and kicked the man’s wounded leg. With a cry, the man collapsed again and he kicked him in the head, then stamped on his hand until he let go of the blade.

“Pick that up, lad, and then find some rope to tie him up. The Prince will want to talk to him,” he told Casey. “And smile! I told you that you’d be safe, didn’t I?”

Cavan inspected the two prisoners, one barely conscious, the other cursing and groaning with a crossbow bolt through the leg.

“And this was it?” he asked distastefully.

“Aye, highness. Looks like a pair of thieves rather than our mysterious attackers,” Fallon said. “This pair couldn’t take milk away from a baby, let alone steal the Duke.”

“Talk to me. Who are you?” Cavan snapped at the men. “Answer me true and you’ll live. Lie to me and I’ll see you hanged.”

“Bog off! I’ll not give you my name, let alone anything else.” The wounded man spat on the ground.

Fallon stepped close. “Perhaps you better step back over to the ship, highness, and get that wizard to fix the bow once more while I speak to this filthy little bogger. I’ll come and tell you what he knows.”

“You’re not going to torture him are you? I couldn’t allow that,” Cavan said sternly.

“Of course not, highness. But I’m going to let him think I might,” Fallon said with a wink.

Cavan hesitated but suspected the soldier was right. Appealing to a thief’s better nature was not going to help. “Agreed,” he said abruptly, turning and walking away.

“Very sensible, highness,” Eamon said. “You don’t want to be associated with that.”

Cavan nodded absently, watching as Finbar repaired the ship and Gallagher mustered the Baltimore men to use Killarney’s boats to haul it back off the shore. Fallon was the man he needed, he realised. Able to lead men, inspire them, get results and, above all, do it without Cavan being there.

“Highness?” Fallon asked and he turned to see the sergeant wearing a grim expression.

“Who are they?”

“A pair of runaway farmers from Meinster. Seems they couldn’t pay their taxes and eat, so they left their farm and ran. They’ve poached and thieved their way here. They saw the village was empty and thought it was their lucky day. So they ate until their bellies were full and then were going around grabbing everything of value they could find.”

“Are you sure?” Cavan asked.

“He wasn’t lying,” Fallon said steadily. “I promised to let his brother go if he told the truth, and that they were both dead if he lied. He believed me.”

Cavan was tempted to ask, then thought better of it. “So just petty thieves who saw nothing?”

“Afraid so, highness.”

Cavan nodded, disappointed.

“Well, leave them here. They have been punished enough. And we need to get back. We have wasted too much time on this already.”

On their return, Kynan and Finbar had swiftly disappeared from Baltimore, accompanied by the guards, leaving only Hagen, Niall and Eamon with the Duchess and Prince. After a quick round of the village, where they had been greeted ecstatically, Fallon had offered them the chance of a cool drink before their ride back to Lunster. Cavan had accepted politely and they all stepped inside Fallon’s home, where fresh water and a platter of honeycakes waited for them. But, once the door was shut, Cavan ignored the food and drink.

“Before we speak, I must know I can trust everyone. If you are not willing to risk displeasing my father, you should leave now,” Cavan said stiffly.

“You can trust us, your highness,” Fallon said instantly.

“My husband is missing. My loyalty is to him,” the Duchess said next.

Cavan glanced at the others, saw them nod their agreement and smiled. “Good,” he said. “My father sees this as the perfect opportunity to raise taxes without complaint. Who doesn’t want to be protected from selkies? He always says you must look for opportunities in chaos. We have to find a way to show him who is really behind it, so he focuses on stopping the attacks rather than on profiting from them.”

Fallon poured Cavan a cup of water and pushed it across the table. “So what would happen if we turned up at the capital with prisoners who were men, not selkies?” he asked.

Cavan accepted his water with a smile. “That is a dangerous course indeed. Someone powerful is behind all this. Breaking open such a plot will be risky.”

“But we have to do it. And with you to present the evidence to your father, how can we not be believed?” Fallon said.

Cavan opened his mouth to reply, only for Kerrin and Caley the dog to burst through the door.

“Mam! Do you know where the Prince went –?” Kerrin began but stopped cold when Eamon spun, hand going to his sword.

“It’s all right: it is my son Kerrin.” Fallon was on his feet swiftly and glaring at Eamon, who sat down without another glance and instead pulled the plate of honeycakes towards himself.

Fallon was about to usher Kerrin out when Caley began to growl at the newcomers. He stopped in shock – until that moment she had been the most good-natured dog he had come across. But she was not merely complaining about new people in the house. Her lips were pulled back and she was crouched down, growling deep in her throat, an angry noise he had never heard before.

“Get that dog out of here,” Eamon warned, hand going down to his sword again. “It’s wild.”

Kerrin was hanging onto Caley’s lead, but looking as though he would be dragged off his feet at any moment. Fallon grabbed her rope collar and hauled her out of the house, Kerrin close behind. Even there, Caley was growling in her chest, a constant rumble that lifted the hairs on the back of Fallon’s neck. “What’s the matter with her?” he asked.

