Too Many Princes (71 page)

“
Then Eben must be the imposter,
”
Alustra put in, too quickly.

“
Mistress Yriatt said she hadn't been able to reach Master Eben from Hawkwing House,
”
Pikarus answered.

“
And no one has seen Eben since the coronation,
”
Therula said.
“
Oskar told me he had left. He made it sound as if he asked Eben to stay, but he refused.
”

“
Was Oskar bare-headed at the coronation?
”
Pikarus asked. Therula nodded.
“
Perhaps Ys...
”
He stopped, changing what he had been about to say.
“
Perhaps the enemy impersonated Eben first. He would have had to remove Eben anyhow. As a fellow wizard, Eben would have given him away.
”

“
Then he would have had a free hand,
”
Therula said.
“
Eben had the king's favor. No one questioned him.
”

Pikarus nodded.
“
He must have changed places with Oskar later on. After Oskar had taken the throne, and he would have a king's power to use as he wished.
”

“
Ridiculous,
”
Alustra insisted.
“
Oskar would never surrender the throne. It was his birthright.
”

It had been at the center of Alustra's life as well, Therula thought. Hadn't she seen her mother devote every effort to assuring that Oskar rose above the pack of bastards and won the crown? Perhaps that was why Alustra had been so withdrawn since the coronation. With Oskar safely on the throne—as it had seemed—what else was left for Alustra to do?

“
Think, Mother,
”
Therula said gently.
“
Haven't you and Oskar always been close? Yet he's done nothing but isolate you ever since he took power. Taking your throne down, sending Margura in here every day to tell you how old you are.
”

“
I
—
.
”
Alustra began to defend Margura, but then closed her mouth again.

“
I don't believe Oskar would do that,
”
Therula pressed.
“
He respects you too much. But a stranger might, someone who regards you as a threat to his illicit scheme.
”

“
Enough!
”
Alustra cried.

Alustra stared down at her plate, eyes closed. The soft skin beneath her chin trembled. For a horrified moment, Therula thought she might see her mother cry. What would she do then? If Alustra cracked under the strain, what could anyone else do?

Then Alustra straightened her back. Her eyes snapped open, fixed Pikarus with a calm and imperious stare. Alustra was a queen again.

“
I cannot believe this. Yet I must,
”
Alustra said. She sounded weary, but strong enough to face down a dragon herself.
“
Now I must ask you, Sergeant. Where is my son? Is he alive or dead?
”

Therula swallowed hard. Pikarus must expect Alustra to lead them in defeating the impostor. Therula was certainly counting on it! But if Oskar was dead, Alustra had nothing left to fight for.

“
Your majesty, I don’t know,
”
Pikarus answered.
“
I have heard that the enemy believes in holding hostages. Therefore, I think it likely King Oskar remains alive, but I have no way to know with any certainty.
”

“
Are Habrok, or any of the others, involved in this plot?
”
Alustra asked.

“
Not Habrok,
”
Therula put in.

“
I would be very surprised if Prince Habrok was involved,
”
Pikarus agreed. Then he admitted,
“
With some of the other princes, it is harder to be sure.
”

Alustra shrugged.
“
Then the defense of Crutham may be left as it is, in Habrok's hands,
”
she said.
“
You, Sergeant, will be free to search for my son.
”

Before Pikarus could respond, the door opened. All three of them jumped. Therula saw Pikarus's hand grip his sword hilt as two figures scuttled into the room.

“
How dare you enter my chambers!
”
Alustra scolded.

“
Forgive me,
”
a familiar voice replied. Lottres closed the door furtively, and approached the table.

“
Lottres!
”
Therula exclaimed.
“
You're back, too?
”
With a guilty start, she realized she hadn't even noticed his absence. She quickly added,
“
Thank goodness you're safe.
”

Pikarus, too, relaxed.
“
Your highness. I thought you were in Carthell.
”

“
We were. It's been a busy day,
”
Lottres answered with a wry smile. He bowed toward Alustra.
“
Your majesty, may we join you?
”

“
Please do,
”
Alustra said. Her eyes were on Lottres, assessing him.

Pikarus joined Lottres in bringing two more chairs to the table. Therula found that her appetite had suddenly returned. Because, she realized, her mother was in command again. The burden of uncertainty had been lifted from Therula's shoulders.

As she belatedly began to eat, Therula eyed her half-brother and his companion curiously. Lottres had lost weight on his journey. His face was thinner and his beard was longer, but he walked with new energy. A woman was with him, tall and dark eyed, but so strangely dressed! Auburn hair was done in the Urulai beads Brastigan was so fond of. She wore a scandalous outfit, leather boots and trousers under some kind of jerkin that seemed to be stiffened with animal bones.

Did all Urulai women dress like men, Therula wondered? How odd! She couldn't help wondering what Brastigan thought of it. Despite his outrageous behaviors, Therula knew Brastigan had conventional tastes in women.

The strange woman seemed to flinch. She shot Therula a piercing look. Therula looked away, not wanting to acknowledge someone so unsuitable, but she couldn't forget the Urulai woman's hurt expression. It was almost as if she knew what Therula thought of her. No, that was impossible.

“
Your majesty, this is Shaelen of Hawkwing House. She is a student of Mistress Yriatt's.
”
Lottres spoke with careful formality.

Therula didn't miss the reproachful glance he turned on her. She pretended to, though she had the mortifying feeling this Shaelen might have known what she was thinking, after all.

