The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom (43 page)

THE FOUR MEN-AT-ARMS WERE LAID OUT ON TABLES IN THE OLD icehouse. A half-opened fan of sunlight streamed through the door, illuminating the dead, who lay in their black surcoats, faces waxy pale, the blue-gray of death lurking beneath. By each man's head a helm was laid, and by his side a sword. At his feet was set a black shield with no coat of arms. From two of the shields, arrows protruded. The plainness and uniformity of the men's armor and arms struck Dease. With their neatly trimmed beards and identical accoutrements there was little to distinguish them. He picked up one of the swords, unadorned but of fine workmanship. Even the metal appeared to have a dark cast, as though steel and smoke had been fused in the forge.” Who are these dark knights?" Dease asked, afraid they were assassins. Had someone tried to murder Toren? Why else was he being so secretive? "They are members of the guard of a counselor of the Prince of Innes." "Why would a prince's counselor need his own guard?" Toren stood staring down at the motionless men.” A question I have asked myself. It would appear that this man Eremon has assumed prerogatives few princes would allow. It also seems that Eremon is not who he claims. He was once known as Hafydd."Dease gazed at his cousin, thinking that he suddenly had ceased to make sense.” That isn't possible. Hafydd died twenty years ago or more.""If that is true, then he is reborn as Eremon, though I prefer to believe he did not die but escaped somehow. He has taken up with our enemy, or the ally of our enemy." He kicked a pile of straw, the golden blades spinning up into a shaft of sunlight, then settling back like slow-falling leaves.” Whatever the explanation, he is now a counselor to the Prince of Innes and plots against us.""But how came these men to be here?"Toren gazed at him and grimaced oddly.” Do not look so, Dease; they were not assassins." Toren gestured at one of the shields.” Have you seen arrows such as these before?"Dease reached out to touch the feathers of an arrow.” But these are Fael!"Toren nodded.” You remember the rumor that Elise Wills had run away to avoid marriage—'"To the Prince of Innes's son.""Yes. It seems the rumors were true. She was lodging with the Fael, who didn't realize immediately who she was. Hafydd's men attacked the camp and abducted her.""Not here," Dease said quickly.” Not at Westbrook."Toren nodded sadly.” At Westbrook, yes."Neither man spoke for a moment. The light streaming into the icehouse seemed to be coming from far away—from another season or perhaps another age, an age of peace.

"If the Wills forge an alliance with the Prince of Innes," Dease said, returning his gaze to the dead knights, "the plan to return the Isle of Battle to the Wills must be abandoned."Toren reached up and took hold of one of the low beams. He slouched down and let his arms take part of his weight.

"That is the excuse they're looking for to begin a war," he said softly. Dease looked at Toren in horror.” You don't intend to go through with it___They've broken the Peace of the Fair! We should look weak and foolish to cede them the Isle now!" Toren continued to support his weight on the beam, staring at the row of dead men-at-arms.” If we do not go through with it we will have war." "We will have war either way!" Dease almost hollered in frustration.” That is what the Prince of Innes plans." "And he is far better prepared for it than we." This stopped Dease for a moment.” You think to cede them the Isle to give ourselves time to muster an army?" "Yes, or we might find some other way to avoid the war." "There is no way to avoid the war but to surrender to the Prince of Innes and Menwyn Wills. I prefer war to that." "Do you indeed," Toren said. His voice was soft and laden with sorrow.” Look at these men. They are dead because of the feud you all ask me to pursue. Imagine they're your cousins, Dease. That is what you are asking for." Dease looked down the row of still men.” Death awaits us all," he said.” There is no place one can hide from it. You know I'm no more desirous of war than you, Toren, but we can't let down our guard with the Wills and their allies. Better to die on a field of battle than of shame in some prison. It is our survival or theirs. There is only one choice." Toren did not answer but swayed back and forth, his heavily muscled arms still supporting part of his weight. He stared at the four dead men-at-arms so sorrowfully that Dease could have believed they were his cousins.” What will you do?" Dease asked finally.” I'll alert the marshals of the fair. It is their duty to deal with breaches of the peace." "You know they have no power but for the resolve and strength of the Renné who stand behind them. This is no time to appear fainthearted.""Nor is it a time to let the Prince provoke us into war. We are not prepared—the Wills have been weak for so long."Dease looked at his cousin, who didn't meet his eye but only stared at the dead knights before him.” Toren, you know how the rest of the family will feel when they hear of this."Dease realized that Toren must be keeping this from everyone in the family but him for this very reason.

