If Solla has a son, Ill gloat then and not before. Gerran felt his usual pang of cold fear at the mention of Sollas pregnancy. What if she dies? He shoved the thought away with a toss of his head. But anyway, it doesnt matter if you or I or the Lord of Hell call you the captain. What counts is what your father thinks of the matter.
Not long after they learned exactly that, when Cadryc strode into the great hall. He pulled off his yellow and red plaid cloak, tossed it over the back of his chair at the head of the honour table, then stood looking around him with a puzzled frown. When he spotted Mirryn he walked across to join them. Mirryn got up and turned to face his father. The men gathered around the carnoic game fell silent; those whod been standing hurriedly knelt. Cadryc waved his hand in their direction to allow them to stand up again, then turned his attention to his son.
Well, Mirro, Cadryc said, what are you doing over here?
The Falcons going to have a dun of his own soon enough, Mirryn said. So Im the captain of your warband now.
Ah. Cadryc paused for a long moment. So you are. Carry on with your game, men. He turned and walked away, leaving Mirryn open-mouthed but speechless behind him.
The men of the warband looked as stunned as their new captain. They said nothing, but they kept glancing at one another. And what will they think of him? Gerran wondered. Hes never ridden to war. Their carefully arranged faces revealed nothing. Mirryn sat down to a profound silence.
That was easy enough, Gerran said.
Mirryn nodded and picked up his tankard from the table. The conversation and the wagering resumed, slowly at first, then erupted into cheers from Daumyrs supporters when his next move won the game.
Ai! Salamander said. I am vanquished, well and truly conquered, routed, and driven from the field!
I take it that means you dont want another game, Daumyr said.
Quite right. Youve beaten me thrice, and my vanity wont take another blow. Salamander got up with a grin. I think Ill drown my sorrows in some of our lords ale.
Daumyr turned on the bench and made a sketchy bob that might have signified a bow to the two lords.
Here, captain, Daumyr said to Mirryn, care to give me a game, my lord?
I do indeed, Mirryn said. Bring the board up here, will you?
Good man, Daumyr! Gerran thought. He decided that he didnt dare risk acting as if he thought Mirryn needed his backing on his new authority. He went to the honour table and sat down at Cadrycs left. The tieryn was obviously trying to suppress a grin at the effect hed just had on his son. Gerran waited until a servant lass had brought Cadryc ale and left again. Carrying his own tankard, Salamander joined them.
I dont know if you want my opinion, your grace, Gerran said, but you made the right choice for your new captain.
Good. It gladdens my heart that you agree. Cadryc frowned into his tankard. No doubt the lad will have plenty of chances to prove himself, with the cursed Horsekin prowling around. He reached into the tankard and pulled out a bit of straw, which he tossed onto the floor before continuing. I just hope its not too soon.
The tieryn and the gerthddyn exchanged a significant glance.
Um, well, your grace, Gerran said, puzzled, the sooner he gets a chance to draw his first blood, the better.
I know that. Wasnt what I meant. Cadryc glared at his ale again, as if suspecting it of harbouring dark secrets.
If theres more straw in that, we should send one of the lasses to tell Cook.
Um? Oh, true spoken, but it should be all right. Cadryc took a long swallow. Naught wrong with it now.
If you dont mind me shoving an oar in, Salamander said, Mirryn needs to marry, and soon.
True spoken, Cadryc said. And I hope to the gods he sires more sons that I did!
Does Lady Galla have a match in mind? Salamander asked.
Shes doing her best to find one. Thats the trouble with being out here on the wretched border, with the noble-born so thin on the ground. I dont particularly want him marrying a common-born lass, but who else is there, eh?
Admittedly the choice is limited. Salamander glanced at Gerran, as if inviting him to comment.
Gerran shrugged. He had no ideas on the subject.
Might as well leave all that to the womenfolk, the tieryn said. Now, Gerro, Ive been meaning to talk with you about the Falcon clans new dun. Cursed if I know whos going to pay for it. You cant just throw a few stones together like a farmer, eh? Youll need a proper master mason from Trev Hael to plan the thing.
Well, Gerran said, my wife tells me that her brother owes her a fair amount of hard coin an inheritance from an uncle, I think she said but Id hate to use that.
