Whos behind it, Lucas? asked James.
Lucas looked around, as if afraid some invisible agency might overhear him. Softly he said, Someone calling himself the Crawler.
James sat back. Why am I not surprised? he muttered.
CHAPTER THREE
Reception
JAMES WAITED.
A court page knocked upon the door, his youthful expression neutral as befitted a lad of twelve stationed just outside the royal apartments. An answering voice bid James enter, and he waited as two pages pushed open the ornate wooden doors. Inside, the Prince took breakfast with his family, the fractious twins poking at one another while attempting to avoid parental notice. A scolding look from their mother indicated their failure and they went back to a pretence of model behaviour. The little Princess was happily singing a song of her own making while she purposefully put spoon to a bowl of hot breakfast mush.
Princess Anita smiled at James as he presented himself to the family and bowed. Our squire finally appears, said Arutha dryly. I trust were not inconveniencing you this morning?
James smiled back at the Princess as he straightened, then turned to the Prince and said, I was dressed in a quite inappropriate fashion for a meal with the royal family, Highness. I am sorry to be so tardy.
Arutha indicated for James to stand at his right hand, where he was expected to wait on his rulers pleasure unless out on some errand or another. James did so and took a moment to rest in the glow of the only thing in his life that felt like family to him.
The Prince of Krondor and his squire enjoyed a relationship that was eccentric and unique. At times they were comrades as much as master and servant, while at other times their bond was almost brotherly. Yet there was always this one thing between them: James never forgot that Arutha was his Prince and he was Aruthas loyal servant.
You look tired, observed the Prince.
Its been a long time since I enjoyed the comfort of a warm bed and a good nights sleep, sir, James replied. Last night included.
Well, was it worth it?
James said, In one way, very much. In another, no.
Glancing at his wife and children, Arutha looked at James and softly said, Do we need to speak in private?
James said, I judge it inappropriate table conversation, if thats the answer you seek, Highness.
Arutha said, Retire to my private office and wait. I will join you in a few minutes.
James did as he was told and walked the short distance to Aruthas private office. Inside he found it as it always was, ordered and clean. He eased his fatigued body into a chair near the Princes writing desk and sat back.
James lurched awake as Arutha entered a short while later. Sleeping? asked the Prince with amusement as James came to his feet.
It was a very long and tiring ride home, Highness, followed by another night without sleep.
Arutha waved James back into his chair and said, Relax a bit while you talk, but dont nod off again.
Sire, said James as he sat. Three of my informants have gone missing.
Arutha nodded. From what the good sheriff tells me, we have a rash of killings here in Krondor again, and this time it looks as if theres no pattern. But the disappearance of your informants tells us someone knows more about us than we do about him, and doesnt want us improving our knowledge.
James said, I dont see any pattern either.
Not yet, said the Prince. There was a knock at the door, and Arutha called out, A moment. To James he said, That would be Gardan with his retirement documents.
He is leaving, then? asked James.
Arutha nodded. Im sorry to see him go, but hes earned his rest. Hell go home to Crydee and spend his last years with his grandchildren, and I cant think of a better fate for any man. And I suspect hes correct in his accusation that I dont leave him much to do, really. He suggests I appoint someone with administrative talents to the post rather than a military man as long as I insist on personally supervising the army. And this conversation stays in this room.
James nodded silently.
Pointing to the door, Arutha said, Let Gardan in on your way out. Then go to your room and get some sleep. Youre excused from court duty this morning. You have a busy evening ahead of you.
More scouting the city? asked James.
Arutha said, No, my wifes arranged a homecoming ball, and you must attend.
James rolled his eyes heavenward. Couldnt I go crawl around in the sewers some more?
Arutha laughed. No. Youll stand and look interested as rich merchants impress you with tales of their fiscal heroics, and their vapid daughters try to entice you with their marginal charms. Thats a royal command. He fingered a document upon his desk. And we have word of an eastern noble headed our way for an unexpected visit. So we must be ready to entertain as well. And murder in the streets does so take the joy out of things, dont you agree? he added dryly.
Yes, Highness.
