I need you not to die for a while, Erik.
Id be pleased to accommodate you, but I believe fate has other plans.
How do you feel?
The Duke stretched out his hands before his face and said, Surprisingly good, all things considered. Ill ask again, what did you do?
Its a potion, which I got from a priest who lives a great distance from here. It will restore you.
Restore me?
Itll keep you alive for a while longer, or if you drink a lot, for a lot longer.
The Duke shifted himself higher in the bed, so he could sit up. Im not sure Id like that, Nakor. My body has betrayed me and, to put it bluntly, it vexes me to be so dependent on others. Its hard not to be able to walk to the jakes and take a piss. Nothing humbles a man as much as waking in the morning, sopping wet like a baby. I think Id rather die than have to spend more days in bed.
Well, you dont have to do either, said Nakor with a grin. The potion will make you stronger, too.
Eriks gaze fixed upon Nakor. I can see better; Ive just realized.
Yes, said Nakor. Its a pretty nice potion.
Is that how youve remained unchanged over the last fifty to sixty years?
No. I know some other tricks.
Very well, if you can get me out of this bed so I can protect the Kingdom a while longer, Ill stay around, but what is your reason for this?
Well, first of all, I like you.
Thank you, Nakor; I like you, too.
You are the last of the Desperate Men who went south with Calis and Bobby.
I was there; I remember. Now, I appreciate nostalgia as much as the next man, Nakor, but whats the real reason?
We need someone who is close to the Crown to listen and help when the time comes.
We? asked the Duke. You mean the Black Sorcerer?
Yes, Pug.
Erik sat back with a long exhalation of breath, shaking his head slightly. After the Serpentwar, Kesh had moved against and almost destroyed Krondor, seeking to an advantage itself in its seemingly never-ending struggle with its northern neighbour. Pug, who was Duke of Stardock at that time, and vassal to the Crown of the Kingdom of the Isles, had refused to use his powerful magic to destroy the invaders, but rather had ordered the Keshians home, while at the same time publicly humiliating Patrick, who was then the Prince of Krondor, and was now King of the Isles.
Erik said, Pugs been persona non grata since he defied Prince Patrick, after the Serpentwar. Robbie may be related to Patrick in name only hes as thoughtful as Patrick is rash but the collective royal memory is a long one. Pug pulled Stardock out of the Kingdom and set it up as an independent state; that looks like treason from the thrones point of view.
Thats why we need you to persuade them otherwise. Something bad is coming, Erik.
How bad?
Very bad, said Nakor.
As bad as the Emerald Queen?
Worse, said the short gambler.
Erik sat motionless for a moment, then said, Go over to that table, Nakor. He pointed to a long table set against the wall. Open that box.
Nakor did as requested and found the simple wooden box with a small brass hasp and ring latch. Inside it he found a black amulet. He pulled it out, letting it hang from the chain. Nighthawks?
We received that from one of our agents in Great Kesh. I suspect you and your companions have as many agents down there as we do.
Nakor turned to regard the old Duke. Eriks blue eyes were now alight with energy and his voice was growing stronger by the moment. Oh, I have no problem with your what do you call it? Your Conclave?
Nakor said nothing, but smiled slightly.
But youre not the only ones out there paying for information, my old friend, said the Duke. I served with you and Calis long enough to have no doubt you only intend good, no matter what the Crowns official position on your activities may be. Truth to tell, Patrick needed the public spanking that Pug gave him when the Keshian army was outside the city walls. Just as much as the Keshians needed to be sent home with their tails between their legs.
But if it ever comes down to choosing between your vision of a larger good and my duty to the Crown, you know what I will do.
I know, Erik. Nakor understood if it ever came to a choice, Erik would put his oath and duty to the Crown ahead of anything Pug asked. He put the amulet back. How long have you had it?
A week. Some minor court officials and influential merchants are starting to turn up dead in the City of Kesh. Its a big place and the dead men are of marginal importance, so the Keshians dont appear to be taking note of it yet.
Nakor was thoughtful. Or someone highly placed is ensuring they dont.
