„Evidently we shouldn't have bothered intercepting you. But we have. So what do we do with you? Go ahead. Eat. It's a fine bird. It'll just go to waste. Let's see, then. Assuming that courier did go out, you're no longer of any significance. No use to us, and of insufficient value to our enemies to make it worth killing you. Yet the idea of just turning you loose again grates. Josiah? Do you have a suggestion?"
„Well, sir, we might try talking him around to our side."
Dahl was astounded. He wanted to spit out a defiant curse. Common sense made him keep his mouth shut. -„Why didn't I think of that? What could be more useful than having the King's adjutant on our payroll? There's a problem, though. From what you've told me about this lad, we'd have to invent some leverage. He wouldn't turn for money, and certainly wouldn't for love of our Duke or his Queen."
Gales smiled. „No. But we'll have time to consider it along the way, wouldn't you say?"
Dahl looked up sharply, a string of pheasant flesh trailing from his lips.
„Ah, yes, Dahl. We're headed for Ravelin. This mob and a lot more, as you'd surely learn being around here. If for no other reason than that, we can't let you go. Sir Mortin?"
„Definitely. His courier couldn't have known that. Well, son, we'll have to keep you with us. I'll be a good host as long as you're a good guest. But I can't guarantee your health if you do something dramatic. We do have to protect ourselves. Josiah, I'd say the pantry would be the best place to keep him."
„Yes, sir. When you're finished, Dahl."
Haas ate slowly. His mind raced. He seemed to be in no immediate danger. But his chances of getting away with his documents, and warning the King that the whole damned Greyfells clan was about to descend on him, looked slim.
He wondered what they were doing back at the Ministry. Had they caught on yet? Would someone be coming after them?
It looked like time for a prayer.
22
Year 1016 AFE
Michael watched credence Abaca limp into his office. He leaned toward Aral. „Looks like that limp is going to be permanent."
Aral whispered, „I heard they cut him up pretty bad."
„Sit down, Credence. Derel should be here any minute." He eyed Abaca. Maybe they should recall Liakopulos from Karak Strabger, where he was training the year's recruits. Credence's wounds were awfully slow healing. Perhaps he had fallen foul of a poisoned Tervola blade.
They might need a garrison commander who could get around fast. Liakopulos could turn his trainees over to someone else.
Derel came in. He looked exhausted. „Hard day in the Thing. The Estates are trying to revoke the weapons act again. We barely defeated them. Mundwiller almost had apoplexy. Two of his people deserted him. We've got to get Hardle back here to whip the Nordmen into line."
The weapons act had given freemen the right and obliga tion to keep and bear arms. It was the single most effective constraint on the power of the nobility, who no longer dared ride roughshod over their tenants. Another law enacted about the same time had virtually eliminated serfdom, freeing peasants from their bonds to the land they worked. They could now desert an unjust liege. That law, too, was unpopular with the Estates.
Prataxis sagged into a chair. „So what is it now, Michael? Your message sounded desperate."
„Could be. Is Cham coming?"
„No. He's planning tomorrow's counterattack. He's on his last legs, though. If the King doesn't get back soon... . What is it? You look grim."
„I'll let Aral tell you. That's why he's here."
Dantice hemmed and hawed. He felt out of place.
„Get on with it," Michael said. „Just tell them what you told me."
„This came in this afternoon," Aral said. „From a friend who just got back from Throyes."
Prataxis said, „I was becoming concerned. We hadn't heard anything for so long."
„You have reason," Michael said. „Aral?"
„Hsung was assassinated."
„What? The guerrillas?" Prataxis was shocked. How did an assassin reach a Lord Hsung?
„No. His own people did it," Aral said. „I didn't get many details. Just that he was killed, and another Tervola stepped right in. Sent by Mist."
Michael interjected, „Meaning she was behind the assas sination."
Prataxis nodded. „Lord Hsung was way out of line. I'm surprised the Council would authorize that vigorous a sanction, though."
„All very interesting," Abaca said. „But why are you in a panic? This Tervola or that, what's the difference?"
„This one has stopped the invasion of Hammad al Nakir," Aral said. „He ordered the troops to stop where they were, and not to fight unless they were attacked. He's trying to negotiate with Yasmid, hoping she'll make peace."
„And she will," Michael opined. „Word I get out of Al Rhemish, also courtesy of friend Aral, is that Megelin has sent Rahman, Norath and five thousand men to attack Sebil el Selib."
„So the fighting has stopped. So what?" Abaca asked.
Prataxis replied, „So we've had no contact with the King for eight days. Right, Michael?"
„Exactly. When I send a message to Maisak I get evasive replies. Nothing from the King. I queried Liakopulos. He's in the dark too. What it suggests is, the King got a wild hair and moved on down to Gog-Ahlan. Maybe even decided to attack Hsung from the rear."
„We're in trouble," Prataxis said.
„Maybe big trouble," Aral agreed. „There's already ru mors saying he went east. Right now they're just bull put out by the Estates, but in a few days people are going to be asking serious questions. And we won't have the answers. Michael, I told you he would shoot the long odds again."
Trebilcock closed his eyes. „I sent Aral's news to Maisak right away. I demanded a direct response from the King. They acknowledged receipt. I haven't heard anything else. I'm praying I do get something from him. If ! don't pretty soon, though, I'll assume he went on through the pass."
„Stupid," Abaca muttered. „Stupid, stupid, stupid. I'd better call in reinforcements."
Prataxis suggested, „Better warn the garrisons in Damhorst, Breidenbach, Forsberg, and Sedlmayr too. If there's trouble it'll spread from city to city fast. I'd recom mend a general alert. Better do something about Kristen, too, Michael."
Michael asked, „I take it we all expect the worst?"
„Maybe not expect it," Prataxis said. „But plan for it. Be ready for it. Damn. I wish we could send the Thing home. Get them scattered around so it would take them longer to cause trouble."
Michael said, „Let's get to it. We may not have much time."
Abaca grumbled, „I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth it anymore. We never seem to make any headway."
„I hear you," Derel replied, and stumbled wearily out of the room.
Michael growled, „I feel the same way sometimes, Cre dence. Like right now."
Inger had gathered those of her dowrymen who were party to the family plot. She was ready to accept Michael's offer. „Anyone have anything to tell me?" They knew what was on her mind. The King's people had mounted a harsh psychological offensive. „Trebilcock asked to see me tomor row. He wants my answer. My mind is pretty much made up. Karl?"
„Stall him if you can. We've finally established communi cation with the outside. The Estates say you should hang on. Ragnarson may have overstepped himself and gone on through the Gap. Let's find out if that's true. Could be the break we need."
Inger asked, „That's a rumor, right? What's the source?
The Estates? Or someone less likely to be making it up?"
„Can't tell for sure. Estates agents are spreading it, but they claim they picked it up in the streets. You know the King better than anyone. Would he go off like that?"
„Yes and no." Yes, he would do something like that. He'd done so before. But no, not under today's conditions. He'd had half the wizards of the west with him during his raid on Argon. He had no wizard now, and faced one of the top dozen Tervola of Shinsan. Bragi wouldn't attack in those circumstances.