Through Wolf's Eyes (54 page)

Newell glanced at his audience. Neither looked either bored or inclined to laugh. He continued, satisfied:

"Zorana burned the books and scrolls, but there were
a few items, a ring, I think, and maybe some sort of wand— Lovella was
vague. There may have been more. Before Zorana Shield could destroy
these items, her allies joined her. They quarreled, Clive Elkwood
supporting her, Gustin Sailor furious at the waste. When it became
clear that there was no resolution possible, Gustin acted.

"In the dark of night, he stole the items and fled to
the southeast, near the bay where his strongest base of power lay.
Later, those who thought he had done right rallied to him. Zorana
Shield already had a solid following in the lands north of the Barren
River, lands still held today by her Shield kindred. To the delight of
the balladeers she married Clive Elkwood.

"Thus the break between our countries—for though they
weren't really countries yet the Barren River gradually became a
boundary between factions. It would take several more years before
Zorana Shield and Clive Elkwood solidified their hold on the lands
north of the Barren River. After they had, they went after Gustin
Sailor. He now held most of the lands south of the Barren—though his
interest lay especially along the coast and in the Isles.

"When Zorana and Clive went after Gustin, that's the
period we usually call the Civil War, though ideologically the split
had happened several years earlier. The Civil War was fought for
something like four years. Clive Elkwood died in one of those battles,
but Zorana was firmly at the head of their faction so the fighting went
on. Finally, peace seemed easier than continuing to fight—you must
remember that some of these people had been fighting for fifteen years
or more.

"With peace, the Barren was confirmed as the border
between Hawk Haven and Bright Bay. Zorana's followers had been calling
themselves the Hawks, because they were resolved to fly free without
magic's bondage, so their new kingdom was called Hawk Haven."

Newell fell silent and General Yuci prompted, "And
Gustin Sailor, of course, he became King Gustin I of Bright Bay, but
what happened to the magical relics?"

Newell looked tense and grim. He milked the silence for a few moments more then said:

"Despite trying repeatedly, Zorana never managed to
retrieve them from Gustin. The good thing is that—according to what
Princess Lovella told me—no one in Bright Bay has ever possessed the
talent to employ the relics. To this day they remain curiosities in the
Bright Bay treasury, protected by the Seal of the Sun and brought forth
only upon the coronation of a ruler. Even then, they are only seen by a
select few. I've asked around and what I've heard from those few makes
me believe the story. Bright Bay has Old World magic."

General Grimsel swore a thunderous oath. "Old World magic! If someone learns how to use it, they could destroy us all!"

"And," whispered General Yuci, "in Hawk Haven there are those who are sorc . . ."

Yuci stopped then, remembering that Newell's own
sister was a reputed sorceress. Newell politely pretended not to have
heard. He'd done what was necessary.

Stonehold now had an excuse to be at odds with Bright
Bay. Whether they would use that excuse to declare war on Bright Bay,
to withdraw their mercenaries, or merely to attempt to dictate domestic
policy he didn't know. What he was certain of was that Stonehold's
rulers would not let the opportunity pass them by. Soon enough, Bright
Bay would be seeing her ally's true colors.

"It is an outrageous tale!" protested General Grimsel loudly, perhaps to cover for her own too thoughtful silence.

Newell rose to take his leave. "I thought you needed
to know the truth—to know why it is so dangerous to let these nations
be reunited."

"You are a true friend to all humanity," General Grimsel said. "Stonehold will not forget this noble act."

"Thank you, General."

General Yuci favored him with a deep bow but said nothing.
Newell
wondered if he was still shocked by his recollection of Newell's own
familial reputation for sorcery or whether he was simply keeping his
counsel.

Prince Newell straightened his hat, bowed, and
departed, not wishing to dilute the impression he had made. He had no
doubts that Stonehold would do its best to confirm what he had said,
but about that he felt no qualms.

It is an outrageous story,
Newell thought as he left the two generals to their certain consternation.
The funny thing is, it is also completely true.

D
ESPITE ELISE'S RESOLVE
to act immediately, circumstances conspired against her. First, she
encountered her cousin Sapphire. Since witnessing the events of the
afternoon before, Elise's feelings toward Sapphire had undergone a
revolution. No longer did Sapphire seem a pushy older cousin but
something of a valiant heroine, striving to maintain her identity
despite crippling pressure from without.

The trouble was that Sapphire's feelings about Elise
hadn't changed at all. To Sapphire, Elise was still the upstart who
conspired with her own brother to steal a march on her. Elise drew in a
deep breath:

"Good morning, cousin."

"Good morning—though from my reading of the sun," Sapphire commented unkindly, "it is nearly noon."

"True," Elise replied mildly. "It is. I suppose I do
not have your constitution. Last night's party was too much for me. I
am not accustomed to such hours or such strong wine."

Sapphire paused as if examining this comment for some subtle insult. Failing to find one, she smiled.

"I am about to go riding," she said reluctantly,
certainly remembering Melina Shield's recent reminder that Sapphire had
a duty to her family, not merely to herself. "Would you
like to join me? It would sweat the wine out of you properly."

Riding was the last thing Elise wanted to do, but she
would be an utter fool to reject such an offer, especially since she
had resolved to rescue Sapphire from her mother.

"Let me change," she said. "Ninette, ask one of the grooms to bring around my palfrey."

"I'll take care of that," Sapphire offered. "I was going to saddle up the Blue."

Elise thanked her. As she changed into riding
breeches— the pretty frock she had worn to go on Firekeeper's hawking
party so long ago was back in Eagle's Nest—Elise cautioned Ninette to
say nothing to anyone.

