
shards of a broken crown
Voyager
An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers
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http: //www.harpercollins.co.uV voyager
Published by HarperCollinsPublishers 1998
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Copyright (D Raymond E. Feist 1998
The Author asserts the moral right to
be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library
ISBN 0 00 224654 6
Printed and bound in Australia by
Griffin Press Pty Ltd, Netley, South Australia
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To jon and Anita Everson,
who were with me from the start.
\
qk
1
Acknowledgments
as is ALwAys the case, I am indebted to many people for the creation ofthis book:
The original creators of Midkemia, Steve Abrams, Jon Everson, andthe rest of the Thursday/Friday Night bunch. Without their creativity,Midkemia would be far less than it is today.
My publishers for their belief and hard work. The enthusiasm andsupport is "above and beyond," especially my editor, Jennifer Brehl, whois both good at her job and a friend.
My good friend and agent, Jonathan Matson, for always being there.My wife, Kathlyn S. Starbuck, for more reasons than I can list, andfor being the best first reader anyone can ask for.And for all of those out there who send me letters of praise or complaint,who let me know someone out there is reading the work. Timedoes not permit me to answer most of them, but they all get read.And to Sean Tate, who thought up the character of Malar.
Character List
AcAmA-leader of the eldar, in the Elf Queen's courtADELiN-elf in Elvandar
AGLARANNA-Elf Queen in Elvandar, wife of Tomas, mother of Calinand Calis
AKEE-Hadati hillman
AKiER-Licutenant on Royal Bulldog
ALETA-young desciple in Temple of Arch-Indar
AsHAm iBiN AL-TuK-Keshian General
AVERY, RUPERT "Roo"-merchant of Krondor
AVERY, KARLi-wife of Roo
BOYSE-Captain of Duko's forces
B~-Duke of Silden
CALHERN, THomAs-acting Lieutenant of Palace GuardCALiN-elf heir to the throne of Elvandar, half-brother to Calis, son ofAglaranna and King Aidan
CALis-"The Eagle of Krondor," special agent of the Prince of Krondor,Duke of the Court, son of Aglaranna and Tomas, half brother to CalinCHALmEs-ruling magician at Stardock
CHAPAc-twin brother of Tilac, son of EWa
D'LYES, ROBERT-magician from Stardock
DE SAVONa, Luis-former soldier, assistant to RooDELWIN--Constable in Krondor
DESGARDEN-swordsman in Krondor
DoKiNS, KmBy-snitch in Krondor
Dominic-Abbot of Ishapian Abbey at Sarth
DuGA-mercenary captain from Novindus
DuKo-General in the Emerald Queen's Army
DuvAL, MARCEL-squire from Bas-Tyra
ELLiA-elf in Elvandar, mother of Chapac and TilacENARES, MALAR-servant discovered in wildernessERLAND-brother to the King and uncle to Prince Patrick
FADAwAH-former general commanding the Emerald Queen's Army,self-styled "King of the Bitter Sea"
FRANCINE "FRANCIE "-daughter of the Duke of Silden
GREYLOCK, OWEN-Knight-Marshal of the Prince's Army
HAMMOND-Lieutenant in King's Army
HERBERT OF RUTHERWOOD-scribe in Port Vykor
JAcoBY, HELEN-widow of Randolph Jacoby, mother of Natally andWillem
JALLOM-Captain of Duko's army
JAmiSON, JAmeS "Jimmy"-elder son of Arutha, grandson of JamesJAMeSON, DASHEL "DASH" -younger son of Arutha, grandson of James
KAHiL-Fadawah's intelligence chief
KALEID-ruling magician at Stardock
LELAND-son of Richard of Mukerlic
LiviA-daughter of Lord Vasarius
MAcKEY-Sergeant of Palace Guard
MATAK-old soldier in Duko's command
MiLo-owner of the Inn of the Pintail in Ravensburg, father of RosalynMiR~A-magician and ally of Calis and Pug
NAKOR THE ISALANi-gambler, magic-user, friend of PugNmwiNi-Captain of captured Quegan ship
NoRDAN-General in Fadawah's army
PAH~N-Ranger of Natal in Elvandar
PAnucic-Prince of Krondor, son of Prince Erland, nephew to the Kingand Prince Nicholas
PiCKNEY-clerk at Krondor
PuG-magician, Duke of Stardock, cousin to the King, grandfather toArutha, great-grandfather to Jimmy and Dash
REESE-thief in Krondor
RICHARD-Earl of Mukerlic
RIGGERS, LYSLE-the Upright Man, leader of the MockersROSALYN-Milo's daughter, wife of Rudolph, mother of Gerd
RUDOLPH-baker in Ravensburg, husband of Rosalyn, stepfather to GerdRUNCOR-Captain of Duko's army
RYANA-dragon shape-changer, friend of Tomas and Pug
SHATI, JADow-Lieutenant in Erik's company
SHO Pi-former companion of Erik and Roo, student of NakorSONGTI-Captain of Duko's army
STYLEs-Captain of Royal Bulldog
SUBAi-captain
of the Royal Krondorian Pathfinders
TALWIN-spy for Arutha
TILAC-twin brother of Chapac, son of Ellia
T~R, GUSTAF-prisoner with Dash, later ConstableTOMAS-Warleader of Elvandar, husband of Aglaranna, father of Calis,inheritor of the powers of Ashen-Shugar
TRMA-female thief, Daymaster of the Mockers
TUPPIN, JoHN-thief with lumpy face, leader of Krondor's "bashers"
VASARIUS-Quegan noble and merchant
VON DARKMOOR, MATHILDA-BaroneSS
of Darkmoor, grandmother to
Gerd
VON DArkmoOR, GERD-Baron of Darkmoor, son of Rosalyn and Stefanvon Darkmoor, nephew to Erik
VON DARKMOOR, ERIK-Captain of the Crimson Eagles
WINDELL-Captain in Krondor
WIGGINS-Patrick's Master of Ceremony
WILKES-soldier in Erik's army
Duty cannot exist without faith.
-Bcnjamin Disrach
Earl of Beaconsfield
TANCRED, BK. II, CH. I
THE GENERAL KNOCKED.
"Enter," said the self-styled King of the Bitter Sea as he looked upfrom a hastily scribbled note just handed him by his Captain of Intelligence,Kahil.
General Nordan entered and shook off the snow from his cloak. "Youfound us a cold land to rule, Majesty," he said with a smile. He gaveKahil the briefest nod of greeting.
Fadawah, former Commanding General of the Army of the EmeraldQueen, now ruler of the City of Ylith and the surrounding countryside,said, "At least it's a cold land with food and firewood." He waved in avague fashion to the south. "We're still getting stragglers in from as faraway as Darkmoor who paint a bleak picture about conditions throughoutthe Western Realm."
Nordan motioned to a chair and Fadawah nodded. while old companions,they observed the formalities, as Fadawah prepared to launchhis spring campaign. The General still wore the ritual scars on his cheeks,marks given him when swearing loyalty to the Pantathians. He had consideredattempting to find a witch or healing priest who could removethem, for when he had finally realized that the Pantathians were as muchdupes as he was, he had killed their remaining high priest. As far asFadawah was concerned, he was no longer bound to anyone. He was hisown man, and he was in a rich land with an army. But Kahil had remindedhim the scars were intimidating and kept the men in awe of him.Kahil had served the Emerald Queen before she had been destroyed bythe demon, but he had proven a valuable and trusted advisor since thechange in leadership of the invading army.
By last count over thirty thousand men had found their way into the
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south end of the province of Yabon. He had organized them, stationedthem, and now controlled all the lands from Ylith south past Quester'sView, north to the outskirts of Zun, west to the city of Natal, which wasnow occupied by more of his own men than their own pitiful defenses.He had also captured Hawk's Hollow, a small town, but one giving himcontrol of a vital pass through the mountains to the east."Some of the men don't like the idea of staying," said Nordan. Thestocky soldier rubbed his bearded chin, and cleared his throat. "They'retalking of finding a ship and going back across the sea.""To what?" asked Fadawah. "To a land burned out and overrun bybarbarians from the grasslands? Besides the dwarven stronghold in theRatn'gari Mountains and some surviving Jehsandi in the North, what isthere left of civilization? Did we leave a city standing. Is there anythingthere to support us?" Fadawah scratched his head. He wore a single longfall of hair and shaved the rest of his head, another sign of his devotionto the Emerald Queen's dark powers. "Tell any of the men who are talkingthis way that come spring, if they can find a ship and take it, they're freeto leave." He looked off into space, as if seeing something in the air. "Iwant no one here who isn't ready to serve me. We're going to have aserious fight on our hands."
"The Kingdom?"
Fadawah said, "You don't think they're going to sit idly by and notattempt to regain their lands, do you?"
"No, but they were terribly mauled at Krondor and Darkmoor. Theprisoners tell us they don't have much of an army left to put in the field."Fadawah said, "If they don't bring their Army of the East over fromDarkmoor, true. But if they do, we need to be ready.""Well," said Nordan, "we won't know until spring.""That's only another three months," said Fadawah. "We need to beprepared."
"You have a plan?"
"Always," said the wily old general. "I don't want a two-front war ifI can help it. If I was stupid, I could find myself in a four-front war." Heindicated a map on the wall of the room. They were currently occupyingthe estate house of the Earl of Ylith, dead by all reports along with theDuke of Yabon and the Earl of LaMut. "If our information is right, weface a boy up in LaMut." He rubbed his chin. "We need to take LaMutas soon as the spring thaw begins, and I want Yabon in our grasp bymidsummer. " He smiled. "Send a message to the leader in Natal . . . " Heturned to Kahil. "What's his title?"
"The First Councilor," supplied his Captain of Intelligence.
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"Send the First Councilor our thanks for his hospitality in providingbillets for our men this winter, and send him some gold. A thousand piecesshould do."
"A thousand?" asked Nordan.
"We have it. And we'll get more. Then withdraw our men and bringthem here." He looked at his old friend. "That will at least keep the FirstCouncilor on our good side until we return to Natal, take and keep it."He pointed to the map. "I want Duko and his men down in Krondorby then."
Nordan raised an eyebrow in curiosity.'
Fadawah said, "Duko makes me uneasy. He's an ambitious man."He frowned. "It was only chance that put you and me first and secondon the Pantathian's roles, else we could be taking orders from Duko."Nordan nodded. "But he's a good leader, and he's always obeyedwithout question."
"That he is, which is why I want him at the front. I want you downbehind him, in Sarth."
"But why Krondor?" Nordan shook his head. "There's nothingthere. "
"But there will be," said Fadawah. "That's their Western Capital,their Prince's City, and they will move back there as quickly as they can."He nodded to himself. "If Duko can keep them busy until we seize all ofYabon, then we can turn our sights on the Free Cities, this Far Coastregion." He pointed to the western coast of the Kingdom. "We'll reoccupyKrondor and move back toward the old battle line. What's that place?""Nightmare Ridge."
"Well named." Fadawah sighed. "I'm not a greedy man. Being Kingof the Bitter Sea is enough. We'll let the Kingdom of the Isles keep theirDarkmoor and the lands to the east." Then he smiled. "For now.""But first we must retake Krondor."
Fadawah said, "No, first we must make them thinkKrondor.
we want to retake
These Kingdom nobles are not stupid, they are not self-consumedlike those of our homeland." He remembered how shocked thePriest-King of Lananda had been when Fadawah and his army had refusedto heed his order to leave his city. "These are smart men, duty-boundmen; they will come at us, and they will come hard. We mustexpect that.
"No, let them think Krondor is the prize, and when they realize weare firm in Yabon, perhaps they will negotiate, or perhaps not, but eitherway, once we have control of Yabon, we are here for good. Let Duko getpunished lest he become ambitious."
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Nordan stood. "If you permit, I'll tell the men those who wish toleave in the spring may."
Fadawah waved his permission.
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"Majesty," said Nordan, leaving Fadawah alone with Kahil. ~To Kahil, Fadawah said, "Wait, then follow Nordan and see who hespeaks with. Mark the men who are the leaders of these dissidents. Theywill have accidents before the thaw, and then we can put to rest thisnonsense about returning to Novindus."
"Of course, Majesty," said the Captain of Intelligence. "And I applaudyour design in putting Nordan down in Sarth."
Fadawah said, "Design?"
Kahil leaned over, putting his arm around Fadawah's shoulder, andhe whispered, "Put all your disloyal commanders to the south, to insurethat when the enemy exacts their price for our conquest, those we canmost afford to lose pay it."
Fadawah's eyes became unfocused, as if he was listening to somethingin the distance. "Yes, that is wise."
Kahil said, "You need to surround yourself with those who can betrusted, those who are loyal beyond a doubt. You need to return theImmortals to a place of prominence."
"No!" said Fadawah. "Those madmen served dark powers-"Kahil interrupted. "Not dark powers, Majesty, but vast powers. Powersthat can insure your rule not only in Yabon, but in Krondor, too.""Krondor?" asked Fadawah.
Kahil clapped his hands twice, and the door swung open. Two warriors,each with ritual scars on his cheeks that matched Fadawah's, entered,and Kahil said, "Guard the King with your lives."Fadawah repeated, "Krondor."
Kahil rose and departed, closing the door behind him. A faint smilepassed across his face before he turned and left upon his next task, followingNordan and marking those men for death who displayed even thesmallest hint of disloyalty.
Fadawah looked at the two soldiers and motioned for them to standaway from him. The scars on their faces reminded him of the dark anddistant time he was caught up in the magic of the Emerald Queen andthe lost months when the demon had ruled her army. He hated feelingused and would kill anyone who again attempted to use him as the EmeraldQueen had.
He moved to the map on the wall and began to plan his spring campaign.
THE WIND ~ died.
Dash waited. The frigid bite of the air still brought tears to his eyesas he scanned the road below. The reconstruction of Darkmoor had beentedious, slowed by continuous snows and rain, as the winter proved afickle one. If slippery ice wasn't making footing treacherous for thoseworkmen attempting to rebuild the walls around the western portion ofthe city, then knee-deep mud stalled wagons carrying needed supplies.Now it was icy again, but at least Dash was thankful there was currentlyno snow. The sky was clear, the late afternoonsun hinting atwarmth that wasn't really there. Dash knew it was his mood as much asthe weather, but this particular winter seemed to have lasted longer thanany in his young life.
The sounds of the city carried through the still, icy air as the daywound down. With luck the new gate would be finished before sunset,and an extra modicum of security would be added to the sum of thingsthat needed to be done yesterday.
Dash was tired, fatigued beyond anything he could remember in histwenty years of life. Part of it was from the seemingly endless list of thingsthat needed attention, and the rest was from worry; his brother Jimmywas overdue.
Jimmy was acting the part of exploring officer, a scout behind enemylines. Prince Patrick of Krondor had decided to move hard and fast againsta threat of Keshian expansion into the southern flank of the Kingdom inthe spring. That meant that the retaking of lands lost during the invasionthe previous summer would be left to Owen Greylock, Knight-Marshal ofKrondor, and Erik von Darkmoor, KnightCaptain of the Crimson Eagles,an elite mobile force of handpicked men.
Which had meant the Prince needed information on what the invaderswere doing between Darkmoor and Krondor. And Jimmy had volunteeredto go see what was going on.
He was now three days overdue.
Dash had come to the edge of the patrolled area, a series of burned-outwalls that marked the western edge of the foulbourgh of DI~oor.The Prince's army in the city insured that there was little danger withina day's ride of the city, but these partial walls and piles of tumbled masonryprovided ample cover for ambush and had been refuge to more thanone band of scavengers or outlaws.
Dash scanned the horizon, watching for his brother. The sounds ofthe winter woodlands below were few and infrequent. An occasional rustleas snow fell from tree branches, or the crack of ice some miles away asthe thaw began. A bird call or the rustle of some animal in the brush.Sound carried for miles in the winter cold.
Then Dash heard something. A faint sound, coming from far away.It wasn't the sound of hooves striking hard dirt and rock Dash had hopedto hear. Rather it was the rolling crunch of ice underfoot. And whoevermade the sound was coming toward him with a methodical step, evenand unhurried.
Dash flexed his gloved fingers and slowly pulled his sword from hisscabbard. If the previous conflict had taught him nothing else, it was toalways be ready. There were no safe positions outside the fortress thatwas the city of Darkmoor.
In the distance he dected motion, and he focused on it. A single figuretrudged along the road. He was moving at a plodding walk, and as Dashwatched, he hurried to a slow trot. Dash knew he was walking one hundredpaces, then trotting one hundred paces, a practice drilled into Dashand his brother by their arms teachers as boys. For a man without a mountit could cover almost as much distance as a horse could in a day, moreover the course of weeks.
Dash watched. The figure resolved itself into a man wrapped in aheavy grey cloak; clothing designed to make it difficult to see the wearerfrom any distance in the gloom of winter. Only on the bright days whenthe sky was clear would the wearer be easy to spot.As the man on foot came closer, Dash saw he was without a hat, buthad his head covered in a thick cloth, a scarf or tom remnant of anotherpiece of clothing. He carried a sword at his side, and his hands were cladin mismatching gloves. His boots were filthy with mud and ice.The crunching of snow under his tread became louder by the moment,until he stood before Dash. He stopped and looked up, and at last he said,"You're in my way."
Dash moved his mount aside and swung the horse's head aroundtoward Darkmoor. He put his sword away, urged the animal forward andwalked beside the man on foot. "Lose your horse?" he asked.
Jimmy, Dash's brother, hiked his thumb over his shoulder. "Backthere. "
"That was pretty careless," said the younger brother. "That was anexpensive horse."
Jimmy said, "I know. But I didn't feel like carrying him. He wasdead. ' I
"Pity. That was a really good horse."
"You don't miss him nearly as much as I do," said Jimmy."Would you like a ride?" asked Dash.
Jimmy stopped, turned, and regarded his brother. Neither son of LordArutha, Duke of Krondor, resembled the other. James looked like hisgrandmother, slight, blond, and possessing features that could only becalled finely drawn, with sapphire eyes. Dash looked like his grandfather,with tight curls of light brown hair, dark eyes, and a mocking expression.In nature, they were as alike as twins. "About time you offered," saidJimmy, reaching up to take Dash's hand.
He swung up behind his brother and they rode slowly toward the city."How bad was it?" asked Dash.
"Worse," said Jimmy.
"Worse than we thought?"
"Worse than anything we could have imagined."
Dash said nothing more, knowing his brother would report directly tothe Prince, and that Dash would hear every detail.
Jimmy took the hot cup of coffee, sweetened with honey and maderich with cream, and nodded his thanks. The servant quickly departed,closing the door behind him. Jimmy sat in the Prince's private chamber,while the Prince, the Knight-Marshal Owen Greylock, Duke Arutha ofKrondor, and Erik von Darkmoor patiently waited for his report.Patrick, Prince of Krondor and ruler of the Western Realm of theKingdom of the Isles, said, "Very well. What did you find?"Jimmy finished his first sip of the hot drink, and said, "It's far worsethan we feared."
Patrick had detailed five men to ride into the West, toward Krondor,his capital city, and only three of them had returned so far. The picturehe was having painted for him could be called nothing but bleak. "Goon.')
Jimmy put his cup down on the table and started removing his heavy
Raymond E.Feist
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cloak as he said, "I got to Krondor. It took some doing, but most of theremaining soldiers between here and there are nothing more than bandits.After a couple of months of snow, rain, and sleet, they are dug in, huggingtheir fires and trying hard to stay alive.?)
"what of Krondor?" Patrick asked.
Jimmy said, "It's almost deserted. There were a few people around,but no one wanted to talk to me, and frankly, I wasn't anxious to strikeup many conversations myself. Most of those I caught a glimpse of weresoldiers, foraging for what they could find in the rubble."Jimmy stretched, as if tired. He took another sip of coffee. "Thoughwhat they could possibly find is beyond me." He looked at Patrick. "Highness,Krondor looks like nothing I've seen before or could dream of inmy worst nightmare. Every stone blackened, and almost no board unburned.The smell of char still lingers in the air and it's been months sincethe fires. Rain and snow have yet to cleanse the city."The palace-"
"What of the palace?" asked Patrick, his voice anxious."Gone. The outer walls stand in place, but great breaches exist. Theinner palace is little more than a huge pile of blackened rubble-the firewas so hot the timbers burned through and some inner walls collapsed.Only the ancient keep still stands, if you use the term 'stands' generously.It's a blackened shell of stones. I climbed the stone steps inside, for nowood remains untouched, and reached the roof. From there I could seethe entire city and some distance to the north and west."The harbor is a sea of sunken ships, their masts blackened and rotting.The docks are gone. Most of the first street after the docks has beenleveled. All the buildings in the western third of the city have been guttedor reduced to rubble, as if the fires burned the hottest there."Arutha, Duke of Krondor, nodded. His father, Lord James, who hadpreceded him in his office, had fired the city to trap the invaders insidethe flames, and had died, along with his mother, in doing so. Arutha knewthe placement of Quegan fire oil in the sewers below the city would haveconcentrated the damage where his father would have judged it most appropriate,at the docks, near the ships unloading troops, then throughoutthe maze that had been the poor quarter of the city, then the merchantquarter.
"The central third of the city is seriously damaged, but there may bea building or two that can be salvaged on every street. The rest will haveto be razed before any construction can begin. The easternmost third isalso heavily damaged, but many of the buildings there can be restored."
"What of the outlying estates?" asked Erik, thinking of his friendRupert's large house, a day's ride to the east of Krondor."Many burned to the ground; others were sacked and left empty. A
few of them were being used as headquarters for what I took to be companiesof the invaders, so I didn't get too close," answered Jimmy. Hesipped at his coffee.
"I was about to leave when things turned interesting." Patrick and
Arutha looked at Jimmy expectantly. Jimmy took another sip of coffee,then continued. "A command of at least a hundred men rode past whereI was camped-" He glanced at his brother. "That little inn up the streetfrom Weavers' Road, where you got into that fight?" Dash nodded. Lookingback at the Prince, Jimmy continued, "It's atop a little rise, and hadan intact roof, which was welcome, and best yet, provided an unobstructedview of High Street and Palace Road, as well as several other bywaysfrom the north gate."
"The men?" prompted Owen Greylock.
"TfT-A + A+I,
c: maiiungs usea oy rne mercenary companies, GeneralDukoxl I-I0 CLI,I
is now on his way to Krondor or is already there."Erik swore. Then he glanced at Patrick and said, "Sorry, Highness."Patrick said, "I understand. All the reports I've read tell me Duko isa worthy foe."
Erik said, "He's more than a handful. He kept constant pressure on
our northern flank along Nightmare Ridge, without wasting soldiers. He'sthe closest thing the invaders have to a Kingdom general in his knowledgeof tactics and deployment."
Owen nodded. "If he's in Krondor, and ordered to hold it, our jobjust became a great deal more difficult."
Patrick looked worried but stayed silent a moment. Then he said,
"Why would they move into Krondor in strength? There's nothing left,they don't need it to protect their southern flank. Could they know of ournew base down at Port Vykor?"
,"Perhaps," said Owen. "Or they simply wish to keep us from usingKrondor as a forward base."
Patrick suddenly looked tired, and worried, thought Jimmy. After anotherlong silence, the Prince said, "We need more information than wehave. "
The brothers exchanged glances, each acknowledging what the otherknew: they were among those most likely to be sent ahead to get thatinformation.
Patrick asked James, "How long did you stay?"
"Long enough to see them start to secure the area, so I made for the
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eastern gate to get free before they spotted me. I got out of the city, butran right into a patrol between Krondor and Ravensburg. I managed toget loose from them in the woods, but they killed my horse."Patrick said, "Patrol? That far east?"
Owen nodded and said, "Erik?"
Erik's expression showed he was as perplexed as anyone else in theroom. "We've gotten reports from refugees that General Fadawah mightbe pushing south again, or at least is making his presence known. IfDuko's in Krondor, those rumors are true. But to have patrols alreadythat far east means they're quickly deploying to welcome us should wemarch home."
Patrick said, "It's icy hell out there. What's he up to?""If we knew that," said Dash dryly, "we wouldn't have to go sloggingabout in that icy hell."
Owen smiled. Duke Arutha tried to hide his own amusement, butfailed.
Patrick said, "True," ignoring the breech of protocol. The wintershared in close quarters had turned this group into a fairly informal bandof friends when court wasn't in session.
The invaders had been defeated at the Battle of Nightmare Ridge, butthe destruction done to the Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isleswas unimaginable. As spring approached, and with it the ability to movehis forces, Patrick was desperately trying to imagine what had happenedto his principality.
Patrick turned to Greylock. "How soon can you move?""Highness?" asked Owen.
"How soon before you can move to retake the city?"Owen said, "I can marshal the men and have them ready to marchin under a week. We've got some of the garrison scattered along the ridgeand down toward the Vale of Dreams, but most are near enough to muster,though from what I've seen, we'll need better information than wehave to know what strength we'll face."
Patrick sat back. "I was hoping for better intelligence."Jimmy glanced at his father, who shook his head slightly, warning
him from making any comment. Dash allowed his brother the confirmationthat what the Prince had just said was thoughtless by raising hiseyebrows ever so slightly.
Patrick said, "We've got a massive front to the south, and all themajor units of the Army of the East are ready to answer any invasionfrom Kesh, but we have limited resources to reclaim the Western Realm.Jimmy said nothing.
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Finally the Prince noticed Jimmy, nodded and waved his hand. "Dismissed.Get some clean clothing and bathe. We'll discuss this again atlength after the evening meal."
Jimmy left, finding his father and brother following him out of theroom. They paused just outside the door. Arutha said, "I've got to getback inside, but I just wanted to see if you were all right.""I'm fine," said Jimmy, with a faint smile of appreciation for hisfather's concern. With the death of their grandparents, Arutha's featureshad taken on a drawn, haggard edge, from too much worry and too littlesleep. "Just some cold toes."
Arutha nodded, squeezed his son's shoulder a moment. "Get somefood and rest. This isn't half over, and while Patrick may be ready tostorm the enemy, we need a great deal more information. " He openedthe door and returned inside to the Prince's council. Dash said, "I'll gowith you to the kitchen."
Jimmy said, "Fine."
The two brothers walked down the long hall.
Erik entered the kitchen. He waved across the large stone room toMilo. The innkeeper from his hometown of Ravensburg had been put towork in the castle's kitchen, along with his wife, so they could be closeto their daughter, Rosalyn, mother of the next Baron of Darkmoor. Sheand her husband Rudolph the baker lived in the castle where they tookcare of the baby baron.
Erik's own mother now lived in one of the buildings close by thecastle-the long history of animosity between her and the Dowager Baronessmade it prudent to keep the two women separated. The Baronesshad been humiliated publicly for years by Erik's mother Frieda over Erikbeing the Legitimate son of the late Baron Otto. Erik's stepfather, Nathan,was furiously working in the Barony's smithy, readying weapons andother iron goods for the coming spring campaign. It was a socially awkwardsituation at times, but Erik enjoyed having his family close by.Erik sat. "You all right?" he asked Jimmy.
"Just tired. Came close to not making it once, but it's not much of astory. I had just lost my horse and had to hide from a patrol for a while,and damn near froze hiding under a log. The snow was falling so theydidn't track me after I had crossed some rocks, but I could barely movewhen they finally left."
"Frostbite?" asked Erik.
"Don't know," said Jimmy. "I haven't taken my boots off. My fingersare fine." He wiggled them.
t'Down the hall from the Prince's quarterrnmy 9 s, next to my own. His nameis Herbert. Tell him who you are; you look like a rag-picker.~'Dash watched his brother leave and said, "As his feet thawed he couldbarely walk. I think that priest is going to earn his keep."Erik took a cup of coffee from Milo, said thanks, then turned to Dash."He already has. I've got a score of men fit for duty who would still belaid up if it wasn't for that priest. And Nakor."Where is that scrawny natic. asked Dash. "I haven't seen him ina week."
"He's out in the city, gathering converts for his new faith.""How goes the summoning of the Blessed to spread the word ofGood?"
Erik laughed. "Recruiting those willing to work on behalf of good inthe midst of winter, after a war has reduced the population to near starvation,is nearly beyond even Nakor's conniving ways.""Any takers?"
"A couple. One or two are earnest, the others looking for a meal."Dash nodded. "Is this next mission something I could do? Jimmycould use a rest."
"We all could," said Erik. Then he shook his head. "But you're notbeing spared, my friend, for we're all going."""ere?" asked Dash.
"Krondor. Patrick can't sit here forever. And if what your brother hasreported jibes with the other reports we're getting, the longer we wait, the
I We have a healing priest here. The Temple of Dala, at Rillanon, sentone to provide advice to the Prince." into having oneDash grinned. ,you mean the King bullied them
close by in case Patrick was wounded."
"Something like that," admitted Erik as he returned the smile. "Havehim look at your feet. It wouldn't do to have you going toeless."Jimmy chewed, then swallowed. "Why am I suspicious you're motivatedmore by my fitness for duty, Captain, than out of any concern formy well-being?"
Erik shrugged theatrically. "Because you have a reasonable comprehensionof how things work in court?"
Jimmy suddenly looked very tired, as if letting down his mask. "Howsoon?" he asked.
Erik looked sympathetic. "The end of this week. Three, fourdays."
ii nodded He stood and said "I'd better find that priest."
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I d.
stronger Fadawah's forces are going to get in Krondor. We may have to
hit them with everything we have sooner than we'd like."With Kesh threatening our southern border, Patrick's been reluctantto return the Armies of the East. Well, the King has ordered some elementsback. Seems some of the Kingdom's eastern neighbors are gettingfractious now there isn't a large standing army or huge fleet there to keepthem in line. So Patrick's in a hurry to retake Krondor before King Borricorders more soldiers home to the East."
Dash said, "So how many of us are going to Krondor?""The Eagles," said Erik, naming the special command of soldiers thathad been gathered and trained by Dash and Jimmy's grandfather, LordJames, the late Duke of Krondor. "We'll have some auxiliaries, Duga'screw"-he named a large force of former mercenaries who had come overto the Kingdom's side during the invasion-"and we'll be working withCaptain Subai's Pathfinders."
"That's all?" asked Dash.
"That's all to start," said Erik. "We're not trying to conquer all of thePrincipality in the first week." He sipped at his coffee. "We were goingto find a likely place to hold so we can stage, then we ride in and secureKrondor."
"Sounds easy," said Dash in a sarcastic tone. "If there wasn't anotherarmy already there." He studied Erik's face. "There's something else goingon. Why is Patrick in such a hurry to secure the city? I can think ofa halfdozen better places from which to stage a retaking of the West if Ididn't care about Krondor; we could cut it off and starve out whoever'sthere, staging from a camp to the east."
"I know," said Erik, "but part of it is pride. It's Patrick's city, thecapital of his realm. He was Prince of Krondor for only a short whilebefore it was lost. And he followed a legend in that office."Dash nodded. "Growing up in Rillanon, Jimmy and I met PrinceArutha only a few times; when I was old enough to appreciate him, hewas getting on in years. But what my father and others said about himmade him impressive, even then." He looked at Erik a moment, thensaid, "You think Patrick's of the notion that Arutha would somehow haveheld the city?"
"Something like that," said Erik. "The Prince doesn't confide in me.But there's more to it than just wounded pride. The other part of it islogistics. That harbor is going to be useless for years. If we had the manPowerand equipment we had before the war in Krondor, all the workers,dredges, and a few cooperative magicians, even, it would still take a year
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to clear the harbor, maybe more. As it is now, I have no idea if Krondorwill ever become the shipping center it once was."But we have a new port south of there, in Shandon Bay, Port Vykor,and for it to be any use to us, we have to insure we have a clear traderoute between there and the rest of the West, which means Krondor needsto be secured. We don't need it, but we certainly can't have Fadawah'sgenerals using it as a base to attack us." He lowered his voice, as if notwishing for a perverse fate to overhear. "If we get cut off from Port Vykor,we may never reunite the Eastern and Western Realms."Dash nodded. "That makes sense."
Erik put down his now empty mug and said, "That's about all thatdoes."
Dash nodded in agreement as Erik stood. Looking up at the tall, powerfullybuilt captain, he said, "I haven't seen my sometime employer aboutlately. How fares your friend Rupert?"
Erik smiled. "Roo is hauling some ridiculous amount of goodsthrough mud and ice to be first into Darkmoor with what we need." ThenErik laughed. "He told me he's the richest man in the world, accordingto his accounts, but has almost no gold left, so his only hope for recoveryis to insure the Kingdom survives long enough to pay him back.""An odd kind of patriotism, wouldn't you say?"Erik smiled as he nodded. "If you knew Roo as well as I, you'd judgeit entirely in keeping with his nature." Pausing for a moment as if consideringa second cup of coffee, Erik looked with a faint show of regretat the empty mug. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'd best get backto see what Owen wants done."
He departed. Dash pondered what had been said there, amidst thebustle of the kitchen, then rose to find Jimmy and see how he fared.
The priest was just departing Jimmy's quarters when Dash arrived.Sitting on the bed next to his brother, who lay under a heavy woolblanket, Dash said, "That was quick."
"He gave me something to drink, washed my feet in an unguent, thentold me to get some sleep."
"How bad are they?"
"I was going to lose toes, at least," said Jimmy, "if he hadn't beenhere." With a nod of his head he indicated the departed priest.(&You paint a pretty bleak picture of what's out there."jimmy sighed. "I saw places where men had stripped the bark off oftrees to make soup."
Dash sat back. "Patrick's not going to be happy."
"What's happened here while I was gone?" asked Jimmy, stifling ayawn.
Dash said, "We've got reports that things are stable up north, though
no one has seen sign of that bastard Duko lately."Jimmy said, "If Fadawah is sending Duko south, Krondor could bevery difficult to seize."
"Yes," agreed Dash. "Kesh is not happy about what went on downin Stardock, and we've got elements of the garrison of Ran and half ofthe King's Own down near Landreth, just waiting for an excuse to movesouth. Kesh has pulled away from Shamata, but they're a lot closer thanPatrick likes, and the vale is once again a no-man's-land. Negotiations areunderway, even as we speak."
"The East?" asked Jimmy, this time unable to stop the yawn.
"We won't know until the spring, but some of the smaller kingdomsmay get playful. Patrick and the King have exchanged messages, and Iget the impression Borric wants some of his Army of the East back assoon as the thaw starts."
"What's Father say?"
"To me?" asked Dash. Jimmy nodded. "Not much," said Dash witha smile that reminded his brother of their grandfather in his more playfulmoods. "He's pretty closemouthed about things.""Mother?" asked Jimmy.
Dash nodded again. "I get the feeling it may be a long time beforeMother visits us. She seems to find court life in Roldem preferable to livingin a tent in the burned-out remains of Krondor, irrespective of the rankof Duchess."
Jimmy closed his eyes. "She and Aunt Polina are most likely shoppingright now, or having gowns fitted for a banquet or dance.""Most likely," agreed Dash. "But it's hard on Father. You've beenaway for most of the winter, and the few times you've been here you'veseen him when he's busy."
,"Grandfather and Grandmother?" asked Jimmy.
"Yes," said Dash. "when he's alone and thinks I don't notice, hebroods. He knows there was nothing he could do, but he silently ragesabout it. I hope once spring comes and we start the campaign he'll snapout of it, but he's drinking more than he used to and seems withdrawnmost of the time."
When Jimmy said nothing, Dash glanced at his brother and saw hischin on his chest, his eyes half-closed as he fought to remain awake. Dash
quietly stood up and moved to the door. He took a long look at hisbrother, and for a moment saw an echo of their dead grandmother in his
I
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features, the pale skin and nearly white blond hair. Finding a tear comingunbidden to his eyes, Dash quickly left, silently closing the door behind,while he said a silent prayer of thanks to Ruthia, the Goddess of Luck,for the safe return of his brother.
' 'Erik! '
Dash turned to see Rosalyn hurrying down the corridor, and stoodaside to let the young woman pass. Dash knew the girl felt overwhelmedat times by being the mother of the next Baron-she was Gerd's motherbecause of her rape at the hands of Erik's half-brother-and Erik was herclosest friend. They had been like brother and sister as children, and hewas the first person she turned to when in distress. Dash watched as shecame to the Captain's door and started knocking.Erik opened the door and said, "What?"
Dash hesitated a moment, then continued to walk past as Rosalynsaid, "It's the Baroness. She's refusing to let me bathe my own son! It'sjust one more thing she's taken from me! Do something!"Dash stopped and said, "Excuse me."
Both Erik and Rosalyn turned to the young man. "Yes?" asked Erik."I hesitate to intrude on the basis of overhearing a conversation I'mnot party to, but to avoid any embarrassment, may I make an observation."What?" said Rosalyn.
"Given her somewhat ... forceful nature, the Dowager Baroness hasactually been rather leisurely in acquainting your son with his new office."Rosalyn shook her head. She had been a pretty girl growing up inRavensburg with Erik, but the birth of two children, hard work in herhusband's bakery, and the travail of the recent war had put prematuregrey in her hair and robbed her face of the softness Erik had known inhis youth. Her eyes were now hard, and she was leery of hearing anythingfrom Dash that would further remove her from her son."Gerd is now Baron von Darkmoor," said Dash, trying to be patientand instructive without sounding patronizing. Rosalyn might be an untutoredcommon woman, but she wasn't stupid. "For the rest of his life,many of the things you did for him will be done by servants. Had youbeen Baroness, you would never have bathed him, nor changed his diapers,nor perhaps even nursed him.
"It's time for you to begin his education as Baron." Dash wavedaround, indicating the castle. "This is now the frontier of the Kingdom,until the West is retaken, and may continue to be a critical stronghold foryears, far into Gerd's adulthood. Gerd is almost five years old, and soon
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will spend most of his day with tutors and instructors. He needs to learnto read,,, to write, the history of his people, riding, weapons, court protocol ...
Erik nodded, putting his hand on Rosalyn's shoulder. "Dash is right.The young woman looked defiant and Erik felt her shoulder tense underhis hand. He smiled. "But there's no reason you can't stand nearby anwatch as the servants care for him."
Rosalyn said nothing for a moment, then nodded and turned off t(retrace her steps to where her son was housed in the Baron's quarters othe castle. Erik watched her retreating back, then turned to Dash. "Thank,for pointing things out."
"I hesitated to insert myself into your conversation, but it's only thetruth. "
Erik glanced down the hall to the corner where Rosalyn had turned
out of sight and let his eyes fix on the distant space. "So many changes.We all have so much to adjust to."
Dash said, "Again, I don't mean to presume, Captain, but if yourequire any assistance . . ."
Erik smiled. "I suspect I will. And I will count on you and yourbrother. If you haven't heard yet, you're both being assigned to my command. 'p
"oh?" said Dash.
"It's your father's idea. He's going to take a hand personally in thiscoming campaign."
Dash nodded. "He's his father's son."
Erik said, "I didn't know your grandfather well, I must say, but wellenough to know that's a compliment."
Dash grinned. "If you had known him better, you might not think so.
Ask my mother if she ever decides to return to the West.""Anyway," continued Erik, "the King has his hands full in the East,with. most of his army absent and his navy sunk, in keeping the EasternKingdoms from starting trouble. The Prince has Kesh in the South, sothat leaves it to our merry little band to reclaim the West.""Why does that not fill me with joy?" asked Dash rhetorically.
"I believe you would be in need of a healing priest if it did. YouWould obviously be bereft of your senses. "
"When does this campaign begin?" asked Dash.
"When you hear the first sound of ice breaking in the West, startpacking.)?
Dash said, "I heard ice break this morning.
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"Well, get packing," said Erik. "We leave for Krondor within theweek."
Dash nodded. "Very good, Captain."
As Dash turned away, Erik said, "One other thing.""what, sir?" asked Dash.
"Your office as Court Baron does you no good in the army, so youand James are both being given the rank of Knight-Lieutenants.""Thank you, I think," said Dash.
"Tomorrow head down to the quartermaster and draw uniforms foryourself and James."
"Sir," said Dash with a weak salute, then he turned and walked towardhis own quarters. Muttering to himself, he said, "Damn. I'm in thearmy.)~
Jimmy tugged at his ill-fitting black tunic. "Damn. I'm in the army."Dash laughed. He gently elbowed his brother, indicating the Princewas about to speak.
"My lords, gentlemen," he began, addressing the gathering in his audiencehall, formerly the Baron vonDarkmoor'ss. "The King requires thepresence of most of the Army of the East along the Keshian border andto the east. That leaves it to what is left of the Armies of the West todrive the remaining invaders from our shores."Dash whispered to his brother, "Perhaps we shouldn't have sunk alltheir ships. It makes the trip home so much more difficult."Arutha, Duke of Krondor, threw his younger son a dark look, andDash fell silent, while Jimmy attempted not to laugh aloud. One thingJames admired about his younger brother was an ability to find somethingfunny in almost any situation, no matter how bleak.Prince Patrick said, "Of course it does," looking directly at Dash.Dash had the good grace to blush before his Prince."But we can arrange to transport them home at a later time. First theymust surrender."
Dash tried to wish himself invisible.
Patrick continued. "Intelligence confirms that this General Fadawahis seizing the opportunity created by the Emerald Queen's defeat to fashiona little Empire for himself."
He walked to a map and took a pointer and indicated the area betweenKrondor and Ylith. "From Sarth to Ylith, Fadawah's forces are in completecontrol." The pointer swept to the east. "They control the forests upto the mountains, and most of the passes to Nightmare Ridge. We havea stable front along the ridge.
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pointer moved north of Ylith-"he's run into
"To the north"-the
some stern opposition at LaMut. Earl Takari's holding the city, but barely.Only the harsh winter kept Fadawah from taking the city." Looking atArutha, he said, "Tell me of Duke Carl."
Arutha said, "The Duke is a boy. He's barely seventeen. Earl Takariis only three years older."
The men in the room knew the fathers of the two nobles mentionedhad died in the invasion. Arutha continued, "But Takari is Tsurani stock,and has been studying under his Swordmaster since he could walk-He'llhold LaMut until the last man if needs be.
"Carl may be a boy, but he's surrounded by a strong, if small, army."Arutha nodded to a man standing behind Erik von Darkmoor, a tall, darkhairedman wearing a kilt and sporting a longsword hung over his back.Dash and Jimmy knew him to be the leader of a company of Hadatihillmen from Yabon, by name of Akee.
Akee said, "Most of my people are serving in Yabon. Fadawah willnot take Yabon."
Almost to himself Patrick said, "But come spring he'll be inside thewalls of LaMut, and all the Tsurani honor in that city won't keep himfrom doing it." Patrick was silent a moment, then said, "Can Duke Carl'sforces save LaMut?"
"Yes," said Owen. "If we can assume we'll have no trouble from theBrotherhood of the Dark Path"-he used the common term for the moredhel,the dark elves who lived to the north-"and count on the elvesand dwarves, and the Free Cities keeping the western front stable, thenCarl can strip his garrison, leaving what he must along his eastern flank,
and move the bulk of his men south to LaMut. He should be able to holdFadawah under those circumstances. "
"If he does, can he then retake Ylith?" asked Patrick.
Akee glanced at Erik and Arutha, both of whom nodded to him. Akeelooked at Patrick and said, "No, he cannot. He would need three timesthe number of swords he has at his call to stand a chance of retakingYlith. He can hold where he is, unless this General Fadawah turns hisentire force northward-which he won't do if he's moving soldiers southto hold Krondor-but Duke Carl cannot retake Ylith.""My lords and gentlemen," said the Prince, "LaMut is, by necessity,
the anvil." He looked at Owen Greylock and said, "My Lord Marshal,Your army must by needs be the hammer."
Owen said, "It's a small hammer, Patrick."
The Prince said, "Indeed, but Kesh is arrayed in force along our southernborder, what's left of our fleet is keeping Queg and the Durbin pirates
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at bay, and some of the eastern kings are getting ambitious. You'll haveto make do with your current force."
Owen said, "That's barely twenty thousand men, against how many.?A hundred thousand?"
Patrick said, "We can't just let them keep what they've taken untilwe resolve these other issues, can we?"
His question was greeted by silence.
Patrick looked from face to face in the room. "I'm not ignorant of theflaws of my own ancestors. We took every inch of land from somebodyelse to make the Western Realm. Only Yabon joined the Kingdom willingly,and that because we saved them from the Brotherhood of the DarkPath, else they would have fallen.
"But the only reason there's a Baron von Darkmoor in the first placeis the bandit ancestor of your own Captain Erik was too tough a nut tocrack, and it was easier to make him a Kingdom noble and let him keepthe land he had already taken than it was to kill him and put some king'sidiot nephew here in his place." Patrick's voice began to rise. "And severalother accommodations have been made over the years, allowing formerenemies to become valued vassals." Now his voice was raised to the pointof yelling. "But I'll be damned to the Seventh Hell if I let some murderingbastard set himself up as 'King of the Bitter Sea' and rule over my Principality.If Fadawah does, it will be with one foot on my dead body!"Dash and James exchanged glances. They didn't need to say anything.The message was clear. Owen Greylock and Erik von Darkmoor, andwhat remained of the Armies of the West, would have to retake the Principalitywithout any outside assistance.
Owen cleared his throat. Patrick glanced at his Knight-Marshal ofKrondor and said, "Yes?"
"Is there anything else, Highness?"
Patrick was silent a long moment, then said, "No." To the men inthe room he said, "My lords and gentlemen, you are all under MarshalGreylock's command from this moment on. Treat his orders as if they areMY own. ~ p
He lowered his voice. "And may the gods smile on us," he said. Andleft.
The nobles in the room began muttering comments to one another,then Owen said, "My lords!"
Silence returned to the hall.
Greylock said, "We move in the morning. I expect to have advancedunits in Ravensburg by nightfall, and scouts to the walls of Krondor by
~,I,
the end of the week." He glanced from face to face, then said, "You knowwhat to do."
The men began to file out of the room, and Erik came to stand before
Dash and James. "You're with me," he said, turning and walking towarda small door off to one side.
The brothers found their father waiting in the room already, and inmoment Greylock entered, closing the door behind. "I just wanted to Iyou two know," said Owen, addressing the brothers, "that you're goingto be given the dirtiest, most thankless job we've got."Dash smiled. "Smashing!"
Jimmy threw his brother a dark look, and said, "What is it?""Jimmy, you're in charge of our special advance unit.""Special advance unit?" asked Jimmy.
Arutha nodded. "Him," he said, pointing to Dash.Dash rolled his eyes heavenward but said nothing. He had long agoaccustomed himself to being under his older b ththey were working together.
Arutha said, "Owen said he needed a couple of sneaky bastards tooperate behind enemy lines." He smiled at his sons. "I told him yourparentage wasn't in doubt, but that you were sneaky enough for the job.',
"When do we leave?" said Jimmy.
"Now," said Erik. "There are a pair of horses waiting for you by thepostern gate, with supplies for a week."
James said, "A week? That means you'll want us inside of Krondorwhen your scouts reach the walls?"
Owen nodded. "Or close by. Leave those uniforms here and dress likea couple of free swords. If you get caught tell them u're willing to enlist."Dash grinned, but his tone was mocking. Oh, joy. We're playing atspies again."
. Jimmy again looked at his brother as if he were crazy. 'You do find the oddest things entertaining."
Arutha looked at his two sons and said, "We just got confirmingintelligence that Duko has come south."
"That's the stick in the anthill, isn't it?" said Dash.
Arutha nodded. "Indeed. If Duko gets established in Krondor beforewe do, he threatens Port Vykor. Cut off Vykor and we have no communications with the fleet; cut off the fleet, and we have no chance to resupplyfrom the Sunset Islands and the Far Coast."
Owen said, "It might be a feint, with Sarth being his real objective.But there's a report that a second force moves south along the road fromHawk's Hollow under the command of Nordan, Fadawah's second.""That's a lot of soldiers slogging through the ice and mud," saidjimmy.
Arutha said, "Krondor's harbor is useless; Fadawah knows this. Wedon't know if he knows of Vykor's harbor down in Shandon Bay, but ifhe does, then this isn't a feint."
Jimmy glanced at his brother, then said to his father, "So you wantus to find out which?"
"if possible," said Arutha. "If he's just trying to slow down ourmarch, so he can reinforce Sarth, we have to know."Dash looked around the room, then asked, "Anything else?"Arutha said, "Stay alive?"
Jimmy smiled. "We always plan on that, Father."Arutha came and embraced his sons, Dash first, then Jimmy.Dash said, "Come on, we have some riding to do this night."Jimmy resumed looking dubious as they left the room.
DasH SIGNALED.
Jimmy took out his sword and ducked behind the boulder. Dash lefthis own position on the south side of the King's Highway and droppedinto a ditch that ran parallel to the road for several hundred feet.The brothers had been riding for two days. The thaw had begun andthere was actually some warmth in the sunlight when it came out frombehind the seemingly constant cloud cover. But the temperature didn't fallbelow freezing anymore, and the rain helped melt the snow. As Dash layin the cold mud he wished for the ice again. The ooze slowed travel andhe didn't seem able to get dry, even when staying close to a fire at night.They had heard voices in the woods ahead a few minutes ago, haddismounted, tied their horses, and advanced on foot. As the sound ofapproaching feet grew louder, Dash chanced a glance over the edge of theberm, and saw a ragged band of travelers looking about in a fearful manneras they moved eastward along the King's Highway. There was a manand woman, and children, three of them though oneDash couldn't tellif it was a girl or boy under the heavy hood-seemed almost of adultheight.
\*Dash stood as Jimmy came from behind the boulder. The man in thevan of the small party of refugees pulled a wicked-looking hand scythefrom under his ragged cloak and held it in menacing fashion as the othersturned as if to flee.
"Hold!" Jimmy shouted. "We'll not harm you."
The man looked dubious, the others fearful, but they halted theirmovement. Jimmy and Dash both put away weapons and slowly approached.
The man didn't lower his scythe. "Who be you?" he said, his wordsheavily accented.
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Jimmy and Dash exchanged glances, for the man spoke with the accentof one who had come from Novindus. This man at one time hadbeen a soldier with the invading army of the Emerald Queen.Dash held up his hands to show he was not holding any weapon, andJimmy stopped moving. Jimmy said, "We're travelers. Who are you?"The woman ventured to step from behind the man's protection. Shewas gaunt and looked weak. Jimmy glanced to the others and saw thatthe children were equally underfed. The tallest of the three was a girl,perhaps fifteen years of age, though appearing older for the deep darkcircles under her eyes. Jimmy returned his attention to the woman, wholooked at him and said, "We were farmers." She pointed to the east."We're trying to reach Darkmoor. We hear there's food there."Jimmy nodded. "Some. Where are you from?"
"Tannerus," said the woman.
Dash pointed at the man. "He's not from Tannerus."The man nodded. He motioned at himself with his free hand and said,"Markin. From City of the Serpent River." He glanced around. "Longway from here."
"You were a soldier of the Emerald Queen?" asked Jimmy.The man spat on the ground and it looked as if the gesture was takingmost of his strength. "I spit on her!" He started to wobble and the womanput her arms around him.
"He's a farmer," she said. "He told us his story when he came to
US. t )
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Jimmy looked at Dash, then motioned with his head back toward thehorses. Dash didn't need to be told what was on his brother's mind. Heturned and walked back while Jimmy said, "why don't you tell us hisstory. II
"My man went to fight for the King," said the woman. "Two yearsago." She glanced back at the three children and said, "My girls are fitto work; Hildi's almost grown. We did all right for the first year. Thenthe soldiers came and took the town. Our farm was far enough away weweren't troubled for a while."
Dash returned leading the horses. He handed the reins to Jimmy, thenwent back and opened a saddlebag. He returned a moment later, unwrappinga bundle. Once opened, he revealed some heavy travel bread, thickwith honey and nuts and dried fruit, and some jerked beef. Without hesitationthe children passed their mother and grabbed what they could.Dash glanced at Jimmy and nodded slightly. He gave the rest of thebundle to the man, who passed it along to the woman and said, "Thankyou.t~
"How did an enemy soldier come to be guiding your family to Darkmoor?"asked Dash.
The woman and man both nearly wept in gratitude as they chewed
on the heavy bread. After swallowing, the woman said, "When the soldierscame, we hid in the woods, and they took everything. We had onlywhat we had carried away. Then out of spite they burned the roof off ourhouse and broke down the door. Sticks and thatch was all it was, but itwas the only home the girls had known."
She glanced about, afraid other threats might appear suddenly fromthe surrounding woods. "Markin found us when we were trying to rebuildour house. It was never what you'd call fine, but my man had spent yearsadding to it, making it more than just a hut. But the soldiers had burnedit down and the girls and me had no tools."
"I find them," said Markin. "They needed help.""He came and he fought for us. Other men came, many with swordsand bows, but he kept them from taking me or the girls." She glanced athim with obvious affection in her eyes. "He's my man now, and he's afair da' to the girls."
Jimmy sighed. To Dash he said, "We'll hear stories like this one ahundred times before we're through."
"Why Darkmoor?" asked Jimmy.
"We hear the King's there and there's food for the asking."Jimmy smiled. "No, the King's not there, though he was last year.But there's food for work."
"I work good," said the foreign-born soldier.
"Can we go?" asked the woman.
"Yes," said Dash, motioning for them to pass.
Markin said, "You soldiers?"
Jimmy grinned. "Not if we can help it."
"But you noble man. Markin can tell."
Dash said dryly, "I've known him all my life and can tell you he'sfar from noble most of the time."
The old soldier studied the two, then said, "If you try to look likecommon men, you don't." He pointed down to Jimmy's feet. "Dirty, butnobleman's boots."
He motioned for the woman and girls to follow him and moved carefullyon, not taking his eyes off the brothers until his small band was past.Then he turned and hurried along, taking his position in the van, againstany other unexpected encounters
"First time I regretted having comfortable boots," said Dash.Jimmy looked down and said, "Well, we may be muddy, but he's
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right." Glancing around, he added, "This is a place of little food and evenless comfort. "
Dash remounted his horse. "I suspect by the time we get to Krondorwe won't look quite so prosperous."
Jimmy also mounted, and said, "Maybe we should get off this high
way. ~ y s one-timeDash said, "The north road?" He referred to an old road hiemployer, Rupert Avery, used regularly to move goods, avoiding the tollscharged on the King s Highway.
Jimmy shook his head. "No, that's almost as busy as this one, andthose woods are going to be full of deserters and bandits.""The south?"
"Slower going, but there are enough trails along the lakes if we don'thead too far into the southern hills."
Dash said, "Since Kesh pulled south to the old border, everythingfrom here to their nearest garrison is going to be wilderness."Jimmy laughed. "What's the difference if we run into fifty desertersfrom the Emerald Queen's army, or fifty bandits, or fifty Keshian mercenaries. . ."He shrugged.
Dash made a show of shivering under his heavy cloak. "Let's hopewhoever's down there is hugging their fires. As any sane man would do."Dash urged his horse forward and soon the two brothers were ridingsouth at a steady walk. "Why do we do these things?" he asked.Jimmy said, "Because our King commands and we obey."Dash let out a theatrical sigh. "I thought it was something like that."Softly, Jimmy began to sing a very old song:
"To Kesh-'s heartland or Queg-'s harsh shore,
Our blood, our hearts, our lives and more,
For honor's sake do we obey,
And go over the bilk and faraway.
The sound of cracking ice rang through the cold morning air and bothbrothers pulled up just before entering a clearing. Using hand signals,Jimmy motioned for Dash to move south along the edge of the clearingwhile he circled north.
Dash nodded, dismounted, and tied his horse to the branch of a smallbirch tree. Jimmy did likewise and moved silently away.Dash moved through the thinning trees, bordering a burned-out farm,he judged from the appearance of tree stumps nearby. The sound resolveditself into a repeated hammering at ice.
I
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Dash saw a man in the distance.
A slender figure, he crouched over the frozen ice on a large pond,
perhaps a hundred yards away from where Dash watched, hammering atthe ice with a rock. Up and down the rock moved, and Dash couldn'thelp but be fascinated with the sight.
Dash couldn't get a good look at the man, but his clothing seemed ahodgepodge of rags and ill-matched garments. He might have worn boots,but all Dash could see was a collection of rags tied around each foot forwarmth.
Dash saw movement in the woods beyond the pond and judgedJimmy was in place. He waited.
Jimmy walked slowly out of the woods and the man leaped to his feetwith astonishing speed. He turned away as Jimmy shouted, "Wait! I won'thurt you!"
Dash slowly took out his sword as the tatters-clad man hurried towardhim, trying to keep his movement from alerting the ragged man. As theman reached the first line of trees, Dash stepped out, extending his foot,and tripped him.
The man went down in a tangle of clothes and turned over, scuttlingbackward as he shouted, "Don't kill me!"
Dash moved quickly to put the point of his sword before the man'sface, as Jimmy caught up, out of breath.
Dash said, "We're not going to hurt you." To demonstrate his goodintentions, he quickly sheathed his sword. "Get UP. ppThe man got up slowly as Jimmy leaned over, hands on knees, andsaid, "He's fast."
Dash grinned. "You'd have caught him had you had another mile orso to overtake him. You've always had endurance, if not speed." Turninghis attention to the figure on the ground, he said, "Who are you and whatwere you doing?"
The man slowly rose, as if ready to bolt at the slightest threat, andsaid, "I am called Malar Enares, young masters." He was a slender man,with a hawk nose sticking out over a large rag wrapped around his face.His eyes were dark, and they shifted back and forth between the brothers."I was fishing."
Jimmy and Dash exchanged glances, and Dash said, "With a rock?""To break the ice, young sir. Then when the fish comes up to sunhimself, I would strip bark and make a noose."Jimmy said, "You were going to snare a fish?"
"It is easy if you but have patience and a steady hand, young sir."Dash said, "I hear Kesh in your speech."
Raymond E. Feist
"oh, no, mercy, young sir.
of Shamata, Kiran Hessen."
Jimmy and Dash had both heard the name. A trader with Keshianconnections who did a great deal of business with the late Jacob Esterbrook.Since the destruction of Krondor, the boys' father, Lord Arutha,had pieced together several accounts that had clearly indicated two facts,that Esterbrook had been a long-standing agent of Great Kesh, and thathe and his daughter were both dead. Jimmy could see what Dash wasthinking: if Esterbrook had been a Keshian agent, so then could KiranHessen.
"Where is your master now?" asked James.
"oh, dead I fear," said the thin man with a display of regret. "Fourteenyears was I his servant, and he a generous master. Now I am alonein this cold place."
James said, "Well, why don't you tell us this story.""And show us how you planned on catching those fish," said Dash."If I might have some hair from your horses' manes," said the raggedman. "Then it would be so much easier."
' 'Horses?" asked Dash.
"Two young noblemen such as yourselves didn't walk into this forsakenwilderness, I am certain," supplied Malar. "Andthem snorting a moment again." He pointed. "That way."Jimmy nodded. "That's fair."
"What do you need hair from their manes for?" asked Dash."Let me show you."
He walked toward the place where Dash's horse had been tied, andsaid, "The ice was almost broken when you startled me, young sir. If youwould but use the hilt of your sword to break it open, that would be agreat service. "
Jimmy nodded and started back toward the icy pond.Dash asked, "Now, about how you came to be lost in this forsakenwilderness."
"As you are no doubt aware," began Malar, "there was much troublebetween Kesh and the Kingdom lately, with Shamata for a time beingdeeded to the Empire."
"So we had heard," said Dash.
"My master, being of Kingdom allegiance, decided it wise to visit hisholdings in the North, first in Landreth, then Krondor."We were traveling to Krondor when we encountered the invaders.We were overtaken and my master and most of his other servants wereput to the sword. I and ;i few others managed to flee into the hills, south
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
I am but a humble servant of a great trader
I heard one of
of here." He pointed southward with his chin, as he reached Dash's horse.
Malar reached up and gripped a few hairs from the horse's mane, yankingexpertly, and came away with several long stands of hair. The horsemoved at the unexpected pressure, snorting displeasure. Dash reached outand took the reins from the tree branch where they were tied, and Malaryanked out some more hairs. He repeated the procedure twice more."That is sufficient," he observed.
"So you've been in these hills how long?"
"More than three months, young sir," said Malar, as he started deftlyweaving the hair into a braid. "It has been a bitter time. Some of mycompanions died from hunger and cold, and two were captured by a bandof men-outlaws or invaders, I do not know which. I have been alonefor all of three weeks or so, I judge." He sounded apologetic as he said,"it is difficult to keep track of time."
"You've survived in these woods for three weeks with nothing butyour bare hands?" asked Dash.
Malar started walking toward the pond, continuing to weave the horsehair. "Yes, and a terrible thing it has been, sir.""How?" asked Dash.
"As a boy I was raised in the hills above Landreth, to the north ofthe Vale of Dreams. Not as hostile a land as this, but still a place wherethe unwary can perish easily. My father was a woodsman, who put foodon your table with bow and snare, as well as gold in his pouch fromguiding men through the hffis."
Dash laughed. "He guided smugglers."
"Perhaps," said Malar with a broad shrug. "In any event, while thewinters in the hills near my home are nowhere near as inhospitable ashere, still a man must have skills to survive."Malar moved slowly as he approached the hole. He glanced skywardto see the angle of the sun, then moved to face it. "Do not let your shadowcross the hole," he instructed.
Dash and Jimmy followed behind. The man from the Vale of Dreamsslowly knelt and said, "Fish, I have been taught, see movement, so wemust move ever so slowly."
Dash said, "This I must see."
Jimmy nodded.
Malar said, "The sun shines through the hole in the ice, and the fishswims up to feel the warmth."
Jimmy looked over the man's shoulder and saw a large brook troutlazily circling the hole. Moving slowly, Malar inserted the noose ofhorsehair into the water, behind the fish. The trout ceased moving for a
,Raymond E. Feist
:moment? but Malar resisted the urge to move quickly, instead inching thesnare toward the fish's tail.
After another long minute, the fish darted away, and Malar said, "Anotherwill come. They see the fight and think insects may land upon thesurface. "
After a silent five minutes, a trout appeared near the edge of the hole.Dash couldn't tell if it was the same fish or a different one. Malar againstarted moving the noose slowly and got it around the fish's tail. With ajerk, he snared the trout and yanked it out of the hole, landing it on theice, where it flopped.
Dash couldn't see the man's face behind the rags that covered it, butthe crinkles around his eyes showed Malar was smiling. "If one of youyoung gentlemen would be so kind as to light a fire, I will catch somemore."
Jimmy and Dash exchanged glances, then Jimmy shrugged. Dashsaid, "I'll get some wood. You find a campsite."They hurried off while the strange man from the Vale of Dreamssought out another fish for supper.
For three days they moved slowly toward Krondor. Several times theyI men moving through the woodlandheard distant voices and the sound of
lands, but they had avoided contact with anyone.Jimmy and Dash both found Malar an enigma. He had surprisingskills for wilderness survival, odd for one claiming to be the servant of arich trader. On the other hand, Jimmy a confided to his brother, theservant of a rich smuggler might prove in need of such skills. Still, theywere pleased to have him along, for he had found several shortcutsthrough the undergrowth, had identified edible plants that supplementedtheir stores, and had proven a reliable night sentry. As they were walkingtheir horses, leading them more than half the time, his keeping up hadproven to be no difficulty. Jimmy judged they were less than a week'stravel from Krondor.
At midday they heard horses in the distance, from the north. Jimmyspoke at a low conversational level. "Duko's men moving along the I way?ll
Dash nodded. "Probably. If we can hear them from here, we'veheaded back toward the highway." He turned to Malar. "Do you knowof any southern route to Krondor?"
"Only the highway that loops around from Land's End, young sir.But if we are nearing the King's Highway, within a few days we shouldstart encountering farms."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Jimmy was silent for a long moment, then said, "They'll almost certainlybe burned out."
"But," suggested Dash, "if they are, no one is likely to be living inthem, and we might slip into the city unnoticed."
"No farmers, you mean," corrected Jimmy. "But they'd be decentshelter for some very unpleasant men with a fondness for weapons, I bet."Dash's brow furrowed, as if thinking he should have thought of that,but a moment later, his grin returned and he said, "Well, then, we willjust blend in. You've told me often enough how unpleasant I can be, andI am certainly fond of my weapons."
Jimmy nodded. "Two more hired swords will scarcely be noticed.And if we can get close to the city, we'll find a way inside. There areenough holes in the walls, that's for certain."Malar said, "You've been to Krondor, then, young sir? Since the war,I mean."
Jimmy ignored the question, saying, "We've heard of the damage."Dash agreed. "More than a few people left Krondor and came east.""This I Imow," said Malar, falling silent.
They moved on through the woods for the rest of the day and madea cold camp that night. Huddled under their blankets, Jimmy and Dashstayed close together while Malar took the first watch. They slept fitfully,coming awake many times.
In the morning, they resumed their journey.
The woods were filled with the sounds of the thaw. In the distancethe cracking of ice rang through the suddenly warm air as ponds and lakesbegan to lose their frozen skins. Large mounds of snow fell from trees insudden, wet attacks on the travelers, while everywhere water dripped frombranches. The footing beneath their feet alternated between crusty patchesof ice and thick mud which gripped at boots and horses' hooves. Theconstant noise was a backdrop against which the occasional sounds ofspring could be heard. The distant call of a bird that had returned fromthe south early, seeking others of its kind. The faint rustle in the distanceOf small creatures coming out of their winter's burrows stirred as theypassed, only to resume after a while.
When they paused to rest, Jimmy tied his horse to a low tree branchand motioned for Dash to do likewise. Dash did as he was bid, and said,"Keep an eye out. We're going to relieve ourselves." He moved to whereJimmy stood, making a show of urinating into the snow.Dash did likewise, whispering, "what is it?"
Raymond E' Feist
"Have you formed an opinion of our chance companion?" asked the
older brother. is head slightly, saying, "Not really. I,m certain he'sDash shook h
more than he claims, but I have no idea what.""There's not a lot of fat on him," said Jimmy, "but he doesn't movelike a man weak from hunger."
Dash said, "Do you have a theory?" trader, what PSjimmy said, "No. But if he's not the servant of a rich~y
he doing up here?
"Smuggler?~ uld
' 'Maybe, ' Y answered JimmY, doing up the front of his trousers. " CO
be anything we could imagine. II
Remembering what their grandfather had cautioned them over theyears about leaping to conclusions, Dash said, "Then we'd best not imagineanything.,,
"Wait and see," agreed Jimmy.
They returned to the horses, and Malar hurried off to relieve himselfaway from the trail. When he was out of hearing range, they continued.Jimmy asked, "Remember that abandoned farm a day's walk this side ofwhere we met Malar?"
"The one with half a thatch roof and the fallen-down cow shed?""That's the one. If we bolt, and get separated, meet there."Dash nodded. Neither chose to discuss what to do should the othernever appear.
Malar returned and they started off. The servant from the Vale ofDreams had been as closemouthed as the brothers. Part of the reason wasthe environment. The nights were still and even in the day noise carried.They knew they were approaching an area likely to be patrolled by theinvaders; they were leading their horses rather than riding them, as, evenin the woodlands, a rider presented a much higher profile in the distancethan a man on foot or a horse. Periodically they stopped to listen.Rains came later that afternoon and they sought out what shelter theycould, finding a hut of some sort, burned out, but with just enough thatchto give slight respite.
Sitting atop their saddles, hastily removed to get them out of theweather, they took stock.
"We've got another day's grain, then we're done," said Dash, knowinghis brother was just as aware of supplies as he.Malar said, "Shouldn't there be winter grass under the snow, sirs?'Jimmy nodded. "Not much in it, but the horses will eat it."Dash said, "If there are horsemen in Krondor, they'll have fodder."
SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CROWN
jimmy said, "The difficulty will be in persuading them to share,
brother. "
Dash grinned. "What's life without a challenge or two?"The rain stopped and they resumed their trek.
Later that afternoon, Malar said, "Young sirs, I believe I hear something.)~
All conversation ceased and the three stopped walking as they listened.The frigid days of winter had given way to a promise of spring,but it was still cold enough they could see their breath in the late afternoonair. After a moment of silence, Dash was about to speak when a voiceechoed from ahead. It spoke a language neither brother recognized, butthey knew it was the Yabonese-like tongue of the invaders.Glancing around for a place to hide, Jimmy pointed and mouthed theword, There.
He indicated a large stand of brush that surrounded an outcroppingof rocks. Dash wasn't sure they could secrete the horses behind it, but itwas the only thing nearby that offered shelter from whoever came theirway.
Malar hurried around the upthrust rocks and pulled aside a lowbranch, allowing Jimmy and Dash to lead their horses around to a relativelysheltered hiding place. In the distance horses could be heard.Dash's horse's nostrils flared and her head came up. Jimmy said,"What?"
"This witchy mare is in heat," whispered Dash as he tugged hard onher bridle. "Pay attention to me!" he demanded.Malar said, "You ride a mare?"
"She's a good horse," insisted Dash.
"Most of the time!" agreed Jimmy, hissing his words. "But not now!"Dash tugged on the horse's bridle, trying to focus her attention onhimself An experienced rider, Dash knew that if he could keep her attention,she might not call out to the horses that were approaching.Jimmy's gelding seemed relatively indifferent to the proceedings,though he did look on with some interest as the mare's excited state built.Dash held tight to the mare's bridle, rubbing her nose and speaking closeto her ear in a reassuring fashion.
The riders came close and Dash judged there must be at least a dozenof them from the clatter. Voices cut through the air and a man laughed.These were men who patrolled a familiar area and expected nothing outOf the ordinary.
Dash held tight to the bridle and continued to speak softly to his mare
i
I
~le
Raymond E.\*Feist
I
i
i
I
SHARDS OF A BROIKEN CROWN
as the horses came to the point of closest approach on the trail. SuddenlyDash's horse pulled backwards and her head came up. to him, butFor an instant there was a tiny hope she might come backthen she called out her greeting, a loud whinny.Suddenly shouts filled the air and other horsescall Jimmy didn't hesitate. "That way!"
answered the mare's
Malar shoved through underbrush and ignored scratches frombranches as he went where Jimmy had directed. Jimmy came next, leadinghis gelding, eyes wide and nostrils flaring from excitement. The marebalked and resisted as she screamed her welcome to the other horses. Astallion's herd cry answered, and Dash knew the only way he could controlhis mare was from her back. Letting her head come around towardthe stallion, he quickly swung up onto her back, exposing himself to view.He didn't hesitate, and slammed heels into her flanks. Urging her intoa gallop, he seemed to burst from the underbrush toward those ridersthem, moving away from his
arrayed on the trail. Then he was past
brother and Malar, and the chase was on.
From a vantage point a short distance off, Jimmy turned and saw theriders wheel and charge after Dash. Malar, almost out of breath, puffedas he said, "Sir, will they catch him?"
Jimmy swore. "Probably. But if they don't, he should try to get backto that farmhouse. That's what we planned."
"Shall we turn around?" asked the servant.
Jimmy was silent. After a moment he said, "No. Dash will either becaptured, in which case we can't help him escape, or he'll win free. If hegets back to that farmhouse we found the day we met you, he'll wait oneor two days, then return to Darkmoor. If we go now, we'll have no moreinformation than he will."
"We go to Krondor?"
"We go to Krondor," said Jimmy. He glanced around, seeking anysign of other riders in the area. As the sound of Dash and his pursuersfaded into the distance, he pointed and said, "That way."As quietly as they could, the pair set off.
Dash rode as hard as he could, despite the balky mare, who wantedto turn and greet the stallions behind. Every hint of hesitation from herbrought a hard kick to her sides as he used every skill he had to keep herheading down a windy woodland trail made
overhanging branches, and sudden turns.
dangerous by mud and ice,
Dash knew that if his old riding instructor, the King is own horse~master, could see what he was doing, he'd be shouting at the top o
his lungs, telling Dash to slow down. Dash knew his race across treacherousfooting was unbelievably dangerous and foolhardy.He couldn't spare a glance back to see how close his pursuers mightbe, but the noise behind him told him all he needed to know: they wereclose. It would take a stroke of luck for him to lose them. He knew thatto them he was a dimly-seen figure on a horse moving through the longshadows of the woodlands, but as long as he stayed on the trail, theywould be able to stay close and not lose him.
He had a rough idea where he was. There were a dozen or morewoodland trails to the east of Krondor that led to farms throughout thearea. He knew that eventually-if he outran his pursuers-he'd hit theKing's Highway. A horse's scream and a panic-stricken rider's cry toldDash that one of his pursuers' mounts had lost footing and was down,probably breaking a leg.
Dash glanced to the left and saw the trees thinning as he reached aclutch of farms, open fields that were dotted with burned-out buildings.He hesitated for a moment, but to try to ride across muddy fields wouldbe far worse than staying on the trail. Here the mud was a nuisance,slippery muck over hardpan compacted by years of wagons, riders, andfoot traffic. The mud in the fields was deep enough for an adult horse tosink up to the point where it would be unable to move. Thehorse labored as Dash pushed her along the trail; lack of grainand fodder had shortened her endurance and she was blowing hard as shestruggled to obey his commands. Then he saw a stone path, and a glimmerof hope appeared.
He almost caused her to fall, so abruptly did he pull the mare around,but once she got her feet back under her, she sped off in the desireddirection. Dash said a silent prayer to Ruthia, Goddess of Luck, and gatheredhis horse under him for a jump. The fence along the road was mostlybroken down, but he needed to land on a relatively narrow pathway thatwas blocked by one of the few remaining intact sections and a closed gate.The horse was tired, but athletic enough to easily clear the fence,landing on the wet stones. The reassuring clatter of hooves on stone toldDash that Ruthia at least didn't say "no."
He stole a glance to his left and saw several of the riders attempt tocut him off by veering into the muddy field. He smiled to himself.
Making sure the horse was heading exactly where he wanted, hechanced another look back and saw that the horses in the field were now
half buried, attempting to pull their hooves out of the deep, thick muck.Dash gained precious seconds as the riders who followed on the road
Raymond E..Feist
chose to double back and work their way around thehad a chance.
The sun was now out of sight behind the trees ahead, as the longshadows of late afternoon crept across the fields. He rode past a yumeddthe door and
He continued
intact fence. He now
out farmhouse and saw the stone path he was on passecontinued on toward the foundation of a burned-out barn.to ride, but slowed as he reached the terminus of the path.Dash could only spare a moment to let the horse rest, as curses frombehind told him those trying to reach him were now also mired in themud. Dash judged the way to his right was more substantial footing thanelsewhere-at least he hoped that was the case, and set off, letting hishorse move at a trot until she slowed down due to the mud.The sound of the mare's hooves hitting tightly compacted sand causedDash to feel a surge of hope. It was quickly extinguished when he heardriders coming hard behind on the stone path.
The trees were close enough to give the illusion of safety, but Dashknew that if he couldn't get into them at least a minute ahead of the ridersbehind him, he wouldn't be able to shake them.He urged his mare on to a loping canter and glanced back. The riderswere just now reaching the edge of the farmhouse, and again hope roseup within Dash. Their horses were lathered and their nostrils were flaringwide. They were almost as exhausted as his own. They must have beenat the end of their patrol, or they weren't getting enough to eat, but forwhatever reason, they didn't look as if they had enough left to overtakehim-as long as he could keep his own exhausted mare moving.He reached the treeline and ducked under a low-hanging branch. Asquickly as he could, he picked his way among the trees, varying his courseand trying to keep clear of those behind. He hoped there were no trackersbehind, but then, considering the terrain, realized a blind man could followhis trail.
Glancing around he saw a small outcropping of rock that rose up aslight incline and appeared to be flat on top. He turned the horse andwalked her up the rise, and found the rock ran off along what appearedto be a smaller trail. He jumped off and led her down the trail.Exhaustion was curbing her desire to call to the stallion, as she couldbarely catch enough breath to walk after Dash. 'He pulled her reins andshe reluctantly set out at a fast walk behind him.Shadows deepened as the sun lowered in the west, and Dash moveddeeper into the woods. If Jimmy and Malar had stayed clear of pursuit'they would be approaching the city several miles to the south. Dash wondered
if he should attempt to cut back behind his pursuers and try to find
his brother and the stranger from the Vale of Dreams.Dash considered the best that would bring him would be to get himhaplessly lost. There couldn't be so many people in Krondor that if bothbrothers reached there safely, they couldn't find one another. At leastDash hoped that was true. Hearing the riders coming closer to the pointwhere he had left the trail below, Dash hurried deeper into the woods.
Jimmy gripped Malar's arm and said, "We join there." He indicateda point in the road where a fairly steady stream of travelers had beencoming past the woodlands, at the edge of what had once been the foulbourghoutside the walls of Krondor. "I'm a mercenary from Landrethand you're my servant."
"Dog robber," said Malar.
"What?"
"The term is 'dog robber.' To feed his master, a mercenary's servantwill steal scraps from a dog if necessary." The slender man smiled. "Ihave served as such. You, though, will be obviously false to any Valemanwho might happen to be here."
"You think that likely?"
"It would be better should you be a young man from the East of theKingdom, who lately served in the Vale. Claim no company. Say youworked for my departed master. I do not know what you expected to findin Krondor, young sir, but in the backwashes of war many things happen.We are seeing that ahead."
Jimmy was forced to admit that was true. Where he had seen nothingbut frost-covered stones and a few fires just weeks before, now he sawdozens of huts and tents, a veritable community springing up almost overnight.As they walked down the road, Malar leading Jimmy's horse,Jimmy drank in the sights and sounds.
Evening was upon them and fires dotted the landscape. Hawkersshouted from ahead, offering food, drink, the company of a woman. Hard-lookingmen lounged near fires, watching guardedly as Jimmy and Malarmoved past.
A man hurried over holding a steaming pot, and said, "Hot food!Fresh rabbit stew! I have carrots and turnips mixed in!"From the expressions on the faces of those nearby, Jimmy surmisedtwo things: the "rabbit" was probably a less wholesome dinner item thanadvertised, and most of the people nearby were hungry.But some sort of order had been imposed, and armed men whoseemed near to the point of killing for food merely watched with fixedexpressions as the man passed holding out the meal. "How much?" askedJimmy, not pausing.
"What have you?" asked the peddler.
Malar elbowed Jimmy to one side. "Begone, o stewer of rats' Mymaster has no use for such foul-smelling garbage," he shouted.Instantly the two men were almost nose to nose, screaming insults atone another, and almost equally abruptly a deal had been struck. Malargave the man a copper coin, a ball of yarn he had been carrying in hispocket, and a very old rusty dagger.
The man gave over the pot and hurried back to his campfire where awoman offered him another crock of the hot stew. He set out to findanother customer. Malar motioned for Jimmy to move to the side of theroad and squatted, holding the crockery. He held it out and spoke softly,"Eat first and give me what's left."
Jimmy squatted, not wishing to sit in the mud, and ate the stew. If itwas rabbit, it had been a rabbit of diminutive stature, and even the carrotsand turnips had a strange taste. Jimmy decided it best not to consider howlong they had sat in some abandoned root cellar before that enterprisingpeddler had found them.
He ate half the contents of the bowl and gave the rest over to Malar.While his newfound servant ate, Jimmy looked around. He had seenenough military camps to recognize he had blundered into one. Warriors,camp followers, peddlers and thieves, all resting until they had a reasonto move on.
Jimmy wondered about the reason for the gathering, and the reasonthat would make them move on. Many of the warriors were from theinvading army that had ravaged the Western Realm the year before, buthe saw enough Keshians and a few Quegans mixed in to decide that thesewere deserters, opportunists, weapons runners, and the dregs washed upin any backwater of a war.
Putting aside the bowl, Malar looked at Jimmy. "Young sir?":,Let's head into the city," said Jimmy.
'And do what?" inquired the Valeman.
"Look for my brother."
"I thought he was to go back east," said Malar."That's what he should do, but he won't."
c(Why?p~
"Because he's ... Dash."
They moved through the tent village and headed toward the city gate.
Three
[G FROWNED.
The Keshian Ambassador's smile was forced, almost painful, as hefinished his latest message from his government."My Lord Gadesh," said the Kingdom's representative, Baron Marcel
d'Greu, his own smile just as false. "That's impossible."Pug glanced at Nakor, who sat to his right. The latest round of negotiationsbetween the Kingdom and the Empire of Great Kesh was provingto be a simple restatement of the last round.
Nakor shook his head and said, "Why don't we take a small recess,my lords, and give ourselves time to ponder these requests?"Kalari, a Tsurani Black Robe who was representing his government,the Empire of Tsuranuanni, as a neutral observer, said, "Excellent idea,my friend."
The two ambassadors retired to the quarters that had been providedto them, and Pug led Nakor and Kalari to another room, where Mirandawaited next to Kalied, the leader of the most powerful of the three factionsof magicians in Stardock.
Kalied appeared to be older than Pug, despite the fact Pug was nearlytwenty years his senior. Pug appeared to be a man in his mid-twenties,his rejuvenation courtesy of the freed life energies that had been trappedin the Lifestone.
Miranda, looking like a woman in her mid-twenties, smiled at herhusband. "Any joy?"
"None," said Pug, taking a mug of ale offered by a student who wasacting as servant to those representing the interests of Stardock in thenegotiations between the Kingdom and the Empire of Great Kesh."I must confess," observed Kalari, "these negotiations seem far moreritualistic than I anticipated. " He sipped at a hot cup of coffee and nodded
Ray;nond A. Feist
in appreciation at the flavor of the brew. He was a bald-headed man ofmiddle age, still slender and fit and possessing a penetrating pair of blueeyes. "Is it my unfamiliarity with the nuances of the King's Tongue, orsome lack of insight into the Keshian culture, or is this simply restatingof previous claims and demands?"
"No," said Nakor, "there is nothing wrong with your appreciation ofthis situation."
"Then what is the point?" asked Kalari. "My own Empire's traditionsinclude negotiations, but usually it's between Tsurani Lords. I'm afraidyour notion of diplomacy is a little foreign to me."Kalari had been sent by the Assembly of Magicians on Kelewan, toinsure that whatever interests Tsuranuanni had in Stardock were represented.Trading between the former enemies, the Kingdom of the Islesand the Empire of Tsuranuanni, had been cyclical over the years. Fornearly fifty years a major upheaval in Tsurani society had resulted fromthe rise to prominence of House Acoma and their innovative leader, theLady Mara, the Servant of the Empire. Her son, Justin, had ruled theEmpire despite several political plots to return the Empire to the oldertraditions Mara had set aside. Turmoil had resulted from many of thechanges, at various times limiting trade between the two worlds to atrickle, but currently a stable period had endured almost ten years, andthe Empire wished to see nothing disrupt their commerce with Midkemia.Pug said, "Well, if you consider us to be Thuril, but with moreswords, you might consider the needs we face."Kalari nodded. Thuril had been the only nation to resist his empireon the homeworld, and had forced the Empire to a guarded peace. "Well,since the Servant of the Empire overturned so many of the Assembly'sprerogatives, we've had to constantly relearn things. I think endless babblearound a table to no point, though, may be a difficult process to master."Nakor laughed. "Actually, it's really easy. That's why diplomats doit so much."
Kalari regarded the strange fellow. Nakor had been given his seat atthe negotiations by Pug. Known as Milamber on the Tsurani homeworld,Pug was a figure of legend, almost as awe-inspiring as the Lady Mara.That fact alone had blunted some of the Tsurani Great One's astonishmentat Nakor being included in these sessions. To all outward appearances,the self-styled "High Priest" of some unknown order was nothingmore than a ragged vagabond, perhaps a confidence trickster who playedthe fool. Yet there was something about the odd little man that madeKalari cautious of judging him too quickly. Behind his constant irreverenthumor an intellect of great scope was at work, and every fiber of Kalari's
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being told him a man of great magical ability also wore the guise of acommon gambler recently turned man of religion. He might claim powersthat came from the Gods, or merely "tricks" as he often commented, butKalari sensed this was a being of power second only to Pug's at the table.Kalari put aside his nagging suspicions about Nakor. Whatever else,
he did find the man from the nation of Isalani in Great Kesh amusing andamiable. "Well, then," said the magician, "you'll have to brief me onhow best to proceed with this pointless wrangling."Nakor said, "Find someone else. I think them just as tedious as youdo." Nakor took a sip of ale. "Besides, the matter of how things end uphas already been decided."
"Really?" said Pug. "Care to share with us your reasoning?"Nakor grinned, as he always did when about to share the gift of hisperceptions and insights with the others. "It's easy." He pointed aroundthe room. "You could figure this out, too, if you tried." Miranda exchangedwry smiles with her husband. Nakor continued, "The Kingdomwas hurt, but not fatally. Kesh knows this. They have spies. They knowthat while the King wants troops back in the East, it's not because there'sany real trouble there. If Kesh makes trouble, the King orders the Princeto keep the soldiers. And if Kesh waits until the Armies of the East leave,that gives Patrick more time to dig in, get ready, and deal with any Keshianadventures."
Nakor shook his head. "No, Kesh knows that they lost what the Kingdomgave them when they tried to press their advantage. They know thebest they can do is maybe some trade concession or another, but they'llnever get back what they were granted for protecting the Kingdom's southernflank." He glanced from face to face. "They're trying to figure outhow to admit publicly they were stupid without admitting they were stupid.Y ~
Kalari laughed. Even the usually taciturn Kalied was forced to smile.Pug said, "So it's a matter of honor?"
Nakor shrugged. "More a matter of avoiding punishment back home.Generals Rufi ibn Salamon and Behan Solan have much explaining to doto their Emperor when they return to the City of Kesh. They've got to begiven a really good story to explain how they lost by getting greedy whatthey had gained by the Emperor being generous. You know they had noauthority from Kesh to try to grab all of the vale, don't you?"Pug fixed Nakor with a narrow gaze. "And how do you know that?"asked Pug.
