Velmont scratched himself. It started just a few days ago. Folks thatd been in the game far longern mefolks that shoulda been untouchable, likegot scooped up in the middle o the night. Then they started raiding the gambling houses and the brothels at dawn. He shrugged. No one tells us anything, o course. Were just peasants, what do we need tknow? But twas at the same time, that all the honest men in town got taken outside the wall to learn how to shoot a bow. The thief shook his head. You just in town today? Your accent says youre from Ness, is that right?
Malden assented with a nod.
You picked a lousy time to come see Helstrow, friend. Now, I dont think were to be killed. No, not as such. But Ive been wondering bout what theyre up to meself, and theres only one conclusion I can draw. Conscription.
Theyre going to press us into military service?
Give us a choice, like. Velmont smiled wickedly. The noose or the army. Well, I know my answer already.
I suppose we all do. That must be what theyre counting on. By law they cant force freemen to fight for the king
But a prisoners another story, aye.
Conjecture was all Velmont had to go on, but what he said made sense to Malden. Why the king wanted an army now, of all times, Malden had no idea. The two thieves discussed various theories for some time, without coming to any further useful ideas.
They were still talking when the sun went down and darkness filled the hall. The only light they had came from the fire in the hearth. All around them men laid down as best they could and curled themselves in sleep. Those who still spoke softly amongst themselves all seemed to agree that they were to be kept in the banquet hall overnight at the very least. So when someone entered the hall with a lantern and started shining it in the faces of the imprisoned, everyone sat up and looked. Velmont and Malden fell silent and tried to look as if theyd never spoken to one another. They were in enough trouble as it was and didnt need to be accused of conspiracy.
The lantern moved up and down the hall. The guards never spoke, just played their light over each face and then moved on, clearly not finding what they sought. As the guard with the lantern came closer, Malden somehow knew they were coming for him. When the light hit his face, he refused to blink. The guard beckoned to someone elsea kingsmanwho came rushing up out of the darkness. Then the guard pointed one accusing finger at Malden. Him.
CHAPTER TEN
This way, sir knight, milady, the castellan said, and ushered them inside a low-ceilinged room. Please wait here until you are officially presented.
What are we waiting for? Cythera asked. I dont understand. We wanted to talk to the magistrate, so we could find out where our friend is being held.
I was bidden only to bring you here, where you may await your audience, the castellan told her. Then he stepped backward out into the hall and closed the door behind him.
Croy stared at the doors, wondering exactly what was going on. Why had they been brought here, of all places? Why now?
Cythera turned to him and asked, This doesnt look like a law court. Where are we?
The knight cleared his throat. The privy council chamber. This is where the king consults his closest advisors.
Andour audience? Who have we been summoned to see? One of those advisors?
Croy could barely speak for the emotion he felt. This roomthis very room. I dont know why we were brought here, he said at last.
Cythera sighed deeply and went to sit down. It had been a very long day for her, Croy thought. Theyd had to run from office to office in the inner bailey, looking for anyone who might tell them where Malden might be, or who might take charge of Balint so they didnt have to keep looking after her. They had at least succeeded in the latter goal. They had been allowed to turn the dwarf prisoner over to the kings equerry, of all peoplethe official in charge of the royal stables. It seemed there was nowhere else in the inner bailey that wasnt already full of prisoners.
No one could tell them anything about Malden. But after they had approached the keep, where they were told some prisoners were being held, the castellan himself had come looking for them, and he had brought them here.
Here. To this room.
Croy had been inside the privy council chamber before, many times. There had been a time he had stood in this room every day. The Ancient Blades had been forged to slay demons, but by the time Croy received Ghostcutter from his father there had been too few demons left to justify having five knights just for that purpose. Instead the bearers of the Blades had been commissioned to be the personal bodyguards of the kingthe previous king, Ulfram IV.