"I won't, Elise," the woman said earnestly. "I think
I'll take my sewing and go join the lady's circle. I won't be so scared
in daylight and maybe I'll learn something."

"You are brave," Elise said, kissing Ninette on one cheek.

"Do that, but keep your own mouth tightly sealed. I wouldn't have harm come to you for all the world."

Riding with Sapphire was surprisingly enjoyable,
though, of course, Sapphire must show off her superior skill. Elise
found it easy to give her cousin the praise she clearly craved, for
when Sapphire thought herself unwatched her hand often fell to her side
as if to quiet the pain of her wound.

They visited Ivon Archer and Purcel Trueheart among
their troops. Here, Elise learned, Sapphire had developed quite a
following. They found the same when Elise suggested that they visit
Earl Kestrel's cavalry unit. Despite a large proportion of the riders
being female, here too Sapphire was a favorite.

Perhaps she is not all bluster and pose,
Elise thought.
Perhaps
beneath that showy armor and boastful talk does beat a warrior heart.
The question is, is that also the heart of a queen?

When they returned to the encampment, the nobles' enclave was buzzing with news. Nydia and Opal ran out to meet them.

"The king met with Allister Seagleam this morning," Dia announced.

"And," Opal cut in, "they have arranged that there
will be a great ball in a few days. All our noble folk and officers
will be invited."

"And all of theirs," added Dia. "They're also inviting important people from the towns."

"And Mother thinks," said Opal with a guarded glance
at her older sister, "that the purpose is to see who might make a
marriage with one of Allister's children."

"Our mother thinks so too," Dia added, and her
expression was strange, a mixture of anticipation and what Elise was
certain was fear.

"Since none of us brought appropriate clothing," Opal
said, a real thrill of delight in her voice this time, "we are all to
go to town this afternoon and visit the shops. Messages have been sent
ahead and it is rumored that a great bazaar will be prepared for our
pleasure."

"And Lady Blysse," Elise said when the three excited girls paused for breath, "has anyone told her of this grand event?"

Glances between the two made clear that not only had Blysse not been told, the tacit decision had been made
not
to tell her. Elise was slightly surprised when Sapphire said:

"She has not been, I see. Very well. Elise and I will ride to the Kestrel camp and tell her."

Before there could be any protest, Sapphire reined the Blue around and Elise's palfrey was quick to follow.

"Blysse," Sapphire said, "saved my life—she and her men. I will not have her slighted in such a petty way."

Elise glowed with delight. Perhaps her cousin did have the heart of a queen as well as that of a warrior.

"May I offer you a hint?" she said.

"What?"

"Lady Blysse likes her friends to call her Firekeeper."

Sapphire looked offended for a moment. Then a slow smile spread across her face.

"Her friends, you say. Very well. I will remember that."

S
HOPPING TOOK THE REST
of the daylight hours. It was not merely a female expedition. Most of the noblemen
and
officers had come no better equipped. The informal bazaar was filled
with men and women examining bolts of fabric, conferring with
seamstresses and tailors, and shooting each other shy glances as if
wondering what the other sex would think of their finery. Festivities
extended into twilight with impromptu dinner parties in most of the
finer inns.

Hope was up to the challenge. The resident clothiers
recruited nearly everyone who could use a needle to work in their
shops. They were forced to compete for labor with the jewelers and
cobblers, as well as the purveyors of food and drink. Despite all this
ingenuity, many of those invited found themselves forced to mend and
polish their own attire and many of the locals had to make do with last
season's gown or waistcoat rather than the new one they craved.

Yet minor disappointments could not quell the festive
spirit. The merchants of Hope (and her sister city Good Crossing) saw
half a year's earnings or more flow into their coffers. This in turn
made them able to be more generous with those they hired. Even the hard
feelings raised when merchants lured away workers in their neighbors'
employ were dismissed as points scored in a rather rough and tumble
game.

Normally, Elise would have delighted in such a
shopping expedition, especially when she discovered that due to
extensive smuggling through the area fine goods imported by the sailors
of Bright Bay were far less expensive here than they were in Eagle's
Nest. The excellent wools of Stonehold were also well represented and,
although the weather was too warm for wool, Elise and her father
purchased several bolts of fabric to ship home.

Yet, despite such distractions, the thought of the
conference she must arrange for later that night was rarely far from
Elise's thoughts. During a visit to an herbalist who also distilled the
most wonderful floral scents, Elise managed to slip Derian a note. His
quick nod and a light of interest in his greenish-brown eyes
acknowledged her message and agreed to the suggested arrangements. Then
he switched back into servile invisibility with such skill that she
could hardly believe he was the same man.

Later than evening, when the parties had broken up,
Elise pleaded exhaustion and went to her pavilion. Fortunately, Baron
Archer was one of the night officers, so no one would miss her. Even if
they did, Ninette would cover for her.

Elise skirted the fringes of the camp until she came
to the edge where the Kestrel tents were pitched. She avoided these,
going out into the fields to a cluster of rocks that had been appointed
as their meeting place. Derian, Firekeeper, and Sir Jared were already
there with a shielded lantern and a pot of tea.

"Valet," Elise said to Derian, "is making his mark on you."

Derian grinned. "To think that when I first met him I judged him a useless mouse of a man. I know better now."

Firekeeper, from at the fringe of the circle of light
where she sat with her arm thrown around Blind Seer, had no patience
with such niceties.

"All day, Elise, you have smelled of fear. Last day, too. Tell us why."

Elise laughed nervously. "I hope that everyone does not have your nose, Firekeeper."