You may have to. We dont live in the best of times, lad. Cadryc paused for a long swallow of his ale. Weve got to get men and defences out into the Melyn Valley as soon as we can. I doubt me if the Horsekin will have the stomach for raiding this summer, but sooner or later, theyll come back. Ive been thinking about our new overlord. The coin should come from him.
Do you think he has it?
It was Cadrycs turn for the shrug. Salamander heaved a mournful sigh.
Do we even know where he is? Gerran went on. I swore to Prince Dar gladly, but ye gods, the Westfolk could be anywhere out in the grasslands. All Ive ever heard is that they ride north every summer.
That will have to do, then, eh? Sooner or later hes bound to ask us for dues and taxes, and well find out then.
Gerran looked at Salamander and raised an eyebrow, but the gerthddyn merely buried his nose in his tankard. Since they couldnt speak openly of dweomer in front of the tieryn, Gerran let the matter drop.
Cadryc and Gerran werent the only men wondering where Prince Daralanteriel of the Westlands might be. A few days later messengers turned up at Cadrycs gates, two road-dusty men riding matched greys and leading two more mounts behind them. The extra horses identified them as speeded couriers, and their tabards sported the royal gold wyvern of Dun Deverry.
One-armed Tarro, whod been watching the gates that afternoon, showed them directly into the great hall. When Gerran realized who they were, he sent a page off to find his wife, one of the only two people in the dun who could read. The messengers knelt at Tieryn Cadrycs side. One of them proffered a silver tube, sealed at both ends with gold-coloured wax.
From Prince Voran of Dun Deverry, your grace, he said. Humbly requesting a favour should your grace be willing.
Very well. Cadryc took the message tube from him. Go sit with my men. A lass will bring you ale, and tell her if youd like a meal to go with it.
Our humble thanks, your grace.
Both men rose and strode away to the far side of the hall. Cadryc scowled at the messages in his hand.
You know, Gerro, he said, there was somewhat about the way that fellow spoke to me, so carefully, like, that troubled my heart. I was cursed glad to get out from under Gwerbret Ridvars overlordship last autumn. It was leave or rebel, truly. I know you agreed. It was good of Prince Dar to take us on. But He hesitated, groping for words. Ah, by the black hairy arse of the Lord of Hell! I dont know what I mean.
I think I do, Gerran said. We live outside of Deverry now, dont we? Were not vassals of the high king and the princes any more, so Voran has to ask, not demand. We might as well be Westfolk ourselves.
Thats it! Cadryc grinned, then let the grin fade. I knew that, of course, when we swore to Dar. But somehow I hadnt quite grasped it. I have now.
I still wonder what got the gwerbret to let us go. Youd think the royal line would want as many vassals as it can hold.
Ah, thats the issue, lad! As they can hold, but they cant hold a blasted one of us if we cant hold our land for them. The Melyn Valleys too far west. Ill wager the high king knows itd just be a wound on the kingdom, bleeding coin and men.
So hell let Prince Dar do the bleeding instead.
Just that. Cadryc saluted him with his tankard. But with all those archers he has, the wound wont be a big one.
When Solla arrived at the table of honour, Cadryc broke the seals on the tube and pulled out the letter inside, then handed it to her. She sat down in the chair to his right and unrolled the parchment to look it over.
Just read it out, Cadryc snapped, then ducked his head in apology. Well, if you would, my lady.
Of course. Solla began: To his grace, Tieryn Cadryc of the Westlands, and his lords of the Melyn Valley, I, Prince Voran of Dun Deverry, send greetings. I have news of some import for your overlord, Prince Daralanteriel of the Westlands. Alas, I know not where he might be or where I might meet with him. If your grace should know, would he be so kind as to send me an answer by the messengers who have brought him this letter? I am currently residing at Gwingedd in Cerrgonney, but I plan to continue on to Arcodd as the spring progresses. I will be residing there for some while, as I have every intention of demanding some legal redress against Govvin, priest of Bel, for the insults he tendered me during last summers campaigns. If his highness Daralanteriel could join me there, I should be most gratified. Solla glanced up. The rest is all a formal farewell. He never says what this thing of great import is.
Blast him! Cadryc muttered. No doubt we wont be able to pry anything out of those messengers, either.
They may not know, Gerran said. I doubt if its his action against Govvin. He wouldnt need to consult Prince Dar about that.