It was in this room that Ulfram IV had died. A villainous councilor had slipped poison into his mutton. The Ancient Blades had caught the councilor before he could escape but it was already too late. It was also in this room that his son, Ulfram V, current sovereign of Skrae, had blamed the bodyguards for his fathers death, and stripped them of their commission. He would have done far more to them, if hed been able to prove they had anything to do with the assassination, but everyone knew the sacred honor of the Blades. All he could do was send them forth from Helstrow in disgrace.
Croy remembered that day very well. It had been the worst day of his life. In some ways he would have preferred to have been hanged rather than face that shame. That was the day he became a knight erranta servant without a master.
He had never expected to enter this room again.
He looked around him and saw how little had changed. The shields hanging on the walls were a bit rustier than they had been. The upholstery on the chairs that lined the walls had been changed from red to green, that was all, really. Then he spotted the one significant change.
A tapestry map covered one wall of the chamber, a cunning depiction of the natural and political features of Skrae picked out in minute embroidery of silken floss. The Whitewallthe mountain range that formed Skraes eastern borderhad been stitched from thread of silver, and it glittered in the firelight. Except for one dull patch.
Croy approached the map and looked more closely. It was as he expected. Someone had used the point of a knife to pick out all the threads that had made up the image of Cloudblade, the kingdoms tallest mountain. Which only made sense, since the mountain wasnt there any more.
Croy blushed to think of the part hed had in that.
Croy, Cythera said, turning to him to speak in a hurried whisper, I dont know what were doing here. But Im certain that once its done we should leave Helstrow as soon as possible. My mother sent me a message today, telling me to come home.
She sent a message here? How did the messenger find you?
She didnt send me a letter, Cythera pointed out. She has other methods of getting her point across. It doesnt matter how it was done. She said that things were about to change, that all seven of the Ancient Blades were coming here. She said many things I didnt understand. We need to find Malden as soon as possible and
She stopped because there was a knock on the door, and then two prisoners were brought inside. Balint and Malden, both of them in chains. Croy rushed toward Maldens side, intending to ask his friend what had happened, but he was not given time. The same guard who brought in the prisoners had an announcement to make.
She stopped because there was a knock on the door, and then two prisoners were brought inside. Balint and Malden, both of them in chains. Croy rushed toward Maldens side, intending to ask his friend what had happened, but he was not given time. The same guard who brought in the prisoners had an announcement to make.
All bow for His Majesty Ulfram Taer, Fifth of that Name!
It was to be a royal audience, then. They had been brought here to wait for the king himself. It made no sense. Yet Croy knew exactly what to do. He drew his sword and held it before him with the point on the floor, then knelt behind it. He lowered his head as far as it would go.
Oh, do stand up, Croy, the king said. And put that thing away before you scratch up the floorboards.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Ulfram V was a year younger than Croy, but the strain of ruling a nation had aged him prematurely. The hair on his chin had turned gray since the last time the two had seen each other, and a constant diet of rich foods had swollen his belly. It was held almost in check now by a steel breastplate and gorget that he wore over his state robes.
When Croy saw the kings armor, he knew at once the explanation for many of the strange things hed seen since coming to Helstrow. The king of Skrae only wore such protection in times of war.
My liege, Croy said, I beseech your mercy, and honor your rank, for
Shut up, the king said, in a tone that could not be argued with. I told you never to come back here, didnt I? Dont bother answering. I know I did. But here you are. I could have you hanged, right now. Unfortunately for me, however, it turns out I have need of you, Croy. So Im going to let you live.
Croy said nothing, only lowered his head further.
I have very little time for this audience, so well dispense with formal salutations, I think, the king told him. I seem to recall that when I took away your commission, you said some pointlessly devout thing about never forgetting your vows anyway. Is that right?
It is, Croy said, and dropped to one knee again. The vow I made to you is a sacred bond. I swore it on the name of the Lady, and to break that promise would cost me my utter soul. I will forever be your vassal, your majesty.
The king sighed and waved for Croy to stand again. Very well. As of now youre reinstated as one of my knights. I suppose youll want a ceremony for that or something, but I dont care. Youll report immediately to Sir Hew at the gatehouse. Hell give you your orders. You may leave me nowI have these others to account for.