Nakor said, "I move around. I listen to things. Generals may keeptheir mouths shut, but soldiers talk. Soldiers serve in the General's tent,
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then they talk to traders and camp girls, and the traders and camp girlstalk to wagon drivers, and pretty soon everyone knows what the General'sdoing.
"Kesh doesn't want a war, even if the Kingdom is weak. they'venever fully pacified the southern nations below the Girdle of Kesh. TheKeshian Confederacy would rise up again at any excuse, and your Kingknows this. So, the Empire doesn't want war, and the Kingdom doesn'twant another war-they're busy with the one they have now-and we allsit around while the outcome is already known.""Save one thing," said Pug.
Nakor said, " Stardock. "
Kalied said, "That matter is settled."
Pug shrugged. "I know it is. I told Nakor to make whatever dealnecessary to get you to help save the Kingdom; the threat of you actingagainst Kesh if they turned aggressor tipped the balance in our favor. Butthere's still the matter of explaining to the King how I managed to giveaway one of his duchies."
Kalled said, "I am dining with the members of the council. As Robertde Lyes has decided to continue serving in Darkmoor with the Prince, weneed to replace him on the council." He rose and said, "But keep in mind,Pug, despite your legendary power and our abiding respect for what youfounded here, Stardock is no longer your personal fiefdom. We have Nakor's pledge that you would honor the arrangements he made to gain theKingdom our aid. The council now governs, not on your behalf whileyou're off somewhere, but on behalf of all those who reside here. You areentitled to no more or less a voice than any other member of the Academy.P I
Pug was silent for a moment, then said, "Very well. I will honor thatpledge and insure the Kingdom acknowledges your autonomy.""Autonomy?" said Kalied. "That's an interesting choice of words. Weprefer to think of it as independence."
Nakor waved away the remark. "Don't be stupid. Pug can convincethe King to let you govern yourself, but don't expect him to make theKing accept the proposition of an independent entity located entirelywithin the boundaries of the Kingdom. Besides, while you protect theKingdom from Kesh, the Kingdom also protects you from Kesh. Do youthink for a moment the Emperor would be as generous?"Kalied said nothing for a long moment, then said, "Very well. I willpresent this to the council, and I am sure they will choose not to be 'stupid'in this matter." With a dark look directed at Nakor, he bowed to theothers in the room and departed.
I
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Kalari turned to Nakor and said, "I assume your earlier comments ondiplomacy are more in the theoretical area rather than from practice?"Miranda laughed. Pug joined in. "Well, I still have a lot to explain
to the Prince, and I think there's no putting that off. I suspect that Patrickwill be even less enchanted with the idea of an autonomous Stardockwithin his borders than Kalied."
Miranda said, "We go to Darkmoor?"
Pug nodded. "Nakor?"
Nakor nodded. "I'm done here. The Blue Riders are again ensconcedamong the students, to make sure magicians who train here don't get toostuffy. Besides, I need to spend some time with Dominic and some of theother Ishapians who have ended up next to the Prince. Let me fetch ShoPi, and we'll all go together."
He left, and Kalari said, "Pug, a question."
Pug turned to regard the Tsurani Great One.
"Since coming to Stardock on behalf of the Emperor, I've pieced togethera view of how things stood here. I'm curious as to why you, yourself,didn't come to the Assembly and seek our aid in dealing with thethreats from this Emerald Queen." He lowered his voice. "I'm not surewhat fully transpired here, but I get the strong impression that a great dealmore was at stake than most people understand."Miranda and Pug exchanged glances, and Pug said, "Yes, but I amnot free to share details.
"As for why we didn't seek Tsurani aid, our relationships with theEmpire have never been the same since Makala."Kalari said, "Ah," and nodded in understanding. A Tsurani GreatOne, Makala had come to the Prince of Krondor's court years before,ostensibly to act as a liaison between the Assembly on Kelewan and thePrince, but in fact had come as a self-appointed spy determined to discoverthe secret of what truly happened at Sethanon at the end of the Riftwar.He had been motivated by loyalty to the Empire and the fear of someKingdom plot or weapon of great power, and had actually discovered thesecret of the Lifestone. Through agents who chanced upon one anothernear Sethanon, he had become a party to a conspiracy involving the Brotherhoodof the Dark Path. Only the intervention of a renegade moredhelchieftain had prevented a major catastrophe.
Makala and four of his allies from the Tsurani homeworld had ensorceledthe great dragon oracle that lived below the city of Sethanon, andwere on the verge of unlocking the Lifestone when Pug and his companionshad arrived. That secret had died with Makala and his four companions,deep in the chamber below the city. His betrayal of the trust given
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him had strained relationships between the Kingdom and Empire for adecade. Only members of the Assembly on Kelewan and a few trustedadvisors to the Prince of Krondor knew of the incident; it served as acautionary tale on both sides of the rift. Since then, all business betweenthe Empire of Tsuranuanni and the Kingdom of the Isles had been conductedin the most formal, cautious of fashions. More than once it hadbeen suggested that the rift between the worlds be permanently closed, yettrading between them continued. But it was now limited to the one riftlocated on Stardock, hence the Empire's presence at these negotiations.They were anxious that this one passage between the worlds be kept open."Yet," said Kalari, "it seemed prudent to you to request our help inthat display of might we arranged for the Keshians?"Pug shook his head and shrugged. "Nakor."
Kalari returned the smile. "He is the most unusual fellow."Pug agreed.
Miranda said, "What will you tell Patrick?"
Pug let out a long, tired sigh. "Many things; none of which he willenjoy hearing."
I
Prince Patrick appeared on the verge of rage. His normally light complexion reddened and his voice rose. "Autonomous? What is that supposedto mean?" he shouted.
Pug sighed. Unlike his predecessor, Prince Arutha, Patrick lacked vision. Pug reminded himself that in most ways the Prince was a youngman, and unlike Prince Arutha, who had leadership thrust upon him, ayoung man untempered in the cauldron of war. While his city had beendestroyed, Patrick had been safe in the East, at the King's insistence. Pugsuspected much of Patrick's ill humor came from frustration and his inabilityto do other than his father's bidding.
With even tones, Pug said, "The magicians at Stardock require-""Require!" shouted Patrick. "They require?" He stood up from histhrone, formerly the state chair of the Baron of Darkmoor, and took astep down to stand directly before Pug. "Let me tell you what their Kingrequires. He requires their unswerving loyalty and obedience!"Pug looked at his grandson, the Duke Arutha, who gave his head aslight shake, indicating there was little use in talking to the Prince whenhe was in a rage. Pug didn't care. He was three times the Prince's ageand had seen more than most men did in a dozen lifetimes and he wastired. "Patrick," he said evenly. "Sometimes you lose.""These are our citizens! They live within the borders of the Kingdom. "
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Nakor, who had been silently standing to one side with his student,Sho Pi, said, "Only if the old borders are still there, Highness."Patrick's head came around and he said, "Who gave you leave totalk, Keshian?"
Nakor returned an insolent grin. "Your King, many years ago, if youremember? And I am Isalani."
Wearying of the scene, Pug said, "Patrick, what's done is done. It'san unhappy solution, but at least it's a solution. You can't deal with theinvaders to the west, Kesh to the south, and the magicians at Stardock.You must start somewhere; Stardock is the easiest. With the communitythere guaranteed their autonomy, Kesh will have to remove itself back tothe old border. That's two problems solved. Then you can reclaim theWest."
Patrick said nothing, forcing himself to calm down. "I do not like it."Nakor said, "The King won't like it much either, but he'll understand.Prince Erland spent time in Kesh. He saved the Emperor and knows theEmpress well. Very well," he added with a grin. "Erland will go downand visit again and soon things will be back to normal along this border."" Except I'll have lost Stardock."
Pug said, "You'll lose a great deal more unless you agree." He lookedthe young prince squarely in the eyes. "Sometimes ruling is hard choices,between bad and worse. Agree that Stardock can rule itself, and you defeatKesh."
Pug's wording made the young Prince pause. After a moment hespoke. "Very well. Prepare documents, my lord duke," he said, usingPug's formal rank as Duke of Stardock. "It is your duchy we're losing.I'm sure Father will have another office or something for you. After all,he did explain you were some sort of royal cousin and need to be treatedas such."
Pug glanced at his wife. She returned a slight shrug. He was young,she seemed to say in agreement with his own thoughts. Pug started toturn away, but Patrick continued to speak. "I think, though, that you'dbest explain directly to the King what is at hand here."Pug turned back to face Patrick. "You wish me to prepare a reportfor the King."
Patrick's expression showed his temper was still getting the better ofhim. "No, I wish you to use whatever magic arts you have to take yourselfto Rillanon. In fact, I command you to do so, my lord duke! Perhaps beingwiser than I, the King can discern how this isn't some sort of treason."He glanced at Miranda. "If your wife isn't an agent of the Empire, I'll beastounded. "
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Pug's eyes narrowed and he remained silent.
"You'll need to demonstrate that loyalty I currently find lacking, magician,if you're to regain this court's favor."
"Demonstrate?" said Pug softly. "I have labored to MY utmost toprevent the destruction of all we hold dear."
Patrick said, "I've read the reports. I've heard the tales. Demons andspawn of the lower hells. Yes, magic to warp the world to darkness, andall the rest of it. "
Arutha looked from one man to the other, saying, "Highness! Grandfather,please! We
have much to do and contention in our ranks does us no good."
Pug looked at his grandson, and slowly he said, "I am not attemptingto contend, Arutha. My only purpose has been, from the first, to serve."He stepped forward and his voice was filled with menace. "If youcommand, my prince, I will obey. I will take the time to visit with theKing. If you are not satisfied with my performance in recent months,perhaps he will be persuaded that the price I paid demonstrates my commitment.""
Perhaps!" said Patrick. He spat hot words. "You gave away a duchythat by all reports you have neglected, and I have a city lying in ruins, aswell as my entire Principality to the west in thrall to hostile forces. Whobetween us has lost the most?"
Pug's throat burned as color rose in his cheeks. In a hoarse whisperhe said, "Lost? You dare speak to me of loss?" Stepping up so that hewas mere inches from the Prince, Pug looked up at the taller, youngerman. "I lost nearly everything, you child! I lost a son and a daughter, andthe man she loved who was as another son to me. William, Gamina, andJames gave their lives for Krondor and the Kingdom. You sit this thronefor a few years, Patrick. When you've lived as long as I have, should yoube that fortunate, remember what you said here."Patrick appeared embarrassed as he realized he had overlooked thedeath of Pug's family in the war. Still, his temper got the best of him, andas Pug turned to walk away, Patrick s voice thundered, "I will not beaddressed in that manner, magician! Duke or not, royal cousin or not,you will come back here and beg my pardon!"
Pug spun. Before he could speak, Arutha turned and stood directly'.,"before his Prince. "Highness!" He put a restraining hand on Patrick'sshoulder. In a whisper he said, "This brings nothing good! Calm yourself
and we'll revisit this tomorrow." Whispering, he added, "Patrick, yourfather will not be pleased at this."
Before the Prince could speak, Arutha turned and said, "Grandfather.
If you and your lady would dine with me tonight, we can discuss exactlywhat sort of communication with the crown shall be undertaken." To theremaining courtiers in the hall, he said, "That will be all today. This courtis adjourned."
He hustled Patrick through a door to the apartment set aside for himduring his stay in Darkmoor, not allowing the Prince to further inflamethe situation. Pug turned to Miranda, who said, "That boy needs sometraining. ~ I
Pug said nothing, merely offering his arm to his wife and leading herto the rooms put aside for them. He knew his grandson would come tosee them as soon as the Prince had been placated.
Arutha looked like a man aged years in a few hours. His eyes, normallybright and alert, were now deeply sunk with dark circles underthem. He sighed and nodded thanks as Miranda handed him a goblet ofwine.
"The Prince?" asked Pug.
Arutha shrugged. "It's difficult. During the war he seemed content tofollow Father and Uncle William's lead. The preparations for the city wereunderway by the time he arrived in Krondor, and he simply agreed towhatever Father wanted.
"Now, he's out of his element. He is being asked to make decisionsthat would have taxed the wits of the best generals in this Kingdom'shistory." He sipped his wine. "Partly it's my fault."Pug shook his head. "No, Patrick is responsible for his own actions.""But Father would have-"
Pug interrupted. "You are not your father." He let out a slow sigh,"No one is James. James was unique. As was Prince Arutha. The WesternRealm may never again see men as able as them gathered together at onetime." Pug grew reflective. "It all began with Lord Borric. I have neverknown a man his equal. Arutha was his equal in many ways, perhaps hissuperior in some, but on the whole, Borric raised two sons the Kingdomneeded.
"But from there we are seeing a diminution of the line. King Borricwas seasoned in his travels to Kesh, but nothing like his father the Prince."Pug looked out a window at the distant torchlight along the palisades ofthe castle. "Perhaps it's just the years passing, the ability to think backwith history's perspective, but at the time of the Riftwar there was a sensein the West that eventually we should prevail. Now I realize that camefrom Prince Arutha, your father at his brashest and most reckless, otherswho led and those who followed."
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I
Looking at his grandson, Pug said, "You must step forward, Arutha.You will never be the man for whom you were named, and you will neverbe your father, but nature didn't intend for you to be either of those men,no matter how worthy they were. You must become the best)man youare capable of. I know the war took as much a toll on you as it did me.You alone of all those here know what I feel. Men like Owen Greylockand Erik von Darkmoor must rise to meet the needs of the nation." Hesmiled as he added, "You are more capable than you think. You will bea fine I)uke of Krondor."
Arutha nodded. His mother, Gamina, was Pug's daughter by adoption,but he had loved and treasured her as much as he had his son,William. To lose them both within days of one another had been terrible."I know that it was worse for you, Grandfather. I mourn my parents.You mourn your children."
Pug said nothing, swallowing hard and gripping Miranda's hand.Since the end of the war he had been revisited time and again by a waveof profound sorrow and pain, and as much as he hoped for the sense ofloss to pass, it didn't. It grew muted at times, even forgotten for hours ata stretch, but in any quiet, reflective moment, it returned.Even his marriage to Miranda had been hastily conducted, as if anydelay might steal moments away from them. Pug and his new wife hadspent as much time together as possible, dealing with the revelations oftheir past lives and the need to discuss their future. Yet every momenttogether, no matter how joyous, was overshadowed by the sense of loss,the sense of work yet undone, and the sense that nothing could ever returnto them that which was lost.
Pug nodded at his grandson's words. He sighed. "Arutha, you anhave never had the opportunity to be close. After my first wife's death Idistanced myself from your mother. Watching her grow old was a eI tried to avoid." He looked deep into his grandson's eyes. "There is muchof both your parents in you. I know your father trained you from birth toserve, and your life was never your own, but I also know he would havefound a less demanding role for you had he found you lacking; you wouldnot be allowed to follow after him had you been less a man than whatyou are. So, again I say, you must step forward. Patrick may prove aworthy ruler someday, but that day is not here yet. And it has often beend
th
fat
our history that one in the role of advisor limited the choices placed beforethe rulers." Remembering the rule of mad King Roderic, Pug said, "Perhapswe could have used more of such men in the past."Arutha said, "I'll try, Grandfather."
Miranda said, "I don't presume to advise, as I've never done well
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with obeying rulers in my day, but you'll have to do more than try beforewe're done."
Arutha looked as if he was ready to wilt. "I know."A servant announced supper was ready, and they adjourned to thenext room. As Pug preceded his grandson, he knew one of the reasonsArutha was so fatigued: from worry over the whereabouts of his own sons.
Jimmy looked around. A series of patrols had been coming throughthe area for the last two days. They had tried to enter the city and discoveredthat no one was being allowed through the established checkpoints.Whoever was in charge inside Krondor, General Duko or someoneelse, had decided that Kingdom infiltration was a serious threat and hadsealed the city.
Those mercenaries and traders who had gathered outside the city wallswere not troubled, as long as they didn't cause trouble. A brawl haderupted the night before at a large bonfire some distance away, over agambling debt, woman, or insult, Jimmy didn't know, but it had quicklybeen quelled by a detachment of warriors from the city who rode out andscattered everyone in sight. There had been nothing gentle or orderlyabout it, a simple raid to disperse, conducted with speed and efficiency.A half dozen men lay dead, while others were moaning and nursing injuriesas the strike force returned to the city, but order had been restored.Most of the men outside the walls had come for booty, the opportunityto loot, or to gain steady pay, not to storm a well-fortified city.Jimmy had judged the city fairly easy to retake should Patrick and hisarmy be sitting outside the walls, but they weren't. They were in Darkmooror en route, and by the time they reached Krondor, the fortificationswould be reaching daunting proportions. Workers-freemen or prisoners,Jimmy didn't know which-were up each day at dawn, repairing thedamage from the final assault on the city the previous summer.He had chanced a leisurely ride past the main eastern gates, and sawthat they had been successfully replaced. While not as grand as the originals,the new gates looked stout and well crafted. Accomplished carpenterswere among those working for the invaders, as most every man offighting age on the distant continent of Novindus has been pressed intothe army.
It was nearly sundown on their second day when Malar asked,"Young sir, are we to find a safe place to sleep?"Jimmy shook his head. "I think I've seen enough outside. It's time togo inside the city."
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"Forgive my ignorance, but if each gate and breach is manned in thefashion we have observed so far. how do you propose to do this thine."Jimmy said, "There are more ways in and out of Krondor than areapparent. My grandfather knew them all, and he made sure Dash and Iknew of every one of them before we left."
is your brother likely to find a similar entrance?"He motioned for his "servant" to follow him, and they walked slowlypast a group of sullen-looking fighting men, getting ready to settle in foranother cold night around a campfire with little food or prospects. "KnowingDash, he's already in the city."
Dash sat with his back against the dirty stone wall. The other prisonersdid likewise. Men crowded together on both sides, but he didn't object;the weather was still cold and his captors spared no fuel to keep the slavepen heated. He wore only his undershirt and trousers. His boots, jacket,cloak, and all the other possessions he had carried were taken from him.He had managed to evade the patrol that had followed him and hadridden to the edge of Krondor. There he had found a thriving communityof traders, thieves, camp followers, and others assembled outside the gatesof the city. The invaders had closed the city to anyone not among theirown forces and an odd truce existed along the eastern wall.With many breaches in the walls, the peace was kept by patrols ridingamong those gathered outside the walls: a mix of Kingdom deserters,displaced farmers, workers, and mercenaries looking for employment.Among the invaders and Kingdom soldiers no small number of Keshians,Quegans, and fighters from the Free Cities of Natal were in evidence.Dash had made the mistake of attempting to sneak into Krondor. Ifa man could enjoy freedom outside the walls, inside the walls only thosewho had served in General Duko's army were freemen. He had managedto stay out of sight for a day, but had run into a patrol and while beingchased had ducked into a seemingly empty building which in reality hadhoused a halfdozen armed soldiers who were off-watch. They held himuntil the patrol caught up and, without even asking his reasons for beingin the city, had beaten, robbed, then incarcerated him.That had been three days before. Dash was letting his bruised andaching body recover; he had no doubt that given half a chance he couldescape, and this time he wouldn't make the mistake of thinking the citywas deserted. It wasn't. In fact, it was turning into something far morelively than he would have thought from Jimmy's report.He had spent two days working on restoring a fortification on thenorth wall. He had tried to overhear the guards' gossip, but the fact was
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he could barely understand them. His brother had the gift for language.Dash could speak passable Keshian and Roldem, after having both languagesdrilled into him as a boy in the King's court in Rillanon.But he had barely been exposed to the Quegan, Natalese, and Yabonese dialects which, although descended from Keshian, were almost otherlanguages to his ear. And this common tongue of Novindus was evenmore removed from Kesh than those.
Still, he was able to judge that something odd was happening or aboutto happen. The soldiers on patrol and those inside the city seemed asconcerned about what was taking place to the north as they were concernedabout what might be coming from the east.
"Time to go," said a voice next to Dash.
Dash nodded to the man as he stood. The man was named GustafTinker, though his last name suggested a grandfather's trade, for he hadbeen a mercenary soldier from the Vale of Dreams. Dash had found outthe first night that most of the prisoners were hapless locals, townspeople,fishermen, and farmers from nearby. Gustaf was something of an oddity,as the Kingdom soldiers had been segregated from the other prisoners.They didn't get worked, but they weren't executed either. Dash had noidea what General Duko thought he might do with them; use them forhostages, perhaps. But as a result of the segregation, Gustaf and perhapsone or two others among the fifty or so men herded nightly into a roomdesigned for a half dozen might prove useful allies when Dash made hisbreak for freedom.
Another of the men, Talwin, was almost certainly a thief, but Dashhad avoided too much conversation with him. Once into the sewers ofthe city, a local thief might prove a useful guide, but as long as they shareda cell together, Talwin would just as likely turn Dash in to the guards asa Kingdom spy as not for an extra ration.
The door opened and the men gratefully left the cramped room andshuffled out into the hallway. They were housed in a half-burned tanneryin the North Quarter of the city. Most of the rank-smelling businesses-slaughterhouses,dyers, fish mongers, among others-were clustered here,so the area provided two benefits to invaders: large relatively undamagedbuildings, and a close proximity to an area of the wall which badly neededrepair. In the East Quarter, Dash suspected the workers were being housedill abandoned stables and sheds.
The guard motioned and the first man in line moved out of the hall,into the cold morning light. As Dash came out into the light, he blinked,and was startled to discover the almost ever-present cloud cover hadM(Yed inland. The day promised to be warm, which was a mixed blessing.
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During the day he barely felt the cold, given the amount of work he wasrequired to do, but at least the next night might be more forgiving.He followed along and waited until the boy who took care of foodand water appeared, and as anxious as his companions, he grabbed thesingle slab of bread offered. It was a coarse and unappetizing meal; thegrain was so W-ground that men had been known to break teeth on husksor small pieces of gravel. The water ration had been cut with a smallamount of wine. Some men had come down with the belly flux a day ortwo before Dash's capture, and the invaders were certain a little wine keptit from spreading.
All too quickly the morning meal was over, and they were off to work.Dash joined four other men attempting to move a large wall stone thathad fallen during the battle of Krondor. They were to get it over to amakeshift crane, built by an invading engineer more adept at engines ofwar than civil engineering. Yet Dash had seen the wooden contraptionlift larger stones several times in the last two days and he was certain thatit would continue to serve for a while.
Why was there so much urgency in the rebuilding of Krondor? ForDuko to deny the city to Patrick made sense. For Duko to attempt tohold it for any length of time made little sense. Dash smelled a mystery,and as much as he wanted to escape, he also wanted to discover whatexactly was taking place around here before doing so.A man grunted and the stone was lifted; quickly a net was pulled
under. Dash used the moment gained while the other men tied off the netto the crane to turn to Gustaf and ask, "You anxious to stick around?"The soldier, a quiet man of middle build, showed the slight smilewhich was his most dramatic expression, and said, "Of course. There'ssuch an opportunity for advancement."
Dash said, "Yes. Another dozen deaths and you'll be first in line forbread and water in the morning."
"What do you have in mind?" whispered Gustaf.
Noticing they were being watched by Talwin, Dash said, "I'll tell you
later."
Gustaf nodded and made no comment as the crew moved over torepeat their labors with another large stone.
I
Four
B
ASH FLINCHED.
The wind had turned cold again after the previous day's spring-likewarmth and he was still sporting many bruises, which seemed to sting
more when the cold hit them. Still, the exercise seemed to be keeping himfrom getting stiff. He hadn't had the opportunity to talk to Gustaf againsince he had mentioned the possibility of escape. Talwin had taken tostaying close by, a turn of events which worried Dash. He could onlyguess at the man's motives; either he was also looking for escape andjudged Dash and Gustaf likely allies in such a break, or he was an informer.Dash decided he could spend another day or two trying to discoverwhich.
The guards shouted for the midday break, and the boys with the breadand watered wine hurried through the ranks, distributing their welcomefare. Dash sat down right where he worked, on the next large rock to bereturned to the wall, while Gustaf sat with his back to the wall they wererepairing. Dash took a bite and said, "Either I'm getting used to this orthey've found a better baker."
Gustaf said, "You're getting used to it. Remember the old saying,'Hunger is the best sauce.' "
Dash studied the warrior from the Vale of Dreams. At first it hadseemed his entire conversational repertoire consisted of head nods, grunts,and the occasional "yes" or "no." But since last night he had opened upa little to Dash.
"How'd you get caught here?"
"I wasn't," said Gustaf, finishing his meager meal. He sipped hiswatery wine and said, "I was a guard on a caravan. . ." He glancedaround. "It's a long story. The short of it is we were intercepted and
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captured by Duko's men and those of us who lived through the fight endedup here."
"How long has it been?"
"Too damn long." He frowned. "Must be a couple of months now.The days blur. It was snowing when I got here."Dash nodded. "Caravan?"
Gustaf shrugged. "My employer wasn't the only merchant to thinkhe could steal a profit by being the first one bringing goods into the city.From what I've seen around here, this general isn't interested in tradingmuch. He seems willing to let folks fend for themselves on the other sideof the wall, but in here it's a military camp. I)The order to resume work was passed down the line and Dash said,iii get that impression."
Gustaf smiled. "You're not as dumb as you look.""Back to work!" shouted a guard, and the four men nearest Dash andGustaf began moving the rock back into place in the wall.
Jimmy motioned with a slight tilt of his head. Malar nodded that heunderstood and signaled for the boy to come over. The urchin was filthy,covered from head to toe in soot and grime. He smelled as if he had beenswimming in a cesspool, and Jimmy thought him a likely source of information.
Malar spoke with the boy for a few minutes, then gave him a coin,telling him to run off. He returned to where Jimmy leaned against thewall in a pose of indifference and said, "Young sir, the boy was, indeed,working in the sewers. They pay him to crawl into the smaller culvertsand pipes, ridding them of burned wood, mud, and the like."Jimmy shook his head slightly in irritation. "Damn. What are theydoing down there?"
In a low voice, Malar said, "Apparently repairing the sewer, much asthey seem to be repairing everything aboveground on the other side of thewall from all reports."
"But why?" asked Jimmy rhetorically. "The sewers are sufficient forhis army. With a little work, he can keep them flowing enough so hismen don't fall ill." Jimmy scratched an imaginary itch on the side of hisface. "But from what we've heard, he's trying to put them back to thestate they were in before-" He had been about to say before "Grandfatherblew up the city," but changed it to "the city was taken.""Perhaps this General Duko likes things orderly."Jimmy shook his head in baffled silence. He had read every report
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that had reached Darkmoor on the enemy before and after the BattleNightmare Ridge.
Duko was probably their best field general, and third in importanceafter Fadawah and Nordan. Jimmy couldn't begin to guess what he wup to. Had he been fortifying the city for an attack from the east orsouththat might have made some sense, though the defenses would still be I(
than ideal when Patrick's army arrived.
Had he continued to rip Krondor apart, adding to the destructionto deny it to the Kingdomwould have made sense. But repairingdamage done, as if he was going to occupy the city for a long time, it.made no sense.
"Unless. . . " said Jimmy softly.
"Young sir?" asked Malar.
"Never mind." He looked around. "It's going to be dark in the nexthour. Come with me."
He led Malar through the busy streets in the tent city and towardalley, really just a passage between freestanding walls, all that was lefttwo businesses. He ducked into the alley without waiting to see if he wbeing watched, and heard Malar follow.
It would be easy to become lost in Krondor, Jimmy "ew fromlast visit. With all the destruction, landmarks didn't exist. Yet the patternswere the same, and if one constantly remembered where one was relativeto one of the few intact recognizable features in the city, it shouldpossible to find one's way. At least Jimmy hoped this was so.He heard movement before he saw it, and ducked back, almost knocking Malar over. Someone walked along the abandoned street, comingcloser. Jimmy and Malar hunkered down, fading into the darkness Ibetween the walls.
Shortly, a pair of armed men hurried by, upon what errand Jimmy,Could only guess. Jimmy waited, to see if they returned or if others followed
. When no one else appeared after a few minutes, he movedacrossthe road to a burned-out inn.
Hunkering down behind a section of still-standing wall, Jimmy whispered,
"This inn has a way into the sewers. If it's not blocked, and if tsewers are still intact, we can get inside the city. Most of the sewer isOff from out there to in there," he said pointing toward the city, 'but theis an old collapsed wall of a cistern that we can wiggle through.""Is that a good idea, young sir?" asked Malar. "From what we'heard it seems difficult to remain inside without being pressed into a workgang. At least that seems the general opinion."
I
I
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"I don't plan on being seen," said Jimmy. "You're free to make yourown way from here on, if you choose."
"Living by my wits is an old habit of mine, young sir, but I suspectyou and your brother are my best opportunity to find something beyondthat." He studied Jimmy for a moment, as if weighing risks against possiblerewards, then said, "You and your brother are two men of someposition, I suspect. If so, and if I serve you to a good ending, then perhapsI may salvage something from what has so far been a horrible turn offate." He fell silent for a moment again, then said, "If you will have mem your service, I will go with you."
Jimmy half shrugged. "I guess that makes you my servant in fact,then. Tell you what you must do. Should anything happen to me, returnas best you may to the East. Long before you reach the Kingdom Armyyou will almost certainly be apprehended by Kingdom advanced scouts.Probably Hadati hillmen or Krondorian Pathfinders. If it's Hadatis, see ifthere's a man named Akee with them. If Pathfinders, ask for CaptainSubati. Have either of those men take you to Owen Greylock or Eric vonDarkmoor and tell them everything you've seen so far. Without a name,you'll be taken for a Keshian deserter or looter or something, and it mightbe a long time before anyone heard your story. And they must know whatwe've seen."
"But what have we seen?" said Malar, genuinely perplexed."I'm not sure, which is why we must get inside the city. But whateverit is, it's not something we anticipated."
"That's bad."
Jimmy grinned. "Why do you say that?"
"Because the unanticipated is always bad."
Jimmy's grin broadened. "Always?"
"Always. There is no such thing as a pleasant surprise.""I remember this girl once-"
"Did she end up breaking your heart?"
Jimmy nodded with a smile now rueful. "That she did.""You see. If you can anticipate, you can stay beyond harm's reach.""You sound like a man of experience," suggested Jimmy.Malar's eyes narrowed. "More than most men know, young sir."
Jimmy looked around. The shadows had deepened as the sun hadlingered in the west, and now the sky above was turning a stunning shadeof violet as night approached. "It's dark enough we won't be noticed, I'm'thinking." He led Malar into the rear of the old inn, having to carefullypick his way across a section of timbers, what was left from a collapseddoorway and wall section, as well as part of the ceiling above. The roof
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was gone, and blackened timbers above showed starkly against the darkeningsky. They moved cautiously, then Jimmy said, "It's around here
somewhere."
He knelt and looked around. He moved some smaller debris coveredin thick soot, raising a stench of wet charcoal. "Some of the wood isrotting. V ~
Malar said, "There is a ring of iron there, young sir.""Give me a hand," said Jimmy as he cleared the top of the trapdoor.As the two men pulled, Jimmy said, "This used to be the back roomat an inn controlled by the Mockers."
"Mockers?"
"Thieves," said Jimmy. "I thought their fame reached into the vale.""The only thieves with whom I had contact were those who used quilland parchment, not dagger and guile. Businessmen."Jimmy laughed. "My brother would agree; he used to work for theworst of the lot, Rupert Avery."
"That's a name I have heard, young sir. My late master had cause tocurse him more than once."
They got the trap moved and swung it back, letting it fall. The openingyawned at them like a black pit. Jimmy said, "I wish we had some light.""You expect to travel in such gloom?" said Malar, a note of incredulityin his voice.
"There is no light on the brightest day down there." He found what
he was looking for, the ladder down, and as he swung himself down ontothe topmost rung, he said, "There are lights down there if one but knowswhere to look."
"If you know where to look," Malar muttered under his breath.They carefully descended into the darkness.
Dash winced, but not from the cold; rather he flinched at the soundof a lash striking a man down below. He, Gustaf, Talwin, and a few other
men he had come to know were laboring atop the wall just to the northOf Krondor's main gate. Dash glanced over at Gustaf, who nodded, indicatingeverything was all right. Suddenly they both turned. A man
screamed a few yards off as he lost his footing; in that brief instant, theman knew with dread certainty he was going to fall and no amount ofwill or prayer would keep him alive. His anguish and terror filled the
afternoon air as he toppled sideways and fell to his death on the cobblesbelow. Gustaf flinched at the sound of the body striking the unyieldingrock. They were repairing the battlements and the footing was treacherous,
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made doubly so by loose stones and constant fog in the mornings andevenings.
"Keep your wits about you," said Dash.
"You don't have to tell me that twice," said Gustaf.Dash chanced a look over the wall and saw the usual confusion ofthe foulbourgh, soldiers milling around, street vendors, and the other humanflotsam drawn into this eddy of the previous year's war. Somewhereout there, he fervently wished, his brother Jimmy was getting the informationneeded to alert Owen Greylock that something strange was takingplace in Krondor.
General Duko was doing an admirable
Given the lack of resources,
job of restoring the city to its earlier status, at least from a military pointof view. The merchants and other residents of Krondor would see yearspass before the city came close to returning to its former prosperity. Toomuch damage had occurred for that to be anything but a distant dream.But from a soldier's point of view, Krondor would be close to its previousI el of defensibility in less than a year's time, perhaps as quickly as nineev
or ten months.
Dash wished mightily he could get loose of this work gang, scoutaround, and find out what was going on, but the reality of the situationwas that any man who wasn't an invader was a slave. Whatever Dash'sfather had been thinking, it would have made more sense to have sentalong one of the men who had traveled to Novindus with Erik von Darkmoor,someone who spoke the language and had a fair chance of passingfor one of the men from the continent across the sea.Even if he got free, Dash knew his only hope was to get beyond thewall, blend into the populace there, and find his way to the East, wherehe was certain his father had other agents waiting for sight of eitherbrother.
Dash was certain his father had sent other agents into the city, andthroughout the surrounding countryside. It would be unlike him not to.Besides, thought Dash as he helped hoist a large rock up to the battlements,the ghost of Duke Arutha's father, Lord James, would haunt himif he didn't. As Dash bruised knuckles on the harsh stone and beganputting mortar into place, he thought that his grandfather's ghost wouldbe welcome about now. Certainly, if anyone could puzzle out what washappening in Krondor it would be the legendary Lord James.
Jimmy cursed in the darkness as he bruised his shins against an unexpectedstone. "Is the young gentleman certain he hasn't lost his way?"came Malar's voice out of the blackness.
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jimmy said, "Keep quiet. It's certain we're not the only ones downhere. And yes I know where we are," he said. "We turn right and anotherdozen paces on the right should be the place we're looking for." As if to
prove the point, he turned to the right and moved into a small passage.Malar kept both hands on the right wall as he awkwardly followed.After a few minutes they moved slowly through the gloom, then suddenlyJimmy said, "We're here."
"Where is here, sir?" asked Malar.
"One of the many hiding places for. . ." A sound of rustling, as ifsomething was being moved, came from where Jimmy stood. Then Malarshielded his eyes as a small spark was struck, blindingly bright after thelong time spent in the dark.
The torch was dry and caught at once, and Jimmy said, "Let's seewhat we have here." He rummaged through the contents of the hidingplace, a false stone in the wall at waist height."How did you know where to look?" asked Malar."My grandfather had reason to spend some time in the sewers." Heglanced at Malar. "He was a city employee."
"A sewer worker?"
"At times," said Jimmy. "Anyway, he told me that from whateverthieves' entrance into the city, you move to the first intersection, then tothe right, and about twelve paces to the right, a cache would be found.Seems the Mockers wanted to make sure that if they got chased downinto the darkness, they could find light and some tools." He waved at thecache. "Observe." He patted each item as he named it. "A good lengthof rope. A large breaker bar. A water skin. A dagger, torches, or a lantern.)P
"A lantern with a shutter would prove safer," said Malar."True," agreed Jimmy, "but as we don't have one, we must settle forwhat is at hand. There may be other caches still intact, and perhaps wecan find a lantern there."
He glanced around in the murk and said, "Gods!"Malar said, "What?" concern obvious in his tone."Look at this mess."
"Sir, it's a sewer," replied Malar, irritation in his voice."I know that. But look at the walls and the water."Malar saw then what Jimmy meant. While expecting moss-coveredstones and brackish water, he didn't expect to see every surface coveredin soot. He glanced at his own hands and said, "Sir, I think we mustbathe once we get above, else we shall surely be noticed."
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Jimmy glanced at his servant and said, "If I've scratched my chin asmuch as you, it is certain I look like a chimney sweep."Malar said, "You're filthy, sir."
Jimmy said, "Well, no one said this would be easy."As he set off, he heard Malar mutter, "No one said it would be impossible,either."
Dash nodded and Gustaf jumped. He landed behind the big stonethey were attempting to move, and ducked out of sight of the guards. Heheld a piece of broken crockery he had secreted in his shirt two days beforeand quickly sawed at a key rope in the net used to haul the stones.The rope net was a clever device that could be placed around theOnce
stone, fitted under the corners as men used levers to raise them.hoisted aloft, a quick pass of two ropes beneath the stone put on a secondlifting net, and once above the intended destination, the two ropes wereremoved, and the stone lowered a few inches as the webbing loosened,dropping the stone. Dash knew a practiced crew of stone masons coulddo this with a tolerance of a mere fraction of an inch. With Dash's crew,they were happy to get the stone within an inch of ideal tolerance. Theonly masons in Krondor were Duko's engineers, and there was a severelanguage problem with most of the workers.
Gustaf stepped around from behind the stone, nodding to Dash.Haul away," he shouted.
Dash stepped back as two men readied the ropes to be passed underthe stone, and watched. The stone lifted two feet in the air, then suddenlytilted as a loud snap sounded. The strand Gustaf had cut had parted, andnow the stone hung a few feet off the ground, spinning slowly. The twowith the support ropes backed away.
en
"Get it down!" shouted a voice from below, and suddenly the rockwas dropped.
"No!" said the foreman, too late, as men who should have slowlylowered the stone released the rope. Instead of settling quietly to the ledge,the rock bounced a bit then teetered, as Dash had hoped, then slowlystarted to fall
"Look out!" cried a man near Dash as men started scrambling out ofthe way.
"Come on," Dash said to Gustaf as confusion erupted.They hurried past a guard standing still in fascination as the rock slidoutward, overhanging the parapet, slowly moving to balance a momentin the air, then start its dramatic fall to the cobbles below.Dash, Gustaf, and some other men hurried down a flight of stone
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steps, as if intent on helping those below. But at the base of the wan, Dashmoved quickly to his right, into what appeared to be a slight gap in thestones. The others ducked into the gap after him.
The ancient wall of Krondor was hollow in places, storage sheds usedto house grain, water, and weapons against siege. Many of the old storagerooms had been used during the last war, but several had been left empty,like these along the easternmost wall.
Dash had waited a week to find this one, an ideal exit from captivityif he had judged correctly. Either there was a sewer entrance here, or apassage to another abandoned storage area that had one. The only dangerwould be if they were caught ducking into this room, or if the passage tothe next room was blocked by fallen masonry. They would be missed atthe head count done each meal break and that was only an hour off.In the gloom, it was difficult to find the entrance, but Dash managed.Below a heavy layer of ash and dust lay a wooden pallet, used to keepgrain off the damp stones. Below that was a man-sized hole, covered witha simple iron grate. Dash whispered, "Give me a hand," and two othermen stooped next to him.
In the faint light coming in through the broken wall, Dash could makeout the profiles of Gustaf and Talwin. Gustaf was what he appeared tobe, but Talwin had Dash concerned. Yet here he was risking broken fingersto get the grating up, without any hint of betrayal.The grate came up and was moved out of the way. Dash started tolower himself down, and said, "It's going to be difficult, dropping intothe dark, but you should hit water about seven, eight feet below you, soexpect that. Face the same way I am and move to your right. You won'tsee a thing, but I know my way around down there."He let go, which was among the most courageous acts of his life, asevery fiber of his being screamed to hang onto the stone and not fall intodarkness. For a brief instant it felt as if he had made some terrible misjudgment,for it seemed as if he fell through blackness for a long time, yetonly a moment after letting go his feet struck water. He bent his kneesand hit the stones under the water and lost his balance. He fell forward,his head going completely under the foul water, and he came up, blowinghard to keep anything in that sewer out of his nose and mouth. His grandfatherhad warned him about that, claiming that many thieves had fallenin the sewer only to later sicken and die from it.He quickly stepped to his right, and a moment later another man fellthrough the hole into the darkness. "Here," said Dash, and the manmoved toward him in the blackness.
Then two other men came through, and Dash said, "Who's here?"
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I
"Gustaf," said the second man down.
"Talwin," said the next voice.
"Reese," said the third, and Dash remembered the tall quiet man withwhom Talwin spoke from time to time. "I saw you three move ahd tookthe moment. No sense standing around like sheep."Dash doubted that; he was certain Talwin had alerted Reese somethingwas afoot, but he didn't care to debate that now. "Good," he saidaloud. "We can use all the help we can getting,, out of here.""Now what?" said Gustaf. "We're in the darkest pit I've seen andthe foulest smelling, and what are we to do next?"Dash said, "This is part of the old sewer under the wall. If we keepmoving back toward the city center, we'll find a way out of Krondor.""Why not just move away from the city if we're under the wall?"asked Reese.
,,Because this"-Dash's hand struck the stone next to which hestood-"is the outer limit of the sewer. To get on the other side of thewall you better be able to chew rock."
,,Damn," said Gustaf. "I thought we'd slip out under the wall orsomething when you told me of the sewers."
"They never connected the sewer in the foulbourgh with the innercity. It would make it too easy for an invader to slip in." Dash muttered,"AS it is, a good crew of sappers could still get in within weeks if theyknew this was here. There's one breach to the other side of this wall, butwe must go into the city to eventually get there.""Well, which way do we go?" asked Talwin.
Glancing up at the faint light of the hole above, Dash oriented himself."Get over here."
The men gathered near him. "Gustaf, put your right hand on my rightshoulder." He felt the mercenary's strong hand take a grip of his tunic."Talwin, do the same to Gustaf, and Reese bring up the rear. Listen formy instructions." Dash put his right hand on the wall and said, "Let'sgo, slowly. And if you lose your grip, sing out."They moved off into the gloom.
Jimmy turned suddenly and put his hand over Malar's mouth as helet the torch fall to the stone walkway next to the sewer. As he hoped,the torch began to fail and flicker, allowing Jimmy to step on it, puttingout the light. Malar had the presence of mind not to be too shocked bythe move, and he endured standing there with Jimmy's hand over hismouth.
When Jimmy removed it, Malar heard what Jimmy had, men moving
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cautiously down another tunnel, nearby. Whispering as quietly as possible,Jimmy said, "Someone's coming."
Malar nodded.
They stood motionless, listening to the faint sound of men movingslowly. Then one spoke. His voice was muffled and distant and nothingof what was said came through, but Jimmy would have bet a purse ofgold they were invaders on patrol. Something about the quality of thespeech hinted at an accent. They waited until the sound died out, as thestrangers moved away.
Jimmy knelt and felt around in the dark until he located the torch. Itwas still hot to the touch. He struck a spark with flint and got the flamegoing again and said, "We may have to lose this if we run into anotherpatrol. "
"You mean walk around down here blind!" said Malar, obviouslyupset at the thought.
"I know my way around here pretty well," said Jimmy, expressing aconfidence he didn't feel. "Besides, if we're apprehended by the invaders,we're either dead men or prisoners, and I'd rather take my chances retracingour route back to the other side of the wall than those twochoices."
"Agreed, yet your words fill me with little confidence, young sir."Jimmy said nothing, but glanced around the corner, making sure thatno one had quietly snuck up on them. "This way," he said, leading Malartoward a large yawning tunnel entrance that opened up across from wherethey stood. This required them to step down into the filthy water. Theyslogged through the slowly moving mass of floating char, and less savorydebris, and entered the blackness.
Dash felt fingers dig into his shoulder as the sound of men echoedfrom a distance. In the blackness they couldn't tell from which quarterthe sound originated. Nerves were frayed and Dash was concerned oneof the three men would panic. Gustaf seemed solid, if nervous, Talwinwas quiet, but Reese was given to blurting out pointless things, eitherquestioning how much farther they'd have to move in the gloom, or expressinghis apprehensions.
There were places along the way where light came down from above,faint cracks in the street above, or a broken culvert admitting some illumination.Dash was always surprised how bright these areas looked afterCOMPlete darkness, but knew it was an illusion. He could only see a dozenyards or so on either side of a source of light, and once past, they fenback into a gloom darker than any night he had endured.
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I
The first place he had hoped to find some torches or a lantern accordingto his grandfather's description had provided no secret cache ofuseful items. If there had been a secret stone in the corner he couldn'tfind it. Not the least bit immodest, Dash knew it wasn't there, for if ithad been, he would have found it.
The second location was already empty. Someone had emptied it.Dash didn't know if it had been stripped of its contents during the fall ofthe city or days, even hours before he reached it.He was leading the men northward as much as he could, knowing hisbest chance for escape was around the area formerly known as Fishtown.it was one of the few places in Krondor you could enter the bay and witha little swimming find yourself outside the walls of the city. Dash didn'tknow if the other men could swim, and for the most part he didn't care.While he wanted to see these three men to safety if possible, he'd willinglysell them out to get his information back to the Prince.Keeping one hand on the wall, he led them deeper into the darkness.
Jimmy motioned toward the faint light. Malar nodded, whispering,"A way out, young sir.
"Perhaps. Boost me up on your shoulders so I can take a look."Malar knelt, and when Jimmy put his left boot on the servant's shoulders,Malar stood, grabbing Jimmy's ankles to support him as he was liftedto a point just below the light. Jimmy fought for balance a moment, butMalar kept his motion steady, and Jimmy kept his position as he grabbeda support in the floor above him to keep from falling."Great!" said Jimmy. "It's a cellar door, off its hinges." Jimmy gothis fingers in the crack and pushed. "I can't get any leverage." He said,"Let go," and as Malar complied, Jimmy jumped down to stand beforehis servant. "No way to get it open."
',Are there no stairs in this accursed dungeon?"Jimmy chuckled. "Hardly a dungeon; a maze, no doubt. But you'reright and I'm an idiot." He sighed theatrically. "There are several placeswith stone steps up to basements." He looked around in the gloom, barelyilluminated by the faint flickering of his torch. "If I'm not mistaken, oneisn't too far from here. Pray to whatever gods you worship that the topof the steps is unblocked."
Malar muttered an almost silent benediction and followed behindJimmy.
Dash heard something ahead of him in the dark and whisper"Don't move!"
I
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The men behind him stopped their forward motion as sounds around
them echoed. "What is-" began Talwin.
He never finished as Reese struck him from behind, knocking himfrom his feet. "Here!" he shouted.
Suddenly men were swarming in the dark and lanterns uncovered,blinding Dash momentarily. He blinked trying to see beyond the brilliantlights, but could only see dark shapes hurrying toward him. Thinking ofnothing else to do, he leaped forward, trying to dodge between two of theshapes. One man lunged at him, missing, while the other was slow inturning, with Dash past him before he could be intercepted.Dash slogged as quickly through the knee-deep water as he could, andbehind a pair of lanterns he saw movement. Dodging to his right, herushed to another potential exit as arms grabbed him from behind, dragginghim down into the water.
Dash turned, kicking hard, and felt his foot strike the man's leg. Dashscuttled backwards in the water, and another man seized him. A voice inthe gloom said, "They're making too much noise! Shut them up!"Dash felt pain for a brief moment as someone struck him hard behindthe ear with a billy club, then he sank into unconsciousness.
Jimmy pushed the trap up and with relief he found that it moved. Heglanced around under the slight opening he created, and seeing no movement,he heaved. The large wooden trap swung over, to crash noisilyagainst the floor behind him. He hurried up into the dark room as a cloudof soot exploded into the air from the trap.
Malar sneezed as he came up. The room was the back storage areaof a tannery near the river to the north of the city, and it had taken Jimmymost of the day and into the evening to discover it.The roof of the building was gone, probably accounting for its beingabandoned, as the nights would still be cold. Jimmy looked around andsaw\* lights in a few buildings nearby, but nothing close by. Malar couldbe seen in the faint light inside the building. "If I'm as dirty as you, we'dbetter stay out of sight."
"Good advice, young sir," agreed the servant. "You are dirtier thana coal seller. One glance at us, and any fool could tell we had been somewherewe should not be."
A sound caused Jimmy to hold up his hand. "What-"At once he pulled his sword, as men came swarming into the room,over the burned-out wall and through the single door. Only a fool wouldfight, as more than a dozen swords were leveled in their direction. Jimmy
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made a clear gesture of letting the sword fall from his hand as he steppedback.
Hands roughly grabbed him and tied his arms behind, while two mendid the same to Malar. They all wore rough fighting garb, leather, andgambesons, but no metal armor, which would make noise and warn awaysomeone coming up through the trapdoor.
With a heavy accent, a man came to stand before the two and said,"Watch a rat hole long enough, and a rat peers out, eh?" Glancing atMalar, he said, "Or two." To the men he said, "Bring them along," andJimmy and Malar were hustled out the door and down the street.
Dash waited in silence. He had recovered his wits as he was taken towhat he presumed had once been an underground storage shed. Therewas no light. He had explored his environment by touch and on a coupleof occasions wished he hadn't.
It was a roughly twelve-by-twelve-foot room, with a single door barredfrom the other side. He felt up and down both edges, but all hinges andlocks were on the other side. He was inside until someone released him.From the stench, several rodents had recently died in the room. Had heeaten in the last two days, he probably would have added to the mess,but his captors would have to be satisfied with subjecting him to a fit ofthe dry heaves.
After several painful minutes of gagging, he had managed to overcomethe impulse. Now, about two hours later, he judged, he barely noticed theodor unless he thought about it.
Mostly he was attempting to chart his best possible course. That hewas in this dark room rather than being hauled before one of GeneralDuko's officers suggested to Dash that he was a prisoner of someonebesides the invaders. The first possibility to occur to him was that he hadbeen captured by Kingdom soldiers, hiding from the invaders. If so, hecould quickly identify himself and recruit them.More likely, he was in the clutches of outlaws, and in that case, hewould have to bargain. His companions were missing, probably lockedaway in a similar room somewhere nearby.
Suddenly light shone around the edges of the door and he could hearfootfalls approaching. As bright as the light seemed through the cracks,when the door was opened, it blinded him. A voice from without said,"You awake?"
"Yes," said Dash, finding his voice was harsh from dryness. "Anychance of water?"
"Let's see if we let you live, first," came the gruff answer.
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
I
A pair of hands reached in and yanked Dash to his feet, and he waspulled into a larger room. Shielding his eyes from the glare of the lantern,he glanced around the room. It was indeed the basement of a burned-out
inn or hotel, and he had been locked in a storage closet. There were amplesigns of life in the building, for crates and bales of goods were stackedaround the room.
A half dozen men surrounded him, none with weapons evident. Itwas obvious they felt confident enough that they could keep him fromescaping. As he blinked against the light from the lantern, he noticed thatone man did hold a large billy, and he was sure he would use it if Dashmade any sign of attempting to flee.
c 'What now?" said Dash.
"Come along," said the man with a lumpy visage.Dash said nothing and followed, walking behind two men, with twomore guarding the rear. The last man stayed in the storage room, for whatreason Dash could only imagine.
Dash was led down a long dark tunnel, one with a lantern at eachend, featureless and damp. He listened, but only heard the sound of bootleather and nails on stone. If they were close to the city streets above,those streets were deserted.
The man in front pushed open a door, allowing the others to enter avery large room. It had a dozen torches guttering in sconces. A woodentable, not too badly charred, had been hauled down from the destroyedtavern aboveground and now served as the site of what Dash took to besome sort of court or tribunal.
At the head of the long table sat an old man. He looked deformed,or crippled, as he hunched over with left shoulder lower than the right,his left arm in a sling. Around his head he wore a scarf, covering his lefteye. Below it, Dash saw the man's face was scarred, badly burned. Ayoung woman stood to his right. Dash looked at her closely. Under othercircumstances she would have warranted a second glance, as she was tall,slender, and under the soot and mud, still attractive, with dark hair andeyes. But in these circumstances, what commanded Dash's attention washer fashion-dressed like a man and armed to the teeth; he saw a sword,daggers in belt and boots, and he was certain she had more weaponssecreted on her, such being the practice of thieves. She wore a dirty whiteshirt, now almost charcoal color, a leather vest, men's riding breeches,and a red scarf tied around her head. Dark hair fell from under the scarf,and down her back.
With a surprisingly deep voice, she said, "You stand accused."Dash summoned as much confidence as he could manage in such
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
circumstances and said, "No doubt."
The lumpy-faced man said, "Before you're convicted, have you anythingto say in your defense?"
Dash shrugged. "Would it do any good?"
The old man chuckled and the man who had first apprehended Dashglanced his way. "Probably not," he said, "but it won't hurt.""May I first inquire of what crime I'm being accused?"The lumpy-faced man again glanced at the old man, who waved acurt gesture of permission. "You stand accused of trespass. You werefound someplace you were not given permission to pass."Dash blew out a long breath. "So that's it, then. Mockers."The young woman glanced at the old man, who motioned with hisgood hand for her to come close. He whispered in her ear, and she said,0 you us ves, py"
Because smugglers would have cut my throat and been on their way,and Duko's guards would have had me under questioning up there." Hepointed upward. "You've separated me from my companions, whichmeans you're trying to find conflicts in our stories, and one of my companionsbrought you down on us; Reese seems more likely to be a thiefthan anything else I can imagine." Glancing around the room, he said,"So this is what's left of Mother's?"
The old man said something, and the woman said, "What do youknow of Mother's? You're not one of us."
"My grandfather," said Dash, knowing that at this point he had nothingto lose and everything to gain with the truth."What about him? Who is your grandfather?"
"Was," said Dash. "My grandfather was Jimmy the Hand."Several people spoke at once, and the old man signaled for silence.The young woman leaned over and then repeated his words. "Yourname?))
"Dashel Jamison. My father is Arutha, Duke of Krondor."Without waiting, the girl said, "So you've come spying for the King."Dash attempted a grin. "Well, the Prince, actually. But yes, I'm hereto scout out Duko's defenses, so that Patrick can retake Krondor."The old man waved a badly burned hand and spoke to the woman,who said, "Come closer, Puppy."
Dash did as he was told and came to stand before the old man andthe young woman. The old man's one good eye studied Dash's face fora long moment as the woman held a lantern close to it, so every detailcould be seen.
Finally, the old man spoke loud enough for all to hear. "Leave us."His voice sounded close to ruined, dry gravel being scraped, a strangledsound.
Everyone but the woman did, instantly and without hesitation, andthe old man said, "Well, then. It is a small world, boy."Dash leaned over to study the burned features before him and he said,"Do I know you, sir?"
"No," said the old man slowly, as if every word hurt. "But I knowyou by name and lineage, Dashel, son of Arutha.""Am I to know your name, sir?"
The woman glanced at the old man, but his one good eye stayedfastened upon Dash. "I'm your great-uncle, boy, that's who I am. I'm theUpright Man."
Fire
ARUTHA' FROWNED.
Pug stood at the door studying the Duke of Krondor a moment, beforehe said softly, "May I speak with you a moment?"Arutha glanced upward and waved him in. "Grandfather. Please."you appear distracted," said Pug, sitting in a chair across a largeoak table Arutha used for work.
i was."
"jimmy and Dash?"
Arutha nodded as he looked out a window at the warm spring afternoon.His eyes narrowed. They were deep sunk and had dark bags underneath,revealing the lack of sleep that had plagued him since sendinghis sons into harm's way. There was grey in Arutha's hair; Pug hadn'tseen so much just a month before.
Arutha looked at Pug and said, "You needed to see me"We have a problem."
Arutha nodded. "We have many. Which particular one are we discussing?""
Patrick."
Arutha stood and moved around the table to the door and glancedthrough. A pair of clerks outside were hunched over documents, reviewingreports and requests for supplies, lost in their work.Arutha closed the door. He returned to his seat and said, "What doYOU propose?"
"I propose you send a message to the King."
"And?" Arutha looked directly into the magician's eyes."I think we need another commander in the West."Arutha sighed, and in that moment Pug could hear the fatigue, stress,worry, and doubt in the man, expressed in as eloquent a fashion as if anorator had spoken for an hour. Pug instantly knew the outcome of thisdiscussion before Arutha said another word. Yet he allowed the Duke tocontinue. "History teaches us that we often do not get the best men for aparticular job. It also teaches us that if the rest of us do ours, we'll somehowmanage."
Pug leaned forward and said, "We are this close"-he held forefingerand thumb apart a scant portion of an inch-"to war with Great Kesh.Don't you think it proper to finish the one we have before we start an
other?"
"What I think is immaterial," said Arutha. "I counsel the Prince, butit's his realm. I'm only allowed to manage it for him."Pug remained silent and stared at Arutha a long moment.Suddenly Arutha allowed his temper to get the better of him, slamminghis hand down on the table. "I am not my father, damn it!"Pug remained silent for another moment, then said, "I never said youwere ... or that you should be."
"No, but you were thinking, 'How would James have dealt withthis?' "
Pug said, "It was your mother that read minds, Arutha, not I."Arutha leaned forward. "You're my grandfather, yet I hardly knowyou." He glanced upward toward the ceiling, as if collecting his thoughts,then said, "And that means you hardly know me.""You were raised on the other side of the Kingdom, Arutha. We saweach other from time to time . . ."
Arutha said, "It's difficult growing up surrounded on all sides by legends.Did you know that?"
Pug shrugged. "I am not sure."
Arutha said, "My father was 'Jimmy the Hand,' the thief who becamethe most powerful noble in the Kingdom. I was named for the man whois almost unarguably the most brilliant ruler the Western Realm hasknown.
"The King and I have discussed what it's like to be the sons of suchmen, on several occasions." He pointed his finger at the magician andsaid, "And you ... you look like my son. You look younger now thanYou did when I was a child. You're turning into a figure of mystery andfear, Grandfather. 'Pug, the Eternal Sorcerer!' The man who saved usduring the Riftwar."
Arutha stopped, weighed his words, and said, "Borric, before he becameKing, once told me that our roles would be far different than ourfathers'. Arutha had been thrust into command in Crydee, a situationdemanding action without hesitation, without doubt."Father was the brash boy who saved Arutha, then became his mosttrusted adviser and friend. Between the two of them there was always ananswer.
Pug laughed, and it wasn't a mocking laugh. "I'm sure they wouldargue they had their share of doubts and mistakes, Arutha.""Perhaps, but the results were there. As a child I grew up hearing thestories in Rillanon, tales told to entertain the eastern nobles who had neverseen Krondor, let alone the Far Coast. How Prince Arutha had savedCrydee from the Tsurani host, and had journeyed to Krondor where hefound Princess Anita. How father had helped smuggle them both fromthe city, then later helped get Earl Kasumi to see the King."Arutha became more reflective. "I heard the story of the renegademoredhel, and the rogue magician from Kelewan, and I was told of theattack on the Tear of the Gods. I heard of the Crawler and his attempt totake over the Mockers, and the other stories of Father's more recklessyouth." He looked at Pug. "I wasn't a noble reading dry reports, but aboy hearing tales from his father."
Pug said "What are you telling me? That you don't feel equal to the
i
I
task?"
"No man can be equal to the task of putting the Kingdom right,Grandfather." He narrowed his gaze. "Not even you."Pug took a deep breath, then relaxed. "So Patrick won't give up Stardock?""
He wants it all back, Grandfather. He wants this city rebuilt in hislifetime to a glory beyond what it was before. He wants Kesh completelyout of the vale. He wants the Bitter Sea cleared of Quegan raiders andKeshian pirates, and when Borric finally dies, Patrick wants to go to Rillanonto take the Crown, to be known as the greatest Prince in the historyof the West."
Softly Pug said, "Save us from monarchs with vanity.""Not vanity, Pug. Fear."
Pug nodded. "Young men often fear failure."
"I understand his fear," said Arutha. "Maybe if I had been given adifferent name, George or Harry, Jack or Robert, but no; I was namedfor the man Father admired above all others."
"Prince Arutha was a very admirable man. Of all the men I've known,he was among the most gifted."
"A fact of which I'm painfully aware." Arutha sat back, as if seekingsome comfort. "If Arutha were still Prince, and Father still Duke, perhapsPatrick's dreams of returned glory would prove possible. As it is today. .Pug said, "What?"
"We are lesser men."
Pug's expression turned dark. "You are tired. You are tired and youare worried about the boys." He stood. "And about Patrick and the Kingdomand everything there is in this life to be worried and tired about."He leaned over the desk and said, "But know this: you are able. And aslong as you're my grandson, I will not let you forget that. The boys areMY great-grandsons. Gamina may not have been the daughter of my body,but she was the daughter of my heart, and I love all her children andgrandchildren none the less for this." He reached across the table and puthis hand on Arutha's shoulder. "Especially you."Moisture came unbidden to Arutha's eyes. "Me?"Softly Pug said, "You may not be as much like your father as youwould wish, but you are more like your mother than you'll ever know."He removed his hand and turned to go. "I'll leave you. Rest, and dinewith me tonight when you've had a chance to refresh yourself." Hereached the door and said, "Try not to worry too much about the boys.I am sure they are safe."
He opened the door and left, closing it behind him. Arutha, Duke ofKrondor, sat silently and thought about what his grandfather had just saidto him. At last he allowed himself the luxury of a long sigh, then turnedto the work still before him. Perhaps he would take th-e opportunity torest a bit before supper that evening. And as he regarded the report ontop of the pile, he thought, The boys are able. Grandfather is most likelyright, and the boys are safe.
Jimmy's head snapped backward as the soldier stepped through theblow. Jimmy's eyes watered from the pain and his vision turned red fora moment. His knees wobbled and he felt himself start to go, but the othertwo guards who held him kept him upright.
"All right," said the interrogator, speaking the King's Tongue with avery heavy accent. "Again." He paused. "Let's start again. Why wereyou sneaking into Krondor?"
Malar was held by another two soldiers. His nose bled and his righteye was puffy, as he had stood his turn at interrogation. Jimmy was nowvery pleased that he and Dash had told him nothing.
Jimmy shook his head to clear it, and said, "I told you. I'm a mercenaryfrom the East, and this is my dog robber. I'm looking for work.""Wrong answer," said the man, and he struck Jimmy again. JimmyCollapsed, unable to make his legs obey, and was held entirely by the twosoldiers.
Jimmy spat blood, and through rapidly swelling lips said, "What doyou want me to say?"
'Every mercenary outside the walls has been told to stay out of Krondor.If you were a freebooter you would know this." He nodded and thetwo men moved to the wall, and let jimmy slump to the floor. The manknelt, putting his own face down near Jimmy )S.The soldier was a brutish-looking fellow, with a beetle brow and thickblack hair that hung down over his shoulders. He sported a short blackbeard, and at this close quarter, Jimmy could see he bore an assortmentof scars on his neck and shoulders. The man grabbed Jimmy's hair andsaid, "Either you're a fool or you're a spy. Which is it?"Jimmy paused for dramatic effect, then slowly he said, "I came lookingfor my brother."
The soldier stood and motioned and the two other soldiers pickedJimmy up and moved him to a chair. They were gathered in a largebedroom of an inn, converted to a cell of sorts.Jimmy and Malar had been dragged there the night before and theinterrogation had started at once. For an hour they had been routinelyquestioned and beaten, then left alone. Just as they were able to relax, thedoor would open and the questioning would begin again. Jimmy knewthe oddly timed schedule was deliberate, designed to unnerve them. Despitethe overt brutality of the man questioning them, the entire processwas very well thought out and subtle. It was designed to disorient himwithout rendering him incoherent. It was a methodical approach lookingto ferret out mistakes and inconsistencies. Jimmy had fought to concentrateto the limit of his ability to prevent any such lapse. he was attemptingto turn the situation to his advantage.
One fear of his was that they already had Dash in custody. If so, theadmission he was searching for his brother might dovetail into Dash'sarrest if he was already here. In a way, it was the truth, and being thetruth, it would prove far more convincing than the most artfully concoctedlie.
"Your brother?" said the man, holding a fist cocked to deliver anotherblow. "What brother?"
~my younger brother." Jimmy leaned back in the chair, letting hileft arm hang over the chair back, keeping him upright. "We were jumpeda few miles from the city by bandits and rode toward Krondor." Hpaused for a long moment, then as the interrogator started to menace himwith his fist, he blurted, "We got separated. The bandits chased him, sowe doubled back and followed after. We dodged the bandits, as they cameback our way, so we know they didn't have him-couldn't see any leading
his horse, and it was a good horse so they'd have kept it." He swallowed."Can I have some water?" he croaked.
The man in charge nodded and one of the guards stepped out of the
room and returned a moment later with water. Jimmy drank eagerly, thennodded toward Malar. The man who had been questioning Jimmy noddedand the servant was given a cup of water to drink."Go on," instructed the interrogator.
"We checked all the camps outside. No one had seen him.""Maybe someone already cut his throat."
"Not my brother," said Jimmy.
"How do you know?" asked the interrogator.
"Because I'd know. And because whoever cut his throat would bewearing his boots if he was."
The interrogator looked down at Jimmy's feet and nodded. "Goodboots." He motioned to one of the men in the room, who ducked out andreturned a moment later holding a sack. He opened the sack and dumpedthe contents on the floor. The interrogator said, "Are these yourbrother's?"
Jimmy looked at the boots. He didn't need to pick them up. Theywere identical to Dash's: the same bootmaker in Rillanon had made themfor the brothers. Jimmy said, "In the left one you'll see the mark of thebootmaker, a small bull's head."
The man nodded. "I've seen it."
"Is my brother alive?"
The man nodded. "At least he was until two days ago. That's whenhe escaped."
Jimmy couldn't help but smile. "Escaped?"
"With three others." The man studied Jimmy a moment, then said,"Bring them." He turned and walked out of the room; Jimmy and Malarwere hurried after him, a guard on each side.
They were taken to what had been the common room of the inn, andJim \*my finally recognized where he was. He was in what was left of avery palatial inn called the Seven Gems, not too far from the heart of theMerchants' Quarters. He was a few blocks from Barret's Coffee House,where most of the major financial business of the Western Realm hadbeen conducted. Glancing around the room, Jimmy decided the inn hadsurvived relatively intact. There was ample smoke damage and all of thetapestries that had decorated the place were gone, but the furniture wasintact, and the rooms still able to be locked. He had been questioned inone of the back storage rooms, near the kitchen, and was now being ledinto the far corner of the commons, where a curtain separated a largebooth from the rest of the room.
Sitting in the booth was a trio of men, all clearly military from theirdress and manner. The man in the center was looking over a parchment,a report of some sort, Jimmy guessed. The interrogator moved to the frontof the table and leaned over, speaking in a soft voice. He glanced up atJimmy, nodded to the interrogator, who departed, leaving Jimmy standingalone with the three men. They seemed intent upon the paperwork beforethem, and left Jimmy standing for a long time before the centermost man'sattention returned to him.
"Your name?" asked the man in the center.
"I'm called Jimmy," he answered.
"Jimmy," repeated the man, as if testing the sound of the name. Hestudied Jimmy's face, and Jimmy studied his.
He was a middle-aged man, probably in his late forties or early fifties.He still looked fit, though what once had been hard muscle had beenthinned by hardships on campaign and a cold, hungry winter. He had thelook of a fighter, from his greying dark hair tied back to keep it from hisbrown eyes, to the hard set of a jaw kept clean-shaven. Something abouthim looked familiar to Jimmy, and suddenly it struck him: in manner andvoice the man resembled what he remembered of Prince Arutha fromJimmy's childhood. There was a no-nonsense hardness to him, a calculatingintelligence that would be fatal to underestimate.The man said, "You are a spy, of that I am almost certain." He spokethe King's Tongue, but his accent was slight.
Jimmy said nothing.
"But the issue here is are you a bad spy or a terribly clever one." Hesighed, as if thinking on this. "Your brother, if that is really who he is,was a far better spy than I had thought. I had him under observation, yethe managed to escape. We knew of the sewers under the walls, yet didn'tknow of that particular entrance. Once he was in there, he was gone."The soldier looked at Jimmy, as if measuring him, then said, "I won'tmake that mistake again." He reached for a mug nearby and drank whatappeared to be water. Jimmy was impressed by the man's speech, for evenwith almost no accent, it was clear he had studied the language, for hespoke with the practiced precision of someone not born to the tongue.He then said, "I have determined that those boots which you claimbelong to your brother are made by a particularly well-regarded cobblerin Rillanon, your nation's capital. Is this correct?"Jimmy nodded. "It is."
"Would it be unreasonable to assume that common mercenaries arenot likely to acquire a matching set of such boots unless they are not, infact, common mercenaries?"
"Not unreasonable at all," said Jimmy. The man speaking to himmotioned to one of his two companions, who left the booth, fettchheendsoavide,ra chair, and allowed Jimmy to sit. Jimmy nodded his thanks,"Would it be immodest to claim we are uncommon mercenaries?""Not in the least," said the man. "Though it would smack of insincerity.
Jimmy said, "I am at your mercy. If I'm a spy or notYou can kill me at your whim." is of little matter."True, but murder holds little appeal for me. I've seen far too muchof it over the last twenty years." He motioned to the remaining man whosat at his side, and the man rose from his seat and offered Jimmy a mug
of water. "I'm sorry we don't have anything more flavorful, but at leastit's clean. One of the major wells to the north has been cleared and isrunning fresh again. Your Duke James left nothing behind that providesmuch comfort."
Jimmy feigned indifference to hearing his grandfather's name. This
invader was very well informed about things in Krondor and the Kingdomto know about Duke James and Rillanon's better bootmaker."But we manage," said the man. "Feeding the workers is difficult,
but the fishing has been good and there are those willing to sell to us forthe little booty we've found in Krondor."
Jimmy was intrigued. He was also wary. This man was apparentlyunconcerned by what he said, and appeared to be someone of some imPortance
among the invaders.
The man stood and said, "Can you walk?"
Jimmy rose and nodded. "I'll manage."
"Good. Then come with me."
Jimmy followed the man out of the door of the inn. Outside the afternoonsun was brilliant and Jimmy squinted. "We must walk, I'm sorryto say. Horses are a staple of our current diet." He glanced at Jimmy.
"Though a few are maintained to carry messages."They walked along a busy street. While almost every man was armed
and obviously a warrior, a few were workers and a few women were seenhere and there. Everyone seemed occupied with some task, and none of
the usual idle habitues of the city were in evidence: the drunks, prostitutes,confidence men, and beggars. Also noticeable by their absence, the streeturchins who flocked in rowdy ga s thr
ters of the city.
~t
^It> xiLL&I, Luc PO( and workers) quar
If I may ask," said Jimmy, "where's my dog robber?""He's comfortable," said the man. "Don't worry about him."
I
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
The man who was walking beside him said, "jimmy, if you are a spy,you're most likely wondering what it is we're doing here in Krondor."Jimmy said, "It is a question that has crossed my mind. I may not bea spy, but it's obvious there's more going on here than a simple stagingfor a spring offensive. You've got soldiers on the outside of the wallsanxious to enlist and you're not enlisting them. You have a great deal ofwork underway, but some of it"-he pointed to a nearby building wheretwo soldiers were hanging a new door-"clearly not military in nature.It's as if you've come to Krondor to stay."
The man smiled, and again Jimmy was reminded of the old Prince,for this man had the same cryptic half-smile Arutha had evidenced whenamused. "Good observation. Yes, we're not planning on leaving anytimesoon."
Jimmy nodded, his head still ringing from the beating he had taken.He said, "But you're turning away swords who will help you hang on tothis place when the Prince's army returns."
"How many spies are among that band outside?" asked the man."I couldn't begin to guess." Jimmy shrugged. "Not many, I wager."tg"y?~)
"Because no man of the Kingdom can pass himself off as one of yourown. We don't speak your language.?)
"Ah," said the officer, "but you have. Some of your countrymen havebeen among us for years. We first became of aware of a group callingitself 'Calis's Crimson Eagles' before the fall of Maharta. We now knowthey were Kingdom agents. We know they were with us from time totime." They reached the walls and the man motioned for Jimmy to climbwith him up a flight of stairs to the ramparts.As they climbed, the man continued. "We who were commandingnever had a clear picture of this campaign. To understand what we became,you need to know what we were before." They reached the rampartsand the man motioned for Jimmy to follow.
p They reached a sectionof the wall freshly refurbished, the stones set firmly in place with newmortar. The man motioned beyond the wall, toward the east. "Out thereis a nation, your Kingdom." He turned to regard Jimmy. "In my homelandwe have no such nations. There were city-states, ruled by men whowere petty or noble, who were acquisitive or generous, wise or foolish.But no ruler's power existed beyond a week's ride by his soldiers." Hemotioned toward Jimmy. "You people have this thing in your mind. Thisidea of a nation. ivd b
it is an idea I am most intrigued by, even captivated bY.The notion that men who live more than a month's travel from a ruler
swear to that ruler, are willing to die for that ruler-" He stopped himself."No, not the ruler, this nation. Now this is an amazing idea."I have spent much time this winter speaking with those among ourprisoners who could teach me, men and women of some education oexperience, who would help me understand this concept of this Kingdom."He shook his head. "It is a grand thing, this nation of yours."Jimmy shrugged. "We tend to take it for granted.""I understand, for you have never known otherwise." The man lookedout over the wall. Below was a sea of tents and makeshift shelters, campfiresand the sounds of humanity, laughter, shouts of anger, the voices ofpeddlers, a child crying. "But to me the notion of something larger thanwhat I can take and hold-for my employer or for myself-that is a wondrousnotion."
The wind blew and the afternoon smelled of salt and charcoal. Theman said, "Tell me, why is this city built here?" He glanced westward."If there is a worse harbor in the world, I've not seen it."Jimmy shrugged. "The story says the first Prince of Krondor liked theview of the sunset from the hill upon which the palace was built.""Princes," said the man, shaking his head. He sighed loudly. "Weare dredging that terrible harbor. We have found those who call themselves 'Wreckers' and they are using their magic to raise hulks for us. Wemanage one every three days, and will have the harbor cleared before nextwinter."
Jimmy said nothing.
"We know you marshal what's left of your fleet down in ShandonBay, in the village you call Port Vykor. We have no fleet, but we willhave ships, and we will hold the city."
Jimmy shrugged. "May I ask why?"
"Because we have nowhere else to go."
Jimmy looked at the man and said, "If there was a way back to yourhome ... ?'
"There is nothing there." He glanced toward the east. "There is myfuture, one way or another." Then he looked toward the west. "Out thereis a land ravaged by over twenty years of war. No city of size remains.Those few that do are small backwaters, barely more prosperous in theirglory than Krondor is now in her ashes. They are city-states of tiny menwith no sense of the future. One day is much like the next."He turned toward Jimmy and studied him a long time. "I'm fifty-twoyears old next Midsummer's Day, lad. I've been a soldier since I wassixteen years of age. For thirty-six years I've been fighting." He glancedat the city as the sun began to lower in the west. "That's a damn longtime to be dealing in blood and slaughter." He leaned on the parapet asif tired. "For the last twenty I've served demons or black gods, I don'tknow which, but I know that the Army of the Emerald Queen was madeup of men beguiled by dark forces, lured by promises of wealth, powerand immortality." His voice lowered. "Or propelled by fear." He looked,down, as if reluctant to look Jimmy in the eyes. "I was ambitious whenI was young. I was anxious to make a name for myself. I formed my owncompany when I was eighteen. I was commanding a thousand men bytwenty.
"At first I was glad to serve the Emerald Queen. Her army was thegreatest my land had known. With conquest came booty, gold, women,more recruits." He closed his eyes as if remembering. "But after a whilethe years slip by and you find the string of women hold no interest, andthere's only so much gold you can carry with you. Besides, there's nothingto do with it but hire more men."
He looked at Jimmy and pointed with his thumb over his shoulder,to the north. "My old friend Nordan is up there, at my back. If I knowFadawah, I am to be left here to be ground to a fine dust by the returningarmy of the Prince of Krondor. I am to slow him down and bleed him,while Noradan builds up a barrier across the highway to the north of here,to stand at Sarth." He glanced over his shoulder, as if somehow able tosee to that distant town. "That's a hell of a defensive position, that abandonedabbey. Once he's dug in, it will take your Prince all year to dighim out."
Looking again at Jimmy, he said, "Meanwhile, Fadawah is going totake your city of LaMut. He won't go on to Yabon this year, being contentto throw up a position south of that city and starve it for a year. He hasthe means to keep reinforcements and supplies from reaching the citywhile he repulses your forces from the south."Jimmy said, ""y are you telling me this?"
"Spy or not, I want you to carry a message for me to the Prince. Ibelieve he's still in Darkmoor, but have no doubt he has forces no morethan a day's ride to the east. I'll arrange an escort to a likely point andturn you loose."
"Why not just send a message
"Because I think you are a spy and I think you're likely to be believed.If I send one of my own men, or a captive who wasn't known to thePrince or his men, I think it might take too long to convince him of myintent. And time is a commodity neither of us has."Jimmy said, "You're General Duko."
The man nodded. "And I've been sent out by one of my oldest comrades to die. Fadawah and I have served in various campaigns together
since we were hardly old enough to shave. But he fears me, and that'smy death warrant."
"What do you want me to say to Prince Patrick?""I have an offer for him."
"what's the offer?"
"I wish to negotiate a settlement of our differences.""You're willing to surrender?"
"Nothing that simple, I'm afraid." The General smiled a half-smilethat Jimmy found both reassuring and unsettling. "Patrick would likelythrow me and my men into a camp and get around to shipping us backto Novindus when he found the means, and that could be years down theroad. "
"You're turning coat?"
"Not quite. Surrender or take his gold for service, either way I endup a man looking for a boat back to a land that has no place for me. No,Jimmy, I need a different solution. I need a future, for me and my men.""What do you wish me to tell the Prince's men?""Tell them that I have handpicked the men with me here in Krondor.Tell them those I had reservations about were left behind with Noradan.I can vouch for my men." He looked into Jimmy's eyes a moment. "Tellyour Prince of Krondor I will swear fealty to the crown, in exchange forland and tides. Grant me estates and income, and I will lead the armynorth to visit with my old friends Noradan and Fadawah."Jimmy was silent for a moment. He was both astonished at the suggestionand amazed at the logic behind it. He shook his head. "I don'tknow what he will say."
"If we knew what he would say, we wouldn't have to send you, now,would we?"
Jimmy shook his head.
"Come, get something to eat, and leave at first light." He led Jimmydown the stairs.
Jimmy watched the man's back and considered what he wanted. In asingle breath he had set a price: forgive the assault on the Western Realm,and more, grant the man a patent of nobility, name him Earl or Baron ofsome lands in the West, and give him the power to rule over those lands.Jimmy shook his head. Would Patrick do it, or would his temper doommen on both sides of the wall to more useless bloodshed?
Dash sipped at the watery soup and said, "So then what?""We stayed in that basement a week or more. Hard to judge being inthe gloom all that time." The old man motioned to put aside his bowl,held in a badly deformed hand, and the young woman moved to take itbefore it fell to the floor. "Thank you, Trina," he said.His voice was as scarred as his face, but after getting used to t)e soundof it, Dash understood him well enough.
The three men who had come with Dash were still missing, and onlyDash, the old man, and the woman thief sat around the simple woodentable.
"What should I call you?" asked Dash.
"Your grandfather insisted on calling me Lysle. It was a name I hadn'tused in more score of years than I can count, but it serves. I've had somany in my life I barely know which one is truly mine.""Lysle, you were telling me about Grandfather and Grandmother.""James set fire to the oil he rigged in the sewers. We knew it wouldbe a close thing and it was. I was in the escape tunnel ahead of themand when the explosion came I shot from the mouth of the tunnel like acork from a bottle of sparkling wine. I was badly burned, as you see, andhad half my bones broken, but I'm a tough nut."The woman named Trina spoke. "And we found a healing priest whoworked on him."
"Damn near killed the man, making him do his healings over me, MYmerry band of cutthroats did. But they saved me before the poor brotherof Killian passed out from exhaustion. He squeezed a few years more oflife for me, while I set matters in Krondor right.""Grandfather and Grandmother?"
The old man shook his head. "James and Gamina were last in thetunnel, behind me. They never had a chance, boy."Dash had known his grandfather and grandmother were dead; hisgreat-grandfather Pug had said so, but upon finding the Upright Manalive, a faint hope had been rekindled in Dash. Now it was extinguishedagain, and the pain was again felt.
Lysle said, "If it is any comfort, I know they died quickly, and together "
Dash nodded. "Grandmother would never have wanted to live withouGrandfather. "
"I never knew my brother well, Dash. We had met once as youngmen, and then again a few years ago." The old man laughed, a dry
chuckle. "He put me out of business, actually, and damn near got mekilled by some of the more ambitious men in the Mockers."But those few days I spent with him and your grandmother, theywere my chance to hear the stories. I'm sure you heard most of them.
Prince Arutha and the journey to Moraline, the fall of Armengar, wherehe got the idea for that nasty fire trap that got himself killed. I heard howhe had journeyed to Kesh, during that matter with the Crawler, and whenLord Nirome had tried to depose the Empress. He told me of his rise inpower and the time he spent ruling in Rillanon."I had thought myself something of a man of some accomplishments.When my father had died, one of his most trusted lieutenants had seizedcontrol of the Mockers, naming himself the Virtuous Man. I in turn deposedhim and called myself the Sagacious Man. And I returned to thename Upright Man to signal an agreement I had with your grandfatherand create the false impression I had deposed myself with the membersof the Mockers.
"But my accomplishments pale next to those of Jimmy the Hand. Thethief who ruled in turn the two mightiest cities in the Kingdom. He whowas the most powerful noble in the nation. What a man he was."Dash nodded. "When you put it that way, I see what you mean. Tome he was Grandfather, and he had lots of wonderful stories. I sometimesforgot they were true."
The Upright Man said, "Now, the question is, what to do with you?"t'Me?'~
"You're here spying for your father. That's not a problem, in and ofitself, but the fact is you've seen me, talked to me, and letting you go isa problem."
"Would it make a difference if I swore to say nothing about you toanyone?"
The old man laughed his dry chuckle again. "Hardly. You're whoYou are, boy, and things might remain on the square between us for aWhile, but eventually, when things return to something like before aroundhere, the day will come when some Mocker will create a problem thatwill call a little too much attention to us. It happens from time to time.And then you'll find yourself wondering just where your loyalties lie, toYour Prince or your old Uncle Lysle. Considering our deep family bond,I have no doubt you'd turn me in the first chance you get."
Dash stood up. "Grandfather taught me better." He glanced at thegirl, and then at his great-uncle. "Besides, the Mockers I've seen don'texactly look a menace to the sovereignty of the nation at the moment,and then there's the small matter that we don't presently control Krondor.I I
"That's a matter of some weight, true. And it gives me pause aboutordering your death. You don't presently pose a threat. What do you thinkYou can manage for us if we help you get free and back to your father?"
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Raymond E. 'Peist
Dash said, "I can't promise anything. I don't have the authority. ButI suspect with a little conversation, I can get Father to authorize a generalpardon for any of your people who help us retake the city.""A little fighting for an amnesty?"
"Something like that. Having a few of you inside the walls at keylocations at the right time could save a lot of lives under the walls.""Well, let me think on this, and then I'll tell you what I'll do tomorrow.Get some rest and don't try to escape."
"what of my friends?"
"They're being cared for. I don't know how important they are toyou, but I'm counting on them having a little call on your loyalties, so Ican keep you in line."
Dash nodded and the old man hobbled to the door. "Trina will keepyou company for the night." Dash tried to look pleased, but the woman'sdark glare made it clear amusing byplay would be lost on her.After the door closed, Dash sat down on a pile of straw in the corner,obviously his bed for the night. A long moment of silence passed as Trinasat on the chair by the table watching him. Looking at his guard, he said,"Well, then. Do we tell one another our life stories?"Taking out her dagger, the woman began to clean her fingernails withthe point. She put her feet up on the table and said, "No, Puppy. We donot."
Sighing, Dash lay down and closed his eyes.
six
NakoR FROWNED.
He scanned the room of the warehouse in Darkmoor he was currentlyusing as a base of operations, and said, "This will not do."Sho Pi, his first disciple, said, "What, master?"Since becoming self-appointed head of the Church of Arch-Indar, Nakorhad ceased objecting to being referred to as "master" by the youngformer monk of Dala. Nakor pointed to the wagon that was being unloaded
outside his new "church," and said, "We ordered twice that.""I know," shouted the driver of the second wagon-as it pulled up."Hello, Nakor. "
"Hello, Roo! " shouted the former gambler turned high priest. "Whereis the rest of our grain?"
"This is all there is, my friend," said Rupert Avery, once the richest
man in the history of the Western Realm, now the proud owner of threewagons, three teams of horses, and an amazing debt owed him by a near-bankruptKingdom. "Most of what I can buy goes to the Prince, to feed
the soldiers. "
"But I have gold," said Nakor.
"For which I am eternally grateful, for without your patronage, Iwould be unable to buy even the meanest grain out there. My credit is
Overextended in the East, I am forced to sell my holdings there to pay offMY debts, and the money that's owed me is coming from a presentlynonexistent Western Realm."
"You seem unusually happy for a man in such dire straits," observed
"Karli is going to have another baby."
Nakor laughed. "I thought you were put off by children."
Roo smiled, his narrow face showing an almost boyish aspect as henodded. "Once I was, but when we fled Krondor and reached Darkmoor,well, that time cooped up with them almost every day, I came to learn agreat deal about my children." His smile faded and he said, "About myself,as well."