"Yes, I know how they will feel. But only a fool is quick to go to war." Toren continued to stare at the dead knights.” Think of this number dead, ten thousand times over."Dease could hardly bear the pain in his cousin's gaze, and looked away. The dead lay before him, and it took little imagination to see a field so littered, the carrion crows calling from tree to tree.

"I will send the marshals of the fair to confront the Prince," Toren said.” They will bear these dead knights with them as proof of what occurred. They will demand the release of Elise Wills, and the surrender of Hafydd so that he might face judgment. There can be no other course.""But of course they will be refused, and what will you have accomplished but to make the Renné look weak and foolish?""I will have demonstrated to everyone who is guilty and who is in the right.""What care we if people think we are in the right!?" Dease thundered, his voice echoing between the stone walls.

"What care we if people think we are foolish?" Toren said softly.” We will send the marshals to do their duty. We will abide by our own laws.""Live by them and die by them, I fear. Sometimes war is carried to you and there is no choice but to take up arms. I fear such a disaster is only days away. Perhaps it's upon us now and we cannot see.""Maybe, Cousin, but I will not chose war while I still can choose. If history proves me wrong... well, there is little one can do about the judgments of history.""Yes," Dease said, "may history not judge us too harshly, for we do what appears right in the moment, though we can see but a little distance into the future."His eye came to rest upon the still forms of the knights. How peaceful they looked in the streaming light, how removed from cares and worries, from the scheming and treachery of living men.

PRINCE MICHAEL HAD MANAGED TO ELUDE THE GUARDS HIS FAther had watching over him—and the men Hafydd had spying on him. The town ostler let him a horse for an exorbitant price, and he set out to cross the Westbrook Bridge and find the encampment of the Fael where Elise had last seen the young men who'd aided her flight. At the edge of the Fael camp armed men appeared out of the bush before him. They regarded him with deep suspicion, their looks hostile.” Have you business with the Fael," the eldest man said, "or are you lost?" "I have a message from Lady Elise Wills for Tamlyn Loell or for one of your people named Cynddl." The Fael whispered among themselves, and then the older man turned back to the Prince.” Tell me your name." "Prince Michael of Innes." The Fael looked at one another in wonder, and then one ran off, leaving the others muttering among themselves in their own tongue.

It was a moment before anyone returned, and then Prince Michael was beckoned on, a Fael taking the bridle of his horse. As he passed, the Prince realized a bowman peered down at him from a tree, an arrow nocked and aimed at his heart.

His horse was taken in hand as he dismounted and a woman appeared, introducing herself and curtseying gracefully.” Lady Elise has sent you, you say?"He nodded.” Yes. She fears that three young men who aided her are in danger. I carry this warning to them in her name."The woman nodded, gazing at him thoughtfully.

"Come and speak with Rath and Nann. They will decide what should be done."The Prince fell in with this woman, pushing down his resentment of her suggestion that he would be judged. He was among the Fael now, and they would care little for his station or name. He was led before a frail-looking ancient man and a woman seated beneath a spreading tree on the riverbank. No chair was offered him and he stood, like a truant, awaiting their pleasure.

"You are the son of the Prince of Innes?" the woman said at last. There were no introductions, but this must be Nann.

"I am."

"We were attacked by men-at-arms who serve your father's counselor." She looked at him very directly.” Is it possible that you didn't know this?""I knew nothing of it nor did my father, I assure you. Our family respects the Peace of the Fair and the peace between our people and yours.""Then how will your father deal with this renegade counselor?""I don't speak for my father," the Prince said. What was he to tell them? He didn't believe his father would have approved of Hafydd's attack on the Fael, nor did he believe his father would censure his counselor in any way. How to explain that?

