Curious question, Emuin said.What is there about buildings? About houses? Dwellings?
That people live in them. It was like sitting with Mauryl, the question, the answer. Foolish boy, Mauryl would say. But perhaps his questions had gotten wiser, if not his answers.
That people live in them, Emuin said ever so faintly, and the lines glowed bright.That we invest something here. That it becomes a Place for us. And we cannot be harmedin certain wayswhile that Place exists for us, even in our dreams. We must violate our own sanctuary, to be harmedin those ways. But your Place is also his. And his is also yours.
At Ynefel, you mean, sir.
At Ynefel, Emuin said. He felt Emuinʼs fingers move, and tighten.I shall hold fast. I have done what I can. I fear what you are. But I shall not cripple you by asking anything or by restraining you. Do what you were Summoned and Shaped to do.
You fear what I am, sir,Do you know what I am? Can you at least answer that? Can you warn me what I might do wrong?
No, Emuin said.I donʼt think I can. I canʼt think of those things. I canʼt foresee
I cannot begin to foresee the things you invent to do, Mauryl said. Rain in puddles. Rain on the parapets. Flash of lightning. Can you not think of consequences, Tristen? And he had saidI try.
You have never admitted the enemy to your heart, Emuin said.You have never compromised with him. Never do it. Never do it, boy. Now go away. Donʼt bother me. I have enough to do.
He was in the room again. His foot had gone to sleep. Emuin rested, no worse, no better than he had been. He thought he had heard Maurylʼs voice. Or that he touched what Mauryl was. Or had been.
He rose quietly. The brothers bowed to him in their dutiful way. He bowed to them, and felt the amulet beneath his shirt, the circle that Cefwyn had given him, that Emuin had given Cefwyn. It never showed in the other world. He was only conscious of it now because it had been Emuinʼs, and was a wish for protection.
But he was Emuinʼs protection. He had become Cefwynʼs.
I cannot begin to foresee, Mauryl had said, the things you invent to do.
Think of consequences, Tristen.
The next day likewise dawned with frosting breath and a slick spot in the courtyard where one of the servants slipped and fetched himself a crack on the head that master Haman had to attend, since the lord physician had left in angry disgrace in attendance on Lord Sulriggan, the rumor was, who had left for his capital, and good riddance, most said.
Cefwyn called a war council for noon, in his apartments. Tristen was hesitant, but Idrys said he should be there, so he came. So did Efanor. And Ninvris and Lord Captain Kerdin, and Lord Commander Gwywyn, but none of the Amefin lords, many of whom were at harvest, and no one from Sovragʼs men, who were all over on the river, Cefwyn said, in opening, but they were sending messages by way of the daily couriers from several points, and that he had sent dispatches to the villages and the lords of Amefel.
The dining board bore a stack of small maps, which Idrys said had just arrived last night, which recorded every large rock, every hillock, everything Ninvrisʼs few men had explored in the area of Lewen plain, north and west of Emwyʼs ruin. Lord Tasien had sent a message to Ninvris by way of the Guelen messengers: Lord Tasien said that he had met with rivermen from Lord Sovrag, who had brought supplies downriver, and who had reported a quiet shore: that was the same as Sovragʼs messages had said.
Lord Tasien had also reported in his letter to Ninvris that they had made a wall and trench camp that was well begun, with the help of the Amefin peasants who had come up with the wagons. Tasien reported his men under canvas, digging their fortification, and awaiting word from inside Elwynor, and said they had seen no sign of hostile forces on this side of the river.
Efanor shook his head only slightly, perhaps in amazement that they were receiving such a report from the Earl of Cassissan less charitably estimated, in personal disbelief that Lord Tasienʼs word could be relied upon. But Efanor said nothing, only remarked later and very mildly, for Efanor, that it was very odd, very odd to have a woman in a council of war, but that the Elwynim were very efficient, and seemed to be experienced men which made Tristen ask himself where the Elwynim had been fighting; but he kept that question to himself.
Efanor in general was on very good behavior. Gwywyn was very proper and made no allusion at all to the doings the night of the fire. He only seemed apprehensive, and increasingly relieved as the meeting went on and his counsel was taken with equal weight with othersʼ.
Thereʼs a lot thatʼs ashamed of themselves, Uwen said when he spoke of the meeting later. What I hear, that night all that business got started there was a gathering over in the Quinaltine, praying and the like, and the lord physician having a tantrum and saying His Majesty was going to die.Ithink, Uwen had added, that the Prince thought His Majesty might have died, on account of the lord physician being sent out. I donʼt doubt the lord physician was a lot of the cause there. And there was priests out talking to the staff, saying that the King was bewitched. Which Iʼd put to nothing, mʼlord, but I donʼt like much that gathers around that priest.
Then Uwen added another thing that troubled him. Iʼm Guelen, Uwen said. And I seen just a touch too much of Quinalt priests and their politicking. Ainʼt nothing to do with praying. They donʼt like wizards.
Why? Tristen asked.
On account of the Quinalt says the gods laid down the world the way things are, and wizards meddled with it. They donʼt like ʼem. Meaninʼ they killt no few. Iʼd be just a little careful, mʼlord, and stay clear of ʼem.
It seemed to him Idrys had warned him much the same. So he told Idrys in private that evening what Uwen had said. And Idrys nodded and said, His Majestyʼs Guard is well aware of the priest, Lord Warden. Believe me. Then, unusual for Idrys, Idrys had stopped him for a second word. It was very well done, Lord Ynefel, that night.
Catching Orien, sir?
Among other things. I must tell you my mind that evening was on one of Lord Herynʼs partisans. Sorcerous action does not naturally occur to me as a cause.
I donʼt think anyone used sorcery against Emuin, sir. I think they had to keep Emuin from seeing them.
Seeing them.
So to speak, sir. Wizardry might make someone fall on the steps, but I donʼt think Orien could have done it. And certainly sorcery wouldnʼt break someoneʼs skull.
Certainly, Idrys echoed him, and Idrysʼ lean, mustached face was both earnest and troubled. I fear wizardry encompasses few certainties with me, Lord Warden. What is the likelihood Emuin will be on his feet and with us come the full of the moon?
I fear itʼs very little likely, sir. I think heʼs helping Cefwyn most.
You are not to say that.
Yes, sir.
So the Aswydd lady had someone attack Emuin.
As I think someone moved Orien to do it. Mauryl said it was easy to make things do what they want.