"Learning about one's self is always a good thing," observed Nakor."After you unload, come inside and I'll make us some tea.""You have tea?" asked Roo. "Where did you get it?""A gift from a woman who had hidden it from before the war. It isnot very fresh, I'm afraid, but it is tea."
"Good, I'll join you when I'm done here."
Nakor went inside the building, where another disciple was overseeinga class of students, five this time, listening to the introductory lesson onthe role of good in the universe. Nakor realized that most, if not all, werethere for the meager food his church provided after the lecture, but he wasalways hopeful someone would answer the call. So far he had recruitedfive new students, for a total of six counting Sho Pi. Given he had unilaterallydecided to create a church for one of the four greatest Gods inthe Midkemian universe, it was a very modest beginning."Any questions?" asked the disciple, who had himself heard the lecturefor the first time only a few weeks before.
Four of the students looked back with expressions showing limitedcomprehension, but one tentatively raised her hand."Yes?" asked the disciple.
"Why are you doing this?"
til^y am I doing what?" said the disciple.
Nakor stopped and listened.
"Not you, all of you. Why are you preaching this message of good?"The disciple looked at Nakor with near panic on his face. He hadnever been asked anything so basic, and the simplicity of the question wasconfounding him.
Nakor grinned. "I'll answer, but first I must know, why do you ask?"The girl shrugged. "Most who preach are servants of one of the commongods, looking for something. You seem to be asking for nothing, andI wish to know what is the catch?"
Nakor grinned. "Ah, a cynic! How wonderful. You, come with me.The rest of you, wait here and you'll eat."
The girl rose and followed.
Nakor turned as he led her into what had once been a shipping officeand now served as his personal quarters. A halfdozen sleeping mats werestrewn across the floor, and a small brazier heated a pot of water. "Whatis your name, girl?"
"Aleta," answered the young woman. "Why?"
"Because you interest me."
The girl looked Nakor up and down frankly, and said, "Well, priest,you don't interest me if you're looking for a companion."Nakor laughed. "That's funny. No, you interest me because you'recurious." He poured tea and handed her a small cup. "It's not very good,but it's hot."
She sipped at it and said, "I agree. It is not very good.""Now, about your question. I will answer you if you tell me whatbrought you here."
"I worked at an inn to the west of here before the war. It is nowashes. I almost starved during the winter. I have managed to stay alivewithout having to spread my legs or kill anyone, but I'm hungry, and yourmonk said there's to be food."
"A frank answer. Good. There will be food," said Nakor. "As to whywe do this, let me ask you a question. What is the nature of good andevil?"
The girl blinked, and Nakor studied her as she framed her reply. Sheappeared to be in her middle twenties. She had a plain face, with wide-seteyes that made her appear to be as curious as her questions showedher to be, and her nose was straight. Her mouth was full, and her chinwas strong, and the entire effect was more attractive than not, Nakordecided. She wore a heavy cloak over her dress, but Nakor had glimpsedenough of her as she had crossed the former warehouse to judge herslender, perhaps even wiry.
At last she said, "Good and evil are natures. They have no nature.They are what they are."
"Absolute?"
"What do you mean?l~
"I mean do good and evil exist in some absolute sense?""I suppose so," said the girl. "I mean, I think men do what they doand sometimes it's good and sometimes it's evil, and sometimes I'm notsure, but out there, somewhere, good and evil exist, I guess.""Good guess," said Nakor, smiling. "How would you like to staywith us?,,
"That depends," she said, skepticism clearly evident. "For what purpose?"
"
I need Smart men and women. I need people who realize that whatwe're doing is important, without taking themselves too importantly."Suddenly the girl laughed. "I've never taken myself very seriously.""Good, neither have I."
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Raymond E. 'Feist
,'What is it you're doing. "
Nakor's manner and voice turned serious. "Out there are forces beyondyour understanding. Beyond mine, too." He grinned, then returnedto a serious demeanor. "Many of those qualities many people think of asbeing 'abstractions' are truly objective entities. Do you understand me?"The girl shook her head. "I have no idea what you just said."Nakor laughed. "Very good. You are honest. Let me put it anotherway. The Good Goddess is sleeping. She is in a trance caused by evilforces. To awaken her we must do good in her name. If enough of uswork on her behalf, she will return to us and evil will be driven back intothe shadows where it belongs."
"I understand that," said Aleta.
"You don't believe it."
The former barmaid said
"I don't know. I've never been much of
one for gods and goddesses.
will fill stomach I'm willing to believe for a while."
DuL a it All.Y
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Nakor said, "If I can find you some cartwrights, would you do somethingfor me?"
'What?'
"A favor."
Roo smiled. His narrow face showed his own wry sense of humorComing to the surface. "You're setting me up, aren't you?"Nakor laughed. "Never trick a trickster."
"What is it?"
"If I can get you six cartwrights, I want you to commission a statueto be made for me."
"A statue? What for?"
"Fair enough." Nakor rose as Roo came into the office. "We'll feedyou for as long as you wish to stay here, and you'll learn to do good inthe Lady's name."
The girl departed and Roo said, "Another convert?""Perhaps," said Nakor. "Potentially. She's brighter than most."
Roo said, "Attractive, too, in a funny way. Not pretty, but attractive."Nakor grinned. "I know."
Roo sat and Nakor offered him a cup of tea. "Sorry the order is short,but everyone is being shorted right now. I just finished a shouting matchwith Prince Patrick's quartermaster. The army is ready to march, but theylack stores and I can't promise as much as I've already brought from theEast, let alone what they want." He sipped at the hot liquid and said,"Not good, but it'll do." Putting the cup down, he continued, "I can'teven find wagons. I could bring more if I could get wagons, but most ofthe cartrights in Salador are building for the army. If Patrick wouldconvince the King to let me have his wagons, I could deliver them stockedwith goods, but they're bringing more equipment-arms, saddles, blankets,and the like."
Nakor nodded. "You need to get your businesses here back up andrunning."
Roo laughed. "If only I could."
"What about building wagons here?"
"No cartrights. I know a little about keeping them-I was raised ateamster, after all-but not about building one. I know a little carpentry,but I don't know the metal work, and turning a wheel is a special skill."
"I'll tell you after I get the men. Will you do it?"A calculating look crossed Roo's face, and he said, "Make it six cartwrights,a master smith, and three lumbermen, and I'll commission twostatues. "
"Done," said Nakor, slapping the table with his hand. "I'll have themfor you tomorrow. Where should I send them?"
"I converted a warehouse outside the city to an office here in Darkmoor.I'll use it as a base until I can return to Krondor. Go out the easterngate, and at the first road, turn left. It's the large green warehouse on theright. You can't miss it."
Nakor said, "I'll find it."
"There's something about that girl," said Roo, indicating where Aletahad gone. "I can't quite put my finger on what it is.""She's someone important I think."
Roo laughed. "As long as I've known you I've never pretended tounderstand you."
,,That's as it should be," replied Nakor. "For I have never understoodmyself. "
"Can I ask you something, as a friend?"
'.'Of course. "
"Over the years you've claimed you only know tricks, yet you managethe damnedest things that I can only call magic. Now you're starting areligion. Now, my question is, what are you really up to?"Nakor grinned. "I'm starting something important. I'm not sure howit will turn out, and I doubt if I'll be around to see it at the end, but I'mdoing something that may be the most important thing I've done in mylif,
e .
"And may I ask what that is?"
Nakor used his hand to indicate the poor building in which they sat.
"I'm building a church."
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Raymond E. Feist
Roo shook his head. "If you say so. Tell me, Nakor, has anyone evercalled you mad?"
Nakor laughed. "Often, and most of the time they're serious."Roo rose. "Thanks for the tea. I'll see what I can do about the grain,and if you get me those workers, I'll have those statues commissioned foryou.' I
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Sho Pi entered and said, "Master, those who came to hear the lessonare ready for food."
"Then let us feed them," said Nakor.
The odd gambler turned religious leader halted at the office door andwatched the five who were there a moment. Four of them would be goneafter their bellies were full, but the girl, Aleta, would remain. And withoutknowing why, Nakor knew that a major part of his future path had turneda particular way because she was now here. He didn't know how he knew,but he was certain that from this time forward, she was the most importantperson in his newly founded church, and her life must be protected aboveeveryone else, including himself. Keeping his thoughts to himself, he enteredthe warehouse and helped his disciples feed the hungry.
Erik pointed and said, "What do you see there?""Something's coming along the road," said Akee, the Hadati hillman."A single man, on horseback."
Erik squinted against the setting sun. Sure enough, what had been afaint movement, a speck of darkness against the bright sky, resolved itselfinto the figure of a man on horseback, trotting along the King's Highway.Erik von Darkmoor, Captain of the Crimson Eagles, and a mixeddetachment consisting of members of his own company, Hadati hillmen,and members of the Royal Krondorian Pathfinders were spread out oneither side of the highway. "One of ours?" asked Erik.Akee said, "I think so. I think it's Jimmy Jamison.""How can you tell?"
The Hadati smiled. "You learn to recognize a friend by the way hesits his mount."
Erik turned to see if the man was joking and saw that he wasn't.During the winter Erik had spent enough time with the Hadati hillmenand his company to come to respect him and even like him as much asone could the somewhat standoffish hill fighters. Akee was a leader in hisvillage and considered an important voice in the council of the Hadatipeople up in Yabon, that much Erik had come to understand.He had also discovered the man was the grandson of a companion of
I
SHAP,I)S OF A BPOKEN CPOWN
the former Prince of Krondor's, one Baru, called the Serpentslayer, an
as a result, Akee was considered very sympathetic to the Kingdom,quality not universal among the independent and tough-minded hill people
of Yabon. Of all the people living within the boundaries of the Kingdomm
, the Hadati were among those most aloof. The fact that any hadanswered the Duke of Yabon's's call for scouts was directly related toAkee'ss having been among them.
Jimmy rode closer and Erik and Akee left the shelter of the woodand rode toward him. Jimmy reined in until he recognized the two familiar
figures, then he raised his hand in greeting.
As they stopped before him, Erik nodded, and Akee said, "You look]as if you've been through something unpleasant.""It could have been worse," said Jimmy.
Erik asked, "Dash?"
Jimmy shook his head. "He was captured for a while, but he goaway. I don't know if he's somewhere in the city, or if he got loose. Ihe's loose, he's on his way back here. If he's in the city and is caughtI've got assurances he won't be harmed."
"Assurances?" said Erik.
"It's a long story. One I need to tell Prince Patrick, or at the leastOwen Greylock."
"You're in luck," said Erik. "I'm heading back toward Ravensburg,where Owen has his forward command. The Prince is still in Darkmoor,but the roads are ours between here and there, almost as peaceful as beforethe war. You can reach the Prince in less than a week."Jimmy said, "Good. I have grown very tired of the road and wouldlove nothing more than a hot meal, a bath, and a soft bed."
Erik nodded and said to Akee, "Have your scouts move west foranother day and report back."
Jimmy said, "There's no need. General Duko is recalling all his patrols.The only thing you need fear are bandits and some bored mercenariescamped under the walls. You can move your entire command tothe outlying estates and build your camps there, less than a day's ridefrom the city. p$
Erik looked curious, but he only said "I think I had better rideWith YOU, Jimmy.
"Where's your camp?"
"A few miles ahead." Erik waved good-bye to Akee, and turned hishorse around as Jimmy urged his back to a walk. Erik moved his handin a half-circle and said, "We have control of all the woods for miles on
each side of the highway."
"You haven't had a lot of problems in the last few weeks, have you?""No, actually. A few bandits, some deserters, and a couple of run-inswith some mercenaries from our neighbors to the south, but we've seenlittle of Fadawah's forces for a while."
"Duko's looking to cut a deal with Patrick."
"He's willing to turn coat?" asked Erik. Erik had served two toursacross the sea and was familiar with the Novindus mercenaries' traditionof serving the highest bidder. The dependence on such forces was one ofthe reasons, Erik was convinced, that no one had successfully built anempire down there, until the Emerald Queen had started her conquests."Not exactly," said Jimmy, filling in Erik on Duko's proposal.Erik whistled. "I don't think Patrick is going to be pleased with thisone. From what Greylock's told me and what I saw before I left Darkmoor,the Prince is spoiling for a fight, Kesh, invaders, he doesn't carewho. ' y
Jimmy said, "I'll leave it to my father and Owen to convince him.It's too good a turn of the cards for him to not agree. He saves thousandsof lives and accelerates the retaking of the Western Realm by a year if heagrees. ~ y
Erik said nothing, but considering what he had seen of the hot-temperedyoung Prince, he was not convinced Patrick would see it thatway.
Dash regarded the boots, trousers, and jacket that had been securedfor him by the Mockers. They were serviceable, but nothing remotely asgood as the ones taken from him by his captors.Lysle Riggers, the Upright Man, looked at him as he rose to leave."Not yet, boy." The old man waved away Trina and the others of hiscompany in the room, leaving Dash alone with his great-uncle. When thedoor was shut behind Trina, the old man said, "You must understandsomething. I don't think you're going to get your amnesty for us, so thisconversation may have no meaning. If you do not, shortly I will die.Healing priests can only do so much, and I am an old man, anyway.Another will come forward to take the office I hold. Who he will be Icannot know, though I have a couple of guesses. John Tuppin might takethe office-he's strong and shrewd and many are afraid of him. Trinamight, if she's smart and silent, which she is, and can keep behind thescenes. But whoever it is, the agreements you and I reach will not bebinding upon him. As I said, if you can't get the Prince to agree to givingus pardon for past crimes, it doesn't matter.
"But if you return with promises, they had best be kept, for if you are
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
forsworn to the Mockers, no matter how high You rise, where you liveor what great office comes to you, eventually one Of Our brotherhood willfind you in the night and Your life will end. Do You understand?"Dash said, "I understand."
"Know this as well, Dashel Jamison: once you step through that door
you have taken blood oath not, by word or deed, to betray what you haveseen here, nor may you bear witness against any who you've met. It isan oath made by silence, for you may not live to leave Mother's withoutsuch oath."
Dash didn't like being threatened, but he had heard enough stories
about the Mockers from his grandfather to have no doubt that what Lyslewas saying was not an idle threat. Dash said, "I know the rules as wellas anyone born here."
"No doubt you do. My younger brother struck me as being a manwith little modesty. I suspect you know as much about the workings ofthe Mockers as my own men." The Upright Man waved a bony scarredhand at Dash. "Before he came to my little shop, years ago, to tell mehow the land lay and how I would be required to conduct the business ofthe Mockers, I would have wagered our ways and secrets were inviolate.In moments I learned that Jimmy the Hand had been watching us as wehad been watching him, more, he had others watch us while he was not
about. In the end, he was a far better Duke then I was leader of theMockers. "
Dash shrugged. "If Patrick does as I request, it all ends, anyway."The old man laughed. "Think you that a pardon will take this raggedbrotherhood of ours and set our feet upon the straight and narrow path?Within minutes of such pardon some of our more reckless Youth will becutting purses in the market square or breaking into warehouse cellars,Young Dash. The dodgy path is as much a part of who we are as it is achoice in life.
"Some, like your grandfather, find an escape, a way to better them
selves, but most are confined to Mother's and the sewers of the city, therooftops-the Thieves' Highway-and a short life ending with a hang
man's rope. It is as much a prison as the one in the basement of thePalace, this life, for there is little chance of escape."
Dash shrugged. "At least everyone, you, Trina, the rest, will have achoice. Most men
can't ask more than that."
The old man laughed his dry laugh. "You're wise beyond your years,
I)ash, if you really understand that and are not merely mouthing wordsheard at the knee of another. Now go."
Outside Dash found his three companions from the work gang waiting. Gustaf and Talwin were together, while Reese stood next to someMockers. "You coming with me?" asked Dash.
Reese shook his head. "Not me. I was a Mocker before they caughtme, and these are my people. This is my home." Dash nodded. Looking at the other two, he said, "You?'Gustaf said, "I'm a swordsman without a sword. I need a job. Youhiring. "
Dash smiled. "Yes, I'll hire you."
Talwin said, "I just want to get out of the city.II"Then it's the three of us."
Trina came and stood before Dash. "Well, Puppy, I'll show you backto the safest way out. Wait until nightfall, then get out of the outer camps.Rumors are starting to circulate that the Prince's army is getting close andmen are sleeping close to their swords. There aren't many friends to befound in a place like that."
Dash nodded and asked, "Weapons?"
"We have some for you," said the heavyset man who had been hisfirst captor, the man Dash knew as John Tuppin. "We'll give them to youjust before you leave."
Dash nodded. "Then let's be off."
He glanced over his shoulder at the closed door, behind which sat theold man who claimed one of the most mysterious names in the history ofKrondor, the Upright Man. Dash wondered if he'd ever see the old man
again.
They set off in the gloom.
pug sat quietly considering the choices that were rapidly approaching.Miranda watched him.
After a few moments, he turned his attention from whatever imagehung, in the air outside his window and said, "What?"She laughed. "You were millions of miles away, weren't you?"He smiled at her. "Not really. Just a few hundred. But I was years
away.
"What were you thinking of?"
"MY past, and my future."
"Our future, You mean."
He shook his head. "There are still some choices left to me alone."
She rose up from her seat next to the fireplace. A small fire, more forcomfort than warmth , which had been allowed to burn down to Coals,smoked there. She glanced at it, and came to stand before her husband.She settled easily into his lap and said, "Tell me."Gathis's's choice. The Gods' choice, really."
"Have you decided what you must do?"
He nodded. "I think for me there is only one choice."After a moment of silence, she said, "Care to share it with me?"He laughed, kissing her on the neck. She squealed appreciatively, thenplayfully pushed herself away. "You'll not divert me that easily. What areyou thinking?"
Pug smiled. "When I lay in Death's Hall, I was given the choice tobecome your father's heir."
At mention of Macros the Black, Miranda frowned. She had neverhad a close relationship with her father, and the primary reason for thathad been his association with great powers. His role as human surrogatefor Sarig, the lost God of Magic, had reduced his role in her life to a scantdecade out of nearly two hundred years she had lived so far.Pug continued. "I can't be Sarig's agent on Midkemia. That's not myrole. "
"From what you told me, your other choices weren't that appealing."Pug looked worried. "I didn't die, so that narrows my choice downto one: I must live and watch destruction and death and lose that whichis most dear to me."
She returned to his lap, and said, "That has already been fulfilled.Your daughter and son were taken from you, weren't they?"Pug nodded, and she could see the echoes of pain still not dulledwithin his eyes. "But I fear there is more to lose."She settled into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. "There isalways the potential for loss, my love. Until we are at last dead, we canlose. That is the irony of life. Nothing is forever."Pug said, "I am almost a hundred years old, yet I feel like such achild. ' I
Miranda laughed and held him close. "We are children, my love, andI'm ~ twice your age. Compared to the Gods we are infants, just learningOur first steps. "
"But infants have teachers."
"You had teachers," she said. "So did I."
"I could use one now, I think."
Miranda said, "I shall teach you."
Pug looked at her. "You will?"
She kissed him. "And you shall teach me. And we shall teach yourstudents on my father's island, and they shall teach us. We have booksyet to be read and understood, and we have the Hall of Worlds, through
Raymond E. q Feist
which we can reach out to wisdom undreamed of on this tiny orb. Andwe have ages to do it."
Pug sighed. "You make me feel as if there's hope."Miranda said, "There is always hope."
SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CROWN
There came a knock at the door and Miranda stood, allowing Pug torise to answer the door. Outside stood a royal page, and he said, "Mylord, the Prince requests your presence at once."Pug glanced at Miranda, who shrugged in curiosity but said nothing.He nodded to her, and followed the page.
He wended his way through Castle Darkmoor, until he came to theold Baron's quarters, being used presently by Prince Patrick. The pageopened the door and stepped aside, allowing Pug to enter.Patrick looked up from old Baron Otto's desk and said, "Magician,we have a problem I hope you can deal with."
"What may that be, Your Highness?"
Patrick held up a rolledup parchment. "A report in from the North,The Saaur have decided to put in an appearance.""From the North?" Pug looked puzzled. When he had persuaded theSaaur to quit the field in the final battle for Darkmoor, their leader, theSha-shahan, had vowed a blood price would be extracted for the wrongsdone the Saaur. But to the North lay the armies of Fadawah, the mostlikely object of that vengeance. How could the Saaur have returned totheir old allies after withdrawing? Pug said, "where in the North, Highness?""
The northeast! They've wintered north of us, between the mountainsand the woodlands of the Dimwood. They've occupied the southern endof the Thunderhell Steppes, and now they've struck southward.""Southward!" Pug echoed, alarm in his voice. "They've attacked us?"Patrick threw down the parchment. "Read about it. They overran adetachment held in reserve in the foothills, to reinforce whichever gapFadawah might attempt to breach along Nightmare Ridge. They slaughteredevery man in the company."
"Are they continuing to move?"
"No," said Patrick. "That's the good news in this. They seem contentto butcher three hundred of my soldiers, then withdraw. They left us awarning, though."
"What is that?"
"They left three hundred stakes in the ground. Atop each was a man'shead. It's a clear challenge."
"No, Highness," corrected Pug. "It's not a challenge. It's a warning.""A warning to whom?" Patrick said, his anger barely held in cheek.
"To anyone. To us, to Fadawah, to the Brotherhood of the Dark Pathany creature of intelligence who is near enough to see the skulls. Jatuk i
telling us that the Saaur are claiming the Thunderhell Steppes for theres,selves and for us to stay out.,,
Patrick considered it and said, "Save nomads, weapons runners, anoutlaws, no one lives there I would care to name Citizen of the Kingdombut it's still our Realm. I will be damned to the lower hells before I allow
an army of aliens to overrun my troops and declare themselves an independent
nation within our borders."
"What would you have of me, Highness?"
"In the morning I'm sending a detachment of soldiers northward.would appreciate it if you'd accompany them. You were the one to getthe Saaur out of the war, If this Jatuk wants to turn his anger againstFadawah, I'll withdraw my soldiers along the northern ridge and evengive him supplies to go assault Fadawah in Yabon. But I can't have thisbloody business go unchallenged."
"What would you have me tell them?"
"Tell them they must cease this hostility against us, and withdrawfrom our lands."
"To where, Highness?"
Patrick said, "I don't care where. They can have safe conduct to the
coast, and they can swim home for all I care, but I Won't have themtelling me to stay out of any part of my own principality! There's beentoo damn much of that lately!" Patrick's voice was rising and Pug couldtell anger was getting the best of him.
"I will be pleased to go, Highness."
"Good," said Patrick, his tone leveling off. "I've sent word to CaptainSubai, who's in charge of the northern elements of our forces along theridge, that someone would be coming. I want you to have him accompanyYou and I want this matter resolved. I've got enough to worry about with
this business down in Stardock, Kesh acting foolish, and Fadawah livingin my Principality to have the Saaur act up.
"If they'll listen to reason, I'll listen to reason. Have them tell mewhat we must do to get them Out of our Kingdom and I will do it. But ifthey refuse, there's only one thing you can do.""What is that, Highness?"
Patrick looked at Pug as if he were missing the obvious. He said"Why, you must destroy them,
the face of the world."
v
magician. You must obliterate them from
elc~
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JIMMY GRIMACED.
He had one good night's sleep, in Owen Greylock's camp, then hadspent the next five days in the saddle, tiring out a string of relay horses.He and the Knight-Marshal of Krondor rode as quickly as possible toDarkmoor, where Prince Patrick's court was established.Now he stood outside Patrick's quarters, having ridden in just beforedawn. He waited along with other courtiers, while the Prince was dressingfor the day's court, and thanked all the gods he could think of that at leasthere an ample supply of Keshian coffee was still to be found. Tsuranichocha was a reasonable substitute, but nothing kept him going like a hotmug of coffee, cut with a tiny bit of honey.
"James!" said a familiar feminine voice from behind, and Jimmy wassuddenly wide awake. He turned to see a young woman approaching."Francie?" he asked in astonishment.
In a serious breach of court protocol, the girl threw her arms aroundJimmy's neck, and said, "It's been years!"
Jimmy hugged the girl back. He then stepped back and regarded her."You're all grown up," he said, admiring that fact. She was a tall girl,slender yet muscular in his embrace, as if she had spent a great deal oftime outdoors in vigorous physical activity. Her face was lacking the usualcosmetics of the women of court; sun freckles lightly brushed her cheeksand nose. Her hair, usually a light brown, was lavishly streaked with blondhighlights. She wore a very mannish vest and trousers, white shirt, andriding boots.
"I was just coming back from an early morning ride with Father andsaw you standing here.
Let me go change and
appropriate. Where can I find you?"
As the Prince's door opened, Jimmy said, "Wherever His Highnessputs me, but most likely in the officers' mess."She nodded. "I'll find you." Kissing him lightly on the cheek, shedashed off, and Jimmy was forced to admire the way she moved.Owen, who had stood silently next to Jimmy throughout theexchange, said, "And that would be ... ?"
"The Duke of Silden's daughter, Francine. She used to play with Dashand me when we lived in Rillanon and business would bring Lord Brianto court. She's Dash's age, and last time I saw her she was just a skinnykid. She had a terrible crush on me for the longest time.""Ah," was all Owen said, as the Prince's page appeared.The page saw Greylock, and said, "Marshal Greylock, His Highnesswill see you first."
Owen motioned for Jimmy to follow him, and they entered Patrick'squarters.
The Prince remained seated behind his desk, cluttered with papers
and a small silver tray with hot rolls and a pot of coffee. Duke Arutha satquietly at the left end of the desk. He looked at his son and smiled. "Ican't tell you how pleased I am to see you. Dash?"Jimmy shook his head. "He's out there somewhere." Arutha's smilefaded.
Patrick finished a mouthful of roll and said, "What news of Krondor?"Owen said, "Jimmy brings a message from General Duko."Patrick asked, "From General Duko?"
Jimmy said, "The invaders are having a falling-out, it seems." Heoutlined what Duko had told him of his suspicions regarding Fadawahand Nordan, and finished up with, "So the General has a proposal tokeep himself and his men from being sacrificed and return Krondor toYour Highness without bloodshed."
Patrick's face was an unreadable mask. Jimmy could see the Princealready could sense where this was going. "Go on," said the Prince ofKrondor.
"Duko sees no point in returning to Novindus. The continent is awaste after ten years of warfare, and. . . " Jimmy paused."Go on," repeated Patrick.
"He sees something special in our idea of a nation, Highness. Hewishes to belong to something larger than himself. He proposes to returnKrondor to Your Highness, and to swear fealty to the crown. He will turnhis army northward, and march against Nordan up in Sarth."Patrick's color started to rise. "Swear fealty!" He leaned forward.
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"And perhaps he wishes to be named Duke of Krondor in place of yourfather, as well?"
Jimmy attempted to keep it light. "Nothing so grand, Highness. A
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Barony, perhaps."
"Barony!" Patrick exploded, slamming his hand on the table, upsettingthe coffeepot and spilling the hot liquid over the rolls and across adozen parchments. The page standing nearby sprang to clean up the messwhile the Prince stood up. "The murdering dog has the effrontery to seizemy city then hold me up for a Barony to give it back! The thief has nolack of gall." He looked at Owen and Arutha. "Is there any reason Ishouldn't order the army into the field and simply hang the bastard afterwe retake Krondor?"
Arutha said, "There are several reasons, Highness."Patrick looked at him. "They are?"
"By making a bargain with Duko, we take the enemy's forces andreduce them by a third. We increase our forces by that much. We savethe lives of countless men. We then have an advance unit to throw atSarth, and we free up men needed to reinforce the southern marches,holding Kesh at bay." Arutha seemed reluctant to continue, but finishedby saying, "If Duko is being forthright and this isn't some sort of elaborateruse, it's too good an opportunity to pass up.""Invade my realm, steal my city, destroy my citizens' lives and property,then turn around and extort a patent of office from my father, andit's 'too good an opportunity to pass up'?" Patrick looked at Arutha, andshouted, "Are you bereft of all reason, my lord?"Jimmy stiffened in anger at his father being addressed in such a way,but said nothing. Arutha, showing the patience of a parent faced with achild throwing a tantrum, said, "I am reasoning very well, Highness. "Then, in the tone a schoolmaster used with a student, he calmly said, "Sitdown, Patrick."
Prince of the Western Realm or not, Arutha had been one of Patrick'stutors, and old habits were hard to break. He sat behind his desk, lookingdaggers at Arutha, but remaining silent.
"You must think like a Prince. No matter what else you do with theinvaders, you must also deal with Kesh. They are only restraining themselvesbecause the magicians at Stardock are as likely to destroy theirforces as they are ours should either side not abide by the present truce.The only way you can deal with Great Kesh is from a position of strength."You must reclaim Yabon. To do that you must clear the WesternRealm west of the Calastius Mountains, and to do that you have to takeSarth. If you are forced to fight for Krondor, you will not be able to launch
a campaign against Sarth until the middle of summer, at the soonest!"
Arutha's temper was also rising, but he did a masterful job of keeping histone under control. "If you have any sort of protracted campaign againstSarth, that means a winter campaign against Ylith or holding off until thefollowing year. By then LaMut will have fallen. If you give Fadawahanother winter to consolidate his holdings, we may never regain theNorth!" He lowered his voice. "Fadawah has already bribed key officials
in the Free Cities. They're trading with him from all reports. In threemonths, his army will be better provisioned than our own. He's also makingovertures to the Quegans, who are likely to listen, given how badlythey were treated during the invasion." He glanced at Owen.Greylock said, "Taking Ylith is going to require naval support, Highness.If Fadawah is as clever as he seems-,--we'll have Quegan ships anchoredin the harbor by the time we get there, and that would meananother war with Queg."
Patrick looked as if he was frustrated to the point of tears. But he kepthis voice and anger under control as he said, "So you're telling me unlessI make a bargain with this murderous scum I may be fighting a three-frontwar I can't win?"
Arutha sighed loudly. "That's exactly what we're telling you, Highness. "
Patrick's fury was barely held in check. He was intelligent enough toknow that Arutha was right, but angry enough to be unwilling to admitit. "There must be another way."
"Yes," said Owen. "You can march to the walls of Krondor, throughthe assembled mercenaries camped outside, swarm the city and fight houseto house for a week, then spend another month licking your wounds andgetting ready to march north."
Patrick seemed to lose his anger. "Damn," was all he said. For a longmoment, he was silent, then one more time he said, "Damn.'$Arutha said, "Patrick, you can't reject this offer. An invading generalis seeking to make a separate peace with us, and only the King can rejectthat offer. Do you want to guess that your father will say no? He'll ratify
any deal you and I strike with Duko, that much I know. All we need aresome assurances that this isn't a trick of Fadawah's."Jimmy said, "Highness, I only spent a few days with the man, but Ithink him sincere. There's a . . . " He paused, searching for the right wordsto describe what he saw in Duko.
"Say on," prompted Patrick.
"There's something in the man, a hope. He's tired of the killing, theendless conquest. He told me of the time when he discovered the evil that
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possessed the Emerald Queen, when she created her Immortals, her DeathGuard, the men who surrounded her and who willingly died for her, oneeach night, so that she might keep intact her death magic. By then anyman who showed the slightest hesitation was destroyed, common soldieror general, it didn't matter. That was demonstrated early in the campaignwhen some captains tried a revolt, and all were impaled, with the bulk ofher army forced to march by the men while they still twitched as theydied. After the fall of Maharta, General Gapi was staked out over ananthill for letting Captain Calis and his men escape. That showed no one,no matter what rank, was safe from her wrath. Companies were instructedto watch other companies, so no one knew who could be trusted not toreport if even a hint of defiance was suspected."Duko spent the winter talking to Kingdom prisoners, soldiers andcommoners, some officers from the garrisons down at Land's End and upat Sarth. He's fascinated by our way of living, our government, our GreatFreedom, and he thinks it a wondrous thing, our idea of nation. He wastrapped, a prisoner, and jailer of every other prisoner in the army." Jimmytook a deep breath, and said, "I think he wants to be part of somethingbigger, something that will live on after his death and something aboutwhich he can feel giving his life might be worthwhile."Arutha said, "And he's been betrayed by his own commander. Hemay be exactly what he says he is."
"I want reassurances," said Patrick sharply. "I want whatever guaranteesyou can dream up to convince me I should bring this murderingbutcher into our nobility."
Owen laughed.
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I
"Is there something funny in this, Lord Greylock?" asked the Prince."Only that I imagine an ancestor of yours may have said exactly thesame thing about the first Baron to live in this castle," said Greylock,smiling.
Patrick paused, then sighed. After a moment, he chuckled. "One ofmy teachers told me the King of Rillanon had drunk himself into nearinsensibility over the need to accept Bas-Tyra into his service, rather thanhang him from the walls of his city."
"Many of our most noble lords had ancestors who were nothing morethan enemies we chose not to hang, Highness," said Arutha."Well," said Patrick, "we have no shortage of openings for nobles inthe West. Where shall we place 'Lord' Duko?"
Arutha said, "There are several Earldoms, a score of Baronies, andone Duchy in need of new nobles."
Owen said, "We need a Duke of the Southern Marches."
Patrick looked at James. "What do you think of throwing that rabblein Krondor at the Keshians?"
Jimmy said, "Highness, I hesitate to advise.
Patrick looked sharply at Jimmy. "Don't get modest on me at thislate date, James. You'd be the first in your family in three generationsand I wouldn't believe it anyway."
James smiled. "If you move Duko and his men down into the Sutherlands,between Shandon Bay and Land's End, you could move thosesoldiers up into Krondor and still keep a presence along the border to thesouthwest. We can assume there are Keshian agents all over who arekeeping the Emperor's generals up on our dispositions by the minute. Youcould then turn at Krondor and move straight up to take Sarth, beforeNordan gets dug in."
Patrick looked at Owen. "Greylock, you're Knight-Marshal of Krondor.What do you think of young James's thesis?"
Owen knew exactly what he thought of it; he had been discussing thisplan with Jimmy the entire journey from his headquarters camp to Darkmoor. "It's risky, Highness, but far less risky than trapping Duko betweenour army and Nordan's and making his men fight for their lives. And ifwe move them down to face Kesh, we don't have to worry about Duko'smen facing their former comrades, or any spies Fadawah might have intheir ranks. Besides, half the men living in the Vale of dreams are mercenaries,fighting for us or against us at whim; Duko may be exactly theman to rule such as those." He paused, as if thinking about his nextstatement, which had been rehearsed in his mind many times already. "Ifwe continue to dredge the harbor, and get the city back into a semblanceof order in the next month, we can drive on to Sarth in six weeks. Thatwould put us six weeks ahead of schedule. We could be at the gates ofYlith before the fall rains come."
Patrick said, "I'll prepare messages for my father. If I can't give themurderous bastard to the hangman, I'll give him to the Keshians. We'llneed to send a message to welcome our newest Duke into the 'family,and let him know to prepare for a mobilization of his men."James rose, and said, "If Your Highness will excuse me?"Patrick waved him away, and Arutha rose. "If I may be excused fora few minutes to speak with my son?"
Patrick nodded and turned to his page. "Have a scribe come here atOnce.
Arutha led his son out to the waiting room and moved away from theOthers gathered to await the Prince's pleasure. Softly, so as not to beOverhead, he said, "What of Dash?"
Raymond E. Feist
"We were separated. Malar and I
"Who's Malar?" interrupted Arutha.
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'A servant from the Vale of Dreams we encountered. His caravanwas attacked and he survived in the wilderness for a month or )more.""Malar," said Arutha. "That name's familiar."
"Malar Enares," Jimmy supplied. "That's his full name.""Yes, it's familiar, but I can't place it."
"I don't know why you'd know it, Father. His master was an importantmerchant, perhaps that's where you know it from."Arutha said, "Most of my records are still in boxes from when weevacuated Krondor. Normally, Id have my clerk look for that name. If Istill had a clerk."
Jimmy said, "Well, if you recognize the name, he's more than heseems to be. I'll keep an eye on him if he's still around when I get backto Krondor."
Arutha put his hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "Do that. Rest now andbe ready to leave in a day or two. Patrick should have something to sendto Duko in two days at the outside. We'll need some sort of ceremonyand pomp, a formal surrender and an investiture of office. I wish oldJerome was still alive."
Jimmy grinned. "Grandfather never got along with him.""No, but he was as good a Master of Ceremony as I've ever known.If you needed the proper welcoming ceremony for a creature from thelower hells, he could find it for you and have it ready on short notice."Jimmy said, "I think a meal and a nap will do for me right now.""By the way," said Arutha, "Lord Silden is here. He brought Francinewith him."
"I saw her, just before I went in to see you and the Prince. She wascoming in from a morning ride. She's grown up.""I remember you used to think her a pest when you were children inRillanon. Does she still want to marry you?"
Jimmy laughed. "Only if I'm lucky. I'm having the midday meal withher if I can stay awake."
Arutha smiled. "You'll manage." Then his manner turned somber. "Ijust wish we had some word about your brother."Jimmy nodded. "Me too."
i
Arutha squeezed his elder son's shoulder briefly, then returned to thePrince's office. Jimmy thought about lunch with Francie and decided hewasn't as tired as he had been before. He decided he might wander downto the guard captain's office to see if any reports fromthe West had comein since the night before. He might be lucky and hear something of Dash.
Pug moved through the door of the "temple," finding it empty. Frombehind the converted warehouse he could hear the sounds of shouts andchildren laughing. He hurried through the empty building, past a makeshiftaltar, through a kitchen area, and into the work yard attached to theold warehouse.
Nakor squatted near a child who was blowing bubbles with soapywater. Other children chased and grabbed at the bubble!s~ but the formergambler stared intently at a bubble being formed on the end of the littleboy's pipe. It expanded, as Nakor said, "Slowly, slowly."Then, as it reached the size of a melon, the little boy gave in to theimpulse to blow hard, and it popped as a stream of tiny bubbles surgedfrom the tip of the pipe. The other children in the yard erupted in laughter,shrieking with delight as the bubbles sailed away on the afternoon breeze.Pug laughed and Nakor turned. At seeing the magician, Nakor's facesplit into a wide grin. "Pug, what wondrous timing!"Pug approached and they shook hands. "Why?"
"The bubble. A thought came to me while watching these childrenand I needed to ask you something."
'What?'
"That story you told me, of when you, Tomas, and Macros went backto the dawn of time, remember?"
"I could hardly forget that," replied Pug.
"You said there was this gigantic explosion that launched the universeoutward, didn't you?"
"I don't know if I put it exactly like that, but yes, that's basically whathappened."
Nakor laughed and did a tiny dance for a minute. " I have it!""Have what?"
"I have been wrestling with a thought since you told me that story,years ago. Now I think I understand something. Watch the boy as heblow's a bubble." He turned to the boy. "Charles, again, please."The boy obliged by blowing a single large bubble. "Watch it expand!"insisted Nakor. "See how it grows larger!"
"Yes," said Pug. "what is the point?"
"It's a drop of soapy water, but you force air inside, and it grows! Itgets bigger, but the content of the water droplet is the same. Don't youse?
"what?" asked Pug, genuinely perplexed at Nakor's latest revelation."The universe! It's a bubble!"
Pug said, "oh. . ." He paused. "I don't see."
Raymond P. Feist
Using his hand, Nakor made a curving motion, as if describing asphere in the air. "The stuff of the universe, it was blown outward, likethe soap bubble! Everything in the universe, is on the surface of the bubble!"Pug stopped a moment, considered what he heard, then said, "That'samazing."
"Everything is moving away from everything else at the same speed.That's the only way it's possible."
Pug was genuinely impressed with the insight. "Now, what does itmean?"
"What it means is we now have a clue as to how things in the universework. And that might give us a better understanding of what it is we doin the middle of this universe."
"On the surface, you mean."
"On the surface," conceded Nakor.
"Then what is in the middle?" asked Pug.
Nakor grinned. "The void. That grey stuff you talk about."Pug paused. "That would ... make sense."
"And when you create a rift, you bend the surface of the bubble!"Pug shook his head. "You just lost me."
'I'll explain it all to you some other time. Now, if I could just figureout how the Hall of Worlds figures into all this ......Pug said, "You'll think of something, I am certain."Nakor said, "You had a reason to visit with me?""Yes, I need your help."
Nakor said, "Children, continue playing."
"Who are these children?" asked Pug as Nakor led him back into thetemple.
"The sons and daughters of people who live nearby, people who areattempting to rebuild their ruined homes and businesses, but who haveno place for their children while they do. We give them a safe place toleave the children rather than let them run the streets.""And when the businesses are rebuilt, the children will return to helptheir parents."
"Correct," said Nakor. "In the meantime, we build some nice creditswith people who will be inclined to help us out along the way. Skilledtradesmen, for the most part."
"You're really committed to this Temple of Arch-Indar, aren't you ?'"I'm committed to getting it built," said Nakor."After that?"
Nakor shrugged. "I don't know. I'll leave this to someone better ableto run it than myself. It's not really my calling. If it were the Temple of
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the Lost God of Knowledge, maybe, though I think I've had enough ofWodar-Hospur's handiwork for a lifetime." He referred to the magic codexwhich he had possessed for many years, an artifact which had given
him incredible knowledge and power, but which had also threatened hissanity.
"What then?"
"I don't know. I think I'll move on."
They reached Nakor's office and Pug closed the door behind them."Are you thinking of leaving Sho Pi in charge?""I don't think so. He's ... heading for a different path, though I'mnot sure what that might be."
"Someone else?" asked Pug as he sat.
Nakor nodded. "I'm not sure, but I think I may know who.""Care to enlighten me?"
"No," said Nakor with a grin as he sat down. "I might be wrong,then I would look foolish."
"Heaven forfend," Pug said dryly.
"Now what sort of help do you need from me?"
Pug explained the situation with the Saaur to the north, then finishedby saying, "Patrick wants me to deliver an ultimatum, and if they refuseto depart from the Kingdom, he's ordered me to destroy them."Nakor frowned. "Tales of your powers have been circulating for someyears, my friend. I thought it but a matter of time before someone inauthority attempted to bend you to their cause.""I've served the Kingdom without orders before.""True, but you've never been under the authority of an impetuousboy before."
Pug sat back in his chair, and said, "I've never considered myselfunder anyone's authority since coming to my power. As a Great One ofthe Tsurani Empire, I was outside the law, subject to no authority saveMY own conscience and a mandate to do what was best for the Empire."Since returning to Midkemia, the crown was content to leave mealone, to let me conduct my business down in Stardock as I saw fit. KingBorric, and King Lyam before him, were satisfied knowing I would donothing to cause harm to their realms. Now, about this 'go destroy ourenemies' order of Patrick's, I'm not sure what's best to do."Nakor pointed at Pug. "You've lived on another world, Pug. Thatboy up in the castle has barely spent more than a couple of years of hislife off the island of Rillanon. You've been a slave and a man beyond thelaw of the land, you've labored in a kitchen and you are afforded the rankof Duke. You've traveled in time." Nakor smiled. "You've seen a lot of
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things." He lost the smile. "Patrick's a scared boy, but he's a scared boywith a bad temper and an army who will obey him. That's a dangerous
combination."
"Maybe I should go to the King."
Nakor said, "Perhaps, but I'd save that option until you ve talked tothe Saaur and seen if you can convince them to leave.""Would you consider coming with me? You have a wonderful knackfor knowing what to do in unusual situations."Nakor was silent a moment, then said, "Preventing the death of manywould be a good act. Yes, I'll come with you. But you could do me afavor, first.
(T^at?l
"Come with me."
Pug stood and followed Nakor out of the office. In the far corner ofthe large hall Sho Pi and a pair of acolytes were in discussion. Nakorshouted, "Sho Pi, you keep an eye on the children. I'll be back."He took Pug through the streets toward the castle, but short of wherethey would normally turn to approach the main drawbridge of the castle,they turned and followed another street down toward a burned-out sectionof the city. Reaching a checkpoint, they were halted by a pair of guardsmen,wearing tabards of the Baron of Darkmoor. "Halt," said one in abored tone of voice.
Nakor said, "This is Pug, Duke of Stardock, on a mission for thePrince of Krondor."
"Sir!" said the guard, coming to attention. He might not have seenthe magician before, but every soldier in the West knew of him by reputationand he looked the part.
"We need to commandeer a score of prisoners for a work detail," said
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Nakor.
'I'll fetch some guards to accompany you," said the sentry.,No need," said Nakor, holding up his hand. "We can take care ofourselves. "
He motioned for Pug to follow and hurried by before the guard couldobject. Pug said, "We'll be fine."
They entered an area of a halfdozen city blocks, razed by fire andcatapults, where the prisoners of war were being kept. Nakor found a largeboulder and climbed atop it. He shouted in the language of Novindus,need some workers."
A few men nearby looked over and one or two continued to payattention, but no one came near. Nakor waited a moment, then climbeddown. "This isn't working. Come along."
He hurried deeper into the milling camp of men. On all sides dirty
and hungry-looking mercenaries sat in idle conversation. As he moveddeeper into the press of men, he said, "I need some carpenters, cartwrights,wheelwrights, wagon makers!"
One man said, "I used to be a carpenter, before I was forced to fight.""Can you turn a wheel?"
The man nodded. "I can shave spokes, too."
"Come with me!"
"Why should I?" said the man. He was in his fifties, grey-haired, andlooked filthy and miserable.
"Because you've got nothing better to do, have you? And you'll getbetter food and you'll get paid."
At that the man said, "Paid? I'm a prisoner."
"Not anymore, if you want work. I'll make you a priest of Arch-Indar. 'p
"Who?" asked the man in confusion.
"The Good Lady," said Nakor impatiently. "Now, just come alongand say nothing."
The exchange was repeated a halfdozen more times, until Nakor hadselected seven men with the required experience. Several others had comeforth, but lacked the requisite skills. When they had returned to the pairof guards manning the exit, Pug said, "I'm taking these men with me.They have skills I need for a project."
"Begging your pardon, my lord," said the senior guard, "but this ishighly irregular. We have no orders."
"I'll take full responsibility," said Pug. "I'm on a mission for thePrince. "
The senior soldier exchanged glances with the junior, who shrugged.The first soldier said, "Well, then, I guess it's all right."They led the prisoners back to the temple, and Nakor shouted as theyentered, "Sho Pi!"
The first of his disciples hurried over. "Yes, master?""Get these men some food and some clean clothing." He glancedback, and added, "After they take baths."
Sho Pi nodded. "I will, master."
"Then send a message to Rupert Avery and tell him his workers arewaiting for him."
Pug said, "Workers?"
Nakor nodded. "Roo's going to start up a little wagon-building enterPriseas soon as we return to the camp in the morning and get him somelumbermen. "
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"Lumbermen?" asked Pug.
Nakor grinned. "I'll explain it all as we travel."Pug returned the smile.
Nakor said, "One favor more."
"What is that?" ire the LadyNakor lowered his voice. "I strongly urge you to requestMiranda stay behind."
Pug said, "Miranda can take care of herself."
"I fear not for her competence, but rather that well-demonstrated temperof hers. You are going inharm'ss way, even if the risks are minimal.She might not react well to a threat."
Pug said, "I doubt she'd cause another war, but I see what youmean." He was thoughtful for a moment, then said, "I think I'd like herto visit Tomas and see how things are to the north, anyway. We're gettingalmost nothing from Crydee or Elvandar, and if we're going to be movingquickly to retake Ylith, knowing how the struggle for Yabon goes is vital.""She has the means to travel there?"
"There are some 'tricks' my wife is capable of that you and I need tolearn. She can transport herself without patterns or devices.""That would be very useful."
Pug said, "You and I, I'm sorry to say,
can fly, but not if I'm carrying you along."
Nakor said, "It's better than walking."
Pug laughed. "You have a wonderful capacity to see the good in mostsituations."
Nakor said, "It helps at times.')
"I'll send word when I'm ready to leave. Two more days, I think.""I'll be ready," said Nakor as Pug left.
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will be traveling by horse. I
DASH SIGNALED.
The guards at the sentry post waved him and his companions forward.Dash, Gustaf, and Talwin had trudged along the road for three days,not catching sight of anyone, save for what they took to be a roving bunchof bandits late the second afternoon. Duko had pulled back his forces tojust outside of Krondor, so the patrols that had caused the brothers somuch difficulty just a few weeks earlier were now nonexistent.The nearest soldier said, "Who goes there?"
Dash answered, "I'm Dashel Jamison, Baron of the King's Court."Gustaf and Talwin exchanged surprised glances at that, but said nothing.They knew something odd had gone on while they were prisoners ofthe Mockers, and that Dash had spent time alone with their leader, butbeyond that they only knew the young man was leading them away fromcaptivity and toward what they hoped would be a warm meal, clean bedding,and employment.
"Gar!" shouted the first soldier to the second. "Go get the sergeant!"
The second soldier started up the road at a trot, toward the distantlights of the Kingdom's forward encampment. Dash and the others haltedbefore the first soldier. The man stood in awkward silence a long minute,then said, "If I might ask, m'lord. .
"What?" said Dash.
It was obvious the soldier was curious how a noble of the Prince'sCourt could end up in such disreputable attire with questionable companylate in the day on the wrong side of enemy lines, but he restricted himselfto asking, "Would you like some water?"
"Yes, thank you," answered Dash.
The soldier passed over a water skin and Dash drank, handing it to
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Gustaf, who then gave it to Talwin-Dash said, "I think I'll sit," and hemoved over to the side of the road and sat.
His companions joined him. They sat in silence, ignoring the curioussentry.
A short time later a group of riders approached from the Kingdomcamp, leading three horses. A sergeant jumped down from the first horse,handing the reins to the sentry, and said, "Baron Dashel?"Dash stood up and said, "That's me."
"Captain von Darkmoor is at the forward location and is waiting foryou and your companions, sir."
The three men rode with the escort a scant mile up the road to Erik'scamp. He was waiting outside his headquarters tent and said, "Dash!Your father will be pleased to hear you got back in one piece.""what of my brother?" asked Dash as he dismounted."He arrived about a week ago; he and Owen hurried off to see thePrince and your father. Come inside."
Erik gave instructions to a soldier to find a place for Gustaf and Talwinto spend the night, and once inside his command tent said, "Hot foodis on the way."
"Good," said Dash, sitting heavily in a camp chair next to a largemap table. He glanced at the map and said, "Getting ready to assaultKrondor?"
Erik shook his head. "We may not have to, if your brother's messagefrom Duko is not some sort of lie."
"Message?"
"Jimmy got himself captured and was turned loose by Duko, bringingan offer to Patrick."
what sort of offer?" asked Dash.
"Duko wants to change sides."
"You could have fooled me," said Dash. "I was stuck on a workdetail for a few days and he's rebuilding Krondor as fast as he can."An orderly arrived with two wooden bowls filled with hot stew, simpleby any standard, but the smell of which set Dash's mouth to watering.Behind him came two other soldiers, one bearing cheese and bread andthe other two large mugs of wine.
Dash set to, and after the soldiers left, Erik said, "You'd better fill mein on what you saw."
After a few chews and a swallow, Dash said, "I got caught by Duko'smen and put to work in a gang."
Erik said, "Interesting. They caught Jimmy coming into the city andtook him for questioning."
Dash said, "I was already in the city and looking like a rat catcher,so they must have assumed I had just avoided capture for a while. I don'tknow, but that would make sense. For all that Duko's doing there, it'sstill pretty confusing in places."
Erik nodded. "So you were in a work gang."
Dash took a sip of wine. "Yes, until I got out with three other men.
We slipped into one of the sewer culverts under the outer wall and headedinto the city. That's when we got grabbed by the Mockers.""So the thieves still control the sewers of Krondor?"
"I wouldn't exactly call it 'control' as much as that there are someplaces Duko and his men haven't found yet, and they have a couple ofsafe ways in and out of the city."
Erik took a drink of wine and said, "That would have been a blessingif we were going to assault the city."
"You think he's sincere about wanting to change sides?""I don't know," answered Erik. "Your brother seemed to think so,
and he convinced Greylock, and if I know your father, they'll all convincethe Prince."
Dash shook his head. "That creates a problem for the Mockers."'What?'
"I promised them some sort of amnesty or pardon if they helped getus into the city during the coming attack."
Erik rubbed his chin. "With Krondor in ruins it does seem a littletrivial being worried over a man's past before the war. I mean, should wehang someone for cutting purses two years ago while we pardon a manwho burned down parts of the city last year?"
"Politics," said Dash. "Fortunately for you and me, we don't have tomake that decision."
Erik's gaze narrowed. "Don't discount your own counsel too much,Dash. I'm sure your father and the Prince will want your opinion on thematter. "
Dash sat back, swallowed another mouthful, and said, "I have oneidea. Just pardon everyone inside the walls and get on with it." He motionedwith a fork over his shoulder. "I have no Illusions about those
mother-killers back there, and even fewer about the Mockers, despite mygrandfather's wonderful stories. Most of those invaders would be riotingWithin weeks if they were forced to play garrison soldiers, and the thievesWill be cutting purses or throats within a day of being pardoned." Speakingaround a mouthful of food, Dash shook his head. "No, the only differencebetween having the Mockers help us to get into the city or havingDuko open the gates is me keeping a promise."
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Erik raised an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"
"Only if the Mockers decide I forswore my promise and put a deathmark on me."
Erik nodded. "Let me know if I can help."
Dash said, "I will. Though I suspect Father and Jimmy have persuadedPatrick to do whatever it is that Patrick is going to do.""Well, do you want to wait here and see if they're heading our way?I could send word you're alive. Or do you want to ride on to Darkmoor?"Dash yawned. "Right now I just want to sleep on something softerthan a pile of straw on a stone floor."
Erik gave him a rueful look. "Then you might do well to ride ontonight. We don't have a lot of down-stuffed mattresses in camp."$'I know," said Dash, pushing himself back from the table. "I was justexpressing a desire. I'll take a soldier's pallet if that's what fate provides.I've slept on the ground with this tattered cloak wrapped around me forthe last three nights."
"Well, we'll get you some better clothing," said Erik. "We havespares, though you'll be back in uniform."
Dash shrugged. "As long as they're free of lice and fleas, I won'tcomplain about fashion."
Erik laughed. "You can always hang your rags over the campfire.""A dog soldier's washing," said Dash. "Yes, I've heard of that approach;then your clothing stinks of woodsmoke for days. I'll settle for auniform and you can bum these."
Erik laughed. "You can have the extra bedroll over there and bunkin with me tonight. I'll try not to wake you when I turn in later. " Hemoved toward the tent flap. "I have to check on some things before . . ."He turned and saw that Dash was already on the pallet and asleep. Movingoutside, Erik turned his mind to the tasks at hand, though for a briefmoment he considered how odd the situation before him was becoming.Well, he decided, he'd leave it to the Prince and Duke to decide ifDuko was being straightforward or not, and then, as always was the case,he would follow his orders the best way he knew how.
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I z
Pug reined in and the leader of his escort shouted the order to halt.The patrol heading toward them was decked out in the black of Krondor'sCrimson Eagles, the special unit founded by Calis, Erik von Darkmoor'spredecessor, and at their head was a familiar face from the last winter atDarkmoor.
'Nakor! Magician!" shouted Jadow Shati, Lieutenant of the company. "What brings you this way?" He signaled behind him and his patrolalso halted.
"We're up to see Captain Subai and then on to see if we can sort outthis mess with the Saaur," said Pug.
Jadow's brilliant smile suddenly fled. "Man, ask Nakor. We've facedthem Saaur, down across the sea. Tough and fast. Takes three of us foreach one of them unless we're heavily armored. What do you think thechances are of the Prince sending the Royal Lancers this way, magician?""I'm hoping that I can convince the Saaur that fighting us is a wasteon both sides."
"Well, that would be novel. From what I've seen of them, peacefulisn't the first word that springs to mind when thinking of them." Heglanced over his shoulder, then said, "Ride on another hour and you'llhit our main camp. I'm out for a couple of days, so perhaps I'll see youon your way back." He looked at Nakor. "How's your new religion going?'t
Nakor sighed theatrically. "Being good is difficult, Jadow."The good-natured former Sergeant laughed. "You state the obvious,my little friend." He waved his patrol after him. "Let's ride." As he passedthe leader of the patrol from Krondor, he accepted their sergeant's salutewith a wave and nod.
Pug said, "Let's go see the Captain."
Nakor said, "Let's go eat. I'm hungry."
Pug laughed. "You're always hungry, my friend.""You know," said Nakor as they rode along, "I had this oddnotion-"
"Really," said Pug, interrupting. "You'll have to tell me of it someother time."
Nakor laughed. "No, I mean really odd."
"Definitely some other time," said Pug.
'.'Very well," Nakor responded.
They rode in silence as they approached Captain Subai's camp. It wasset up in a clearing near the base of some foothills rising steeply to thewest. Pug could see the road rose sharply beyond the camp, and judgedthis to be the northern boundary of the area considered secured frominvaders. To further reinforce that impression, he could see a heavy breastworkhad been constructed across the road on the northern side of thecamp. Glancing around, Pug could see why this location had been pickedfor the headquarters camp. There was ample room to the south for thearea to be quickly reinforced, but to the north the terrain rose sharply onthe west; to the east of the road, the bank was almost a cliff face, and
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below it any soldiers coming down along the base of the hills would betrapped in a narrowing defile. A pair of archers could hold off anyonecoming along that way.
Soldiers hurried along to take Pug and Nakor's horses. The Men weredressed in both the garb of the Royal Pathfinders and the Crimson Eagles.Pug and Nakor dismounted, and Pug asked one of the soldiers whereCaptain Subai's tent was located. The soldier indicated a large tent in thevery center of the camp, and Pug gave his thanks.Pug turned to the Sergeant leading his escort, and said, "Thank you,Sergeant. Rest tonight, then lead your men back in the morning. We'll befine here."
The Sergeant saluted. He turned and gave the order to dismount, andasked the second soldier where his men could care for their mounts. Asthe soldier directed the Sergeant, Pug and Nakor walked toward the commandtent.
There was a single soldier sitting in a camp chair outside the tent. Asthey drew near, Pug saw that it wasn't a lazy sentry, but rather the PathfinderCommander himself. He was hard at work oiling up a leather harness.Pug had heard that Pathfinders tended their own equipment anddidn't relegate anything to the army's usual cadre of blacksmiths, tanners,and armorers. Erik had once commented to Pug that they took very goodcare of their horses, an area in which Erik was an expert. He glanced upand recognized the magician.
"Duke Pug," he said slowly as he stood and saluted. "To what do Iowe the pleasure of this visit?"
Pug said, "To Prince Patrick's instructions, I'm afraid."The Captain, a gaunt man with prematurely grey hair and a face andhands the color of tanned leather, stood. "What orders?""I'm to venture down to the flatland to the east of here, then strikeup into the Thunderhell Steppes, find the Saaur, and convince them notto attack our forces again."
The Captain raised an eyebrow in his most expressive reaction sincePug had first encountered him in Krondor. "Good luck to you m'lord."He put down the harness and said, "Will you be needing anything fromme or my men.
Pug said, "I regret to say I must impose on you for an escort. ThePrince thought it necessary."
The Captain smiled. "From what I've heard of you, I find that difficultto believe. Still, if the Prince commands, we obey. I'll have a patrol readyto accompany you at first light. Until then you'll have to make do with a
rough camp. I'll have a couple of my men double up in a tent, so youand your friend here can share one."
"Thanks," said Pug. He glanced at Nakor. "You'll sleep alone tonight,my friend, as I plan on staying another night with my wife.""Going to flit back down to Darkmoor?"
"No, Miranda's at Sorcerer's Isle, and I want to see her again."Nakor grinned. "I remember what it was like to be in love." Hesighed. "That was a while back, though."
Pug took out a Tsurani transportation orb and said, "This is the lastone. I'm going to have Miranda teach me the trick of getting aroundwithout one of these things." He started looking around the landscape.To attempt to use the orb to go to a destination not well known to theuser's mind was almost certain death. "Let me take a few minutes andget the location of this camp fixed in my mind so I can find my way backhere in the morning."
"By all means," said Nakor. "But don't break it," he added with alaugh. "It's going to take her a while to teach you, and somehow I don'timagine you're going to start learning tonight." Pug ignored Nakor andwandered off, looking intently at the surrounding landmarks. Nakorturned to Subai. "Things quiet around here, Captain?"Subai nodded. "The invaders hold the other side of the northernpasses, but they're not trying to cross the ridge of the mountains. Ourpatrols can get within a few hundred yards of their positions before theycome swarming out, but they only chase us a little way. They seem contentto stay where they are."
"Undoubtedly," said Nakor. "They're fortifying defenses before everyavenue of attack."
Subai nodded.
"I suppose you've found a few ways over the mountains they haven'tfound out yet."
"A few. mostly goat trails and footpaths. There are a couple of placeswe might infiltrate a squad or two, potentially put men at their back aswe drive north, but no place we could stage on the other side for a majoroffensive." The Captain glanced westward, as if seeing through the mountainsto where the enemy was on the other side. "Over there, just a week'sride if it were a straight path, lies Sarth. If we could somehow get insidethere, seize the old abbey above the town, and stage there, we couldlaunch a flank attack in support of any forces coming from the south andclear out the invaders in a few days, rather than the weeks it's going totake."
Nakor said, "Maybe there's a way."
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"what are you suggesting?" asked the Captain.
,.I,m trying to remember a story Duke James told me a long timeago." He was silent a while, then said, "I need to send a message to DukeArutha. Do you have something I can write with?""In my tent," said Subai.
"Good," said Nakor, heading inside.
Subai looked up to see where Pug was now, and saw that the magicianhad vanished.
Miranda looked up and saw Pug standing there. She jumped up, hurriedto him, and threw her arms around him. "I missed you."Pug echoed the sentiment. They hadn't been apart since the end offighting almost six months earlier, and it had taken him almost a week toreach Subai's camp in the mountains.
"How are things around here?" Pug asked after their embrace.Miranda said, "Much as we left it. Gathis conducts the daily businessof the island in an exemplary fashion and it seems Robert d'Lyes hasbecome something of an organizer around here. He's taken to reestablishingthe class schedule that lapsed with your last departure."Pug smiled. "Good. I'll have to speak to him before I leave in themorning."
She kissed him. "But not until after dinner. I want you to myself forthe next few hours."
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He smiled and said, "Not until then."
They spent the next two hours alone, then sent word to have supperbrought to their quarters. After dining, Gathis appeared outside the dooras servants were removing the dinner trays.
"Master Pug," he said in greeting. The tall goblinlike creature wasalways formal when addressing anyone, from Pug to the most menial ofservants. Though, even the most menial of servants on this island was astudent of magic, from one end of Midkemia to the other, and from distantworlds.
"Gathis," Pug acknowledged. "How is everything.' 'That is why I wished to speak to you. I fear something is amiss.""What is that?"
"It would be better if you and "stress Miranda were to accompanyme.yg
Pug and Miranda exchanged glances, but said nothing, nodding toGathis, who turned and led them out the door and along the long hallwaywhich separated Pug's personal quarters from the rest of the large central
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house that dominated Villa Beata-the Beautiful House as it was knownin the ancient language of Queg.
He led them outside and across a meadow, and instantly Pug knewwhere he was leading them. As before, when he reached a grassy hillside,Gathis waved his hand and a cave materialized. They entered and againPug saw the small altar upon which rested the statue of Sarig, the lostGod of Magic. Miranda gasped. The first time they had seen the statue,the features upon it resembled those of her father, Macros the Black. "Theface is blank!"
"Yes, mistress," said Gathis. "I came here a few days ago and sawwhat you see now."
"What does it mean?" asked Miranda.
Pug said, "The gods are waiting."
"For what?" she asked, touching the statue.
Pug's voice was soft. "For Sarig's new avatar, his new human agenton this world."
Miranda said, "Does this mean you?"
"No," said Pug. "when I lay near death in the healing glade of Elvandar,when Lims-Kragma spoke to me, I was given three choices. Deathwas the first." He looked at Miranda. "I could not leave you."She smiled.
"The second choice was eternal life, but the price was becomingSarig's next avatar. I would have replaced your father.""I don't think I would have cared much for that." Then she lookedat Pug. "What was the third choice?"
Pug said, "Nothing I care to talk about."
Anger flared up in Miranda's voice as she said, "Tell me!""I will die someday."
She moved around to stand directly before him, between Pug and thestatue. "You're not telling me something. What?""Only that at the end of my life I will know ... hardship.Miranda's eyes widened. "What have we known already?""That was how I looked at it. If we can get through what we'vealready survived, what more should I worry about."Coolly, she said, "Are you telling me everything.Pug shrugged. "I'm probably forgetting something." With a light tonehe said, "Remember, I was almost dead at the time I had this conversation. "
Gathis said, "The future is not fixed, though it can be difficult tochange if events gain enough momentum."
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Pug nodded, and Miranda said, "I have no idea what that means.What are you hiding. "
Pug said, "Only that in exchange for a very long life and a Feat dealof power I will have to eventually pay a high price."Miranda said, "There's no 'only' about that."
Gathis said, "We all have prices to pay."
Pug changed the subject. "You've been the keeper of this shrine forages, Gathis. What do you think this means?"
"I think a time of change is upon us, Master Pug, and soon someonewill present himself to fill the void left by Macros's death."Pug said, "I think you are right. Perhaps it's one of the students.Pug remained silent a moment, then said, "Someone will find this shrine.Gathis said, "I have evolved a very subtle but powerful spell to disguiseit, Master Pug."
"I know. I lived on this island for decades and never suspected it washere, but whoever is fated to become Sarig's next tool will somehow findthis place."
Gathis pondered that observation, and said, "I think that is a likelypossibility. "
"We will await that day. In the meantime," he said to Miranda, "let'sreturn to the house. I want to see a little of how things are running here,then I want to rest before returning to Subai's camp in the morning."They returned to the house, and as they crossed the center courtyard,they encountered a group of students sitting around the fountain, enjoyingthe quiet spring evening. As Pug approached, they all respectfully rose,save for a Brunangee Fire Signer whose snakelike lower body made itimpossible for her to do more than raise her roughly humanoid uppertorso in an approximation of a slight bow. Pug waved them all back towhere they had sat.
Robert d'Lyes said, "Pug, it is good to see you again.""How have you found life on our tidy little island?" asked Pug. Hehad brought the young magician along with Miranda to the island duringthe winter. Robert had resigned as a member of the council at Stardockand had nowhere else to go. Patrick seemed indifferent to the idea of acourt magician, so Pug decided to employ him at the island."It's a wonderful place," said Robert. "I've learned more about myarts in the last month than I did in the previous two years at Stardock. "Miranda and Pug glanced at one another. "That's impressive," saidPug, motioning for Gathis and Miranda to sit on a nearby bench . T~YOUwere the youngest member of the council and rose faster in the learning
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of your craft than any student we had at Stardock. And you're learning
even faster here?"
Robert smiled. He had chosen to affect a beard in imitation of Pug, aflattery Pug didn't find appealing, but which he chose not to commentupon. "It's astonishing. What I find even more wonderful is that withpractitioners of magic from other worlds I'm learning things Chalmersand Kalied never would have dreamt of."
Pug was now genuinely intrigued. "oh, really? Care to give me anexample?"
Robert nodded, his youthful enthusiasm clearly evident. He turned tothe Fire Singer and said, "Takkek showed me something a few days agothat I've been practicing." He moved away from the group and started tosing. It was a faint sound, as if half-whispered, but clearly singing. Thewords were impossible to understand, as if the mind refused to grasp themand they were forgotten as soon as they were heard. Yet there was apattern to them, a mildly hypnotic rhythm that caused Pug to glancearound at the other students. They were sitting and watching with raptexpressions as Robert continued his song.
A flame appeared in the air, a foot or so before Robert's face. It wasthe size of a baby's finger, but clearly it was a flame. It flickered anddanced in the wind, then suddenly went out. Robert looked tired, butelated, as he said, "I'm just now starting to understanda little of whatTakkek has shown me, but give me time."
"I am impressed," said Pug. "Under the old labels used by the TsuraniAssembly, that's Lesser Path magic, and should be close to impossible foryou to perform."
Robert laughed. "I'm convinced Nakor was right: there is no magic,just tricks, and if we open our minds, we can learn anything."Rising, Pug said, "Well, enjoy the evening and don't set fire to thehouse. Miranda and I are off. Oh, Robert," said Pug, turning to face thestudent.
"Yes, sir?"
"Gathis says you've been doing a good job in my absence. Continueto help out, if you would, please."
"It's my pleasure," said the student.
Pug and Miranda returned to their quarters. As they reached the door,Pug said, "That really was quite remarkable."
Miranda laughed and pushed him through the door. Playfully shesaid, "I'll show you something remarkable."
She shut the door.
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Nakor glanced up as Pug popped into view. A soldier carrying a bundleof wood dropped it when suddenly there was a black-robed man standingwhere there had only been empty air the moment before. "Hello!"Nakor called happily.
Captain Subai was close by, talking to a young officer wearing theblack tabard of Krondor's Crimson Eagles. A few Pathfinders could beseen around camp, but their numbers were few. Pug knew that the majorityof them were high in the mountains to the west, scouting the enemyand ready to return with reports on any movement of Fadawah's forces.Their reputation for tracking, scouting, and stealth in the woodlands waslegendary, rivaling that of Kesh's Imperial Guides and the Rangers of theFree Cities of Natal. Only the elves were said to be better.Subai said, "Lieutenant Gunderson will lead the patrol accompanyingYOU.))
Pug saw that the Captain was providing an escort of a dozen men.One, a trailbreaker Pug judged, was a Pathfinder, and he started ridingahead, while the others waited for Nakor and Pug to mount their horses.Subai pointed at Nakor. "I'm pleased to see that one go. I don't knowwhat's more irritating: his constant preaching on the subject of 'good,' orhis luck at cards."
Pug laughed. "I have a hunch which was more irritating."Subai said, "We've packed provisions for two weeks.""I'll find them in less time than that," said Pug as he hiked up hisblack robe and climbed into the saddle.
"Just make sure you find them before they find you. By all reportsthey come out of the grasslands like a wind and are over you before youeven hear them coming."
Nakor said, "I've seen them. You can hear them coming."Subai smiled, and Pug said, "Any other advice?""Don't get killed," said the Captain without a smile.Pug nodded. "I have other plans." He nodded to the Lieutenant andthe order was given to ride off.
Nakor said, "I was talking to the Captain about some trails over themountain. As soon as we get back from this nonsense, we have to getback to Darkmoor and find Greylock and Erik. I think I have a plan thatcould shorten the war."
Pug turned and said, "Tell me about it."
Nakor outlined what he had thought of as they rode down a sniantr leading into the woodlands below.
For five days they rode, and except for one sighting of a band of riderswho veered off at the patrol's approach, the journey was uneventful. They
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had left the foothills the day before and were riding across grasslands,heading toward the southern entrance to the Thunderhell Steppes, a broadbreak in two ranges of hills, less than five miles across.They reached a point near signs of a large old campsite, and the Lieutenantordered a halt. "This was our reserve camp. There were woodenwalls, a dirt outer barrier, a drop gate. They overran it and killed everyone.He motioned with his hand. "They staked the heads in an archstarting here."
Pug said, "Then this is where we will part company, Lieutenant."The young officer said, "I though we were to accompany you untilwe found the Saaur."
"A reasonable assumption but incorrect," said Pug.Nakor said, "Honestly, Lieutenant, we can take care of ourselves andhaving you along might cause us some extra trouble, trying to keep youall alive."
The Lieutenant said, "Then may I ask why we're here at all, sir?""Because I didn't feel like arguing with your Captain, if you mustknow," said Pug.
"Do you mind if we wait, sir?"
"Don't bother," said Pug. "If I don't get killed, I'll be traveling backto Darkmoor a lot faster than you can get there."The magician's reputation was widely spread throughout the army,and he was also a Duke, so whatever reservations the young officer mighthave felt were kept inside. He merely saluted and said, "Very well, m'lord.Have a safe journey."
"You, as well," replied Pug.
Nakor said, "Well, then, let's get there."
Pug nodded and urged his horse forward.
They had traveled less than a mile when Nakor said, "Do you hear
it?~)
Pug said, "Yes."
In the distance, like the sound of distant drums, the thunder of thehooves pounding across the plains carried to them. Pug knew and Nakorhad seen those horses, twice the size of the sturdy cavalry mounts they]rode. Astride each would be a Saaur, twelve feet tall, reptilian warriors.Soon dust could be seen in the distance.
Pug turned to make sure the Kingdom patrol was retreating and waspleased to see it was almost out of sight.
"Let's wait here," said Nakor.
Pug nodded. "They'll be here soon enough."
They waited, and in the distance they could see riders on the horizon.The Saaur were coming.
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Nine
JIMMY WAVED.
Dash returned his brother's wave as he rode into the courtyard ofCastle Darkmoor. After spending the night in Erik's company, he hadtaken a horse and ridden to the Prince's court. He had exchanged mountslike a relay rider, anxious to get to court.
Dash dismounted and turned the reins of his horse over to a groomand embraced his brother. "I was concerned I might not see you againfor a while," he said.
Jimmy smiled. "I feared the same, too. Yet again, though, the Brothers Jamison survive."
"Barely," said Dash. "I got away from a work gang, only to betrapped by the Mockers."
"Come along, tell me all about it while you bathe. Father's in courtwith the Prince and will be anxious to see you when you're presentable.It appears we won't need any details on defenses, as we seem to be reachingan accommodation with General Duko.
"So Erik von Darkmoor tells me." He glanced around. "Where arethe troops ready to march, the brave banners and loud trumpets?""Ah," said Jimmy, a dark cloud crossing over his face. "The departureis delayed."
"Delayed?" Dash looked confused. "I would have thought Patrickwould have hurt himself to get into Krondor as quickly as possible. Theearlier the city is secured, the faster we can turn north toward Sarth andstart retaking the Bitter Sea coast and Yabon.""There are other issues." Jimmy pulled on his brother's arm. "Comealong. Get a bath and we'll talk."
Dash sighed. He trudged along after his brother.
Dash sputtered as Jimmy poured another bucket of hot water overhim. "So then he turned you loose?"
"Yes," said Dash, "but I don't think there was a lot of family devotionin there. What I saw looked like a pretty pathetic bunch, and I suspect heknew that killing me would protect very little, while turning me loosemight actually gain him something."
"Well, if Duko doesn't turn out to be the grandfather of liars, wewon't need the Mockers' help getting into the city.""I'm for that," said Dash. "I've seen enough bloodshed to last me therest of my life."
Jimmy put down the bucket and handed Dash a towel as he climbedout of the bathtub. A servant had laid out clothing on the bed and left thebrothers alone. Dash toweled dry, and said, "Does it bother you?"
"The killing?" asked Jimmy.
Dash nodded.
Jimmy sat back on the windowseat. "Sometimes. When Grandfatherused to talk about the things he and Prince Arutha did, killing was ...something you did to the enemy. The stink of the dead wasn't part ofGrandfather's stories. "
"Except that one about the living dead in the brothel," said Dash witha laugh. "To this day I don't know whether to believe it or not. Havingto burn the building down to the ground to get rid of them."Jimmy shared the humor. Then his smile faded. "Given what we'veseen in the last two years I'm disinclined to t fal t hi Gfather told us."
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Dash nodded. "Do you ever ask yourself why we do these things?""Almost every day," said Jimmy.
Dash pulled on his shirt. "Good, what's the answer?""Because we go where duty calls us."
Dash stepped into his trousers. "Duty?" He reached for his boots and
sat on the bed to pull them on. "These aren't as good as the ones I lostin Krondor."
"They were the second best pair you brought with you from Rillanon;I checked your wardrobe."
Dash nodded. "Anyway, Grandfather always talked of duty, but I saw
where he grew up, firsthand, and I have no idea why he felt that way.""What way?" asked Jimmy. "I'm not sure I'm understanding you.""I mean he felt so deeply his duty to the Kingdom. Those Mockers Italked to looked at it as you or I might look at taking vows to serve Sung."
"Celibacy was never high on my list of virtues," admitted Jimmy."That's what I mean. Grandfather had Father as deep into the ideaof King and Nation before we were born as if he was teaching a religion.I,M just at a loss to wonder how Grandfather got that way."Jimmy looked at his brother as he finished dressing. "Interesting question.Perhaps Father can give you an insight. I suspect that if \*I thosestories we heard were true, and if life with the Mockers was as unappealingas I suspect it was, Grandfather might have been moved by a verydeep sense of gratitude."
Dash glanced in a looking-glass and judged his appearance acceptablefor an interview with the Prince. ',I don't think it's that. It's more thangratitude." He looked at Jimmy. "Is there anything you can imagine thatwould get you to break your vows to the crown?"Jimmy stopped almost in midstride; the concept was too alien to imagine. "Turn traitor?" He stopped and said, "I can't imagine what it couldbe. Perhaps some sort of perfect love . . ." He shook his head. "No, becauseI can't imagine any woman who loved me turning against somethingI hold that dear."
"speaking of women, did I see a page hurry by wearing the livery ofSilden?"
"Yes, you did," said Jimmy with a grin.
"Is Francie here with her father?"
Jimmy nodded. "Yes."
"And does she still have that crush on you?'Y
Jimmy's grin widened. "I hope so." He laughed. "We had lunch theother day. She's turned out just as you might expect."Dash opened the door and said, "If memory serves she was obnoxiousand beat you up with some regularity."
"No," said Jimmy, stepping through the door. "It was you she beatup. I was too big. Beside, she fancied herself in love with me.""Well, then, back to the point, is there something diere?"Jimmy walked down the hall with his brother. "Seriously, I don'tknow. I suspect, however, I may have nothing to say in the matter, norwill Francie."
"Patrick?"
"That's the delay I spoke of. Suddenly Dukes are winging their waylike birds in migration toward Darkmoor."
"All with eligible daughters?"
Rounding a corner, moving past guards standing at their posts, Jimmysaid, "I think the King worries that with war coming, another heir mightprove valuable."
They climbed the steps in the main hall that led to the Baronial greathall, where Patrick currently held court. "The curse of twins."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CRowN
"Erland would never do anything against his brother, we know that,but there's more than one noble who might link his fate to one of Erland'ssons should a rival claim be possible. If Patrick doesn't wed and beget a
son. . ." He let the thought go unfinished as they reached the audiencehall
Nobles had been trickling into Darkmoor since the thaw, and now themodest Baronial hall was packed to the point of overcrowding. Dash said,I 'We'd better take Krondor back just so we can get into a hall big enoughto hold this lot."
Jimmy said, "Shhh." He pointed to where their father stood next tothe Prince. It was the most formal-looking court they had witnessed sofar in Darkmoor, for Patrick wore his purple mantle, his ermine stole, andhis circlet of gold. Arutha was likewise attired formally in a black tunicwith golden trim, scarlet leggings, and his chain of office, with his Ducalseal hanging from it. At his side he wore the sword once borne by hisnamesake, carried by Erik von Darkmoor to Arutha.The brothers waited at the rear of the hall as the Prince disposed ofthe day's business. Then a young page announced, "This day's court isat an end, my lords and ladies."
Patrick stood and everyone in the room bowed. As the Prince departed,Arutha saw his sons and motioned for them to join him.They crossed the still-crowded court, and when they reached the daisupon which the throne was placed, Arutha hugged his younger son. "Ican't tell you how pleased I am to see you."
"Of course you can," quipped Dash.
Arutha said, "Come, you must fill in the Prince on what you learnedin Krondor."
Dash followed his father and brother into the Prince's private office.
Nakor said, "Do you think they'll get tired of this?"Pug said, "Eventually, or they'll run out of arrows."Pug had erected a mystical barrier around the two when the Saaurhad first closed on Nakor and him, as it was clear they weren't comingto talk, but rather were charging with lances down. These appeared to beYoung Saaur warriors, eager to shed blood. Several of them had beenseriously injured when their lances struck Pug's invisible barrier and shattered,throwing them from their saddles. For almost a half day since, theSaaur had been content to take up position a dozen yards from the twomen and fire arrows at them.
The chaos which followed seem to amuse Nakor, though Pug wasdisturbed by the attempt to kill them without conversation. They appeared
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two relatively helpless men, unarmed and alone. Their own horses hpanicked at the onslaught of the Saaur riders, the massive horses bearingdown like a rolling tide.
Pug had allowed his and Nakor's mounts to flee before putting up hisbarrier, and now he regretted the decision. They were without the foodand water in the saddlebags, with nothing for sustenance except for Nakor's seemingly inexhaustible supply of oranges.
He produced one, split the skin, and began to devour it. "Want one?""No, thank you; maybe later," said Pug. "This shield spell is morethan adequate to keep them out, but I do have to spend a little energykeeping it intact."
"It's a good thing they don't have any spellcasters along, isn't it?""Things could get a little difficult," agreed Pug.Nakor squinted and said, "Then things might get difficult soon." Hepointed to the distant horizon beyond the milling, angry riders who werestill firing arrows at them.
In the distance another band of riders was approaching at speed, andfrom the banners being carried by heralds at the front, Pug assumed someoneof importance was coming to investigate this problem. He said, "Well,if I tell you to run, don't hesitate."
Nakor said, "I run very well when I need to."
As the new band of riders pulled up, those already surrounding theprotective sphere moved back, allowing a group of a dozen riders to comeClose and inspect the two humans. Pug recognized the leader, Jatuk, theSha-shahan of all the remaining Saaur.
The young warriors fell silent as their leader reined in his mount. Theleader jumped down from his horse and walked to stand just inches theother side of the energy barrier. "Why have you humans come to troublethe Saaur?" he demanded.
Pug glanced at Nakor, who shrugged.
Pug looked at Jatuk and said, "Why do you war upon us, Sha-shahanOf all the Saaur?"
"I make no war upon your kind, Black Robe."
"There are three hundred dead soldiers of my King back there whowould argue that," Pug replied.
"If they could still argue," Nakor added.
"They refused to depart," said Jatuk. "They were told we claim thesegrasslands. "
Pug said, "If I lower this barrier, may we talk?"Jatuk waved his hand in agreement. "We camp here!" he shouted,and instantly the fifty or so riders surrounding the two humans dismounted
and started to organize a camp. Several led horses away anddrove stakes for pickets while others began building fire pits. Still othersrode off toward a nearby river, to carry water back.Pug let the barrier lapse, and Jatuk said, "I remember you, BlackRobe. It was you who brought me Haman's dying words, of our betrayalat the hands of the Pantathians. I will speak with you in truce, and youmay leave freely when we are done."
"Me too?" asked Nakor.
Jatuk didn't deign to answer, merely waving away the question as heturned his back on the pair. He walked to his horse, held by another Saaurwarrior, and with a gesture indicated he wanted his travel pack. The warriorcomplied and handed down a bag that a human would have beenhard-pressed to carry.
Pug was again staggered by the scale of the Saaur. The average warriortopped out at twelve feet tall, with a few slightly taller. Their horses wereclose to twenty-five hands compared to the seventeen or eighteen handsof a heavy Midkemian warhorse. Pug was also impressed at their efficiencyin setting up camp. He reminded himself these were originally anomadic people, who despite having constructed great cities on their homeworldof Shila, had remained nomads at heart. The majority of the Saaurroamed the great grassy plains of Shila, thousands of horsemen and theirfamilies and herds accompanying them on their endless trek.A demon attack had ended that great civilization. Of the millions ofSaaur who had dominated their homeworld at its height, less than tenthousand had survived on Midkemia. Pug assumed that the last few yearsof warfare had kept their numbers low, but knew they were a people facinga grim future if they couldn't find a respite from warfare.A fire was built and Jatuk motioned for Pug and Nakor to join him.His reptilian face was surprisingly expressive, and the more Pug watchedthose giant warriors the easier it became to see individual differences. Awarrior took the role of Jatuk's servant, providing him with a woodenbowl of water for him to refresh himself with. He washed face and hands,and at the end ran a damp towel across the back of his neck. That gesturewas the most reassuring thing Pug had seen of the Saaur, for it was themost humanlike display he had seen that didn't involve bloodshed.While traveling through the destroyed world of Shila with the spiritof the last Lore Master of the Saaur, Haman, Pug had come to learn alot of the people of that world and their history. He doubted human andSaaur could ever be close friends on Midkemia, but he thought with somework, they could become respectful of one another, leaving each otheralone for the most part, as humans and elves, and humans and dwarves,tended to. He knew humanity didn't need another enemy like the moredhel,goblins, or trolls, especially not an enemy as physically powerful anddetermined as the Saaur.
Jatuk said, "We placed the heads of those men who would not quitth
e grasslands on poles to stand as warning. Yet you ignored the warningto seek us out. We are tired of your kind, Black Robe. We have knownnothing but death and loss since coming to this world." He motioned tothe northeast, up the vast Thunderhell. "This is land we understand. Thereare rolling plains, water, the cattle we have taken thrive here."Pug nodded. Then he said, "But it is not your land.""This is not our world," said Jatuk bitterly. "So we must take whatwe can." He gazed to the south. "You have suffered, you humans of theKingdom, and I now understand that it was through no fault of yours thatwe were brought here. But we have no means to return home, and evenif we could, what would we find there, Black Robe?""A burned-out world populated by starving demons, hunting one anotherdown for food until only one is left. In time, it will starve and wither.Finally, it will die."
"So there is nowhere to go.
Pug said, "Perhaps there is."
Jatuk looked at Pug and said, "Where?"
"I don't know yet, but Midkemia is a big world. Here the grasslandsappear vast, but you know your own history. Once your forebears wereas you are now, a small band abandoned upon Shila by the Valheru calledAlma-Lodaka."
Despite having learned the truth of their "goddess's" nature in thelast year, old habits died hard, and the older Saaur bowed their heads inreverence at the Green Mother's name.