My thought, as well, said the Duke. He looked at the window, and said, How long before dawn?
Four hours or so, said Nakor.
I think I will stick around a while longer, Nakor. If the approaching danger is worse than the Emerald Queens army, I want to be fit enough to stand on the wall with my sword in my hand.
Nakor grinned. You will.
Erik smiled back and Nakor could see the health returning to his cheeks. When Nakor had seen him sleeping, Erik had looked like an eighty-year-old man, near deaths door. He now seemed more like a vigorous man of seventy or less.
I need to go. Drink the rest of that vial now. Erik did so and handed the empty bottle back to Nakor. The skinny gambler pulled another and said, Hide this somewhere. Drink half of this one in a weeks time if you dont feel as strong as youd like to. And if you want to feel really wonderful, drink the rest a week after that. He put it on the pillow next to the Duke. Id leave more, but it would be difficult for you to explain to the Prince why you suddenly look younger than he does. Grinning, he added, Its a good thing you were born blond, Erik, because people wont notice your hair isnt as grey as it used to be.
The door at the far end of the room began to open. Got to go now, Erik, said Nakor and he darted into the shadow behind the large curtain.
Erik knew that the window behind the curtain had stayed closed, but that if he rose and investigated it, Nakor would have vanished.
The Royal Chirurgeon and the Dukes squire entered the Dukes chamber and showed open astonishment at seeing the Duke sitting up in bed. Your Grace! exclaimed the healer.
Rossler, said the Duke.
Sir? asked the squire with a near stammer.
What are you two staring at?
Why, Your Grace you, sir.
Well, you can stop it.
Its just that, well
I know, said Erik, interrupting the healer. You didnt think Id make it through the night. Well, Ive got better.
Apparently so, Your Grace. May I? he indicated his desire to examine the Duke.
Erik patiently allowed the man to proceed, listening to his heart and breathing, and thumping on his back and chest. When he began examining the colour of his eyes, Erik pushed him away. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he said, I need to go to the jakes.
The squire said, Your Grace, I will fetch the chamber pot.
Not tonight, Samuel. Im certain I can walk to the garderobe by myself.
Both stood a moment in silent amazement as Erik stood and walked across the room to the door that led to his private garderobe and opened the door. When it closed behind the now revitalized Duke, the stunned healer and the grinning squire exchanged looks of wonder.
CHAPTER THREE
Journey
THE BOYS GROANED.
Caleb looked back over his shoulder from the drivers seat at the two slowly-waking boys. He had dumped them in the wagon, said goodbye to Marie, and left Stardock Town before dawn.
Zane was first to regain a semblance of consciousness and he blinked like a stunned owl as he tried to sit up. It proved a bitter mistake as his head throbbed and his stomach heaved. He barely got his face over the side of the wagon before the sour contents of his stomach reappeared.
Caleb slowed the horses, then halted them. By the time the wagon came to a complete stop, Tad had joined his foster brother in a painful display of morning-after distress.
Caleb jumped and with a rough grab, pulled Tad, then Zane out of the wagon and deposited them in a heap on the roadside. They were a portrait of misery. Both had pale complexions and perspiration dripped off their brows. Their eyes were red-rimmed and their clothing dishevelled and dirty.
Stand up, said Caleb, and the two lads did so. Follow me.
Without turning to see if they complied, Caleb started walking down a gentle slope dotted with trees. From the sounds behind him, he judged that the two boys were following along grudgingly.
They reached a small gully thick with waist-high grass, and Caleb motioned for them to move ahead of him. The two miserable lads half-stumbled, half-walked through the grass. Zane trampled upon what was in front of him, while Tad parted the slightly waving foliage with his hands.
One minute they were trudging along and the next, Zane vanished from sight with a loud yelp of shock. Tad only just avoided stepping off the bank, some six feet above the river. As Zanes head appeared above the water, Tad felt Calebs foot on his rump, and suddenly he was propelled through the air, landing backside-first in the water next to Zane.
