A chill went down Kol’s spine. Its cause was less what Gorm said than the manner in which he said it. For all its hardness, Gorm’s voice held an edge of terror. Hds made some infernal bargain, thought Kol, and glimpsed something no man was meant to see. His own ambitions, ruthless as they were, seemed benign in comparison. Yet Kol needed Gorm to achieve them, just as Gorm needed him.
“I know what you want,” said Kol, “and I’m proceeding as fast as I can without losing the prize.”
Gorm seemed reassured. “How can I speed things along?”
“Obtain a woman and a child that look like Girta and her son. Keep them safe and have them ready. Have Lokung find them clothes that match the queen’s and the prince’s attire.”
“What do you need them for?”
“I’m playing this game as I go,” said Kol, “but I think they may prove useful.”
“Anything else?”
“Dar’s key to my plans. When she finds out I’m Queen’s Man, she won’t be able to stay away. Othar must forbear his revenge until she’s served her purpose. Can he do that?”
“If it leads to war, he can.”
“Good,” said Kol. “When I feed your master’s hunger, Dar will be his dessert.”
Twenty-four
When dawn came, the first thing Kovok-mah wanted to do was bathe. The orcs still took their baths in a horse trough in the stables. Zna-yat offered to show him where it was. “Be warned,” he said, “water
“Yet I want to be clean when I speak with washavoki great mother.”
“She won’t notice,” said Zna-yat. “She reeks like all washavokis.”
“Regardless. I will bathe.”
“Of course. We may live among washavokis, but we needn’t sink to their level.”
Kovok-mah undressed and followed Zna-yat out to the stables. As he walked through the palace, the claws of his feet clicking on stone floors, he noted that the washavoki mothers seemed agitated by his body. Zna-yat was right, he thought, they squeak like mice. Their behavior was amusing, but it also made him aware of how little he understood washavokis. I wish Dargu were here She could explain it.
When Kovok-mah reached the “bath,” he and Zna-yat had to break a layer of ice to reach the water. Kovok-mah washed quickly while horses watched, then dashed across the courtyard into the palace. Though accustomed to the cold, he resolved to ask the washavoki queen for a warmer bathing facility. Kovok-mah hoped that conversation would take place soon.
Though Dar dreaded seeing Muth-tok, she knew delay would only make matters worse. Thus she bathed and dressed in her finest. Afterward, she sent Lama-tok to tell his matriarch that Muth Mauk was thinking of her. Then Dar ascended the throne expecting another long wait. Muth-tok surprised her by arriving promptly.
The matriarch of the Stone Clan was older than Muth-mah but equally hearty. She had a large, muscular frame and the look of someone used to heavy work. Dar knew that many Tok clan mothers worked stone, and she assumed this was true of their matriarch. “May Muth la bless you, Muth-tok.”
Muth-tok bowed low. “Shashav, Muth Mauk.”
“One son you sent me has already joined my mintaris.”
“I’m pleased you found Lama-tok worthy, but not surprised. I hope you’ll find Kak-tok also deserving of honor.”
“He’s made good impression.”
“As you have,” said Muth-tok. “For long time, Lama-tok spoke little of his journey. Only recently have I learned its entire tale. I’m much amazed. Rarely is Muth la’s will so plainly revealed.” Muth-tok pressed her hand against her chest in the sign of the Tree. “These are wondrous times.”
“I think some matriarchs would disagree,” said Dar.
“Wondrous times are not easy times. I think hardship lies ahead. Why else would Muth la send you for our queen?”
“Some believe hardship could be avoided if I’m not queen.”
Muth-tok’s face darkened. “Bears vanish when you shut your eyes, but they still bite.”
Dar smiled. “I believe I’ve found friend on council.”
Muth-tok returned the smile. “After council, there is feast. There, I hope you’ll honor me with tales of your travels. By custom, I must keep this greeting short; otherwise I would beg to spend this day with you. Lama tells me that you saw Tarathank, visited Pah clan, and had many other adventures. Your visions particularly interest me.” She gave Dar a meaningful look. “Lama mentioned Velasa-pah.”
“That encounter is much on my mind,” said Dar, not wishing to reveal too much.
“I shouldn’t stay overlong, Muth Mauk. I’d rather not have Muth-yat and Muth-mah understand my mind as yet.”
“You have pleased me, Muth-tok.”
The Tok clan matriarch thanked Dar, bowed, and departed.
Kol made a brief visit to Balten’s house to obtain funds, then went to a tailor’s shop. There, he ordered clothes suitable for his new rank. He eschewed the bright colors worn by Voltar and the other generals in favor of a severe look. He ordered long-sleeved doublets of fine black wool trimmed with just enough gold to mark his new station without flaunting it. The trousers he ordered were also black with thin gold piping down their sides. He kept his old boots and sword.
Kol saw his situation in military terms. He had just taken favorable ground that also rendered him more visible. The crucial point was not to advance unprepared. He planned to consolidate his position and test the resistance first. For the time being, he would keep a low profile and be a paragon of humility.
Meanwhile, Kol would use others to advance his plans. He had already come up with a list of enemies in court, and he expected his promotion would reveal a few more. Gorm can arrange for their elimination. Othar’s ability to seize minds would make it simple. Kol envisioned a rash of murders. Deranged servants...jealous lovers...robbers. Death can come so suddenly. And I’ll be blameless every time.
While Gorm cleared the opposition, Kol planned to use Lokung for double duty. First, he would have the steward feed Girta’s fears with rumors of intrigues against her. Nothing clear enough to act upon, just enough to k^^ her insecure. Second, he wanted Lokung to find recruits for a new guard. They’ll be called the Queen’s Men. They’ll wear black to set them apart. Kol would be their commander, and despite the guard’s name, it would swear loyalty to him.
Kol’s primary concern was time. Despite Othar’s impatience, he could not afford to move too quickly and alarm Girta. The creation of the Queen’s Men must not be seen as a power grab. He had to continue to win the queen’s trust while wooing the prince. Kol was beginning to believe that the boy—though currently powerless—might prove the means to achieve his goal. He planned to give him a black uniform when the Queen’s Men were created. What boy doesn’t want to protect his mother? When Kol was the prince’s age, he had hoped to do the same. He smiled sadly at the thought of his boyish naivete. Then Kol grimly recalled his father’s most brutal lesson, a lesson he was prepared to give the prince if necessary.
Winter tightened its grip on Taiben. The city became like a frozen lake, its still surface hiding currents in the dark below. The queen grew ever more afraid. All the while, Kovok-mah waited for a summons
Meanwhile in the Yat clan hall, Dar continued to hold her nightly feasts and wait for Kovok-mah’s report. As the days passed, she began to grow concerned that events had gone ill in Taiben. There was little she could do about it, for the round of feasts and the upcoming council occupied her. Muth-hak arrived on the day she held her seventeenth feast. The Hak clan matriarch was a wiry mother, with bright yellow eyes and an animated manner. She was cordial during her brief meeting, and Dar counted her as an ally.
By the time Muth-jan came to the Yat clan hall, Dar had added three more sons to her mintaris—Tatfa-jan, Dil-hak, and Kak-tok—and was about to hold her twenty-first feast. The matriarch of the Iron Clan was shorter than Dar, barrel-chested, and quick to smile. Dar felt comfortable with her immediately. The matriarch ignored custom and spent the entire afternoon talking with her. Muth-jan proved to be the aunt of Magtha-jan, whom Dar had met in the garrison outside of Taiben. Dar told the matriarch about the queen’s rescue and death, the orcs’ revolt, and the treaty it produced. By the time Muth-jan left, Dar tallied three allies on the council.