"But over the ages," Pug continued, "your nation grew until you hadconquered the entire globe. You and your children may be content towander the Thunderhell, to fight the nomadic tribes that already claimthis land, but eventually you'll return to the villages and towns of mynation. You will either have to make war or change your ways.~yJatuk was silent. "What can we do?"
Pug said, "Abide. Leave those of us to the south alone and we willleave you alone. When we have disposed of Fadawah and his men, andhave restored peace to our land, we shall turn our minds and will to theproblem of finding the Saaur a proper home."
Jatuk thought on this, and at last said, "Do not take too long inmaking things so, Black Robe, for my people are coming to like livinghere. Should too much time pass, we shall resist leaving."
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"I understand," said Pug. To himself he added, Now if I can only getPatrick to understand. He pushed that thought aside as food was putbefore Nakor and him, and decided the opportunity to learn more aboutthe Saaur was too good to ignore. He would worry about Patrick's reactionwhen he returned to Darkmoor in the morning.
Patrick said, "You did what?"
Pug said, "I gave them assurances we would aid them in relocatingout of the Kingdom after we disposed of Fadawah.""But they agreed to leave?"
"Yes, if we can find them a reasonable alternative.""Find them an altemativel" Patrick shouted.
The II court was about to commence, and the Prince was holdingan impromptu interview with Pug, Nakor, Arutha, and his sons. "Thosemonsters killed three hundred of my men!"
Arutha said, "A misunderstanding, Highness."
"A misunderstanding?" Patrick appeared unconvinced. Turning toPug he said, "Why did you disobey me? I ordered you to destroy themif they wouldn't quit the Kingdom at once."
Pug was growing tired of the young Prince's manner. "Highness, Iam not an executioner. I have fought for the Kingdom, but I will not usemy powers to destroy an entire race because you are piqued.""Piqued!" Patrick's temper exploded. "You dare to talk to me in sucha fashion?"
Pug stood, looked at Arutha, then said, "Explain things to the boy,or I will go to his father and have this discussion with the King. Andwhen I get finished, Borric may have to reconsider who is running thishalf of his Kingdom."
The Prince's eyes widened, and as Pug turned to leave, Patrickshouted, "I have not given you leave to depart!"Pug ignored the Prince and walked out through the door. Nakor stoodand said to Arutha, "I'd better go with him." To Patrick he said, "AndYou better listen to him, boy. For he is powerful enough to be your greatestally, or your worst enemy."
Patrick's mouth fell open at the little man's added insult. He lookedat Arutha, who only shook his head slightly and said, "We have court,Highness. "
Dash and Jimmy exchanged glances but said nothing. Patrick stoodmotionless for a long minute, then composed himself. "You are right, mylord duke. We mustn't keep the court waiting."As Jimmy and Dash ducked out of a side door, Jimmy said, "Duke
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Pug has a lot of confidence in his ability to persuade the King he's rightto embarrass the Prince that way."
They walked toward the courtyard. Dash said, "From everything I'veheard ... well, it's probably a well-earned confidence." He glancedaround. "Look, we both know that Patrick's got a temper. We had enoughfights with him when we were children. And we know the King kept himoff the throne of Krondor an extra year because he didn't think he wasready."
Jimmy's voice lowered. "Well, he wasn't."
"He's still not," said Dash.
Jimmy regarded his brother and very quietly said, "Ready or not, heis the Prince of Krondor. We are servants of the crown. We have nochoice."
Dash said, "Father better keep him under control, or a lot of us aregoing to die because we have no choice." Dash's voice turned slightlyangry. "Look, this isn't a play-yard argument over who gets to ride thepony first, or who is going to pick first for the ball game. This is war, andit's not going to be a pretty one."
Nakor came around the corner. "Ah, there you are. I've been lookingfor you."
Jimmy grinned. "For what?"
"I need to get some information from you, and if you have what Ineed, we need to go retake the Abbey of Sarth."Dash and Jimmy's eyes opened wide at that last statement. "Retakethe abbey?" asked Dash.
"If you remember, your grandfather once told me a story about thetime he had to sneak into the Abbey of Sarth with that renegade moredhelchieftain."
Jimmy looked at Dash. "Do you remember any story like that?""No," said Dash. "I thought I'd heard every story Grandfather evertold."
From behind them a voice said, "No, you didn't."They looked to see Duke Arutha standing there. "But I rememberthat story.
Nakor grinned. "Subai has a goat trail over the mountains that leadsto a little valley down near the base of the mountain upon which the oldIshapian abbey sits."
Arutha paused for a minute, then said, "So while we're conducting
the business of establishing a court in Krondor, sending armies aroundhere and there, and while Fadawah's agents are closely watching, youwant to sneak over the mountains, find that secret entrance into the basement
of the abbey, capture and hold it until Greylock can drive up intothe town, and secure the area?"
"Something like that, but leave out the 'You' business. Someone alittle younger should run this raid." He glanced at the brothers, wholooked at each other.
"No," they said simultaneously. "That's a task for the Eagles or Pathfinders!"added Dash.
Arutha said, "We'll talk about it. But Nakor's right. If I can rememberwhat Father told me about that entrance, and if it's still there and usable,we could shorten this war by a year."
He walked away, heading for the Prince's morning court, and Jimmyturned to Nakor. "Is Pug all right?"
"He's just frustrated," said Nakor. "Patrick wants quick solutions andPug knows the same itch, but he's old enough to know that the quickestsolutions often are the ones with the highest price." He put his hands onthe brothers' shoulders and moved along the hall with them. "He mustweigh things in his mind, decide where his true loyalties lie."Jimmy said, "Loyalties lie? He's a noble of the Kingdom; he wasadopted into the royal family."
"But he has larger responsibilities," said Nakor. "Remember, hedidn't just save the Kingdom from destruction; he saved the entire worldof Midkemia, including all those men on the other side, the Saaur, anyPantathians who may be alive out there, the Brotherhood of the DarkPath, everyone. "
Jimmy said, "But he can't just toss aside his loyalty to the Kingdom."Dash said, "Don't be so sure."
"I don't think he's going to toss anything aside," said Nakor as theywalked into the courtyard. "At least not lightly."
Pug popped into view on the bank of a river. "Hello!" he called.A moment later a voice called back, "Welcome, magician.""Have I leave to enter?"
"You are welcome in Elvandar," came the reply as a figure steppedOut from behind a tree.
"Galain!" said Pug as he waded across the sandy ford he alwaysPreferred to use to enter the elven woods.
The young-by elvish standards-warrior stood with the tip of hislongbow on the ground in a relaxed posture. "I came to watch whenMiranda showed up two days ago. I thought you might come by shortly.""I'm glad you did. What news of the court?"
'The court is in mourning. He who was your companion, and oncewas Duke of Crydee, has left us for the Blessed Isles."Pug nodded. Martin Longbow had been approaching a hundred yearsof age and had lived his last here, with the people who had raised him asa child. "Marcus and Margaret?" asked Pug, referring to Martin's children. tihi
"
They came, with their mates aria cnnuren, an -.Ybody of their father. The returned him to Crydee, to bury in a vault as istheir custom."
"How long ago?"
"Not long, a few weeks. Marcus and his party left the banks of theriver less than two weeks ago."
]Plug nodded. "That would explain why word had not reached us. Itwill take weeks more for Marcus to send word by ship to Port Vykor. ThePrince will not have heard it." He looked at the elf. "Thank you for tellingme. That one was a true friend, the last save Tomas, from my first yearsin Crydee."
"He was well loved by us all."
"How are the others?"
"Save that loss, all is well." He shouldered his bow and said, "TheQueen is well, as is Tomas. Prince Calin and Redtree hunt together. Despitethe war to the east of us, the invaders do not try to cross into Crydee,so they do not trouble our borders."
"How is Calis?"
Galain smiled. "He most of all is well. Since his birth I have notknown him to be as happy as he is. I think the release of the Lifestonehas freed him from a dreadful part of his heritage."Pug said, "I am impatient to see my wife."
"I understand," said Galain, "from what I've seen. So far I have nothad the fortune to meet she who will be my wife.""You're young," said Pug dryly. "Barely past a century."I :\_ I A 'IT'K;c ;c true " He held uD his hand and said, "I wfll
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see you back at the court in a few days."
"I can take you with me," said Pug.
"I have other duties. I must make a patrol along the river you humanscall Crydee. I just came this way to greet you."Considering the number of times he had visited the elves, Pug cOrrectly interpreted the remark and said, "Thank you for making the effort.""You are welcome."
Pug activated the device he carried and found himself floating abovethe treetops a half-mile from where he wanted to be. He barely got control
of his powers in time to keep from falling to his death and landed gently.Feeling shaken, he examined the Tsurani sphere and saw a fading alonga portion of it that told him it was no longer usable. He regretted the lossof the device. His ability to quickly move from place to place was nowgone, until he learned the trick Miranda had of moving at will withoutaid.
He put it back inside his robe. Several other such devices were beingstudied back at his island by his students, and another might prove useful.He remembered the days of free trading with the Empire of Tsurannuanithrough the rift gates. Now there was only one, at Stardock, closely monitoredon both sides. For a dark moment he wondered if there was anythingmankind couldn't make a mess of., not for the last time in his lifehe cursed Makala, the Tsurani magician whose badly conceived treacheryhad caused the estrangement between the two worlds, all motivated bythe highest ideals: to serve the Empire.
Well, he thought, dwelling on past failures once you'd learned all therewas to learn was just heaping futility on failure. He put aside reminiscencesand started walking.
A short time later he reached the large clearing that surrounded Elvandar,keeping it apart from the surrounding forest. As every time before,he found himself captivated by the sight of it. Even in the brightest daylightthe colors of the trees were otherworldly. The magic of the place waspowerful, but subtle, a sweet counterpoint to what nature had fashioned,a wonderful feeling of rightness.
High above large branches with flattened tops formed walkways betweenboles, and along the base of the trees cooking fires and tanningracks, pottery wheels, and other craft areas sat. Pug was greeted by severalelves who recognized him, and those who did not nevertheless nodded ingreeting.
He made his way along the climbing path of steps and branches untilhe was at the center of the great elven city. At the boundary to the Queen'sCourt, he found Tathar, the Queen's seniormost advisor, waiting. "Magician!"Tathar said, extending his hand to shake in the human fashion."It is good to see you again."
Pug said, "It is good to see you as well, old friend. " He glancedaround and said, "It is good to again be in Elvandar." He looked atTathar. "My wife?"
"She is with the Queen and Tomas," answered the old advisor.Come.))
He led Pug into the heart of the Queen's court, where Queen Aglaranna,Tomas, and Miranda were sitting in conversation. Seeing his boy
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hood friend, Tomas rose, but it was Miranda who reached her husbandfirst. "I didn't think you were coming!" she said, delighted to be wrong."I didn't think I was either," said Pug. "But I had a bit of an argumentwith Patrick-"
"The Prince of Krondor?" asked Tomas. He smiled down at his short
friend.
Pug looked up at his boyhood foster brother; even in that tall, slightlyalien figure, Pug glimpsed the image of the kitchenboy with whom he hadlived as a child. "The very same. He wanted me to go obliterate the Saaurand I thought offering them a peaceful alternative might prove a wisercourse.
Tomas nodded. "Crush your enemies without mercy." He shook hishead. "I remember those impulses all too well, my friend."Pug allowed Miranda to escort him to Aglaranna's throne, where hebowed and said, "Greetings, My Lady."
"Welcome, Pug."
"I am grieved to learn of a friend's departure," Pug said.Aglaranna said, "He passed as happy as he could be, given his life.No one can ask more. He bade us good night and never awoke. He wasat peace. For one of your race, he lived a very long time."Pug nodded. "But I will miss him. As I miss all the other friends ofMY youth.'
"I understand," said the Queen. "That is why you should visit moreoften. We eledhel abide far longer than you humans." Then consideringPug's and Miranda's age, she amended that to, "Most of you humans,that is.
Pug said, "This is true." Glancing around, he said, "Where is Calis?"Miranda smiled. "He's not too far away. I suspect, anyway."Tomas grinned. "There's a woman ... He shrugged and winked.Pug said, "Calis?"
"One from across the ocean, whom Miranda brought to us. With twobeautiful boys who need a father."
"Is it ... serious?" asked Pug.
Tomas laughed. "My wife's people are very different from you andme, Pug. And from my son. He is but half-elf, unique in the world, andhe has spent a great deal of time among humans." Tomas leaned overit,i I
and whispered in a mock-conspiratorial tone, "I think he's taken, but hedoesn't even.know he's tasted the hook!"
Tathar laughed and said, "This is true. Among our people we havethe recognition, the sudden knowledge that a mate is before you. Not allour people know this certainty, and to them falls the difficult task of slowly
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SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
building a bond with another who has also not known the recognition.With Calig and Elien, it is the difficult way. But often it ends in a love asprofound as the first."
Miranda smiled. "I think I sensed something in her when I first foundher and the boys. I think it will all work out."Aglaranna turned to an elf nearby and said, "Would you carry wordto my son, please, and have him attend us for supper this evening. Havehim bring Elien and her sons, too."
The elf bowed and hurried off.
"What brings you to us?" asked Tomas.
"I wished to see my wife," said Pug with a smile. "And I wished anevening among friends, where the air doesn't carry the memory of war,smoke, and blood. I wanted a quiet night before I start another quest.""A quest?" asked the Queen. "For what do you seek this time, magician."
I need to find the Saaur a homeland," said Pug. "Else we may haveyet another war upon us before we sort out the one already here."Miranda said, "Well, then, we'll leave in the morning.""I was going to go alone," said Pug, "but the Tsurani orb is no longerworking-I almost broke my neck when it left me hanging in midair andI don't know where I'm bound for."
"So you need me to show you how to get around?""Something like that."
Miranda smiled. "I don't know if I will."
"What? Why?" asked Pug.
Poking a finger into his chest, she said, "Because I like being able todo something better than you."
At that the rest of the Queen's court laughed, and they relaxed aspages brought wine and food; soon they were joined by Calis and thewoman from across the sea, and her sons. And at least for this one night,they put thoughts of war and the threat of war away and enjoyed thecompany of good friends.
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Ten
JIMMY FROWNED.
Prince Patrick had just leaned over to whisper something in Francie'sear and she blushed as she laughed. The Duke of Silden pointedly choseto ignore this breech of etiquette. The Dukes of Rodez, Euper, Sadara,and Timons glanced over and returned to their conversations. Theirdaughters, all resplendent in their finest gowns, allowed their gazes tolinger a bit longer before returning their attentions to the various youngcourtiers at the table.
Dash had to turn away so as not to laugh at his brother's unhappiness.The hall at Castle Darkmoor was now overtaxed in the opinion of thePrince's Master of Ceremony, a dour man named Wiggins. He had beena clerk in the court of Krondor, but had occasionally helped with statefunctions for the old Master, Jerome. Because of that small advantage, hehad been named to the office on Patrick's resurrection of the court inDarkmoor. He resembled nothing as much as a very nervous bird as hefluttered about the room, from one noble to the next, attempting to insureeveryone's needs were met, despite shortages of food, ale, and wine.Mathilda, Dowager Baroness of Darkmoor, sat on the left of the Dukeof Silden. While no longer young, she still possessed a court-bred easeand charm, learned while growing up among the powerful eastern nobles.The Duke, a widower, was an obvious target for a woman of her breeding.He appeared mildly interested.
Dash cast a glance back at his brother and saw that Jimmy was attemptingto be interested in something said by the daughter of an easternEarl; which one he couldn't remember. She was a pretty enough girl in avapid way, and Dash's amusement at his brother's frustration turned tosympathy. Francie was clearly the most interesting young woman in court,if not the most beautiful, and the time Jimmy had spent with her over the
last couple of weeks had awakened something; at the very least, a proprietaryimpulse if not something deeper.
Dash knew that neither he nor his brother would be free to followtheir heart's call as long as they were in service to the crown. They weretoo highly born, being the sons and grandsons of Dukes. Jimmy wouldmost likely advance to a similar high office, and Dash would probablyend up an Earl if he continued in service.
Which meant neither son would have a great deal to say in the matter
of whom they would wed. That detail would be up to their father to alesser extent, and the King's pleasure to a greater extent. Factionism inthe Kingdom was a way of life, and keeping the two realms closely alliedan ongoing problem. The East had the population, the wealth, and thepolitical strength. The West had the natural resources, the potential forgrowth, and all the problems of a frontier: enemies, disorder, and constantdifficulty governing. Marrying off the eligible daughters of one realm tothe sons of the other was a time-honored method of keeping the tworealms close, and no more eligible son existed than the future King.Francie glanced over at Jimmy and smiled at him, then returned herattention to Patrick. Dash leaned over and said, "We should ask Father.""Ask him what?" Jimmy turned, looking confused."Who the King wants his son to many. You don't think for a momentthat hasn't already been decided, do you?"
Jimmy considered this, then smiled. "You're probably right. If Fatherdoesn't know, then no one does."
Jimmy waited until Duke Arutha looked his way, then motioned withhis head. Arutha nodded, then rose and came around to stand behindBaroness Mathilda. He whispered something to the Prince, who wavedhim away with a smile, and moved around to where his sons stood. Theybowed toward the Prince, who wasn't looking at them, then walked fromthe table.
.Once the three were outside of the hall, Dash observed, "We're goingto have to start turning away nobles if they continue to show up."Arutha said, "More are coming. The court here in Darkmoor is to beas visible and noisy as we can make it. We will find rooms for as manywho arrive as possible, first here, then in the nearby city. The rest will bequartered outside the wall, in pavilions and campaign tents. There is tobe a month of public celebration."
Jimmy's mouth opened in disbelief. "This can't be true?""It is," said Arutha.
Jimmy said, "But we have to finalize our deal with Duko-"
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,That's been accomplished. We sent himterms and he replied thismorning.
"What arrangement has been agreed to?" asked Dash.Arutha motioned that they should walk. He headed out toward thecentral courtyard of the castle. The halls were thronged with pages, servants,and guards, attending the needs of a score of visiting nobles.Within a month's time, our former enemy will become Duke of theSouthern Marches."
"Lord Sutherland!" exclaimed Jimmy. "That s incredible.""Patrick would rather not give him anything, and the King wouldprefer to name him Baron of Land's End or something equally ... local.I persuaded them both otherwise."
"Why, Father?" asked Dash.
"Because Duko has, to all effects, a personal army of close to twenty-fivethousand men. He may dream of something more noble than hisprevious calling as a sword-for-hire, but most of his soldiers have no allegianceto the Kingdom. I convinced the King that he might be the onlyhope for us to keep those men under control and make them Kesh's problemrather than our own."
Dash got a calculating expression. "If he's a Duke ... This means heanswers to the Prince, and not to you."
"I have my hands full. And if Patrick has direct control over Duko,he may come to trust him."
Jimmy smiled. "Yet you will be advising the Prince on all matterspertaining to the Southern Marches."
Arutha nodded. "And it keeps other political issues in balance."Jimmy and Dash both knew that meant Duko would be permitted toappoint his own captains to key locations along the southern borders,probably gaining titles for them. There were presently more offices thannobles to fill them due to the high mortality rate of the recent war in theWest. Eastern nobles would already be pestering the King for some ofthose titles-more to the point, the taxes their lands brought. None ofthose, however, would be willing to venture to the West to directly rulethem. Absentee rulership was not an alien concept in the Kingdom, butit was frowned upon in the West. There were too many problems -Queg,Kesh, the Brotherhood of the Dark Path, among others-to leave theadministration of a Barony, let alone an Earldom or Duchy, to a bailiffor seneschal. A few key offices would be given to western nobles' secondor third sons, so that Duko wouldn't be able to build a structure beneathhim of only personal retainers.
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Jimmy said, "Let me change the subject." He indicated the youngwomen dotting the room. "Is there anything we should know. . ."About what?" queried Arutha.
Dash said, "Has Patrick made a decision on who is going to be thenext Princess of Krondor?"
Arutha glanced around, seeing if anyone was listening. "Our two mostrecent queens were from Roldem. Borric, and Lyam before him, wereanxious to fix alliances in the East." He put his hands on his son's shoulders. "You have the blood of Roldem in you. You know your mother'speople. They are vain and proud of their heritage and think of themselvesas a people apart. This is why we have seen so little of your mother.There was a bitter note in Arutha's voice neither son had heard before.They both knew their parents' marriage had been arranged by theirgrandfather, Duke James, and had been as advantageous to the Kingdomas the two marriages of the last two kings to Roldem's royal daughters.Dash and Jimmy's parents had always been able to maintain a pose ofwedded happiness in public, though the boys both knew the marriage wasfar from ideal. Only now were they learning just how strained the relationshipbetween their parents truly was.
Dash said, "So it must be a Kingdom bride?"
Arutha nodded. "The King has said so, to me, in private. And it mustbe an eastern noble's daughter. Preferably one from a Due with a greatdeal of influence in the Congress of Lords."
"Brian Silden," said Jimmy.
"Borric has determined to let his son have the privilege of liking thewoman who is to bear Isle's future King. So there are five likely candidatesfor the position of Princess."
Jimmy said, "Have you any inkling of who Patrick will ask to wed?"Arutha regarded his son closely, and said, "Francine will be our nextqueen. All that remains is the timing. Patrick and she have been friendssince childhood. He genuinely enjoys her company. There have been farworse foundations for state marriages in our time."Jimmy looked stricken.
Dash said, "Are you all right?"
Jimmy glanced from his father to his brother. "I just didn't ... realize.vl
Arutha said, "What? Are you in love with her?"Jimmy looked at his father and said, "I'll never know." Without anotherword he turned and walked away.
Arutha looked at Dash, who said, "Let him have some time to himself.'I didn't realize," said Arutha.
"He didn't either," said Dash. ,That's the problem.""What is?"
"Taking things for granted." Looking at his father, he said,) "DidGrandfather ever ask you if you wanted to serve the crown, Father?"Arutha looked as if this question was equally perplexing as what hehad just witnessed. After a pause, he said, "No, of course not.""Why 'of course not'?"
"Because I was just a boy.,I began, much as you did, running errandsfor him, then I was given work with the Royal Pages, then the Squires.""But when you became a man, did he ask if you might wish to dosomething else?"
Arutha looked at Dash and said, "No. He never did.""Did you ever consider you might have had a happier life if he had?"Arutha was silent a moment, then said, "That may be the oddestquestion I've ever heard, son."
Dash shrugged. "I'm full of very odd questions these days.""Why did you ask that?"
"Because I'm not certain I wish to continue in service to the crown.""What?" said Arutha. His tone was a mix of surprise and disbelief."What would you do?"
Dash shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps return to Mister Avery's employ.He is a very wealthy man."
Arutha laughed. "On paper. The King may make good on repayinghim by the time his grandchildren are running Avery and Jacoby."Dash smiled. "If I know Roo, he'll find a way to amass another fortunebefore that."
Arutha put his hand on Dash's shoulder and said, "If you wish to bereleased from service to the crown, I can manage that. But please waituntil after we get Fadawah out of Ylith. We have few enough competentmen to serve."
"I'll agree to that." Lowering his voice, Dash asked, "What comesnext?"
"Publicly, a very large engagement party next week. During whichPatrick secretly goes to Ravensburg, where he'll meet Duko, who willkneel before him and swear fealty. Then the newly appointed Duke of theSouthern Marches will return to the city and a hopefully quiet movementof soldiers will be underway. Those mercenaries who've been kept outsidethe walls will be allowed in. Many will be hired to man the garrison asothers leave to find work along the Keshian border. By the time Patrick'swedding is over and he returns to Krondor, the city will be firmly in our
hands, without having alerted Fadawah too far in advance that he's losthis southern command."
Dash's expression turned suspicious. "Where in all of this is the Dukeof Krondor? Why aren't you leading Patrick into his palace in triumph?""I'm needed elsewhere a while longer. There are things to be doneonly I can see through to the end."
Dash said, "Forgive me if I say that sounds decidedly odd.""Odd or not, it's true. Now go find your brother and see if he reallyis in distress. If so, go get him drunk and find a tavern wench to take hismind off of Francine. "
Dash said, "I'll try," and went off in search of his brother.Arutha watched his younger son depart and stood lost in thought fora moment, then he turned and headed back to the banquet hall. Therewas still much that had to be arranged before any of the plans he had setin motion could continue on to fruition.
I
Erik von Darkmoor and Rupert Avery sat at a table in the ChargingBoar, one of Darkmoor's better taverns, when Jimmy and Dash entered.Jimmy looked drunk already, and Erik stood and signaled across thecrowded common room. "Over here!"
Dash saw him and led a somewhat off-balance Jimmy over to thetable. "Join us!" said Roo cheerfully.
A plump barmaid came by, and Erik indicated a round of ale for thefour of them. Dash said, "No, thanks. He's had enough."Erik looked surprised, but said nothing as he waved away the barmaid."What brings you out of the palace, young nobles?" asked Roo."We needed a change of air," said Jimmy, his voice edged in bitterness.
Roo glanced at Erik, and Erik said, "Something sounds amiss."Dash leaned over, and in conspiratorial tones said, "A woman.".Erik laughed, and when Jimmy's expression darkened, put up hishands in supplication. "I make no jest, young Jimmy. It's just ... unexpected."
Roo nodded. "We would have wagered neither of you would ever beseeking solace in an ale jack because of a woman."Jimmy said, "It's not that simple."
"It never is," agreed Roo.
Both brothers knew of Roo's involvement with Sylvia Esterbrook, thedaughter of a Keshian agent who had played Roo like a flute, causinghim to cheat on his wife, compromise his own business, and the welfareof the Kingdom. He had been, by all reports, a model husband since then,but they understood his lessons had been hard-learned.
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"So who's the girl?,' asked Erik.
"The Duke of Silden's daughter," replied Dash."Ah," said Erik, as if he understood. "She's not interested, or ...otherwise engaged?"
Dash looked around the room, "The latter, but it's not widelyknown."
Erik apparently understood the context of the remark. He stood up."I've got to return to the castle." He turned toward Roo and said, "GiveMY best to Karli. And the children."
"And my affections to Kitty," returned Roo.
After he had left, Roo said, "I should be getting along, too. I've gota lot to do in the morning. I've got a shipment of wagons bringing grainfor Nakor's temple due in at first light."
Jimmy said, "I haven't seen Nakor since Pug stormed out of Patrick'scourt. Where is he?"
"He's smart enough to know when to get out of sight," answeredRoo. "He's been down at his temple the last couple of days."Roo nodded. "I have on more than one occasion felt like sleepinganywhere but at home. I understand. If you need, come by the house.We have room if you don't mind sleeping under a wagon." He laughed."Well, young lords, good night."
The barmaid came by again and said, "Would you like somethingbefore we close for the night, young sirs?"
Dash said, "Thank you, but no. We'll be on our way."Jimmy said, "I'm not going back to the palace.""Fine," said Dash. "But at least let's walk some, so you can pass outin a more agreeable place."
Jimmy's expression brightened. "I know! Let's go see Nakor!"For lack of any better suggestion, Dash agreed. The two brothers leftthe tavern, and Dash kept one hand on Jimmy's arm, half-guiding, half-supportingas he stumbled along.
Jimmy groaned. His head pounded and his eyes felt as if they wereglued shut. His mouth tasted as if someone had tossed in table scraps aweek earlier and left them to ripen.
"Would you like some water?"
Jimmy forced his eyes open and instantly wished he hadn't, as thepounding,. in his head increased in intensity. Hovering over him was a
woman's face, and as his eyes focused, he saw the rest of her swim into
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
shape. He lifted his head and got his right arm under himself and reachedout with his left hand.
She placed a water cup in it and he drank. Suddenly he knew it wasa bad idea: his heart began to thunder and his skin flushed, and perspirationbegan to bead on his brow. He knew he was experiencing the worsthangover of his life, and eventually the water would be necessary, so heforced himself to drain the cup. "Thanks," he said in a hoarse whisper,handing the cup back.
"Your brother's in there," she said, pointing to the office Nakor usedas his personal quarters when staying at the temple."Do I know you?" croaked Jimmy.
"I don't think so," said the young woman, with a faint smile. "I knowyou, however. You're the Duke-the old Duke's grandson, aren't you?"Jimmy nodded. "James, son of Duke Arutha, and yes, Lord Jameswas my grandfather. They call me Jimmy."
"You can call me Aleta." She studied his face. "A woman?"He nodded. "I guess."
Glancing him over, she observed, "Well, you're not much to look atnow, but I've seen you in a couple of the taverns I've worked, and whenyou're not drunk or hung over, you're not a bad-looking fellow. I don'texpect you hear 'no' very often."
"It's not that," he said, rising slowly. "I just found out she's marryingsomeone else."
"Ah," said Aleta, as if she understood. "Does she know?"'What?"
"That you're killing yourself with ale over her?""No. We were friends as children. . . " He squinted at her. "Why amI telling you this?"
She smiled. "Because you need to?"
He took another drink of water. "Thank you. I think I'll see what mybrother is doing."
He walked on shaky legs through a warehouse bustling with activity.When he was almost to the door of Nakor's office, the large outer doorsto the warehouse swung open and filled it with light. Jimmy turned to seea wagon being driven up to and then into the entrance, with other wagonsbehind it.
The door to the office opened behind Jimmy, and Nakor came rushingOut. "Roo!" he shouted as he passed Jimmy. "You're here with the food!"Dash followed and stopped next to his brother. "Are you alive?""Barely," croaked Jimmy. "What happened?"
"You attempted to drown yourself in ale. You failed."
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"I know, but how did we get here?"
"Father sent me after you and told me to get you drunk and in the
arms of a tavern wench."
"Seems you succeeded with half the order."
"Well, there were a couple of ladies willing to accommodate, but youseemed in no mood."
"I'm a mess," said Jimmy. "I don't really know how I feel about allthis."
Dash shrugged. "Maybe that's the best. We've both known sincechildhood we were to have no say in who we wed. With Father beingDuke of Krondor, it's too important we wed for the good of the state.""I know, but I feel so
"What?"
Jimmy sighed. "I don't know."
"It isn't about Francie, you know," said Dash."No?"
"No," said Dash. "If she's the Queen there's nothing to keep the twoof you apart; the Gods know the court is well practiced in looking theother way. No, it's something else. It's about you and what you reallywant."
"I don't understand."
"I don't think I do, really, but it's about you." He looked at thewagon. "I still half expect to see Jason on one of those wagons," Dashsaid reflectively.
Jason had been an employee of Rupert's Bitter Sea Company whenDash had served there, and had been feeding information to Rupert's rival,Jacob Esterbrook, because of his misguided love for Jacob's daughter. Hehad died in the war.
As the first wagon entered the warehouse, Jimmy said, "Tell me,who's that girl?"
"Which one?" Dash asked.
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"That one over there, who gave me water. She said her name wasAleta.
"Then you know more of her than I," said Dash. "Why don't youask Nakor."
"There's something odd about her. Nice, but odd."Dash said, "There's Luis!" He hurried past Jimmy to the secondwagon, where Luis de Savona sat next to a woman Dash didn't recognize.Luis jumped down, arid Dash said, "Luis! It's good to see you again."Luis shook hands with Dash and said, "It's good to see you again,
young Mr. Jamison. I was grieved to learn of your grandparents' death."
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I
Luis had spent the winter in Salador, overseeing Roo's holdings in theEast while Roo had worked in Darkmoor.
Dash said, "I appreciate that." He then noticed the woman as sheclimbed down off the wagon. "Mrs. Avery?" he said in wonder.Karli Avery had been a plain-looking, pale and plump woman. Thewoman who was stepping before him was slender, tanned, and while stillnot pretty, had an alive, expressive face that commanded attention."Dash!" she said, taking his hands and kissing his cheek. "How are you?""I'm just fine, Mrs. Avery, but you ... you look so different!"She laughed. "There's been a great deal of work and not much foodall winter. Loading and unloading wagons, learning to drive them, caringfor the children. Spending days in the sun; it all changes a person.""Quite so," observed Dash. Jimmy approached, and Dash said, "Youremember my brother, don't you?"
Both said hello to Jimmy, and Dash said, "What of the children, andMrs. Jacoby?"
"All back in Salador, under Helen's care," said Karli, "only it's nolonger Mrs. Jacoby. She's Mrs. de Savona now."Dash laughed and playfully struck Luis in the arm. "You got married! "
Roo walked over with Nakor at his side. "He most certainly did."Nakor congratulated his old companion, and said, "f hope you're atlast happy."
Luis smiled. "As happy as I'm likely to be, you odd little man.""That will have to do," said Nakor. To Roo he said, "Did you getmy grain and my statue maker?"
Roo said, "I haven't found the sculptor yet, but here's your grain.""Did the wagon makers prove useful?" asked Nakor as he began inspectingthe contents of the two wagons. Other wagons were arrivingoutside.
Roo said, "Very. I'm of a mind to be early into Krondor; there maybe a very large number of skilled artisans and craftsmen among the invaders.If I can recruit them . . ."
Jimmy and Dash exchanged glances. Jimmy asked, "How do youknow they'll be free to work, considering there's a war going on?"
Roo laughed. "I'm not without my sources, and I knew Patrick wasgoing to cut a deal with Duko about an hour after you did.""Sources?"
"Your father," said Roo, laughing. "He's not quite as evil-minded asYour grandfather, but your father is no slouch when it comes to makingsure he has all his resources ready. Besides, I'm the largest single debtholder on the Royal Treasury, so he has to keep me apprised of what's going on.'
Jimmy said, "Well, then, I expect you'll recover your losses before you're through."
Nakor said, "If he doesn't get himself killed first.Roo threw Nakor a dark look. "I'm not volunteering for any more hair-brained missions, you can bet. From now onI'm a conservative family man, a businessman who will stay home and look after his holdings." "From nearby another voice said, "After we take care of a little job." All eyes turned to see Erik von Darkmoor standing nearby. "I came looking for all of you; how convenient
I find all of you together. " To
Dash and Jimmy, he said, "Report to your father, now, gentlemen.
The brothers didn't hesitate, and started for the doorAs Jimmypassed the young woman who gave him Water) he said, I Thanks again." She nodded and smiled and said nothing. Erik turned to Nakor. "Can YOU reach Brother Dominic. Nakor nodded. "He's due back from Rillanon, soon. He's supposed to be bringing me word as to the Temple of IshaP's willingness to support
our efforts here. I suspect he is either in Salador or on the road from
Salador to here."
"I'll send a patrol eastward, looking for him. If he somehow gets here before they find him, please let Duke Arutha know.'Nakor nodded. "WhY, if I may ask?"
'You can ask," said Erik. "I can't answer. You'll have to ask Duke Arutha. ' Nakor said, "I might."
To Roo, Erik said, "I need to speak with you." He glanced at Luis and Karli, saying, "Excuse me, please."
He led Roo to a distant corner of the warehouse-turned temple, and when they were alone, he said,
,Who do you have still working for you in Sarth?" Roo asked, ,What makes you think I have anyone working for me in Sarth?"
Erik said, "Roo, it's me you're talking to. Now, who do you havestill working for you in Sarth?"
Roo said, "John Vinci. He acts as an independent trader; he specializesin bringing in contraband from Queg. That's why it's not widelyknown he works for me."
"Good. We need to visit with him.
"What?" said Roo. "We? Visit?"
Erik said, "We need to see how things are in Sarth before we turnnorthward. We need to come back with a detailed report before Owentakes the army and moves to crush Nordan in Sarth. We've sent scoutsaround the area, and most of them have come back, but we can't tell howstrong the deployment is inside the town. We need to get inside and lookaround."
Roo looked his boyhood friend in the eye, and said, "When you saywe,' you're speaking of the Kingdom army, right?"No, I mean you and I need to get in there and scout."Roo said, "No!"
"You must," said Erik. "You're the only man we know who has aplausible enough story that can get us into Sarth without getting ourthroats cut."
"What story?"
"You're a well-known Kingdom merchant who has openly tradedwith Queg and the Free Cities. You're reputed to put a profit above everything else. If you were to sneak into Sarth-especially with your friendVinci ready to corroborate your story-even if we get apprehended, you'llbe convincing in your role as the greedy merchant anxious to set up tradebefore his competition does."
"We?"
"I'm going, too," said Erik.
Roo still looked unconvinced. "So you'll be standing beside me onthe gibbet again? Only this time there won't be any Bobby de Loungville to haul us to our feet and explain we're being reprieved to serve the crown.No, thank you. I've done my service and been pardoned for mycrimes."
"You want to see any of the money the crown owes you, ever again?""It's my most ardent hope."
"Then I'd consider this, Roo."
He glanced around. "This isn't the place to talk. Come to the castletonight and seek me out in my quarters. I'll explain more then."Roo said, "For the sake of our friendship, I will, but I'm not going on any more stone-headed missions, Erik."
The smuggler's boat sailed silently up the coast, hugging as close inshoreas possible, without shoaling out on the reefs which dotted theshoreline between Krondor and Ylith.
Roo and Erik had ridden to within a half-day's walk of the coast, justbeyond a checkpoint Duko had established, and escort riders had takenthe horses back to Owen Greylock's forward position. An unofficial channelof communication was already in operation, and even though fewoutside of the Prince's immediate circle knew of the coming change inloyalties on Duke Duko's part, there were rumors of change in the wind.Most of them planted by Duke Arutha's agents.
The current one being carefully fostered was that the Kingdomcouldn't mount an offensive this year against the invaders in the North,due in the main to Kesh's threatening presence on their southern flank.Additionally, it was rumored, the Prince would be leaving soon for theEast, to get married in the royal palace at Rillanon, leaving the commandin the West to Owen Greylock, with express orders to hold where theywere, defend where necessary, but to seek no offensive.Roo had been astonished by the scope of the deception. He had beentold by Erik that Arutha's agents were already in Krondor, quietly undertakingthe transfer of power, with as little fanfare as possible. It was Erik'spassionate hope that by the time the Armies of the West were ready toredeploy, not only would the enemy be taken by surprise, but they wouldhave been lulled into a state of complacency.
A crewman whispered, "We're nearly there. Get ready."Roo said, "Are you sure this is necessary?~
"Absolutely," said Erik.
The Captain ordered sail lowered and a small boat was put over theside. Neither Erik nor Roo were sailors, but Erik felt competent enoughto row a boat into a quiet fishing village without calling too much attentionto themselves.
The boat was lowered and Erik and Roo shimmied down ropes to getinto the skiff, and by the time Erik had the oars in the oarlocks, thesmuggler had his sails up and was putting out toward deeper water. Thecurrent here ran southeast, and Erik was forced to work to keep on course,trying to come in at a fishing village in a sandy cove just south of Sarth.Roo said, "Are you all right?"
Erik pulled hard and the boat seem to jump forward. "Everything'sfine.)$
The sound
of breakers wasn't loud, as the surf was relatively calm,but it still picked the boat up as the combers ran up on the shore, turninginto breakers. Erik pulled and the boat seemed to be climbing a hill, onlyto slide backward a bit as the wave broke just in front of them.Suddenly the bow of the boat dipped and Roo glanced over his shoulder and realized he was looking at water. "Erik!" he shouted as the wavecrashed down upon him, drenching him to the skin in moments.The boat wallowed and turned sideways as Erik fought to keep itpointed at the beach. The boat tipped to the left, then suddenly it flipped,and Erik and Roo both were tossed into the water.
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Roo sputtered as he came up, and to his irritation found he was onlywaist deep in water. He looked around and saw Erik standing a few yards
away. The boat, upside down, was being pushed into the sand by thewaves.
Wading over toward Erik, Roo was about to comment on Erik's boathandlingskills when a lantern a dozen yards away was unshuttered. Menstood at the edge of the water, visible in the lantern's light; torches werelit. Soon, Erik and Roo could see a score of armed men, many with bowsor crossbows pointed in their direction, facing them from the dry sand. Inthe distance, behind them, the faint outlines of the fishing village couldbe seen.
Roo turned to Erik and said, "Everything's fine?"
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Eleven
Roo SNEEZED.
Erik sipped at a hot cup of Keshian coffee. They were sitting in a largehut near the beach, warming themselves before a fire while their clothingwas drying on a line strung in front of the rude stone fireplace.The leader of the smugglers who had met them on the beach said,"Sorry for the scare, Mr. Avery. John said to cover the cove and makesure you got ashore safely." He was a nondescript fellow, ideal for smuggling,one whom a soldier or guardsman was unlikely to look at twice.The only thing that differentiated this man and his companions from commonworkers was the assortment of weapons they carried.Roo said, "I wish we'd have had enough time for him to answer thenote. So I would have known we were to be met."The smuggler's spokesman said, "As soon as your clothing is driedout, we'll leave." He glanced out the door of the hut. "Or maybe a littledamp, because we have to be out of here before dawn.""Patrols?"
"Not so's you'd notice," said the man. "But there is a checkpoint upthe road we need to pass, and the guards that we've bribed are relievedat dawn. You'll go in place of two men who will stay here. We've gotsome goods stashed away from our last cargo and we'll have to hurry tobe in the town before dawn. No one will suspect anything."Erik nodded.
Roo inspected the clothing and said, "We'll change once we get toJohn's. He's sure to have some dry clothing."
Erik sipped the coffee. "This tastes fresh," he said."Should be. Got it off a packet boat from Durbin yesterday. It's partof that cargo we'll be carrying in."
"Keshian ships are putting in here?"
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
"And Quegan traders, too," said the leader. "Kingdom ships are stayingclose to Port Vykor and escorting Far Coast traders to and from theStraits of Darkness." He made a wide sweeping gesture. "Fadawah's gota few ships left from the invasion, and he's keeping them up near Ylith.So there's no one to keep ships away from these beaches, but it's toughgetting anything into the town unless you have the checkpoint guardsbribed." The leader moved toward the door. "I've got things to do." Hemotioned to the other smugglers, who departed, leaving Roo and Erikalone.
Erik said, "I told you Vinci would get your note.""You had more confidence in my agents than I," Roo answered. "Itseems your faith was justified."
Erik said, "There are a lot of things at risk, Roo, and we need yourcontacts as well as our own to pull off this counterstrike."
"What's the Prince's plan for that old abbey? If Fadawah's got anybrains, it's packed to the limit with enough men to strike down the mountainand ruin any attack up the coast."
"Arutha's got plans for the abbey."
Roo shook his head. "Every time I hear any member of the royalcourt has plans, I'm reminded that most of the time we served involvedrunning very hard from people who were trying equally h&rd to catch andkill us."
Erik said, "That's one way of putting things."They spoke little for the next hour, as their clothes dried enough toput on. An hour before dawn, the leader of the smugglers said, "We mustgo.~y
Roo and Erik quickly dressed, their clothes still slightly damp. Theywent outside and gathered up bundles of goods, and climbed a steep paththat cut straight up the side of a small cliff behind the village. Fishermenwere moving down toward the beach where they would launch their boatsand spend their day as their fathers and grandfathers had before them.They took no notice of the smugglers, and Roo assumed the inhabitantsof the village were paid a handsome sum to pretend the smugglers wereinvisible.
They climbed the cliffs until they reached the plateau above, a largestretch of dirt and grass they quickly crossed to reach the road. Theymoved swiftly down the road until they came in sight of a barricade. ItWas a sturdy affair of dirt, reinforced with wood and stones, sporting animpressive array of steel-tipped wooden stakes to repulse riders. To passit, the smugglers had to move to the side of the road, step down into ashallow gully, then circle around to the back of the barricade. A wagon
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or a man on foot could easily negotiate it, but attackers up the road wouldbe forced down to the cliffs on the sea side, where another large barricadewas erected, or into thick woods steeply rising up the side of a smallmountain, impassable by any but the occasional goat or deer.As they hurried past the guards, the leader of the smugglers stoppedand handed over a pouch and nodded, without a word, to a soldier whowas equally silent.
Then they were past the checkpoint and down the road into the townof Sarth.
The rear door to the storage room closed after the last smuggler departed.It was attached to the back of John Vinci's shop, the second floorof which was his home. A single lantern illuminated the room, which wasstacked with small boxes and bundles of goods he would sell in his shop:cloth, needles, thread, iron goods-kettles, pots, and pans-rope, tools,and other necessities for those living in and around Sarth. Vinci turnedand said, "Bad news, Roo."
"What?"
"Lord Vasarius has agents in town."
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SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Rupert said, "Damn. Any who know me from my visits to Queg. ""Almost certainly. You'll have to keep a very low profile," Vinci said."You can stay out back in the smaller worker's shed. I have no one usingit now. Vasarius's men are due to sail back to Queg by the end of theweek. Once they're gone, you should be able to move about freely."John Vinci was the son of an escaped Quegan galley slave who hadmade his way to the safety of the Kingdom. He spoke the language of theisland nation like a native, and traded with smugglers and sea captainsattempting to avoid Kingdom customs officers.
He had come to Roo's attention when he had gained possession of avaluable necklace, one which Roo had eventually used to ingratiate himselfto Lord Vasarius. He had then achieved several profitable trades withthe Quegan noble, leading up to planting a rumor of a treasure fleet whichhad caused the leading nobles of Queg to dispatch their warships to attackthe fleet of the Emerald Queen as it exited the Straits of Darkness theprevious Midsummer's Day. The most powerful lords of Queg had seenthe vast bulk of their ships sent to the bottom, the single most devastatingnaval defeat in their history.
Most knew that Rupert Avery of Krondor somehow had a hand inthis, for while there was no direct line proving he engineered the ruse,there were ample reports of rumors started by men who served on hisships, or who worked for his agents. Without being told, Roo knew he
was a marked man in Queg and that to be discovered outside Kingdomprotection meant his life would be measured in hours, if not minutes. Evenin the Kingdom he would have to forevermore be vigilant against assassinshired by Quegan gold.
Roo looked at John. "I can hide out until we have to depart, if necessary.But Erik needs to look around. Can you provide believable cover?"John looked dubious. "I don't know. There are so many strangers inSarth, perhaps. If he could pass as a Quegan or Keshian mercenary, nodoubt. But all Kingdom citizens who bear arms are known to the localsoldiers. "
Erik said, "I don't have to go armed. If I'm one of your workmen. . .Vinci shook his head. "I only employ casual labor, Erik. Things area little slow now, given the occupation." He said, "Let me think aboutthis. You two sleep and take it easy. I'll send one of my children out withsome food in a while, then sleep. Maybe by tomorrow morning I'll havethought of some reason to be walking around town with someone asnoticeable as Erik."
"Buy something," said Roo.
John's eyebrows went up. "What?"
"Buy something. A building, a business, a house. Something over onthe other side of the town that will let you move back and forth. MakeErik ... a builder. Someone you're going to pay to repair -things."Vinci said, "There are several businesses that are abandoned or forsale. "
"Good, let it be known you're taking the opportunity to seize profit,and are willing to buy whatever anyone has to sell.""How, by the way, am I paying for this?"
"If you actually have to buy something, John, you'll pay for it as youalways do, with my gold."
Vinci grinned. "It usually comes back with a profit attached.""True," said Roo, returning the grin. "That's why you're doing sowell.pi
John opened the door to the front part of his store, and the stairsleading up to the living quarters above, and said, "Food Will be hereshortly. After you finish, head out that rear door to the shed on the otherside of the yard and get some sleep."
Erik turned to Roo as the door closed. "A builder?"'just pick up some loose wood, look at it, toss it aside, and grunt.Take along some parchment or paper and scribble on it. Look around alot. If any of the soldiers start talking like they know something aboutcarpentry, nod in agreement."
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Erik leaned his chair back, so that he balanced on two legs, restinghis head against the wall. "Well, it's a better plan than I have. I hopethings back in Darkmoor are working out Smoother than they are here."
jimmy shouted, "No!"
Arutha said "There will be no argument!"
I m down,
Dash stepped between his brother and father and said, "Calboth of you."
Arutha said, "My orders are not subject to your approval, James!"Jimmy said, "But you, leading a raid ... it's preposterous.) INakor and Father Dominic stood nearby, watching the exchange.Arutha said, "I am the only one here who remembers Father's story aboutthe secret entrance into the abbey at Sarth. I don't remember all of it, butI stand the best chance of having things come back to me as I walk aroundthe base of that mountain."
Jimmy looked at Father Dominic. "Don't you know the way?"Dominic said, "I know where the door is, in the subbasement of theabandoned library, that leads to the tunnel outside in the hills. I don'tknow if I could find the entrance from the outside. It's been twenty yearssince I've even been down to the base of the mountain."Jimmy was about to speak when Dash said, "What do you want usto do?"
Arutha said, "I need someone in Krondor overseeing the rotation oftroops. When Von Darkmoor and Avery get back from their scoutingmission at Sarth, I want to be able to strike before Nordan sees the attackcoming."
"which is why Greylock is already up at the forward lines gettingready," said Jimmy.
"Yes," replied Arutha. "I'll give you details before you go, but bymidday tomorrow I want you on the road west."
Jimmy said, "I don't like this one little bit."Nakor grinned. "You make that obvious."
Dash said, "Come on. We have to get our kits together."As the boys reached the door out of Arutha's office, Arutha said,"Jimmy, Dash."
They stopped at the door. "Yes?" asked Dash.
"I love you both very much."
Jimmy hesitated a moment, then returned to embrace his father."Don't do anything stupid and heroic," he whispered to his father."Aren't I supposed to be saying that to you?" asked Arutha.
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Dash hugged his father and said, "You know it wouldn't do anygood."
"Stay alive, both of you," whispered Arutha.
"You, too," said Jimmy.
The brothers left the room. Arutha turned to Dominic and said,"What does the Ishapian Temple have to say to us, Brother?"Dominic, a man nearly eighty years of age, but appearing barelytwenty-five due to the healing magic of the Lifestone, said, "Many things,my lord duke. May I sit?"
Arutha indicated they both should, and Dominic said, "It took somepersuasion, but I am living proof of my claims. Besides, I was seniormostin rank in the West and my words carried some weight.""And your warning saved your library at Sarth.""To be frank, that was not entirely providential.""What do you mean?" asked Arutha.
"I don't think it a breach of trust to reveal it was your grandfatherwho warned us to be ready to move the library when certain things occurred. ""
Really?" said Arutha.
Dominic got a perplexed expression on his face. "But what I find oddwas when he arrived at Sarth to find me and take me to Seathanon, priorto our confrontation with the demon, he didn't seem to remember he sentus the warning."
"Maybe he didn't," said Nakor.
"Why?" asked Arutha.
"Because maybe he hasn't sent the warning, yet."Dominic said, "Time travel?"
Nakor shrugged. "Possibly. He's done it before."Arutha nodded. "That's possible. I get the feeling there's a great dealmore to all this than Grandfather has told me, or than you've told me."Nakor said, "True. But that's for your own good."Arutha laughed. "You sound like me, talking to my children." ToDOminic, "So, will the Ishapian Temple support Nakor's efforts?""Yes," said Dominic, "though they are somewhat dubious as to thenet effect. Yet they understand the need."
"I'm dubious, too," said Nakor, "and I started the Temple of Arch-Indar.))
Arutha said, "You are the most amazing man. What. is the exactpurpose of your order, again?"
"TO bring about the restoration of the Goddess of Good, as I told youbefore.) ~
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"Yes, you are a wonder," said Arutha dryly.
Nakor said, "Yes, I am, aren't I? But I think my little temple will notbe what it needs to be until we find the real head of the order.""I thought you were the high priest of Arch-Indar," said Arutha."Only until the real one shows up. Then I'll return to doing what Ido best, traveling and learning things."
"Well, until this person puts in an appearance, what are you going todo?"
Nakor said, "Do tricks, tell stories, provide food, get people to listento the message of the Good Lady."
Dominic said, "First must come belief. When people begin to understandthat good flows from Arch-Indar, then they will begin the long taskof bringing her back to us."
"I don't pretend to understand everything involved with temple politics,"said Arutha. "I have read notes left by my father and Prince Arutha,and I get the distinct impression they were privy to secrets that were notpassed along to me."
Dominic said nothing.
"Very well," said Arutha. "I will trust that nothing in this poses athreat to the Kingdom, which is my charge and area of concern. Besides,it seems to me that spreading the doctrine of doing good can harm noone.'~
Nakor shook his head. "Would that it were true. Men have been putto death for preaching good."
Arutha said, "Well, at least not in the West while I'm Duke of Krondor."Looking at Dominic he said, "If I can find this entrance to the oldabbey, can you get us inside?"
Dominic said, "I can. The entrance is locked from within. But thereis a secret control that will open it from without. Your father found thatcontrol."
Arutha smiled. "He always claimed he was the best thief in the historyof Krondor."
"Skill or luck, he recognized it, disarmed a trap, and activated theentrance. Almost gave one of our brothers a heart attack when he showedup inside our library."
Arutha said, "The question becomes how many men to bring withus.' ~
Dominic said, "I know only a little of warcraft. You must bring asmall enough company that we are not detected while moving throughthe mountains and large enough that once inside we stand a good chanceof securing the abbey."
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"Can you draw me plans of the abbey?"
"I lived there fifty years, Duke Arutha. I can show you every hallwayand closet."
"Good. I will have a scribe visit with you in the morning. If you canhave them finished by the end of the week, I would be appreciative. Ifwe're going to be in position to get inside the abbey when Owen strikesup the coast at Sarth, we need be on the way up the eastern trail alongNightmare Ridge by then."
Dominic bowed and said, "I am at your disposal. If someone couldshow me to a room? It's been a long journey from Rillanon."Arutha rang a small bell and a page opened the door to his office."Show Brother Dominic to my quarters and bring him whatever heneeds."
"Your quarters?" asked the Ishapian.
"I will not be needing them tonight, I'm afraid. I have many thingsto do before first light tomorrow. Perhaps a nap after the morning court."Dominic nodded and bowed again, following the page out of theroom.
Nakor said, "At least you've enough sense to put a bedroll behindyour desk, if you need to catch a nap."
Arutha smiled. "You don't miss much, do you?"
"I'm a gambler, remember? If I missed things I'd be broke or dead.""Are you coming with us?"
"No," said Nakor. "It sounds interesting, but I think I need to behere. Dominic brings a great gift from the Ishapians. They will share thepower they gain from the Tear of the Gods with us. When we have foundthe true leader of our temple, we will send him to Rillanon and there heWill be given this power.
"That power will turn my little warehouse into a true temple, wherePrayers will be answered, and miracles performed. Men will learn of goodand then help recreate the Good Lady."
Arutha said, "A worthy undertaking." He rose. "If you'll excuse me,Nakor, I do have work. And if you need anything for your temple and Ican help before I go, I will do my best."
"Thanks," said Nakor, as he walked to the door. "Come back alive,if You would. A new Duke might not be so willing to listen to me."Arutha laughed as he opened the door to his office. "Well, as much,Is I'd hate to inconvenience you by getting killed, I think I would be evenmore inconvenienced."
"True. See, it's to both our benefit if you stay alive."Arutha laughed again as he closed the door behind Nakor. Still chuckling
, he sat back down behind his desk and considered the mountain ofwork before him. The smile faded as he picked up the first report heneeded to review and, after scanning it, placed it in a pile to review withhis clerk in the morning.
He picked up the next piece of paper.
"Jimmy!" called Francie as he started down the hallway.Jimmy turned and saw her hurrying after him. "Hello," he said coolly.She slipped her arm in his and said, "I haven't seen you for a while.Has your father had you out and about?"
Jimmy said, "No, I've been working here, but have little time of myown." Very gently and slowly, he disengaged his arm from hers."Jimmy, what's wrong?" she asked.
Jimmy felt his color rise, and suddenly he was choking on unexpectedemotions. "What's wrong is it isn't appropriate for me to be overly familiarwith the future Queen of Isles."
Her color rose in a blush and she looked down at the floor stones. "Ishould have known your father would tell you.""Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
She looked up at him, and her eyes were rimming with moisture. "Idon't know. I didn't know ... how you'd take it. Before I came to Darkmoor,I thought I knew how I felt about you ... about us. Then when Isaw you, and we dined together and those walks together ... I don'tknow. Things just didn't seem the same as they did when we were children."
Jimmy said, "That's because they're not the same. We're not children. "
She looked him in the eyes, then impulsively leaned forward andkissed him on the cheek. "You were always my best friend, Jimmy. I loveyou more than any boy I've known. I want you to be happy for me."Jimmy flushed. "Happy because you're going to be Queen, or becauseyou're going to marry that ass Patrick?"
"Don't be that way," she said softly. "Daddy says someone has tokeep Patrick in line, and that's why he wants me to be a strong Queen.It's one of the reasons the King wants me to marry Patrick."Jimmy said, "Look, I don't know what to say. I only know that whateverwe want doesn't matter, and that you'll marry Patrick, and I'll marrywhoever Father tells me to marry, and that will be the end of that. It'snever been any other way."
She squeezed his hand. "Be my friend?"
He nodded. "I'll always be that, Francie."
A tear formed and started down her cheek. "I'll need friends like you
when I'm Queen in Rillanon."
He found his own feelings rising and said, I 'It's just ..."What?"
Softly he said, "We'll never know what we could have been, don'tyou see?"
She nodded. "I see. But there's never been a choice for either of us,has there? We can't let our feelings distract us from our duty." She lookedinto his eyes a moment, then added, "I will always love the boy who usedto play with me in the palace at Rillanon, and who used to laugh when
I beat up his little brother. I'll cherish the time we spent sneaking into allthose places we weren't supposed to go. I never forgave you for beingboys and getting to do boy things, while I had to learn to be a lady." Shesighed. "But I will never be able to fall in love, my dearest Jimmy. Andneither will you. Don't mourn for something that never was. Just be myfriend."
Without another word she released his hand and hurried back downthe corridor.
Jimmy stood quietly for a long minute, then slowly turned and resumedhis walk down the corridor.
Dash signaled and Jimmy turned and waved. They were a hundredyards ahead of the first column heading into Krondor. A delegation ofDuko's men were waiting a mile outside the city and Jimmy wanted thecolumn to wait until an exchange of documents was completed.Jimmy urged his horse forward and rode to a point just before theobvious leader of the group. Jimmy saluted and said, "I am Baron Jamesof the Prince's court." He recognized the man as being one of Duko'scaptains. Then he remembered his name. "How are you, Captain Boyse?"
The Captain, a muscular man with a long beard and hair, nodded."Well, Baron James."
Jimmy reached into a pouch sewn into his cloak and pulled a thread,unraveling the top seam. He reached into the pocket and pulled out a
sheaf of documents. He handed them to Boyse. "This is the final communicationbetween Prince Patrick and our newly named Lord Sutherland.This will confirm his appointment to office-the ceremony will beheld when Patrick returns to the city. There are several orders and instructions,but they just reaffirm what the Duke already knows."Captain Boyse stroked his chin. "You know, when Duko ... I meanthe Duke, first told me of this deal, I would have bet my life it wouldnever take place." He shrugged. "what do I know?" He pointed to thesouthwest. 'A troop of five hundred men, foot and horse alike, areon the march toward Land's End. We will occupy that fortress by week's end." He smiled. "I understand we may have to dislodge a few Keshians Dash
who have wandered into that town from the desert?" Jimmy nodded. "Bandits, mostly." "You've brought the replacements?" "UP the road," said Jimmy. "Good." He handed the documents to one of his lieutenants, and said, "I will happily trade this garrison duty for some scrapping along the frontier
. Some of my men are city men, who were carpenters or masons, fishermen and the like, back home, but I was always a soldier." He looked
around as if trying to see beyond the limits of his vision. "Duko's a thinker; he talks about this nation of yours. He tells us this new pledge of
loyalty is a good thing." He looked at Jimmy. "I do not know of such things. I am trained to fight and kill and die if needed. But I trust Duko.
He has been my leader for more than half my life, and he was not much more than a boy when I pledged service to him. So, if Duko says we are now servants of your Prince, and that we fight for this nation we tried to take last year, then we shall serve your Prince and fight for this nation. I don't claim to understand it, but I will do as Duko orders, for he is my
General. "
jimmy nodded. "I understand. And for that reason, he will continue to be your General." Then Jimmy smiled. "And perhaps someday he will have a son, who will grow UP to also be your General."Boyse laughed. "That would be something, wouldn't it, BaronJames?" He turned his horse around and said, "Call your men. Let usride into Krondor together."
jimmy signaled and Dash rode forward, and the column behind himalso moved up. When they were formed up with Boyse and his companions, they started forward, and for the first time in almost a year, the agents of the Prince of Krondor were reclaiming his city for the crown.
Dash hurried along the street, dodging workers and peddlers. Life was returning to Krondor, and there were endless tasks before them. Several hundred mercenaries from outside the walls had been given employment and sent to the borders to the south. Others were being recruited forescort and garrison duty in the area between Darkm oor and Shamata
, replacing soldiers who were being sent to this front. Workers, shopkeepers, and some minor nobles had returned in thelast two weeks. Two messengers from Fadawah had been intercepted, and
reassuring reports returned by other messengers, soldiers loyalto Duko already who could be trusted to report only what Duko wanted Fadawah andNordan to know.
judged it would be only a matter of two or three weeks morebefore it was obvious to Fadawah and Nordan that Duko had turned coat.The story that a big wedding in Rillanon would keep the Prince awayfrom the West for a year, and that Keshian
would keep the Kingdom from attempting to retakewidely circulated. Duko's latest message to Fadawah included a note thata Keshian agent had made preliminary contact with him inquiring aboutthe possibility of formal treaty with the"King of the Bitter Sea," whichDuko hoped would keep Fadawah overconfident for a while longer.
Dash turned a corner, heading into a burned-out portion of the citythat was far down the list to be rebuilt.The note he had received hadbeen short and to the point. No signature had been affixed, but he hadno doubt who had sent it.
Dash worried about the presence of Keshian agents in the city. Thetransfer of soldiers was taking place slowly. The logistics of getting thosepatrols to pre-determined locations, having those men switch clothing withKingdom regulars, and change places, was very complex. To any casualobserver, it appeared that a halfdozen or so patrols rode out throughoutthe day and returned later. What wasn't apparent was that they werecomposed of different men. The one place Duko's men remained was attwo checkpoints south of Nordan's position in Sarth. So far there hadbeen no mistakes.
Dash reached the appropriate place and stepped inside the burned-outshell of a tavern. As soon as he was inside the fire-blackenedwalls, a voice
in the shadows said, "You come alone, Puppy?"
Dash's expression let Trina know what he thought of being calledPuppy.'~ ('I'm alone."
She jerked her head to one side, indicating a door to a rear room. Hemoved toward it, and it opened. John Turpin stood in front of the doorway and said, "Sword."
Dash removed his sword from its scabbard and handed it to him."Through there," he said, indicating another door. Dash moved to that door, and when it didn't open, he tripped thelatch. Inside he found the Upright Man sitting at a table, a half-drunkflagon Of water next to him.
"Nephew," he said with dry humor. His voice was as raspy as Dashremembered.
"Uncle," said Dash with the same dry humor.
"Have you news for me?"
Dash sighed. He sat in the second chair at the table without beingasked. "As you can see, we were not in need of your help in taking thecity. Duko gave it willingly."
"At no small price, I hear," said Lysle Riggers with a chuckle.i 'Dukeof the Southern Marches."
"There's to be a general amnesty.)~
The old man studied his great-nephew and said, "I don't hear the'but,' though it is there."
"It's to be applied only to those who fought against the Kingdom, asthey swear loyalty to the crown. It will also be extended to any man whovolunteers for service now."
"But not petty thieves such as the Mockers."
"Only if you join the army," said Dash. "I tried. My father has noneed to be busying himself or his judges with accusations of crimes beforethe war." Dash shrugged. "Fact is, anyone likely to bring complaint is nolonger living here. When merchants return, who is to say what was takenbefore the war and what was looted or lost during the sacking of the city?"Lysle chuckled. "True. All true. However, there are those among ourbrethren who have the death mark on them already, and who are knownto your father's constables."
Dash let out a long sigh. "I know, but if they'll serve the crown, they'llbe pardoned for their crimes."
"I'm a little old to serve, don't you think?" asked the Upright Man.Dash said, "I don't think there's anyone besides myself, Jimmy, andFather who has an inkling of who you might be. And while I'm sure thereis a very long list of crimes for which you might be hung, why bother?"He looked at his great-uncle and said, "If Grandfather didn't want youtaken, why should we?"
"Your grandfather needed me alive to control the Mockers," said Lysle. "It may be some time before the Mockers are effective enough to bein need of controlling again." He let out a long, tired sigh. "I most certainlywill not be here to see it. And I do not know if the next UprightMan, or whatever he calls himself, will care to make deals with thecrown." He pointed a finger at Dash. "You and your father are cleverenough, but once I'm gone, you'll not be able to make demands of theMockers the way your grandfather made of me."
Dash said, "I know. If you have nothing more, I have a great deal todo."
The Upright Man waved him away. "We're done, Dashel Jamison.From now on, we are Mockers and you are the Prince's man. If you conic
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back into the Poor Quarter after dark, you are as much at risk as anyother man."
"I understand," said Dash. He returned to the door, then paused andsaid ' But if there's something I can do without compromising my oathto the Kingdom, send me a message, will you?"
The old man laughed. "I'll consider it. Now go."Dash moved into the second room and found John Turpin gone. Hissword hung over the butt end of a burned-out timber. He retrieved it andmoved through the next door. As he expected, Trina wasn't in the outerpart of the building either. He left the devastation of the inn and movedaway. He paused a moment and tried to remember the name of thatparticular inn, then it came to him. It had been called the Rainbow Parrot,and it had once been owned by a friend of his grandfather's, a man namedLucas. Caught up for a moment in reflection on old stories of his grandfather,Dash almost didn't hear the footsteps behind him.He spun and had his sword out before the man came within a halfdozenpaces. The man coming at him was dressed like a rag picker andwas thin and dirty. He came to a halt and, putting up his hands, backedaway, then turned and ran.
Dash put up his sword and considered that it would be a long timebefore Krondor was what it once had been. Then as he left to return tothe palace, he considered the Poor Quarter was probably safer now thanit had been before the war.
Dash reached the palace and was again astonished by the amount ofwork going on; there must have been a hundred masons at work, most ofwhom had been soldiers serving in Duko's army before the war. But theywere making progress in getting the palace repaired. Other workerswashed soot from walls, hauling away rubbish and debris, even hangingscreens and other decorative touches in some of the larger rooms on themain floor. Entering the hallway, he saw Jimmy hurrying toward him."There you are!" said Jimmy.
"What is it?"
"We've got troubles," said Jimmy, turning to walk beside Dash towardthe Prince's private office suite, now being used by Duko."Has Fadawah discovered what we're up to?"
"Worse," said Jimmy.
"What?"
"Land's End was overrun by a Keshian company.""oh, gods."
"Yes," said Jimmy as they turned the corner and climbed stairs up
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Raymond E.\*Feist
toward Duko's offices. "And there are other reports coming in. It lookslike Kesh has decided to punctuate her demands for concessions with alittle show of force."
"Just what we need," said Dash.
Jimmy moved toward the door to Duko's office, knocked once, andopened the door without waiting to be bid enter. A clerk holding a largesheaf of papers, warned by the knock, jumped nimbly out of the way asthe door opened.
The two brothers entered and found a halfdozen clerks and scribeswriting orders and dispatches. They made their way through the press ofcourt officers and entered Duko's inner office. Dash was once again struckby the difference between his office when it was occupied by the Princeand his father, and as it was now, with Duko sitting behind the desk.Before it was the administrative center of the Western Realm, now it wasthe headquarters of a military organization.
Dash and Jimmy now recognized most of Duko's remaining Captains,and all the Kingdom officers who now served. Wendell, a cavalry captainformerly of the garrison at Hawk's Hollow, now officially the KnightCaptainof the Royal Krondorian Horse, looked at a map and said, "Ican have four hundred more men down there by the day after tomorrow,Your Grace."
Some of Duko's Captains glanced at one another; they were still havingsome problem with the protocols of the Kingdom and found the newtitle oddly unnerving.
Duko looked at Jimmy and Dash. "You two. You're familiar withthis area, aren't you?"
Jimmy said, "We've spent the last few years here, Your Grace."It suddenly struck Dash that the majority of the Krondorian garrisonperished in the destruction of the city; the remaining fragments of thegarrison were now serving to the east with Owen Greylock. Owen wasn'tdue in the city for another five days, just before the time selected to launchthe offensive northward.
Duko pointed at the map. "We've got two or three hundred soldiersassaulting our position in Land's End. By this morning's dispatch, they'reholding there, but hard-pressed. They may already have fallen. The fivehundred foot soldiers I sent earlier this week won't get there for anotherfive days, even if I send a galloper to order a forced march. We also havereports of some ships sailing along the coast toward Land's End, possiblyin support of the assault."
Jimmy said, "That makes sense. If they bring up a large force acrossthe Jal-Pur, they have logistics problems. But if they shock us with a
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smaller force, holding our men inside the citadel, while they land moretroops by sea, they can quickly surround and siege.""Who's in charge down in Port Vykor?" asked Duko."Admiral Reeves," supplied one of the Kingdom officers."Send him orders to intercept those ships and drive them off. I don'tcare if he sinks or captures them, just keep them from landing those men."The officer saluted and hurried to the outer office. Duko looked at Wendell. "Take your four hundred horse and leave at once. As soon as youovertake those foot soldiers, tell them to run." Captain Wendell saluted.Duko turned to one of his old captains and said, "Runcor, I want you totake a hundred or so of your best mother-killers and follow the coastlinedown to Land's End. If you see anyone coming ashore, kill them."The old Captain said, "Yes, Duko ... er, Your Grace."Duko smiled and said, "Get out of here."
Duko looked at Jimmy and Dash. "Until your Lord Greylock getshere, I'm assuming command. I'll need your help, young sirs, as I am notall that familiar with this outlying area."
He pointed to a spot on the map. "But I'm guessing that if this Empireto the south is serious, here is where we will see their next push." Hisfinger was on a small hill pass halfway between Shamata and Land's End."It's a long run, but it's relatively flat land. If they only seek to put pressureon the negotiations in Darkmoor, then they'll withdraw at the firstshow of strength. If they are seeking to get into a serious fight, they'lllaunch a second assault through here about the time they land their shipsat Land's End." Looking at another of his old captains, he said, "Jallom,get scouts down to that pass as fast as possible. I don't even know if wehave any soldiers there."
"We don't," said the Captain named Jallom. "We assumed the Kingdomwould take care of their southern flank and we wouldn't have toW0I.Iy. v ~
"Well, we're now the Kingdom, and we need to worry. And sendword to Greylock about what is going on and ask him if he might considersending troops that way if they can get there first."Men hurried to carry out orders, and Duko said, "Gentlemen, wehave a war on our hands. It's just not the one we wanted, and we don'tknow how big it is. It may be a little one, but if I were the Keshian Generaland I found out just how chaotic things were here, I might try to get intoKrondor before Greylock, and then dare him to come dig me out withNordan on his northern flank." Duko shook his head. "Let's hope thatkicking them out of Land's End will teach them the error of their ways."Jimmy looked at Dash and they both shared the same thought: Whatelse Could go wrong?
Twelve
ARUTHA POINTED.
Captain Subai motioned and the man behind him signaled. Anotherman pointed and nodded. He then started searching in the indicated area.The progress over the mountains had been slow, as the men on foot couldcover only between ten and fifteen miles a day. But they were now insight of the base of the mountain atop which perched the former Abbeyof Sarth.
Three scouts were moving along the difficult trail, moving up tinygullies worn by rainwater, small game tracks, anything that might lead tothe entrance. They were looking for a large extrusion of rock that overlappedthe face of the mountain, yet behind which was a long narrowpassage, leading to the entrance to the tunnel under the abbey. Arutharemembered his father telling him that unless you were looking right atthe entrance, end-on to the extrusion, you would only see what lookedlike mountainside.
They had been searching for days and had twice almost come intocontact with Nordan's patrols. Only the fact that Arutha and Dominicwere accompanied by the best woodsmen and trail scouts in the Kingdomkept them undetected. There were only six of them in this party. The onehundred and twenty Pathfinders and Crimson Eagles who were given theresponsibility for taking the abbey waited miles away, in a tiny valley, justbeyond the range of invader patrols.
Arutha took a drink of water from the skin he carried. The summerheat was oppressive, yet they could not tarry. His father had mentionedseveral other landmarks, but nothing in the area remotely looked like thosefeatures. The large oak may have burned in a fire, or been harvested forlumber. The three rocks piled one atop the other may have fallen, due torain or an earthquake. After all, it had been over fifty years ago. Then a
I
whistle alerted Arutha that someone had found something. He hurried towhere Subai stood and saw a man below the Captain. He had jumpeddown into a depression where all but his head was hidden by brush; hewould be invisible from the trail. Arutha glanced around and his eyescaught sight of a large oak tree, masked by other, younger trees, but directlyopposite his position. He turned and saw a large boulder, the size
of a wagon, and at the base were two others-instantly he knew. "We'vefound it!" he said quietly to Subai.
Arutha motioned to where Dominic stood and jumped down to standbehind the soldier. "There's something on the other side of this brush,Your Grace," said the soldier.
Without saying anything, Arutha took out his sword and started hackingaway the brush. The soldier hesitated a moment, then pulled out hisown. By the time Dominic arrived, they had cleared away a significantportion of the undergrowth. Behind the cleared brush was a passage. Aruthaknew it was the place his father had described, because from end-on,it did indeed look like a hallway, between the face of the cliff and a wallof rock. To Captain Subai, he said, "Wait here until Dominic and I findthe entrance."
The cleric and the Duke entered the narrow passage, which ran a fullhundred yards along the face of the mountain. At the end, to their left, acave large enough for one man to enter could be seen. Arutha said, "Ifthis was discovered, it is as easy to defend as the access above."Dominic looked into the darkness. "It is natural, but it has been 'improved'by the Brothers of Ishap. Notice, it's wide enough that a monkcarrying books or pulling a handcart can negotiate the turn, but there'snot enough room to turn a ram to break down the door.""What door?"
Dominic closed his eyes, chanted almost silently, then held up hishand. A nimbus of pale yellow light grew from his hand, casting enoughillumination that Arutha could see a large oak door ten feet inside theentrance of the cave. It was without latch or lock. Across it three largeiron bands showed it was heavily reinforced. Arutha said, "You're right.You'd need a heavy ram to knock that down, and there's no room hereto swing it.'
Dominic said, "The latch-"
Arutha said, "Indulge me a moment."
He inspected the area, running his hand above a ledge, and then belowanother, and over the surface of the door. Finally he said, "My father toldme stories of his days as a thief. Often I imagined myself in his shoes,doing just this sort of thing, attempting to enter somewhere I was notwelcome. I wondered if I would be equal to the task." He knelt andinspected the ground before the door. Off to one side, a small rock laynestled against the overhanging stone wall. Arutha reached for the rock."I wouldn't do that," said Dominic.
Arutha's hand hesitated. He then said, "I must concede I lack myfather's gifts." Smiling, he stood and said, "My grandfather tells me Ihave more of my mother in me than my father. Perhaps he's correct.""That's a trap, almost concealed. Over there is the true release." Hemoved to a small recess and put his hand inside. Feeling around hegrasped a small latch, then moved it. "Now pull that rock."Arutha did as he was bid and discovered the rock was attached to asteel cable, by a large bolt at the back. The rock traveled only a few inches,but as soon as he pulled it a deep rumble could be heard from the otherside of the door. The door moved, ponderously, but it moved. Slowly itretracted to the left, leaving a narrow dark passage leading upward intothe mountain.
Arutha turned and said to Captain Subai, "It's open. Send a messengerand bring up the men!"
He followed Dominic into the passage. The cleric pointed to a lever."Don't touch that. It will close the door behind us." He continued walkingup the passage. After nearly a hundred yards, the passage widened into alarge gallery, where footprints and signs of recent passage could clearlybe seen. Arutha inspected them and said, "These aren't boot marks. Theselook like sandals."
Dominic said, "We kept books, scrolls, and other tomes storedthroughout the mountain, even this close to the escape route." He pointedupward. "But nothing was taken out that way. My brothers quit the abbeyin good order, so whatever was kept here was hauled up the mountain,put aboard wagons, and taken to our new abbey, That Which Was Sarth."Where is the new abbey?" asked Arutha.
Dominic smiled. "For reasons that you may understand more thanmost, my order has decided that the information contained within thatparticular abbey is too dangerous in the wrong hands. Therefore, onlythose within our order know the exact location of That Which Was Sarth.All I may tell you is that while it is in Yabon, it is safe from Fadawah."Arutha said, "As an officer of the Royal Court, I am not pleased tohear of this. As the grandson of Pug, I understand."
Boots upon the stone heralded the approach of the first band of Subai'sraiders. The man in the van carried a torch and behind him came othersholding bundles of supplies.
The timetable was critical. Greylock would begin his approach to
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Krondor in a week's time, but just before the city gates, he would wheelto the north and launch a flying attack up the road to Sarth, striking the
first two defensive positions without stopping. They were relatively lightpositions, from Duko's information, and would provide scant resistance.it was at the southern border of Sarth they would meet the first majorresistance.
From there the fight into the town would be difficult, but if Nordan'sforces up in the abbey were to sally forth, Greylock's army would suddenlybe caught between a stout defensive position and an army chargingdown a mountainside. If Greylock turned up the mountain road to attemptto seize the abbey, he would be fighting up a road that at several placesnarrowed so that only a single wagon or two men on horse could pass,with the town garrison at his back.
The Kingdom's only hope was for Subai's force inside the mountainto seize the abbey, or at least tie up the forces within long enough forOwen to take the town. Once the town was in Kingdom hands, the abbeycould be isolated and its garrison starved out, or it would have alreadyfallen to Arutha's forces.
Arutha considered this as the men started to filter into the chamber.It was possible they would be facing odds as high as four to one. No oneknew how many men were billeted within. Nordan had - not seen fit toshare that information with Duko. Their only advantage was surprise.The night before Greylock's assault from the south, the Kingdomforces below the abbey would launch their attack. Arutha knew he hadthe Kingdom's best men for the job, handpicked by Subai. The Pathfinderswere trained for resourcefulness. To a man they were tough, resilient, andefficient. The Crimson Eagles were veterans of a series of brutal campaigns,men who would do exactly as needed and without hesitation.At an hour past dawn in three days' time, they must either be incontrol of the abbey, or creating enough trouble the garrison would beunable to respond to any call for help from the town below. Arutha founda spot near the next tunnel leading up and sat down, conserving his energyuntil it was time to move. The balance of Subai's forces would be hoursin reaching the cave, so there was nothing to do but rest, and wait.
Erik grunted and made some notes. John Vinci said loudly, "I'll needa larger storage room back here, and probably want to widen the gates socan get bigger wagons in and out!"
Softly, Erik said, "Keep it down, John. We've been doing this forthree days and no one has questioned us so far. Unless they're starting tothink You're getting hard of hearing."
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With a pained grin, Vinci said, "Just trying to be convincing.""We're done," said Erik. "Let's get back to your shop."They walked through the surprisingly bustling streets of Sarth. The.,town was always a fairly busy one, with many fishing villages bringingtheir catch to market. It was also an important secondary port betweenYlith and Krondor, one which many traders and not a few smugglers fromFree Cities or Queg visited. Kingdom customs had been more laxthere, and as a result the city had quite a large population of people whowere enterprising, irrespective of who was governing, Kingdom or somerecent invader.
Armed men were everywhere, yet the mood was relaxed. The merobi I felt the
cenaries from Novindus who were bffieted in Sartn v ous y ywere far enough behind the lines to not be taken unawares.Erik and John hurried back to John's business,and moved through
bored Roo sat in
the front, then into the rear storage room
where a very
a corner, half dozing. Without preamble, he said, "Are we leaving?"Erik nodded. "Tonight."
John said, "I'll have a boat down at the smugglers' cove. You'll carryo we left down there will be happy to get backcargo, and the two men wh
home."
Erik said,
Roo, look at this."
Roo stood and came to where Erik opened up his sketches. He movedthem around until they formed a map of the region around the town ofSarth. "You'll need to memorize this, so if you get back and I don't, youcan redraw it."
"What are you talking about?" asked Roo.
"I can't risk carrying these." He looked at Roo and John. "If we getstopped, and we're carrying these maps, we're going to be dead beforeanyone blinks. If we don't have them, we might be able to bluff our wayout." He looked at John. "If you hear we are caught, John, you're goingto have to try tomorrow night to get down to Krondor.""Me?" said Vinci.
Roo said, "That's all right, John, It's not going to happen.""But if it does," said Erik, "you're going to have to carry word toDuke Duko and Owen Greylock." He pointed to the assembled pieces ofpaper. "Look at this, and remember everything."Natural terrain is the enemy," said Erik. his finger showed a pointwhere the checkpoint had been erected. "This is a bottleneck, this gap
where the road runs atop the cliffs above the ocean and hard against thesteep hillside. "
Sarth was built north of that gap, where the road swung suddenly
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
westward and through the town. The southern edge of the town was hardagainst a cliff face, dropping down into a rocky beach where, even at lowtide, there was no decent footing. The coast turned northwest after a while,and there Sarth's harbor could be found, with a long sandy beach andseveral fishing villages to the north.
"Even if we landed support troops at the smugglers' cove, we are stillsouth of that gap," said Erik.
His finger indicated the harbor. "They've only got one ship in theharbor, but look where it is."
Roo said, "So if anyone sees a Kingdom fleet rounding the point southof town, they can move the ship to the mouth of the harbor and sink it."Erik said, "I'm no sailor, but I don't think any ship we have can comefrom the south and make it through the harbor before they can move thatship and scuttle her."
Roo said, "Unless we take her first."
"We?" asked Erik.
"Figure of speech," said Roo with a grin.
Erik shook his head. "We can't get a message down to Krondor andreturn with a squad to take that ship. Owen will reach Krondor in threedays' time. We need to be down there in two, so we can give him thelatest intelligence."
Roo said, "If you stay and use that band of thugs John hired, youcould take that ship."
Erik said, "No. Orders. I've got to be back day after tomorrow."Roo looked at Vinci. "John?"
John held up his hands. "Not me!" He patted his ample gut and said,"I'm an old fat man, Roo, and I never was a fighter on my best day."Then Erik looked at Roo and said, "Would you care to volunteer forone last mission for King and Country?"
Roo frowned. "To what good?"
('You might save the lives of a lot of good men, shorten the war, andregain your lost wealth that much faster." Erik pointed to the northeastend of town. "If we can chase Nordan's soldiers up the coast and get shipsup from Port Vykor into that harbor, we can resupply and move norththat much faster."
Roo said, "How many men do they keep on that ship, John?"'(A light crew, from what we can see. It's been sitting there since'\*'~'inter. Every once in a while someone rows back and forth between the'hip and the town, and we think they've loaded some ballast on it, butwe've never seen any significant cargo; just a box of provisions now andagain. SO maybe it is a blockade ship."
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Roo scratched his head. "I'm an idiot for this, but I'll takfor you, Erik. When is Greylock supposed to get here?""If he turns northward at sundown in three days, he'll tdawn of the fourth."
"Three more days in that shed?"
"We've slept in worse," said Erik.
Roo nodded. "Don't remind me," He sighed. "Four daysjust before dawn, I'll row out and take that ship."Erik said, "Good. Now, John, you've got to memorize thiscause you're coming with me."
"Me?" said Vinci.
Erik smiled, and it was a smile filled with menace. "Your choice:come with me, or take the ship."
Vinci swallowed hard. "I'll visit Krondor."
"Wise choice," said Erik.
Roo said to John, "I need at least a dozen reliable men, twenty wouldbe better. "
John shrugged. "I can get a dozen. Twenty? I'll see.""I'll need two large skiffs hidden nearby until it's time to leave.""I have a warehouse near there. I'll have the boats taken there tonight.
Roo said, "Well, then, I guess it's decided. \*At least it will be over infive more days."
"With luck," said Erik.
His finger stabbed at the road leading from the town to the abbey. "IfArutha and his company can neutralize Nordan's forces up there. Fromthe lack of troops down here I must assume he's got at least three or fourhundred soldiers up there. If they come down that road and hit Owenfrom behind as he's trying to get into the city, they could throw us backsouth of the gap, and that would cost us dearly."Roo sighed. "We can only hope. That's all we ever could do, evenwhen we were running for our lives across Novindus: do our best andhope.
Erik was forced to agree. "A prayer might be in order, too."Roo fell silent.
Arutha listened at the door. On the other side he heard voices. Forthe last day they had scouted out the lower basements of the abandonedlibrary at Sarth. Dominic had estimated that as many as a thousand mencould be housed at the abbey if they filled every empty chamber, eventhough the dormitory in the abbey itself was built for only forty monks.
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They had calculated that stabling of horses dictated that the majority
of soldiers in the abbey be foot soldiers, as no more than forty or fiftyhorses could be crowded into the courtyard of the abbey. The problem ofproviding fodder for the horses, and wagons full of hay or grain every
week, probably kept the number down to a couple of dozen animals.They had reached the second level of halls below the abbey proper
before encountering any soldiers. Through the door at which Arutha listenedthey heard voices in casual conversation. Arutha moved back towhere Dominic waited, and whispered, "Is there any way around thisroom?'?
Dominic shook his head and quietly replied, "If we go back downtwo levels and return up the other side, we'll still come into that room,but through a different door. There are three doors, the third being to astairway to the level above."
Arutha nodded. He had memorized the drawing Dominic had made."We'll wait here, then storm the room when it's time to take the abbey."He glanced at one of Subai's soldiers, who carried a timing glass, filled
with sand. At sundown the day before, he had turned it, starting the timekeeping.Within the dark confines of the basement under the abbey, therewas no natural way to mark the passing of time. And timing was critical."I wish I could get a look and see how many soldiers were there."Dominic said, "We could chance one late at night, when they're allasleep. "
Arutha turned to a soldier and said, "Tell Captain Subai I want himto send half the men back down two levels, and up the other side, to thesecond door into this chamber ahead." The soldier saluted and hurriedoff to carry out his orders. To Dominic, Arutha said, "It occurs to me
we've encountered no barriers to the lower chambers, but this door or theother may be blocked. I'd not want this raid to fail because someone
moved a bunk in front of this door. Whoever gets in first can insure theother door is quickly opened."