"I see," the woman said.” Then why are you here?" "I carry a warning. Lady Elise was questioned by Hafydd—my father's counselor. He is known as Eremon—" "We know who Sir Hafydd is," the old woman said.” Lady Elise was questioned," the Prince continued, "and fears that she might have said things that will endanger these young men who aided her. If these men are with you still, I must warn them." Nann looked down at her hand and shook her head.” If your father seeks these young men it seems a clever ploy to send you to find their whereabouts." "Then tell me nothing of them, but only carry my warning to them. I've given my word that I would do this." "Then consider your duty discharged." The Fael elders continued to stare at him with mild distaste.” I regret what happened," the Prince said quickly.” I regret any harm my father's counselor did among your people." "Do you?" The Prince nodded. The elders glanced at each other.” Then perhaps you will make it your duty to redress the wrong done us?" Rath said.” I'm not sure what I can do, and I will tell you truly, I feel little obligation to make amends for wrongs done by others, especially those who seek neither my counsel nor my approval." "We don't ask for silver, Prince," the woman said.” We only wish to know more of this man who displays so little respect for the treaties signed by your people. Does honor mean so little to Hafydd?" "It means nothing to him. I have come to believe he would murder innocent children to get what he wants, even were it something trivial. He is a man unlike any I have known, in this way." "Is there no one he cares for? A woman? A son or daughter?" "No one. Nothing but his own schemes, his own substantial pride.""And what are these schemes, your grace?" "I wish I knew. Clearly, he has my father making an alliance with the Wills so that he might make war upon the Renné , whom he hates. He wants a child from my marriage with Elise Wills. This child is destined for a throne, I think—or so Hafydd hopes." He shrugged.” Hafydd keeps his own counsel and harbors desires I can't fathom, for they're foreign to me. I wish to revenge myself on no one, and I don't want to put my son upon a throne, where he'll be in danger every moment. No, let us live in peace. Let there be peace between men, and between Fael and men. That's what I say.""And that is what you would say if you wished to ingratiate yourself with the Fdel," the woman said.” What has been done with Lady Elise?""She is unharmed. I have spoken with her. Unharmed, though frightened.""And now what will be done with her?" "She'll be forced to marry me—and I her." "Forced? How can you be forced?" the man named Rath said.” Have you not ridden here of your own choosing? Ride on, if that is so.""He would find me. You know what Hafydd did to have Lady Elise back. He would do no less for me, and I don't wish to have that blood on my hands. Elise suffers it already." This gave the Fael elders pause.

The river flowed behind them, murmuring like a sleeping child. Rath turned his clouded eyes upon the Prince after a moment of thought.” And if war comes, what will you do?" "I am the heir of the Prince of Innes," he said, his mouth going suddenly dry.” What choice have I?"Prince Michael rode from the Fael encampment, the question echoing in his mind.

What choice have I?

Certainly he could not side with his father's enemies, his family's enemies. Yet this war his father and Hafydd contemplated was repugnant to him. A war of aggrandizement. The ambitions of men seemed petty and hollow. Not far ahead he could see a man sitting against the bole of a butternut tree, his horse grazing at the roadside. The Prince loosened his sword in its scabbard and looked up among the trees for other men. This is what came of riding off alone. The Peace of the Fair was a thing of the past. Who was not in danger now? The man lounging by the roadside was well dressed, the Prince could see, though in clothes for travel. If he bore a blade it was not in sight. As the Prince drew near the man looked up: dark hair and beard, a passingly handsome face.” I know you, sir," Prince Michael said, drawing up his horse.” But where is your whist?" The man nodded, though he didn't rise but continued to lounge by the roadside. A few feet away the river flowed.” Oh, he is off somewhere, bearing his single message, which is always ignored." The Prince could not help but smile. What audacity this man had! "For days we chased you. Had I known you'd be sitting here waiting for me I could have saved myself a great deal of discomfort. But then I wouldn't have seen Hafydd fail. How he cursed you! I can't tell you what pleasure this gave me." The man held a small stick in his hand and scratched marks in the earth.” Hafydd murdered two of my friends because he knew I mocked him. I was foolish and vain." He looked up.” You've been to visit the Fael, though Hafydd's guards attacked them last night. Did you carry your father's regrets to the people his servant injured?" Prince Michael shook his head.” I didn't think so. Yet you went there anyway, though you knew you wouldn't be welcome. What could have led you to do this, I ask myself?" "You ask the wrong man, it seems," the Prince said.

The man's look was dark. He had lost friends to Hafydd and was in no mood for jests.