Majesty, Croy said. He almost knelt again, but thought better of it. I came here for a reason. Its of these two prisoners I wished to speak.
The king had started to turn away, to address Balint. Now he stopped and for a long moment he stood in silence, a confused expression on his face. I beg your pardon? You wished to speak to me? he asked. He seemed more surprised than angry. You have been errant a long time, knight. Perhaps youve forgotten that a vassal does not speak to the king unless he is bidden.
Croy lowered his head. Your forgiveness, Majesty. Yet you must know of the crimes of this dwarf, and the innocence of this man. Justice demands that I speak.
The king crossed over to one of the chairs against the wall and sat down. It was a chair like any other in the room, but by virtue of Ulfram Vs presence, it legally became a throne at that moment. Croy knelt before it.
Just make haste, the king said. Im quite busy at the moment.
Croy kept his head bowed. This dwarf is an oathbreaker. Ill bear witness to the fact, in any court you decree. She is a murderer and a despoiler. A poisoner, he added. Ever since his fathers death, the king had been especially frightened of poisoners. It was cruel of Croy to even speak the word in this room, but it was the truth, and it needed to be aired. She took up arms against humans and others. She laid waste to an entire city, by deceit, by design, and by use of weapons.
Ulfram turned to look at the dwarf. Is this true? he asked.
Every fucking word of it, Balint told the king. She rolled her eyes. Do your worst, and send me on my way. Ive an itch on my buttocks I cant scratch, not with my hands tied like this.
Another pointless delay! the king screeched. Pressing his fingertips against his temples, he called out to his servants in the hall. Fetch a scribe! Have him bring parchment and ink. And someone unchain her. What is your name, dwarf?
Balint.
Croy glared at her. When addressing the king, you will call him, your majesty, or
Or not. I certainly dont care, Ulfram said. Croys shoulders tensed. Hed always thought kings should be slightly aloof, detached at least from the lesser folk they governed. Ulfram V clearly thought otherwisehed always disdained the careful phrases of court etiquette and spoke plainly as a peasant. That was his right, of coursethe king could speak how he chose to whom he chose. If Croy found it unseemly that was his own problem.
It seems Im to be merciful today, the king said. Believe me, its not by choice. Any other day if you came here under these accusations Id exile you on the spot. I have very little patience for those who wont do as theyre told.
Balint said nothing. Her face was a mask of nonchalance, though Croy could see her bound hands were trembling.
Tell me, Ulfram said. Can you repair a broken ballista?
Any dwarf could do that, Balint assured him.
The king nodded. And you laid waste to a city. Thats what Croy said. He does tend to exaggerate, but you dont deny the charge. So you know how to conduct a siege. Do you know how to defend cities, too, or is it just destroying them youre good at?
Im trained in all manner of siegecraft, Balint said. I can work either side.
Sometimes the Lady drops Her blessings right in our laps. The king reached down and put a hand on the dwarfs shoulder. Im going to give you a pardon for all crimes you may have committed in the past, he told her.
Croys jaw fell.
I assume that will earn me some gratitude. Perhaps, the king went on, youll consent to come work for me. I am in desperate need of sappers and engineers. Are we agreed?
Do I have to kiss your royal fucking codpiece or something to seal the deal? Balint asked.
The king studied her carefully, then raised one eyebrow. No.
Then Im all yours.
Your majesty! Croy objected. II cant believe that
But then he stopped. He couldnt finish that thought out loud. He wasnt a knight errant anymore. He had lost certain freedoms the moment he was recommissioned. Questioning the kings word was one of them. I beg your pardon, Majesty. I will be silent now.
Thatll be a nice change of pace, the king told him. Very good. Milady Balint, youll report to the keep. Sir Goris is the master of the armory theretell him I want a full inventory of every trebuchet, battering ram and mantlet in our possession, and how many more of the same can be constructed in short order. Goris is a fool of parts. He knows the difference between a besagew and a rerebrace, but Im not sure he can tell his hundreds from his thousands, so double check every number he gives you. Well have much to discuss later, so stay close by.