“I don’t know, Dad! She was happy enough until she saw them,” Kerrin said, looking as though he was close to tears.

“It’s not your fault, son. What has she seen in them?” Fallon held her collar tight. “Or maybe she
smelled
something about them.”

But what does that mean? None of them could have had anything to do with the attack on the Dermot farm. But maybe they had come into contact with someone who did …

“What do I do with her, Dad?” Kerrin asked.

“Get her away, somehow,” Fallon said, although he could see no way of doing so. Caley was fighting to get back inside, her tail bristling.

“Need some help?” Padraig asked.

Fallon looked around to see both the old wizard and Sister Rosaleen hurrying up.

“It took a little convincing but the Sister is prepared to back me up,” Padraig said. “It was that King’s Wizard! He made those marks himself, with his own magic. He must really think we are truly stupid.”

“That’s all good, but can you help with Caley?”

Padraig went down on one knee, laying his hand on the dog’s head. “She is scared and angry, wants to protect you from the bad smell in there. And I don’t think it’s my daughter’s cooking, either.”

“Can you stop her making those noises?” Fallon asked desperately.

“Easily,” Padraig said. “Talk, girl!”

Instantly Caley stopped her growling and sat down, allowing herself to be patted.

“She’ll remember that and it could be useful,” Padraig said. “Just tell her – Talk! And she will be quiet.”

“You really are wasted out here. You should be earning big money in Lunster,” Fallon said.

“I hate the big cities,” Padraig said instantly.

“You still have the ability though.”

“Perhaps.” Padraig ferreted around in his pocket and produced a strange brown lump, which he offered to Caley. She sniffed at it for a moment before swallowing it down.

“And you have a gift with animals!” Kerrin exclaimed.

“Not sure what that was,” Padraig said, peering into his pocket. “So if she vomits tonight, don’t get too worried. Shall we go and talk to the Prince?”

Fallon gestured him inside, while motioning for Kerrin to head in the other direction.

He followed Sister Rosaleen and Padraig into his home, where the old man made a beeline for the honeycakes.

“Lucky you took her outside. We wouldn’t want dog hair getting on the Prince’s fine clothes,” Bridgit whispered.

Something about her words struck a chord with Fallon but he did not have time to chase the thought. “That was the dog I told you about. There was something about at least one of you that she remembered in connection with the attack on the Dermot farm. Was there someone you met along the way here?”

“Only the ones you saw here today, as well as a handful of travelers. And we would never have spent much time with them,” Dina said. “I don’t think we will get much out of that.”

“Well, we do know one thing,” Padraig said confidently, flipping a honeycake into his mouth.

“What?” Cavan asked.

Padraig had to wait until he finished chewing before he could speak without spraying crumbs across the table. “Your King’s Wizard set those marks up. I could feel him doing the magic.”

Eamon was the first to react. “You are saying you are more powerful than the King’s Wizard?”

“Not at all. Open your ears, boy. I said I saw what he was doing. I may look like a dung heap on legs but I can still spot magic at work better than the Archbishop can pick out a rich sinner from a crowd,” Padraig said, waving a honeycake in the air.

“Father!” Bridgit said warningly.

“The Archbishop knows his way around the donation box, but you can’t tell me he enjoys Aroaril’s favor,” Padraig said, stuffing the honeycake into his mouth. “Rosaleen here has been out to every farm that has been attacked. She hasn’t seen any evidence of selkies, nor did we find any on the ship. And I have seen her use Aroaril’s magic. Your Archbishop has about as much chance of doing the same as I have of being invited to dinner with the King.”

“Highness, nobody in Berry is going to believe this drunken old wreck over Finbar,” Eamon said.

“That is no way to speak to an ally of ours,” Cavan said sharply. “But while your words are wrong, your meaning is right. So our only hope is to present proof that men are behind it.”

Fallon looked over the Prince and his friends, at their rich clothing, and Bridgit’s comment came back to him. “What if it is the Kottermanis?” he said suddenly.

“Doing what?” the Duchess asked.

“Taking the people. That could be why the dog growled at you – it recognized the distinctive clothing. A Kottermani ship could get sail right up to the Duke’s without suspicion; it’d give them a chance to get on board before he realised anything was wrong. We know they have all sorts of strange inventions and devices. Perhaps they have more that we are yet to see, that allow them to move silently and get to our people.”

“It is an interesting idea. But what have they to gain?” Dina asked. “They already get much from us in trade. If they were discovered, they would risk all that.”

“Then there is some other deal going on, some way for them to profit. But who else could it be?” Fallon argued.

“It is a more convincing explanation than selkies,” Cavan admitted. “But we would have to see real proof, for my father would not risk his relationship with the Kotterman Empire otherwise.”

“Then we shall find that proof and bring it to you,” Fallon said.

“Indeed you shall.” Cavan looked around the table and smiled at them all. “But now we need to be away, before Finbar and Kynan become suspicious. We must stay in touch, using only men we trust to carry messages, and writing nothing down, understood?”