Clean yourselves up, instructed Caleb. You smell like the floor of a tap room. He threw down something which landed in the shallow water between them. Zane picked it up and saw it was a bar of milled soap. It wont take your skin off like that stuff your mother makes, boys, but it will get you clean hair, bodies, clothing, everything. You can carry your clothing back to the wagon.
Grudgingly the pair began to strip off their wet gear as Caleb watched. Drink some water, too, while youre at it. Itll help get you back amongst the living. He turned back towards the wagon, then shouted, But try not to drink the soapy water.
Caleb returned to the wagon and waited. In less than half an hour, a pair of dripping boys appeared, nude and carrying their clothing. Caleb pointed to the cart and said, Spread them out on the side of the wagon and let them dry in the sun.
Both young men stood shivering in the cool morning. After a few minutes, Caleb pointed to a small chest nestled behind the drivers seat and said, Youll find dry clothing in there.
As the boys dressed, Tad said, Ive never felt this sick from drinking before.
Caleb nodded. Whiskey has a terrible hangover, no doubt.
Whyd you do it? asked Zane as he pulled on a fresh tunic.
So I wouldnt have to beat you senseless to get you to leave Stardock.
As if coming out of a sleepwalk, the boys looked around. Where are we? asked Zane, his dark eyes narrowing. Caleb could see the anger rising.
Were on the road to Yar-rin, then well go on to Jonril.
Tads eyes also narrowed. Why Jonril?
Because your mother didnt like what was going on with you two in Stardock, and asked me to take you somewhere that you could find trades. He motioned for them to finish dressing. You two have been aimless layabouts since the Choosing two years ago.
Zanes eyes flashed angrily as he said, Thats not true, Caleb! Pulling on dry trousers, he glanced at his foster brother. We work when we can find it.
Unloading freight for a day or two every month is no craft, said Caleb.
We do more, added Tad. We help during the harvest, we cart freight over to the island and we have found work as builders, too.
Caleb smiled. I know youve tried. But theres precious little work now, and less when the new freight line sets up theyre bringing their own lads with them down from Landreth.
No, your mother has the right of it. If youre to find your way in life, it has to be somewhere else besides Stardock.
The boys finished dressing and Caleb motioned for them to climb back into the wagon. He mounted the drivers seat and took up the reins. As the horses obeyed his command and moved along, he continued. Theres not much going on in the Kingdom, Im sorry to say. I know people who could get you work, but no one whod apprentice you. But things are looking up in Kesh and Ive a few friends in Jonril who owe me a favour or two. Well see if theres someone wholl take in two promising lads. Apprentice at a trade, learn your craft and in a dozen years or so you can return to Stardock as journeymen crafters, if you wish, but apprentice at a trade you will.
The boys sat uncomfortably in the back of the jostling wagon, Zane with his knees draw up to his chest and Tad with legs straight out. Both knew it would be a long ride.
The wagon bumped down the road, the horses kicking up small clouds of dust as the afternoon heat beat down. It was unusually hot for this time of year and the boys complained from time to time. They were restless and bored and the novelty of the journey had worn off. Caleb bore their complaints with good humour, for he understood their distress over the turn of events in their lives.
During the first day, they had expressed both anger and sadness at their mothers decision to send them away. They fully understood her reasoning; Stardock had not been a prosperous town for years and work was hard to come by. Their youthful optimism had always led them to believe that something would have worked out had they remained, but by the end of the day both had slowly come to the conclusion that their mother was probably right. They would eventually accept the change as a welcome one, but for the moment they felt ill-used. At least, to Calebs relief, neither had mentioned Ellie and her part in Maries desire to see them somewhere other than home.
Caleb had known the boys for most of their lives and he was very fond of them; they were as close to sons as he would ever have, and he knew that while they didnt consider him as a father, they did look upon him as a surrogate uncle and someone their mother cared for, even loved.
He had known Marie a little while her husband was alive, and had known even then that she had felt drawn to him, for he had seen it in her eyes, despite the fact that she was a dutiful wife who observed all the proprieties. Later, she had told him that even in those days she had found him compelling. He had noticed her too, but as with any other married women, he put any thoughts of attraction aside. Two years after the troll raid and the death of her husband, they had become lovers.