“But would we be the ones to lead such a league?” the duke asked, frowning. “Or would the Milesian towns lead us, and eventually enslave us?”
Gar shrugged. “The Fair Folk already have a Council of Councils, my lord, though you don’t call it that, and though it never meets face-to-face, and all together. It deliberates by duke talking to duke at the solstice festivals, then discussing the results of those conferences with other dukes at the equinox festivals.”
“Quite true,” the duke said, frowning. “How did you know that about us?”
“I listened carefully to what you told me.” Most carefully; Gar had listened to the duke’s thoughts as well as his words. “That’s an excellent way for your Council of Councils to meet, for if all the dukes were to assemble, it would be a great temptation for a Milesian boss to seek to assassinate them all.”
The duke turned very thoughtful.
“Still, you do have your Council of Councils, your way of coordinating all the Hills—and the free towns do not. You’ll be leading them in that, as in all else; they’ll revere you as their teachers and benefactors. With that kind of initial advantage, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t remain the leaders.”
“We shall, be sure of that!” the duke said, his eyes burning. “But take my curse with you when you go, Gar Pike, for you have tricked us into accepting responsibility at last!”
They all rose late the next day and met later for breakfast. One glance, and Gar knew what was to come, for Dirk looked inspired and determined, while Cort was dreamy-eyed, not quite touching the ground when he walked.
“She said yes, then,” Gar inferred as Cort sat down with a steaming cup.
“She did!” Cort virtually glowed.
“I congratulate you,” Gar said. “When will you wed?”
“We won’t, alas.” Cort seemed to come down a little closer to earth. “But when her Fair Folk return to their Hill, I’ll go with them. I don’t mean to surrender my commission, of course, nor does Desiree want me to—she will take what time she can with me, between battles.”
Gar suspected what plans Desiree had for Cort’s absences, and suspected further that the young woman would be sadly disappointed, for there wouldn’t be anywhere nearly as many battles for the Blue Company as there had been. Nonetheless; the Company would become a political force, and Cort would no doubt be gone from the Hollow Hill often enough, and long enough, to prevent her frustration from mounting. “So Desiree isn’t quite ready to break the Fair Folk custom against weddings.”
“Alas not,” Cort agreed, “and I’ll have to work most strenuously to keep her!”
Gar made a mental note to give him a copy of the Kama Sutra before he left. “I understand that there have been one or two cases where Fair Folk bonding has lasted lifelong.”
Cort nodded. “I have hopes of making it so with Desiree, of being so excellent a mate that she will want it thus.”
Gar hated to prick Cort’s bubble, but he felt the question had to be asked. “What if she doesn’t?”
“If she doesn’t,” Cort said sighing, “I’ll abide by her wish, and go.”
“What if there are children?” Dirk was suddenly very intense about it.
“If we are so blessed, I suspect none shall wish to keep me from taking the children to rear outside the Hill.”
Gar had a notion Desiree wouldn’t object either, so long as she was able to visit the children whenever she wished. “Then for a while at least, you’ll be the Milesians’ man on the inside,” he said, carefully changing topics.
“Man on the inside?” Cort frowned. “Of what?”
“Of the councils of the Fair Folk. If you’re very discreet and very tactful, you’ll probably find the duke willing to listen to your information about how bosses and captains think and act. Play that card carefully, and you’ll work your way into being his advisor.”
“Why would I wish that?” Cort asked, frowning. “Because it’s the best way to insure Desiree’s safety, and that of any children you may have.” Gar waited until he saw the idea register and take root, then launched into a major conference on ways and means of advising and influencing the duke in coping with the mercenaries and bosses. He also hinted that if Cort could become indispensable to the Fair Folk, Desiree might want to keep him around longer. When he was done, and Cort wandered off with his head spinning, Dirk said to Gar, “You don’t mind playing dirty, do you?”
“Not as long as I’m telling the truth,” Gar replied, “and his chances of a lasting bonding are much better if he gains status among the Fair Folk.”
“You have a very cynical view of feminine nature, Gar.”
“Really? I thought it was merely realistic.” Gar hurried on before Dirk could take offense. “Actually, though, I only thought I had a cynical view of all human nature.”
“There is that,” Dirk admitted.
“And my great disappointment is that I’m so often proved right,” Gar sighed.
“Of course,” Dirk said, “you’re really hoping that Cort will become one of the forces for keeping the peace and developing a sort of confederation-style government, aren’t you? And you don’t care what emotional blackmail you apply to get him to do it.”
“Someone has to. But you must admit that I didn’t tell him any lies.”
“No, but you sure told him every reason for him to work his way up the political ladder.”
“I did not,” Gar stated. “I didn’t play on his desire for personal power at all.”
“Only because he doesn’t have one,” Dirk retorted, “or at least not much. That’s why you had to try to kindle one.”
“I only kindled a desire for public service,” Gar. said, with the stiffness that bespoke suppressed laughter. “What about you, my old friend? Are you going to stay and become a politician, too?”
CHAPTER 21
What more natural place for a scheming fighter to go into government?” Dirk retorted. “You might consider settling down here, too.”
“No, I don’t have your reason.” Gar sighed, “and I’m afraid it’s the only one strong enough to make me want to stay on one single planet. Have you asked her to marry you?”
“Yes.” Dirk grinned.
So did Gar. “I see she said yes. Aren’t you worried about not having children?”
“Not really.” Dirk shrugged. “We both know she didn’t have a decent chance to get pregnant in that first marriage. But if she doesn’t, well … children would be nice, but real, lasting love is more important.”
“Yes, because if you have children and don’t have love, the poor things grow up as blighted as plants in the dark,” Gar agreed. “You understand, of course, that marrying the local squire’s sister doesn’t automatically make you his heir, or give you any significant portion of her power.”
“Oh, I do understand that,” Dirk said, “but I’m not sure she does.”
“She will, believe me.”
“Never doubted you,” Dirk said, “unless you were talking about your own unworthiness. But I am braced for giving her all the support I can in her political struggles.”
“You can’t possibly do that without becoming involved in those struggles yourself.”
“Of course not.” Dirk grinned. “I have learned something in our wandering and revolution-mongering, after all.”
“Then you’ve realized that Quilichen will become the leader of all the free villages of this district.”