Everyone nodded.

“Those behind this are cunning, so we shall have to be cleverer to bring their plot undone. But I know, with your help, we shall do so. I appreciate your courage, all of you, and promise it will not be forgotten, nor unrewarded.”

He stood and they all jumped to their feet, not wanting to be sitting down while the Crown Prince stood. All except Padraig, who made a point of finishing a honeycake and licking his fingers before joining them.

“Thank you for honoring this house, highness.” Bridgit curtseyed to Cavan as she opened the door.

“The honor was mine.” Cavan smiled. “Fallon, I want you to come and serve me. I need a man like you, who can think and handle a sword as well. My brother has many guards serving him. I want my own company of men and I think you would be the right man to lead it for me.”

Fallon stopped dead, his heart pounding.
Am I dreaming? I am sure I remember having this dream many times before. I expect I shall be woken up by Kerrin at any moment …

“Highness, Fallon is already sworn to me,” Dina protested. “He is needed here, in Lunster!”

“I am sorry, dear Duchess, but at my side he can do even more good.” Cavan smiled. “But, of course, the job is only his if he wants it. You do want to help me, don’t you?”

Fallon felt as though his mind was frozen. He could not think this through. The enormity of it was too much. Only a few days ago he had been struggling with the idea of being Hagen’s lieutenant. Now the Crown Prince wanted him to captain his guard. That meant, in a few years, he would be captain of the King’s Guard. It was an astonishing honor. He managed to nod his head.

“Good, I expect to see you in Lunster by noon tomorrow. We can discuss the details then and you can make arrangements for your wife and son to join us in Berry. You have a nice home here but it is nothing compared to what you will have in the capital.” Cavan waved before heading out the door.

He was swiftly followed by Eamon, Niall and Dina, although Hagen lingered.

“I didn’t expect this,” Fallon told his friend, suddenly worried what Hagen thought.

“Don’t worry about me,” Hagen said with a cheerful pat on the shoulder. “But come see me at Lunster before you see the Prince. I might have something that will help you in Berry.”

Fallon shook his friend’s hand wordlessly, then he slowly turned to face an equally shocked Bridgit. He could not find any words and, from the look on her face, neither could she.

“Well, I don’t think this was quite what we expected when they rode in,” Padraig said into the silence.

“Highness, do you think that village sergeant is the man to lead your guard?” Eamon asked stiffly as they rode out of Baltimore.

Cavan smiled. “My friend, this is all because I cannot lose you. I need the captain of my guard to often be away from me for days at a time as he follows my orders. I want you by my side always.”

“I knew that,” Eamon said. “I was more concerned that he was not good enough for the job. Surely there are others among your father’s men who could do better. He has never even been to Berry!”

“All the better,” Cavan said confidently. “I want men who are loyal to me first, not to my father. I am sure my father could find a dozen men he would like to command my personal guard. But they would be reporting to him all the time and what good would that be? He has already forbidden me from going near my brother – if he hears I am going against his orders, he is not going to understand I do it for the good of the country. No, trust me on this, Fallon is the right man. And it will be good for him and his family, also.”

“Live in a filthy cesspit full of child snatchers?” Bridgit asked.

“I don’t know if King Aidan would say his castle was exactly like that.” Fallon grinned.

“You might be spending most of your time there, but will we? I heard lots of promises made to you but not so much for Kerrin and I. And you heard the man. The city is riddled with child snatchers and he might be the Crown Prince but the King’s mad! Yes, you might end up being the captain of the King’s Guard one day but you could also end up dead and Kerrin could be grabbed off the street or out of his bed!”

“Here is not exactly the safest place, either,” Fallon said, his good humor evaporating. “Or have you forgotten there’re people raiding farms and boats all along the coast?”

“But Baltimore is our home. We know the people,” she argued. “And Sister Rosaleen can heal Kerrin if anything happens. You saw that Archbishop. He’d be great at giving speeches at Kerrin’s funeral but useless at keeping him healthy.”

Fallon shoved back his chair and stood. “We can’t always think the worst is going to happen to Kerrin. He’s a big, strong lad of ten summers now.”

“I think the worst because the worst has happened to us many times before!”

Fallon sighed and walked around the table to sit next to her and hold her hand, hearing the tears threatening to spill out from behind her words. “Yes, you’re right. But that doesn’t mean they will happen again. Perhaps our luck is turning. Look, a few days ago I was offered a job to become Hagen’s lieutenant and now I’ll be the captain of the Crown Prince’s guard.”

She leaned in to him, holding his hand tight. “I know,” she said in a small voice. “And I am happy for you, very happy for you. The nobles are finally seeing what I have known for a very long time. But I don’t like change. It scares me.”

He kissed her hair and laid his cheek against the top of her head. “At the moment we
are
friends with everyone here, yes. But that is about to change. The King is demanding we pay more in tax before he will protect us. And you know who has to collect that. Me. I’m about to become the most unpopular man in the village, especially when it turns cold and the fish swim deep and we don’t have enough to eat.”