Huh! Cadryc said with a snort. I wonder what the high priest down in Dun Deverry will think?
Knowing the prince, your grace, Solla said, Id wager that hes already brought the high priest round to his side.
Most like. Well, I dont know where our Prince Dar is, and I dont know how in the hells were going to find him, either.
Gerran glanced around and saw Salamander, lurking behind a nearby pillar, convenient for eavesdropping.
Leave it to me. Gerran got up from his chair. Ive got an idea.
When Salamander saw Gerran walking his way, he headed for the back door of the great hall. He knew that Gerran would follow him down to the dun wall, where they could have a little privacy away from the clutter of the ward. It was odd, he reflected, that Gerran would have so few qualms about calling upon dweomer, when most Deverry lords refused to admit that such a thing could even exist. Odd or not, he was glad to dispense with the usual verbal fencing and insinuations.
I take it you want me to find out where Daralanteriel is, Salamander said.
Just that, Gerran said. Can you?
Easily.
Salamander glanced up at the sky, where towards the west a few clouds drifted against the crystalline blue, and let his Sight shift to thoughts of Dar and the royal alar. He saw them immediately, a long line of riders followed by herds of horses, flocks of sheep, horses laden with packs and more dragging travois, dogs, children on ponies all the usual straggling untidiness of Westfolk on the move. All around them stretched grassland.
Somewhere west of Eldidd, Salamander said. I cant tell exactly where, Im afraid, because theyre out in open country.
Is there anything but open country west of Eldidd? Gerran said.
Theres not, and that, indeed, is the problem. Here, give me a while, and I may be able to tell you more.
Well and good, then, and my thanks.
They walked back inside together, but Salamander left the lord at the table of honour and hurried upstairs to his wedge-shaped chamber high up in the broch. He barred the door, then sat down on the wide stone sill of the window. The sharp west wind drifted in, bringing with it the stink of the stables below. Salamander rummaged under his shirt, brought out a pomander, made of an apple dried with Bardek spices, and inhaled the scent.
From his perch he could see over the stables and the dun wall both to the meadows beyond, pale green with the first grass. The clouds had drifted a little further towards zenith and grown larger as well. He focused on the white billows and thought of Dallandra. He saw the royal alar again, stopped in a swirl of riders and animals. Some of the men had dismounted and were strolling towards the various travois. Apparently they were going to set up the tents. In the vision Salamander realized that the western sky had already clouded over. Some distance from the alar ran a river. It looked to him like the Cantariel, but since it wound through flat meadowland like so many rivers did out in the grasslands, he couldnt be sure. Dallandra was standing at the riverbank and watching muddy water flow. He sent his mind out toward hers.
It took her some moments to respond. He could pick up her emotional state, a blend of annoyance and physical discomfort. Finally she acknowledged him with a wordless sense of welcome and a wave of one hand.
Are you ill? Salamander thought to her. Have you been hurt?
He focused in on the image of her face. She looked pale, and dark smudges marred the skin under her eyes. Im fine, she said. Im merely pregnant, and I spent the day on horseback. Its not a happy combination.
I can easily contact you later
No, no, Ive been meaning to speak with you. I need to ask you something. Its about Nevyn. You knew him well, didnt you?
I certainly did, oft times to my severe distress and humiliation. The old man had the horrid habit of always being right, especially when it came to my faults, flaws, mistakes, and general ill-doings.
He could feel Dallandras amusement as clearly as he would have heard her laughter had they been together. Was he stubborn? she said.
Very. Like the proverbial bull in a warm stable. Getting him outside on a winters day was a most formidable task. Is Neb giving you trouble?
Aha, you guessed! Im worried, really. He seems to want to shed his current personality and just turn back into Nevyn. Yet when I try to speak with him about it, I can feel his mind close up.
This sounds dangerous.
It is. Once the childs born, my attentions bound to be divided. I should have apprenticed him to Grallezar, I suppose, and taken Branna on myself, but at the time it seemed a better match this way.
I thought you made the right decision then, and I still do.
Thank you. At times I have trouble remembering why I made it. She paused, and he received the general impression of a jumble of thoughts. It was because of the healing lore, I think. He seemed to want to learn that as well, and Grallezar has none.