Dominic nodded. He glanced over at the soldier holding the sandclock. "Another day and a half."
ROO waited impatiently. The last two days had dragged, moment bymoment, second by second, until he thought he would lose his mind. Thensuddenly it was time to leave.
He looked at the men John had rounded up. There were sixteen ofthem. All looked disreputable, but none looked particularly fearsome. Still,he had seen enough harmless-looking men who turned out to be killers in
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Raymond E. Feist
SH~S OF A BPOKEN CPOWN
his days to judge too much on appearances. He said, "Do any of youknow how to work aboard ship?"
Five of them held up their hands. Roo shook his head. Pointing tothe first one, he said, "You, if you hear me shout, cut loose the anchor."To the second, he said, "If you hear me shout, raise whatever sail youcan reach." To the last he said, "And you, head for the tiller and steer usfor open water." Glancing at the other men, he said, "The rest of you,do whatever those three tell you. If we take that ship, I want to be ableto get underway if anyone on shore tries to help." To himself he silentlyadded, and get the hell away from Sarth if the attack fails."Ready?" he asked, and the men nodded. "Once we start moving,don't stop for anything unless I tell you or we're attacked." He openedthe door to Vinci's store, and said, "Lees go."The men followed Roo into the predawn gloom, down the streetwhere Vinci's store sat, then around a corner that put them on the mainstreet through the town, part of the King's Highway. They followed it,moving quickly without running, and when the road turned north again,they followed a smaller street that led down to the southern end of thedocks. To Roo's mind, Sarth looked like nothing so much as a right handslapped down on an otherwise northwest-running shoreline. The thumbwas where the road turned west for a while, and the bulk of the townrested between, until the road turned north up the index finger. The docksstarted at the crook of the thumb and followed the highway for a distance,with several blocks of houses between the highway and the bay.As they reached the docks, Roo found Vinci had instructed other mento leave the warehouse unbolted. It was the last one on the lower dock,the westernmost part of the thumb in Roo's imagination, and inside weretwo boats. Each boat was lifted by six men and quickly moved down aboat ramp, set in the water, and pushed off with eight men climbing intothe first, and Roo and the other eight climbing into the second. Theyalmost held their breath trying to be silent, but everything around themremained quiet.
Two men in each boat put oars into the water and rowed lightly,moving across the water to the ship, a dark silhouette against the grey ofsky and water. As they neared, Roo felt a cold chill in his stomach. Softlyhe said, "Damn."
"What?" asked a man nearby.
"It's a Quegan trader."
"So?" asked a second man.
"Nothing," said Roo. "I'm in enough trouble with Queg that a littlemore won't make me any more dead if they catch me."
A low cackle from a third man answered the remark, then the mansaid, "No, but it might make your dying a little nastier."
"Thanks," said Roo. "That makes me feel so much better."The first boat reached the stem of the ship, a two-masted tradingvessel. A man in the bow of the first boat leaped to a rear anchor line andnimbly climbed to the gunwale. He peeked over, turned, and noddeddown to those in the boats below.
Silently, men started climbing aboard.
Up on deck, the sailor assigned the night watch sat against the railsleeping. Roo motioned, and one of the men struck the sleeping sentryhard on the head with the hilt of a sword. The man slumped over, unconscious.
Roo motioned for the men to move fore and aft, and down into the
ship they went. Things were quiet, then suddenly a shout from the bowof the ship sounded, answered quickly by the sound of blows. Other voiceswere raised, then it was quiet again. A minute later a group of downcast
looking sailors emerged from the fore hatch, followed a moment later bymen coming up the aft. There were only twenty-two men aboard, includingthe Captain and mate. All had been asleep and had been easily rousedfrom their berths to find themselves facing armed men.Roo breathed a sigh of relief. The ship was his.Roo looked at one of the men, who didn't look like ;i sailor. "Wheredid you find him?" he asked one of the smugglers.The smuggler said, "In a little cabin next to the Captain's."Roo came to stand before the man and said, "There's something familiarabout you. Who are you?"
The man remained silent. Roo said, "Light a lantern."One of the smugglers did so and brought it over. Roo held it close.
"I know you! You're one of Vasarius's men. Your name is Velari."The man politely said, Avery.
Roo laughed. "Don't tell me this is one of Lord Vasarius's ships?"~"It is," said the high-placed servant. He had been the first Quegan tomeet Roo on his first visit to that island.
"Isn't that something," said Roo. "Well, I'm sure Vasarius is holdingme personally responsible for every injury done him since I last saw him,
SO this additional offense won't surprise him."Velari said, "He'll eventually find out, Avery.""You can tell him," said Roo.
"Me? Aren't you going to kill us?"
"No reason to," said Roo. "In fact, we're doing you a favor. Sometimein the next few hours a full-scale war is about to erupt around here,south."
"War?" said Valari
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Raymond E . Feist
and by that time I plan on being safely out of this harbor and on my way
"Yes, the very one . you were told was the signal for you to Ank thisship in the harbor.
"Sink this ship?" said Valari. "My would we do that?""To keep Kingdom ships out of the harbor " answered Roo."We have no such orders," said Vinci.
"Then what are you waiting here for?"
The question was answered by silence.
Roo looked as if he was turning away, then he rounded hard andslammed his fist into Valari's stomach. The man collapsed to the deck,unable to breathe for a moment, then he crawled to his knees and vomitedon the deck. Roo knelt and grabbed him by the hair, pulling his face upand saying, "Now, what are you waiting for?"
Again the man looked at Roo but said nothing. Roo pulled his daggerand held it before Valari's eyes. "Would you speak better if parts of youwere missing.
"We're waiting for another ship."
"What ship?"
The man was silent until Roo put the point of the dagger in the meatof Valari's shoulder and started to push, slowly increasing the pressure sothat it became painful quickly, without doing serious damage.Valari winced, then his eyes watered, then he cried out. "Stop it!" hebegged.
"What ship?" asked Roo, letting the point dig deeper. He knew it wasa light wound, but he also sensed that Valari wasn't a man who knewthat and was not used to enduring pain.
Valari sobbed, "My Lord Vasarius comes to Sarth.""Vasarius! Here?" said Roo, wiping his blade and putting it away.'Why?
"To escort us back to Queg."
Roo stood up, eyes wide. Turning to the leader of the smugglers, hesaid, "Get ready to raise sail. If I shout to get underway, I want to bemoving by the time I'm back up on deck."
Roo hurried to a hatchway and half-jumped down the companionwayto the lower deck. He ducked through a low door into the main cargo
hold and saw crates and sacks lashed down along both sides of the hold.He grabbed a large sack and tried to lift it. It was too heavy to move. Heused his knife to cut loose a small cord tied around the top of the sack,and gold spilled out onto the deck.
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As loud as he could, Roo shouted, "Get underway. "Men shouted up on the deck, and the sound of a fist striking a jawinformed Roo the smugglers were insuring the captive sailors were obeyingorders. He heard an ax fall and knew they had cut away the anchorand chain.
Roo found a pry bar and opened a crate. Inside, in the gloom, he hadno trouble recognizing riches. Gems, coins, jewelry, a bolt of expensivesilk, all had been haphazardly dumped into the chest and it had beennailed shut.
Roo knew what he had stumbled across; it was the booty of Krondorand Sarth, boxed and stored aboard this ship to send to Queg. As he madehis way back up to the deck, Roo began to wonder. Why would GeneralFadawah be sending riches to Lord Vasarius?
He saw sails falling from the yards and his appointed man on the tilleras the ship slowly began to move forward, toward the mouth of the harbor.Roo moved to stand before Valari and said, "What is Fadawah buyingfrom Queg?"
If Valari had any inclination to refuse to answer, it fled when Rooproduced the dagger and showed it to him. "Weapons! He buys weapons. ""
What weapons?"
"Swords, shields, pikes, and bows. Arrows, crossbows, and bolts. Catapultsand ballistae. And fire oil."
"And it's being shipped here?"
"No, it is already delivered, to Ylith. But the gold was here and Fadawaharranged for it to be secretly stored on this ship.""Why wasn't it guarded better?" asked one of the smugglers nearby."I mean, if we had known, we'd have taken this ship ourselves, days ago!""Because guards would have called attention," said Roo. "They circulateda rumor it was a blockade ship, to be sunk in the harbor mouth."He grinned. "Lads, you're going farther than we thought. We're not goingdown the coast to the cove and then ashore to meet the army. We'reheading down to Krondor itself."
"Why?" asked one of the smugglers.
"Because I'm claiming this gold for the crown, and the crown owesll,e gold beyond imagining, so I'm taking this cargo in partial payment of"ny debt, and because all of you will be paid a month's wages for eachday we're at sea. "
. One of the men got a calculating look and said, "Why shouldn't weJust split it up? We don't work for you, Avery."Suddenly Roo's sword was out of its scabbard before the man could
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react. The point touched the man in the throat and Roo said, "BecauseI'm the only real soldier on this ship, and you copper-grubbing thugs aregetting a chance for some real gold. Why die so a few of you can sharethis, when you can live and get enough to keep you drunk for the rest ofyour life?"
"Just asking," said the man, backing away.
"Besides," said Roo, "Vinci knows each of you, and if I don't makeit alive back to Krondor and you show up anywhere in the West withgold, he'll know to send assassins after you.yyThat was a bluff, but Roo didn't think any of these smugglers weresmart enough to suspect it was. He turned and shouted, "Get as muchsail on as you can once we're out of the harbor. And find a Kingdombanner if there's one in the Captain's cabin and hoist it aloft! I don't wantto get sunk by one of Reeve's attack ships before we can explain we're ontheir side. "
As they exited the harbor, the lookout shouted, "Galley off the starboardbow!"
Roo raced to the fore of the ship and looked where the lookout indicated.Sure enough, heaving out of the morning mist came a Queganwar galley. Roo didn't hesitate, but dashed back to where the Captain ofthe ship still stood under guard. "How tight to the southern headland canyou turn this ship without killing us all?"
The Captain said, "At this speed, not very."
"So we either slow down and get overtaken, or we turn south andshoal out."
"Yes," said the Captain with a smile.
Roo looked toward the canvas and saw the luff of the sail. He wasnot a true sailor, but he had served aboard ship on two long voyages downto Novindus. To those sailors aloft, he said, "I'll give every man here athousand pieces of gold if we get away from that galley!"Quegan sailors were often pressed into service, and none were knownparticularly for deep loyalty to their Emperor. Suddenly the activity aboveincreased to a frenzied pace as Roo shouted orders. The Captain realizedhe was in the presence of a man who knew his way around a ship andsaid, "We can heel hard to port in a few moments and if we hold tightinto the wind, make it clear of rocks, Mr. Avery."Roo looked at the Captain and said, "Switching sides?""For twelve years I've sailed for my Lord Vasarius, and if I've madea thousand gold pieces in that time, it was barely.""Good," said Roo. "For the Captain, two thousand. Now get us outof here."
The Captain shouted orders, and turned to take the tiller away fromthe man Roo had assigned to the job. Valari said, "What about me?"Roo said, "Can you swim?"
"Yes, but-"
Roo nodded to the powerful-looking smuggler who had just releasedthe tiller, and the man grabbed Valari by the collar and the seat of thepants, and with two steps pitched him over the side of the ship. As theman came to the surface, Roo called down, "Perhaps your employer willstop and pick you up!"
The galley bore down on them, and Roo stood on the quarterdeck,watching as it came straight at them, then to the side, and then to thestern, as the Captain turned southward. The men on the bow of the galleycould be clearly seen, astonished expressions on their faces as the shipthey were sent to escort seemed to be turning in the wrong direction.A few moments later, the galley turned to pursue. "Can we lose her?"asked Roo.
The Captain said, "If we run out of wind before they run out of slaves,no. If they run out of slaves first, yes."
Roo said, "I hate to do it to the slaves, but let's pray for wind."The Captain nodded.
"What's your name?"
"Nardini," said the Captain.
"Well, Captain Nardini, I used to have a fleet, and I expect to haveone again. If we live through this, not only will you get your gold, I'llgive you a job."
"That would be nice," said the Captain, a balding man of middleyears. "I've never been farther into Krondor than the docks. I was lastthere about three years ago."
"It's changed since you were there," said Roo."So I hear," replied the Captain.
Roo looked rearward and saw the galley was holding steady abouttwo hundred yards off their stern. They had come around the thumb, asRoo thought of it, and the coast fell away to the east, leaving them inrelatively open water.
Roo knew that a support fleet was due to hit Sarth at noon, and hopedthey reached it before Vasarius's war galley reached them.
Arutha whispered, "Try the latch."
The soldier nearest him quietly moved the latch up and the dooropened. There was a faint squeak, but no one inside the room seemed tonotice. He followed the first man into the room and glanced around in
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the dim light. A single candle burned on a table halfway across the longwall, opposite the stairway leading upward to the next level. The floorwas littered with a dozen empty sleeping pallets, while another six wereoccupied. With a hand signal, Captain Subai indicated they were to besubdued and they were. Solders entered from the second door and Aruthasmiled as he whispered, "Well, it seems I owe those soldiers an apology;that was a lot of stair climbing for no good reason."Subai said, "They understand."
Arutha turned to locate Brother Dominic. The cleric wore a helm andbreastplate, but carried no sword. He only sported a dull cudgel. He hadsaid that his order would not permit him to spill blood. Breaking heads,Arutha had observed dryly, was permitted, however."what now?"
Dominic said, "There is something. .
"What?"
( 'I don't know. A presence. .
Arutha said, "A presence?"
' 'It's something I've felt before, but fainter, more distant.""What?" urged Arutha.
'I don't know," whispered the cleric. "But whatever it is, it is notgood. I should lead the soldiers up the stairs. If it is magical or mystic, Imay be able to protect us."
Arutha nodded, frowning. Since the death of the Pantathian SerpentPriests and Pug's destruction of the demon Jakan, there had been noreports of any magical activity among the enemy. The possibility thatsome agency of darkness had hidden among them and was now about tomanifest itself bothered him. But there was no turning back.Dominic mounted the stairs and Arutha, Subai, and the soldiers followed.They entered a long hallway with doorways on either side, eachleading into a large storage room, used to house books just a year earlier.Each doorway was open, and through the portals they could see moresleeping men. Arutha did a quick estimation and judged a hundred menbetween the two rooms. He signaled, and Subai placed archers at eachend of the hall.
He then set about waking the invaders, quietly and one at a time, sothat each man awoke to the sight of a naked blade before his face andarchers behind drawing a bead. In less than a half hour, all one hundredmercenaries were herded down to the lowest chamber, to join the first sixmen captured.
"This can't last," said Subai quietly.
As if his words were prophetic, at the top of the next flight of stairs
they were spied by two men walking down the corridor. As soon as theysaw the black uniforms, the mercenaries knew there were Kingdom soldiersin the building. They raised alarm, and Arutha shouted, "Every manto his position!"
Each man knew his assignment. There were a dozen key positionsthroughout the abbey, and if the Kingdom forces could secure them, theinvaders would be isolated from the town below. While Arutha and hismen might be forced to eventually withdraw back down the stairs into thelower chambers of the abbey, they could keep the garrison up here frommounting a counterattack down the mountain to relieve the garrison atSarth.
Sleepy mercenaries came stumbling through doors on both sides ofthe hall, and Arutha found himself fighting for his life. He had neverfought in combat before, and until this moment had harbored a deep fearhe would not be up to the task. He anticipated shame that he could notserve his King the way his father and sons already had. Yet now, withouthesitation, he was coolly engaging a man intent on killing him. He hadno time to think about his previous doubts, and without conscious effort,years of practice and drill took over and he began laying about him, usingthe sword once carried by his namesake, Prince Arutha.Slowly they moved along the corridor, driving the forces of GeneralNordan before them. At the end of the corridor, another flight of stairsled upward. By the time Arutha reached them, the hall was littered withbodies, most of them invaders, and a trio of men stood at the bottom ofthe stairs. Fighting up the stairs would be difficult, as the advantage ofheight would make this a difficult contest.
From behind a voice shouted, "Down!"
Without hesitation, Arutha fell to the floor, ignoring the pool of bloodin which he lay. A flight of arrows sped by overhead, and the three menupon the first step of the stairway fell. Before Arutha could rise to his feet,men were racing past him, their boots pounding on the stones of the stepsas they hurried up to engage the enemy on the next level.Arutha knew he was one flight below ground level. Above them stoodthe abbey, the stable, the outbuilding, and the walls. If they could get tothe tower above the abbey, and command positions atop the walls, theycould win the day.
Arutha took a deep breath and charged after the soldiers in front ofhim.
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Erik charged.
His company was second through the barricade, following hard onthe heels of a unit of the Royal Krondorian Lancers led by Owen Greylock.The heavy cavalry rolled through the defenders effortlessly, drivinga wedge through the invaders' line. Erik's unit was on Owen's right, followinga hundred yards behind, and struck a deeply dug-in series oftrenches supported by bow-fire from a clump of trees a dozen yards behindthe last trench.
Erik had chosen this particular spot for himself and his men, for itwas the sort of emplacement that was better attacked by mounted infantryrather than cavalry. As his men reached a point just beyond the enemy'sbow-fire, Erik ordered a halt. The men reined in and dismounted, oneman in five taking the horses to the rear. The rest formed up on Erik'scommand and ran the last hundred yards to attack the enemy lines.Erik knew the key to taking this side of the line was to strike hardand fast at the upper portion that abutted the hillside. It was a series ofshallow trenches and offered little protection for the defenders. Once theywere in those trenches it would be easy to get behind the rest of the enemyline, root out the bowmen in the trees, and surround the men in the other
trench locations. I +,.
As he had anticipated, it took his men less than an hour to comp esubdue the defenders on the right flank. Seeing things were in hand, Erikreturned to get his mount and ordered the rest of his men forward whilea handful remained behind to escort prisoners back to the stockades being
erected for holding captives. ;tl~bnllt a hitch.
Everywhere the first phase of battle was moving ong wErik had expected stronger resistance on the left flank, the section of thedefensive line between the road and the sea cliffs, but the rapidly advancing
Kingdom forces had totally demoralized the advance position ofFadawah's army.
Realizing that things were in hand, Erik sent word back to bring up
the second elements of Greylock's army, the heavy infantry that had beenhiding in Krondor for the last week. They were a half-day down the coastand would be needed tomorrow morning if they had to dig out defendersat the gap or the southern boundary of Sarth.
As he motioned for his mounted infantry to form up to advance, Erikgave thanks that Sarth wasn't a walled town like some of the others inthe Kingdom. He impatiently waited for his command to re-form, as thestanding order was to move as fast into Sarth as possible. When they weremounted, he gave the order and they advanced.
Units of archers were hurrying along on either flank, their orders toflush out snipers in the woods. They were supported by squads of swords
men.
Heavy pikemen, who would be critical to break any counterattacks,were hurrying along the road, and Erik had to order them to halt, so thathis horsemen wouldn't be stuck behind the slower-moving footmen. Wheneveryone was assembled, Erik signaled the advance, and the men movedout. The pikemen fell in behind the horses, and the march was resumed.The hillsides echoed with the sounds of shouts and screams, the humof arrows through the air and the sound of steel clashing. But it wasobviously a mopping-up action here, and the heavy fighting would beahead.
Erik motioned for his men to advance at a canter, and they beganleaving the infantry behind.
Erik had reached Krondor without Incident, he and John Vinci havingslipped through the gap to the smuggler's cove, then by boat to a fast shipheading down to Krondor. They had reached the city in time to giveGreylock the detailed layout he had needed.
.The next morning advance scouting and infiltration units had beensent out to destroy Nordan's forward positions. The units Greylock hadbrought into Krondor under cover of darkness the previous night left twohours after and rode throughout the day, taking up positions a half-day'sride south of Sarth.
At dawn they had advanced on the city.
Erik glanced to where the sun hung in the sky and considered theywere Possibly an hour ahead of schedule. Any time gained in the firststage of the assault would be to their benefit. They would need as manymen as possible in the town should Lord Arutha's infiltration of the abbeyfail and Nordan launch a counteroffensive from up that road.
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Glancing toward the sea, Erik saw sails in the distance, two shipsheading south. He wondered if they might be invaders' ships or Quegans.Either way, they were about to run headlong into a fleet of ships fromPort Vykor heading to Sarth to support the land advance.Erik returned his attention to the matter at hand.
Roo said, "They're gaining.Captain Nardini said, "Morning breeze is freshening, but whoever'sgalley is willing to kill slaves, that's the truth."in command of that
Roo said, "Any weapons aboard this ship?"
"Only what you brought with You. The plan always was to just lookharmless and slip out of the harbor without anyone suspecting we had allthat gold aboard." The Captain glanced backward and then returned hisattention to the sails above. "We certainly have no ballistae or other warengines, if that's what you're asking."
"That's what I was asking," said Roo.
Slowly the galley pulled nearer Roo's ship.
"Sails ahead!" shouted the lookout.
'Where away?" questioned the Captain.
"Two quarters! Dead ahead and five points off the starboard bow!"Roo hurried forward and squinted against the glare from the n-dstburning off in the morning fight. Directly ahead he saw a dozen tiny dotsof white, the sails of the fleet heading north from Port Vykor, while offto the right larger sails showed a fleet closer still.Roo hurried back to the Captain. "We've got trouble.""I know," said Nardini. "We need a much stronger wind, or thatgalley's going to catch us in less than an hour.""Worse. It looks like we've got a Quegan raiding fleet heading thisway, and it looks like they'll get to us before the Kingdom fleet does."Nardini looked perplexed. "There shouldn't be enough ships in Quegto make up a raiding fleet. A few of the richer nobles, like Vasarius, havea single galley, one they didn't send on that big raid last year, but if thereare five other warships left in Queg, I'd be shocked. A dozen or so areunder construction in Queg, but they won't be ready to launch for at leastanother month."
"Then who belongs to that second fleet?" asked Roo.Nardini shrugged. "We'll find out soon enough."Roo said, "I wish I had your calm. ~)
Nardini said, "Well, truth to tell, if you get free, I'm a rich man. Ifyou get caught, I was your prisoner."
Roo had to admire the Captain's poise. But his perverse nature demanded
he spoil it. "Well, if Vasarius catches us, I hope I live long enoughto hear you explain to him how you managed to let us capture your ship."The Captain's face drained of color. "Put on every inch of sail youcan"' he shouted aloft.
Roo laughed.
The Captain continued calling out orders to the men aloft as the twofleets bore down on the ship. Roo called to the lookout, "As soon as youcan identify that fleet off the starboard, sing out!""Yes, sir!" replied the man aloft.
Roo found it impossible not to look continuously astern, to attemptto measure in his mind the progress the galley behind was making. In hismind's eye he could see the hortator belowdecks slamming his woodenmallets onto the drum used to keep the rowers in unison. Roo knew thatwhen they were close enough, and the Captain called for ramming speed,the beat would pick up and that huge ship would seem to leap forward,its heavy iron-clad ram striking this little ship in the stem. Then armedmen would swarm aboard, and if Roo was lucky he'd die during thecombat.
The galley drew nearer and Roo saw a man standing at the bow,watching intently. After a few moments, Roo said, "Well, it's Lord Vasariushimself."
Nardini said, "Then we had better pray that the wind picks up ormore slaves die quickly, for we are unlikely to encounter mercy at hishands.
"I've found the man lacks any sense of humor, myself."Nardini said, "I've never had the pleasure of any social encounters.""With luck, you won't anytime soon," said Roo.From aloft the lookout shouted, "Kingdom ships to the starboard!"Roo raced to the bow of the ship and looked. After a few minutes, hecould see that both squadrons heading toward him were Kingdom ships.He whooped in joy and turned to shout to the Captain, "Which can wereach first?"
From the rear of the ship, the Captain shouted back, "Those to thestarboard are closer, but if we change course toward them, we will losesixed.yl
Roo didn't debate. "Just keep as much speed as you can and let Vasariusdecide who he wants to fight first."
Roo heard a crash. He ran to the stem of the ship and saw the Captaincowering over the loose tiller, letting the high sterncastle shelter him."What was that?" he asked Nardini.
"A ballista bolt! Vasarius seeks to slow us down."
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"Or he's mad enough to sink his own treasure ship before he lets itget away."
Looking over his shoulder, where men worked frantically or watchedin fear, he shouted, "Do we have a bow on this ship?"Silence greeted his question. "Damn," Roo swore. "We can't evenshoot back!"
Captain Nardini said, "A little more to the left and he'd have disabledour tiller."
As if listening, the officer in charge of the ballista fired more accurately,and Captain Nardini was almost cut in half by the tiller as itslammed hard into him. Blood flowed from his mouth and nose and hiseyes were glassy before he collapsed to the deck.Roo saw the tiller swinging loosely and knew the shaft connecting itto the rudder had been shattered. Roo knew it was possible to control theship a little by trimming sails, but he had no idea of how one did thatand was certain a high rate of speed was now out of the question. Theship began to drift to starboard and the sailors above frantically tried totrim sails. They looked down, awaiting orders, and a few of them couldsee the Captain lying dead on the deck.
Roo sighed in resignation. He pulled his sword and shouted, "Readyto repel boarders!"
Instantly those in the rigging above began sliding down sheets to reachthe deck. Those who had no weapons grabbed belaying pins or largewooden tackles on rope which could be wheeled like a morningstar.The Quegan galley bore down on them and another ballista bolt spedtoward the ship's stem. A loud crack was accompanied by the entire shipshuddering with the impact.
From below a voice called out, "We're taking water.""Wonderful," Roo said.
His ship began to turn sideways to the galley as the wind shiftedquarter, and suddenly the huge galley's ram was angled at the starboardstem.
An arrow sped by and Roo realized he was standing exposed to anyarchers in the rigging of the other ship. He ducked low, behind the slightshelter offered by a hatch cover, knowing his chances for survival werevery thin. If they could stay alive until the approaching Kingdom fleetreached them, Vasarius would be forced to withdraw. But the chances ofthis handful of sailors and smugglers holding off the Quegan crew wereslim.
Obviously a couple of the sailors agreed, as they dove from the rigginginto the water, attempting to swim to shore rather than face the wrath of
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a Quegan warship's crew. "Stand!" shouted Roo, hoping whatever noteof authority he could muster might stiffen the spines of the remainingcrew.
Suddenly the ship shuddered and shook like a rat caught by a terrier.The stem lifted as the huge iron-shod ram ripped into the starboard rear
quarter of the ship. Roo held on for his life as more arrows sped past.
He kept as low as possible, waiting for the first boarder.It seemed as soon as he thought of boarders, they were there. Quegansailors swung down on ropes overhanging the bow of the galley. Similarlydressed in white trousers and shirts, with red headcovers, they were each
armed with cutlass and knife. Roo gave a silent prayer that Vasariuswasn't accompanied by a squad of Quegan Legionaries. The men whoswarmed his ship were little better than pirates, and might be held at bay.Roo leaped at the first man near him, running him through before the
boarder had a chance to defend himself. Roo ducked back, using the rearmast as cover from the archers above. Another pirate managed to step inthe way of an arrow aimed at Roo, and fell to the deck screaming as thearrow protruded from his thigh.
Roo heard members of his own crew climbing the ladder from themain deck to the quarter, and saw the boarders hesitate. He launched a
furious attack at the next man, who stepped back. This caused those behindto retreat, and suddenly there was a bunching of boarders on the rearof the quarterdeck. Arrows rained down from above indiscriminately,striking Quegans as well as Roo's men.
Another shout from above caused Roo to dive away as a second volleyof arrows cut down men around him. Roo struck a dying man, whogroaned as Roo rolled over him and came to his feet. One enterprisingboarder was trying to hoist the dead body of a companion to use as ashield against the arrows, but Roo skewered him before he could get thedead man adjusted on his shoulder.
A shaft sped by Roo's face, close enough for him to feel the wind,and he moved backward, again trying to use the rear mast and the sailsabove as shelter from the bow-fire.
He glanced around and realized that only two of his own men were
standing and there were a halfdozen boarders advancing on him. He alsoknew that if he leaped to the main deck, he'd be exposed to even morefire from above.
Roo had not gotten to where he was by hesitating. Without lookingback, he shouted, "Abandon ship!" and with a single step he dove overthe side. Roo struck the water as he felt a hot sting in his shoulder, and
Raymond E. - Feist
he gasped involuntarily. Suddenly he had a mouth and nose full of seawaterand he began choking.
Roo forced himself to the surface, choking and spitting water, and bysheer force of will he kept himself from panic. He managed a deep breathas arrows sped by him, and with a single gulp of air, he dove under thewater again and started swimming toward the shore. After he had heldhis breath as long as possible, he broke the surface and turned, treadingwater.
Panic had erupted on both ships, as the sailors on the deck of his shipwere frantically scrambling to gain the ropes they had just used to boardit. The reason was that the galley was backing water, attempting to freethe ram from the foundering ship. And the reason for that was the twoKingdom warships that were now bearing down on the galley.The two ships were fast cutters. Neither alone could stand up to aQuegan war galley, but with the galley's ability to maneuver hindered bythe sinking freighter, the two cutters were like hounds on a wounded bearwith its muzzle stuck in a trap.
Men ran around on deck like ants after a stick had been jammed intheir hill, The first cutter fired a ballista bolt that sheared rigging andfouled lines. The second fired a bolt that shattered several oars on the portside of the galley, probably killing a dozen slaves as the oars suddenlyslammed around inside the hull.
Then the Kingdom ship closest to Roo blocked his view of the galleyfor several minutes. He heard ballistae fire several times before the shippassed and he could again see the galley. The galley was afire. The shipon the far side loosed another flaming bolt and the crew of the galleybegan to abandon ship.
Roo turned and swam toward the shore, memorizing landmarks inthe distance. After a few minutes another Kingdom ship aPPeared) bearingdown on him, and Roo raised his hand, waving his arm back and forth.The ship lowered sail and armed men on deck stood ready to retrieveships locked in
those in the water. Roo looked again at the two Quegana death embrace. The sinking treasure ship turned, and Roo could see thestem. There painted in red were the words, Shala Rose. Roo realized hehadn't even known the name of the ship until that moment. Now she wasdown by the stem and forcing the burning galley down by the bow.Both ships were taking on water and men still swarmed off the decksof the galley. For a moment he wondered if anyone had unchained theSlaves belowdecks, and said a silent prayer for those who wouldn't getabovedecks. HeThen the Kingdom ship was upon him and a rope was lowered.
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~ed it and climbed aboard. Rough hands pulled him over the railing,and as he stood dripping seawater upon the deck, one of the officers said,"And who might you be?"
"Rupert Avery of Krondor," he answered.
The name caused a visible shift in manners. "Mr. Avery," said theofficer. "I, m Lieutenant Aker, second officer of the ship.""Glad to meet you," said Roo. "A few of those swimming aroundmay be my men, but most of them are Quegans."
"Quegans?" said the young officer. "Are they taking a hand?""Let's say it's a personal matter. Still, they were not kindly disposedto our cause."
"If you'd like, sir, I'll escort you to our Captain."tt~a,3,lik you. v I
Roo followed the officer to the quarterdeck, where they halted justbefore the ladder to the sterncastle. Roo knew that Kingdom navy traditionforbade anyone to climb the stairs to the Captain's domain withoutinvitation.
The Lieutenant called up, "Captain Styles, sir!"A grey-haired head peered over the railing and called down, "Whatis it, Mr. Aker?"
"This is ". Rupert Avery of Krondor, sir."
"Heard of you," said the Captain to Roo. "Forgive my lack of hospitality,but we have to rescue some drowning men."
"Understood, Captain," replied Rupert.
"Perhaps you'll dine with me this evening, after we reach Sarth,"suggested the Captain. He turned away before Roo could answer.Roo looked at the young officer. "Lieutenant, what ship?""You're aboard the Royal Bulldog, sir. If you'll come with me, we'llget you into some dry clothing."
As they crossed the deck, Roo saw other Kingdom ships racing northward,carrying soldiers to reinforce Sarth. "How many ships?" asked Roo."A dozen. Five carrying troops and the rest of us running screens. Sofar no enemy ships, until this one."
Roo said, "I'm confused a bit. Two squadrons of Kingdom ships?"Aker said, "We're from the Far Coast, Mr. Avery. This is what's leftOf the command in Carse, with a couple of ships from Tulan and Crydeetossed into the bargain." He pointed to the rear. "The other squadron arethe lads from Port Vykor."
Roo said, "Well, wherever you're from, I'm very glad you got here."Roo went down belowdecks, to a small cabin he assumed belongedto the Lieutenant. The officer produced trousers and a white shirt, drystockings, and small clothes. Roo quickly changed, and said, "When weget situated, I'll make sure these are returned.""No rush, sir. I've another set."
Roo made his way back up to the main deck to find Quegan)sailorsbeing, hauled up over the railing, then tied and forced to sit under thewatchful gaze of armed Kingdom sailors. Sitting at the front of them,looking as much like a half-drowned rat as anything else, sat a dejected-lookingfigure familiar to Roo.
Roo came and knelt just beyond the guards, so that he was at eyelevelwith the man. "My Lord Vasarius, how pleasant to see you here."'Avery," the man nearly spat. "Have the Gods selected you to perSOnally
plague me for some affront?'
Roo shrugged. "I wouldn't know. You just happened to be the unluckyconduit whereby I could achieve some gains for my King. Nothingpersonal. "
"It's very personal," said Vasarius.
"Then you better rethink things, for you are in no position to makethreats." Roo looked up to where Lieutenant Akers stood, and said, "Thisis a very important Quegan noble; he's a member of their Imperial Senate.'~
The Lieutenant motioned to two guards to haul Vasarius up to hisfeet. They cut loose his bonds, and Lieutenant Akers said, "I'll show youto private quarters, m'lord. You understand there will be a guard outsidethe door."
With a curt nod, Vasarius acknowledged the courtesy and walked offbehind the Lieutenant.
Roo took the moment to regard the captured Quegan sailors. The lasttime he had seen a lot that miserable had been in the death cell in thepalace at Krondor. Turning to a guard, he said, What will happen tothem?"
The guard shrugged. "A work camp, I expect. If we ever get a treatywith Queg, maybe a prisoner exchange. Though the Quegans never releaseprisoners, so I guess we're stuck with these."Roo walked to the railing and again studied landmarks: the way theroad turned, the odd clump of trees near a large boulder overlooking thebeach. He glanced over his shoulder, across the deck where the Quegangalley slipped under the water with a burst of bubbles. Yes, he was certainhe could find this spot again. Hire a magician from the Wreckers Guildin Krondor to raise the ship and offload the treasure, and he'd be theWestern Realm's wealthiest man again. Roo grinned to himself.
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Arutha ducked behind a door. An arrow sped through it, striking thehardwood floor of the main entrance to the abbey. Subai's men had controlof the abbey and Nordan's invaders held the outer walls and thecookhouse. Subai had men on the roof of the abbey and they were exchangingbow-shots with those on the wall. So far both sides were being
isolated.
Arutha said to Subai, "If we can keep them from getting out the gate,it's as good as a victory."
"If all is going according to plan, we need to hold them until dark."Arutha glanced at the sun in the sky and judged it nearly noon. "Six,seven more hours."
Subai said, "I'm concerned, m'lord. I think I've seen some signalsbetween those on the wall and those in the stable. If they risked loweringa man on the outside of the gate, he may already be down the hill askingfor aid."
Arutha knew that if reinforcements arrived at the gate, they were donefor. The abbey was originally an ancient warlord's fortress. The tower rosehigh above, seemingly touching the clouds. Kingdom soldiers were stormingthe tower from within, and once on the roof above, the abbey wouldbe theirs. Around the tower a large citadel had been erected, with an outerwall and two outbuildings. Arutha had studied the plans\_alongside CaptainSubai and Brother Dominic until he knew it like his own sons' faces.He knew that from the outside, it was a nearly impregnable fortification.Only by taking it from within would they gain control. Otherwise a longsiege would ensue, requiring that a substantial number of men be divertedfrom the coming campaign.
"I'm not worried about that," said Arutha. "They'd have to risk gettingshot to open the gate and let reinforcements in. Besides, if they canafford to strip men away from the defense of Sarth to rescue the men uphere, we've lost this battle anyway."
Suddenly a shout heralded a charge from the stable. Arutha stoodshocked a moment, as armed men raced toward the main door of theabbey, a flight of arrows over their heads forcing him to retreat from thedoor. Many of the attackers went down from answering shots fromthe abbey roof, but most made it to where Arutha, Subai, and a dozenmen crowded the entrance. Arutha met the first man at the door and cuthim, down before he could step inside. As the man fell, Arutha lookedpast him to see men risking broken bones by jumping from the parapet,so they could unbar the massive wooden gates.
" 'Ware the gates!" Arutha shouted as he struck out at the next manto face him.
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Then the sound of horses could be heard as a company of riderscharged out from the barn, attempting to reach the gates as they opened.Without hesitation, Arutha shouted, "Follow me!" and charged out intothe open. He knew that if he could keep the riders from fleeing the yard,he could prevent word reaching Nordan that the abbey was under attack.By denying them the gate, it would break the back of the last resistancein the abbey and force a surrender. Half the garrison was under guard inthe basements below, and a full hundred lay dead or wounded throughoutthe compound. The hundred men trapped in the kitchen, the barn, andupon the walls were the only ones left.
Arutha felt a surge of energy, something akin to joy, mixed with nothingshort of terror, as he dodged through the melee, striking up at ahorseman who was attempting to engage another Kingdom soldier. Arutha's blade struck a glancing blow, not injuring the rider, but distractinghim enough so the other soldier could unseat him.Riders were milling around and horses were rearing and bucking,panic rising in the herd as the fighting swirled around them. Aruthaglanced to his left and saw Subai signaling his men to fan out and, bypointing, to mount an unguarded set of steps leading to the upper wall.Arutha looked toward the gate and saw two men, one wounded, werefreeing the bar. He shouted, "The gate!" and charged.Halfway between the main building of the abbey and the gate, anarrow struck Arutha in the neck, between breastplate and helm.For a moment he thought someone had punched him with a fist, forhe felt the impact of the blow and his legs go out from under him, but hedidn't feel much pain. Then his vision seemed to contract, as if he werefalling backward down a long tunnel, with darkness sweeping in from allsides. Still uncertain of what was happening, Arutha, Duke of Krondor,slipped into a void.
Subai was halfway to the steps to the top of the wall when he sawArutha go down and shouted to two of his men, "Get the Duke backhere I'
The two soldiers raced out in the middle of the fight, managed to grabthe Duke, and haul him back to Subai's position. Subai knelt beside theDuke, but he had seen enough dead men before that he didn't have totake a second look at Arutha. He considered how ironic it was that thisbrave man had died in his first conflict, and then put aside all thoughts
of the Duke; Subai had a battle to fight.
Erik signaled to Greylock and the two elements of the Kingdom armycharged. Horsemen raced down the main street of Sarth, heading to the
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Trades Masters' Hall, the headquarters and final defense of the invaders.So far the retaking of Sarth had gone without a hitch. The entire citydefense had been ordered south to deal with Greylock's center thrust. Ashad been the plan, Greylock stood and engaged, while Erik's right flankelement pushed through light resistance on the treacherous hillside east ofthe road, and while ships were unloading soldiers at the dock.Owen held a stable front, while Erik feigned a flanking attack fromthe right. The enemy shifted to face Erik, who withdrew just as soldiersunder the command of the Duke of Ran struck them from the rear. Withinminutes, it was a total rout.
Many men fled north along the King's Highway, but a few hundredhad barricaded themselves in the large building that dominated the town'ssquare. Erik's charging column wheeled to the right and flanked the buildingfrom the northeast, while Greylock's men stood on the southwest.Quickly the building was encircled.
Occasional arrows flew from windows in the upper floor, but otherwisethe building was sealed. Windows and doors on the lower floor hadbeen barricaded.
Erik turned to Duga, the mercenary Captain who had been amongthe first to switch sides during the war. "Keep the men back!" he ordered,then he set heels to his horse and rode around to Greylock's position."Orders, sir?"
Greylock was sweating furiously under the midday heat, his hair hanginglimply across his brow. "I'm lacking patience, Erik." He rode a littlecloser to the building and shouted, "You, in the guild hall!"An arrow sped from an upper window, missing by a few feet."Damn it! I'm talking to you," shouted Greylock.Erik said, "Let me," and switching to the language of Novindus, heshouted, "Our leader wishes parlay!"
After a moment, a voice from within shouted, "What terms?"Erik translated.
.Owen said, "Tell him, the terms are throw down weapons and walkOut, or we'll bum the building down with them inside of it. They mustdecide now!"
Erik translated, and there was the sound of a sudden argument breakingout inside. Then the sound of fighting erupted, and Erik glanced atOwen, who nodded.
Erik shouted, I' Charge!" and from all sides the Kingdom forces rushedthe building.
Erik and Owen were closest, and reached the main door of the building.Erik turned and shouted, "Bring a ram!"
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As men rushed to obey, other men were kicking at smaller doors orattempting to pry window shutters off their hinges. Suddenly the maindoor opened and a sword flew out, to clatter on the stone street at Erik'sfeet.
"We're coming out!" shouted a voice from within,Erik and Owen stepped away from the door and a group of men cameout, holding their swords by the blade. As they came into view of theKingdom soldiers, they threw the swords to the ground, the Novindusmercenaries' sign of surrender. Duga came to stand beside Erik. "I knowthese lads. Most of them are pretty decent fellows if you give them achance." Then he saw a few hanging back at the rear and added, "Thougha few of them should probably be hung just to improve the air aroundhere."
Erik said, "They're all going to be locked up for a while until we canget them sent back home."
Duga said, "Well, even after wintering with you, Captain, I can't sayas I understand how you Kingdom folk think, but then nothing that'sbeen happening for the last few years makes any sense to me. When thiswar is done, maybe you can explain things to me."Erik said, "As soon as someone explains things to me."Soldiers entered the building and took out the rest of the invaders. Afew were carried out bloodied and unconscious. One of the first to surrendersaid to Erik and Duga, "That lot didn't see any point to surrender.The rest of us didn't see any point in being roasted for Fadawah."Duga grinned. "Nordan will fart flames when he hears this."The soldier said, "He already did." He pointed to a man being carriedout. "That's General Nordan."
Erik motioned for the two soldiers to take the unconscious general toone side. Owen nodded, a smile of satisfaction on his face. Reports startedcoming in that the town of Sarth was secure. Owen said, Erik, take acompany up the road and see if the abbey is secured. If you encounterany of the enemy, get back down that road as fast as you can." He turnedto Duga. "You form up a barricade company at the bottom of the road,in case Erik returns in a hurry."
Erik saluted, and as he turned to find his horse, Owen said, "CaPtain.'
Erik looked back at his old friend. "Yes, Marshal?""Your boys did very well on the right flank. Tell them I said so.Erik smiled. "I'll tell them." He hurried to where his horse was beingheld and turned to find Jadow Shati. To his old companion, he said,"Bring second squad and follow me."
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I
Jadow, who looked as if he had just finished a relaxing morning ride,nodded and signaled. "Second squad, follow me. The rest of you, helpsecure the area!"
Erik led his small company through the town of Sarth. There wasoccasional fighting in scattered locations, as a few hardcore members ofNordan's army refused to surrender, but mostly bands of disarmed prisonersbeing taken to the rear where a compound was being erected toconfine them. A few townspeople, who had fled during the fighting, couldbe seen up in the hills surrounding the city, a few of the more courageousamong them coming down into the town.
Erik and his men rode eastward, and rather than veering back alongthe King's Highway where it turned south, they moved along a smallerroad heading upward, into the mountains. Atop the first of these, overlookingthe coast, was the Abbey of Sarth, once home to the largest libraryon the world of Midkemia.
The horses were tired from the charge through the town, but Erikpushed them, anxious to find out if Arutha and Subai had been successful,or if a force of armed men was poised to strike down at Sarth. They hadbeen so successful in retaking the southern end of Fadawah's holdings,Erik was certain something terrible must happen.As they neared the summit, they heard the sounds of fighting fromwithin. The road was narrow most of the way up the mountain, the menriding in pairs. At a point thirty yards before the gate, the road widened,allowing the men to spread out. Horse archers were ready and startedfiring upon the few men they could see on the wall. Erik signaled and adozen riders dismounted and raced to the gate. They threw grapples upand secured them. Men climbed while the bowmen kept those on the wallbusy. As soon as the first wave was across, other men followed, andfighting erupted along the parapet. Erik knew that had there been noKingdom forces within, his own men would have died, never reachingthe walls. A warning shout alerted Erik, and he formed up his men tocharge. He gave the signal as soon as the gates began to open.Erik and his men rode into the midst of a furious, surging battle, withhorsemen and men on foot locked in a death struggle. Erik struck at thefirst horseman he faced, knocking him completely out of his saddle. Theabrupt appearance of Kingdom soldiers riding in through the now opengate demoralized the remaining invaders. Quickly they started to back'way and throw down weapons in surrender.
Erik caught his breath and took in the scene around him. Men lay allacross the courtyard, as well as a few wounded or dead horses.Erik motioned for Jadow Shati to move the prisoners over to thestable. Erik dismounted and led his horse to the entrance of the abbeybuilding. He glanced up at the old keep tower and realized that withproper supplies, this fortress could withstand a year of siege. He countedhimself lucky the Prince had agreed to launch the attack as soon)as possible,rather than led Nordan get entrenched.
"Erik!" called a voice. Erik turned to see Captain Subai motioningfor him to come over. Erik hurried to the abbey's main entrance. Justinside the door lay Duke Arutha. Erik glanced at Subai, who shook hishead slightly. Softly the Captain of the Pathfinders said, "He tried to keepthe raiders from.opening the gates. If you had arrived a half hour earlier . . . "
Erik looked at the fallen Duke. He appeared to be asleep. "He foughtwell?" Erik asked.
Subai said, "Very well. He may not have been a warrior in life, buthe died like one."
Erik said, "As soon as we've secured the abbey, I'll send word toGreylock. The Prince must be informed as soon as possible.""Patrick will want to enter Krondor with his new Princess as soon aspossible."
"Rillanon?" asked Erik, referring to the rumors circulated to misleadenemies about the Kingdom's intentions.
"No need," suggested Subai. "With Arutha dead, Patrick needs to bein Krondor, with or without a bride." Looking southward, as if seeingKrondor in the distance, Subai said, "There's our weakness, Captain. IfKesh learns we are committing all our soldiers to retake Ylith, and haveonly Duko's mercenaries along the border, without support troops withinthe city, they can wreak havoc."
Erik said, "Let us hope we can keep Kesh from discovering this beforethe war in the North is over."
Subai looked down at Arutha. "It was his task to see that they didn't."Looking at Erik, he added, "Now it is someone else's task. But it is thePrince's responsibility." With a gesture, he indicated the Duke's body wasto be carried inside. To Erik he said, "As soon as Greylock has soldierssent up here to secure this location, my Pathfinders will return to Krondor.We will return the Duke home."
Erik nodded. "And I will go north with Greylock." Erik turned andwalked out into the courtyard, to bring order out of chaos and get thesituation under control as quickly as possible. They had won a stunningvictory, at far less cost than anticipated, and far quicker than they hadimagined. Yet there was so very much to do still before them.
Fourteen
JIMMY V~TEPT.
Standing at attention on the steps of the palace in Krondor, next tohis brother, a step behind the Prince, his tears ran freely down his face.He could not imagine a life without his father. He had known those whofight might die, but his father had not been a warrior. He had studiedarms and armor, like every noble in the Kingdom, but his life had beenone of administration, diplomacy, and judgment. Only once had he chosento fight, and that decision had cost him his life.Dash had never imagined his father's return to Krondor would be ona wagon acting as a bier. He kept his features set in an unreadable maskas he watched the wagon carrying his father's body pass by. A day ofmourning had been announced for Duke Arutha and the others who hadfallen in retaking Sarth.
Dash wondered if it was worth it. He didn't feel anything, save anumb empty place within. Jimmy was expressing his anger and pain, yetwithin Dash something lay buried. Looking at the the assembled noblesand military captains of the Kingdom, all bowing their heads in respectas his father's body was returned to Krondor, Dash just couldn't makeany sense of it.
His father had always been such a sensible man. He was a decentenough swordsman, at least for practice duels, and he kept himself fit,riding and swimming when the opportunity presented itself, but he hadnever fought in a military action. Then Dash realized he was thinking inpresent tense. He had been, from what Captain Subai said, a brave soldierat the last, but he should never have been allowed to go on that mission.Dash discovered tears forming in his eyes and he blinked them back.Duke Arutha had been the practical member of the family. Theirmother was always obsessed with the gossip of the royal court in Rillanon,and with long visits back to her own family in Roldem. The boys' childhoodhad been dominated by nannies, tutors, and their grandfather, whowould teach them how to climb walls, pick locks, and all manner of outrageousbehavior. Their grandmother had been a soothing presence andtheir father had been a rock, a calm, quiet man who had been affectionateand caring in little ways. Dash couldn't remember a time his father hadn'tgreeted him with a warm hug. He recalled the many times he would standthere, one hand upon Dash s shoulder as if making contact physically was
SFLKRDS OF A BPOKEN CROWN
important.
Suddenly Dash was aware he was mourning the loss of his entirefamily. His grandparents in Roldem were strangers, for the most part. Hehad a halfdozen visits to that island kingdom in his childhood-his maternalgrandparents only came to Rillanon once, for his parents' wedding.His sister was married to the Duke of Faranzia in Roldem and had neverreturned to the Kingdom for a visit since her wedding. All that remainedwas his brother Jimmy.
As the wagon vanished into the stable area, Prince Patrick said, "Gentlemen,the entire nation mourns the loss of your father. Now, if youwould join me in council in an hour, please." He nodded across the courtyardto where Francie stood with her father, and turned and mounted thebroad palace steps. As soon as the Prince was out of sight, the rest of theassembled nobles in Krondor dispersed.
Jimmy took a deep breath, getting his emotions under control, andmotioned for Dash to accompany him. They followed the wagon aroundthe central palace to where an undertaker was overseeing the removal oftheir father's body from the wagon. Two soldiers gently removed the bodyof Duke Arutha, wrapped from head to foot in faded linen someone hadfound in Sarth. The undertaker turned to Jimmy and said, "You are LordArutha's son?"
Jimmy nodded, indicating with a gesture that he and Dash were theDuke's sons.
The undertaker attempted a compassionate pose. "The nation mournswith you, young lords. How will you wish to dispose of your father'sremains.
Jimmy stopped and looked at Dash. "I never
Dash said "What is usual?"
"As Duke of Krondor, your father is entitled to be interred in thepalace vault. As the Earl Vecar, he is entitled to be interred in the RoyalPalace in Rillanon. Or if you have family estates ... ?~)Jimmy looked at Dash, who was silent. Finally the elder brother said,
,,My family's estates are this city. But my father was born and raised inRillanon. That was always his home. Return him there.""As you wish," said the undertaker.
Dash put his hand on Jimmy's shoulder and said, "Let's get a drink.""Only one. We need to see the Prince in an hour. We can get drunkin Father's memory after."
Dash nodded as they walked back toward the main entrance to thepalace.
Malar Enares was standing before the entrance when they reached it."Sirs," he said. "Most regrettable. You have my sympathies."The servant from the Vale of Dreams had found a hundred ways tomake himself useful around the palace. When Jimmy had returned, expectingto find the servant still under guard, he had been both amusedand surprised to discover him working frantically around Duko's headquarters.He seemed a wonder when it came to organizing, cleaning, andkeeping things orderly. He had attached himself to Jimmy again whenDuko rode south to take command of the Southern Marches and overseethe sentry forts along the Keshian border.
Malar followed the brothers inside. "May I do something for you,young lords?"
Jimmy said, "If you would bring a bottle of very good&brandy to myquarters, I would appreciate it."
"I'll see what I can do," said Malar, rushing off.Dash and Jimmy walked the long corridors of the palace, now restoredto nearly the state they had enjoyed before the destruction of Krondor.Workers still scurried throughout the palace, repainting trim around windowsand doors, laying tiles, and hanging tapestries. The rearmost stairsto the upper floors were still in need of repair, but the last of the crackedstones had been removed and replaced by masons, and the soot and firedamage erased.
"Do you remember how this place looked before?" asked Dash.Jimmy said, "You know, I was just thinking the same thing. I knowthe tapestries are different, but I'm damned if I can tell you what the onesthat hung on the walls before looked like."
"Patrick's having all the old war banners from the Prince's hall remade.)$
"
It's not the same," said Jimmy, "but I can see the reason."They reached Jimmy's quarters and entered. They sat in silence for aminute, then Dash said, "I am so mad at him." He looked up and hiseyes brimmed with tears.
Jimmy's eyes watered as well, as he said, "I know. How bloody stupidwas that?
You've written to Mother and the aunts?"
"Not yet. I'll do so this night. I'm still not sure what I'll say.)~Dash let his tears flow. "Tell them he died bravely. For King andCountry.
"Cold comfort," said Jimmy.
Dash wiped at his eyes. "He had to go."
Jimmy said, "No, he didn't."
"Yes, he did," said Dash. "All his life he has been in the shadow ofGrandfather, and of the man for whom he was named."Jimmy wiped his own eyes and said, History will only acknowledgeone Arutha of Krondor." He sighed. "Father will possibly be a smallnotation somewhere. The man named for a great prince who served admirablyas administrator in Rillanon and Krondor. Isn't there more forhim than just that?"
Dash said, "Only to those of us who knew him and loved him."Jimmy stood as a knock came at the door. He opened it and foundMalar Enares standing there, holding a tray upon which rested a bottle ofbrandy and two crystal goblets.
Jimmy stepped aside and allowed the servant to enter. Malar put thetray down on the table and said, "I wish to express my deepest regrets,young sirs. While having not the pleasure of meeting your distinguishedfather, I have heard nothing of the man that was not salutary.""Thank you," said Jimmy.
Dash took the decanter and poured drinks as Malar left and closedthe door behind him. Offering a goblet to his brother, Dash lifted his andsaid, "To Father."
"To Father," echoed Jimmy. They drank in silence.After a minute, Jimmy said, "I know how Father felt.""How so?" asked Dash.
"No matter how good I am, no matter how high I rise, there will onlybe one James of Krondor," he said.
"Only one Jimmy the Hand," agreed Dash.
"Then, Grandfather would tell us it has nothing to do with fame."He enjoyed the notoriety, though," said Dash."Agreed," said Jimmy. "But he gained it from being so bloody brilliantat what he did. He didn't set out to be the most fiendishly clever
noble in history."
"Maybe that's what Father knew from the start; it's just getting thejob done and let history decide what history will decide," observed Dash.
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Jimmy said, "No doubt you're right. Well, we'd better get to Patrick'soffice and see what the Prince will decide."
Dash stood up, adjusted his tunic, and said, "Do you think he'll makeyou Duke of Krondor? Eldest son and all that."Jimmy laughed. "Hardly. He'll want someone with more experiencein the office, as will the King."
Dash opened the door. "You're only two years younger than Patrick,jimmy."
"Which is exactly why Borric will want someone older and wiser inKrondor, ' ' said Jimmy as he moved through the door. "Had Father beenthe Duke of Crydee or Yabon, I most certainly would have gotten thetitle, with a strong Kingdom advisor on the first ship west, but Krondor?No, there's too much to be done and too many potential mistakes." Ashe moved down the hall, he added, "Besides, there are too many headaches.Whatever Patrick offers me will be better than the office of Duke."They hurried along until they reached the side entrance to the Prince'squarters. Jimmy knocked and the door opened. A page stepped aside andallowed them to enter. Compared to the cramped offices endured in Darkmoor,these offices were spacious. The books and scrolls that their fatherhad ordered hauled to safety were being returned to their appropriateshelves or cubicles. Malar was handing a bundle of scrolls to a clerk."Lending a hand?" asked Jimmy as they passed.
"One helps where one can," said the servant with a smile.They passed into the Prince's private chambers and Patrick looked up.Standing next to the Prince's desk was Duke Brian of Silden. He noddedat the brothers. They both knew that Brian and their father had beenamong the closest of friends at court, and that more than any other noblein the realm, Brian would share their sense of loss.Patrick sat back in his chair and said, "Gentlemen, first let me againexpress my sorrow at your father's death. His loss is not only to his familyand friends, but to the Kingdom as a whole." Patrick looked around theroom as if seeking something. "It's as if I expect to see him at every hand.I know now just how much I've come to rely upon his counsel."Patrick let out a slow breath close to a sigh and continued, "But wemust, as ever, press on. Lord Silden will act as my counselor until theI(ing sees fit to name a new duke in Krondor." Patrick looked at Jimmyand said, "I know you well enough to know you didn't expect the office."Jimmy shook his head. "Ten years from now, perhaps, but not now."Patrick nodded. "Good, because we need you somewhere outside ofI(rondor.
"Where, Highness?"
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I'll need someone dependable to keep an eye on Duko. You seem toget along well enough with him, and I need someone down there who
will keep him in line."
Jimmy bowed his head. "Highness.')
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"I've sent a message to MY father, Jimmy. Assume he II accept myrecommendation that you succeed your father as Earl of Vencar. It's alovely little estate and your father would want you to have it."Jimmy bowed his head in thanks. "Thank you, Your Highness." Vencarwas where they had been raised. Like many of the estates on theoriginal island Kingdom of Rillanon, it was tiny by mainland standards.A hundred acres of land, with a creek, meadows, and pastures. The tenantfarmers had ceased to work the land centuries before as Rillanon hadexpanded its reach onto the mainland. But for its modest size, it wasamong the most beautiful estates in the Kingdom. Their grandfather hadarranged for it to go to Arutha when the old Earl of Vencar had diedwithout heirs. Jimmy had been born in the palace, as had his sister, butthey had moved there when he was a baby. Dash had been born there. Itwas home.
''So unless my father writes back telling me I'm an idiot, from nowforward, you are Earl James."
Jimmy said, "I thank His Highness."
Patrick said, "I have a special job for you, Dash.""Highness."
"We have a problem here in Krondor. The army is in the North, andDuko's swords are down South. I've got the palace guard, and that's all.The city is returning to life and it's being overrun by thugs and ruffians,cutthroats and thieves. I need someone to bring, order. I think of all thoseI have around here, you have the most affinity for the city streets. I amappointing you Sheriff of Krondor. Until we can create a true City Watchand Office of Constables, you are the law in the city. Recruit who youcan, but keep this city under control until the wars are over.Dash said, "Sheriff?' v
Patrick said, "You object?"
"Ah ... no, Highness. I'm just a little surprised.""Life is full of surprises," said Patrick. He indicated some parchmentson his desk. "Reports from both fronts. The Keshians retreat before Dukoat Land's End, but are raiding along the eastern front near Shamata. Theywon't get too close, for fear of the magicians at Stardock, I think, butthey're harassing our patrols, which are thin to start with. In the North
Greylock has consolidated in Sarth and is pushing northward.l~ patrickgot a concerned look on his face. "Something is not right. The defense
along the coast is weak. We know that Fadawah offered up Duko becausehe was fearful of Duko's loyalty.
"Now it appears he gave up Nordan in the same way, but by allreports Nordan was his oldest and most trusted ally.""Perhaps his hold over his men is less secure than we thought," observedJimmy.
Brian of Silden said, "All the reports indicate a difficult winter for theinvaders, with many dying of injuries and starvation. But we also haveword from our agents that they're trading with Queg and the Free Cities,food is plentiful, and they're established in Ylith."Patrick ran his hand over his face. "Any word from Yabon?""None," said Duke Brian. "We've had nothing since the battle ofSarth. No ships can get past Queg's pirates to reach the Free Cities. Allour ships from the Far Coast were used to support the raid. If word iscoming, it is coming by runner, and the chances of a courier gettingthrough the enemy to reach us is thin. Perhaps when we get closer toYlith, we may hear of Yabon, but for now we must pray the young Dukeis able to keep LaMut and Yabon intact."
Looking at Jimmy and Dash, Patrick said, "Dine with me tonight,both of you, and we'll discuss your duties. In your case, Jimmy, beforeyou leave tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" said Dash. "Patrick ... Highness, I thought we wouldaccompany our father to Rillanon for his funeral.""No time, sorry to say. You'll have to say your own good-byes aftersupper tonight. Perhaps we'll hold a little wake after supper ... yes, thatwould be fitting. But the requirements of this war don't permit any of usthe luxury for our personal grief or joys. I had to lie to many nobles ofthe Kingdom about a state wedding, and my intended is not as happyabout being married in the ashes of Krondor as she was at the thought ofthe King's palace. So we all make sacrifices.""At supper, then," said Dash.
."You are dismissed," said the Prince.
The brothers bowed and left the Prince's office."Do you believe that?" said Jimmy.
"What?" said Dash.
"That business about 'we all make sacrifices.'Dash shrugged. "It's just Patrick. He never knows when he's ahead,and when he should just shut up."
JimmY laughed as they turned the corner toward their rooms. "You'vegot that right. Probably why he was always such a bad card player."
I
I ~ R KVmnnd Fq Feist
"Perfect," said Nakor.
Aleta stood still, but she said, "I feel silly.""You look wonderful," said Nakor.
The young woman stood on a box, a linen sheet around her frad and~l!shoulders, otherwise garbed in her normal dress. A sculptor worked furi,,~,I,ously in clay, trying to capture her likeness. He had been at it for three,~da s, and stepped back and said, "It's finished."y
Nakor walked around it while Aleta got off the box and came to lookat it. "Do I look like that?" she asked.
"Yes," said Nakor. He continued to walk around it, and finally said,"Yes, that will do." Looking at the sculptor he asked, "How long willthis take?"
"How big do you want it?"
&$I want it life-sized." Pointing at Aleta, he said, "The same size as
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"Then it will take a month for each one."
good. A month should be fine.
"Do you want me to bring them here?"
"I want one delivered here, to be put up in the wagon yard. The otherone bring), to Krondor."
"Krondor? Mr. Avery didn't say anything about trucking a statue allthe way to Krondor."
"Do you want to let wagoners put up your statue?"The sculptor shrugged. "Makes no difference to me, but it will costextra.) ~
Nakor frowned. "That's between you and Roo."
The sculptor nodded and carefully wrapped up the clay reference piecein oilcloth and moved it to his wagon, outside.Aleta said, "Am I done now?"
Nakor said, "Probably not, but you don't need to pose anymore."'What is this all about?" she asked, folding up the sheet she had worn."I've felt very silly posing for that thing."
"It's a statue of the Goddess."
"You used me for a statue of the Goddess!" She seemed appalled.t~llat)s. . .I~
Nakor looked puzzled. "Something I don't understand. But it was theright choice."
Brother Dominic had been in the corner, observing the entire interaction,and he said, "Child, trust me, this strange man knows things,things he doesn't understand. But if he knows them, they are true.lyThe young woman looked as if that explanation caused her even more
I
confusion. Dominic said, "If Nakor said it's proper for you to pose forthe representation of the Goddess, then it is. Trust me on this. It's noblasphemy."
The girl seemed more reassured by that, and said, "Well, I have washingto do."
She left, and Dominic came over to Nakor and asked, "what is ityou see in that girl?"
Nakor shrugged. "Something wonderful."
"Care to be more specific?"
"No," said Nakor. "Are you coming to Krondor with me?"Dominic said, "My instructions from the home temple are to accommodateyour plans to the best of my ability. If that means accompanyingyou to Krondor, then I will go."
Nakor said, "That's good. Things here will continue to operate withoutme. Sho Pi can oversee the feeding of the hungry and teaching thechildren. He's already begun training disciples in the basics of being amonk; the order of Dala is a good place to start, and that will weed outthose looking for a free meal and warm bed from those who really wantto contribute."
"When do we leave?" asked Dominic.
Nakor shrugged. "In a day or two. The last detachments of the armywill be leaving to journey to Krondor, to join the Prince, and we can tagalong as escort."
Dominic said, "Very well. I will be ready."
As Dominic left, Nakor turned and regarded Aleta, who was hangingwashing on a line across the courtyard. The sunlight struck her from behind,putting a golden nimbus of light around her head for a moment asshe stood on her tiptoes to clip the clothing to the line. Nakor grinned."Something very wonderful," he said to himself.
Dinner was quiet. Conversation had been subdued throughoutevening. Mostly it had been sporadic, on this or that issue beforethrone, or a small remembrance of Lord Arutha, but long periods pasin silence.
As the last course was removed, waiters appeared with trays on~which rested crystal goblets and decanters of brandy. Patrick said, "As'Or's of Lord Arutha are not permitted the relief of returning with tfather to the capital for his funeral, I thought it appropriate to honor I'""th an informal wake. If you would be so kind, gentlemen, a wordtw( in remembrance would be appropriate.
"Lord Brian?"
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Raymond E. Feist
The Duke of Silden said, "Since boyhood, Arutha and I were friends.If I was to name the one quality of his many that I found most remarkable,it was his unrivaled clarity of thought. Whatever opinion he gave, onwhatever subject, it was the distillation of a remarkable mind.'~he mayhave been the most gifted man I have known."
Jimmy and Dash exchanged glances, for they had never consideredwhat his peers might have thought of their father.The other nobles made their remarks, and last before the boys wasCaptain Subai. Not given to long speeches, he seemed uncomfortable, butnevertheless said, "I think of the Duke as perhaps the wisest man I'veknown. He knew his limits and yet was not afraid to challenge them. Heput the welfare of others above his own. He loved his family. He will bemissed."
Subai looked at Jimmy, who said, "He was named for a great man."Jimmy nodded toward Patrick, who acknowledged the reference to hisgrandfather. "He was raised by a man who may be unique in our history.Yet he knew how to be himself." Looking at Patrick, he said, "I thinkabout being the grandson of Lord James of Krondor, perhaps because Iwas named for him. I rarely thought what it must have been like to behis son." Tears gathered in James's eyes as he said, "I just wish I couldhave told him how much he meant to me."
Dash said, "I too. I think I may have taken him for granted. I hopeI never make that mistake with anyone else who is dear to me."The Prince stood, taking a glass from the servant. Others did as well.Jimmy and Dash each lifted a glass as the Prince said, "Lord Arutha!"Everyone at supper, Lord Silden, Captain Subai, and the other noblesinvited to Patrick's "intimate" dinner echoed the toast and drank. ThenPatrick said, "This supper is now over, gentlemen." He withdrew fromthe hall, and the rest of the guests waited the appropriate time beforethemselves leaving the hall.
James and Patrick left the hall, a step behind Lord Silden and CaptainSubai. They bid the other men good night and returned to their rooms.Jimmy was about to bid Dash good night when a page came running."Gentlemen, please! Attend the Prince at once!"They hurried after the page, who led them back to the Prince's office.Inside they found Patrick standing before his desk. His face was a redmask of rage and in his fist he held a message that he had crushed. Heheld it out to Lord Silden, who unfolded and read it. His eyes widened."Gods!" he said. Looking stricken, he said quietly, "LaMut has fallen."Patrick said, "A soldier escaped and made his way to Loriel, withhalf of Fadawah's army behind him. He died after delivering the message.
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it came south by fast courier from there to Darkmoor, then to here. LaMuthas been in enemy hands for three weeks now." Patrick spoke bitterly."We congratulated ourselves on the ease with which we took Sarth, andit was all a trade. He gave us back a fishing town, a port of no importance,and in exchange he took the heart of Yabon! Yabon City is now at graveperil and we are no closer to retaking Ylith than we were at first thaw!"The Prince looked close to being frantic. Suddenly, Jimmy and Dashwere painfully aware of how the absence of their father was being felt.
They both glanced at Brian Silden, who stood silently, looking afraid tospeak. Patrick finally said, "I know, we must get word to Yabon! Wemust send word to Duke Carl to hold until we can get relief to him.""What of Loriel?" asked Jimmy.
"It holds," said Patrick. "But we don't know for how long. Fadawahhas massed a huge number of men outside the walls, and by this report
the fighting is fierce. It may have fallen already. And the report says somesort of black magic is being directed at the defenders."Jimmy and Dash exchanged glances..All reports from the previous
year's campaigns said the Pantathian Serpent Priests were gone, but theymay have been premature in their assessment. And there was nothing toprevent the magic being the product of human mages."We must get word to my great-grandfather," said Jimmy."The magician?" said Patrick. "where is he?"
"He should still be in Elvandar, if things are as he planned them. Hewill return to Stardock in another month's time.""Captain Subai," said Patrick. "Can you get messengers to Yabon?""It's difficult, Highness. We may be able to get one through the mountainsto the north of Loriel. Perhaps reach some of the hillmen from Yabon.One of them could continue on to Elvandar. "
Patrick said, "Subai, leave at first light for Darkmoor. Get whateverhelp you need and go north. I have no one else to spare for the task.Greylock and von Darkmoor will press on until they reach the invaders'Positions south of Ylith. Jimmy, you will go south to Duko and apprise
him Of what we face. Krondor is now an empty shell and vulnerable. Wer,must show a strong face to everyone. Dash, you must keep this city undercontrol, by whatever means. Now, Lord Silden, please stay and help mecompose the orders. Gentlemen, the rest of you are dismissed."
Outside the Prince's quarters, Jimmy said, "Captain Subai, if I pen amessage to my great-grandfather, would you see he gets it along with theother communications?"
'Of course," said the Captain. "I expect we'll both be at the city gateat first light tomorrow. Give it to me then. And I will have something foryou. Until then, good night."
Jimmy and Dash bid the Captain good night, and Jimmy said, "Well,Sheriff, help me compose a letter to Great-grandfather.itDash said, "Sheriff?" With a sigh he followed his brother.
The dawn was still hours away) but the sky was lightening in the eastas Dash stood next to his brother. Upon another horse sat Malar Enares,the servant from the Vale of Dreams, who had somehow learned ofJimmy's journey. He had prevailed upon Jimmy to allow him to ridesouth with him, claiming that while work was plentiful in Krondor, paymentwasn't, and that his former master's business holdings along theKeshian border might still be operating. As the man was harmless companyin the main, and often useful, Jimmy agreed.
Captain Subai rode up with a company of his Pathfinders and handeda canvas-wrapped bundle to Jimmy. "This was your father's sword,Jimmy. I took it from him before they prepared his body to return it toKrondor. I knew as elder son it was to be yours."Jimmy took the bundle and unwrapped it. The hilt was worn, and thescabbard nicked and scratched. But the blade was immaculate. Jimmydrew the blade and saw the faint outlines of a miniature warhammerseemingly etched into the forte of the blade. He knew that this was whereMacros the Black had empowered the blade with a talisman from theAbbot of Sarth Abbey when Prince Arutha had to face the moredhel leaderMurmandamus. The sword had hung in the study in Krondor since theold Prince's death, and had been sent by Duke James to his son. NowJimmy held it. "I don't know," said Jimmy. "This should go to Patrickor the King, I think."
Subai shook his head. "No, had the Prince of Krondor wished thesword to go to the King, it would have. He left it in Krondor for a reason."jimmy held it reverently for a while, then unbuckled his own belt 'handing his sword to Dash. He put his father's sword belt around hiswaist. "Thank you."
Dash came to stand next to Captain Subai and said, "Would you seethe courier who you're sending to Elvandar carries this message to ourgreat-grandfather, please?"
Subai took the letter and placed it inside his tunic. "I am that courier.I personally will
Elvandar."
"Thank you," said Dash.
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Subai said, "If we don't chance to meet again, young Jimmy, it has
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lead the Pathfinders who travel to Yabon and on to
been an honor."
Jimmy said, "Safe travel, Captain."
The Pathfinders rode out the gate, heading east at a relaxed trot.jimmy looked at his brother. "Stay safe, little brother."Dash reached up to shake Jimmy's hand. "You travel safely, too, bigbrother. I don't know how long it will be before we see one another, butyou will be missed."
Jimmy nodded. "Letters to Mother and the rest of the family are inthe pouch bound for Rillanon. When I know where I'm likely to be, I'llsend word." .
Dash waved as Jimmy and his company rode out the gate, then turnedaround to head back into the castle. He had a meeting in an hour withthe Prince, Lord Brian, and others in the castle. After that he had to beginthe process of bringing law and order to Krondor while Jimmy rode southto Port Vykor.
II~,
a
~~,"Jimmy HALTED.
Fifteen
The escort stopped behind him. The Captain of the company of Patricks Royal Household Guards said, "This is as far as we're supposed togo, m'lord." He glanced around. "Leave it to those-"
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"Captain?"
"I mean no disrespect to Lord Duko, M'lord, but after all, we weres just last year.
fighting him and those miserable bastards he calls soldierhe noted Jimmy's disapproving expression
and said, "AnywaY, they
should be here, making a camp, before they start back to their patrol.""Maybe they ran into some trouble."
"Possible, my lord."
They were at a fork in the road, the agreed-upon southern limit ofKrondorian patrols-everything to the south was Duko's responsibility.The southwest fork in the road led to Port Vykor, while the southeast forkwould start around the edge of Shandon Bay, eventually leading towardLand's End.
Jimmy said, "We'll be fine, Captain. We're halfway to Port Vykorand should be running into Lord Duko's patrols any time now. if they'renot here today, they'll be here tomorrow, I'm sure.""I'd still feel better if you'd wait here until one shows up, m'lord. Wecould linger here for another half-day or so.""Thanks, but no, Captain. The sooner I get to Port Vykor, the soonerI can be about the Prince's business. We'll continue along the southwestroad until sundown, then we'll camp. If Duko's patrol doesn't show upto escort us tomorrow, we'll find our way to Port Vykor alone.""Very well, m'lord. May the gods watch over you.""and you, too, Captain."
They parted company with the Krondorian patrol, who turned north
ward, while Jimmy and Malar continued southwest. They rode throughquiet countryside, scrub grass, and what once might have been farmland,but which had known the tread of the conqueror's boot too often. Keshianson their way to the Kingdom, and Kingdom soldiers on their way toKesh, had turned these rolling hills and sparse woodlands into a no-man's
land in the last hundred years. The rich lands of the Vale of Dreams tothe east kept farmers and their families struggling despite the constantthreat of war between two nations rolling over them. The lands throughwhich Jimmy and Malar rode offered no such bounty. They might be theonly two men for fifty miles in any direction.As the sun sank low in the western sky, Malar asked, "What shall wedo now, my lord?"
Jimmy looked around and pointed to a small dell near a clear-runningstream. "Make camp for the night. Tomorrow we'll continue toward PortVykor."
Malar had unsaddled the horses and brushed them down. Jimmy haddiscovered he was a competent enough groom along with his other talents.Jimmy said, "You feed the horses and I'll gather some firewood."Malar said, "Yes, m'lord."
Jimmy moved around the campsite, finding enough small branchesand sticks to make a reasonable fire.
After the fire was ready, Malar set about making an acceptable meal:hot trail biscuits, a mix of dried beef and vegetables chopped and mixedinto a pot of rice, to which he added spices which made it quite flavorful.Malar produced a ceramic bottle of wine from Darkmoor. He even had apair of cups.
As they ate, Jimmy said, "Port Vykor is a bit out of the way for you.If you're up to the risk, you may have that horse and ride on to the east.You're still north of the frontier and should be able to reach the valesafely. ~)
Malar shrugged. "I will reach the vale eventually, my lord. My masteris almost certainly dead, but perhaps his family has conspired to keep hisbusiness afloat and I can be of use to them. But I would rather spend alittle more time in your company-the fierceness of your blade makes memOre comfortable on the road than I would be alone.""You managed well enough for those winter months you wandered'n the wilderness."
"Of necessity, but not by choice. And most of that time was spentstarving and hiding."
Jimmy nodded. He ate his meal and sipped his wine. "Is this of?"he asked.
Raymond E. \*Feist
Malar sipped his wine. "Not that I can tell, young lord."Jimmy shrugged. "It's odd for this type of wine. Something metallic."Malar took another sip. "Not that I can notice, sir. Perhaps you arejust getting an odd aftertaste from the food. Maybe with the next drink itwill taste differently."
Jimmy sipped again and swallowed. "No, it's definitely off." He setthe cup aside. "I think some water would be better." Malar started tostand, and Jimmy said, "I'll get it." He started walking toward the creekand suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. He turned and looked to where thehorses were tied. The horse seemed to be moving away from him, andthen he felt as if he stepped into a hole, for he was now a great deal closerto the ground than before. He looked down and saw that he was on hisknees, and as he tried to stand, his head swam. He fell hard to the groundand rolled over on his back. The face of Malar Enares moved into hisview, and from a great distance, said, "I believe the wine was off, youngLord James."
The features of the man moved out of view and Jimmy tried to followhim. Jimmy rolled over and, lying with his head on his arm, he could seeMalar move to Jimmy's horse, and open the pouches with all his messagesto Duke Duko. He glanced at several of them, nodded, and put them backinto the pouch.
Jimmy felt his legs getting cold and felt a distant stab of panic. Histhinking was growing foggy and he couldn't remember what it was hewas supposed to do. His throat was tightening and his breathing wasgrowing labored. Jimmy tried to force open his mouth with his left hand,which now felt as if he were wearing huge gloves. Dull sensations reachedhis brain, and suddenly he gagged on his own fingers, vomit rushing upthrough his mouth and nose. He gasped and choked, spat, and groanedaloud. His body wracked with pain as he felt his stomach heave again.Malar's voice came from a great distance away. "It's a pity such afair young lord has to come to such a messy and undignified end, butsuch are the necessities of war."
Somewhere in a dim evening, Jimmy heard a horse riding away, andthen he was hit by another agonizing cramp and everything faded fromview.
Dash looked across the faces of the men who had been recruited.Some were ex-soldiers, grey-haired men who remembered how to handlea sword. Others were street toughs, men who were just as likely to bebrawling in a tavern as trying to keep the peace in the city. A few weremercenaries, looking for steady work, men who were clearly Kingdomcitizens and who were not known criminals.
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"We're presently under martial law in Krondor, which means justabout any violation of the law is a hanging offense."The men looked at one another, some nodding.
Dash continued, "This will start to change as of today. You are the
company of the new City Watch. You will be instructed in what thatmeans in greater detail as we go, but unfortunately, we have no time toeducate you before we begin. So, I will make a few things clear to youall. He held up a red armband, upon which a rough coat of arms, whichlooked like the Prince's, had been sewn. "You'll wear this at all timeswhen on duty. It's what marks you as the Prince's men. You break a headwhile wearing this, you're restoring order; you break a head without it,and you're another thug I'll see behind bars. Is that clear?"The men nodded and grunted agreement.
"I'll make this simple. This armband doesn't give you the right tobully, to settle old grudges, or to annoy the women in the town. Any manhere who is convicted of assault, rape, or theft while wearing this will behanged. Is that clear?"
The men were silent a moment, and a few nodded they understood."Is that clear?" Dash repeated, and the men were more vocal in acknowledgingthe question.
"Now, until we can recruit a W-blown City Watch,-the routine willbe a half-day on, then a half-day off. One day in five, you'll work roundthe clock while the other half will get the day to themselves. If you knowany men of arms-bearing age who can be recruited and can be trusted,send them to see me."
Using a chopping motion, he split die forty men in the room in half."You," he said to the men on his right, "are the day watch. You," hesaid to the men on his left, "are the night watch. Get me another twentygood men and we'll go to three watches."
The men nodded.
.Dash said, "Now, headquarters will be here in the palace until wecan get the city courts and jail rebuilt. The prison here is the only one wehave. We don't have a lot of room, so I don't want it filled with drunksand brawlers. If you have to break up a fight, send them home with akick in the butt, but if you have to bring them in, don't be shy. I'll assumethat if someone is stupid enough to not take a chance to get off with awarning, they need to talk to a judge.
"We're going to lift curfew at the Old Town Market; people are usingIt to trade now as the rest of the city rebuilds, and it's starting to be atrouble spot, but if we're going to have trouble, I want it in one place, notall Over the city. So, pass the word, the market is open from sunset to
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,~,Midnight now. The rest of the city is still under curfew unless the person~is on their way home from the market. And they better have the goodsOr gold to show they've been trading.
"Anyone causes you trouble, deal with it. We don't have) enoughswords to get you out of trouble if you get in over your head. " He lookedaround the room at the faces of the men he now commanded and said,',"'If you're killed, I promise we'll avenge you."One of the men said, "That's comforting," and the others laughed."I'll lead the first of you down to the market. You lot on the nightshift, turn in. You're going to patrol the entire city, and if you see anyoneoutside the market after dark, bring them in for questioning."For today, anyone asks, you tell them you're the Prince's Law. Let'sge
t the word out that order is returning to Krondor. Now, let's go."The twenty men on the day shift rose and followed Dash outside theroom. He moved through the large courtyard of the palace to the newlyrestored drawbridge over the still-dry moat. Some of the water system wase
under repair and the palace wouldn't be isolated from the city by themoat again for a few more weeks. As they crossed the drawbridge, Dash
said, "If no one causes any trouble and forces you to haul them back tothe jail, I want you to keep moving. I want you everyplace you can reasonablyreach. I want the citizens seeing lots of those red armbands . . .let them think we've got a dozen men for each one of you. If anyoneasks, you don't know how many watchmen there are, just lots of them."The men nodded, and as they walked toward the market square, Dashbegan splitting off pairs of constables and sending them along differentroutes, directing their activities for the first day of his new responsibility.More than once he silently cursed Patrick for his choice.Dash was down to four men when he reached the market square ofKrondor. Shortly after the original keep of the castle had been built, whenthe first Prince of Krondor had declared this city the capital of the WesternRealm of the Kingdom of the Isles, the traders and local fishermen andfarmers who lived in the region began regularly gathering in this marketto trade, barter, and sell their wares. Over the years the city had grown,developed, and evolved to the point where the vast majority of trade wasconducted by businessmen in all quarters of the city, but the ancient marketsquare endured, and it was the first place for the reviving city to findits financial soul. It was thronging with men and women of all stations:merchants, nobles, fishermen, farmers, traders, peddlers, whores, beggars,thieves, and vagabonds.
Several people cast a wary eye at the five men, for while there wereswordsmen here or there, the majority of soldiers had departed the city
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
with Duko heading south, or with the Armies of the West, heading north.only the Prince's Royal Household Guard remained, and they remainedin the palace.
A short distance from where they had entered, Dash spied a familiarface. Luis de Savona was unloading a wagon, helped by a woman whoturned out, to a surprised Dash, to be Roo Avery's wife Karli. Dash turnedto his men and said, "Start wandering through the crowd, but unless yousee a murder in progress, just keep looking."
The men spread out, and Dash crossed to where Luis and Karli wereunloading the wagon. A local trader was watching closely as Luis handeddown boxes of freight to the trader's boy.
Dash said, "Mrs. Avery! Luis! How are you?"
Luis looked over and smiled. "Dash! It's good to see you.""When did you arrive in Krondor?"
"Very early this morning," replied Luis.
They shook hands, and Karli said, "I was very sorry to hear about]your father. I still remember the day I first met him, at our house." Sheglanced over in the general direction of where their townhouse had oncestood, across the street from Barret's Coffee House, now a burned-outhusk of a building. "He was very kind to Roo and me."Dash said, "Thank you. It's very difficult, but ... well, you've lostyour father, so you know."
She nodded.
Luis fingered the armband and said, "What is this?""I'm the new Sheriff of Krondor, and it falls to me to uphold thePrince's peace in the city."
Luis smiled. "You'd be better off coming back to work for Roo. You'dlose your noble office, but you'd make a great deal more money with farless work.,,
Dash laughed. "Probably you're right, but as it is, we're very shorthandedand Prince Patrick needs all of us pulling our weight." He glancedat the freight. "Goods from Darkmoor?"
"No," said Luis. "We unloaded our cargo from Darkmoor when wegot in early this morning. These are from the Far Coast, actually. Theships still can't get into the harbor, but they're anchoring off of Fishtownand we're ferrying the goods ashore with fishing boats."Karli asked, "How is your brother?"
"He's fine; he's running an errand for Patrick. He should be halfwayt' Port Vykor about now."
Luis finished unloading the cargo, and said, "Give us a minute, thenI'll buy us an ale."
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'That would be welcome, Luis."
Karli counted out the gold the merchant gave him, under the watchfuleye of the merchant's bodyguard, and then said, "Luis, we can't get youngDash drunk, so maybe we should get him to s
hare a bite." She looked at
Dash. "Hungry?"
Dash said, "Actually, I am."
They walked across the market to an open-air kitchen, where hot meat.,,"Pies were being sold. Karli purchased three, then they moved to an ale~,wagon, where Luis got three jacks of cold brew for them. Like most ofthose eating in the market, they stood and made do with keeping out ofthe way of those walking through the aisle.
Luis said, "I was only partly joking; I could use someone of yourtalents. Things are beginning to turn around and men of talent are goingto get rich." He motioned with his bad hand while juggling the hot pieh d man
as ma e me
witn ills 900 Oii~;;;.
ager of all Avery and Jacoby business while he's gone."now. Helen insisted."
Karli said, It's Avery and de Savon,
Luis smiled slightly.'it wasn't my idea." He put down the pie andpicked up the pewter jack of ale. After he took a drink, he said, "I'm sobusy I don't know what I need to do next. The wagon builders in Darkmoor are getting our freight business back to where it was before thedestruction of the city, and the orders for cargo are starting to come in.""What about the other businesses that Roo held?"Luis shrugged. "I'm in charge of the Avery and de Savon business.