“
I see,
”
Alustra murmured, her expression neutral.

“
Shaelen, this is Queen Alustra and her daughter, Princess Therula, who is my half-sister,
”
Lottres went on.

Shaelen nodded, saying nothing. It was going to be awkward if she didn't understand Cruthan. Or perhaps she was shy, Therula thought. If the stranger really was a sorceress, she would try to be charitable.

“
Are you aware of all that has been happening?
”
Alustra asked. Her voice, as she looked at Lottres, was almost accusing.

Gravely, Lottres answered,
“
We did know that Sillets has invaded, and Duke Johanz was good enough to tell us that Father had died. I'm sorry.
”
He seemed to mean it, too.

“
We all miss him,
”
Alustra answered briefly, brushing his condolences aside.
“
Now tell me, what else happened in Carthell?
”

“
Duke Johanz didn't make us very welcome,
”
Lottres said.
“
In fact, he imprisoned us under cover of hospitality. Johanz intended to collaborate with Sillets in conquering Crutham. He thought Albrett would take the throne afterward and then he could rule through Albrett.
”
Lottres made a face, giving his opinion of this scheme.

“
This is no surprise,
”
Therula said darkly, remembering the absence of a Carthellan representative at Oskar's coronation.

“
But?
”
Alustra prodded. The news didn't seem to shake her grim purpose.

“
Master Ymell and Mistress Yriatt destroyed a group of Silletsian spies in Carthell. Afterward, the duke saw his error,
”
Lottres said with what sounded like a dry understatement.
“
He will march to Crutham's aid, though I must caution that Carthell is still unreliable. If the circumstances permit it, Johanz may yet attempt to place Albrett on the throne.
”

“
Oskar is the king of Crutham,
”
Alustra replied with fierce resolve.

“
I agree,
”
Lottres hastily answered.

“
Did you also know that Oskar has vanished?
”
Alustra asked with a cold edge to her voice.

“
No,
”
Lottres admitted.
“
We knew the enemy was somewhere in Harburg. Until we heard you saying so, we didn't know he might have taken Oskar's place.
”

“
What do you mean, you heard us?
”
Therula interrupted.
“
You weren't even here!
”

Lottres gave Pikarus a surprised glance.
“
Didn't you tell them?
”

“
It hadn't come up,
”
Pikarus answered.

“
What are you speaking of?
”
Alustra demanded.

“
I am also a student of Mistress Yriatt,
”
Lottres said.
“
I’m learning to be a wizard.
”

“
You?
”
Therula blurted incredulously.

“
Why not?
”
Lottres gave Therula an exasperated look.

“
Well, I
—
.
”
Therula fumbled.

Lottres, a wizard? The gawky boy, forever with a parchment in his hands? It didn't seem possible he should do something so drastic. So...romantic. And yet, hadn't she just been thinking something was different about him?

“
You are a king's son,
”
Alustra said, cutting off Therula's jumbled thoughts.
“
One must wonder where your loyalties lie, with your ancestral domain or with your new masters.
”

“
Since Mistress Yriatt was my father's ally, I don't see the conflict,
”
Lottres answered. Therula could tell he was trying to control his anger, but the dull red in his cheeks gave him away.

“
Then you will fight for Crutham,
”
Alustra went on, ignoring his reaction. She glanced at Shaelen with cool question.
“
Both of you?
”

“
Of course,
”
Lottres snapped.

“
If we are permitted,
”
Shaelen spoke for the first time. She had a slight accent, but Therula was surprised to hear that her Cruthan was quite good.
“
If our presence is too disagreeable...
”

“
No,
”
Lottres broke in.

The two of them shared a long glance, and Therula could fairly hear the silent argument between them. Then Lottres looked squarely at Alustra.

“
I accept your right to command me,
”
he said.
“
You are the queen, and I will do as you order. But this is my home. I won't be driven out by superstition.
”

“
Very well.
”
Alustra didn't acknowledge his accusation.
“
As long as you do obey.
”

“
Then,
”
Pikarus hastily put in,
“
why did you return to Crutham, your highness? You might have remained in Carthell with... the others.
”

Shaelen shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Lottres was so careful not to look at her that Therula had to wonder what they were hiding.

“
It's Brastigan,
”
Lottres confessed.
“
We both sense he's in some kind of trouble.
”

“
That's nothing unusual,
”
Alustra sniffed, annoyed all over again by the reminder of her least favorite princeling.

“
This time is different,
”
Lottres said.
“
He's in real danger. Especially if Pikarus is right about Ys... uh, someone having taken Oskar's place.
”

“
Your majesty,
”
Pikarus said,
“
Javes and I have been searching for Prince Brastigan since we realized that our enemy must be here. We cannot find him.
”

“
Compared to the fate of our missing king,
”
Alustra retorted,
“
I fear that is of little consequence.
”

“
Brastigan has a right to be here, just as I do,
”
Lottres began with real heat.

“
Mother, Lottres, please don't argue,
”
Therula begged.
“
Not now.
”

Alustra turned for a moment, her brows raised in stern surprise. Therula held her own gaze steady. She knew Unferth's constant infidelities had hurt Alustra. Indeed, after her own doubts of the past few weeks, Therula understood better than ever how her mother felt. Yet the one good result was that Unferth's many sons were all highly motivated to keep Crutham free. This wasn't the time for Alustra to cling to past grievances, not with their kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction.