Sovereign

'You think you are so wise,' she jibed.

'I can tell,' he said, ignoring her, 'because of the look on your face. Whenever you think of home your eyes lose focus and you face towards Kendra. I know a few merchants who would pay a small fortune to have you as navigator on one of their ships. They would always know which direction to travel to reach Kestrel Bay.'

She smiled despite herself. 'You still call Kendra home.'

'Strange, isn't it? I wasn't born or raised there, and I've spent most of my life living somewhere else, but yes, Kendra is the place I always thought of as my home. Maybe it is for anyone who thinks of themselves as belonging to Grenda Lear.' Ager frowned then. 'I don't know that I do any more, not really.'

'It's the Oceans of Grass for you?' Areava asked.

'Perhaps.'

'Morfast is a very beautiful woman,' Jenrosa observed.

Ager grunted, smiled to himself.

'And the Ocean Clan is a noble one.'

'That is my home now, I think.'

'The clan?'

He nodded. 'And what about Jenrosa Alucar? Where is her home these days? With the Chetts? Or do you still pine for the dusty halls of the theurgia?'

'I don't have a home any more,' she said shortly, trying to end the conversation.

'The Truespeaker will always have a home,' Ager countered.

Jenrosa gritted her teeth. 'I hoped you of all people would never call me that.'

'Ah,' Ager sighed. 'So that's the problem.'

'It's not a problem!' Jenrosa spat. 'It's a delusion on the part of Lasthear and others who are so desperate for a new Truespeaker they are willing to see ability where there is none.'

'That's a lie and you know it,' Ager replied sharply. 'Lasthear is no fool, and nor are the other Chett magikers who talk about you the same way the rest of the Chett people talk about Lynan.'

'I don't have to listen to this—'

Ager grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him. 'You are behaving like Lynan at the beginning of our exile. You have responsibilities you don't want to face, are afraid to shoulder. That's fine, I understand how you feel. But none of us has an excuse to behave like that any more. Whether we like it or not the entire Chett nation has given itself into our hands. Lynan is their king—even Korigan accepts that—and he has grown to recognise it. I am clan chief, something I have grown to recognise. You are the Truespeake. It is time you grew to recognise that.'

Jenrosa pulled out of his grip. 'And Kumul? What was he meant to be before he was slaughtered?'

Ager shook his head. 'That isn't fair. You were his lover, but Lynan and I loved him as well.'

Jenrosa closed her eyes in shame. 'I'm sorry…'

'Hasn't it occurred to you that we four were meant to leave Kendra together when we did? That fate or God or whatever it is that rules our lives had a purpose for us? Lynan will be king of Grenda Lear, of that I have no doubt now. I, who belong to the ocean, rule a clan named after it. You, a student magiker who never fitted in with the theurgia, discover you are perhaps the most powerful magiker of all. And Kumul… Kumul was our hero and sacrifice. He will be remembered by the Chetts for longer than you or I. Every time a Chett whispers the name of Lynan Rosetheme, the White Wolf, they will also whisper the name of the Giant, Kumul Alarn. His life was the price he paid for that destiny. He had no more say in it than we have in ours.'

'And what will be our price?' she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Ager looked away from her. 'I do not know.'

'I see only blood in my future, but whose blood I do not know.'

'Don't be afraid now, Jenrosa. We have all gone too far to be afraid any more.'

'I don't believe in destiny, Ager,' she said. 'That would be a worse fate for us than you could imagine.' And as she said the words she realised she spoke the truth, and some of her doubt was lifted from her mind.

Lynan sat on Charion's throne. It was almost exactly the right size, he realised. Then it must be my destiny to possess it, he told himself.

The man standing in front of him presented a peculiar mixture of fear and disdain. He was an ordinary looking fellow, someone Lynan would not have noticed in a crowd, but there was something about his character that he found very attractive, something he could not yet put his finger on.

'I am told your name is Farben,' Lynan said.

'Yes.' One of the Red Hands jabbed him in the back with the pommel of a sword. 'Your Majesty,' Farben finished.

Lynan hid a half-smile behind a finger. 'And you were Charion's secretary?'

'Queen Charion's secretary. One of them.'

'Do you know where she has gone?'

'For a ride,' Farben said. 'I expect her back shortly.'

'With an army, no doubt.'

'No doubt at all.'

'And you stayed behind to protect her home and hearth?' Farben did not answer. 'That was very brave.'

'I am attached to the many works of art in this building: statues, paintings, books. I wanted to make sure your barbarians did not use them for firewood or toilet paper.'

That earned Farben another jab in the back. He broke out into a sweat.

'These so-called barbarians now rule your home, Farben,' Lynan said matter-of-factly. 'I would be careful what you say about them.'

'My home is where my queen lives. The Chetts will never rule her.'

That is what it is I like about him, Lynan thought. His loyalty. He is petrified of me, and yet will not deny his fealty to Charion.

'I want you to work for me,' Lynan said. Farben stared at him, wide-eyed. 'I need someone who knows this city to help me administer it.'

'You cannot be serious.'

'You will be serving Charion,' Lynan added.

Farben laughed nervously at that. 'A fine joke, your Majesty.'

'If you truly believe she will return, then surely it is your duty to ensure her city is maintained for her?'

Farben's expression showed his confusion.

'I have already rebuilt the walls and city gate. Most of the rubble has been cleared away. My Haxan allies are rebuilding houses and shops. I want life here to return to normal as quickly as possible, but to best do that I need someone willing to take over the administration who knows the city and its people.'

'You will use the city against your enemies,' Farben said. He straightened himself before adding: 'And they are my allies.'

The Red Hand behind him raised the pommel of his sword again but Lynan waved him down. 'Undeniably. Nonetheless, a working Daavis best serves its own citizens, and those citizens may one day be Charion's once more.'

'Not if you win,' Farben pointed out.

'Don't be so sure. She is not my enemy. My sister is my enemy.' Lynan could see Farben had no answer to that but still he did not look convinced. 'If she survives the war and is prepared to swear her allegiance to me, then I will happily return Hume to her, and Daavis as her capital. But what kind of city shall she receive if the conqueror is left alone to administer it?'

'If I accept your offer people will think I am a traitor,' Farben said feebly.

'Then you have my permission to let everyone in the city know you are working for Charion, and not for me. You can put up notices to that effect if you like. I only ask you do no intentional harm to me or my cause.'

'Your Majesty?' Farben could not believe his ears.

'There is a price to be paid,' Lynan added.

Farben snickered. 'I see.'

'No you do not see. The price is that when Charion swears her allegiance to me, so must you.'

'You could force me to do that now.'

Lynan shook his head. 'You and I both know that is not true. No doubt I could force you to do a great many things. I might even get you to say the words, but they would be empty. I am prepared to wait for true loyalty.'

Farben did not answer for a moment, then—ever so slightly—he bowed.

She was overwhelmingly desirable. Lynan could not help falling into her arms, embracing her as if she was and had always been his true love. They did not speak, their passion so powerful no words could express it. The forest surrounded and swallowed them. The world was rich and green and moist.