Most of the other was Bitter Sea Company. Roo hasn't said much. I getthe feeling most of that is gone with the destruction of the city. I knowhe had some holdings in the East, but I think he's borrowed a great dealto get this enterprise underway. I know much about his business, but thereis more that I don't know." He looked at Karli."Roo has told me most everything about his business interests," saidKarli. "Except some things to do with the crown. I think the Kingdom'owes Roo a large debt."
"No doubt," said Dash. "My grandfather got several very sizableloans from the Bitter Sea Company." Dash looked around. "While I suspectthey will eventually be paid, as you can see, the Kingdom has a greatdeal to repair here before debts are settled." He finished his pie. With along pull he drained the jack of ale, and said, "I thank you for the meal-"Before he could say more, a shout from the next aisle caused him toturn. "Thief."
Dash was off, hurrying toward the source of the disturbance. I-herounded a corner and saw a man running), right at him, looking over his
shoulder to see who was behind. Dash braced himself, and as the manturned to look ahead, Dash struck him hard across the chest with anextended arm. As Dash expected, the man's feet went right out from underhim and he fell hard upon the ground.
Dash knelt, his sword across the man's throat before he could regainhis wits, and said, "In a hurry?"
The man started to move, but at the gentle pressure of the bladeagainst his neck he relaxed. "Not anymore," he said with a grimace.Two of Dash's constables appeared, and Dash said, "Take him to thepalace."
Dash stood as they hoisted the thief to his feet and took him away.Dash moved to where Luis and Karli were finishing their meal, and said,"I'm going to borrow your wagon a moment." He moved to where theAvery and de Savona wagon was tied and mounted it. He stood up on thedriver's seat and shouted, "My name is Dashel Jamison! I am the newSheriff of Krondor! The men you see wearing red armbands like mine aremy constables. Pass the word that the law is returning to Krondor!"Several merchants gave a weak cheer, but the majority of those gatheredin the quarter seemed indifferent or openly contemptuous. Dash returnedto where Karli and Luis stood. "Well, I think that went ratherwell, don't you?"
Karli laughed, and Luis said, "There are many here in the square whowould just as soon not see any return of law to the city."Dash said, "And I think I just spotted another of them. Excuse me,"he said, darting into the crowd after a youngster he saw stealing a trinketfrom a distracted merchant.
Karli and Luis watched him until after he vanished into the press, andKarli said, "I always liked that young man."
Luis said, "There's a great deal of his grandfather in him. He's acharming rogue."
Karli said, "Don't call him that. He has far too deep a sense of dutyto be a rogue. ~ p
Luis said, "I stand corrected. You are, of course, right."
Karli laughed. "Helen has you trained well, doesn't she?"Luis laughed in return. "It was easy. I would never wish to make herunhappy.Pg
"Scant chance of that," said Karli. "Well, we have another load waitingat the docks. Let's go get it."
As Luis mounted the wagon, Karli put her hand on her lower backand stretched. "I won't be doing this much longer. I hope Roo finishedUP his business to the north and gets back soon."
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,Luis nodded agreement as she climbed the wagon, then he flicked thereins, getting, the horses headed toward the harbor.
Lord Vasarius glanced to his left and said, "Have you come )o mockme, Avery?"
"Not in the least, my Lord Vasarius. I came out to enjoy the nightair, as did you."
The defeated Quegan noble looked at his former business associateand current enemy. "Your Captain has been almost gracious in allowingme some liberty from that cabin."
"As is befitting your rank. Had our positions been reversed, I suspectI would be belowdecks on a Quegan ship, pulling against an oar.""As is befitting your rank," replied Vasarius.Roo laughed. "You haven't entirely lost your sense of humor, I see.""I wasn't joking," Vasarius answered flatly.
Roo's smile faded. "Well, as fate would have it, you will enjoy a farless dire fate than I would have, it seems."
"I would have had you killed," said Vasarius.
"No doubt." Roo was silent a moment, then said, "My Prince isalmost certain to return you to Queg by the first Free Cities ship headingthere, as he has no desire to further antagonize your Emperor. It seemsto me we have this opportunity to reach an accommodation."Vasarius turned to face Roo. "Accommodation? To what purpose?You've won. I am close to ruin. My last copper piece was tied up in thoseships and the cargo we sold to Fadawah. It's now at the bottom of thesea, and I can't see how you can be of any help to me, considering youwere the one who sank my treasure!"
Roo shrugged. "Strictly speaking, you sank the treasure. I was merelytrying to steal it.
"In any event, that wealth was stripped from the citizens of the Kingdom,and perhaps some from those living across the sea. I can't feel muchsympathy for you losing that fortune, if you can see my point.""Barely. But it's entirely academic, now, isn't it?""Not necessarily," said Roo.
"If you're proposing something, propose."
"I had nothing to do with your greed, Vasarius. If you had beenanything near cautious, you wouldn't have dispatched your entire fleet tothe Straits of Darkness on the strength of a rumor."Vasarius laughed. "Of course, it was a rumor you spread.""Of course," said Roo, "but any decent investigation might havemade you reconsider the plan."
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,,Your Lord James was far too clever, by half. I'm sure, had I checked,I would have found more rumors to support the story of a vast treasurefleet coming from across the Endless Sea."
Roo said, "There is that. James had the most facile mind I've everencountered. But that's not the point. The point is you have somethingto gain as do I, and we need to agree to that before we reach Krondor.""What is that?"
"The price of my life."
Vasarius studied Roo for a long moment, then said, "Say on.)t"I was taking that treasure ship of yours to Krondor. I would havesent the ship back to you, for I would not be counted a pirate, but thegold was taken from the Kingdom and was to be returned to the Kingdom. "He smiled. "As it happens, the crown is in debt to me, considerabledebt, and I suspect I would have accounted much of that treasure to thatdebt, so in a sense, it was more my treasure than yours."Vasarius said, "Avery, your logic astonishes me."g & lm,,IA you. II
"It wasn't a compliment. Besides, the treasure resides below a greatdeal of ocean at the moment."
"Ah, but I know how to get it," said Roo.
Vasarius's eyes narrowed. He said, "And you need me to get it?""No, actually, I don't need you at all. In fact, unless you have accessto certain magicians, you're of no use to me. I can locate members of theWreckers Guild of Krondor. They're actively clearing the harbor rightnow, but the Prince will let me borrow some for a small commission.""So then, why tell me this?"
"Because here's my offer. I will take what I raise from the ocean'sfloor. I will need to give one part in ten to the crown for interrupting theirclearing of the harbor. And I will be forced to account the rest toward thedebt of the crown, I am certain. And I will have to pay the guild's fee.But I am willing to divide what remains equally, and ship that half toQueg.))
"In exchange for what?"
"For you not engaging the services of a highly trained assassin as soonas you return to Queg."
"That is all?"
"More, a vow that you will never attempt to harm me or my family,nor will you idly allow anyone over whom you have influence in Quegto trouble us."
Vasarius was silent for a very long time, and Roo resisted the impulseto speak.
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Finally the Quegan noble said, "If you can do this and account to mehalf the money you raise less the Prince's cut and the guild's fee, then Iwill agree to seek no further reprisals against you or your familyThe night air was cooling, and Roo hugged himself. at takes agreat load off my mind."
"Is there anything else?" asked Vasarius.
"One suggestion," said Roo.
"]^at?)'
"Consider that when this war with Fadawah's invaders is over, therewill be many opportunities for profit. But not if a war erupts betweenQueg and the Kingdom. Both sides have suffered from the invaders' intrusioninto the Bitter Sea, and more war would bleed us all white.""Agreed," said Vasarius. "We are not ready to fight a war.""That's not the point. The point is when you're ready to fight one, itstill does neither side any good."
"That is for us to decide," said the Quegan.
"Well, if you don't see it my way, at least consider this: there is goingto be a great deal of profit in rebuilding the entire Bitter Sea after the warwith Fadawah is finished, and those who aren't fighting are going to beable to reap most of it. I could use associates in many of the undertakingsI'll be contemplating."
"You have the effrontery to suggest an association, after I made thatterrible mistake once already?"
"No, but if you should someday choose to make it, I will listen."Vasarius said, "I have heard enough. I will return to my cabin.""Think on this, then, my lord," said Roo as the Quegan walked away."There will be a great many men needing transport across the sea toNovindus, and there are few ships able to carry them. The fees for suchtransport will not be trivial."
Vasarius paused the briefest instant, then continued walking, until hedisappeared down the ladder to the main deck and the cabins below.Roo turned and looked out at the star-filled night, watching the whitecapson the water. "I've got him!" he whispered to himself.
Jimmy felt as if someone had kicked in his ribs. It hurt to breathe andsomeone was tugging at his collar. A distant voice said, "Drink this.' ISomething wet touched his lips and he felt cool water fill his mouthand he drank reflexively. Suddenly his stomach knotted and he spewedforth the water, convulsing as strong hands held him.His eyes were stuck shut. His head rang and his back felt as if his
spine had been hammered by a mace; his trousers were fouled with his
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own excrement. Again water was forced between his lips and a voice inhis car said, "Sip slowly."
jimmy let the water trickle slowly down his throat, a few drops at atime, and this time his stomach accepted the bounty. Other hands pickedhim up and moved him.
a
He passed out.
Some time later, he woke up again, and found that a halfdozen armedmen had set up a camp. One sat near by and said, "Do you feel up todrinking some more water?"
Jimmy nodded and the man brought him a cup of water. Jimmy drankand suddenly was terribly thirsty. He drank more, and after the third cup,the man took away the waterskin, saying, "No more. For a while at least. "
Jimmy said, "Who are you?" His voice sounded dry and distant, asif it was being used by a stranger.
"My name is Captain Songti. I recognize you. You're the one calledBaron James."
Jimmy sat up and said, "It's Earl James now. I got a new office." Heglanced around and saw the sun was rising in the east. "How long?""We found you an hour after sunset. We had been preparing to make
camp a short distance from here, and as is my practice, I had a ridersweep the perimeter. He saw your campfire. When we rode over to investigate,we found you lying there. There was no blood,-so we thoughtyou might have sickened on food."
"I was poisoned," said Jimmy. "In wine. I drank little."The Captain, a round-faced man with a short beard, said, "A finepalate. It saved your life."
"Malar wasn't trying very hard to kill me. He could have cut mythroat easily enough."
"Perhaps," said the Captain. "Or he could have fled against our arrival
. He may have been gone only minutes before we arrived. He couldhave heard us before we saw him. I don't know."James nodded, then wished he hadn't. His head swam. "My horse?"
"There are no horses here. You, your bedroll, a low burning fire, andthat empty cup you held, that was all that was here."Jimmy held out his hand. "Get me to my feet."
"You should rest."
"Captain," Jimmy ordered. "Help me stand."
The Captain did as he was bid, and when Jimmy stood, he asked,"Have You some extra clothing you can spare?"
"Alas, no," said the Captain. "We are but three days from Port Vykorand ready to return."
"Three days ... II Jimmy said. He said nothing a moment, then said,"Help me walk to the creek."
"May I enquire why?" asked the Captain.
"Because I need to bathe. And wash my clothing."The Captain said, "I understand, but we would do well to return toPort Vykor as quickly as possible, so you may recover in comfort.""No, because after I bathe I have other business."itsir?)I
iii need to find someone," said Jimmy as he looked down the southeasternroad, "and then I need to kill him."
Sixteen
ERIK FRO"ED.
Owen swore. "We were taken like bumpkins at the fair."Subai, still covered with road dirt and exhausted from days of nonstopriding, said, "Patrick was correct. They let us have Sarth, and while theywere taking LaMut, they built that."
"That" was an impressive series of earthen barricades running froma steep hillside that was impossible to scale by anything less surefootedthan a mountain goat down to the cliffs overlooking the sea. The woodsfor almost a thousand yards had been cleared, with low stumps left toconfound any attempt at organizing a cavalry charge. The only break inthe structure was a huge wooden gate across the King's Highway, easilyas big as the northern city gates in Krondor.
The first hundred yards rolled down to a tiny creek which crossed theroadway, and from that point to the barricade the terrain rose steeply. Tocharge that position would be to invite serious casualties, and any attemptat wheeling a ram would be undercut by the need to force the deviceuphill. The breastwork was built up to six feet in height, and as Erik couldsee helmets reflecting the sun behind it, he assumed steps had been builtup behind so that archers could fire down upon anyone charging up theslope.
Erik counted. "I see at least a dozen catapults back there."Subai said, "That's a nasty piece of work."
Greylock was forced to agree. "Let's talk about this."They moved away from the forward position, past the arrayed company,s Of Kingdom soldiers ready to attack if the order was given. In a
clearing a hundred yards behind the front lines, they gathered. Owen said,"I don't see any easy way through that."
Erik said, "Agreed, but what has me worried is how many more positionslike that we may face as we travel up the coast to Quester's View."Owen said, "We might ask our guest." He indicated a position to therear where General Nordan and some other key captains of Fadawah'sarmy were being guarded. Most of the captives from Sarth were still underguard in that town, but the officers were accompanying Greylock's commandcompany. Owen and the others walked over toward a. pavilion beingerected for the officers and waved the guards near Nordan to bring himover.
Nordan reached the tent just as table and chairs were being placed forGreylock to sit. He did so, letting Erik and the very tired Subai also sit,but he kept Nordan standing,. "Now," Greylock said, "how many of thesedefensive positions can we expect between here and Quester's View?"Nordan shrugged. "I do not know. Fadawah did not see fit to keepme informed of what was occurring behind my lines." He glanced around."If he had, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you, Marshal. I wouldbe over there, behind the breastwork."
"Sold you out, did he?" asked Erik.
"Unless he has some masterful plan to swoop down on the back of adragon and carry me back to Ylith, apparently."Duko told us Fadawah feared rivals for command of the army."Nordan nodded. "I was sent to Sarth to watch Duko more than I wasto achieve any sort of secondary defense here in the South." He glancedaround. "May I sit?"
Owen waved for a chair to be brought over, and when it was, Nordansat. "Once the assault on Krondor was underway, I was going to ridedown, watch a bit of the battle, ride north, and make a decision on fortifyingthe town or withdrawing north. You neglected to assault Krondor,so of course, I never got to make that decision.""Lord Duko thought a change in allegiance seemed propitious,vv saidSubai. "Without his cooperation, we never would have taken Sarth soeasily.~
"Lord Duko," said Nordan, as if weighing the sound of it. "He isnow a Kingdom man, then?"
"That he is. He has command of our southern border with GreatKesh," replied Greylock.
"Would it be possible," asked Nordan, "for another such accommodationto be made?"
Owen laughed. "Duko had an army and a city to offer. What do youbring to the table?"
Nordan said, "I was afraid it would be something like that."
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"Well," said Erik, "if you think those on the other side of the barricadewould surrender on your word, we might be able to find sufficientincentive to make your future here more pleasant.""Von Darkmoor, isn't it?" asked Nordan.
Erik nodded. "You know me?"
"We were looking for you long enough when your Captain Calis tookhis Crimson Eagles and turned renegade. We knew of the one who lookedlike a Long Lived, and we knew of the big young blond sergeant whofought like a demon. The Emerald Queen may have been a servant ofdarkness, but she had clever men among her officers."Nordan grew reflective. "Kahil was one of her men, yet he managedto insinuate himself into Fadawah's trust. I am Fadawah's oldest companion."He looked at Erik. "You served with us long enough to knowhow our ways differ from yours. A Prince is an employer, no more worthyof loyalty than a merchant. To a hired sword, he is but a merchant withmore gold.
"Fadawah and I began as boys, from nearby villages in the Westlands.We joined Jamagra's Iron Fists and started fighting. For years we servedtogether, and when Fadawah started his own company, I was his subcaptain.When he became a general, I was his second-in-command. When hemet the woman known as the Emerald Queen and swore dark oath toher, I went along."
Subai looked at Erik, who nodded, and said, "I think we need toknow of this man, Kahil."
Nordan said, "He was one of her captains. We met him when shesent for Fadawah and arranged for him to take command of her forces. Ithought it strange that she would seek us out when she already had commanders,but the money was good and she proposed conquests that woulddo nothing but make us rich beyond imagining.
"Kahil specialized In sneaking inside of cities before we attackedthem., gathering information and sowing discord among the populace. Hespent more time with the Emerald Queen than anyone save Fadawah,and those men she called her Immortals, the men who willingly died inher bed to feed her hunger."
"You knew of that?" asked Erik.
"You hear things. You try to ignore anything that distracts you fromthe task at hand. I was her sworn Captain, and until I either was releasedfrom duty, captured or killed, I would not betray her.""Understood," said Erik.
"When the chaos around Krondor revealed that we had been somehow,,tricked by a demonic creature and that the Emerald Queen was nolonger our true mistress, we were left to fend for ourselves. Fadawah isan ambitious man. Kahil is also an ambitious man. I suspect it was hewho proposed to Fadawah that my fate be much the same as Duko's."I was led to believe that we would keep a soft center in Sarth , witha thousand men secreted in the lower halls of the abbey. When your armywas safely up the road, I was to ride out and strike from behind whileFadawah was rolling your army south along the coast." Bitterly he said,"I never got the men. I should have known that the third time twentymen showed up when I expected two hundred. Instead I got a long visitfrom Kahil, who inspected the abbey and told me all was going accordingto plan. I got less than four hundred men in total, most of them of questionableskills."
Owen said, "We'll have to decide what to do with you later, General.For the moment, I have the problem of getting up north and getting theDuchy of Yabon back for my King."
Nordan stood. "I understand, Marshal. I will by force of circumstancesawait your pleasure."
Greylock signaled to a guard to return the captive General to thecompany of the other officers. After he was out of hearing range, Owensaid, "He said one thing that disturbs me."
"What?" asked Erik.
"That remark he attributed to this Kahil: 'All was going according toplan.' ~
Subai said, "I came up through the basement of the abbey. I sawnothing we need to fear."
"I don't think he meant the abbey," said Owen. "I think he meantsome larger scheme that Fadawah is hatching."
Erik said, "All of which we will learn in due time."Owen pointed his finger at his old friend. "That's what has me fearful."He pointed at the tabletop. He motioned for food to be brought andservants hurried to comply. To one of the junior officers standing nearbyhe said, "Let me know when all the commanders report their units are inplace.l~
Erik was silent a moment, then said, "We could hit them at night.""At night?" asked Subai.
Erik's tone indicated he didn't strongly advocate the idea, but wasrather just speculating. "If we could get close to the barricade before theyspotted our advance units, perhaps we could force a breach before they
started doing too much damage with those catapults and archery fire."Owen was dubious. "I think we do this the traditional way. Ordercamp, and tell the men to rest. At first light we assemble, we march out
,~ and stand in ranks. I'll ride forward with Erik and ask for surrender, and,.when they say no, we'll attack."
Erik sighed. "I wish I could think of something very clever."Subai, can you see any way to get some of our soldiers around thehillside end of the barricade?"
"A few maybe," answered the Captain. "But not enough to do morethan get them all killed when they were discovered. If my Pathfinderswere to do it, we could get up there and be in position before we werediscovered, I'm certain."
"But you have to be on your way north, carrying messages," saidowen. "No, gentlemen, this time we must walk up and kick down thedoor. See to your men."
Erik stood up. "I'll inspect the deployment."
Owen motioned for Erik to stay, and when the other officers weregone, he said, "Can you get some men on the beach below those cliffs?""I can get them down to the beach, but I don't know if I can get themup the cliffs," said Erik.
"Then you'd better get down there and see, before you lose the daylight.If you can get a squad up those cliffs and over the top before they
see you coming, you could spring that gate from the inside."Erik considered it. "It is closer to the cliffside than the hillside by ahundred yards or so, isn't it?"
"Think you can do it?"
Erik said 'IT +
I
e me go down and take a look. I'll be back as soon aspossible."
He heaved himself out of the chair and moved to where his Crimson
Eagles Were camped . "Jadow!" he shouted, "bring a squad!"The large lieutenant and a sergeant named Hudson fell in almost instantly
, and by the time Erik had moved to where the horses were picketed,he had a dozen other men hurrying along to catch up. The horseswere, saddled and ready to ride in minutes, and Erik formed up his squad.He glanced around, astonished at how well the army was being encamped.The move from Sarth northward had been at a forced march and thequartermasters had been pressed to their limit to get provisions togetherand underway on short notice. Yet here was the bulk of the Armies ofthe West, nearly eight thousand men under arms in the van, with anotherten thousand less than a week behind, moving into locations preselectedby (Owen's staff. Logistics was still more an abstract concept to Erik than
a real one. His time on the road had been in Calis's small companies inlilidus, or in defensive positions in Krondor and Darkmoor. This washis first experience having responsibility for large numbers of men on themarch.
The dust was almost overwhelming from the thousands of men, wagons,and horses moving along both sides of the road. He knew)he couldride freely down the cliffs to the coast and no enemy spotter would beable to see anything that would give away his inspection of the beach
area.
He found the path leading down to a cove a mile behind the lines andled the patrol downward. The road narrowed as it wound down to thebeach, so they rode single file.
They halted while Erik looked up and down the coast. He turned tothe men Jadow had gathered, and said, "Any good swimmers here?"Two of the men held up their hands, and Erik grinned at Jadow. "Oh,no, man. Not since we had to swim that river to get to Maharta."Erik jumped down and began removing his armor. "This time wewon't have to wear eighty pounds of iron." Jadow dismounted and, mutteringcurses, also started stripping off his armor.
The two men who had volunteered were soon standing next to Erikand Jadow, all wearing only their undertunics and leggings. Erik said,"We swim in pairs. This current looks rough. And be wary of the rocks."He led the men as far along the beach as they could go before encounteringthe finger of cliff that extended into the rocks. Wading out intothe surf, he turned and said, "It's safer to swim, I think, than to riskwading through the surf as it pounds those rocks."The men followed, and Erik led them out until the waves started tobreak. He dove under a breaking wave and came up behind it. He struckout away from the beach, and when the water was merely surging backand forth, turned on a course that ran along the beach. The water wascold despite the time of the year, and the going difficult, but after a fewminutes, Erik saw that he had left his partner behind. He waited and letthe man catch up, then started swimming again. They drew even with thefirst of a series of small coves, and stopped, letting the others catch upand tread water a moment. He said, "We need to swim about anothermile, then head in." He pointed. "The beach seems to open up over
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stood up in knee-deep water. He looked around and saw the other threemen also riding waves in, though Jadow seemed to have swallowed a fairamount of water on the way.
Erik glanced up to the cliffs. He motioned and said, "I think we'rebetween our lines and theirs." Looking up and down the coast, he said,
.,It's difficult to tell."
After a moment to catch his breath, he continued, "Come on. We'regoing to have our work cut out for us to get back before dark."Jadow groaned.
"What?" asked Erik.
"Man, I just didn't even think; we've got to swim back, don't we?"Erik and the other men laughed. "Unless you want to stay downhere."
As Erik started off at a trot up the beach, Jadow said, "I'm thinkinga beach life might be the thing; I could fish, make a hut, you know."Erik grinned. "You'd get bored."
They hurried along the base of the cliffs, Erik looking up from timeto time. They found a long, winding beach, a series of tidal pools, andsome large outcroppings of rocks, but Erik was at last convinced they werea safe distance behind the enemy fortification without being seen.He looked upward and asked, "Jadow, what do you think aboutclimbing that cliff."
Jadow looked upward and finally said, "Not much.""Can it be done?"
"Possibly, but it's a job for the Pathfinders. They are very good atthat sort of thing."
"The Pathfinders are going around the eastern end of the line, up thehills and north; Subai's got messages to get to Yabon.""Well, then, do we have anyone else in camp who might be foolishenough to swim over here and climb those rocks for a little hand-to-handmayhem?
Erik looked at Jadow, then said, "I think I may have just the lot."
there. " Owen said, "Let me get thisstraight. You want me only to hit them
Jadow said, "I can't tell; all I see is breaking surf and rocks. with Probing attacks tomorrow?""Well, avoid the rocks," said Erik, setting out again with powerful Erik Pointed along the line ofdefense freshly drawn on Owen's map.
strokes. oward more rocks, "We're going to bleed if we storm that wall. We can put that off a dayHe led them around a second point of land and tHe stopped and pointed. "There! A section of open beach." 'wO longer. But if I can getup over the cliff, open the gate so you can
I And we'll save a lot ofHe swam straight in toward the breakers, catching one to ride in, and get inside, we can shorten this attack bydays.
men s lives."
"But if you don't get to the gate, you're going to get yourself choppedUP, said Owen.
Erik said, "Last time I looked, no one promised a soldier he wouldlive forever.
Owen closed his eyes, then said, "Life used to be much easier whenyou were shoeing horses and I was teaching Otto's other sons how to hold",,a sword."
Erik sat down and said, "I won't argue that."
Owen said, "So, who are you taking with you? Climbing those cliffswill be dangerous ... or am I stating the obvious?""You are," said Erik with a smile. He took a mug of wine offeredhim by an orderly, then said, "Akee and his Hadatis just showed up thismorning. They're the best climbers we have."
Owen nodded approval. "That they are. And a handy bunch with asword, as I recall."
"Very."
"Well, I was going to send them along the ridge route, but if I giveSubai all the Pathfinders, he stands a better chance of getting through toYabon."
"I haven't read the rolls of the fallen. How many Pathfinders have weleft?y~
"Too few. We have too few of everyone," said Owen. "We lost moremen of quality at Darkmoor and Nightmare Ridge than the Gods shouldfairly ask of us. We are moving with the heart of the Army of the West,and if we fall, there's nothing left." He sighed. "Subai has fourteen Pathfindersleft in his entire command."
"Fourteen?" Erik shook his head and his expression was one of regret."He had over a hundred before the war."
"Those trackers and scouts are rare men," said Owen. "You don'ttrain them overnight like your band of cutthroats."Erik smiled. "MY cutthroats have proven themselves more times thanany other unit in this army. And we've lost more of the Eagles than Icare to think about." For a moment he reflected on the men whom hehad served with during two voyages to Novindus, Luis and Roo, Nakorand Sho Pi, and those fallen at the battles along the way-Billy Goodwin,who fell off his horse and broke his head, Biggo the pious brawler, andHarper, who was twice the sergeant Erik had ever been, among manyill
others. And most of all, one man. "As much as I wish Calis was st'leading this bunch instead of myself," he said to Owen, "more than anyother, I'd give half my remaining years to have Bobby de Loungville
back."
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owen raised his wine cup. "Amen to that, my boy. Amen to that."I-he drank. "But he'd be proud of you, no doubt."Erik said, "When this is over, and we start taking men down to Novindus,I want to find that ice cave and bring Bobby home."owen said, "Men have done crazier things before. But dead is dead,and buried is buried, Erik. Of all the men who fell, why Bobby?""Because he was Bobby? Most of us wouldn't be alive today save forwhat he taught us, we in the Eagles. Calis was our Captain, but Bobbywas our soul."
I Well, if you can get the Prince to release you from duty for a time,maybe you can do it. Me, I'll be asking him to promote you again to takesome weight off my shoulders."
"Thanks, but I'll refuse."
I I
Owen said, "Why? You've got a wife, and I expect someday children,and a promotion means more money as well as rank.""I'm not worried about money. I mean, I have enough, even if theinvestments that Roo's made for me don't work out. I'll take care of Kittyand any children, but I just don't want to become a staff officer."Greylock said, "There won't be much need for captains once the waris over, Erik. The nobility will again come to the fore and start taking careof keeping the peace."
Erik shook his head. "I don't think that's wise. I think the Riftwarand this war show we need a larger standing army. With Kesh againmaking moves along the South, and with as many casualties as we'vetaken, I think the Prince needs more men under arms at all times thanwe've had before here in the West."
"You're not the first to say that," said Owen, "but the politics ... thenobles will never stand for it."
"They will if the King orders it," said Erik. "And someday Patrickwill be King."
'.'Now there's a chilling thought," joked Owen.Erik said, "He'll grow up."
Owen laughed. "Listen to you. You're the same age!"Erik shrugged. "I feel older than my years."
"Well, you are," said Owen, "and that's a fact. Now, get out andfind those Hadati and ask them if they're crazy enough to do as you ask.If they say no, I will not be surprised, as they strike me as being a smarterthan average bunch."
Erik rose, saluted casually, and departed. When he was gone, Owenlooked at the map and said to the orderly, "Send for Captain Subai,]Please. "
I
I
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Raymond E. Feist
SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CROWN
jimmy pointed. "Up there." He had commandeered a horse and senttwo men back to Port Vykor, riding double. He had ordered the other tenmen to accompany him in his pursuit of Malar, and he knew the spy hadonly one possible destination.
Jimmy was certain now that Malar Enares was a Keshian spy. Asimple thief would have taken Jimmy's weapons and gold. He only tookJimmy's horse to have a spare as he fled to Keshian lines. The fact hehad first taken the Prince's orders to Lord Duko was the single mostindicting evidence.
Captain Songti and the other men looked uncertain about the youngnoble's orders, but they obeyed. As they stopped to rest their horses,Songti said, "Lord James-"
"Jimmy. My grandfather was Lord James."
"Lord Jimmy," amended Songti.
"Just Jimmy."
With a shrug, Songti said, "Jimmy, you move with certain purpose,and don't seem to be following tracks. Can I assume you know wherethis fugitive is heading."
"Yes," said Jimmy. "There are few places a man can safely travelbetween Kesh and the Kingdom, and there is only one crossing point nearenough where he stands a chance of finding a Keshian patrol before runninginto ours. It's up there"-he pointed to a distant range of low mountains-"in the high desert. It's Dulsur Pass. It's a very narrow little defilethat empties out at the oasis of Okateo. Very popular with smugglers.""And spies," suggested Songti.
"Yes," said Jimmy.
"If you know of this place, sir, why not keep a garrison there?"Jimmy shrugged. "Because we find it as useful to keep open as theKeshians do."
"I don't think I'll ever understand this society of yours, sir.Y)"Well, when the war is over, you may return to Novindus should you,vhsh."
Songti said, "I am a soldier and I have served Lord Duko most ofmy life. I wouldn't know what to do back in Novindus. None o us
would." ~;A;ncw "Well assure a the
Jimmy motioned it was time to resume
sun rises in the east, there are those down in Novindus building their ownlittle empires as much as Fadawah is here."
"Some of the younger men might wish to return," said Songti as he
remounted. "But most of us who have been with Duko for a while willmake lives here, in your Kingdom."
"Then it's time for you to begin thinking of it as our Kingdom.""So my lord Duko instructs," admitted Songti as he motioned thepatrol forward.
They rode up a dusty trail, into plateau country, long rolling vistas ofdust, tough dry plants, and sun-bleached rock. A dry wind struck, and gritcollected in a man's eyes, nose, and threatened to peel skin from bone.Even water tasted gritty when drunk, as the fine, powdery sand got everywhere.
They reached a high plateau and Jimmy pointed upward. "The oasisis at the top of that." He pointed at another plateau, easily a thousandfeet higher than the one upon which they stood. Looking backward, theycould see the lowlands leading down to Shandon Bay.Songti said, "From here on a clear day you can see the bay, I think.""More," said Jimmy. "On a very clear day I have been told you cansee the peaks of the Calastius Mountains to the north." He urged hishorse forward and they continued, moving upward.Night found them resting in a large pass, sheltered from the wind andsand. They sat on the rocks, their saddles behind them or under their feet.The horses were staked out a short way away. Jimmy ordered a cold campagainst the possibilities others were nearby, or that Malar was lookingover his shoulder.
Jimmy knew that he stood a fair chance of overtaking the spy if hedidn't know his way through these hills as well as Jimmy. He might havebeen a boy in far Rillanon, but his grandfather made sure he and hisbrother knew every weakness along the border with Kesh: smugglers'coves, trails, goat paths, creeks, and gaps in the mountains. And LordJames's knowledge had been encyclopedic, Jimmy remembered; he hadmade sure his grandsons knew of every potential attack corridor into theKingdom.
Chewing jerked beef, Captain Songti said, "Are you certain we'llcatch this spy?"
"We must. He stole orders to Duko and knows too much about thelack of defenses in Krondor. The orders also detail our plan for dealingWith the threat to Land's End."
"We have encountered a few of these Keshians. They are determinedfighters. "
"Keshian Dog Soldiers are not known for cowardice. Occasionallytheir leaders are, but if they're ordered to fight to the last man, they will."If we catch this man, we avoid a big fight?"
I
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Raymond E,Feist
"Yes," said Jimmy.
"Then we shall have to catch this man."
"At first light we leave," said Jimmy. He gathered his cloak about
him and said, "Wake me just before."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Akee and his men spread out along the base of the cliff. Erik said,"what's the best way to proceed?"
They had carried bundles of weapons and dry clothing wrapped inoil-treated canvas, swimming the route Erik had previously discovered.The plan was to get to the top of the cliff in the darkness, and just beforedawn, Subai's Pathfinders, as well as a few dozen Krondorian regulars,would make as much noise as possible at the far end of the defenders'wall, hoping to make them think the Kingdom forces were attempting tocircle the barricades on the hillside. They would retreat as soon as engaged,with Subai and his Pathfinders climbing the steep hillside and upinto the mountains. Once past this barrier, they'd start their journey alongthe western slopes of the mountains, making their way to Yabon. TheKrondorians would retreat with a lot of noise, apparently in disorder.The hope was this would allow the Hadati and Erik to slip in behindthe defenders and reach the gate. If they could get it open, Greylockpromised they only had to hold it for two minutes. He had two companiesof cavalry, light bowmen who could cross the gap in less than twominutes, and a company of one hundred heavy lancers, who could sweepbehind the line and clear the wall of defenders.From above the cliffs came the sounds of men shouting as Greylock'sprobing attacks were withdrawn. The defenders had been dealing withthem since noon, and as the sun set, Owen was quitting the attacks. Erikprayed the attacks had kept the defenders busy enough not to peer overthe cliffs. Otherwise there might be a very nasty reception waiting for themat the top.
Akee looked upward and said, "Pashan is our best climber. He goesfirst and carries a cord. If he reaches the top, we will tie the cord to arope and he will pull it up." With a slight smile, Akee added, "Even youshould be able to reach the top of the cliffs with a rope to hang on to,Captain."
Erik said, "I am flattered by your confidence in me."The man named Pashan took off his weapons, the long blade mostHadati carried over their backs, and the short blade carried at the belt. HOwas short, compact, and his arms and legs looked powerful. He strippedoff his soft buckskin boots and handed everything to a companion' Hetook the light cord and carefully coiled it around his chest and shoulder,so he wore it like the plaid most Hadati wore when sporting clan dress.The bulk of it trailed behind him to a coil resting on the sand. Akee hadinstructed the men to be careful it uncoiled without any hitch, lest Pashanbe pulled off balance by unexpected resistance.Pashan adjusted his kilt and started to climb. Erik glanced to the west.
The sun had set a few minutes earlier, and now they were watching abrave man carefully scale a cliff face in failing light. It would be darkbefore he safely reached the top.
The minutes dragged by and upward the man climbed, each hand andfoot moved carefully, testing the grip or footing. Like a fly on a wall, hemoved slowly upward, slightly to the right of his starting point.Erik was amazed. At first he was twenty feet above, then thirty, thenforty. At fifty feet he was a third of the way to the top. He did not stop
to rest, and Erik decided that hanging on the face of the rocks was nomore rest than climbing would be. At no time did Pashan's rhythmchange. A step, a grip, a shift of weight, and up he would move.
As darkness descended, it became more difficult to see him movingamong the rocks. Erik lost sight of him in the inky shadows between the
rocks, then he caught sight of movement; Pashan was now two-thirds ofthe way to the top of the cliffs.
Again he vanished into the gloom and the minutes dragged by. As
the night deepened into darkness-no moons would rise until near dawnthis night-finally the cord began to jerk up and down."Tie the rope," instructed Akee.
The remaining cord was cut and tied tightly around the end of a muchheavier rope. When it was secured, they tugged three times firmly on thecord. Pashan rapidly pulled the rope upward.
The rope continued to pay out, then jerked up and down again. Thefirst jerks had been the signal Pashan had reached the top of the cliffs andto tie the rope. The second signal indicated either he had tied off the rope,or he was now digging in to hold it. The second man up the rope wouldbe the smallest remaining. He would join with Pashan and hold the end.
Each man after would add his strength as the larger men climbed.The second man had his weapons tied in a bundle slung over his backand started up hand over hand, using his feet to boost him along thesurface of the rocks. Erik was amazed at how fast he climbed.Then the third man went up.
The night's silence was cut by the distant sounds from the enemy's
camp, but not alarms or the sounds of fighting. Slowly the squad of fiftyHadati hillmen reached the summit, and at last Erik and Akee were aloneOn the beach.
"I'll go after you," said Erik.
Akee nodded and was up the rope without a word.Erik waited, then gripped the rope. He was never a good climber, sohe wanted to be last in case he slipped. If he was going to fall to hi) death,he wasn't about to knock Akee off the rope behind him.Erik found his feet to be of little aid to him as he struggled up therope. He was a powerful man, with a huge upper body, yet he was also
a heavy man. His arms were burning and his back cramping with pain ashe reached a point near the summit. Suddenly the rope began to moveand for an instant Erik felt a stab of panic before he realized he was beingpulled up.
Akee reached over the edge of the cliff, took Erik by the wrist, andwith a yank hauled him up to safety. With a whisper, he said, "Someonecomes.t)
Erik nodded, pulling his belt knife out and looking around. They werein a sparse stand of trees, pines and aspens, and as far as he could tell,he and Akee were alone. The other Hadati had somehow managed tovanish into the woods.
Akee quickly moved to cut off the rope tied to a tree nearby and castthe remnants off the cliff. Then he pulled Erik away and they slipped offinto the woods.
From a short distance he heard men walking, and one spoke in thelanguage of Novindus. "I don't hear nothing."
"I tell you, I thought I heard something, like someone movingaround."
"There's no one here," came the first voice.
Erik hugged the side of a small oak, glancing through the lowerbranches of a pair of star pines as two figures emerged from the other sideof the clearing. One carried a torch. "This is a fool's errand.""Then you're just the man for the job," said the other."Very funny." They reached the clearing before the cliffs and the firstman said, "That's a long way down, so don't get too close.""Don't need to tell me, lad. I have no love for heights.""Then how did you get up the wall at Krondor?""Didn't," said the second man. "I waited for them to blow up thewalls and walked in."
"You were lucky," said the first man. "See, no one here. "at didyou think? Someone was sending monkeys climbing them cliffs, or somesort of magic thing?"
$'I've seen enough weird magic things to last me my lifetime, that's afact," said the second man as they turned to retrace their steps to the
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camp. "What about that demon thing and the Queen, and them snakepriests? If I never see magic again in this life, it's fine by me.""Did I ten you the time I met that dancer in Hamsa? Now that wasmagic.
only six or seven times, so spare me . .
The voices faded off into the night. From behind Erik heard a voicesay, They think the woods empty."
Good," said Erik to Akee. "Then we can wait until just before firstlight to make our move."
Erik said, "Spread the word. Have the men stay where they are, outof sight. We gather an hour before dawn."
Akee vanished into the gloom without a word.
I
I
Seventeen
JIMMY POINTED.
Captain Songti said, ,I see them."
They were scouting out the well at Okatio oasis, and lounging in the'',shade of the desert willows was a patrol of Keshian soldiers."Those are Imperial Borderers," whispered Jimmy. "See those longlances?"
Leaning against the rocks near where the horses were staked out,rested twenty long slender spears with banners attached. Songtisaid,
"Looks like we want to get in close, fast."
"Yes," said Jimmy. "No archers."
"IS that your man?" asked Songti, pointing at a figure on the far sideof the campfire.
"That's him," said Jimmy. Malar was sitting next to a Keshian officer,who was examining the bundle of dispatches Jimmy had been carrying toDuko. "We've got to kill them all before they leave in the morning."Songti said, "They're pretty lax at camp."
"They're arrogant bastards, but they've earned it. They're among thebest light cavalry the world has seen. Those fellows with the long hairthey pile up under their helmets when they ride"-he pointed to six menwho were slightly apart, relaxing around a large pot of food, speakingquietly-"are Ashunta horsemen, from deep within the Empire. Man forman they are the best riders in the world."
"Some of my lads might take exception to that," said Songti.Jimmy grinned. "The best horsemen in Triasia?""Not since we got here," said Songti. He turned and signaled. Hismen were hanging back down the trail. They slowly moved forward.Jimmy said, "As soon as you attack, Malar is going to jump on thenearest horse and ride that way." He pointed to a pass to the south,
SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CROWN
leading down into the borderlands of Kesh. "Let me get over there, andif he does, I'll jump him from those rocks."
Songti said, "I'll go with you. He might bring a friend.""Ignore the friend unless it's that officer looking at those documents.First thing we must do is get them back and kill any man who readsthem.II
"That makes it easy," said Songti. "We'll just have to kill them all."Jimmy admired the man's confidence. There was a full patrol of
twenty Keshian Borderers taking their ease around the well, and only ten
Kingdom soldiers with Jimmy. Jimmy said, "Hit them fast." He got upand in a crouching run skirted the rocks above the oasis until he waspoised above the point he had indicated.
Songti communicated with his men using hand signals, then cameand stood beside Jimmy.
Suddenly chaos erupted at the oasis and men shouted. While outnumbered, the Kingdom soldiers were given the advantage of surprise. Withoutlooking, Jimmy knew men were dying before they reached theirweapons. The sound of bows was reassuring as only Songti's men hadthem.
As he predicted, Jimmy heard a shout and a rider coming fast throughthe defile. He readied himself.
Malar rounded the bend riding bareback, having taken time only to
slip a bridle on his horse, and carrying only the bundle of messages. Ashe passed, Jimmy leaped out, sweeping the man from his horse. The
bundle went flying and Jimmy tucked his shoulder, rolling on the groundand coming to his feet with a grunt of pain. He had struck a rock outcroppingand could feel his left arm going numb. He knew instantly hehad dislocated his shoulder.
Another horse appeared and Songti jumped out, sweeping a rider fromhis saddle, and Jimmy barely dodged the second horse as it raced by. Heturned, trying to find Malar, and saw the spy attempting to flee down thetrail after the horse.
Clutching his sword in his right hand, his left dangling limply at hisside, Jimmy ran after him, past Songti, who was sitting astride the chest
of a Keshian, choking the life from him.
Malar reached a bend in the trail, and Jimmy lost sight of him. He
hurried after, and as he rounded the bend, pain exploded in his left shoulder.
Malar had climbed aboard a boulder and had kicked him hard, aimingfor his head, but striking his shoulder instead. The effect was nearly the
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Raymond E.\*Feist SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
same, for the pain in Jimmy's left shoulder nearly rendered him unconscious.An involuntary cry escaped his lips as he staggered to his right.Jimmy managed to keep enough wits to put his sword up, and Malaralmost impaled himself on its point as he jumped off the boulder. Instead,he hit the ground and backed away a step. The spy said, "Well, younglord, it appears I should have used a stronger poison."Jimmy shook his head to clear it, and said, "But then you wouldn'thave been able to drink any."
Malar grinned. "Building up a resistance was a most unpleasant process,but over the years I've discovered it was worth it. I would love tocontinue our discussion, but I hold no confidence that your men will bedelayed much longer, so I must leave." He was holding only a dagger,but he advanced as if confident Jimmy and his sword would be no match.Years of training, back to when he was a boy learning at the knee ofhis grandfather, took over, and Jimmy leaped to his right, just as Malarlet loose an underhand cast, lightning swift, with his left hand, and apreviously unseen dagger glanced off the rocks where Jimmy had stood amoment before. Jimmy knew this man would have several blades secretedupon his person. As Jimmy expected, when he turned to confront Malar,the spy was already hurling himself at Jimmy, daggers in both hands.Jimmy fell over backward, enduring further searing agony in his leftshoulder as he avoided Malar's assault. Jimmy kicked out with his rightleg as Malar closed on him, knocking him off balance. The spy's leg wasrock hard and Jimmy was certain
he'd find the man's slender build had
been misleading; this was not a skinny weakling he fought. Wasting notime, Jimmy rolled upright and struck hard with his sword. Malar barelyavoided the blow and rolled away, ignoring the sharp rocks that litteredthe trail.
Jimmy pressed on, not allowing this dangerous foe the chance to collecthimself, not while Jimmy had only one good arm. He swung downagain with his sword, almost cutting the Keshian spy. Malar scrambledbackward, halfway up a rock face, then rather than retreat, he used themomentum to hurl himself forward, inside of Jimmy's sword.Jimmy felt a blade slide across his ribs, and he gasped in pain, but hetwisted enough that the point didn't dig in. He contracted with his chestand stomach, striking Malar's face with a vicious head-butt. Malar staggeredbackward blood streaming from his broken nose, and Jimmy's vision swam a moment.
Suddenly a horse almost ran Jimmy down, hooves flying, as it racedby. Jimmy got up as quickly as he could and realized he no longer helda sword. The bleeding Keshian spy grinned like a crazed wolf as he
crouched low, holding his remaining dagger in his right hand. "Don'tmove, young noble, and I'll make this quick and painless."He took a step toward Jimmy, who countered with a handful of dirtto Malar's eyes. Malar turned away, blinded by the dust, and Jimmyleaped to grip Malar's wrist with his good right hand. Summoning asmuch strength as he could, he tried to crush Malar's wrist by sheer willpower.Malar grunted in pain, but didn't let go of the dagger. As Jimmyhad suspected, the Keshians slight build hid steel-like strength, and nothingas trivial as a broken wrist would distract him.Malar pulled back, Jimmy still holding his right wrist in his own righthand. With his left fist, Malar struck a backhanded blow to Jimmy's shoulder.Jimmy cried out in pain and felt his knees buckle.He nearly lost consciousness as Malar struck him in the left shoulderagain, and felt the strength draining out of him. Malar drew back andwrenched his wrist free of Jimmy's grasp, and in one motion deftly tossedhis dagger from left to right hand. For an instant Jimmy looked up asMalar stood above him, poised to deliver a death blow, a vicious backhandstab with his left hand.
Malar's eyes widened in shock, and he looked down. The dagger fellfrom his fingers and his hand went around behind his back, and he turned,as if to get a better angle on something. Jimmy saw an arrow protrudingout of the spy's right shoulder, and suddenly a second struck him with aloud thud.
Malar went to his knees, then his eyes rolled up into his head as bloodflowed from his nose and mouth, and he fell face forward onto the stonesbefore Jimmy.
Jimmy turned to see Songti and one of his men, armed with a bow,hurrying toward him. Jimmy sat back on his heels, then fell over backward,banging himself against the rocks.
Songti knelt and said, "Are you hurt?"
"I'll live," Jimmy croaked. "My shoulder's dislocated.""Let me see," said the Captain. He gently touched the shoulder andpain shot through Jimmy's body, from waist to jaw. "Just a moment,"said the Captain, then with a sure move, he gripped the upper portion ofJimmy's arm and clamped his other hand down on the shoulder and,shoved the arm back into position.
Jimy's eyes widened and watered and he could barely catch hisbreath, then the pain passed.
Songti said, "Better to do it soon, before things swell and you can'tget it back in. Then you need a healer or priest, or a great deal of brandy.You'll be better tomorrow."
'if you say so,,, jimmy replied weakly.
"I got the second rider, but there was a third.""He almost ran me down," said Jimmy as Songti helped hi T to hisfeet.
c It was the officer."
Jimmy swore. "Are the messages to Duko still over there?"The archer looked around and saw the leather pouch, reached down,and held it up. "It's here."
J\* waved the man over, and he handed the bundle to the Captain.I=Y
Songti pulled out the documents and said, "There are seven papers here.""That's all of them," said Jimmy. He looked down at the dead spyand said, "That was too close."
Songti motioned for the archer to give Jimmy a steadying hand. "Wemust bury the dead. If there's another patrol nearby and they see rescircling, they might come to investigate in the morning."Jimmy shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Before first light, we'redown that trail back across the border. We may kill horses, but we've gotto get back to Port Vykor, and I've got to get up to Krondor as fast aspossible.
"Because that officer escaped?"
Jimmy nodded yes. "I don't know how closely he read these, or whatMalar told him, but he'll carry word back to his masters that Krondor isbeing held by a handful of palace guards and every fighting man not tiedup at Land's End or in the vale is up north facing Fadawah.""These Keshians would press the advantage?"
Jimmy said, "Indeed they would. One quick strike up to the city andthey hold Prince Patrick. The King would grant them much to reclaimhis son."
Songti said, "It was simpler when we lived in Novindus."Jimmy laughed, though it hurt him to do so. "No doubt," he said ashe leaned on the archer and hobbled back to the oasis.
Erik heard the Hadati moving before he saw him appear out of thegloom. Akee said, "It's almost time."
They had remained hidden through the night in the woods behind thebarricade blocking the highway. Twice mercenaries had wandered closeto where Erik waited, but none bothered to check the woods on the cliffs.Erik nodded. The sky to the cast was getting lighter. Soon, if all went
according to plan, a feint at the far end of the barricade would give Erikhis opportunity to strike from behind and open the gate. "Let's lookaround a little," said Erik.
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
I ~
He crouched low and moved through the trees until he reached theclearing south of the highway. He gauged the distance to the gate at overa hundred yards, and counted a dozen low-burning campfires between hiscurrent position and the gate, and another score just the other side of theroad. He felt Akee at his shoulder and whispered, "I expected more menhere.
"I as well. If we can get through the gate, this battle will be overquickly."
He left unsaid what would be the result of not getting the gate open.Erik said, "I have an idea. Pass word that no man is to move when thealarm sounds. Tell them to wait until I signal you.""Where will you be?"
Erik pointed. "I'll be somewhere out there."
Erik wore his black uniform, but without his Crimson Eagle tabard.To any casual observer he might pass as a mercenary given to wearingblack. Glancing at Akee, he noticed a blue band around the warrior'sbrow. "Is that something I might borrow from you?" he asked, not knowingif it might have some sort of tribal significance.Akee didn't answer. He reached up and untied the band, then steppedbehind Erik and tied the headband in place. Now Erik looked even lesslike a Kingdom regular.
Erik cautiously stepped out between two campfires, walking carefullyso as not to wake sleeping men. Soft voices from the barricade told himthe guards on duty were gossiping or telling stories to keep awake.Erik reached the edge of the road and his manner changed. He walkedbriskly as if he was about important business. He moved boldly down theroad and reached the gate. As he approached, he noted the constructionof the gate. It was simple, but effective. The gates each had one large ironbracket affixed to them by huge iron bolts. Through those brackets, anOak bar had been passed, and that was braced in turn by long poles driveninto the ground. It should be easy to knock aside the poles and run thebar out of the brackets, but it would take a sizable ram to knock it openfrom the other side.
"Hey! " he said, before he could be challenged. He kept his voice deep,hopefully disguising his accent as he spoke the invaders' dialect."What?" asked the man in charge of the gate, a sergeant or Captainby the look of him.
"We're just down from the North, and I've got to find whoever's incharge.
Captain Rastav is over there," said the man, pointing at a large tentbarely visible in the predawn gloom. "What news?"Erik growled, "Your name Rastav?"
"No," said the man in return, bristling a bit."Then my message isn't for you, is it?"
Erik turned and walked away before the man could respond. he madehis way slowly but purposefully toward the command tent, then, just beforeapproaching too closely, he veered away and walked between camps.Most of the men were sleeping; a few were rousing and stirring cookingfires, heading to nearby slit-trenches to relieve themselves, or already eating.He absently nodded or gave a slight wave of greeting to a few hepassed, furthering the illusion he was a familiar figure known to someonein the camp; if not the person looking at him, perhaps the man across theway to whom he was waving.
Erik reached a particularly quiet camp where only one man stirred,one who was brewing up coffee by the smell of it. Crossing over, he said,"Have an extra cup to spare
The man looked up and nodded, motioning Erik over. Erik came overand knelt beside the warrior. "I've got a few minutes before I report tothe gate, and can't find a hot cup anywhere."
"I know what you mean," said the soldier, handing an earthen mugfilled with the black hot liquid to Erik. "You with Gaja?"Erik recognized the name, a Captain he had heard of before, but heknew nothing about the man. "No," said Erik, "we just got here. MyCaptain is over there"-he indicated the command tent-"talking withRastav, and I thought I'd sneak off and grab this." He stood. "Thanks,I'll bring back the mug when my duty's over."
The soldier waved off the remark. "Keep it. We've looted enoughcrockery I'm thinking of opening a store.l$
Erik strolled along, drinking his coffee, which wasn't too bad for campfare, and inspected the area. There were no more than a thousand menbehind the wall, and from the look of what he could see along the barricade,no more than twelve hundred total at this position. Another mystery.From the other side, it looked like half of Fadawah's army waited, yetfrom this side Erik knew that if he could get the gate open, this battlewould be won in minutes, not hours.
When he was halfway back to the gate area, Erik heard a shout raisedup at the eastern end of the barricade. Then more shouts as an alarm wasraised. Erik paused, and counted slowly to ten, until he heard a hornsounded, a call to arms. Men sprang up from where they slept, and Erik
tossed aside his cup and hurried along. In his most commanding voice hestarted shouting, "They're hitting the east flank! Get to the east!"Men who were half asleep started hurrying off toward the far end of
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the line. As he neared the gate, a man hurried over and said, "What isthis?"
Erik knew at once this was a Sergeant or Captain of some company,one not used to obeying mindlessly. "Rastavs orders. Are you CaptainGaja?"
The man blinked and said, "No, I'm Tulme. Gaja is due to relieveme in an hour."
"Then get two men in three off the gate and rush them to the easternend of the line! The enemy is breaking through over there!"Erik hurried along, and kept shouting, "Get to the east! Hurry up!"Men saw other soldiers rushing off to where they were ordered, andhastened to obey. Erik ran back to where he could be seen by Akee andsignaled. Instantly the Hadati hillmen were running from the trees.Erik ran to the gate and shouted, "Orders! Open the gate. Get readyto sally!"
"What?" said a man. "Who are you?"
Erik had his sword out and killed the man before he could react. "Myluck couldn't run forever," he said to Akee as the Hadati reached his side.The Hadati killed every man standing before the gate before anyonemore than twenty-five yards away noticed. The supporting poles werekicked aside, and before they hit the ground Erik and Akee, along withtwo other men, were lifting the heavy oaken bar out of the brackets thatheld it in place.
As they carried the bar aside, others opened the gate."Two minutes!" Erik cried. "We have to keep it open for two minutes."Seconds slipped by slowly, as shouts up and down the line demandedanswers and suddenly it was clear to Erik that those to the north of himon the defenders' side of the barricade knew something was amiss.Suddenly men were charging at the Hadati, who were to a man armedwith long swords and short swords, held in right and left hands respectively.They moved out to keep enough room between each that theycould do a maximum of damage. Erik hesitated only a moment, then ranand leaped atop a pile of grain sacks, and pulled himself up on the rampartsbehind the breastwork. He could not afford for bowmen to get abovethe Hadati. If he did, the fight would be over.Erik glanced to the south and saw the Kingdom cavalry was alreadyon its way. One more minute and the day would be won.Erik charged along the ramparts, and the first man he encounteredlooked confused, still trying to see what was occurring to the east. Erikgrabbed him and threw him off the rampart. He landed on top of a pairof men running along, and those behind stopped. A crossbow bolt spedpast Erik's head and he ducked. '
. He retreated, weapons ready, and when he saw soldiers heading to.ward him, he halted. The first man to face him slowed, uncertain of whatwas before him. Erik was happy to wait, and let the Kingdom cavalryreach the gate.
Abruptly a sense of alarm passed through those near the gate, as ifthey finally realized what had happened. They charged the waiting Hadati,and the man opposite Erik let out a howl of rage and charged him.Erik took a step back when the man swung, letting him overbalancehimself, and with a swift kick, Erik sent the man tumbling over the sideof the rampart. The second man approached a little more cautiously, ifjust as intently, and struck out. Erik took the blow on his sword andparried, then unexpectedly, he stepped into the man, slamming him in theface with his sword hilt. The man stumbled backward into another manbehind him and both fell back.
Erik glanced over the wall and saw the first pair of Kingdom horsemenwas near, lowering their lances as they started up the last part of the inclinetoward the gate. Erik had a sudden impulse, and shouted at the top of hislungs: "Throw down your swords! It's over!"
The man opposite him on the barricade hesitated, and Erik shouted,"This is your last chance! throw down your sword!'The man looked at the huge blond man before him, as lancers racedthrough the gate behind the Hadati hillmen whose whirling blades wereinflicting terrible injury on any who closed on them. With a look of disgust,he threw down his blade.
A band of horsemen rode up from behind the line and were chargedby Krondorian lancers as the second unit of cavalry swept in. A scalingladder slammed against the wall near Erik and he realized that Greylockhad hedged his bet by getting men close under cover of darkness. Heglanced to his right and saw footmen racing across the open ground ahead.Erik leaned out over the edge of the wall and almost got his head splitopen as thanks. "Hey!" he shouted down to a Kingdom soldier halfwayup the ladder who had just swung his sword at Erik. "Slow down! Youmight fall off and hurt yourself."
It was not what the soldier expected. He stopped, and the man behindhim on the ladder shouted, "Keep moving."
Erik said, "You can climb back down and walk through the gate."The man on the top of the ladder shouted, "Sorry, Captain yon Darkmoor."
Erik looked to the left and saw mercenaries throwing down their
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
swords and backing away as a line of lancers slowly advanced on themthe points of their heavy weapons pointed at chest height.Erik saw the light cavalry entering behind the lancers and recognizedJadow and Duga. He signaled to get their attention. Jadow rode closeand Erik shouted, "Get things organized, and send word back to Greylock
to move up. Quickly."
Jadow signaled that he understood and turned to carry word to Owenhimself. Duga jumped down from his horse and boldly walked past the
line of lancers, and started separating mercenaries from their weapons.Erik glanced at the rear of the enemy camp where a running fight haderupted between the lancers and the invaders' cavalry units, and realizedthe enemy didn't know they'd lost yet. Given what he knew of enemy
horsemen, he knew a few heads would be broken before word reachedthem if he didn't intervene. He shouted for messengers to carry the wordto the fight, before men died needlessly.
Erik jumped off the wall as the first Kingdom foot soldiers entered
the gate. He pushed through the press of prisoners, and sought out thesenior lieutenant of the light cavalry. "Go give the lancers a hand withthat lot at the rear, then I want a sweep of the woods on both sides ofthe road for the next five miles. If anyone's cut and running north to tellFadawah this position is fallen, I want them overtaken,"
The rider saluted, gave orders, and rode off, then Erik sought outAkee. "How are your men?"
"I have some injuries, but no one dead," said the leader of the hillmen. "Had they a few more minutes to get organized, I think we wouldhave seen otherwise."
"I think you are correct," said Erik.
He left the hillmen and turned as Jadow and Owen rode through the
gate, and as he approached, he turned to a passing soldier and said, "Finda Captain among the prisoners, a man named Rastav, and bring himhere. "
Owen looked around and said, "Another illusion?"Erik said "Almost. If we hadn't gotten the gate open, we would havebled, but not as badly as we thought."
Owen glanced northward, as if to see over the horizon "Wh t i hdoing?yl
Erik said, "I wish I knew."
F,rik I0-I--A + ~l-it
a a e
down there, too." 0 c south. And I wish I knew what was going on
Owen said, "That's Duko and Patrick's problem, not ours. Now, let'sget things here under control, then start moving north again."Erik saluted, then turned and began organizing the chaos behindbarricade.
Dash could barely contain his rage. A dozen of his constables werestanding around the room, looking from one to another, a few openlyfrightened.
Two of his men lay dead before him. Sometime during the night theyhad been waylaid and killed, their throats cut and their bodies depositedbefore the door of the New Market Jail.
Whispering, Dash said, "Someone's going to bleed for this."The men were two recent recruits, Nolan and Riggs, and they hadjust finished their training. The last month had been difficult for Dash,but as order returned to Krondor, he found that larger portions of the citywere slowly getting back to a rhythm not unlike that known before thewar.
The Prince had authorized the purchase of a building just off theMarket Square, and the cells had just been installed by an iron monger.A near riot down near the docks the night before had taken the jail to itslimit and Dash had been busy dragging malefactors off to the city court,established by the Prince the week before; two eastern nobles were servingas judges, and a lot of drunks were finding themselves sentenced to thelabor gangs in a hurry. Most got a year, but a few were pulling five-andten-year sentences, and the citizens of the more unruly areas of the citywere loudly protesting. So far the protest had been vocal, with insultshurled at watchmen as they made their rounds. Until last night."Where were they scheduled to patrol?" asked Dash.Gustaf, the former prisoner, had turned up looking for work a fewdays before and Dash had made him a corporal. Gustaf had the dutyroster. "They were working down near the old Poor Quarter.""Damn," said Dash. The old Poor Quarter of the city was now ashanty town of huts and tents, and people living in the lees of partialails. Every vice imaginable was available there and, predictably, theThieves Guild was establishing its power there faster than the crown."Now all bets are off."
Since taking the office of Sheriff of Krondor, Dash had managed tokeep hanging to a minimum. Two murderers had been publicly hangedfive days before, but the majority of crimes had been relatively petty."What were these two doing down there anyway?" asked Dash."They were both new to the job."
Gustaf said, "The draw just came up that way." Lowering his voice,
I ~ I)
he said, "There's no one here with what you might call a great deal ofexperience, Dash.
starting tomorany
sdtaresthchnoodfdiemda. gitnhaetitowno "dfeadurmtoena swqeurend'tdodowwnntyh-ecrhe,eeked youths byrow.I)
"What about tonight?" asked Gustaf.
"I'll take care of tonight," said Dash, leaving the small squad roomHe hurried down the street and made his way through the open market,heading toward what had been the Poor Quarter. He kept his witsabout him and his eyes open. Even in the daylight he could count onnothing but trouble in this part of the city.
Reaching a burned-out two-story building, he ducked inside. Quicklyhe removed his red armband and ducked out the back of the building. He
hurried down a narrow alley and climbed a wooden fence that was stillsomehow standing between two stone walls while everything nearby hadbeen reduced to ash. Ducking under a low-hanging arch of stone hereached his goal.
He crept through an open building, a small former business on theedge of the Poor Quarter. He hung inside, staying hidden in shadow,while watching the view out in the quarter.
Men and women moved through the tents and shacks, dealing tradegoods and food, as well as illicit goods. Dash was looking for a certainface and would be content to wait until he saw it.Near sundown, a small man came hurrying toward the building, intent
on some errand, lost in thought. As he passed the open door, Dashreached out and grabbed him by the collar of his dingy shirt, hauling himinside.
The man yelped in terror, and started to beg, "Don't kill me! I didn'tdo it!PP
Dash put his hand over the little man's mouth and said, "Didn't dowhat, Kirby?"
When he saw he wasn't going to be instantly killed, the little man
relaxed. Dash removed his hand. "Whatever it was you think I did " s idthe little man.
"Kirby Dokins," said Dash, "the only thing you do is trade in information
. If you weren't so useful, I'd squash you like the bug you are."The vile-smelling little man grinned. His face was a patchwork of scarsand blemishes. He was a beggar by trade, and an informant when opportunityPresented himself. Like the cockroach he was, he had crawled intoa crack in the stones and survived the destruction of the city "Butyou have use of me, don't you?"
"For the moment," conceded Dash. "Two of my men were dumpedon the jail steps last night, their throats cut. I want those who did it.""No one's bragging."
"See what you can find out, but at midnight tonight, I'll be \*re, and
branch."
Kirby swallowed hard. "I'll pass that along, if it becomes appropriate."Dash pushed the little man outside the door. "Go. Midnight," heordered.
Dash saw that he still had an hour of daylight and imagined therewere many tasks waiting for him back at headquarters. He turned to retrace
his steps back to the New Market Jail, and cursed Patrick for givinghim
this thankless task of beating obedience into his subjects. But as longas it was his job, vowed Dash, he would do it properly. And that startedwith keeping his constables alive.
Dash hurried through the failing light into the shadows of Krondor.
'~you better be as well, with names.
"That might prove difficult," said the snitch."Make it happen," said Dash, hauling the little man up so that Dash'salmost touched Kirby's. "I don't need to make up crimes to get you"hung. Keep me happy."
"I live to keep you happy, Sheriff."
"Exactly." He let go of the little man's shirt. "And pass word backto that old man."
"X^at old man?" asked Kirby, feigning ignorance."I don't have to tell you who," said Dash. "Tell him if this murderlands at his feet, any faint affection I might feel toward his merry band ofmummers will be gone forever. If they're his pranksters cutting throats,he better serve them up to me, or the Mockers will be crushed, root and
I
Eighteen
OWEN SQUIRMED.
He didn't seem able to find a comfortable position in his camp chair,and yet the situation demanded he sit for hours reviewing reports andcommuniques.
Erik approached, looming up out of the evening darkness against thecampfires burning in every direction. He saluted. "We've interrogated thecaptains, and they're as ignorant as the swordsmen they've hired.""There's a pattern here, somewhere," said Owen. "I'm just too stupidto see it." He indicated that Erik should sit.
"Not stupid," said Erik, sitting next to his commander. "Just tired.""Not that tired," said Owen. His old leathery face wrinkled in a smile."I've gotten three good nights' sleep, truth to tell, since you opened thegates. In fact, it's been too good." He leaned forward, looking at the mapas if there was something in there to see, if he just stared at it long enough.Companies of regular soldiers were arriving from the south. The prisonerswere being kept in a makeshift compound, fashioned of freshly felledtrees. Erik said, "The best I can come up with is Fadawah has some menhe wasn't really happy with, so he thought he'd turn them over to us tofeed.')
"Well, if you hadn't opened that gate, we would have bled a bit gettingover that wall," said Owen, hiking his thumb over his shoulder atthe large earthen breastwork behind his command pavilion."True, but we would have taken it in a day or two.""I'm wondering why Fadawah is going to all the trouble of makingIs think he's down here and then letting us discover he isn't.""I'm guessing," said Erik, "but if he's taken LaMut, he might bemoving south of Ylith now, getting ready for a counterattack."'He can't ignore Yabon," said Owen. "As long as Duke Cari is up
i
Raymond l~ Feist
there with his army, Fadawah has to keep a strong face northward. Carlcan get men in and out of there if Fadawah doesn't keep the pressure on.Even so, there are Hadati hillmen still up there who can probably sneakthrough his lines at will. And I'm sure the dwarves and elves aren't provinghospitable neighbors if his patrols wander too far from their currentposition. No, he must take all of Yabon before he turns south.""Well, he can't hope to slow us down with these little sham positions."Owen's face showed concern. "I don't know if these are shams asmuch as they're just ... irritations, to make us proceed slowly."Erik's eyes narrowed. "Or maybe they're designed to make us go
fast.
"What do you mean?"
"Say we find one or two more of these lightly defended positions'?"
,,okay, so we do." y A A-A
Erik pointed to the map. "Let's say we hit Quester s View ananother fortification like this. We get all excited and strike out towardYlith."
"And run into a meat grinder?"
Erik nodded. He pointed to details on the map. "There's this line ofunforgiving ridges north of the road from Quester's View to Hawk's Hollow.He holds both ends of the road, and if he keeps us off the ridge, hecan dig in here." Erik's finger showed a particularly narrow point in theroad about twenty miles south of Ylith. "Let say he sets up a series offortifications, tunnels, catapults, arrow towers, the entire bag of tricks. Westick a boot into that mess too fast and we may draw back a bloodystump." His finger traced a line from that point up to the dot on the maprepresenting Ylith. "He's got thirty-foot-high walls, and a single weakpoint, an eastern gate by the docks. That he can fortify, and if he sinksships in the harbor mouth, he can sit inside the city like a turtle in itsshell." The more he spoke, the more Erik was certain of his analysis. "Wecan't land on the western shore; that's Free Cities land, and if we try it,Patrick risks alienating the only neutral party left on the Bitter Sea. Besides,to get there we'd probably run up against whatever warships Queghas in the area."
Owen sighed. "More to the point, our fleet needs to support the armyon its western flank to make sure we're supplied and to carry the woundedsouth to Sarth and Krondor."
Erik scratched at his chin. "I'm willing to bet if we had the eyes of abird we'd see a very heavy set of fortifications being built along that stretchright now."
SHARDS OF A BROYEN CROWN
"It all makes sense," said Owen. "But then I've seen too many thingsin war that make no sense to count too heavily on theory. We'll have towait to see what Subai says when he gets word back to us.""If he gets word back," said Erik.
"Let's cover our bet," said Owen.
"What?" asked Erik.
"I'm going to send an order to Admiral Reeves to send a fast cutterup the coast from Sarth. I want to see how far north he can get beforesomeone tries to discourage him."
Erik sat forward. "Care to bet it's about there?" he said, his fingerstabbing at a point on the coast due west of Quester's View."No bet," said Owen. "I've come to appreciate your instincts."Erik sat back in the chair. "I actually hope I'm wrong and Fadawah'sall tied up outside of Yabon. I can imagine what I would do if I wasbuilding defensive fortifications along that route."Owen said, "You have too much imagination. Did anyone ever tellyou that?"
Erik looked at his old friend and said, "Not often enough." He stoodand said, "I have things to see to. I'll report in when I've done talking tothe rest of the prisoners."
"Supper is ready. Get back here before it's all gone." Owen added,"I'll be here," and went back to his reports as Erik walked off.
Dash waited, and as the darkness deepened, he began to fume. It wasalready a quarter hour past midnight and Kirby hadn't put in an appearance.He was about to start looking for him when he sensed someone wasbehind him. He slipped his hand over the hilt of his dagger and movedwith a feigned casual motion, walking back toward the rear entrance ofthe burned-out building.
AS soon as he slipped through the door, he stepped sideways, reachingtoward an exposed roof beam with both hands, pulling himself up with asingle fluid motion. Out came the dagger and he waited.A moment later a figure emerged from the door and glanced around.Dash waited. The cloaked figure below him took a step forward and Dashdropped to the ground, his dagger going to the lurker's throat.From beneath the hood, a voice said, "Going to bite me, Puppy?"Dash spun the figure around. "Trina!"
The young woman smiled. "It's nice to be remembered."' 'What are you doing here?"
"Put down that toothpick and I'll tell you."
Dash grinned. "Sorry, but I'll bet you're as dangerous as you arebeautiful."
SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CPOWN
The woman pouted theatrically. "You flatterer."Dash lost his smile. "I've got dead men and I want some answers.Where's Kirby Dokins?"
"Dead," said the women.
Dash put away his dagger.
"Am I suddenly less dangerous?"
"No," said Dash, pulling the woman back inside the building. "Butyou wouldn't have been sent to tell me the Mockers killed my snitch.""And?"
"That means you didn't kill my men."
"Very good, Puppy."
"Who did?"
"An old acquaintance of yours thinks there's a new gang moving intothe city. Smugglers, maybe, though there doesn't seem to be a lot of newgoods in the market, if you know what I mean.""I do," said Dash. The woman meant there wasn't a noticeable increasein drugs, stolen goods, or other contraband.
"Another Crawler?"
"You know your history, Puppy."
"That's Sheriff Puppy, to you," said Dash.
She laughed. It was the first time he had heard her laugh withoutmockery. It was a sweet sound. She said, "We're left alone, so if someoneis planning on moving into our territory, they're not ready to try yet."Our old friend said to tell you we don't know who killed your twolads, but you should know they weren't altar boys from the Temple ofSung. Find out who Nolan and Riggs were working for before they joinedyour gang and you might have a clue."
Dash was silent, then said, "So the Upright Man thinks these twoknew their killers."
"Maybe. Or maybe they just happened to be at the wrong place atthe wrong time, but either way, once the deed was done, someone wantedyou to think was done it to defy your authority. That's why they weredumped on your doorstep. Had the Mockers killed those men, they wouldhave been dumped in the harbor."
"Who killed Kirby?"
"We don't know," said Trina. "He was snooping around, being hisusually pesky self, then suddenly about two hours ago, he turns up floatingin the sewer."
'Where?'
"Five Points, near the big outfall below Stinky Street." Stinky Streetwas Poor Quarter's slang for Tanners Road, where many odorous businesses
had resided before the war. Five Points was the name of a largeconfluence of sewers, three big ones, two small ones. Dash had never beenthere, but he knew where it was.
"You working Five Points?"
"We're not up there, but don't ask me where we're working."Dash grinned in the darkness. "Not yet, anyway.""Not ever, Sheriff Puppy, not ever."
Dash said, "Anything else?"
"No," said Trina.
"Tell the old man thanks.
Trina said, "He didn't do it from love, Sheriff Puppy. We're just notready to take on the crown. But he did tell me one other thing to tellYOu.'
"What?"
"Don't make threats. The day you declare war on the Mockers, takeyour sword to bed with you."
Dash said, "Then tell my uncle that advice works both ways.""Then good night."
"Lovely to see you again, Trina."
"Always a pleasure, Sheriff Puppy," said the woman thief. Then sheducked through the door and was gone.
Dash allowed her the courtesy of not leaving for five minutes, so shecould be sure she wasn't being followed. Besides, he could find her anytime he wanted. And more to the point, his mind was wrestling with thequestion: Who killed his men?
He slipped into the darkness, heading back to his headquarters.
Roo chuckled at the sight before him. Nakor was jumping around likea grasshopper, shouting orders at the workers as they tried to wrestle thestatue upright. Roo moved his own wagon over to the side of the roadand let those carts and wagons behind him pass. He jumped down andcrossed the road to where Nakor's wagon was parked."What are you doing?" he asked with a laugh.
Nakor said, "These fools are determined to destroy this work of art!"Roo said, "I think they'll get it where you want it, but why do youwant it out here?" He made a sweeping motion with his hand, indicatinga vacant field outside the gates of Krondor. A small farm had occupiedthis Plot of land, but the house had been destroyed and now only a charredsquare of foundation stones marked its passing.,,I want everyone entering the city to see this,,, said Nakor as theworkers got the statue upright.
Roo paused. There was something about the woman's expression thatcaptivated the eye. He studied it for a long moment, then said, ' 'it's reallyvery lovely, Nakor. Is that your goddess?"
"That's the Lady," said Nakor with a nod.
"But why not put her in the center of your temple?""Because I don't yet have a temple," said Nakor as he motioned forthe workers to return to the wagon. "I have to find a place to build one."Roo laughed. "Don't look at me. I already sprang for one warehousein Darkmoor. Besides, I don't own any buildings near Temple Square."A gleam entered Nakor's eyes. "Yes! Temple Square. That's wherewe need to build!"
"Builders I have," said Roo. Then he fixed Nakor with a narrow gaze."But I'm a little short on charity these days.""Ah," said Nakor with a laugh. "Then you must have money. You'reonly penurious when you have gold. When you're broke, you're verygenerous."
Roo laughed. "You are the most amazing man, Nakor.""Yes, I am," he agreed. "Now, I have some gold, so you won't haveto build me a temple, but I would like some, shall we call it discounts?""I'll see what I can do." He looked around so as not to be overheard."There is a lot of confusion in the city still. Many landowners are deadand the crown hasn't established a policy yet on who owns what.""You mean Patrick hasn't seized unclaimed land yet.""You catch on," said Roo. "Squatters seem to have a certain advantageif the real owner doesn't press a claim. I happen to know that theempty lot on the northwest corner of Temple Square, over by the Templeof Lims-Kragma, was owned by a former associate of mine. It was alwaysa difficult piece of land to dispose of, being located between the DeathGoddess's temple and the Temple of Guis-wa. Old Crowley tried to sellit to me once, and I declined. As Crowley is now among those who didn'tsurvive the war, that land is unclaimed." Roo whispered, "He left nosurvivors. So it's you, some other squatter, or the crown who's going toget it."
Nakor grinned. "Being between the Death Goddess and the RedJawedHunter doesn't bother me, so I'm certain it won't bother the LadyI'll go check it out."
Roo glanced back at the statue. "That's really quite good."Nakor laughed. "The sculptor was inspired."
"I can believe it. Who modeled for it?"
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
"One of my students. She's special."
"I can see that," said Roo.
As Nakor climbed back on his wagon, motioning for the workers toclimb into the back, he said, "Where are you bound?""Back to Ravensburg. I'm rebuilding the Inn of the Pintail for Milo.With his daughter living in Darkmoor now, he's going to sell me halfinterest."
"You, an innkeeper?" asked Nakor with a disbelieving laugh."Any business that can make a profit, Nakor."
Nakor laughed, waved, and urged his wagon on into the press oftraffic heading into the city.
Roo climbed aboard his own wagon and looked again at the statue.He saw there were people who were stopping to look at it or glancing atit as they drove past. One woman reached out and touched it reverently,and Roo admitted to himself that the sculptor must have, indeed, beeninspired.
He flicked the reins and urged his horses into the traffic on the road,heading east. Things were still difficult, but since capturing Vasarius, lifehad taken a turn for the better.
He had discovered he really enjoyed his children, and Karli was quitea bit better company than he imagined when he married her. While nogold had been forthcoming from the crown since the winter, he knew thateventually he could use that debt to his own advantage. He needed a goodbase of liquid wealth, then he could turn the debt into licenses and concessionsfrom the crown. Eventually peace between the Kingdom andKesh would be achieved, and when that happened the profitable luxurytrade would again be open, and now with Jacob Esterbrook dead, therewould be no stranglehold on trade with the South."Yes," Roo said softly to himself as he drove his wagon back to hisboyhood home. Things were certainly taking a turn for the better.
Jimmy said, "If it gets much worse, we're going to lose everything."Duke Duko nodded. "Here we're locked up at Land's End." HePointed to the map. "It's as if they don't want to take the place, but they'rereluctant to leave."
They occupied the largest room of the biggest inn in Port Vykor, atown that didn't exist five years before. Upon seeing the settlement, Jimmywas of the opinion that had the first Prince of Krondor wandered a littlefarther south those many years ago, this would be the site for the capitalOF the Western Realm, not Krondor.
fThe harbor was commodious, opening into a calm bay that was relatively
safe for shipping during the worst weather in the Bitter Sea. Thedocks could be extended as needed, for miles if necessary, and a broadhighway to the northeast provided easy access from land. Already traderswere making their way to the military encampment and businesses werespringing up around the wooden stockade erected around the port. In adozen years, there would be a city here, thought Jimmy.He had ridden to the town as fast as he could drive his horse, andhad gotten to Duko with his dispatches two days prior. He had rested foran entire day, sleeping most of the time.
Duko had dispatched more patrols and now messengers were returningwith the latest intelligence.
Jimmy had a very sore left shoulder, with a huge purple and bluebruise that was now turning green and yellow as it started to fade. Severalsmall cuts had been dressed, and while feeling worse for the wear, he wason the mend and knew that in a few days he'd be fit once more.He had come to appreciate the former enemy General. Lord Dukowas a thoughtful man who, had he been born in the Kingdom to a noblefamily, would have risen high, perhaps as high as to the very office inwhich a capricious fate had placed him. Somehow that reassured Jimmy,knowing that a very important position in the Kingdom was being occupiedby a man of talent and intelligence.
Jimmy had not asked Duko what had been contained in the orderssent by Prince Patrick. He knew the Duke would inform him of whatJimmy needed to know, and nothing more.
Duko motioned Jimmy to another table, one which had been set withfood and wine. "Hungry?"
Jimmy smiled. "Yes," he said, rising from his seat at the campaigntable and moving, to where the food was.
"I have no servants," said Duko. "The ease with which your Keshianinsinuated himself into the palace at Krondor makes me dubious of anyonehere I do not know. I'm afraid that has not endeared me to thoseofficers who previously held posts here. Those that weren't called north,tlo linirbor or down in Land's End."
i ve moveu to poaL;3
Jimmy nodded. "Not very politic, but very smart."The old General smiled. "Thank you."
"M'lord," said Jimmy, "I am at your disposal. Prince Patrick wishes
me to serve you here in any capacity you see fit as well as serve as aliaison between Your Grace and the crown."
"So you're to be Patrick's spy in my court?"
Jimmy laughed. "Well, you can appreciate his being somewhat dubious and a little cautious in dealing with as prodigious a former enemyyourself, my lord."
"I understand, even if I'm not terribly happy.""I think you'll find me useful, sir. You are going to discover yourselfsubject to some scrutiny for the foreseeable future, and not all of it fromthe crown; many eastern nobles have sons and brothers whom they willwish to insert into vacant offices here in the West. Several will no doubtshow up here unannounced. Some will be honest volunteers, youngerbrothers or sons looking to gain glory fighting Kesh, as did their ancestors.Others, however, will be seeking anything that can be used to discredityou, or another lord who is a rival to their lord, or simply to find suchinformation to sell to interested parties. The politics of the eastern courtis inherently lethal and complex. I can be of service in deflecting a greatdeal of such nonsense."
"I believe you," said Duko. "I am first a soldier, but you don't becomeone of the top generals in my homeland without some facility atdealing with princes and rulers. They are in the main more concernedwith their own vanity than in truly finding solutions to problems, and asoften as not I had to guard against those who would work against myown interests within the court of my employer. We may not be all thatunlike, after all."
"Well, anyone who looks at the history of the Kingdom, Your Grace,and thinks that for every victor there wasn't a vanquished, or that an thelands of the West embraced the Kingdom with open arms, is a fool. Itwas the King's scribes who wrote history, and should you wish a slightlydifferent perspective of our annexation of the West, I could recommendone or two histories published in the Free Cities that don't cast too kinda light on our rulers."
"History is written by victors," said Duko. "But I have little use forhistory. It is the future with which I am concerned.""Probably a wise attitude given the present circumstances.""Right now I am very concerned about that Keshian officer and whathis escape may portend."
Jimmy nodded. "Malar was showing him the documents when wefound them. He may have just been beginning to explain the significance(f Your orders. If it's nothing more than 'Krondor is vulnerable,' and theKeshians think we'll reinforce due to the discovery of the spy, we mayaylid any problems up there. If he has any of the details of those messagesmemorized, he'll be able to tell his masters we can't reinforce Krondor."Duko said, "If I could chase the Keshians out of Land's End, thatWould help.))
I
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Raymond l~ Feist
Jimmy said, "Yes, it would, but without additional soldiers I can't seehow you can accomplish that. Enduring a siege is one thing, but mountingan effective counteroffensive ... ?" He shrugged."With all that desert at their rear, I'm impressed how well the Keshiansare resupplying the army facing Land's End," admitted Duko. "ifwe could get part of the fleet down to intercept their shipping out ofDurbin, we might shake them loose, but short of that I have no idea howwe're going to dig them out. I've asked the Prince for permission to dispatchReeves and a squadron to raid off of Durban. . . " He shrugged."The Prince seems reluctant."
"Compared to previous wars with Kesh, this is still a 'misunderstanding.'
Patrick is understandably reluctant to expand it," Jimmy said. "I'mfresh out of ideas, my lord." He stood. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'mgoing to take a walk and clear my head a bit. Otherwise, I might findmyself asleep at your table."
"Sleep heals," said Duko. "If you feel the need of a nap, you'll nothear me say no. I've seen those marks the Keshian left on you.""If I still feel the need after mywalk my lord, I'll sleep a bit beforesupper.~)
Duko waved his permission to withdraw, and Jimmy left. The innconverted to headquarters was busy, with many clerks supporting the demandsof a headquarters command. Jimmy was amused at how the clerksand functionaries were rapidly overwhelming the far more casual approachtraditional to the mercenaries from across the sea. At most a Captainfrom Novindus had to worry about organization and logistics on thesame level as a baron, a few hundred men at most. A general such asDuko rarely had more than a few thousand men under his command.Now, suddenly, these disorganized swords-for-hire were being forced intoacting like a tradition-bound, massively organized army. Jimmy suspectedmore than one clerk would earn a black eye or broken head from a frustratedsoldier from Novindus before this campaign was through.If this campaign was ever through, thought Jimmy as he left the buildingto get a good look at Port Vykor.
The crack of whips echoed through the evening air. Subai recognizedthe sound, even at a distance. He had heard it often enough as a child,living in the hills outside of Durbin.
His grandfather had been a member of the nearly legendary ImperialKeshian Guides, the finest scouts and trackers in the Empire. He hadtaught his grandson every trick and skill he could, and when the slavers
SHAI(DS OF A BROKEN CPOWN
ral e
'd d the villages for boys and girls to take to the slave blocks, Subai had
used those skills to hide.
Then one time, after a raid, he had returned to find his entire famainidydead, his father and grandfather's bodies hacked to pieces, his mother
sister missing. Only eleven years of age, he had taken his few possessionsand set out after the men who had done this.
By the time he had reached the Durbin docks, Subai had killed three
men. He had never found those who had taken his mother and sister, andDurbin was, if anything, more lethal an environment than the hills nearby.
He stowed away on a ship bound for Krondor, and had stayed hidden forthe entire voyage.
Knowing nothing else, he had found his way to a village outside thecity, where he worked as a servant for a family who fed him and clothedhim in exchange for work. At sixteen, he returned to Krondor and enlistedin the Prince's army.
By the time he was twenty-five, Subai was the leader of the Pathfinders.But now, ten years later, he still remembered the sound of the slaver'swhip as it cracked through the air.
There were still five Pathfinders with him as they reached the areaeast of Quester's View. Two had been dispatched south already, carrying
back intelligence to Marshal Greylock. There had been no fortificationslike the one halfway between Sarth and Quester's View. -There had beentwo observation towers, with relay riders ready to carry word when the
Kingdom forces reached a certain point in their journey north. Subai haddrawn detailed maps showing them, and Erik's best avenue of approach
was to take them out before they could send warning north. Subai hadfaith in von Darkmoor, and knew his Crimson Eagles would take thosePositions quickly.
