Turned down a crown, as I heard it told.
Crowns. Logen spat onto the straw, spit still pink from the cuts in his mouth. Kings. The whole notions shit, and me the worst choice there could be.
You aint saying no, though, eh?
Logen frowned up at him. So some other bastard even worsen Bethod can sit in that chair, make the North bleed some more? Maybe I can do some good with it.
Maybe. Dow looked straight back. But some men arent made for doing good.
You talking bout me again? chuckled Crummock, striding in through the doorway, Dogman and Grim at his shoulder.
Not all talks about you, Crummock, said Dogman. You sleep alright, Logen?
Aye, he lied. Like the dead.
What now?
Logen stared at that chair. South, I reckon.
South, grunted Grim, giving no clue whether he thought it was a good idea or a bad.
Logen licked at the ragged flesh at the side of his mouth, checking again, for no reason that made any sense, just how much it hurt. Calder and Scale are still out there, somewhere. No doubt Bethod sent em to find some help. From out past the Crinna, or up in the high valleys, or wherever.
Crummock chuckled softly. Ah, the good works never done.
Theyll be causing mischief sooner or later, said Dogman, small doubt o that.
Someone needs to stay back here and keep a watch on things. Hunt those two bastards out if they can.
Ill do it, said Black Dow.
You sure?
Dow shrugged. I dont like boats and I dont like the Union. Dont need to take no voyage to work that out. And Ive got scores enough to settle with Calder and Scale. Ill pick me some Carls out o whats left, and Ill pay em a visit. He flashed his nasty grin, and clapped Dogman on the arm. Good luck to the rest o you down there with the Southerners, eh? Try not to get yourselves killed. He narrowed his eyes at Logen. You especially, eh, Bloody-Nine? Wouldnt want to lose us another King o the Northmen, now, would we? And he sauntered out, arms folded.
How many men we got left over?
Might be three hundred, now, if Dow takes a few.
Logen gave a long sigh. Best get em ready to leave then. Wouldnt want Furious to go without us.
Wholl want to go? asked Dogman. After what they been through these past months? Wholl want more killing now?
Men who dont know how to do much else, I guess. Logen shrugged. Bethod had gold down there, didnt he?
Aye, some.
Then share it out. Plenty for each man comes with us. Some now, some when we get back. Reckon a good fewll take the offer.
Maybe. Menll talk hard for gold. Not sure theyll fight hard for it, when the time comes.
I reckon well see.
Dogman stared at him for a long moment. Stared him right in the eye. Why?
Because I gave my word.
And? Never bothered you before, did it?
Cant say it did, and theres the problem. Logen swallowed, and his mouth tasted bad. What else can you do, but try and do better?
Dogman nodded, slow, his eyes not leaving Logens face. Right you are then, chief. South it is.
Uh, said Grim, and the two of them walked out the doorway, leaving just Crummock behind.
Off to the Union for you is it, your Majesty? South and kill you some brown men in the sun?
South. Logen worked one sore shoulder beside his sore neck, and then the other. You coming?
Crummock pushed himself away from the wall and walked forward, finger bones clicking round his thick neck. No, no, no, not me. Ive relished our time together, so I have, but everythings got an end, dont it. Ive been away from my mountains for far too long, and my wivesll be missing me. The chief of the hillmen held his arms out wide, took a step forward, and hugged Logen tight. A little too tight for comfort, if he was being honest.
They can have a king if they want one, whispered Crummock in his ear, but I cant say I do. Especially not the man who killed my son, eh? Logen felt himself go cold, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his fingers. What did you think? That I wouldnt know? The hillman leaned back to look Logen in the eye. You slaughtered him before the whole world, now, didnt you? You butchered little Rond like a sheep for the pot, and him just as helpless as one.
They were alone in that wide hall, just the two of them, and the shadows, and Skarlings chair. Logen winced as Crummocks arms squeezed tighter, round the bruises and the wounds the Feareds arms had left him. Logen hadnt the strength left now to fight a cat, and they both knew it. The hillman couldve crushed him flat, and finished the job the Feared had started. But he only smiled.
Dont you worry, now, Bloody-Nine. Ive got what I wanted, havent I? Bethods dead and gone, and his Feared, and his witch, and his whole bastard notion of clans united, all back to the mud where they belong. With you in charge, I daresay itll be a hundred years before folk in the North stop killing each other. Meantime maybe we up in the hills can have some peace, eh?
Course you can, croaked Logen, through his gritted teeth, grimacing as Crummock pressed him even tighter.
You killed my son, thats true, but Ive got plenty more. You have to weed the weak ones out, dont you know? The weak and the unlucky. You dont put a wolf amongst your sheep then cry when you find one eaten, do you?
Logen could only stare. You really are mad.
Maybe I am, but theres worse than me out there. He leaned close again, soft breath in Logens ear. Im not the one killed the boy, am I? He let Logen free, and he slapped him on the shoulder. The way a friend might, but there was no friendship in it. Dont ever come up in the High Places again, Ninefingers, thats my advice. I might not be able to give you another friendly reception. He turned and walked away, slowly, waving one fat finger over his shoulder. Dont come up in the High Places again, Bloody-Nine! Youre beloved o the moon just a little too much for my taste!
Leadership
Jezal clattered through the cobbled streets astride a magnificent grey, Bayaz and Marshal Varuz just behind him, a score of Knights of the Body, led by Bremer dan Gorst, following in full war gear. It was strangely unsettling to see the city, usually so brimful with humanity, close to deserted. Only a scattering of threadbare urchins, of nervous city watchmen, of suspicious commoners remained to hurry out of the way of the royal party as they passed. Most of those citizens who had stayed in Adua were well barricaded in their bedrooms, Jezal imagined. He would have been tempted to do the same, had Queen Terez not beaten him to it.
When did they arrive? Bayaz was demanding over the clatter of hooves.
The vanguard appeared before dawn, Jezal heard Varuz shout back. And more Gurkish troops have been pouring in down the Keln road all morning. There were a few skirmishes in the districts beyond Casamirs Wall, but nothing to slow them significantly. They are already halfway to encircling the city.
Jezal jerked his head round. Already?
The Gurkish always liked to come prepared, your Majesty. The old soldier urged his horse up beside him. They have started to construct a palisade around Adua, and have brought three great catapults with them. The same ones that proved so effective in their siege of Dagoska. By noon we will be entirely surrounded. Jezal swallowed. There was something about the word surrounded that caused an uncomfortable tightening in his throat.
The column slowed to a stately walk as they approached the citys westernmost gate. It was, in an irony that gave Jezal little pleasure, the very same gate through which he had entered the city in triumph before he was crowned High King of the Union. A crowd had gathered in the shadow of Casamirs Wall, larger even than the one that had greeted him after his strange victory over the peasants. Today, however, there was hardly a mood of celebration. Smiling girls had been replaced by frowning men, fresh flowers with old weapons. Polearms stuck up above the press at all angles in an unruly forest, points and edges glinting. Pikes and pitch forks, bill hooks and boat hooks, brooms with the twigs removed and knives nailed in their places.