James opened the door and admitted Gardan, who nodded a greeting. After Gardan entered the room, James left, closing the door behind him.
The court was nearly empty. In a few moments, de Lacy and Jerome would admit nobles, merchants, and other petitioners to the great hall. With a nod of courtesy to the two men, James hurried out of another side door and started back towards his quarters. He might not look forward to another of Princess Anitas galas, but he did hear his bed singing a siren call to him right now. The last few weeks in the north, especially almost a week-long horseback ride abetted by mystical herbs to ward off fatigue, had taken its toll.
As he reached the corner of two halls, he found a page and instructed the youth to awaken him one hour before the supper bell rang. James reached his room, went inside, and within minutes was fast asleep.
The musicians struck up a tune and Arutha turned to his wife and bowed. Less formal than the royal court in Rillanon, the Princes court in Krondor was no less bound by traditions. One such was that no one began dancing before the Prince and Princess.
Arutha was an adept dancer. That didnt surprise James. No one could be as nimble when wheeling a sword as the Prince of Krondor and not have a superb sense of balance and exquisite timing. And the dances were simple. James had heard that the court dances in Rillanon were complex, very formal things, while here in the far more rustic west the court dances were similar to those performed by farmers and townspeople throughout the Western Realm, just executed with a bit more restraint and less noise.
James watched Arutha and Anita nod as one to the music master. He held up his bow and nodded to his musicians, a collection of stringed instruments, a pair of percussionists, and three men playing flutes of various sizes. A sprightly tune was struck up and Anita stepped away from Arutha, while holding his hand, and executed a twirling turn, which caused her ornate gown to flare out. She ducked skillfully under his arm, and James thought it was a good thing those silly large white hats the ladies wore this season were considered daywear only. He considered it improbable she could have got under Aruthas arm without knocking it off.
The thought struck him as amusing and he smiled. Jerome, standing nearby said, Something funny, James?
Jamess smile vanished. He had never liked Jerome, that distaste going back to their first encounter when James had arrived in court. After Jeromes first and last attempt to bully him, James had knocked down the older boy, informing him pointedly that he was Prince Aruthas personal squire and not about to be bullied by anyone. James had emphasized the message with the point of a dagger Jeromes own deftly picked off his belt without Jerome noticing, and the message had never needed to be repeated.
Jerome had remained wary of James from that day on, though he had occasionally tried to bully the younger squires. Since becoming de Lacys apprentice, and in all likelihood the next Master of Ceremonies, Jerome had outgrown his bullying behaviour, and a polite truce had arisen between himself and James. James still considered him a fussy prig, but judged him far less obnoxious than he had been as a boy. And at times he was even useful.
James said, Just an odd thought about fashion.
Jerome let a slight smile show itself before turning sombre once more. He did not pursue the remark, but his slight change of expression indicated he appreciated Jamess observation.
The court was at its lavish best, with every guest adorned in the height of Krondorian fashion. James found these annual shifts in taste odd and occasionally ridiculous, but bore up under them stoically. This year the guards uniforms had been changed, at the Princesss request, as the old grey tabards were now considered too dull.
The honour guard along the walls wore light brown tunics somewhere between copper and gold marked with a black eagle soaring over the peak of a mountain. James wasnt sure he liked the break with tradition, but noticed the Princes scarlet mantle of office still bore the old crest.
Another group of guests arrived and filtered into the ballroom. Leaning towards Jerome, James quietly asked, The usual guests?
Jerome nodded. Local nobles, rich merchants, a few soldiers of rank who have earned our Princes favour.
Any Keshians? asked James.
A few, said Jerome. Traders. He glanced over at James and asked, Or did you have some particular Keshians in mind?
James shook his head a little as the dance came to a close. No, but I wish I did.
If Jerome was curious about the remark, he didnt show it. James had come to admire his reticence, as a great deal of a Master of Ceremonys time was spent dealing with idiots, many of them powerful and rich. The ability not to hear things convincingly was a skill James felt he lacked and needed to cultivate.