Subai had left four of his Pathfinders high in the hills above where he
and his companion worked their way down steep hillsides to oversee thesounds coming from the highway. Their horses were far enough abovethem now that they didn't worry about being discovered unless the twomen blundered into a sentry.
Given the treacherous footing on the hills as they made their waydown toward the coast, Subai doubted there even was a guard up here.
Each step was made slowly, so as not to dislodge stones and send a manrolling down the mountain to his death.
The trees were thick enough there were ample handholds, but the
climb was difficult.
When they reached the edge of a high ridge, with a veritable cliffbelow them to another steep slope fifty feet below, Subai knew the effort~. yn~;dxlng he withdrew a roll of fine parchment.,.win nis tunic and removed a tiny box, along with some writingsticks. With economy, he sketched what he saw before him and added afew notes At the bottom he wrote a short commentary, then he put awayhis writing implements. To his companion he said, "Study what you seebelow."
They remained for a full hour, watching as slave gangs of Kingdomcitizens dug deep trenches along the route Greylock's army would haveto take. Walls were being built, but unlike the earthen barricade downsouth, these were huge constructions of stone and iron. A forge had beenconstructed near the front, and its hellish glow cast a reddish light overhundreds of poor wretches laboring for the invaders. Guards walkedalong, many carrying whips which they used to keep the miserable workershard at their labor.
The sound of sawing also reached them, and they saw a lumber millhad also been constructed near the coast. Riders came down the road andwagons pulled by oxen slowly made their way toward the construction.As night fell, Subai said, "We must be back up the hill else we'restuck here through the night."
He stood and, as he took a step, heard his companion say, "Captain,I(wk!Y9
Subai looked where the man pointed and swore. Along the road, asfar as the eye could trace, in the evening gloom, other lights burnedbrightly; more forges and torches and tantalizing hints that told Subai onecold fact. The Kingdom could not win this war fighting the way it was.He started up the hill, knowing that he would have to wait until first light,then begin a long report to Greylock. Then he would have to race northand reach Yabon before it fell. With LaMut, Zun, and Ylith in enemyhands, Subai realized the King and Prince of Krondor did not realize howclose they were to losing Yabon Province forever.And should Yabon be lost, it would only be a matter of time beforethe invaders turned south again and attempted to retake Krondor and theWest.
Nineteen
WIND SWEPT THE beach.
Pug walked hand in hand with Miranda as the sun rose in the cast.They had been walking and talking all night and were close to agreementabout several critical issues facing them.
"But I don't see why you have to do anything now," said Miranda."I thought after relaxing in Elvandar for those weeks and getting-rid ofall that anger you had directed at the Prince well I thought you couldjust ignore Patrick's stupidity."
Pug grinned. ,Ignoring stupidity in a merchant or servant is one thing;ignoring it in a Prince is quite a different thing. It's not the simple question
of the Saaur. That's merely a symptom. It's the entire Issue of who is, atthe end, responsible for my power, me or the crown?""I understand," she said, "but why rush this decision? Why not waituntil it's clear that you're being told to act against your conscience?""Because I want to avoid a situation where I'm faced with two evils,and must act to prevent the greater evil by embracing the lesser."Miranda said, "Well, I still think you may be rushing things."
"I'm not about to fly to Krondor and explain my stance to Patrickuntil I've taken care of a few other things," Pug said.They climbed over some rocks and picked their way among some tidal
pools. Pug said ' "When I was a boy in Crydee, I used to beg Tomas'sfather to let me go to the pools south of town, where I looked for rockclawsand crabs; he made the best shellfish stew."
Miranda said, "Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it?"Pug turned, a youthful grin on his face, and said, "Sometimes it seems
like ages, but other times it's as fresh in my mind as yesterday.""What about the Saaur?" asked Miranda. "That problem won't goaway by dwelling in the past."
Raymond\*E. Feist
"For several nights, my love, I have been spending some time withone of the oldest toys in my collection."
"That crystal you inherited from Kulgan?"
"The very one. Fashioned by Athalfain of Carse. I've bee# scouringthe globe and think I may have found a place to which we can move theSaaur."
"Care to show me?"
Pug extended his hand and said, "I need to practice that transportspell, anyway. Put a protective shell around us, please."Miranda did so, and suddenly a bluish, transparent globe surroundedthem. "Don't materialize us inside a mountain again and we won't needthis."
Pug said, "I'm trying." He put his arm around her waist, and said,"Let's try this."
Instantly the scene around them swirled, resolving itself into a vastgrassy plain.
' 'Where are we?" asked Miranda.
"The Ethel-du-ath, in the local tongue," said Pug.The blue globe vanished, and they were struck by a hot summer wind."That sounds like Lower Delkian," said Miranda."The Duathian Plain," said Pug. "Come here."
He walked her a few hundred yards south and suddenly they werepeering down the face of a towering cliff. Pug said, "Sometime ages ago,this part of the continent rose up while that down there fell. There's noportion of this cliff face less than six hundred feet high. There are two orthree places you might climb, but I wouldn't recommend it."Miranda stepped off into the air and continued walking. She turnedand looked down. "That's quite a drop."
"Show-off," said Pug. "The lower portion of the continent was settledby refugees from Triasia, during the purging of the Ishapian Temple ofthe Heretics of AI-maral."
"That's the same bunch that settled down in Novindus," said Miranda,walking back to solid ground. "No people up here?""No people," said Pug. "Just a million or so square miles of grasslands
rolling hills, rivers, and lakes, with mountains to the north and west, andcWs to the south and east."
"So you want to put the Saaur here."
"Until I come up with a better solution," said Pug.,. ,This place is
large enough they can live here for several hundred years, if need be.Eventually, I'll go back to Shila and rid that place of the remaining demons
. But even then it will take centuries to get enough life back on theplanet to support the Saaur."
Miranda said, "What if they don't want to live here?""I may not be able to afford them the luxury of a choice," said Pug.
Miranda put her arms about Pug's waist. Hugging him, she said, "Justgetting the feel of how much these choices are going to cost, aren't you?""I never told you the story about the Imperial Games, did I?" heasked.
"No," she said.
He held her, and suddenly they were back on the beach on Sorcerer'sIsland. "Now who's being a show-off" she demanded, halfway betweenamusement and anger.
"I think I have the hang of it now," he said with a wry smile.She playfully punched him in the arm. "You're not allowed to 'think'you have the hang of it. You damn well better know, unless you want tosee how quickly you can erect a protective spell when you're materializinginside of rock!"
"Sorry," he said, his expression clearly showing he wasn't. "Let's getback to the house."
"I could use some sleep," she said. "We've been talking all night.""Lots of important things to discuss," he said, putting his arm backaround her waist. They walked quietly for a short distance, up to the paththat led over the hill and back to the villa.
"I was a new Great One," Pug began, "and Hochopepa, my mentorin the Assembly, persuaded me to attend a great festival the Warlord wasorchestrating to honor the Emperor. And to announce a great victory overthe Kingdom." He fell silent, in remembrance. After a moment, he continued. "Kingdom soldiers were pitted against soldiers of the Thuril, mywife's people. I became enraged."
"I can understand that," said Miranda. They continued to walk thepath upward.
"I used my power to tear apart the imperial arena. I caused the windsto blow, fire to fall from the sky, rain, earthquakes, the whole bag oftricks. II
"Must have been impressive."
"It was. It scared hell out of many thousands of people, Miranda.""And you saved the men condemned to fight and die?""Yes," replied Pug.
"But what?"
"But to save two score of soldiers wrongly condemned, I ended up
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Raymond E. Feist
killing hundreds of people whose only crime was to be born on Kelewanand choose to attend a festival for their Emperor."Miranda said, "I think I understand."
"It was a temper tantrum," said Pug. "Nothing more. I could havefound a better way to deal with it had I remained calm, but I let my angerconsume me."
"It's understandable," she said.
"It may be understandable," replied Pug, "but it is no more forgivablefor being understandable." He paused at the top of the ridge that separatedthe beach from the interior of the island and looked out at the vista. "Lookat the sea. It doesn't care. It endures. This world endures. Shila will eventuallyendure. When the last demon starves to death, something will happen.A bit of life will fall from the sky, in a meteor or on the winds ofmagic, or by means I don't understand. Maybe it will be a single blade ofgrass hidden behind a rock the demons missed, or some other tiny lifethat lingers at the bottom of the oceans will emerge and eventually thatworld will again see life thrive, even if I never return to it.""What are you saying, my love?"
"It's tempting to think of yourself as powerful when those around youare far less so, but compared to the simple fact of existence, to the powerof life and how it hangs on, we are nothing." He looked at his wife, "TheGods are nothing." He looked toward their home. "Despite my years, Iam nothing more than a child when it comes to understanding thesethings. I know now why your father was always so driven to seek outnew knowledge. I know why Nakor revels in each new thing he encounters.We are the same as children encountering a tiny bauble."He fell quiet, and Miranda said, "Talking of children makes you sad?"They walked down the sloping path, through a glade of trees, andapproached the outer garden of their estate. They could see students gatheredaround in a circle, practicing an exercise Pug had given them the daybefore.
"When I felt my children die, it took all my willpower to keep fromflying to confront the demon again," said Pug.Miranda lowered her eyes. "I'm glad you didn't, my love." She stillblamed herself for goading him into attacking the demon prematurely andalmost losing his life in the process.
"Well', perhaps my injuries taught me something. Had I challengedJakan when he was still in Krondor, I might not have survived to defeathim at Sethanon."
"Is that why you avoid helping remove this General Fadawah fro',"Ylith?"
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
"Patrick would be pleased for me to simply show up and burn theentire province of Yabon to the ground. He'd happily move settlers infrom the East and replant trees, claiming a great victory.
"I doubt the people living there would agree, and neither would theelves or the dwarves who live nearby. Besides, most of those men are no
more evil than those serving Patrick. I find matters of politics are of lessinterest to me every day."
"Wise," said Miranda. "You are a force, as am I, and between thetwo of us we could probably conquer a small nation."
"Yes," said Pug with a grin, his first smile since telling of the arena."What would you do with it?"
"Ask Fadawah, " suggested Miranda. "He obviously has plans."Entering the main building of the estate Pug said "I h Iconcerns. "
"I know," she replied.
"There is something, -lit t6
clvc; arger
ere, said Pug "Somethi I
countered for years."
"What?"
"I'm not sure.
when I know, I will tell you." Pug said
nothing more. Both knew of the existence out in the cosmos of a greatevil, the Nameless) One, who.was at the root of all the troubles they hadbeen facing for the previous century. And that evil had human agents,men whom Pug had encountered more than once in the past. Pug kept
his thoughts to himself, but there had been one agent of Nalar, a madr,magician named Sidi, who had created havoc fifty years before. Pugthought the man dead, but now he wasn't sure. If it wasn't Sidi he sensed
Out there, it was another like him and either possibility left Pug feelingdread and fear. Dealing with these forces was a task beyond any Pug hadimagined while he was a Great One of the Assembly, or during his earlydays Of creating Stardock.
It was a task that more than once left Pug feeling defeated before hehad even begun. He thanked the gods that he had Miranda, for withouther, he would long before have given himself up to despair.
Dash looked up and saw a face he knew. "Talwin?"
The former prisoner walked past the two constables sitting at the tabledrinking coffee and getting ready for their next patrol. "Can I speak to
you in Private?" asked the man who had vanished right after Dash escapedfrom Krondor.
"Sure " said Dash, standing up and waving the man to a far cornerOf the converted inn. When they were out of earshot of the constables,
,'Xaymond E. Feist
Dash said, "I wondered what happened to you. I left you and Gustaf.,outside a tent when I went in to report, and when I came back out I found.,!only Gustaf."
i
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
"You need a job as a constable," supplied Dash."Yes. When the present danger is over and the city more secure thanit is, I'll move back to the palace and get out of your hair. Right now Ineed to be a constable."
"Do you report to me?" asked Dash.
"No," said Talwin. "I report to the Duke of Krondor."'There is no Duke of Krondor," said Dash.
"Not at present, but until there is, I report to Duke Brian."Dash inclined his head to show that made sense. "Have you alertedhim to your existence?"
"Not yet," said Talwin. "The fewer people who know of me, thebetter. Rumor has it the King is sending Rufio, Earl Delamo, from Rodezto take the office. If true, I'll let him know who I am as soon as hearrives. "
Dash said, "I'm not happy with having a constable here under falsecolors, but I know the business. Just make sure if there's anything goingon out there I should know about, you tell me.""I'll do that," said Talwin.
"Now, what else do you need from me?"
"I need to know who killed your two men."
Suddenly Dash had an insight. "You mean who killed your twoagents, don't you?"
Talwin nodded. "How did you guess?"
"The Mockers. Someone told me I needed to find out what Nolanand Riggs did before joining up."
"They spent a lot of time working the docks for your grandfather andYour father. We kept low during the fall of the city and managed to stayalive. I was captured and stuck on the damn work gang until you showedup. I couldn't risk showing anyone I knew the way out, and I couldn'tget free of guards and other prisoners, but when you organized that break,it was a godsend. Getting us past the Mockers was a bonus.""'Glad to be of service," Dash said dryly.
"Nolan and Riggs were also in work gangs, and they got sprung whenDuko made his deal with the Prince. I put them into your service becauseI need to get my network reestablished." He looked pained as he said,"They ere my last two agents in this city $I
t
Talwin reached inside his tunic and pulled out a faded parchmentobviously old. Dash read:
I
To whoever reads this..
The bearer of this document will be identified by a mole on hisneck and a scar on the back of his left arm. He is a servant of thecrown and I request all aid and assistance asked be given to himwithout question.
Signed,
James, Duke of Krondor
Dash's eyebrows rose. He glanced at Talwin and saw the man pointingto the mole on his neck, then rolling up his left sleeve to show thescar on his arm.
"Who are you?" Dash asked quietly.
"I was your grandfather's agent, and your father's after him.""Agent?" asked Dash. "One of his spies, you mean.""Among other things," said Talwin.
"And I don't suppose Talwin is your real name," said Dash."It serves," said Talwin. Lowering his voice he said, "As Sheriff ofKrondor you need to know that I am responsible for intelligence withinthe Western Realm, now."
Dash nodded. "Knowing my grandfather, he didn't hand out a lot ofcartes blanches, so that makes you a very important spy. Why didn't youshow this to me before?"
"I don't carry it on me; I had to go dig it out of its hiding place. If
I'm searched and it's found on me by the wrong people, I'm dead.""So why now?"
"This city is barely intact, and while it appears to be crawling backfrom oblivion, it's very vulnerable. Your job is to insure order, and mYjob is to ferret out enemy agents."
Dash was silent for a moment. "Very well. What is it you need?"Cooperation between us. Until the palace staff is restored and I canwork out of there unseen, I need to work someplace where I can be see"poking around in all parts of the city without people asking too manyquestions."
"SO You have to start from scratch."
"Yes," said Talwin. "It's the only reason you're being told all this."Dash said, "I understand. Look, circumstances say we must worktogether. Someone killed one of my better snitches when I started askingaboUt who murdered your men."
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~Raymond E. Feist
,,Someone in Krondor doesn't want us too close," said Talwin.anyway, we don't have enough warm bodies to do all the jobs that
need to be done. Sniff around and I won't bother you with a regular beat.if anyone asks, you're my deputy and on errands for me. I think we'dbetter quickly get another man in on this."
,,,"0?yy
"Gustaf is as rock-solid as he can be."
"Not my idea of an agent," said Talwin dubiously."Not mine, either," admitted Dash, "but we can't an be sneaky bastards.I want a third person knowing what's going On so if we both endup dead he can run off to Brian Silden and let him know why. I don'tthink we want him crawling through the sewers.'t"Agreed, but we need some people crawling through the sewers."Dash grinned. "Not really. We just need to make a deal with the rightpeople.
"Mockers?"
,,They think another gang is trying to move in, but you and I knowbetter. "
Talwin nodded. "Agents from Kesh or from Queg.""Or both."
I But whoever they are, we have to root them out and quickly, becauseif word gets out to either of those nations that we're sitting here with lessthan five hundred men under arms in the entire city, we could all be deadbefore the snows fall next winter."
I'll take care of the Mockers," said Dash. "You find yourself someagents. I don't want to know who they are, unless you stick them in hereas constables.
"Agreed."
"I assume you're using intermediaries."
"Safe assumption."
"Make a list and give it to me. I'll hide it in my room in the palace."He grinned. "I actually manage to get back there once a week to changeclothes and bathe. I'll leave a sealed message with Lord Brian, an ,openupon my death' message telling where the list is."Talwin said, "'when the network is reestablished, I'll want the list
destroyed." oine to
"Gladly," said Dash, "but what good are agents uuL &do if you and I are both gone and there's no one to get the informationto the crown?"
"I understand," said Talwin.
"Come with me," said Dash.
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
He took Talwin back to the center of the room. To the two restingconstables, he said, "This is Talwin. He's been appointed the new Deputy.He'll work the desk when I'm not here. You two, take him around andshow him what things are like, then do what he tells you."Talwin nodded, and Dash fetched him a red armband. When theagent left, Dash sat down and returned to work. He idly wondered howmany other little surprises were out there, left in place by his grandfatherand father.
Jimmy said, "The fancy fellow on the very hot stallion is a gentlemannamed Mareel Duval, Squire of the King's Court, and a very close friendto the eldest son of the Duke of Bas-Tyra."
"Hot" stallion appeared to be correct, for the black stud snorted andpawed the ground and appeared to be ready to dump his rider at anymoment. The Squire didn't attempt to get off until an orderly ran overand took the animal's bridle. Then he dismounted quickly, putting distancebetween himself and the horse.
Duko laughed. "Why did he pick that fractious creature?""Vanity," said Jimmy. "You see a lot of that east of Malac's Cross.""And what company is that?" asked Duko.
"His own private guard. Many nobles in the East indulge themselveswith such companies. They're very pretty on parade." Lookingat the company of soldiers that accompanied the Squire, itwas obvious it was a unit designed for parade, not combat. Each man satastride a black horse, nearly identical in size, and all without a marking.Each soldier wore buckskin-colored leggings tucked into knee-high blackcavalier boots, the large knee flaps of which were rimmed in scarlet cord.The color was an exact match to their red tunics, which were trimmed inblack whipcord at shoulders, sleeve, and collar. Their polished steel breastPlatesappeared to be trimmed in brass, and each man had a short yellowcape slung over the left shoulder. Atop their heads they endured steelround helms, trimmed in white fur, with polished steel neck chains. Eachman carried a long lance of lacquered black wood tipped with brilliantlyPolished steel.
Duko couldn't resist laughing. "They're going to get dirty."Suddenly Jimmy started to laugh, and he could barely contain himselfII the Squire walked up the steps of the inn to the front door. As the doorOpened, one of Duko's old soldiers said, "A gentleman to see you,rll'lord. I y
Duko walked over to Duval, his hand extended, saying, "Squire Marcel\*Your reputation precedes you."
It was protocol for the Squire to introduce himself to the Duke, andDuval was taken completely off guard. He stood there, unsure of whetherto take the Duke's proffered hand or bow, so he gave a rapid and awkwardbow, and reached out to take the Duke's hand just as it was being withdrawn.Jimmy almost hurt himself trying,,Ah ... Your Grace," said the flustered squire from Bas-Tyra. "I'vecome to place my sword at your disposal. He saw Jimmy standing offto one side, and said, "James?"
"Marcel," Jimmy said with a slight bow.
"I didn't know you were here, Squire."
"It's Earl, now, actually," said Duko.
Marcel's eyes widened, which heightened his comic appearance. Forwhile he was dressed exactly like his men, he had elected to wear a largerhelm, with stylized wings on each side. He had a round face, with a largewaxed mustache that stuck out on either side.
"Congratulations," said Marcel.
Jimmy couldn't resist. "I received the office upon my father's death,"he said seriously.
Marcel Duval had the decency to blush a furious red color, stammerand appear close to tears over the gaffe. "I'm so sorry ... m'lord," hesaid with a tone so apologetic it bordered on the comical.Jimmy swallowed a laugh and said, "Glad to see you, Marcel."Duval ignored the remark, totally defeated socially. He turned toDuko and, mustering as military a manner as he could, said, I have fiftylancers at your disposal, m'lord!"
Duko said, "I'll have my sergeant get your men billeted, Squire. AsA -'II -- the rank of lieutenant. Join
,I
long as you're in my COMMai-t , yus
for supper." Duko shouted, "Matak!"
The old soldier who opened the door, said,, "Yes?""Show this officer and his men a place they can pitch their tents.""Yes, m'lord," said the old soldier, holding open the door to allowDuval to flee.
When he was gone, Jimmy laughed, and Duko said, ',I take it You
didn't get along with him before?"
"oh, Marcel is harmless, if a bore," said Jimmy. "When we were
boys in Rillanon, he was always trying to intrude into social situations to
which he had not been invited. I think he was trying to get on patrick'sgood side." Jimmy sighed. "It was Patrick who couldn't stand him, actually.Francie, Dash, and I got along well enough with him.""Francie?" asked Duko.
Jimmy's expression clouded over, as memory of her suddenly inserted
itself in his consciousness. "The Duke of Silden's daughter," Jimmy supplied."
Well, he has fifty men. We'll get them into shape, and if nothingelse, they'll be very obvious on patrol, so the Keshians will know they'rearound."
"They'll be hard to miss in those scarlet tunics," said Jimmy.A knock came at the door and it opened, and a messenger hurried in.Handing a packet to Jimmy, he said, "Messages from Land's End,M'lords."
jimmy took them, opened the packet, and Duko waved the messengeroutside. Jimmy quickly sorted out those messages that were urgent andother communiques that could wait, then opened the first. "Damn," hesaid as he skimmed the letter. The Duke was learning to read the King'stongue, but it was more efficient to let Jimmy read and sum up for him."Another raid and this time two villages south of Land's End were sacked.Captain Kuvak is withdrawing from patrolling there, as the villagers havefled and they no longer require the Earl's protection."Duko shook his head. "Some protection. Had he been protecting thosevillages, they wouldn't be sacked!"
Jimmy knew the static front was wearing on everyone's nerves, especiallythe Duke's. Kuvak had been one of Duko's most trusted officers,which is why he had been selected to oversee the defense of the castle atLand's End. Jimmy jumped to the end of the report. "They still give thecastle wide berth, and he's routed two other raids in the area."Duko walked back to the window and looked out at his rapidly growingtown. "I know Kuvak's doing the best he can down there. It's not hisfault." He looked at the map. "When will they come?""The Keshians?"
"They're not going to do this forever. There's a reason behind theraids and the probes. They will eventually show us what their intent is,but it may be too late."
Jimmy was silent. While ambassadors were negotiating at Stardock,men from both nations were dying. Jimmy knew that the strike wouldcome if and when the Keshians decided they could strengthen their negotiatingposition by doing so.
A strike at the Vale of Dreams, an attempt to seize the western coastfrom Land's End to Port Vykor, or a strike directly at Krondor, all werePossible. And they were only able to defend two of those three locations,so they had a one in three chance of being wrong, tragically wrong. Andlingering in the back of his mind was that escaped Keshian officer, andwhat he knew.
"UP here," said Dash.
in struck
Turning and looking up, Trina smiled, and Dash was agawith how attractive she could be should she ever decide to play up herlooks. "You're getting better, Sheriff Puppy."Dash leaped down from the roof beam upon which he had rested,landing lightly on his feet. "I found out who Nolan and Riggs workedfor," said Dash.
"And?y~
"So I know whoever killed them is neither friend to the crown northe Mockers."
"So the enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
Dash grinned. "I wouldn't go that far. Let's say that it suits our mutualinterest to cooperate in discovering who else is using the sewers as ahighway, besides the thieves."
Trina leaned back against the wall and looked Dash up and down inan appraising fashion. "when we were told you were to be in charge ofthe city's security, we thought it a bit of a joke. I guess not. You're morelike your grandfather than not."
"You knew my grandfather?" asked Dash.
'Only by reputation. Our old friend held your grandfather in awe."Dash laughed. "I have always understood how special my grandfatherwas, but I never thought of him that way."
"Think on it, Sheriff Puppy. A thief who became the most powerfulnoble in the Kingdom. That's a tale."
"I guess," said Dash. "But to me he was always Grandfather, andthose stories were always just wonderful stories.""What do you propose?" asked Trina, changing the topic."I need to know if you catch sight of any of these strangers in thesewer, especially if you discover where they're hiding."Trina said, "You know who they are?"
"I have my suspicions," said Dash.
"Care to share them?"
"Would you in my place?"
She laughed. "No, I wouldn't. What is in it for the Mockers?"Dash said, "I should think you'd just want them gone if they're causing
you problems."
"They are causing us no problems whatsoever. Nolan and Riggs Weknew because they've bought information from us before, and they've setUP a few deals. We always suspected they were working for some businessmenin the city, like Avery and his bunch, who didn't wish to conductbusiness in the usual fashion, or a noble who wasn't entirely aboveboardin paying taxes. That sort of thing."
Dash realized she was fishing for information. "Whoever Nolan andRiggs were working for prior to the war, they were my men when theygot their throats cut. I don't care if it was over some old grudge or becausethey happened to wander into the wrong place at the wrong time. I cannotafford to have people running around this city thinking they can kill myconstables. It's that simple."
',If you say so, Sheriff Puppy. But there's still the matter of price."Dash had no illusions. It was a waste of his time to make any sort ofoffer. "Ask the old man what he wants, but I won't compromise the city'ssecurity or look the other way about a capital crime. I'll get what I wantwithout your help."
"I'll ask him," said Trina. She started to leave."Trina," said Dash.
She stopped and smiled. "You want something else?"Dash ignored the double entendre. "How is he?"Trina lost her smile. "Not well."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Her smile returned, this time a small one without any hint of mockery."No, I don't think so, but it's good of you to ask."Dash said, "Well, he is family."
Trina was silent for a long minute, then she reached out and touchedDash's cheek. "Yes, more than I thought." Then, with a sudden turn, shewas out the door and down the street into the darkness.Dash waited a few minutes, then ducked out the back of the old building.He felt an odd sensation inside. He didn't know how much of it wasconcern for the old man's health, worry over the possible infiltration ofKeshian agents into the city, or the woman's touch on his cheek. Mutteringto himself, Dash said, "If only she wasn't so damned attractive."Putting aside the distractions of a beautiful woman, he turned hismind back to the problems of protecting the city of Krondor.
Twenty
SHOUTED.
Erik motioned the third element of the infantry forward and theymarched out into the killing zone. The heavy ram had breached the door,and the first and second waves had swarmed the gates and were nowinside the barricade. Resistance had been heavier this time, but as withthe first two barricades they had encountered, the defense was more forshow than for real resistance.
The messages from Subai had Erik and Greylock worried, for hispicture of the defenses ahead had Erik concerned that they simply werenot equal to the task of breaking through in time to rescue Yabon. Thesummer was nearly half over, with the Festival of Banapis only a weekaway. If there were heavy fall rains, or an early winter snow, they couldlose Yabon Province for good. And if they lost Yabon this year, it waspossible they would lose Krondor again the next.If not sooner.
Erik could not escape the feeling that Krondor lay naked and readyfor the taking if Kesh should simply realize that fact. He hoped the negotiationsat Stardock were proceeding well.
He pushed aside his worry and looked at Owen. The Knight-Marshalof Krondor nodded, and Erik spurred his own horse forward. For whateverreasons, Owen had ordered Erik to remain behind at the headquarters
tent, rather than lead the first assault as was Erik's desire.The fighting was fierce for an hour, then suddenly the defense collapsed.
Erik moved his horse through the gate and realized that, onceagain, they were facing an enemy that lacked the resources for a sustained
defense.
Erik rode around, and saw that everything was now under control.
As before, he dispatched light cavalry to ride up the road, seeking thosefleeing northward, preventing any from reaching their own lines.Greylock appeared at the gate of the barricade, and Erik rode towardbin,. "This is pointless," he said. "If what Subai says is true, we shouldhave sat outside the wall and starved them out."owen shrugged. "The Prince's orders didn't give us leave to tarry."He looked about the scene unfolding around them, and said, "Though ifyou put a dagger to my throat, I'd be forced to agree with you." He stoodup in his stirrups. "My backside longs for a comfortable chair by the fireat the Inn of the Pintail, a jack of ale in my hand, and your mother's stewin front of me."
Erik grinned. "I'll mention that to Mother when next I see her. She'llbe flattered."
Owen returned the smile, then seemed to leap out of his saddle, backward,spinning over the rear of his horse and landing hard on his back.His horse sprang forward.
Erik looked in all directions, and all he could see were mercenariesthrowing down their swords, putting their hands in the air, and beingherded to rear positions. A few signs of struggle could still be seen, andthere was sporadic combat in the distance, but whoever shot the crossbowbolt that had felled Greylock was nowhere to be seen."Damn!" Erik leaped from his horse, and raced to where Greylocklay. Before Erik's knee touched the ground next to his old friend, he knewthe dreadful truth. A crossbow bolt protruded from above the breastplateOwen wore, and it had smashed the upper portion of his chest and lowerthroat to pulp. Blood flowed everywhere and Owen's eyes stared lifelesslyat the sky above.
Erik felt a cold stab of anger and hopelessness. He felt like screaming,but resisted the impulse. Owen had always been a friend, even before Erikhad become a soldier, and they had shared a love for horses, an appreciation\*n of the great wines from the Darkmoor region, and the fruits ofhonest labor. Looking down at the lifeless form of his old friend, Erik'smind was awash with images, laughter over jokes, losses endured together,and the approval of an old teacher who was generous in his praise andfrugal in his criticism.
Erik turned and his eyes sought out Owen's killer. A short distanceaway, he spied two Kingdom soldiers arguing. One held a crossbow and,he Other pointed in his direction. Erik leaped to his feet and ran to facethem'. "What happened?"
both men looked as if the Killer God Guis-wa had appeared before
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them. One of them looked as if he was ready to vomit. Perspiration appearedon his brow as he said, "Captain ... I was. .
"What?" demanded Erik.
The man appeared close to tears as he said, "I was about to shootwhen the order to hold was called out. I put the crossbow over my shoulder
, and it went off."
"It's true!" said the other man. "He fired it backward. It was anaccident."
Erik closed his eyes. He felt a shaking in his body start at his feet andrun up his legs to his groin and up through his chest. Of all the jokes hehad endured in his short life, this was the most cruel. Owen had died atthe hands of one of his own men, by accident, because the man had beenlazy and sloppy.
With a hard swallow, Erik forced back his frustration and rage, Heknew there were other officers in the army who would hang this man fornot unloading his crossbow and costing the Kingdom the life of theircommander in the West. He looked at the two men involved in the accidentalshooting, and said, "Go away."
They didn't hesitate, but ran as if wishing to be as far away from thegiant young Captain as possible when his rage finally erupted. Erik stoodmotionless a moment, then turned back to see soldiers gathered aroundthe body of Owen Greylock, Knight-Marshal of Krondor. Erik calmlymoved through them, gently but firmly pushing them aside until he wasonce again beside his old friend.
He knelt next to Owen and scooped him up in his arms, as if carryinga child, and turned toward the gates. The battle was not quite over, butthe situation was well in hand, and Erik felt a need, a duty, to carry hisold friend back to his command pavilion; he would not trust the task toanother. Slowly, he walked back down the road, holding his dear friend.
The officers had assembled and the silence was awkward. Erik stoodbeside Owen's empty chair of command. He glanced around the room.There were a dozen captains senior to him, but none holding the uniqueposition of Captain of the Prince's Crimson Eagles. The nobility in thetent was also senior to him, but none of them were part of Patrick's commandstructure.
Erik self-consciously cleared his throat, then said, "My lords, we arefaced with a dilemma. The Knight-Marshal has fallen and we are in needof a commander. Until Prince Patrick appoints one, we need to be Unitedin our duty." He looked around the tent. Many eyes regarded him suspiciously. "If Captain Subai were here, I would easily accept him 0years of service to the Principality. Or if Captain Calismy predecessor, were here, he also would easily ascend to the office of leader, given his
commander. But we have a situation both dangerous and awkward."Erik looked at one old soldier the E I f M
Lord Richard. "
"Captain?"
"Of those here you are senior in service and age. I would be honoredto follow your command."
The minor Earl, &from a small corner of the Kingdom located outsideDeep Taunton, appeared both surprised and pleased. He glanced aroundthe tent, and when no one seemed to object, he said, "I Will serve asinterim commander until the Prince names another, Captain."There seemed an almost palpable sigh of relief in the tent as the conflict
between the Prince's handpicked Captain and the more traditionalnobles was avoided for the time being. The Earl of Makurlic said, "Letus get the Knight-Marshal on his way back to Krondor, then I want ameeting of all senior staff immediately after."
Erik von Darkmoor saluted and said, "Sir," and left the tent beforeanyone could say another word. He hurried in search of Jadow Shati, forhe needed to make sure his own men knew what they must do before any
other officer could find them and send them off on another mission. Hemight give public acknowledgment to the new commander, but he wasn'tabout to turn his own men over to the whim of a man who a year before
had been hosting parties at his peaceful seaside estate a half-continentaway.
I uil V arui-iic, ana said, "IV,
Save those soldiers guarding prisoners, the entirety of the Kingdom'sArmy of the West stood at attention as the wagon carrying Greylock's
body rolled south. Men who barely knew the Knight-Marshal of Krondorstood side by side with men who had served every step of the way withOwen.
Despite the previous day's victory, there was a grim mood in camp,
as if everyone sensed that the easy victories were behind them now, andthat the future held only more loss and suffering.Drummers beat a slow tattoo and a single horn blew farewell, and asthe wagon passed each company on parade, they dipped their banners andthe men saluted, fist over heart, head bowed, until the wagon moved on.
When the last company on parade was left behind, a company ofKrondorian lancers, twenty handpicked men, fell in, ten on each side ofthe wagon, to escort the leader of their army back to the capital.Ma Each company commander dismissed his men, and Richard, Earl of, sounded an officer's call. Erik hurried to the command tent,putting aside his discomfort at seeing someone else sitting in Owen's oldchair.
Earl Richard was an old man, grey hair and blue eyes his dominantfeatures. His long face seemed worn by years of duty, but his voice wasstrong and without hesitation when he spoke. "I am appointing Captainvon Darkmoor my second-in-command, gentleman, to keep as much continuity
as possible. For that reason, I'm asking all of you to return to yourprevious assignments, and to funnel all communications through Captainvon Darkmoor. I will instruct my son, Lelan, to assume command of ourcavalry units from Makurlic. That will be all."The nobles and other officers departed, and Richard said, "Erik, staya moment."
"Sir?" asked Erik when they were alone.
"I know why you chose me, son," said the old officer. "You've a fairgrasp of politics. I appreciate that. What I don't appreciate is any thoughtyou might have of using me for your own gains."Erik stiffened. "Sir, I will follow your orders and offer you the bestcounsel of which I am capable. Should you find my service lacking, youmay remove me at your pleasure and I will not voice objection, even tothe Prince. "
"Well said," replied the Earl, "but now I need to know your heart.I've seen you lead men in the field, von Darkmoor, and the reports ofyour actions last year at Nightmare Ridge do you credit, but I need toknow I can depend on you."
"My lord," said Erik, "I have no ambitions in this. I am a reluctantCaptain, but I serve to my utmost. If you wish to replace me and haveme serve at the van of my men, I will acknowledge your orders and departimmediately to fulfill whatever mission you name."The old man studied Erik a while longer, then said, "That won't benecessary, Erik. Just tell me what's going on."Erik nodded. He outlined his fears and Greylock's, that they werebeing lulled by a series of modest defenses to have them charge foolishlyinto Fadawah's real southern position. Erik pointed to a stack of parchments. "Subai's messages are there, sir, and I suggest you read them."Erik pointed to the map on the table before Earl Richard. "We're here,and about here"-his finger jumped up the map about sixty miles-"weshould hit the first serious defensive position. If what Subai writes is aCcurate
, it's going to be hell to pay getting to Ylith."(~l assume you've considered all the alternatives, landing on FreeCities soil and attacking from the west, attempting to land outside theharbor, and the rest?"
Erik nodded. just in
something you and Owen missed, but I'm certain
case"II'Ilmiwghatntthyionuk toof scover those discarded options for me later,
you didn't miss anything. Assuming that's true, what do we do next?"Erik said, "I want to take a patrol and go north, and see how far Ican get before things get nasty. I want to see what Subai saw, my lord."Richard, Earl of Makurlic, said nothing for a long moment, his mindweighing options, then he said, "I sent a letter to Prince Patrick, askinghim to relieve me of this command, but until he does, I suppose I shouldact like a commander.
"Here's what you do. Send those Hadati hillmen ahead up the rightflank. They can move through the hills better than anyone we have. Havethem leave at once, Then send a company of your Crimson Eagles up theleft flank, along the coast but out of sight.
"Then at first light tomorrow, I want you and my son to lead a patrolof cavalry up the highway. Be as loud and careless as you wish."Erik nodded. "That should flush out anyone looking to lay an ambush. "
"
If the Gods were kinder, you'd all ride into Ylith at the same timeand hoist an ale. The Gods, however, have been short on kindness towardthe Kingdom of late." He looked up and saw Erik still standing there."Well, go, dismissed, whatever it is I'm supposed to say."Erik grinned at the old man. "Yes, sir," he said with a salute, and hewas off.
Talwin signaled from outside the building and Dash waved a replythrough the open front door. He then motioned with his hand indicatingTalwin and the men next to him should circle around the next block ofbuildings and come up behind the men they stalked. Their targets, fourmen who had been waiting for a fifth for the last half hour, were gatheredtogether in a workyard behind an abandoned shop in the poor quarter.Talwin vanished into the night with his men.
It had taken Dash, with the help of the Mockers, a week to discoverthis meeting place. Talwin had identified three men who were very likelyto be Keshian agents, and the fourth was either another agent or theiremployee. Dash had overheard enough snippets of conversation to knowthey were getting restless waiting for someone and would soon leave ifthat Person didn't show up.
I)ash wanted Talwin and the two constables with him ready to comefrom the other side of the yard, through a broken-down fence next toall alley. Dash and his men were in an old shop, hiding by hanging above
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the main floor in the rafters. A glance into the murk of the shop's ceilingshowed his three men crouched uncomfortably on the roof beam. He'dbetter get them down soon, he thought, or they'd be too stiff to move.Dash motioned and the three men hung from their fingers, thendropped quietly to the floor. Dash crouched low so as not to alert the menout back, as he was closest to the open door.
"He's not coming," said one of the four men, a muscular man dressedlike a common laborer. "We should split up and meet somewhere else.tomorrow."
"Maybe they got him," a second man said; he was thin and dangerous-looking,and bore a sword and dagger at his belt.
"Who?" asked the first man.
"Who do you think?" offered the first man. "The Prince's men.""They'd have to be quicker than they've been so far," came the voiceof a man ducking into view from the next building. "You almost gotnicked," he said.
"What do you mean?" asked the first man.
"I saw constables hurrying away from just in front of this building.They looked like they was looking through the door. They must have justmissed you all."
Dash decided it was time. He pulled his sword and ran from his hidingplace, his three constables behind him. The first man turned and fled,running right into Talwin as he climbed through a large hole in the fence."Put down your weapons!" Dash commanded.
Four of the men put down weapons, but the one slender man, the oneDash had judged dangerous, pulled his. "Run!" he shouted to his companions,and as if to buy them time, he launched a two-weapon attack onDash.
Dash had practiced against this style of fighting before, but this man
was very good at it. One of his constables tried to come to his aid butonly managed to almost get Dash killed. "Back off." Dash commandedafter he slipped aside of a thrust, while his constable moved away.Talwin walked up behind the slender man and slammed him in the
back of the head with the hilt of his sword. Dash, frustrated at the longwait, turned to his constable and shouted, "That's how you do it' 'You"hit them from behind! You don't leap in and almost get someone killed!
Got it?"
The constable nodded, looking embarrassed, and Dash turned to
inspect the other prisoners. The fifth man, the one who arrived last, lookedfamiliar to Dash. Dash studied him for a moment, then his eyes widened.,,I know you! You're a clerk from the palace!" The man said nothing,
looking terrified.
Talwin said, "Let's get this bunch to the palace for some questioning ...if you agree, Sheriff"
"Good idea, Deputy," said Dash.
The other members of the constabulary knew something odd was goingon with Talwin, but no one had voiced any concerns, or at least notwithin Dash's hearing. Dash, Talwin, and the other five constables orderedtwo of the prisoners to pick up their unconscious comrade andstarted them on their way to the palace.
"They're not Keshian," said Talwin as he closed the door behindthem.
"Then who are they working for?" asked Dash.
They were in Dash's room, unused since he had been given the officeof Sheriff. "I think they're working for the Keshians, but they may notknow that."
Dash had appropriated five rooms in the palace in which each of theprisoners was isolated. He didn't want them talking to one another beforequestioning each in turn. Talwin had briefly spoken to each man, beforebeginning intensive questioning. He said, "We've got one interesting case,Pickney, a clerk from the Prince's office. The rest of them are ... odd.One vagabond swordsman, one baker, a stablehand, and a journeymanmason."
Dash said, "Hardly the lot I'd pick for conspiracy."Talwin said, "I think they're dupes. Not one of them has the wits ofa bug. Piclmey worries me."
"I'd worry a little about that swordsman-"
"Desgarden," supplied Talwin, "is the happy blade who tried to killYou.~)
"Desgarden," repeated Dash. "He was willing to try to fight his wayOut rather than be captured."
"Either he has an inflated sense of his own ability with a sword, orhe's just as stupid as I think he is."
"Stupid he may be," said Dash, "but unlike the other three, he's not~what I would consider a 'stand-up' citizen. He has the look of someonewho knows his way around the back alleys and sewers. He may be partOf those who are causing some troubles in the Poor Quarter."Talwin nodded. "Well, let me squeeze them and see what I can findout.))
Dash said, "Good. I think I'm going to sleep in my own bed tonight.It's been a month.
Tallwin said, "By the way, Ishould be leaving your service the endof the week."
'oh?" said Dash, with a slight smile. "Have I been that difficult anemployer?"
' (Duke Ruflo arrives.
it's been confirmed he's to be Duke of Krondor?""Not publicly," said Talwin. ,you didn't hear that from me."Dash waved away the man, who closed the door while Dash took offhis boots. He lay back on his own bed and marveled at how soft his heavydown mattress was compared to that straw thing in the back of the jail.
He was wondering if he should take this one back with him when hefell asleep.
He came awake suddenly when someone pounded on his door."What?" he said sleepily, opening his door.
Talwin said, "We need to talk."
Dash waved him inside. "How long was I asleep?""A few hours."
"It wasn't long enough," said Dash.
"We have a grave problem."
"What?" asked Dash, coming awake.
"Those five are dupes, as I suspected, but they were working for someoneinside the palace, and from what I can tell, he's an agent for Kesh.""Inside the palace?" connectedTalwin nodded. "The clerk believes him to be someonewith a business concern-he thinks it Might be your old employer, RupertAvery."
"Hardly," said Dash. "Whatever Roo needs to know, he simply asks.The crown owes him so much gold, we usually tell him.""I know. He's well connected with you, von Darkmoor, and others.But that's what Pickney believed. Desgarden on the other hand, thinks
he's working for a band of smugglers from Durbin.""Cut to it, what's going on?"
"These five, and others I'll warrant, were gathering information onthe deployment of resources, soldiers, the condition of defenses, every
potentially valuable bit of information an enemy might want. They werefeeding it to someone here in the palace." the"Now I'm confused. I could see someone in the palace feedinginformation to someone outside, but from outside in?"
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
"That's what had me puzzled for a bit, but the fact is, the personinside the castle they were reporting to wasn't part of Patrick's staff""Who was it?"
Talwin said, "A man who was working here when Patrick arrived,but who stayed on when Duko left. A man who seemed to be everywherewhen someone needed help with documents or messages. A man namedMalar Enares."
Dash said, "Gods! He's that servant we met out in the woods lastwinter. He claimed to be from the vale."
Talwin shook his head. "If we had access to your grandfather's documents,I bet we'd find his name amongst those on a list of agents ofGreat Kesh."
Suddenly Dash was concerned about his brother. "I need to see ifthere are any messages in from Duko down at Port Vykor in the last fewdays. '
"Enares left with your brother, right?"
"Right," said Dash. "If he's a Keshian agent, he's either already leftfor Kesh, to let them know how bad things are in the city, :)r he's downin Port Vykor doing more harm."
"Send word to Duko, and if your brother has arrived there safely, letme know."
"Are you quitting the constabulary today?" asked Dash as he pulledon his boots and moved to the door.
"I think so. Once the new Duke is in his office, I need to repair thedamage done during the war. There are agents who reported to me whodon't know I,m still alive. There are agents I don't know are dead yet.Your grandfather had a marvelously devious mind and created a thing ofbeauty. It may take me the rest of my life, but eventually I'll get theintelligence network he made back in place."
"Well, as long as I'm the Sheriff of Krondor, if you need help, let meknow.)?
"I will," said Talwin, following Dash through the door.Talwin turned without another word and moved back toward therooms in which the prisoners were kept, while Dash hurried toward theKnight-Marshal's office, where all incoming military messages would belogged before being sent to Prince Patrick, or north to Lord Greylock. IfJimmy had sent word, it would be there. Dash picked up the pace andW"s almost running when he reached the door.
The sleepy-looking clerk looked up and said, "Yes, Sheriff.>""has there been a message from Port Vykor in the last day or two?"
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The clerk looked over a long scroll upon which the most recent messages were logged.
'no, sir, none in the last few
Dash said, ,If one arrives anytime soon~ inform me at once. Thankyou." He turned around and started back toward his room. Then he
anced outside and saw the sun was rising. Putting aside fatigue, heturned and started toward the door to the courtyard and the way back tothe New Market Jail. He had a great deal of work to do and it couldn'twait on worrying about his brother.
"Sheriff PUPPY," came the voice through the windowDash came awake. He had spent a long day keeping the city under
control and had retired to the little room in the rear of the old inn he usedfor sleeping.
'Trina?" he asked as he stood up to look through the shutters. Openingthem, he saw the young woman's face illuminated by moonlight.Grinning, he stood there in his under-trousers. His shirt, trousers, andboots lay in a heap beside his straw mattress. "Why do I doubt you cameto my window because you couldn't bear to be away from me?"She smiled back and took a moment to look him up and down, then'You're a pretty enough boy, Sheriff Puppy, but I like my men witha little more experience."
Dash started getting dressed. "I feel like I've got enough experiencefor a man three times my age," he said. "As much as I enjoy banteringwith you, why did you wake me?"
'We've got a problem."
Dash grabbed his sword, handed it to Trina, then with a single vault,grabbed the upper sill of the window and hauled himself through. Landingon the ground next to her, he said, "We as in 'you and me,' or as in 'theMockers'?" as he took back his sword and buckled it around his waist."As in the entire city of Krondor," she replied. Suddenly, and apparentlyimpulsively, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. 'I wasn't
mocking you about being pretty."
Dash reached out and put his hand behind her head, drawing her tOhim. He kissed her deeply and lingeringly. When he let her go, he said
"I've known a lot of women, despite my youth, but you're unique.~he lookedinto her eyes a moment, then said, "Let me know when I've gotenough experience."
Softly she said, "I'm a thief and you're sheriff of Krondor.Wouldn't that be a match?"
Dash grinned. "Have I ever told you about my grandfather?"She shook her head in irritation. "We don't have time for this."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
,,What's the problem?"
,,We've found that bunch who've been using the sewers, and whoprobably killed your men."
',Where?'
"Near that point where Kirby was found, over by Five Points. There'sa big tannery that was burned to the ground during the battle, but it's gota subbasement, a big one, and a long water entrance to the bay, as wellas the usual sewer dumps."
,,I want to see this."
"I thought you would." He started walking away when Trina said,"Dash?"
He stopped and turned around. "What?"
I The Old Man."
"How is he?"
She shook her head slightly. "Not much longer.""Damn," said Dash, and he surprised himself at how sad knowingthat his grandfather's brother was dying made him. "Where is he?""Someplace safe. He won't see you."
44I^Y?~p
"He won't see anybody but me and one or two others."Dash paused, then said, "Who's going to take over?"\_The girl grinned. "I would tell the Sheriff"
Seriously, Dash said, "You will if you get into enough trouble.""I'll think on this," said Trina.
They hurried through the night, and when they reached the abandonednorthern quarter of the city nearest to the old tanneries and slaughterhouses,Trina led Dash through a series of back alleys and abandonedbuildings. Dash memorized the route and realized that it had been clearedby the Mockers so they would have a fast avenue of escape.They reached a burned-out row of shanties, barely more than a fewcharred walls and portions of roofs, bordering a large watercourse, a stonelinedchannel that would flood during the rainy season, or that could befed by water gates off the river that bordered the northeast corner of thec"y. In summer, with the gate destroyed, only a little water ran throughthe very center of the manmade stream. Trina jumped over it nimbly andDash followed her, marveling at just how lithe she was. She wore her
Ill,al man's shirt and black leather vest, tight leggings and high boots.Dash could see she was both strong and fast.
She headed straight toward a large open pipe in the far bank. It was'Id, Sre-hardened clay, circled by a heavy iron band. Pieces of the clayhad fallen away over the years, where the pipe extended from the bank,
- uirce-toot length of metal could be seen at the upper lip of the pipe.With a prodigious leap, she vaulted to where she could grip the bar andswung herself into the pipe, vanishing from view.Dash waited a moment to let her get clear, then duplicated her leap.He discovered why as he swung over broken crockery, glass, and jaggedmetal. Landing behind Trina, he said, "Not the normal garbage one expects. ""
It discourages the idly curious."
She moved on without another word, and Dash followed her.They moved deeper into the sewer network, the woman leading theway surely, though there was almost no light filtering down through theburned-out buildings above. At the first turn right, she turned and stopped,felt around, and produced a lamp. Dash smiled, but remained silent. Thesystem still hadn't changed.
She lit it and shuttered it. The tiny bit of light that was allowed toescape would provide ample illumination for their purposes, and someonemore than a dozen feet away would have to be looking directly at thelight source to notice it.
Trina led Dash deep into the sewer system until they reached a confluenceof two large pipes entering a third, with two smaller-though bigenough for a person to crab-walk through-emptying into the large circularcavern, This was Five Points. Trina pointed at the upper left of thetwo smaller pipes. As he poised to jump, she whispered, "Trip wire."Dash pulled himself up and moved slowly and quietly in the dark,feeling around before him in case there might have been any additionalalarms added. Trina would have warned him had there been one she knewabout, but Dash's grandfather had impressed on him that people who tookthings for granted in these situations were called corpses.As he inched along, he found himself thinking of Trina. He hadknown many women since the age of fifteen, being handsome, noble, andthe grandson of the most powerful man after the King in the nation. Twicehe had been infatuated to the point of thinking he might be in love, but
both times the notion had quickly passed. But something about thiswoman thief, with her mannish clothing, unkempt hair, and piercing starecaught his imagination. It had been quite some time since he had known"a woman and that was part of it, but there was something more, and hewondered if circumstances would ever permit more than a casualflirtation
.
Dash froze. He was alone in the dark looking for traps, and he wasdaydreaming about a woman. He scolded himself and heard his grand'father's voice in his mind. The old man would have had a great deal
say about this sort Of inattention.
Dash took a deep breath and began Moving again. After a few minuteshe heard a sound ahead.
waited. It came again, and It was little More than a whisper, but Da low conversation. with effort he made Out what appeared to
He inched forward again. Suddenly he halted. Ahead of him he sensedsomething. He put his hand out and felt a line. He didn't move whenhis palm came into contact with it. He waited, listening for an alarm, a sound
a voice, anything that would tell him he had alerted whoever had placedthis line across the duct. When silence continued unbroken for a longwhile, he moved his hand back, waiting again.
He touched it again, as gently as possible, and ran his finger to theright. He encountered a metal eye, driven into the side of the duct, and
there the line was tied. He moved his finger to the left and found anothereyelet, but this time the line was threaded through and ran forward in thedirection he was heading.
He felt over and under the line to make sure there wasn't a secondand when he was satisfied this was the only line across the way, he moved
back With little squirming, he got on his back and crawled under thline. When he was past the line, he again got up into his kneeling positionand continued his careful progress.
Soon he saw a dim light ahead and he worked toward it. Again hheard voices and again the conversation was just below his ability to hearit. Hemoved slowly forward.
He reached a large catch basin, with a big grating overhead, and abovehim he could hear boots on the stone. From the stench at this end of thePipe, it was obvious the men had been using the catch basin to relievethemselves and didn't have enough water to flush the pipe easily.
"What is that?" came a voice from above and Dash froze.It's a baked meat roll. It's got spices and onions, baked into a breadcrust. I got it at the market."
"What kind of meat?"
Dash moved closer.
"Beef What do you think?"
"Looks like horse to me.,,
"HoW could you tell by looking at it?"
"You better let me taste it. Then I can tell."
Dash moved around and craned his neck. He could see movement,and a pair of boots. Much of his view was cut off by a chair, near thecatch basin grate, and the man who sat on it.
cow, horse, what does it matter?"
"You just want some because you didn't bring anything to eat."i didn't know we'd be spending our lives waiting here."'Maybe the others ran into Some trouble?"
"Could be, but orders are clear enough. Wait here.""Did you at least bring some cards?"
Dash settled in.
Near dawn, Dash lowered himself out of the large pipe at Five Points.found himself disappointed that Trina wasn't waiting. He knew she'dprobably left a moment after he entered the pipe, but he still wished she
had lingered. He found that feeling irrational alongside the distress he wasexperiencing over what he had found.
Not wishing to stay too long, he hurried through the pipes and backtoward the New Market Jail. He knew that as soon as he got there, hewas going to have to change clothing, then hurry to the palace. Thiswasn't a matter for the Sheriff and his constables, but Brian Silden andthe army.
Dash forced himself to calmness, but if what he had overheard wasany indication, someone was readying a staging area. Inside the city itself,a nest of soldiers was being prepared, soldiers who would appear withinthe walls of Krondor at some future date, and Dash was certain that datewas not far off.
Twenty-One
THE DOOR OPENED.
Nakor entered, shaking his head as he said, "No, no, no. This won'tdo."
Rupert Avery looked up from the plans unrolled before him. He wasstanding on the newly refinished floor of what had once been Barret'sCoffee House, watching workers repair the walls and roof above. "Whatwon't do, Nakor?" he asked.
Nakor looked up, surprised at being addressed. "What? What won'tdo?"
Roo laughed. "You were the one muttering that something wouldn'tdo!"
"Was I?" asked Nakor, looking surprised. "How odd."Roo shook his head in amusement. "You, odd? Perish the thought."Nakor said, "Never mind. I need something."
"What?" asked Roo.
"I need to get a message to someone."
"Who?"
'Pug.~
Roo motioned Nakor away from the workers and said, "I think youneed to start at the beginning."
"I had a dream last night," said Nakor. "I don't have many of them,so when I do, I try to pay attention."
"All right," said Roo. "I'm with you so far."
Nakor grinned. "I don't think so. But that's all right. There's somethinggoing on. There are three pieces here, all seemingly separate, butthey're all the same thing. And they all look to be about one thing, butthey're about another. And after the odd thing that happened, I need totalk to Pug.
I ,
i
I
i
I
I
Raymon~ E. Feist
Roo said, "I am no longer with you."
"That's all right," said Nakor, squeezing Roo's upper arm in a reassuringfashion. "Anyway, do you know where Pug is?"
"No, but I can ask at the palace. Someone there might.)Don't youhave some sort of magic ... trick you can do that would get Pug's attention?""
Maybe, but I don't know if the damage would be worth it.""I don't want to know," said Roo.
"No, you don't," agreed Nakor. He looked around, as if noticing thework for the first time. "What is this, then?""No one's seen the old owner since the fall of the city, so either he'sdead or not coming back. Even if he shows up, we'll work out a deal."Roo waved his hand around in an arc. "I'm trying to restore this exactlyas it was before the war. I'm very fond of this place.""As you should be," said Nakor with a grin. "You made a great dealof wealth here."
Roo shrugged. "That's part of it, but more importantly, this is whereI made myself."
You've come a long way, said Nakor.
"More than I could have imagined," said the onetime death cell prisoner.
'How is your wife?" motioning with his hands as he grinned."Getting large," he said,
"I heard a rumor that you arrived in town with Lord Vasarius of Quegas a prisoner."
Roo said, "He wasn't my prisoner."
,,is it a good story?"
Roo said, "It's a very good story."
"Good, then you can tell me sometime, but first I need to ask aboutPug .'
Roo put down his plans and said, "Tell you what. I could do with abit of a stretch, so let's walk over to the New Market Jail and visit withDash Jamison."
ttfine," said Nakor, and they left the coffeehouse. Everywhere they looked the city was slowly returning to the life theyhad known before the war. Each day another building was restored andanother shop opened. More goods were coming into the city via the ferryoutside of Fishtown, or over the caravan routes. Rumor had it a largecaravan from Kesh would arrive within the week, the first since beforethe fighting. As war hadn't formally been declared, trade between theKingdom and Kesh was resuming. If the Wreckers Guild could coiltil"e
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
ring
als. ships, the harbor would be navigable the following spring, and fullyrestored within a year after that.
Moving through the crowd, Nakor said, "This city is like a person,don't you see?"
"It was beat up pretty badly," agreed Roo, "but it's coming back.""More," said Nakor. "There are cities that have no ... I don't knowwhat to call it, an identity perhaps. A sense of being someplace different.Lots of those in the Empire. Very old cities with lots of history, but oneday is much like the next. Krondor is a very lively place in comparison."Roo laughed. "In a manner of speaking."
They reached the market and saw the New Market Jail, now sportinga fresh coat of paint and bars on all the visible windows. Entering thedoor, they found a harried-looking clerk, who looked up and said, "Yes?""We're looking for the Sheriff," said Nakor.
"He's out in the market, somewhere, and will be back here, sometime.Sorry," he said, returning to his paperwork.
Roo motioned for Nakor to move outside. They stood on the porchlooking at the press of people in the market. Vendors had organized themselvesinto a rough series of aisles, with the outer edge of the market asort of random pattern of blankets with goods laid atop, carts overloadedwith produce, men carrying boards covered with trinkets, and the furtive
denizens who offered less than legitimate wares. Roo said, "He could beanywhere. "
Nakor grinned. "I know how to get his attention."Before Nakor could step down from the porch, Roo put a restraininghand on his shoulder. "Wait!"
"What?"
"I know you, my friend, and if you think you're helping out by startinga riot so that every constable in the market comes running, thinkagain. II
"Well, it would be effective, wouldn't it?"
"Do you remember an old proverb?"
"Several. Which one do you have in mind?"
"The one about not using an ax to remove a fly from a friend's nose."Nakor's grin broadened, and he laughed. "I like that one.""Anyway, the point is, we should be able to find Dash without startinga riot. ~ P
"Very well," said Nakor. "Lead on."
Roo and Nakor entered the press of humanity in the market. RookneW that Krondor still had less than half its former population, yet itseemed even more crowded than before, mostly due to the largest portionof that population thronging to the market. While work was underway throughout the city, in every neighborhood, the business of daily life wasconfined for the most part to the market.
Roo and Nakor made their way past wagon . after wagon with late spring and early summer harvest: squash, corn, grain in sacks, and even some rice up from above Land's End. Fruit was offered and so was wine and ale. A number of prepared food vendors filled the air with aromas pungent. Nakor sneezed as they passed one vendor of pakashka, a bread pocket both savOrY and filled with meats, onions, PePpers, and pods. ,,That man has so much Spice on that meat my eyes want to pop!" he said, hurrying by.
Roo laughed. "Some people like their meats hot." 'I learned a long time ago," said Nakor, ,that too much spice often masks bad meat. "As my father said, returned Roo, ,if there's enough spice on it, it doesn't matter if the meat's bad."
Nakor laughed. They turned the corner and saw a group of men standing before a large wagon being used as makeshift tavern. Two barrels had been set up at each end of the wagon, and a board was set atop them to
serve as a bar. Two dozen men idly stood around, drinking and laughing.As Nakor and Roo drew near, they quieted down and watched the two men pass.
After they had moved down the street, Nakor said, ,That's odd."
''What is, He motioned over his shoulder. "Those men." ,,What about them?"
Nakor stopped and said, "Turn around and tell me what you see." Roo did as he was asked, and said, "I see a bunch Of workmen drinkingNakor said, "Look closer." Roo said, "I don't see. . . " 'What?' Roo scratched his chin. There's something strange, but I can't quite tell what it is." . Nakor said, "Come with me, " and led Roo off the way they had bee"heading. 'First of all, those aren't workers." 'What do you mean?"
"They're dressed like workers, but they're not. They're soldiers." "Soldiers?" said ROO. ,i don't understand." 'You have more work than you have workers, correct?""Yes," said Roo. "That's true.
~g ale?"
I. " Roo stopped.After a moment, he said, "Damn. I thoughtthey were simply having their midday meal."
"That's the second thing, the midday meal isn't for another hour, Roo. And did you see how they stopped talking when we got too close?,Andhow everyone around them gives them a wide berth?"Roo said, "Yes, now that you point it out. So the question is, whatare soldiers doing standing around dressed like workmen getting drunk inthe morning?"
Nakor said, "No, that's not the question. They're standing arounddressed like workmen getting drunk in the morning so that people willthink they're workmen getting drunk in the morning. The question is whyare they trying to make people think they're workmen-""I get the point," interrupted Roo. "Let's find Dash."It took them only a half hour to spy a band of men wearing the redarmbands, and when they overtook them, they found Dash leading them.Dash told his men to continue their patrol, and said, "Nakor, Roo, whatcan I do for you?"
Nakor said, "Tell your great-grandfather I need to talk to him. Butbefore that, there are men at a wagon bar over there"-he pointed to thegeneral area where they had passed the wagon-"dressed like workmen,but they aren't."
Dash nodded. "I know. They are one of several bands like thatthroughout the market."
"oh?" said Roo. "You know?"
Dash said, "What sort of sheriff would I be if I didn't?""The usual sort," said Nakor. "Anyway, if you know about thosemen, we can talk about Pug."
"What about him?"
"I need to see him."
Dash's eyes narrowed. "And you want me to do what?""You're his great-grandson, how do you contact him?"Dash shook his head. "I don't. If Father had means, he never told me. Or Jimmy, else I'd know. Grandmother merely had to close hereyes. ~)
Nakor nodded. "I know that. Gamina could talk to him across theworld at times."
Dash said, "I thought you'd have the means."
Nakor said, "I don't see him that much, except when we're both on
the island. Maybe he is there." Nakor turned toward Roo. "Can I borrowa ship to go to Sorcerer's Island?
Roo said, "If you haven't noticed, there's a full-blown war going onout there!" He pointed toward the ocean. "A Free Cities ship)might sailout there without being accosted, but a Kingdom ship is either going torun into Quegan pirates, Keshian pirates, or Fadawah's pirates, unlessYou have a fleet. I might be tempted to lend you a ship, but I'm notlending you a fleet."
.hiln will be fine."
Nakor said, "I don t neeu a ey.L.
"And the pirates?"
'(Not to worry," said Nakor with a grin. "I have tricks."'Very well," said Roo, "but what's the problem?))"oh, I didn't tell you?"
'No,' said Roo. He looked at Dash, who shrugged
"You have to see this," said Nakor, setting Off without bothering tosee who was following.
Roo looked at Dash,who said, "We'd better see what this is allabout."
They hurried after Nakor, so as not to lose sight of him, and the littleman walked briskly through the city, all the way to the eastern gate, theone which opened on the King's Highway. Roo was almost out of breath.By the time they got to this destination,
"We should have ridden."
'I don't have a horse,said Nakor. "I had a horse once, a beautifulblack stallion, but he died. That's when I was Nakor the Blue Rider."Dash said, ,What did you want to show us?"
,,That," said Nakor, pointing to the statue he had erected a weekearlier.
A dozen people were gathered before the statue looking and gesturing.Dash and Roo left the road and moved to where they could see whatthe travelers were looking at. Roo asked , What is that?" Down the face of the statue, two red streaks could be seen below theeyes, marring the otherwise perfect face.
Dash pushed his way Past the onlookers, and said, 'It looks likeblood!
'It is," said Nakor. tThe statue of the Lady is crying blood."
Roo hurried over and said, 'it's a trick, right?""No!" said Nakor. "I wouldn't stoop to cheap tricks at least 'notwhere the Lady is concerned. She's the Goddess of Good, and Well,I just wouldn't."
"All right," said Dash. "I'll take your word for that, but what's causingthis?"
"I don't know," said Nakor, "but that's nothing. You've got to seethe other thing."
He hurried off again. Dash and Roo exchanged glances, and Dashsaid, "I can't wait to see what this other thing is."Again they followed the hurrying little man. Once more they enteredthe city gates, crossed through the eastern quarter of the city and backacross the city toward the market. Only this time, they skirted the marketto the south and headed over toward Temple Square.Roo was laughing as he struggled to keep up with Nakor. "Whycouldn't he have two marvels across the street from one another?"Dash said, "I have no idea."
They reached the empty lot between the Temples of Lims-Kragmaand Guis-wa. Clerics from several other temples were gathered nearby,peering at the crowd gathered before a tent that was erected there.Where Nakor had found the tent, Dash had no idea. One day it wasn'tthere, the next day it was-a huge pavilion with enough room under itto comfortably accommodate a couple of hundred people.Dash firmly shoved his way through the crowd. Some people beganto object until they saw the red armband. When they got to the entrance,Nakor and Roo a step behind, Dash stopped, and his mouth fell open."Gods," said Roo.
Directly before them, his back toward them, in a meditative position,sat Sho Pi and a half dozen other acolytes of this new temple. In thecenter of the tent was the young woman, Aleta. Only she was neitherstanding nor sitting. She was in a position identical to Sho Pi's: legscrossed, hands in her lap. And she was bathed in a nimbus of pure whitelight which seemed to emanate from within her, suffusing the tent withlight. But she floated six feet above the ground.Roo put his hand on Nakor's shoulder, and said, "I'll give you aship,))
Dash whispered, "Why my great-grandfather? Why not ask the othertemple clerics?"
"Because of that,",said Nakor.
Directly below the woman something hovered. Dash and Roo hadn'tnOticed it when they first entered, because of the startling sight of theyoung woman afloat. But now they could see there was a blackness hangingin the air, a cloud of something vile and terrifying. A clear certaintystruck both Dash and Roo at the same time: the light from the youngwoman was confining that black presence, keeping it penned up. "What is it?" whispered Dash.
Nakor said, ,Something very bad. Something I didn't think I wouldsee in my lifetime. And it's something Pug must know about as soon aspossible. The temple clerics will know about it soon enough, and theyhave an important part, but Pug must know about this." He looked Dashin the eyes. "He must know soon."
Roo grabbed Nakor by the arm. "I'll take you out to Fishtown myself,right now. I'll put you aboard a ship and you just tell the Captain whereyou want to go. I ~
"Thank you." To Sho Pi, Nakor shouted, "Take care of things. Andtell Dominic he's in charge until I get back."If Sho Pi heard Nakor, he said nothing. As they left the tent, Roosaid, "I didn't think you went anywhere without Sho Pi going with you.)INakor gave a slight shrug. "That used to be true. But I am no longerhis master."
Roo dodged along the street. "When did that happen?"Using his walking stick to point over his shoulder, Nakor said, "Whenshe started floating in the air a couple of hours ago.""I see," said Roo.
"And that's what I meant."
"What is what you meant?"
"When you asked me what was I talking about."
Roo said, "When? I seem to be asking you what are you talking aboutnearly every time we meet."
"When I first walked into the coffeehouse, and I said, 'This won'tdo,' that's what I was talking about. That blackness."Roo said, "I don't know what it is, and I don't think I want to knowwhat it is, but 'it won't do' is a rather mild way of putting things. Justlooking at it scares me."
"We'll fix it," said Nakor. "As soon as I reach Pug."They got to the docks and Roo only had to wait a few minutes tocommandeer one of his boats. He had them row Nakor out to one of his
fastest ships.
"What do you do if Pug's not on the island?"
Nakor said, "Don't worry. Gathis will find him for me. Someone on
the island will."
Nakor climbed a net ladder, and Roo shouted, "Captain! Shove off
as soon as you can and take him where he wants to go.A disbelieving Captain said, "Mr. Avery! We're only half unloaded."
"That will have to do, Captain. Have you supplies for two more weeksat sea?"
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
"Aye, sir, we do."
"Then you have your orders, Captain."
"Aye, sir," said the Captain. He shouted, "Get ready to cast off.Secure the cargo!"
Men started scrambling, and Roo instructed the boat crew to turnaround and take him back to shore. As he reached the docks he saw thesails unfurling on his ship and he bid Nakor a fair voyage. With goodwinds he'd reach Sorcerer's Island in a week or less, and knowing Nakor's,,tricks," he was certain Nakor would see good winds on this voyage.Reaching the docks, Roo couldn't shake the feeling that whatever wasoccurring in Krondor, it was now something far beyond his plans forwealth and power. The game that was about to unfold would be beyondthe powers of even the richest man in the Western Realm, and that frightenedhim. He decided to let the workers leave early tonight and return tohis estates. Karli was overseeing the rebuilding there, and Roo had a powerfuldesire to spend the night with his wife and children.
Jimmy reviewed the reports until his eyes couldn't focus. He stood upand said, "I have to get some air."
Duko looked up and said, "I understand. You've been reading sincedawn." Duko's own command of the written King's Tongue was improving,so he could-now read along with Jimmy or someone else readingaloud, but the messages they were getting were too critical for him to trusthe wasn't making a mistake.
The net effect of this was twofold: first, Jimmy didn't think he couldsee anything more than two feet away right now and, second, he wasstarting to develop an overall appreciation of the strategic situation alongthe Kingdom's southern frontier.
Kesh had a plan. Jimmy wasn't sure what it was, but he was almostcertain that it required a large commitment of Kingdom forces in twoplaces, in Land's End and near Shamata to the east. At times he almostfelt.as if he understood what Kesh was going to do next, but he justcouldn't quite make it come together in his mind.A rider came galloping toward the headquarters building and reinedhis lathered horse. "Sir!" he said. "Messages from Shamata!"Jimmy stepped off the porch and took the packet. He brought it insideand Duko said, "That wasn't much time."
"Messages from Shamata."
Duko said, "More messages. You'd better read them.""The messen er was in a h id Jim h d
Package.
& "Alj, a" jiiiy aae unwrappe tie
He read the single paper that was in the Packet and said, "Gods! Oneof our patrols caught sight of a fast-moving Keshian column moving rapidly
northeast through Tahupset Pass."
What s e s gn
"Damned if I know," said jimmy. He motioned for one of the orderliesin the room to bring over a particular map and spread it out beforethe Duke. "That's a pass that runs along the western shore of the Sea ofDreams. it's part of the old caravan route from Shamata to Landreth."'Why would the Keshians threaten Landreth, when we have a garrisonin Shamata that can take them from behind?"
Jimmy stared into space and for a moment he didn't answer, then hesaid, "Because they're not going to Landreth. They just want us to thinkthey are.'
'Where are they going.
jimmy studied the map. and he said
"They're too far east to support any move at
Land's End." His finger traced a line,if they cut west here,they could come straight at us, but we're too well defended with all thesupport units for Land's End here."
,'Unless they want to draw us off before they push at Land's End?"jimmy rubbed his tired eyes. "MaYbe."
Duko said, "Isolating us from Land's End would make sense.",,if they could, but they'd need more than a single cavalry column.maybe if they were sneaking other units through. jimmy said, "Ihave a hunch, m lord, and I don't like it."
"What?'
His finger traced lines across the map. "What if the column doesn'tgo northeast to Landreth, but goes due north instead?" That would bring them here," said Duko. "You said you didn't thinkthey were trying to draw us off."
"They aren't. If they go straight north from here -his finger markeda spot on the map-"they're fifty miles east of our usual patrol route."There's nothing out there," observed the Duke."There's nothing out there to defend," replied Jimmy. "But if theykeep moving north, they intercept a trail here that runs through the foOthills.It's part of an old caravan route from the dwarven mines at Dworglrlthat runs to here." His finger stabbed at the map."Krondor?"
ti ~ th i ificance? askeu Li
"Yes," said Jimmy. what if they've been slipping columns and soldiers through there for weeks? We just caught a glimpse of this one." he
reexamined the communique. "No word of banners or markings. Thesoldiers could be from anywhere within the Empire."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CRO"T
"They hold us static with units we're used to facing, then bring upunits from farther down in the Empire. . . "
"And they take Krondor in a flash attack."
Duko was on his feet. He headed to the door of the headquarters andwas shouting orders just as the old soldier, Matak, got the door open."I want every unit ready to move in an hour!" He turned to Jimmy.,,My orders instruct me to defend and protect the Southern Marches. SoI'm keeping the garrison intact, but if you're correct, the Prince will needevery soldier we can spare back in Krondor."
With efficiency born of experience, he had the entire garrison movingwithin minutes. "Jimmy, you will lead the column, and I hope you're intime. For if you are correct, Kesh will strike at Krondor any time now,and if they take it . . ."
Jimmy knew probably better than Duko what that would mean. Itwould leave the Kingdom split in half. Greylock's army would be lockedin struggle south of Ylith, Duko's army would be forced to hold againstthe aggressors at Land's End, and the garrison at Shamata would be forcedto hold a defensive position to prevent a strike past them at Landreth. IfKesh held Krondor, Greylock would lose all support by land from thesouth, as well as any chance of retreat. He would be caught between twohostile armies. And if the Armies of the West were lost., .Jimmy said, "I'll have them on the road within the hour."Duko said, "Good, for if Krondor falls, the West is indeed lost."If that observation from one of the men attempting to overthrow theWest just a year prior struck Jimmy as ironic, he was too busy to registerit. He hurried back inside the headquarters and shouted to the nearestorderly, "Get all my things together, and get my horse out of the stable!"He grabbed a parchment and leaned over the writing desk. He almostPushed the scribe out of his seat.
Jimmy couldn't very well order the Knight-Marshal of Krondor to doanything, nor could Lord Duko, but he could make a suggestion. Astrongly worded suggestion.
He wrote:
Reports indicate a strong likelihood of a major offensive againstKrondor by Kesh, striking along old Dorgin mine road. Urge youdetach whatever units can be spared and send them south by fastestmeans.
james, Earl of Vencar.
Raymond E. Feist
He grabbed a stick of sealing wax, heated it, and affixed his ring sealto it. He folded the parchment and inserted it into a message pouch.The scribe whom he had displaced was sitting in his chair, watchingthe entire thing. Jimmy turned and said, "What's your name?'~"Herbert, sir. Herbert of Rutherwood."
"Come with me."
The scribe glanced around the room at the other orderlies and scribes,but all returned only astonished or blank expressions.He hurried past Duko, who was still watching over the unfoldingspectacle of his entire command, save the resident garrison, getting readyto mobilize. Jimmy led the scribe down to the docks and hurried to thefar end, where a Kingdom cutter lay at anchor.He hurried up the gangplank, and when he reached the top shouted,captain!
From the quarterdeck, a voice replied, "Here, sir!""Orders!" shouted Jimmy. "Take this man north."The scribe stood on the plank behind Jimmy. Jimmy reached aroundand grabbed him by the front of his tunic, hauling him forward and depositinghim on the deck. Jimmy said, "Herbert, take this pouch. Sailnorth, find our army, and give this to Lord Greylock or Captain vonDarkmoor. Do you understand?"
The scribe's eyes were round and he couldn't speak, but he nodded."Captain, get this man to Lord Greylock. He's somewhere south ofQuester's View!"
"Sir!" replied the Captain, who turned and shouted, "Make ready toget underway!"
Jimmy left the stunned Herbert standing on the deck and ran fromthe docks back through the town of Port Vykor toward where he hopedhis gear was ready. He was impatient to leave, and impatient to reachKrondor. His only brother was still in Krondor, and unless Greylock couldget units south faster than Jimmy could go north, all that stood betweenDash and destruction was a few palace guards, the city militia, and abarely repaired city wall.
Erik shouted, "Get into that breach!"
Catapults on both sides of the line fired rocks and bundles of burninghay. Large ballista bolts flew overhead and men lay screaming and dying.The fighting had been underway since dawn the previous day, andnight turned the scene hellish. The enemy had dug a series of trenchesbacked by a high wall, upon which platforms held war engines. Thousandshad died building these fortifications, and the dead had been left outside
I
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROY,,N
The stench could be smelled miles before the firsttrench could be seen. The trenches had been filled with water, atop whichthe wall, unburied.
oil had been floated. The oil had been fired and was sending a blackblanket of smoke across the ground.
Earl Richard had reviewed the defensive position and had been forcedto agree that the only approach was a direct one. Erik had supervised theconstruction of a set of massive wooden bridges, set up to roll over logs
cut from the nearby woods. The first set of trenches had been difficult,because of the bow-fire from the wall above, but once he got his menunderway, the trenches were quickly bridged. Soldiers frantically shoveleddin across the top of the oil, banking the fires as the bridges were runacross.
Fortunately for the Kingdom forces, when they reached the wall, theyfound a wooden stockade. It was brilliantly fashioned, and as stout ascould be imagined, but being wood it could be cut. Men had died wieldingaxes at key locations, and when finally their work was done, chains with
large iron bars had been thrown through the gaps. The iron bars snappedsideways when pulled back and the chains were tied to draft horses.They had pulled down a twelve-foot-wide section of the wall, and theKingdom forces were now pouring through. Erik waited for the huge gatesacross the highway to be opened so he could lead his cavalry through.The gates suddenly shuddered, then swung open, and Erik orderedthe advance. He kicked his horse, and the large chestnut gelding leaped
forward and was up to a comfortable canter immediately.Erik's eyes watered from smoke and the stench of blood and death,but he could clearly see what lay on the other Side of the gates. He franticallyshouted for a halt.
Moving slowly forward, he saw his footmen were upon the battlements and locked in hand-to-hand fighting. "Dismount!" he shouted tohis men.
They did, and Erik said, "Follow me!"
He ran through the gate and the men behind him saw what had made Irl, stop theadvance. Just behind the gate lay a pit ten feet deep, withsharpened wooden stakes. The gate was only six feet wider than the pit,
three on each side, so men could move around the pit, but a horse couldnot pass.
Erik urged his men through the smoke and blinked tears from his eyes.Where is all that smoke coming from?" he shouted."Over there," came the familiar voice of Jadow Shati.Erik looked where his old friend pointed, and said, "Damn.')"Yes, man, damn and damn again."
A
Raymond E. Feist
sands of men were lined up
Four hundred yards up the highway, thou
in ranks, with officers and cavalry mounted to the flanks and rear. Morecatapults, mangonels, and ballistae were apparent. This wasn't a defensiveposition. This army was making ready to attack. Suddenly Erik saw what was about to happen. He glanced at the wallthrough which he had fought and realized that if it were knocked downfrom behind it provided a massive bridge over the trenches on either sideof the pit.
"Back!" shouted Erik, and the order was passed."Get back and get ready!" shouted Jadow.
Erik raced back to wherehis horse was waiting, and he leaped into
the saddle. The sound of horns and the shout of men up the highway toldhim that at last he was going to join battle in the field with GeneralFadawah. And Erik's only thought now wasn't on victory, but rather onsurvival.
Twenty-Two
EN STALKED THE woods.
Subai moved quietly but with purpose, following the river. Most ofhis men were dead, though two might have gotten over the ridge to maketheir way along the eastern face of the mountains down to Darkmoor. Heprayed it was so.
He had made it through a murderous journey lasting weeks. His Pathfindershad skills unmatched by any on Midkemia, save the elves and theRangers of Natal. But Fadawah's defenses were bolstered by somethingfar more terrible than mere human ability: they were aided by dark magicSubai did not understand.
It became noticeable when they passed the first of the true southerndefenses. Besides the death and destruction, there had been a feeling ofdespair everywhere, as if a miasma of pain and hopelessness hung in theair. The farther north they traveled, the worse the feeling became.They saw little of the coastal defenses for a while, as they moved northwhile the road to Quester's View turned northwest. When they reachedthe road from Quester's View to Hawk's Hollow, they encountered moreindications of dark powers.
Not only had the northern ridge above that road been fortified, thesouthern ridge had been decorated with a grisly set of corpses. WoodenXs had been erected along the ridgeline, with a human prisoner nailed toeach. All had expressions of horror on their faces, showing they died fromwounds, rather than exposure and crucifixion. Most had their throats cut,
but a few had their hearts removed, their chests showing gaping wounds.And the dead were not just men. Women and children had also beenmurdered for this hideous display.
Two of his men had died an hour later, as terrible-looking men wearing scars upon their cheeks and seemingly possessed of inhuman strengthand determination had chanced upon Subai's camp. From what intelligenceSubai had read on the Emerald Queen Vs army, he knew these menwere most likely Immortals. originally the honor guard of the Priest-Kingof Lanada, they were ordinary soldiers turned into murderous fiends byblack rites and a diet of drugs. The Emerald Queen had further degenerated them, using one a night in death rites to continue her eternal youth.
it had been thought they had fallen Out of favor with Fadawah, butthey seemed very evident on the approaches to Yabon.
For the next week they had been hunted, and two more men haddied, leaving it to Subai to order to his two remainingcompanions to turneast and find their way to Loriel, which was still held by the Kingdom.He hoped they would lead away the pursuing warriors.Subai had effectively isolated himself in the hope that one man mightslip by where two would be noticed.
For a week he had journeyed past patrols and encampments, and eachtime he saw another enemy band, his confidence in the Kingdom'schances of regaining Yabon was eroded. The theory that only a core oftwenty or twenty-five thousand soldiers remained under Fadawah's commandwas in error. Given the numbers he knew to be deployed downnear Sarth and estimates of what it would have taken to overrun LaMut,Subai was now convinced Fadawah had at least thirty-five thousand soldiersunder his command.
Subai knew that if it were true, and if Kesh continued to probe thesouthern border, freezing soldiers along the frontier, Greylock did nothave enough men to dislodge Fadawah. it might be possible to retakeYlith, but the price would be grim. besieged and there wasSubai had failed to reach Yabon. The city was
no way he could get close enough to attempt to sneak in. He had consideredtrying for Tyr-Sog, but found himself behind the enemy's lilies andrealized his best bet was to strike for the Lake of the Sky, and around thenorthern tip of the Grey Towers and down into the elven forests.Subai had no illusions. He had been chased for two days, since almostreaching the Lake of the Sky. He didn't know if the men who were behindhim were fanatics of Fadawah's or renegades, but either way he kne,,,,, lie
needed to find a place to rest and something to eat. . ofHe had had no provisions since a week after leaving the vicinityYabon City. He had foraged and found nuts and berries, as well as snaringa rabbit, but he hadn't eaten in the last two days, since being spotted byhis pursuers. He was losing weight and energy, and was in no condition
:I~,
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
to fight more than one or two men. If five or six were after him, to becaught was to die.
He was following the southern bank of the River Crydee, which beganat the Lake of the Sky. He knew that soon he would be opposite woodsthat were claimed by the elves, and that to enter them he would needpermission. He also knew that it was his only chance of safety. There wasno way he could continue to follow the rift down to the castle at Crydee,or risk moving south through the Green Heart to the Jonril garrison.Subai stopped and looked back. Cresting some rocks a mile back, hesaw dark figures moving. He looked ahead and saw a ford.It was never going to be a better time, he told himself.Subai entered the water and found it rose to his knees. At the heightof summer the water level was lowest, and he knew that at thaw, or afterfall thundershowers, he could not cross here.
He was halfway across when he heard shouts behind and knew hispursuers had sighted him. That renewed his determination and he forcedhimself to move faster.
He was ashore when the men following him reached the ford. Hedidn't look back, but dodged into the woods, wishing he still had a bow.He had watched it fall into a rocky crevasse when he was still in themountains, two weeks before. With a bow he could have-stopped thoseafter him.
He ran on.
The light was falling and Subai was disoriented, but he knew he wasmoving generally toward the west. Suddenly a voice from ahead challengedhim. "What do you seek in Elvandar, human?"
Subai halted. "I seek refuge and I bring messages," he said, leaningover with his hands on his knees as fatigue swept up over him."Who are you?"
"I am Captain Subai of the Royal Krondorian Pathfinders, and I bring
I
messages from Owen Greylock, Knight-Marshal of Krondor.""Enter, Subai," said an elf, who seemed to step out of nowhere."There are men following me," said Subai, "agents of the invader,and I fear they will be upon us in minutes."
The elf shook his head. "None may enter Elvandar unbidden. Alreadythey are being led away from us, and should they finally escape the woods,they will be miles from here. Else they may wander until they starve."Subai said, "Thank you for inviting me in."
The elf smiled and said, "I am called Adelin. I will guide you.""Thanks," replied Subai. "I am almost done."
A
)Raymond E. Feist
The elf reached into his belt pouch; removed a piece of food, and said,"Eat this. it will restore you."
Subai took the offering, a square piece of What looked to be a thick,hard bread. He bit into it and his mouth filled with flavors: nuts, berries,grains, and honey. He chewed it greedily.
Adelin said, "We still have far to go." He led the Pathfinder to thewest, toward Elvandar.
Erik washed the blood from his face and hands, while outside the tenttrumpets blew and horses rode by. Richard, Earl of Makurlic, looked atthe map and said, "We're holding."
Erik said, "We're losing."
The counteroffensive had rolled the Kingdom army back in confusion,until Erik could order up reserves to blunt the assault. Now they were fivemiles south of the original point of contact, and night was falling. Leland,Richard's son, entered the tent and said, "We're routing them." He wasa likable young,, man, nineteen years old, with a shock of blondish brownhair and wide-set blue eyes.