"I went there to carry a warning.""You do realize a warning is quite distinct from a threat.""I'm told I have a way with words—and it's true that I respect them more than most men."The man nodded, continuing to toy with his stick.” Do you know, I watched you when I was in your father's house. I was there for that purpose.""You posed as a minstrel," the Prince said, "but to watch Hafydd, not me.""Oh yes, to watch Hafydd, but I was also there to observe the Prince of Innes and his family. Hafydd serves a prince who has ambitions but no imagination, who could no more conceive a grand strategy than write a ballad. Hafydd is his strategist, though it is a strange marriage. Hafydd's title is counselor, yet he is more an ally and acts as one—as a near-equal." The man smoothed the sand he had been scratching in.” But that is just how things appear on the surface. In truth, I think Hafydd holds sway over the Prince of Innes. Your father has ambitions I don't condone, but he has some regard for the concept of honor. Hafydd disdains honor and thinks any who believe in it are fools and weaklings." The man looked up.” You are your father's son. You believe in honor as he does. But there's a difference: you have both imagination and humanity, which makes you twice the man your father is, even if you don't know it.""You forgot to mention that I've known flattery all my life. As a man of words, I've mastered its uses myself."The minstrel smiled.” Then I'll come to my reason for waylaying you." He bent over his circle of sand again, making quick marks with his stick.

"Hafydd has no concern for your father, his family, or his honor. You know this. Hafydd has his own purposes, and for him people exist only to serve those ends. Anyone who will not serve is his enemy." The man looked up at Prince Michael, his manner suddenly very grave.” You must choose: either you are Hafydd's servant or his enemy. Which will it be?" It was like a slap in the face. The man was speaking the truth that others dared not.” I will not be Hafydd's servant," the Prince said softly.” Then you are his enemy, Prince Michael of Innes. And if you are his enemy you must help me steal Elise Wills away. Talk to Lord Carral Wills. He'll agree to announce your engagement to his daughter. Have him also say that people may carry their best wishes to you at the Renné costume ball, for both you and Lady Elise will attend." The Prince shook his head.” It will never work. Hafydd will see what you plan, and he'll not allow Elise out of my father's compound." "Of course he will see, but how else will he find me? He must use Elise to draw me out." The man stopped making marks with his stick.” See that Elise's costume is made by Mrs. Rowan. Her tent is in the market. That's your part. Oh, and you must alert Elise to our intentions. Can you manage to speak with her?" "If I so choose, I can." "How effective are your father's spies within Castle Renné ?" "Effective enough." The stranger seemed to weigh this response a moment, then rose lithely to his feet. He fixed the Prince with a stare that was shrewdly measuring.” This is what I observed when I was a minstrel in your father's house: you are wiser than he. And whether you think I flatter or not, you know it's true. Help me steal Elise Wills away." "I will help you, but it will not stop the alliance between my father and the Wills. What is it you hope to accomplish?" "I will save Lady Elise from Hafydd: is that not enough?" He thrust his stick into the earth, and beckoned his horse, which came at the sound of his voice. As he went to put a foot into the stirrup he turned to the Prince.

"You can't stand on the field between two armies, undecided. I know what I'm saying in this. When the armies clash you will be their first victim. Treachery, I'm sure you know, is all a matter of which side passes judgment." The man swung into the saddle, nodded, and began to turn.

"What is it Hafydd knows?" the Prince said quickly.” How has he returned from the dead to haunt us?"The minstrel stopped, turning in his saddle. For a moment he gazed at the Prince silently.” Hafydd has learned things he should not, and now he is more dangerous than you realize. Or perhaps you have come to suspect?""I saw him strike his sword on a rock so that it quivered and moaned whenever it was pointed in the direction his enemy fled." The Prince paused.” But I also saw how you stayed before us, riding through lands no one had ever seen. Who should I fear more?"The man looked out at the river for a moment.” Fear is despised in our society, your grace, but I think it a sign of wisdom. To falter and break when circumstances demand courage; that is shameful. But fear ..." He tilted his head to one side and shrugged.” Fear is wisdom."The man urged his horse into a canter and was quickly distant on the narrow road. When he was almost out of sight the Prince dismounted and led his horse forward. There on the ground, where the minstrel had thrust his stick, was a line drawing of a small bird, its bill open in song. Prince Michael did not have to ask what its call might be.