A bit of a bustle at the far end of the hall began as the first dance ended. Arutha bowed to Anita and offered his hand, which she took, to escort her back to the dais.
From the opposite end of the hall came the booming crack of de Lacys staff of office striking the floor heralding the arrival of someone of note. De Lacys old, but still strong, voice carried the hall, as he intoned, Your Highnesses, Lord Radswil, Duke of Olasko!
James said, Radswil of Olasko?
Jerome whispered, Pronounced Rads-vil, you ignoramus. One of the Eastern Kingdoms a duchy, actually. Looking with mock disdain at James he said, Study the map, my friend. The mans the younger brother of the Grand Duke Vaclav, and uncle to the Prince of Aranor. Dropping his voice even lower, Jerome said, Which means hes a cousin to the King of Roldem.
A stir spread through the room as those who had occupied the dance floor parted to allow a large man and his retinue to cross to where Arutha and Anita were just sitting down. James studied the man and didnt like what he saw.
The duke was a bruiser, James could tell, despite his fine raiment. A large velvet hat of dark maroon, looking like an oversized beret, dropped off to one shoulder, a large silver brooch with a long white feather sweeping back from it. His black jacket was tailored to fit snugly, and James could see the massive shoulders were not padded, but merely reinforced his impression that Lord Radswil could easily hold his own in the rougher inns of the city. Black leggings and stockings finished the ensemble, all of the finest make. The sword at his side was a rapier, much like the one Arutha wore, often used and a serious weapon. The only difference was that Radswils had a silver-and-gold-decorated bellguard.
At his left hand walked a young girl, perhaps fifteen or sixteen, wearing a dress to rival the Princesss, though cut as daringly low as modesty permitted. James studied her face. She was pretty in a predatory way, with the eyes of a hunter. For a brief moment he gave thanks that Locklear was gone from the court. Since they were boys, James had joked that girls would get Locklear killed some day, and this one looked about as dangerous as any James had seen, despite her youth.
Then James felt eyes upon him and glanced across. At Radswils right hand walked two young men, about Jamess own age from what he could tell. The one closest to the duke looked like a younger version of Radswil, heavy set, powerful of stature and full of confidence. The one farthest from the duke bore enough of a resemblance to be a younger brother, but he was leaner and his eyes had a menacing cast as he fixed them upon James. He was studying James as James had been studying the party, and intuitively James knew what that young man was doing; he was picking out potential enemies in court. James felt a chill run down his back as the duke bowed before Arutha.
Jerome, now acting the part of his office as assistant to the Master of Ceremonies, stepped forward and said, Your Highnesses, may I present Radswil, Lord Steznichia, Duke of Olasko.
Arutha said, Welcome to our court, my lord. Your arrival catches us somewhat unprepared. We thought you would arrive later in the week.
The duke bowed. Apologies, Your Highness, he said in a deep voice, his speech only slightly accented. We caught favourable winds from Opardum and arrived in Salador a week before we were scheduled. Rather than linger, we pressed on. I trust we have caused Your Highnesses no undue inconvenience?
Arutha shook his head. Not at all. We just lack a fitting welcome, that is all.
The duke smiled and James felt no warmth from that expression. The man was polished and his education was obvious, but at heart there was that brawler James had recognized at once. Im sorry, Highness, I assumed the gala tonight was to welcome us.
Anitas face froze for a moment, then the duke turned to her and said, Highness, I jest. The matter is one of scant importance. We call only out of courtesy to your office and your husbands. We are bound for the Keshian port of Durbin. From there we will venture into the Trollhome Mountains, where we understand the hunting is both plentiful and exotic. Any small gesture of hospitality on your part is a boon beyond our expectation.
James saw Jerome go slightly rigid. The fussy ex-squire was a stickler for protocol and the duke had managed to brush aside an apology from Arutha and return an insult, without making it obvious. This man obviously felt no timorousness being in the presence of a Prince.
Anita had been court bred and knew the intricacies of court manners. She knew that anything she said in response to the slight would only worsen her situation socially. She merely inclined her head and said, I suspect the subtleties of the east are lost upon us here in the west. Would you present your companions?