Not might, would. Minimum sentence, one year.
They put the bodies in caskets, their souls in crystals.
Fuel for magic. Limbo. Nothingness? Or is there pain, a slow burning, or is it like roasting on a spit? Aging twenty years for every one. No, I can't let that happen.
A lump of fear settled coldly in his stomach, which threatened to expel his breakfast. But Alaire forced his gut to settle, and turned his thoughts to other con- cerns. A lesser, but nonetheless important concern, was Kai's going back to the palace. This seemed, at the best, foolhardy. Would they believe him? he won- dered. Could he really convince the King to overlook this little incident?
Is he my only chance?
Kai seemed now to be blithely certain of success.
"As soon as you're secure in the basement, I'm going back to the palace to talk to Father. Gallen will take care of you. Just cooperate, do as he says, and every- thing should be fine."
"I doubt that," Alaire said sadly. "Our so-called dip- lomatic mission is now a disastrous ruin." He looked up, suddenly concerned for his Master. "Any word on how they're treating Naitachal? Is he under arrest?"
Alaire guessed that his Master and friend would not fare well in a Suinomen gaol. Althea would view this as an act of war.
They stared at each other, apparently having the same thought.
"How stupid of me!" Kai said, slapping his fore- head. "That was the whole reason for the attack! Master is an elf, and I'll bet they figured you had to be some kind of mage too! If they didn't kill you, .would force you to use magic. These enemies, who- ever they are in the palace, thought this through completely. Yes, Naitachal will probably be arrested.
Would Althea go to war over that?"
Alaire's stomach lurched again. "Maybe, but if they imprison one of the King's sons, even unwittingly -- "
He seized his head in both hands, as it threatened to explode from the pain of headache and heartache.
"Oh gods -- I don't know what to do! Unless I e Suinomen and explain what's going on to my father, we have no chance of preventing war."
How had all this turned into such a horrid mess, so quickly?
Kai looked grim. "There are probably watchers and checkpoints at the port and the roads. Still, there are ways. If worse comes to worse, I can put you on a boat for Althea."
"If it comes to that. I hope it doesn't." He shook his head unhappily, some of the exhaustion coming back.
"Gods, what a mess this is! Does someone in the pal- ace want a war with us that badly to go to so much trouble?
Now Kai looked completely baffled. "I see no possi- ble benefit from it, for anybody. But it sure looks that way. I have to convince Father of what's going on. It's the only chance we both have."
They made ready to leave for Gallen's. Kai eyed the harp suspiciously, then suggested he keep it with him, in case he needed to protect himself. Alaire slung it over his back, on its wide leather carrying-strap, to give his arm free movement if he had to use his sword.
He overestimates my Bardic ability, Alaire thought wryly, though it was flattering that the Prince would do so. But then Alaire remembered last night....
Who knows, maybe I can raise the power to defend myself against an army. Yes, and pigs will turn to swans when I do so!
They gathered up all the old clothes and stashed them in one of the bags. Kai gave instructions to Alaire to burn them as soon as possible.
In the dark of the early morning, the two peasant boys crept out of the stable. The snow had diminished to a mere dusting, though Alaire had trouble negotiat- ing what had already accumulated.
"You can do better than that. Someone will notice you," Kai admonished. Alaire didn't know what he was talking about. "If we look like we're drunk, maybe it won't be so noticeable if you slip and slide a little."
Alaire took the flask of wine out of the bag, took a drink, and, hesitating, handed it to Kai. The boy stared at it for a long moment, then wrinkled his nose, and re "No. Thanks. I'm not really ... in the mood for it right now."
Alaire gawked at him. Never thought I'd hear that.
To give the impression he'd been drinking all night, he dribbled a little on his tunic, then splashed so Kai as well. Now they both smelled like a winery. A cheap winery. He capped the flask and held it in plain sight.
Alaire guessed by the hint of daylight on the hori- zon that dawn would arrive soon on the deserted streets. I hope I'll be safe enough to be able to sleep in this place, he thought, stifling a yawn. I'm ready to fall over right now.
He recognized some of the taverns, most of them closed, as ones they'd been to on Kai's last carouse. A few were still open to greet the dawn, now an undeni- able brightness on the eastern horizon. The burned-out tavern where their misadventure had begun earlier that night was a charred husk, still smell- ing strongly of smoke. As they passed it, there was a bit of warmth coming from it still; it felt good, but they had no time to stop. At the end of the street a mounted figure in a uniform appeared, and Kai stiff- ened.
"Do what I do," Kai said quickly. The uniformed man saw them and directed his dieren towards them.
It was quite appallingly surefooted in the snow Alaire realized that it would have no trouble overtak- ing them and running them down if they tried to flee.
Alaire thought he was going to lose his breakfast again, this time from the other end of his body. As the man approached, he saw that it was a lone member of the Swords of the Association. His throat became dry, his knees turned to mush. Their swords, though concealed beneath their thick fur coats, were well within reach. Am I going to kill twice in one day? At this point he would do anything, short of sacrif Kai, to avoid the Prison of Souls.
"Don't even think it," Kai whispered "There would be fifty of them on top of us in moments. Follow me.
Say nothing."
Horrified, Alaire watched Kai run to the soldier.
Kai, what are you doing!?
"Alms!" Kai cried, jumping up and down like a little kid, holding his hands up to the soldier. "Alms for a poor beggar child who hasn't eaten in three days!" He held his hand higher, and the soldier stopped, momentarily confused. Alaire ran over and held an open palm up, looking hungry and desperate, the lat- ter not requiring much acting.
"Oh, please, kind sir!" Kai wailed pathetically. "Can you spare us a little coin? A copper? Please, sir, we're starving!"
"Ho! Get away, you little beggars!" the solder cried.
The dieren came to a complete stop, the beast itself disinterested in the two peasants. The soldier sniffed the air. "You're hungry because you've been too busy drinking wine to spend money on food!" The soldier shouted. "Look! It's a wonder you're hungry now!"
The soldier was pointing at Alaire's wine flask, which he still had in his other hand. He grinned sheepishly, opened it and offered it to the soldier.
"Go home and to bed, peasants! I have criminals to look for!" He kicked his beast and the dieren trotted off down the street, in search of the Prince of Sumo- men and a renegade Bard.