Erik said, "Hardly. They re withdrawing to their own lines until morning.They'll hit us again."
The young soldier was eager, and Erik had been pleased to discoverhe kept his wits about him in the midst of battle. He officially was a juniorofficer attached to a company of soldiers from Deep Taunton, left to bolsterthe Army of the West when the Army of the East withdrew. But with hisfather in command of the army, he was acting in an unofficial capacityas Lord Richard's adjutant and had picked up the responsibility of relayingorders to outlying units.
"What do we do next?" asked Richard.
Erik wiped his face with a towel and came over to look down at themap. "We dig in. Jadow." he shouted over his shoulder.A moment later, Jadow Shati appeared and said, "Erik?" Seeing theEarl sitting there, he changed that to "Captain? Hello, m'lord."Erik waved him over. "I want three diamonds here," he said, pointing to three points across the front. Jadow didn't Waitfor further explanation, turning and leaving without even bothering tosalute.
"Diamonds?" asked Leland.
Richard looked on in curiosity, too. Erik explained, "It's an old keshian
formation. We build up three breastworks, each with two hundredmen inside, but rather than try and build a huge one across the road,which we wouldn't be able to finish by sunnset, we build three smalldiamond-shaped ones across the front. Inside we place pikemen and buildup the berm with shields and let them form defensive positions. The enemy's
horsemen can't overrun them easily, and the tendency will be formen to move around the points of the diamond."Richard said, "That funnels their men into these two constricted areasbetween the center and the sides."
"Yes," said Erik. "With luck they get jammed up in those constrictionpoints and our archers here"-he drew a line with his finger across themap behind the diamonds-"can wither any of the enemy who gettrapped there. We'll put a wall of swordsmen with shields in front of themin case the enemy gets past the diamonds in quantity.""What about our horse?" asked Leland.
"They hold to each side of the outer diamonds. If we're lucky theycan prevent any flanking, and if the enemy retreats, we can unleash themto harry the enemy."
"Then what?" asked Richard.
"Then we lick our wounds, reorganize, and see if we can do somethingabout that mess up the road."
Reports were filtering back from men who had been cut off and lostfor a while behind enemy lines, and who returned to fill in gaps in Erik'sknowledge of what was ahead of them. Along with Subai's reports, carriedback by his first two couriers, Erik wasn't optimistic. The fact that nomore Pathfinders had returned from Subai's journey was also a part ofthat pessimism. With no firm picture of what lay closer to Ylith, Erik'scautious nature turned his imagination to the darkest possibilities.As best as they could determine, not only was there a vast networkOf fortifications at the crest of each hill and rise, but tunnels had been dug,so that reinforcements could be rushed from one location to another withoutbeing exposed to enemy attack. Erik recognized the trap inherent inthe design: to attempt to bypass the fortifications left an unknown numberof enemies at his back, and to stop and dig them out one at a time meantno hope of relieving the siege of Yabon.
Erik shook his head. "I'm too tired to think. At this point it seemsPossible that our only choice is in the manner of our defeat: either ridehome and dig in at Krondor, or get butchered as we continue to push"Orth.I)
"Can we not get support from the sea?" asked Lord Richard.Erik said, "Perhaps, up here, if we get past Quester's View. There'rea 'lumber of coves and beaches where we could land men, but we lack~"Ough ships to get the men there, don't have the proper boats for a
I
SHARDS OIF A BROKEN CROWN
I Raymond E. Feist
landing, and if Fadawah positions men on the bluffs above, none of ourmen would reach the road."
Leland said, "You make it sound hopeless."
Erik said, "Right now, that's how I feel. Some sleep and a meal . I, andwe'll see how I feel in the morning, but either way$ I'm not going toconclude anything on the basis of my feelings.'$ a great deal of war,Richard said, "For one so young, you've seen
haven't you?y~
Erik nodded. "I'm not yet twentY-SiX Years of age, m'lord, yet I feel
old in my bones."
"Get some rest, suggested Richard.
Erik nodded as he left the tent. He saw a soldier in the black tunic ofthe Crimson Eagles, and said, "Sean, where is our camp.Over there, Captain," answered the soldier as he hurried past.Erik moved in the indicated direction and found a dozen members ofhis old command setting up their tents. "Bless you, Jadow," he said whenhe saw his own tent already up. Erik flung himself down on the bedrollwaiting for him and was asleep within seconds.
'Ring the alarm," said Dash.
'What? asked Patrick, a look of incredulity on his face.'I said ring the alarm. Spread word that a Keshian armY is advancingand those soldiers hidden within the city will leap to attack.on the city,
the positions they're supposed to. only instead of takingour soldiers from behind, our soldiers will be waiting for them."'Isn't that extreme?asked Duke Ruflo, recently arrived from Rodez.
Dash knew him slightly from his time at the King's Court in Rillanon, andknew him to be a no-nonsense sort of fellow. He was a competent administrator, anadequate military advisor, and a fair rider and swordsman,exactly the wrong man for Krondor on the brink of a crisis. Rufio wouldprove a fine administrator for a talented monarch served by a brilliant
general, thought Dash. unfortunately, he had only Patrick and Dash todepend on, and Dash was now certain he would have to improvise andbe dazzling else Krondor would be lost.
''Yes, Your Grace, it is extreme," answered Dash, 'but it's better toflush them out when we're ready for them than to have them appelle arc
behind us at the height of an attack. I've seen enOU .
weapons and food caches in the sewers so that armed insurrection insidethe city can commence with any attack from outside.
"If there is any attack," said Patrick. He remained dubious aboUt theentire possibility. He was convinced that negotiations underway at Stardock
would eventually yield a solution. Even the revelation that MalarEnares had been a Keshian spy, and the lack of response to an inquiryabout Jimmy's arrival at Port Vykor, didn't persuade him there was therisk of a surprise attack against the capital of the Western Realm.Dash had never been close to Patrick. More of an age with Jimmyand Francie, Dash had always been the "tagalong" as children, and duringthe period when Dash and Jimmy had been tossed out of the palace tolearn in the rough and tumble of the docks at Rillanon, Patrick had beenvisiting the eastern courts, learning diplomacy. Even as young men, Dashand Patrick had felt little affinity for one another. Dash was sure Patrickhad redeeming qualities, but at this moment, he couldn't begin to thinkwhat they were.
"If you know who these men are," suggested Patrick, "the ones whoare secreting all these weapons and food, why don't you just arrest them?""Because presently I have less than one hundred constables, and Ibelieve there are close to a thousand enemy soldiers scattered throughoutthe city. As soon as I arrest the first bunch, the rest will go to ground.And I don't know who all of them are. I think I've got some lying lowaboard ships off the coast, and there may be some in the caravansaryoutside the gate, and who knows how many are lurking down in thesewers.
"But if I ring the alarm bell, and you have the soldiers in the cityplaced at key locations, between them and my constables, we can eliminatethis threat."
Duke Rufio said, "I have two hundred soldiers en route from Rodezwho should be arriving here within the week. Perhaps when they arrive?"Dash tried mightily to hide his aggravation. He almost succeeded. "Atleast let me employee more men," Dash pleaded.Patrick said, "The treasury is low; you'll have to make due with whatYou have."
"What about volunteers?" asked Dash.
"If anyone volunteers to serve, swear them to duty. Do whatever youhave to. Perhaps after the war we might pay them." Patrick looked as ifhe had run out of patience. "That will be all, Sheriff," said Patrick.
haft Dash bowed and removed himself from the office. Stalking down the, he was lost in thought when he turned a corner and almost ran intoll,ancie. "Dash!" she said, sounding pleased to see him. "It's been solong.~
"I've been busy," he said, still feeling nettled over Patrick's dismissalof his idea.
'Everyone has. Father tells me Your job is probably as thankless asanyone's in the palace, yet he thinks you're doing it well."
Thanks," said Dash. "Are you staying here
in Krondor, now that Duko Rufio has assumed office?" "Father and I leave for Rillanon in a week," said Francie. "We haveto make plans For the wedding.
Francie nodded. "No one is suPposed to know; the King will announce it after things calm down .... " She looked troubled.'What is it?
Lowering her voice she said, Have you heard anything frOmjimmy?g$
'No,' ' he said.
'I'm worried about him," said Francie. "He left in such a hurry andwe really had little chance to talk. about things."Dash had no time for this. "Francie, he's fine, and as for talking aboutthings, well, perhaps after the wedding, when patrick's returned and you'reprincess of Krondor, you can order him to come to a garden party"Dash!" said Francie, looking hurt. ,Why are you being so mean?"Dash sighed. "Because . I'm tired, angry, frustrated, and because yourfuture husband is being well, he's being Patrick. And if you want toknow, I'm worried about Jimmy too.
Francie nodded. 'Is he really upset by my marrying Patrick?"Dash shrugged. I don't know. I think in a way, yes, but in anotherway he knows things have to be what they are. He's ... confused, likethe rest of us."
Francie sighed. "I just want him to be my friend."
Dash tried to force a smile.you shouldn't worry about that. JiMMY'svery loyal. He'll always be your friend." He bowed slightly. "Well, nli.lady, I must be off. There's too much to do and I'mm already late."
"Good-bye, Dash," she said, and Dash detected a note of sadness illher voice, as if they were parting forever.
-bye, Francie,~l he said as he turned and walked off. Here hewas trying to keep the city intact, and she was concerned with hurt feelings
. Dash knew he was in a bad mood, but he also knew it was well earned. And he knew he was likely to be in a worse one if he didn't comeup with some way to neutralize those forces hostile to the crown alreadysecreted inside the city.
Subai was astonished, as was every human upon first viewing elvandar
. He had been led through the glades to the large surrounding
the heart of the elven forests, and when he had spied the giant trees ofluminous colors he had been moved to his most expressive exclamationin years. " Killian! What joy!" he had whispered.Adelin said, "Of those beings you humans worship, we revere Killianmost. "
He led the tired and hungry Captain to the Queen's court, and by thetime Subai reached it, he felt far better than he had any reason to expect.He suspected it had something to do with the magic associated with theplace, according to legend.
He bowed before the two beings sitting upon the dais, a woman of stunningif alien beauty, and a tall, powerfully built but young-looking man.',Your Majesty," he said to the Queen. "My lord," he said to the man."Welcome," said the Elf Queen, and her voice was soft and musical."You have come a great distance, and at great peril. Take your ease andtell us of your message from your Prince."
Subai looked around the Queen's Council. Three elderly looking,grey-haired elves stood to her right hand, one wearing rich-looking robes,the second an impressive-looking suit of armor with a sword at his side,and the third a simple blue robe with a corded belt.Next to Tomas, Prince-Consort of Elvandar, stood a young-lookingelf, one who bore a resemblance to the Queen, and Subai deduced this tobe her older son, Calin. To his left stood a familiar figure: Calis. Next toCalis was a man wearing leathers and a long grey cloak.Subai said to the Queen, "The message is this, Fair Queen: an enemyof great evil lies between our realms. Calis as much as any man knowsthis evil He has faced it more than anyone, and knows it wears manyfaces.
"What would you have of us?" asked the Queen.
Subai looked from face to face. "I do not know, Great Queen. I hadhoped to find the magician Pug here, for it may be we are at the mercyOf powers only he might face."
Tomas stood and said, "Should we have need of Pug I can promiseYou a quick passage to him. He has returned to his island and can befound there."
Calis said, "Mother, may I speak?" The Queen nodded, and Calissaid, "Subai, the Emerald Queen is dead and so is the demon who destroyedher. Surely the Kingdom can deal with the remaining invaders.""I wish that it were so, Calis," said Subai. "But on my way here Isaw things that make me think we have again encountered more than\*we've suspected. I've seen the return of those men you told us of, the"Immortals, and other drinkers of blood. I've seen men, women, and children
sacrificed up to dark powers. I've seen bodies piled in pits, and mysticfires burning in villages.
I've heard chants and songs that no human shouldhear. Whatever help you have to give, please, we need it now."
The Queen said, "We shall discuss this in council. our son has spokenat length of the invaders from across the sea. They do not trouble us, butthey do patrol near our borders.
"Go now and rest. We shall meet again in the morning."Calis and the man in grey came down to stand before Subai. Calisshook hands with the Captain. "It is good to see you," said Calis.The Pathfinder said, ,you can't imagine how good it is to see you,Calis. And I'm betting that Erik wishes you were back in command ofthe Eagles.'~
Calis said, "This is Pahaman of Natal."
The man in grey put out his hand, and Subai said, "Our grandfatherswere brothers."
,,our grandfathers were brothers," returned Pahaman.Calis said, "An odd greeting."
Subai smiled. 'it's a ritual. The Pathfinders and the Rangers of Natal
are of like spirit. Never in the conflicts between the Free Cities and theKingdom has a Ranger or Pathfinder spilled the other's blood."Pahaman said, "In ancient times, when Kesh ruled, our ancestorswere Imperial Guides. When the Empire retreated, many who were leftbehind became Rangers, and those who lived near Krondor founded thePathfinders. All are kin, Pathfinder, Ranger, and Guide."Calis said, "Would that all men knew they were kin. Come, let usfeed you, Subai, and find you a place to sleep. While you dine, tell mewhat you've seen."
They departed.
Twenty-Three
THE MEN WALKED Softly.
Dash led his detachment through the cellar, each man carrying a largebilly club and a dagger. The order was simple. If they resist, subdue them;if they draw weapons, kill them.
All over the city, raids were being conducted, by constables and membersof Patrick's Royal Household Guard. Patrick would not permit thesounding of the city's alarm, and the only concession Dash could wringfrom the Prince was the use of two hundred of his guards for a coordinatedraid.
Seven different hideouts had been discovered, as well as three shipsin the harbor. The ships were being left to the Royal Navy, which hadenough presence in the area that the sudden boarding of the target shipsshould be unexpected.
But Dash was unhappy. He knew there were other agents in the city,and that a significant portion of the caravan guards at the caravansary
were probably Keshian soldiers. The only comfort he drew from theirgoing uncaught was that they were outside the wall and would remain so.he had established checkpoints at the gate, on the pretext of needing abetter census with the rebuilding of the city.. They had reached a cellar in the northeastern portion of the city; thebuilding was still burned-out, but Dash knew the door to the cellar hadbeen restored. It had been scorched to look burned.He had debated the best way to approach this task with himself all'daY, and had finally elected to take the shock approach.The upper cellar was deserted, but he knew the rear door led to a'ramp down to the lower cellar, the one which opened onto the sewers.]He tested the door handle and found it unlatched. Gently he lifted it and
ife and said, "More than anytiine since the
Tomas turned to his W
Riftwar I fear we may not be free of involvement." d, &&Tathar?'
The Queen looked at her eldest counselor and sai"We will wait upon Calis's return. After he has spoken to the hunlall
he will tell us how grave is the risk."
Prince Calin said, "I will join MY brother and listen, as well."The Queen nodded, and the old warrior, Redtree, said, "What goodwould it do for us to leave Elvandar? We are few in number and couldnot tip the balance." Tomas said, "I don't think that will be the question." He looked athis wife and said, "The question becomes, should I depart Elvandar.The Queen looked at her husband and said nothing.
moved the door open. He whispered to the men behind him, "All right,silently until I say different."
He crept down the ramp to a landing opening up on a large cellar,once previously used to house large casks of ale and wine. The buildingabove had been an inn. On the far side of the room a score of men werelying around on bedding on the floor, or sitting on barrels. Dash said tohis own men, "Spread out and don't stop."
He walked purposefully toward the nearest man who looked in surprise at the men approaching. Then he saw the red armband and startedto stand up. Dash shouted, "In the name of the Prince, surrender!"The man lying on the nearest pallet started to rise, but Dash lashedout with his billy club and knocked the man senseless. The other constableshurried forward, and one man who started to pull his sword wasstruck unconscious by three constables. Others raised hands in surrender,though one tried to run down a passage. One of the constables flung hisbilly along the floor, sending it skipping over the stones to strike the manin the back of the legs. He fell hard and before he could rise two otherconstables were on him.
Dash had the prisoners roped together with their hands tied behindthem before they could organize a resistance. One of the newly deputizedconstables said, "That went easily enough, Sheriff."Dash said, "Don't get too comfortable. The rest of the night won't bethis easy. "
At dawn Jimmy rose to find a worried-looking Marcel Duval standingover his sleeping roll. "Earl James," said the Squire from Bas-Tyra."What is it?" asked Jimmy, getting up and trying to stretch at thesame time.
"Some of the horses are footsore, sir, and I was wondering if we mighttake a day to rest them."
Jimmy blinked, not sure he was entirely awake. "Rest them?""The pace has been punishing, sir, and some of these animals aregoing to be lame by the time we reach Krondor."Jimmy came wide awake. "Squire," said Jimmy in as calm a voiceas he could muster. "You may play at being a soldier all you wish backat the court in Bas-Tyra. Here you are a soldier. Now, by the time I getmy horse saddled, you and your men had better be ready to ride. TodaY,your gallant troop rides in the van."
gisir?l~
"That is all!" said Jimmy far too sharply. He closed his eyes a n'O\*
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
merit, then counted slowly to ten. He took a deep breath, then shouted,"Mount up!"
Everywhere men scrambled to get their horses saddled. Part of whatmade Jimmy irritable was that he knew the horses were being punished.
Duval's pretty bunch wouldn't be the only ones limping into Krondor,but he knew that by pushing this company, he'd reach the city in threemore days. He just hoped that would be soon enough.
When the column was ready, Jimmy looked back and did a mentalcalculation. Five hundred cavalry and mounted infantry. The men wereeating dried rations in the saddle, and already a few could be seen showingsigns of illness. But sick or well, tired or rested, he was going to get themall to Krondor. They could tip the balance if the city was still intact when
they got there. Fighting back hunger and fatigue, he shouted, "Get somethingin your bellies while you can. In ten minutes we pick up the pace."Turning to the head of the line, he shouted, "Squire Duval, lead thecolumn at the walk!"
"Sir!" came the reply, and Duval led his fifty lancers Out in the van.
As the sun crept above the horizon in the east and rose and yellowhues bathed the landscape, Jimmy was forced to admit Duvallsdid cut a dashing appearance. company
The attack came at dawn, before the sun had risen over the mountains,at the time when men were the least ready to fight and the most likely toreact slowly. Erik was already awake and had eaten, seen to the fortificationshe had ordered constructed, and had called for the camp to bemade ready.
Richard stood at the command tent, watching the advance in the greyof the morning, and said, "They seek to roll over us."
"As I would in their place," said Erik. He held his helmet under hisarm and pointed with his right hand. "If we hold the center, we can winthe day. If either flank falls, I can plug the flow, but if the center falls, wemust retreat."
Leland stood beside his father and said, "Then we will make certain,
the center doesn't fall." He donned his own helmet and said, "Father,may I join our men?"
I"his father said, "Yes, MY boy." The lad ran off to where a groom
held his mount. Leland leaped into the saddle as his father said, "Tithto-nanka guide your blade, and Ruthia smile on you." The invocation Ofhe War God and Goddess of Luck was appropriate, thought Erik.The invaders marched in irregular rhythm, without drummers or theother time-keepers Erik would have expected from Keshian or other kingdom
units. He had fought alongside most Of the men he now faced, andwhile he had been a spy in their midst, he felt little kinship for them. Still,he respected their individual bravery, and it was clear that Fadawah hadforged them into an army instead of the disorganized bands of mountedsoldiers they had been in Novindus. Now he saw heavyinfantry and foot supported by men withinfantry, companies of men with pikes advancing,bucklers and axes. Behind sat men on horsebackshields and swords,
cavalry units from the look of them, half with spears, the others armed
with sword and buckler. Erik gave a silent prayer of thanks that horsearchers had never been commOn in NovindUS.
A thought occurred to Erik and he turned to a message runner. "Sendword to Akee and the Hadati. I want them moving into those trees to theright,Of our position. Look for flanking bowmen trying to infiltrate thewoods. ,
The messenger ran off and Erik turned to Richard. "Nothing to donow but fight . He walked to where a groom heldhis horse. He mounted and rode quickly forward, inspecting the position
of the three diamonds. As he had known would be the case, Jadow hadhe men positioned as well as they could be, and they were his hardest troops,with the Crimson Eagles holding the centre diamond. Jadow waved fromthe center of the middle diamond and Erik saluted him. As an officer hecould have delegated command to a Sergeant and remaned with the horseunits, but Erik knew that, at heart, Lieutenant Jadow Shatifrom the Vale of Dreams Would always be a SergeantTith-Onanka strengthen your arm.Erik shouted.
The men in the diamond cheered their commander.
Then the invaders broke formation and charged, and the battle was on.
Tomas watched as Acaila meditated. Tathar and another elf sat withhim at three points of a triangle. Tomas had asked for their wisdom andAcaila had agreed to use his mystic Powers to Provide guidance.At the end of the Riftwar Tomas had vowed to never leave Elvandarunprotected. Now Tomas wondered if that oath would ultimately lead tothe destruction of the thing he had sworn to protect. knew ancient lore, lived through the luernor'es c Tomas
a few Others, TOnlo
of the being
whose powers he had inherited. Ashen-Shugar, last of the Val heru, had
become for a time one with Tomas, and much of his power resided Stillin the former kitchen boy from Crydee. With butunderstood the powers behind much of what had shaped his life.
in days past, beyond numbering? Ashen-Shugar and his brethren hadflown the skies on the backs of dragons. They had hunted like the predatorsthey were, both creatures without intelligence, and creatures with.In their arrogance they counted themselves among the mightiest beings increation and had no concept of their own delusions.Tomas had over the years come to understand that what he knewfrom Ashen-Shugar was truth as Ashen-Shugar knew it. He knew howthe ancient Valheru felt, thought, and remembered, but because the Valherubelieved it true didn't make it so.
Alone of his kind, Ashen-Shugar avoided the influence of DrakinKorin,who Tomas now knew was a pawn of the Nameless One, the godwhose name alone invites destruction. The human in Tomas consideredit ironic that the Nameless One used Valheru vanity and their own certaintyof their omnipotence to destroy them eventually. The Valheru portionof Tomas's nature felt rage at the thought his race had been nothingmore than a tool, and one used and discarded when it was no longereffective.
Tomas looked at the three elves and knew it would be a while beforeAcaila had wisdom to share. He left the contemplation glade and walkedthrough Elvandar. Across the way he noticed Subai and Pahaman of Nataltalking. Rangers rarely talked to anyone besides other Rangers and occasionallythe elves, so Tomas knew that in Subai, Pahaman had found onehe considered kin.
The laughter of children pulled Tomas like a lodestone. He found adozen little ones playing a game of tag. Tomas saw his son, Calis, sittingnext to the woman from across the sea, Ellia. They sat close, her hand inhis, and Tomas felt a warmth toward his son. He knew that he wouldnever father another child, for it was a special magic that gave life to hisson. He had played his part in destroying the great threat to all life onMidkemia, the Lifestone, and now his fate was his own. But Calis wouldnever father children, so Tomas's line ended with his son. Yet at play
~were two elven children, Tilac and Chapac, who seemed family. Yet eventhe names of the boys, alien on the ears of those born in Elvandar, remindedTomas that there would never be a place in the world where heentirely belonged. He smiled at Calis. Like his son, he had forged a placefor himself, and was content with it.
Calis waved at his father and said, "Join us."Ellia smiled at Tomas, but it was a smile tempered with uncertainty.Pid Of Ashen-Shugar's Valheru mind during the Riftwar and cleansed of"many of the lingering effects of that meld of human and Valheru by thestone, Tomas nevertheless bore the Valheru stamp upon him. To anythe edhel-the elven races-there would almost be an instinctive response
, a subservience that bordered on fear. tomas knelt next to his son.
there is much to be thankful for
Calis said, "Yes." He glanced at the woman at his side and she
smiled. Tomas was almost certain eventually they would wed The boys'
father had died during the war in Novindus that had led to the invasionof the Kingdom. With a very low birthrate and a high percentage of by those who
underwent the "recognition," the instinctive knowledge of who their mates were, there was little hope for a widow to find asecond husband. As Calis had lived most of his life among humans andwas half-human himself, there was no mate for him among his mother'speople. Tomas felt that fate had chosen to deal kindly with his son bybringing this woman and her sons to Elvandar. Tomas said, "There is much to concern us with the news Subaibrings.'
Calis looked down. .,I know. I feel as if it might be wise for me toreturn to the Kingdom and to again serv
Tomas put his hand on his son's shoulder. "You've done your share.I think it's time for me to return to the Kingdom."Calis looked at his father. "But you said-"
'I know, but if this threat is what You and I both know it could be,then if we do not deal with it now, down near Ylith, we will deal with itsomeday, only we will be fighting here."
Ellia said, "This is the same madness that destroyed my village acrossthe sea. Her accent was odd by elven standards, but she was masteringthe tongue of her ancestors. "They are evil beyond measure. . They areblack of soul and have no hearts.?' She glanced at her sons playing. tonlya miracle sent Miranda to save us. They had killed all the other childrenin the village."
Tomas said, "I'm waiting for Acaila's wisdom on this, but I I think Imust fly to Sorcerer's Island and take council with Pug, as well.'Calis said, "With the demon destroyed, I thought it but an issue between
men.?)
Tomas shook his head. "If I understand a tenth of what I have beentold, it will never be merely an issue between men. There will always befar greater powers behind those men, and at each turn those powers must be balanced."
Tomas stood up. 'I will see you at supper?
calis said, "I dine with Ellia and the boys."
Tomas smiled. "I will tell your mother."
He wandered through Elvandar, home for most of his life ' and as hedid every day) he marveled that he was allowed to live here. if there was
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
a more beautiful place in creation to live, he couldn't imagine it. This waspart of his reason for vowing to never leave, to always be here to protectit, for he couldn't imagine the world without Elvandar.He continued and found himself returning eventually to the contemplationglade. Acaila had roused himself from his meditation and waswalking toward Tomas. His expression was clouded with worry. Tomaswas surprised, as the ancient leader of the Eldar rarely revealed histhoughts this casually.
Tomas asked, "You've seen something?"
To Tathar and the other elf, Acaila said, "Thank you for your guidance."He took Tomas by the elbow and said, "Walk with me, myfriend. "
He led Tomas through a quiet part of the woods, away from thekitchens and shops, near the edge of the inner circle of Elvandar. Whenhe was certain they were alone, Acaila said, "Something dark still lingersin Krondor." He looked at Tomas. "Something wonderful, too. I cannotexplain it, but an old power for good verges upon returning. Perhaps theuniverse is trying to put itself right."
Acaila led the Eldar, the ancient line of elves who had been closest tothe Valheru. Tomas had come to value his counsel. He had a perspectiveunique and vast.
"But whatever force for good there is, the evil unleashed by the demonbefore it was destroyed is still stronger," Acaila continued. "That darkagency has servants, and they are building power in Ylith and Zun andnow in LaMut."
"What Subai said about human sacrifice?"
Acaila said, "It is a thing of great evil and great power, and it growsby the day. The servants of such evil often are dupes and have no idea ofwhat they bring upon themselves as well as others. They do not knowthey destroy their own souls first. As soulless men they feel no remorse,no shame, no regret. They merely act on impulse, seeking what they thinkthey want, glory, power, wealth, the trappings of might. They do notrealize they have already lost and anything they do serves only waste anddestruction.
Tomas was silent for a while, then said, "I have Valheru memory, sothose impulses are well known to me."
"Your Valheru forebears lived in different times, my friend. The universewas ordered differently. The Valheru were natural forces, servingneither good nor evil.
"But this thing is a thing of evil, apart from any other consideration,
i
it
Raymond E. Feist
and it must be rooted out and destroyed. And to do so, the forces whichstrive to endure and survive the onslaught will need help."Tomas said, "So I leave to lend my strength."
Acaila said, "Of all of us here, you alone have the means to tip thebalance to good."
"I will leave and find Pug," said Tomas. "Together we will do whatwe must to save the Kingdom and prevent the rise of this evil in Krondor. ""Go to the Queen," said Acaila, "and know whatever you do, youdo for her and your son."
Tomas gripped Acaila's hand and left.
Later that night, after dining with his wife and a lingering good-bye,Tomas returned to the clearing north of the center of the forest. He wasnow dressed in his white-and-gold armor. A legacy of an ancient past, thearmor was without blemish or scratch. He had reclaimed his golden swordwith the white hilt when his son had unraveled the mystery of the Lifestone.His hand rested on its hilt, and he wore his white shield with thegolden dragon emblazoned on it over his shoulder. He looked to the skyand sent forth a call. He waited.
Men lay dead and dying on all sides. Erik stood exhausted, a moundof dead enemies before him. Sometime during the afternoon his horse hadgone out from under him courtesy of a stray arrow.Twice he had been tempted to order retreat, but on both occasions hismen had rallied and the enemy had been thrown back. He vaguely recalleda lull during the afternoon in which he had greedily drunk from a waterskinand eaten something; he couldn't remember what.Horns had sounded from the other side a few minutes before, and theenemy withdrew. The diamonds had held, and a thousand or more Menhad died trying to take them. Erik couldn't begin to guess how manydefenders had died as well. He knew he'd get a body count in the morning.Leland rode up and said, "My father's compliments, CaptainErik nodded, trying to get his thoughts organized. "I'll be along presently,Lieutenant. "
Erik bent and cleaned his sword on the tunic of a dead man beforehim, then put it in his scabbard and looked over the field. He had endedUP in the gap between the center diamond and the one on the right. thebodies before him were waist-high. He turned toward Jadow Shati, WhOyelled, "I hope we don't have to do that again anytime soon, man!"Erik waved. "Not until tomorrow." He headed toward Earl Richard'stent. When he got there he found two bodies being dragged out Of thetent by guards, and the old Earl sitting at his table an orderlhis arm.
"What happened?" asked Erik.
"Some of the enemy
p Y uanaaging
g oose On YOUr left flank, Captain, and actually
got here. I finally got to use this sword.
"How do You feel?" asked Erik.
"Like hell, Captain. " He looked at the orderly, who finished tying offthe bandage, and waved him away. "Still, I can at last feel like a soldier.
"You know," he said, leaning back, "I once rode a patrol, and wesaw some Keshians who ran across the border when they saw us, anduntil today that was as close as I had come to being in an actual battle."
"That was forty years ago, Erik.
He got a distant look.
Erik sat. "I envy you.,,
"I don't doubt that," said Richard. "What now?'"We wait until they withdraw a bit more, then I'd like to Put somescouts up in the hills to get a sense of how they're d Idid well this day."
"But we A;A-,
-F Oying. ur men
t "reak them," said Richard.
"NO," said Erik. "and each day we fight out here in the middle ofthe road, our chances of reaching Ylith diminish, and our hYabon becomes faint."
"We need some sort of magic," said Richard.
I'm short of magic right now,,,,
said Erik, standing up. "I had better see how the men are." He saluted and left the tent.
He encountered Leland outside and said, "Your fathers fine; hiswound is slight.'
Leland's face reflected his relief. Erik's estimation Of the boy rose; hehad gone about his business not knowing how his father fared.Erik asked, "How are the reserves?,,
"They stand ready," said Leland.
Erik was relieved. "I lost track in the afternoon and didn't rememberif they had been called up.,,
"TheY were not, Captain.
tell the cay
'good, order the men inside the diamonds relieved andstand down. Get the men fed. Then come back. I have a job for you.'
Leland saluted and hurried off. Erik made his way to his Own modesttent aMong the Crimson Eagles and sat down. Commissary soldiers hurried with waterand food and one approached Erik with a wooden bowlof hot stew and a Water skin. He took the bowl and a Spoon and dug in,Ignoring the heat.
Jadow Shati and the men from the center diamond came walkingSlowly back and Jadow half-sat, half-collapsed next to Erik ,Man, I don't,want to do that again."
How did we do?"
"We lost a few," said Jadow, fatigue making his speech slow and his tone somber. 'It could have been worse.'
,,i know," said Erik. "We've got to come up with something brilliantand unexpected, or we're going to lose this war.'I thought it was something like that,? said Jadow. ,Maybe if wecould launch a counteroffensive we could bleed them enough tomorrow and punch through their center, leaving their forces divided."
Erik was almost finished eating when a messenger found him.Richard's compliments, sir. Would you attend him at once.Erik rose and followed the youngster and returned to the command tent.There he found a terrified-looking scribe standing next to Earl Richard. 'This just came in a few minutes ago" Richard said to Erik.
Erik read JiMMY's message and said, "Gods!"
Richard said, "what do you think we should do?',,if we take any of our forces south, we lose Yabon. if we keep themhere, we lose Krondor."
Richard said, t(We must preserve Krondor. We can hold here and, ifwe must, ]postpone the campaign to retake yabon until next year.'Erik said, 'This is impossible." He was silent for a minute, then said,,,my lord, if you'll allow me?"
The Earl said, 'I always do, Erik. You haven't made a mistake sofar." The old Earl had come to recognize Erik's talents and his utter lackof personal ambition and would ratify any decision Erik made.Erik said, "Send for Jadow Shati."
While the messenger was gone, Erik questioned the scribe and foundthe man completely ignorant of Most Of the things Erik wanted to know.He did. however, impress upon Erik the level of concern and agitatiOnEarl James? enough that Erik felt he must heed JimMY's Warning.When Jadow showed up, Erik said, "We have a change in plans.""Don't we always?"
'I want you to start now on building a barricade. I want a fort by theend of this week."
'Where?"
'Here,~) said Erik, "Across this road. Put a squad up in the hills tothe east with Akee's Hadati and kill anything that comes south. This Isour new northern border until I tell you otherwise."
'What sort of fortifications?"
"I want a six-foot-high earthen breastwork a hundred yards north ofthe three diamonds. When that's done, start building a wall. Fell trees tothe south and get on it. I want it twelve feet high, reinforced, with anarchery platform every twenty yards. I want two ballista ports every hundredfeet, and a clear line of fire to the rear for catapults, so they canlaunch stones without knocking our own men off the walls.""Man, how long is this thing to be?"
"From the cliffs overlooking the sea to the steepest hill you can find.""Erik, that's more than two miles!"
"Then you'd better start now."
Leland of Malkuric appeared. "The cavalry is standing down, sir.""Good," said Erik. "At first light I want you leading them down thecoast, back to Krondor."
"Krondor?" said the youth, looking at his father.The old Earl nodded. "It appears our old friends the Keshians areabout to launch an assault on the city. Earl James of Vencar requestsreinforcements."
"But what about the fight here?" asked the youth."You just get south and save Krondor, lad," said Erik. "Leave thisarea to me."
"Yes, sir," said the lad. "Which units, sir?"
"Every horseman we have. We can dig in and hold here for the restof the summer with the footmen, but they can't reach Krondor in anythingunder three weeks.
"Now, listen carefully. Don't start ofF galloping down the coast. You'llkill half your mounts in the first three days. Start off forty minutes at atrot, then get off the horses and lead them for twenty. At noon, switch toa half hour trotting and a half hour leading the horses. And give themplenty of grain and water each evening. If you do that, you'll save mostOf them and get thirty miles a day out of the troops. That should put youin Krondor in a week."
"Yes, sir!" said Leland. He turned and left to carry out his orders.Erik balled his fist and looked skyward. "Damn!" he said. "I justthought up a way to dig those bastards out from behind that fortress tothe north, and this has to happen."
Jadow, who had been about to leave when Leland appeared, said,"You know they say Tith-Onanka runs a soldier's life, but I got to tellYOU, man, Banath seems to run my little corner of the world." He left.Erik nodded. "Banath runs mine too, it seems." The God of Thieveswas also known as "The Prankster," and was commonly given credit foreverything that went wrong.
Erik looked at the old Earl, who said, "We do what we can.Erik nodded, and silently left the tent, feeling as defeated as he hadever felt in his life.
Dash roused himself and rubbed his eyes. He had given up on stayingawake during the afternoon unless an emergency occurred. There was toomuch to do after darkness fell.
He began his day at sundown and worked throughout the night, withhis mornings Spent at the palace or Sorting out problems around the city.About noon, if the gods were kind, he would collapse into his bed at therear of the New Market Jail and fall into an exhausted sleep. Six or seven
hours later, he would be roused. He had received unexpected help from the Mockers in locating the
infiltrators. He had put at least two of them behind bars, and hadhundrede north Of the city over
to build a temporary stockade to that
tacked, in
forced Patrick bjections. Should Kesh attack-when Keshthe Pri-nce~s 0I
Dash's mind-they would be freed by the Keshians. At least, thoughtDash, they would'be unarmed and outside the city. it was the ones still armed and inside the city that he worried about.As Dash entered the former inn's common room, used as a squadroom by the constabulary, he realized he had overslept, and it was at leastan hour after he had planned to be up. He asked one of the constables,'what time is it?"
'Eight Of the clock about fifteen minutes ago. He's been waiting herean hour. We wouldn't let him wake you.
The constable was pointing at a court age. "What is it?" he asked.
The lad handed him a note. ,The prince wishes you at the palace atonce, sir," said the boy.
Dash read it and winced. He had completely forgotten he had beenat the palace and had agreed to go. ,I,ll be
invited to dinner this evening
along shOrtlY," said Dash.ith Patrick even more than usual and Prob.Lately he was unhappy W on. Dash realizedhe had forgotten the invitati
ably that was the reasonn any fashion he wished? with ofe could certainly operate rity was Dasillsthat the Pnnc that the city's secuwithout Dash s approval, but given of Patrick$ S which made security
responsibility, he resented those decisions itthat much more difficult to insure.g the prince angry waothings from Patrick, and niakin
Dash wanted to make Patrick understand how S~ngerOlOa good way to do that. He had
things were right now. o impress upon Patrick the mere fact that hamDash couldn't seem t
SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CROWN
had two Keshian agents inside the palace walls was a major source ofconcern. Dash knew his grandfather would have had both men singingout the names of every contact they had from Krondor to the Overn Deep.Patrick, on the other hand, seemed oblivious, and Duke Ruflo felt thatas both men were absent from the palace-one gone and the other incustody-things were in hand. Dash wondered if Talwin had put in anappearance as yet and what his view on the matter was. Dash was certainhis late father's spy wouldn't share Rufio's equanimity on the matter.Dash gave instructions on the night's raids and put Gustaf in chargeof the most delicate one; he had come to trust the former mercenary as asteady influence on the other men. Dash got his horse and rode to thepalace.
As he rode through the city, Dash registered the rhythm of the place,becoming more familiar by the day. Krondor was reviving and it angeredhim to the point of irrationality that anyone, Keshian or Fadawah, mightreturn to undo the work he had done. Rillanon had been his home untilthree years before, when his grandfather had brought Dash and his brotherto Krondor. Since then he had worked for a while for Roo Avery, thoughhe was always in his grandfather's employ. And against any reasonableexpectation he had made the city his own.
As he neared the palace, Dash conceded there was more of his grandfatherin him than he might have once been willing to admit. Dash rodein past a pair of guards at the main gate who saluted the Sheriff. A groomhurried forward to take his horse. Dash moved quickly up the palace stepsand past guards standing in the entrance hall.He was hurrying to the point of almost running as he rounded thecorner that would take him directly to the great hall. Instantly he knewsomething was wrong.
The great doors were open and a pair of guards stood just inside, asif inquiring over something. A servant was running from the hall, towardthe rear of the palace, shouting something.
Dash ran. He pushed past the two guards at the door and saw peoplein agony or unconscious. The hall had been set up with a giant U-shapedtable, allowing jugglers and entertainers to perform before the entire court.The Prince, Francie, Dukes Brian and Rufio were at the head table. Dashnoted an empty chair at the far end on the Prince's left.The other two tables were occupied by the remaining nobles of thealea and most of the important citizens of Krondor. Half of them appeared"unconscious, slumped down in their chairs or on the floor, while a fewOthers were attempting to stand, and one or two were sitting, a vacantdisoriented expression on their faces.
Raymond E. Feist
Dash ran across the room I to the head table and vaulted over it, swinginghis legs over the prone form of Duke Brian. Francie was slumped overthe table between her father and Patrick, and Duke E.ufio had fallen tothe floor and was lying on his back, eyes open and vacant. The Prince satback in his chair gasping for air, his eyes wide and unfocused.Dash stuck his finger into the Prince's mouth, and Patrick vomitedthe contents of his stomach. He repeated the action with Francie, whoalso threw up what she had eaten. He turned to see startled-looking servantsand guards standing around, unsure of what to do. "Make themvomit!,, shouted Dash. "They've been poisoned!" food, but far less thanHe reached Duke Silden and got him to gag up could not force aDash would have liked. He reached Duke Rufio andresponse. The Duke's breathing was shallow and his face was clammy tothe touch.
Dash jumped up and saw that three of the servants were attemptingto get those still conscious to throw up. He shouted to a guard, "Get ahorse! Ride to Temple Square' Bring back any clerics You can find. Weneed healers!"
Dash organized the servants and had more come bringing fresh water.He had no idea what poison had been used, but he knew that some ofthem could be diluted. "Make those who can drink swallow as much asthey can. " he shouted. "Don't force those who can't; you'll drown them."Dash grabbed a sergeant of the guard and said, "Arrest everyone inthe kitchen."
Dash realized that whoever had poisoned the entire royal court wasprobably gone by now, but perhaps he had not had time to flee. He certainlyhadn't expected the Sheriff to be late and avoid being among thoseafflicted.
The room stank and Dash set some of the staff to cleaning up as othersattended those ill. It took nearly a half hour for the first cleric to arrive, apriest of Astalon. He set about doing what he could do for the stricken,
starting with the Prince.
Dash did a mental inventory of those in attendance: of the nobles illKrondor, only he had been absent from this meal. Every other titled lordfrom Duke to Squire in the area was at that table. Of the town,s wealthy
and powerful merchants, only Roo Avery was absent, being out at h'sestate with his family.
Soon other priests of the various orders appeared, including ]brOtherDominic, the Ishapian who now served at Nakor's temple. They tendedthose in the room throughout the night, and Dash interrogated the kitchen"staff. Near sunrise he returned to the great hall, which now resembled
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
infirmary. Dominic was near the door and Dash called him over. "Howdo we stand?" he asked.
"It was a close thing," said the monk. "Had you not acted as you
had, you would be the only noble in the city still breathing."The Prince will live, though he will be sick for a long time, as willthe Lady Francine." He shook his head. "Her father is touch and go. Idon't know if he'll pull through."
Dash said, "Duke Rufio?"
Dominic shook his head in the negative. "It was the wine that waspoisoned. He drank a great deal of it."
Dash closed his eyes. "I tried to tell Patrick that if we had one spy inthe palace . . . "
"Well," said Dominic, "while the loss is terrible, at least the Princewill survive."
"There is that." Dash looked at those dead who were being carriedaway. "But we've lost too many already to have to endure this insult. Itcould have been worse, but not by much," said the exhausted youngSheriff
Then the alarm bell began to ring and Dash realized the city was underattack.
I
OR
Twenty-Four
DASH RACED dowN the street.
People ran through the streets while soldiers raced to the walls. Thegates were closing and a panic-stricken constable in charge of the gate;A "sheriff.. A rider raced in claiming there's a Keshian army
cneck za ~
~~minef un the road." and said,
'Bar the gate," said Dash. He grabbed the cons"What's your name?'~
''Delwin, sir," said the agitated young man.
"You're now a Sergeant, understand?"
The man nodded, then said, "But we don't have sergeants in the
constabulary, sir.l? "Come with me."
'right now, you're in the army, ash s o wall above the gateHe led Delwin up the steps to the ramparts on the
and looked to the east. The sun was rising over the distant mountainS andcaused him to squint.
Movement caught his eyes and he held his hand up to shield themfrom the sun. He squinted, and there, along a road running along the ballof a distant hill, he saw movement, nothing more than the appearance of
a long line undulating along the side of the hill."Gods," he whispered. TO the newly created sergeant he said, ,Seildword to the New Market Jail. I want every constable up on these Wallswith the solders. We have an army coming to visit. is left and
Sergeant Delwin hurried off. Dash looked to his right and Isaw a sergeant of the Palace Guard hurrying toward him. Dash grabbed
him and said, "What's your name?"
,,McCally, sir."
'Your Captain is either dead or very sick; I do not know which.are there any other officers around?"
"Lieutenant Yardley has the duty, sir, and should be above the palace
"Go fetch him and tell him I need him here at once."The Sergeant ran off and returned a few minutes later with the Lieutenant. "Sir," said the Lieutenant, "what are your orders?"Dash said, "As Baron of the court and Sheriff of Krondor, I find Iam the only functioning noble in the city. How many officers escaped thepoisoning last night?"
"Four, sir, of which I am senior."
"You are now an acting Captain, Yardley. How many men have we?"Yardley spoke without hesitation, "We have five hundred membersof the Prince's Household Guards, and fifteen hundred members of thecity garrison, spread out around the city. I don't know the current numberof your constables, sir."
"Slightly better than two hundred. What about guards who came withthe nobles last night?"
"Maybe another three hundred, honor guards, personal retinues," repliedthe newly made Captain.
"Very well, have them support your men on the palace walls. Havewhoever's in charge of the city garrison find me here and report."Yardley ran off, and a short time later a grey-haired old sergeant appeared. "I'm Sergeant Mackey, sir. Lieutenant Yardley said to report toYOU.))
"Where's your officer?" asked Dash.
"Dead, sir," replied the stocky old man. "He was dining with thePrince last night."
Dash shook his head. "Well, Sergeant," said Dash dryly, "for thenext few days, you're going to play the part of Knight-Marshal of Krondor. ~)
The old man smiled and came to attention. With a glint in his eye,he said, "I had hoped for a promotion before I retired, sir!" He then losthis smile. "If I may be so bold, who then are you to be?""Me?" said Dash with a bitter laugh. "I get to play the part of thePrince of Krondor until Patrick's strong enough to stand.""Well, then, Highness," said the Sergeant in a semi-mocking tone, "Irespectfully submit we better quit larking about and get ready to defendthis city.'y He pointed to the advancing column in the distance. "That lotdoesn,t appear very tender to me."
"Right you are," said Dash with a tired smile. "I want you to deploythree men in four on the walls. I want the remaining men held in reserve.""Sir!" said Mackey with a salute. As Mackey ran off, Gustaf and the
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sh yelled down,
constables ran down High Street toward the main gate. Da"How did the raids go last night?"
Gustaf shouted, "We netted another score of the bastards, but I knowthere are more out there."
"Here's the duty: call martial law and tell everyone to remain in theirhouses. Then I want the constables to check all the places we've talkedabout. Gustaf knew exactly what Dash meant: those places within thecity vulnerable to attack from within. "Then sweep the city and arrestanyone on the streets. Then report back to the jail and wait.""Wait for what, Sheriff?"
"Wait for word the Keshians are breaching the defenses, then comefast. "
Gustaf saluted. He turned and gave orders to groups of constables,who ran off in different directions, shouting, "Martial law. Get inside!Get off the streets!"
Dash turned and watched as the sun continued to rise in the east, andthe enemy continued their advance.
i
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Erik leaned over, perspiration dripping off his brow, as the enemyretreated once more. He stood at the point of the center diamond, thedead piled outside the shield wall to chest height. He turned when someonetouched his shoulder and saw Jadow behind him, his face a mask ofred from the splattered blood. "We held," said the Lieutenant. "We didit.)~
The attack had been unrelenting; a wave of soldiers who had simplypushed themselves upon the waiting defenses of the Kingdom. Erik hadbeen able to repulse them without having to rely on horses which he nolonger had. The left diamond had threatened to collapse at one point, buta reserve company had been thrown in and the enemy pushed back. Arch.ers had continued a slaughter between the diamonds and two flying companieshad been able to respond to threatened flanking attacks from eitherside. On the whole, it had been a masterful defense.Erik said to Jadow, "I'm worried about arrows. Get scavengers outthere picking up as many as can be salvaged."
Jadow hurried off and Erik waved over another soldier, named WiW."Run to the command tent and inform Earl Richard I'll be along presently,and ask him if any supply trains have caught up with us. then
come back here and report."
Erik was handed a waterskin by a commissary and he drank greedily.
He then poured water over his face and wiped off whatever blood anddirt he could.
Around him men were pushing bodies outside the diamonds. Theenemy showed no interest in removing their dead, and Erik was worried:beyond the obvious problems of the stink and the danger of disease, therewas the added burden of his men having to clear the positions so theycould be defended.
Erik directed the cleanup, and Jadow returned saying that the scavengerswere hard at work recovering any arrows that could be used again.Even some that were damaged would be repaired by a trio of fletchershard at work at the rear of their position. But Erik was nearly out ofsupplies and was concerned, because a baggage train due to arrive theprevious day was overdue. He had dispatched a patrol to the south to findthem and hurry them along. While a smith's apprentice, Erik had tended
mules and donkeys and knew they were even more fractious and difficultat times than horses, but now he was concerned that something beyonda difficult team or two was slowing down the supplies.Jadow said, "Man, that was some fight."
"Not much in it, save stand and slaughter."
"Nightmare Ridge all over again."
Erik hiked his thumb at the enemy. "They're not very smart, but theyare fearless."
"I've been thinking," said Jadow. "We know that those we facedbefore were under some spell or another, a demon or what have you,according to the rumors, and that's why they fell apart after the battle atthe ridge, but they don't seem to have learned anything over the winter.""I know what you mean," said Erik. "From everything we knowabout Fadawah, I'd expect something different. He must have discoveredby now that we're not going to chase him." Erik rubbed his hand overhis face as if he could wipe away the fatigue.
,Wilks returned and said, "CaptAin, Earl Richmond awaits your reportand told me to tell you the baggage train has arrived."
."Good," said Erik, "I was beginning to worry." To Jadow, he said,"Relieve the men in the diamonds and get something to eat.""Sir," said Jadow with a casual salute.
Erik left the diamond and paused to inspect the three positions for a
minute. The shields were damaged, as he expected, and he had amplereplacements, but the spears were almost used up. He turned to a soldier.
"Johnson, get a squad and move south to the woods near the road. Startfelling trees that we can use to make long spears." The soldier saluted,and Erik could tell from his expression he had no wish to be doing anythingbut eating and sleeping, but during war few got to do what theywished for.
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Erik knew they'd not have spearpoints, but sharpened, fire-hardenedstakes would serve to keep enemy horse at bay. And other weapons wouldbe in the baggage, machine parts for constructing catapults, oil or burningout underground tunnels and firing wooden defensi . - I..s. Erik beganto feel optimistic about being able to hold the position. He had nothought at this moment about advancing, not with his entire detachmentof horse soldiers dashing toward Krondor.
He reached the command tent and found the Earl sitting at his commandtable. "How is the arm, sir?"
"Fine," said Richard. He smiled. "Do you want to know why ourbaggage is late?"
"I was wondering," admitted Erik as he poured himself a mug of alefrom a pitcher on the table.
"Leland forced them off the road," said Richard, "so he could getdown to Krondor. Some of the wagons got stuck in the mud and it tooka half-day to get them out."
"Well," said Erik with a laugh, "I'd have rather had them here yesterday,but as long as they're going to be late, I'll settle for that reason; Iwas afraid they'd been ambushed."
Hot wet towels were provided and Erik washed up. A servant wentto his tent and returned with a fresh tunic, and Erik sat with the Earl, theteeth-gritting pressure of the day beginning to slip away slightly as the alerelaxed him.
Food was provided, and while plain camp fare, it was hot and filling,and the bread was fresh baked. Erik bit off a large hunk of the hot flavorfulbread, and after he had swallowed, said, "One good thing about holdinga defensive position is our commissary has time to set up their ovens."Earl Richard laughed. "Well, there you have it; I was wondering ifthere was even a hint of good in all this, and you found it."Erik said, "Unfortunately, that may be about all the good there is towring out of this situation. I would trade all the hot bread in the worldto be outside the gates of Ylith, ready to storm the city with our army.""Someone once said that you can make all the plans you wish, butthey all go to naught as soon as the first elements in your army encounterthe enemy."
"My experience is that is true."
"The truly great field commanders can improvise"-Richard lookedat Erik-"as you do."
"Thank you, but I'm far from being anyone's notion of a great general.
"You underestimate yourself, Erik."
"I wanted to be a smith."
'Truth?')
"Truth. I was apprenticed
to a drunk who failed to register my name
with the guild, and had he, I would Probably have been urleodyewdhilfr(Darkmoor before I killed my half-brother.
ly He went onmaanndfoutlinede
satroargyeof how he had become a soldier, from murderingover Manfred's rape of Rosalyn, the girl who had been like a sisterto Erik, and being tried and convicted of murder. He told him of beingpulled from prison by Bobby de Loungville, Lord James, and Calis, andthe journeys to Novindus.
When he was done, Lord Richard said, "A remarkable story, Eli
We had heard things in the East of some of those things Lord James didbut only rumors and conjecture. " Lord Richard said, "My son will followme in my office, and Perhaps rise even higher as a result of this service(but you stand poised for greatness should you choose to take advantageErik. With Greylock dead, it is but a short step for you to take commandof the Armies of the West."
Erik said, "I am unsuited for it; there is so much I don't know Aboutstrategy, long-range Planning, the political consequences of things.,,"The fact You know those issues exist places you ahead Of most Of uswho might be selected for the position on the basis of who our fatherswere, Erik. Don't underestimate yourself.'
Erik shrugged. "I don't think I am, Richard. I'm Captain of the CrimsonEagles, and a Court Baron as a result. That's far more than I wishedto be. I thought I had everything I wanted when I was named Sergeant.I OnlY want to serve as a soldier."
"Sometimes we have no choice," said Richard. ('I wanted to growroses. I love my gardens. I don't think I'm happier than when I'm showingguests through them. I amuse MY wife and annoy our groundskeeper noend by puttering around out there, on MY hands and knees, pullingweeds. ~
Erik smiled at the image of the old man out there in the dirt. "YetYou do it.
'It makes me happy. Find what makes you happy, Erik, and hold to it.', , MY wife, doing a good job, the company of friends," said Erik. ',I,an't think of much more."
"You'll do, Erik von Darkmoor. You'll do very wellYOU for
w catness. II
They talked late into the night.
Nakor pointed. . 'That way.
The Captain said, ,I can't see anything in this fog. Are you sure?",,of course I am,' said Nakor. tthe fog's an illusion. I know wherewe're going."
'I'll remember you said that, sir." The Captain appeared dubious.
Nakor had tried a couple of ,tricks,, to contact Pug, but nothingseemed to work. He was almost certain new defenses had been erectedaround Sorcerer's Isle, and upon entering the region of fog he was certainthat was the case.
Pug didn't want to be bothered by casual travelers, it seemed. WhenNakor had been in charge of the island, he had relied on the reputationof the place, coupled with a menacing-looking castle with blue light flickering in the tower windows . Nowthe defensive magic was stronger. Nakor had to correct the Captain's course, because while in the fog the tillerman was letting the shipcurve away from the island.
In the distance he heard the sound of surf and said, "Get ready tolower sails, Captain. We're almost there."
"How can you-"
Suddenly they were out of the fog, in brilliant daylight. Members ofthe crew looked over their shoulders and saw a wall of fog which circledthe island like a fortress.
The castle still stood atop the cliffs, a looming black presence thatseemed to cast a pall over the area. "Should we move farther down thecoast?" asked the Captain.
"This is very good," said Nakor. "They've added some nHe looked at the Captain. "Everything is fine. you just lower a boat, dropme on the beach, then You can go back to Krondor."The relief was obvious on the man's face. "How do we plot Ourcourse?'~ ,
just sail through the fog, that way." Nakor pointed.if you're turnee around a little in the fog, that's fine, because it will want to turn you awayfrom the island anyway. You'll come out more or less pointed east, andyou can get Your bearings off the sun or stars. The Captain tried to look reassured, but failed.The sails were hauled in and a boat lowered, and within an hourNakor stood on the beach of Sorcerer's Island. He didn't bother to watchthe ship depart, as he knew the Captain would be raising sail even as theboat that had dropped Nakor off was rowing furiously back. Pug had donea wonderful job of casting a pall of woe and despair over anyone sittingon the coast.
Nakor hiked the path up from the beach, and where it split towardthe castle and down into the small valley, he chose the valley path. Nakordidn't even bother using the energy needed to shift his perceptions, as heknew that when he reached the limit of the illusion he would pass fromthe seemingly wild woodlands into a lovely pasture, dominated by a ramblingvilla.
When the illusion finally did shift, Nakor almost tripped in surprise.For while the landscape was as he had expected it to be, there was onefeature that was totally unexpected. A golden dragon rested comfortablynext to the house, apparently asleep.
Nakor hiked up his faded orange robe and hurried on spindly shanksuntil he was before the dragon. "Ryana!" he shouted.The dragon opened one eye and said, "Hello, Nakor. Is there a reasonyou're waking me?"
"Why don't you change and come inside?"
"Because it's more comfortable sleeping like this," said the dragon,her voice revealing her mood as less than pleased."Late night?"
"Flying all night. Tomas asked me to bring him.""Tomas is here! That is wonderful news."
"You may be the only one in Midkemia to think so," rejoined thedragon.
"No, I don't mean the reason he's here, I mean the fact he's here.That means I don't have to explain things to Pug.""Probably for the best," said the dragon as a nimbus of golden lightsurrounded her. Her form shimmered, the edges blurring, and the fightseemed to shrink until she was human size. Then she resolved into theform of a striking woman with reddish blond hair, enormous blue eyes,and a deep tan of gold.
"Put some clothing on," said Nakor. "I can't concentrate when yourun around naked."
With a slight movement, Ryana created a long blue gown, whichaccentuated her coloring. "How you can be the age you are and still actlike such an adolescent at times is beyond me, Nakor.""It's part of my charm," said Nakor with a grin.Ryana slipped her arm in his and said, "No, I don't think that's it.Let's go inside."
They walked into the house and headed toward Pug's study. Whenthey got there, they heard voices inside, and when Nakor knocked, Pug's~'voice said, "Come in."
Ryana entered first, and Nakor came in behind her. Pug's study waslarge, with a broad windowseat upon which Miranda sat. Tomas sat uncomfortablyin a chair that was obviously a little too small for him, whilePug sat facing the two of them. If either Tomas or Pug were surprised tosee Nakor, neither showed it. Miranda grinned. "Why am I not emnsedto see you here?"
(&I give up," said Nakor sitting down. "So, what are we to do?"All eyes turned toward him, and Pug said, ""y don't you tell us?"Nakor opened his sack and reached in, up to his shoulder, as if feelingaround. Everyone in the room had seen him do the trick before, but theeffect was still comic. He fished out an orange and said, "Anyone wantone
Miranda held up her hand and Nakor tossed it to her. He got anotherone for himself. Nakor began to peel the orange. "Something amazinghappened in Krondor last week. A terrible thing and a wonderful thing.Or they were both the same thing. Anyway, one of my students, a veryspecial woman named Aleta, was studying with Sho Pi-meditation, justthe basics-when suddenly a light gathered around her. She rose in theair, and below her, trapped, was a very black thing.""A black thing?" asked Miranda. "Could you be a little more specific?""
I don't know what to call it," said Nakor. "It's energy, perhaps aspirit of some sort. Maybe by now some of the other clerics from thedifferent temples have figured out what it is . But it's something very bad.Maybe it's left over from the demon. I don't know, but I think it was inplace so that something could happen in Krondor, later.""Later?" asked Miranda, then she looked at Pug, who shrugged.Tomas said, "I have just been telling Pug that Captain Subai of thePathfinders reached Elvandar. It seems Greylock's army is stalled southof Quester's View. And from what Subai reported, there is dark powerbeing used again."
Nakor said, "Yes, that makes a great deal of sense." He was about tosay something, then hesitated. "A moment. He made a broad gesturewith his hands and waved over his head, then the room crackled with
energy.
Tomas smiled. "Don't lower the barrier prematurely this time-'$Nakor grinned in embarrassment. The last time he had used this mysticshield to protect them, he had lowered it too soon and the demonJakan had located them. "I put the field around the room. I,II just leave
it up permanently. No agency of Nalar's will ever be able to spy Or' thisroom. Now we can talk without falling under his sway." in hisAt the mention of Nalar's name, Pug felt a prickling sensationhead for a moment, and suddenly barriers to his memory were lowered.Images and voices swam in his consciousness, and things he had placedapart in his mind were now accessible to him. "We must assume theNameless One has more servants."
"Obviously," said Tomas. "The human sacrifices and other slaughterare means for gathering power."
"What fascinates me," said Nakor, "is what is happening in Krondor. 'y
Pug smiled at his occasional companion. "Obviously this new faithof yours is having a direct effect."
"Yes, but that's what I find odd and fascinating." He pulled a sectionfrom his orange and ate it. "I am no expert on issues of faith, but I hadthe distinct impression it would take a few centuries or longer for our newtemple to have any effect."
Miranda said, "Don't give yourself too much credit, Nakor. It maybe the power was already there, and your little temple just happened tobe the convenient conduit."
"That makes more sense," agreed Nakor. "In any event, we have thisissue to discuss. When we fought the demon, we mistakenly thought wehad defeated the Nameless One's agents. What we did was destroy theirmost current weapons, nothing more."
Nakor waved out the window past Miranda. "Out there," he said, "isat least one more evil agency doing very bad things, and it is gatheringpower.
"That is who we must defeat."
Tomas said, "Subai leads me to think that Elvandar will soon be atrisk if we do not stop this army now."
Nakor leaped out of his chair. "No. You are not listening." Hestopped, then said, "Or I am not saying this right. We are not trying tosave Elvandar, or Krondor, or the Kingdom." He looked from face toface. ."We are trying to save this world."
Ryana said, "Very well, Nakor. You now have my undivided attention.These petty human wars are nothing to dragonkind, but we sharethis world with you. What is the threat to us all?""This Mad God, this Nalar, whose very name is a danger, he is thethreat. When you look at everything that has occurred since the ChaosWars, remember this. When you once again forget the very conversationwe have this hour, when your memories are locked away to prevent youfrom falling under Nalar's sway, remember this much: there is alwayssomething deeper behind what you see on the surface."
Raymon&t E. Feist
"All right," said Pug. "So what we see on the surface, the invasionand the conquest by Fadawah, they hide a deeper truth.""Yes, Fadawah is a dupe. He was before and he is still. He is just thenext to be placed at the head of this murderous army. We myst identifywhoever it is that stands behind him, in the shadow. There is somethingevil growing in Krondor. It is there against the time Fadawah's armyarrives. Whoever is behind Fadawahan advisor, or servant, or a memberof his guard-must be destroyed. Somewhere is a being who was therewhen the my old wife, Jorma, became Lady Clovis, when she was controllingDhakon, and when she sat the Emerald Throne. He was therewhen the demon ruled, and now when Fadawah is the leader. This creature,man, or spirit, this thing is the agent of Nalar who is orchestratingthe war. It is this being who seeks no conquest, but rather destruction.This is the creature who doesn't wish to see one side or the other win,but rather seeks to let the suffering linger, let innocents die. This is thecreature we must find."
Tomas said, "Do you suspect another Pantathian?"Nakor said, "I don't think so. Maybe, but it may also be a man, or adark elf, or any other manner of creature. It may be a spirit in the bodyof one such as Fadawah. I just don't know. But we must seek out thiscreature and destroy it."
Pug said, "This sounds as if we must fly to the heart of the enemyand confront their leader."
Nakor said, "Yes, and that is dangerous."
Pug winced in memory of the trap the demon had laid for him, theone that in his arrogance he had overlooked, the trap that had almost costPug his life.
"Why don't we just ... I don't know," said Miranda, "just burneverything within a mile of Fadawah's headquarters? That should end thiscreature, shouldn't it?"
Pug said, "Probably not. Years ago I faced another of Nalar's creatures,a mad magician named Sidi. A few of the older members of thetemples know the story, for we strove to control the Tear of the Gods."Ryana said, "Tear of the Gods?"
Pug said, "It is a powerful artifact, used by the Ishapians to channelpower from the controller gods." He looked at Miranda. ,you could burng there
this house down around Sidi and he would have been standinglaughing at you when the ashes cooled."
"How did you destroy him?" asked Miranda.
Pug looked at his wife. "I didn't."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CRowN
Miranda said, "Are you saying this person controlling Fadawah isthis Sidi?"
"It could be. Or it could be one of Sidi's servants, or another likehim. Y ~
Nakor said, "Nalar has many agents. Most do not know they serve
the Mad God. They just do things because they feel the need."Tomas said, "What must we do?"
Pug said, "We lure this agent of Nalar into showing itself.,,"How?" asked Miranda.
Pug nodded. "Me. I have to be bait. Fadawah's true master mustknow that at some point I will act. I have in the past. And we can assumethere's some sort of surprise waiting for me if I show up."Miranda said, "No! The last time I goaded you into acting prematurely,you almost got killed. Since then I think I've changed my mindabout kicking down doors and walking into rooms. Let's sneak aroundsome first."
Nakor said, "I've snuck around in the enemy's camp, back when Iwent to Novindus with Calis and his friends, and I stood close to theEmerald Queen. I couldn't tell who was running things. Pug is right. Wemust find a way to force this person or creature or spirit or whatever it isto reveal itself to us."
Miranda said, "No! And I'm going to keep saying 'no' until you getit through your head. " She stood up. "I've snuck around behind the lines,too. Let Nakor and me do it one more time. We can go to where Greylock's army is, and I know we can sneak into the camp. Let me get closeto Fadawah and see what I can see. If we can't find anything, I'll agreeto go in and let them throw everything at you. But I don't want to risk itjust Yet. All right?" She touched his face.
"Your temper is going to get you killed," he warned her."I can keep it under control when I have to."
Pug looked at Nakor. "I want you to promise me you']] tell her whenit's too dangerous and it's time to come back here. " He looked at Miranda. "And I want you to promise you')] listen to him, and when hesays so, you'll transport yourself back to this room.,,They both agreed. Pug said, "I don't like this anymore than you likemy idea.,, He kissed Miranda and said, "It's better if you go now, whileit's still dark over there."
Miranda held out her hand. "Nakor, where do we want to go?"
"Last I heard, Greylock was somewhere south of Quester's View.""I know a village on the coast. We'll transport there, then we can fly"P the coast."
Raymon; E. Feist
Ryana said, "I'm going to go sleep. Wake me when you have someoneworth fighting."
Nakor said, "A moment, please." Pug and the others felt their memories shut off again, hiding knowledge of Nalar, and then the mystic barrierwas lowered. I
Tomas said, ' Sleep well, friend. The dragon in human form left theroom.
Miranda took Nakor's hand and they vanished from sight, leavingPug and Tomas alone.
Tomas removed his golden helm and placed it on Pug's desk. "Well,old friend, there's not much for us to do but wait."Pug said, "I'm not very hungry but we should eat." He rose and ledhis friend out of the study, down the hall, and toward the kitchen.
"You better land soon!" shouted Nakor. g,My arms are getting tired."They were flying to the east of the highway, just above the treetops,with Nakor dangling from his staff, which Miranda held below her as sheflew. They had appeared at a fishing village near Quester's View. It hadbeen deserted. Miranda had picked up Nakor and had flow across thehighway, some distance away from a few campfires, and then had turnednorthward. They had flown past the campfires of both sides, past a largestatic position that had Nakor puzzled. He knew something significanthad occurred for Greylock to have halted his northward march.Miranda came in for a landing, letting go of Nakor's staff. He landedwith an audible "oof," as he struck the ground hard. "Sorry," she said asshe landed. "My wrists were starting to hurt.""When you said we could fly together, I thought you had a spell thatwould carry both of us," Nakor said as he stood up, brushing himself off.'I almost hurt myself on my staff."
"Well, if you'd left the thing behind like I told you to it wouldn't havehappened." She sounded very unsympathetic.
Nakor laughed. "You will be an excellent mother someday."She said, "Not until Pug and I feel the world is a safer place than it
is right now."
"Being alive is being at risk," said Nakor as he adjusted his garmentand recovered his staff. "Now, let us see if we can sneak into the enemy
camp.')
"How do you propose to do it?"
"Like I always do: act like I belong. Just stay close behind me and'
please, one thing."
'What?
"Don't lose your temper."
Miranda's expression clouded and she said, "I don't have a temper!"Nakor grinned. "There, you're doing it now."
"You insufferable little man!" she said, walking off ahead of him."Miranda."
"V,what!" she shouted, looking over her shoulder.Nakor hurried to catch up, and said, "For a woman of your experience,you can be very childish."
Miranda seemed on the verge of saying something. She stood still fora moment, then finally said, "You don't know me, Nakor. You may havebeen my mother's first husband, but you know nothing of me. You don'tknow what my childhood was like. You don't know what it was to beraised by imperial agents. If I'm childish, it may be because I had nochildhood."
"Whatever the reasons, please try to keep from getting us killed," saidNakor as he walked by her. Softly he said, "And for a woman your age,you are very concerned about things that happened a very long time ago.She hurried to stay up with him. "What?"
Nakor turned to face her, and for the first time since she had met him,there was not one shred of humor in the man's expression. He gazed ather with an expression that could only be called intimidating. And for amoment, she glimpsed the power he had within him. Softfy he said, "Thepast can be a terrible weight bound to you by an unbreakable chain. Youcan drag it with you, forever looking over your shoulder at what holdsyou back. Or you can let it go and move forward. It's your choice. Forthose who live centuries, it's a very important choice."He turned and walked away from her.
Miranda stood a moment, then caught up with him again. This timeshe said nothing.
They worked their way down through trees on the western face of theCalastius Mountains. They had passed the battlelines several miles to thesouth, where Greylock's army had established a fixed front. Nakor said,"Something strange has happened. Greylock is dug in down south, at leastthat's what it looked like from up there"-he pointed skyward-"as yousped along. It looks like he's digging in, perhaps against a counterattack."Miranda said, "I don't know. Maybe they're going to wait for suppliessent up to that fishing village where we landed.""Maybe, but I don't think so." From the battlefield the stench of thedead filled the night air. Thousands of bodies littered the field. "This isvery bad. To leave the dead unburied is an evil thing."North of the battlefield a structure was being built. It appeared to be
Raymond i. Feist
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
fortress of some type, but as they neared it, they could see it was \* actually series of large buildings linked together by huge wooden fences a uniformtwenty feet high. Men were camped around fires scattered aroundthe periphery. "Look," said Nakor, "they don't camp too close)""What is it?" asked Miranda as they came near the edge of the shelteringtrees.
"Something very bad I think. A temple, maybe.""Temple to what?"
"Let's go find out." He glanced around. "Over there."He led her through the trees to a place close to a collection of tentsof all sizes and colors. They scurried through the heavy boles until theyfound a gap between two campfires, where they could slip in withoutattracting undue attention.
They passed by unchallenged. Nakor led Miranda past a series ofcampsites, where they were just two people among several walking abouton some errand or another. But as they passed a large camp, a man walkedtoward them. His head was shaved, save for a single fall of hair, tied upto cascade behind him. The hair looked to be cinched by a ring of bone.He wore deep scars on each cheek. He was bare chested and wore a vestof what appeared to be human skin. His trousers were dyed leather andNakor didn't inspect them too closely. He was massively muscled andcarried a huge curved blade known as a flasher. It was a two-handedweapon, but he looked capable of wielding it with one hand.He walked up, weaving slightly, to Miranda, and looked her over ina very frank fashion, then turned to Nakor and said, with a drunken slur,"You sell her to me."
Nakor grinned. "No, I can't."
The man's eyes grew wide and he looked as if he was about to eruptinto a rage as he said, "No? You say no to Fustafa!"Nakor pointed at the building and said, "She goes there."Instantly the man's expression changed, and he looked at Nakor andbacked Away. "I don't ask," he said, hurrying away.""at was that?" asked Miranda.
"I don't know," said Nakor. He looked at the building, less than ahundred yards away. "But I think it means we need to be careful in there.
"We're going to walk in?" asked Miranda.
"You have a better idea?" replied Nakor, walking toward the building."No," said Miranda, hurrying after him again.
They both felt a strange energy as they neared it. As they got closer,it grew stronger. Miranda said, "That makes me feel like I need to takea bath."
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"If your husband doesn't object, I'll join you," said Nakor. "Comethis way." He motioned toward an opening in the fence, between sectionsof the building, and they entered.
Once they had entered, Nakor saw what the structures were. A hugesquare had three small buildings at each corner. In the center rose sixlarge stones, each one carved with runes that set Miranda's teeth on edgeto view. "What is this place?" she asked.
"It's a place of summoning, a place of dark magic, a place from whichsomething very bad will come," said Nakor.
They saw movement in the dark, in the middle of the ring of stones.They moved forward quietly. A band of men, all wearing dark robes, stoodaround a large stone. Behind the stone was a man who stood with armsoutstretched, one who chanted something to the sky."Now we know why that man was so afraid," whispered Nakor."Look!"
Upon the stone lay a young woman, her eyes wide with terror, a gagin her mouth. Her hands were tied to rings of iron in the stone and shewas dressed in a short black sleeveless shift.Nakor's eyes widened as he considered this. "We must leave!" hesaid urgently.
Miranda said, "We can't leave her there to die." "Thousands will die soon if we don't leave," he whispered, holdingher elbow and steering her back toward the exit.Then there came a rumbling in the air, and Nakor said, "Run!"Miranda didn't hesitate, and followed Nakor out the doorway. Thesoldiers nearby ignored the two who ran from the building, for their eyeswere riveted on the scene before them. A faint blue-green light was gatheringaround the building, swirling as if being stirred by a giant invisiblestick.
Nakor stopped a few yards before Miranda and held his staff overhead. "Fly!" he shouted.
Miranda halted, closed her eyes, and gathered her own powers to fly.She leaped forward, as if diving, but rather than falling, she rose. Shegrabbed Nakor's staff and hauled him into the sky.She flew in a straight line, up the hillside, then began a gentle turn.When she could look down upon the building, she said, "oh, gods ofmercy! v I
UP the coast, a dozen lights like the one before them had blossomed,el'il green and blue lights that filled the night with a terrible illumination.then down the coast came a line of power, moving from each of theconstructions, starting somewhere near
Miranda flew. those soldier ed nea estA note painful to hear rang and below s camp rthe building reeled back from the sound. A faint light spread but in a fanfrom the building, toward the Kingdom camp, growing fainter as it went.it shifted k en then tviolet. A last deep indigo wave faded from view, and the grinding soundsuddenly stopped.
Then, on the battlefield, the dead began to rise.
Ylith and ending below where
through the spectrum, going to red, then bac to gre , 0
Twenty-Five
MEN SCREAMED.
Erik raced from his tent, barely dressed, holding his sword. Battle-hardenedsoldiers were fleeing in terror, while others struggled at the front.He grabbed one man, and shouted, "What is it?"The man's eyes were wide with horror and he could only point to thefront of the line as he pulled free of Erik's grasp and ran. Erik hurried tothe front of the line, and for a moment he couldn't understand what hesaw.
His men were fighting a vicious action against the :invader, and heleaped forward, shouting, "All units to the line!"Then he saw one of the men locked in struggle with a Kingdom soldierwho wore the tunic of a different Kingdom unit. For a second he wonderedif they had been infiltrated. Then he saw the man's face, and thehair on Erik's neck and arms stood up. He felt revulsion unlike anythinghe had known in his short life.
The soldier trying to kill his former companion was dead. his lifelesseyes were still rolled up in his head and the flesh of his face was pallidand slack. But his movements were deliberate as he swung his sword.Erik jumped forward and severed the thing's head from its body witha single blow. The head rolled away, but the body kept swinging thesword. Erik hacked again and severed the creature's arm, yet the creaturePressed forward.
Jadow Shati leaped past Erik and cut the creature's leg out from underit. The corpse toppled over.
"Man, they won't stop."
Erik recognized the danger. Beyond the horror of facing men alreadydead, which had caused one man in four to run in fear, the dead wereunrelenting. They could not be stopped unless they were hacked to pieces.
I
Raymond L\*. Feist
And while one was being butchered, another would strike and kill a Kingdomsoldier.
Then Erik saw a &freshly killed Kingdom soldier rise up, his eyes rolledup in his head, and turn to attack his former companions."How do we fight them?" shouted Jadow.
"Fire!" said Erik. He turned and shouted, "Hold them here!" and ranto the rear. Men were running forward to answer the alarm, and Erik heldup his hands, halting a score of them. "Go to the rear and get all the haythe cavalry left." He pointed to where the road narrowed. "Lay it fromthere, to there." He indicated another point opposite it across the road.Then he ran to another squad who were about to run to the front, andshouted, "Strip the tents! Get everything that will bum and pile it on thehay. ' ~
"What hay, Captain?" asked one soldier.
"When you get back with the tents, you'll see the hay."
Erik hurried to the rear, where the engineers had been sleeping undertheir partially completed catapults. They were up and building on weapons,ready to defend their war engines if necessary. "Are any of thesefinished?" asked Erik.
The Captain of Engineers, a stocky man with a grey beard, said, "Thisone is ready, Captain, and that other over there is just about ready to go.What is going on?"
Erik grasped the man's arm. "Go to the front. See where our forwardpositions are. Return here and aim your catapult at that location."The Captain of Engineers ran off, while Erik turned to the rest of hiscrew. "How many of you will it take to finish that other catapult?"One of the engineers said, "Just two of us, Captain. All we have todo is install the locking clamps on the arm. We could have finished lastnight, but we wanted to get supper."
"Go finish it. The rest of you, come with me."He led them to the baggage train and shouted to the soldiers guardingit, "Get to the front and hold!"
They ran off, and Erik pointed to a pair of wagons sitting on the sideof the road. He asked the engineers, "Can any of you hitch up those
horses?"
All of them answered they could, so Erik said, "Get half that oil tothe front, where you'll see them building a barricade, and the other half
to the catapults."
He ran back to the front. The plan would only work if they couldkeep the dead soldiers outside the barricade. And until that task was finished
, Erik could serve his cause best by using his power to hack apart
each dead soldier trying to get past the diamonds.
Miranda said, "We must get Pug and Tomas!"
They watched from a vantage point among the trees upon the hillside,as the Kingdom forces rallied to repulse the first wave of undead soldiers.Then Nakor heard horns blowing at the rear of Fadawah's army. Menunder arms gathered and formed up behind the struggle taking place atthe diamonds. "Yes," said Nakor. "Get Pug and Tomas, and Ryana ifshe's there. "
Miranda vanished.
Nakor heard a trumpet sound, and the Kingdom forces at the diamondsretreated to a barrier wall that had been building rapidly behind'hem. They leaped over it and those who were wounded were dragged upand over it by their comrades. No man wished to die and turn against hiscomrades.
Then a fire was ignited and another. Suddenly the barricade wasablaze. Von Darkmoor, he thought. Young Erik was thinking fast on hisfeet.
The dead stumbled into the flames and noiselessly they flailed about,until they collapsed upon the ground. The few that managed to gain apurchase on the burning barriers were pushed back by spears and poles.Then Nakor heard the sound of a war engine firing and in the darkness
he could see something flying over the camp to land near the diamonds.A minute later another missile came flying overhead and landed closer tothe barricade. Nakor could see a barrel explode upon impact, sending oilin all directions, which ignited when some struck the barricade. The pool
of fire engulfed those corpses stumbling toward the barricade and soonthey were falling.
Pug, Tomas, Ryana, and Miranda suddenly appeared next to Nakor.Pug said, "Gods!"
Nakor said, "Those corpses aren't the problem, Pug. Erik von Darkmooris taking care of them as needed, but there is where you must go!"he pointed northward. "Find the source of that energy, and you'll findthe one you need to destroy."
Battle horns sounded, and Fadawah's army started to march forwardas the fires began to abate.
Tomas asked, "Where can I best serve?"
Nakor said, "Killing those soldiers here does no good, but ending theProblem up there may save the West."
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I
Raymona"E. Feist
Ryana shifted her form and suddenly the huge dragon towered overthem. "I will carry you all."
They climbed on her back and she launched herself skyward. Thosesoldiers who happened to be glancing toward the treeline as Ryana strucka mighty beat of her wings and gained altitude were astonished, and manyshouted and pointed, but as the battle built in fury and the advancingarmy of Fadawah bore down on the abandoned diamonds, most were toopreoccupied with survival to notice the dragon.She circled once and headed north.
Dash heard the drums from the Keshians in the field. He knew he'dsee what they had in store later; the darkness hid the Keshians' deploymentas sunrise was still hours off. As best the watchmen on the wallscould tell in the dark they were facing only cavalry and mounted infantry,with no heavy foot or war engines; Dash assumed they had infiltrated fast-movingcompanies for weeks now, and that slower-moving units had beenavoided. With even half the normal garrison here, Kesh would never riskan attack on this scale. So the news was mixed good and bad: they wereonly facing swordsmen and horse archers, but they were facing a lot ofthem.
Dash expected this meant the escaping Keshian officer Duko wroteof in his message to Patrick had successfully reached his army with thenews of Krondor's weaknesses. The only good news in the message hadbeen the fact of Jimmy being alive and Malar being dead.The word from the palace was equally mixed. Patrick, Francie, andher father would recover-though Lord Brian might have lasting effectsfrom the poison. Lord Rufio was dead, and several of the other nobles ofthe area as well. Two officers had recovered enough to take up positionson the walls, but Dash knew they were woefully undermanned to holdoff the Keshian army for more than a few hours, a day or two at best.There were still too many weaknesses in the defense of the city. There
were ways into the city that you didn't have to be a Mocker to find. Thedry aqueduct along the north wall had more than a halfdozen entrancesif one simply took the time to probe. Dash wished he could have repairedthe sluice gates and flooded it, but he would have filled a hundred cellar,full of water by doing so. Suddenly an idea struck Dash. He called out,
"Gustaf.."
The mercenary appeared and said, "Sheriff?"
I
I
"Take two men and run to the city armory. See if we have any QUegan fire oil. If we do, heres what you do with it." Dashoutlined his Plan
then called to Mackey, "Hold things here while I'm gone. I'll be back assoon as I can."
Dash hurried off the wall and ran down High Street, to the intersectionof the North Gate road. He cut through bumed-out buildings until hereached the cleverly cleared alley and he hurried through it, despite thepredawn darkness.
He jumped fences and ducked under obstacles, risking injury to reachhis goal in as timely a fashion as he could. He found the door he sought,a root cellar entrance from all appearances, but really a cover to one ofthe Mocker-controlled tunnels leading toward their headquarters.
He hurried down stone steps, as lightly as he could while keeping upa good rate of speed. He grabbed a stone wall corner with his left hand,steadying himself as he swung around.
A man turned with a startled expression on his face, and withoutbreaking strike, Dash hit him as hard as he could, dropping him to thestone floor without a sound. Dash hurried along a wide walkway whichran above the watercourse. There was a slow trickle of water flowingthrough it. Dash knew that would change if Gustaf found the oil and usedit as directed.
Dash reached a section of wall that appeared identical to the adjacentsections, but which yielded to pressure, swinging open on a shaft, perfectlybalanced so as to pivot with ease. Down a short tunnel Dash hurried,reaching a plain door. Dash knew that here he stood the biggest risk ofbeing killed before he could speak.
He tripped the locks from his side, but instead of opening the door hestood back. The audible clicks alerted someone, for after a moment thedoor swung open and a curious face peered through. Dash grabbed thethief and hauled him forward, spinning him around while off balance, andPropelling him back through the door before he entered.The man careened into two others who were standing on the otherside of the door, knocking all of them over in a heap.
Dash stepped through. He held his hands out so anyone could see hewasn't armed. But to insure that he made things as clear as possible, heshouted, "I'm not armed! I came to talk!"
The denizens of Mother's, the headquarters for the Mockers, turnedin astonishment at the sight of the Sheriff of Krondor standing beforethem, his sword still at his side. From across the room, Trina said, "Why,Sheriff Puppy, to what do we owe this honor?"
Looking from face to face, most of which were shifting from surpriseto anger, he said, "I came to warn you."
"Of what?" said one man. "Keshians in the tunnels?"'They're your worry, " said Dash. the ones outside the gate aremine. No. I came to warn you that in less than an hour this entire room
and the rest of Mother's is going to be under water.
,What!" shouted one man.
,it's a lie," swore another.
"No, it's not a lie," said Dash. 'I'm going toflood the north aqueduct, theculverts above the mainand the bypass channel below S~ Street. These
passages ,-he pointed to the door through which he had just entered andthe passage beyond-,,are shattered and all that water is going to comeflooding down here. This entire section is going to be underwater bynoon.'
Trina walked over, two very large menacing-looking men accompanying her. ,you wouldn't besaying that to flush us out, would you,
Sheriff PUPPY? it could be useful to have us running through the sewersand tangling with some Keshians you haven't managed to find yet.""Maybe, but that's not it."
Or maybe you want us to be standing up in the streets for the Keshians to run over when they break down the gate?" said a man nearby,pulling his dagger. ,
"Hardly," said Dash. There are enough bumps in the roads as it is.
I don't need more."
,,i would believe you," said Trina, "if I didn't know the north sluiceis damaged from the war and can't be opened until it's repaired."'I'm not repairing it, said Dash. "I'm going to burn it."Several men laughed. "You're going to burn a gate that's half underwater!"said one. "How you doing that?~f
"Quegan fire oil."
Suddenly a man said, "It burns underwaterlpy
Trina turned and shouted orders, and men began to grab packages,bundles, and sacks. She came to stand before Dash and said, "Why warn
us?' I He grabbed her arm and looked her in the eyes. "I've grown fond ofcertain thieves over my life." He kissed her. "Call me an idiot," he Saidafter she stepped back. "BeSides, you may be a bunch of ragged good-fornothings, but you're my ragged good-for-nothings.",Where should we go?" she asked, and Dash knew she wasn'treferring to the Mockers in general.
"Take the old man to Barret's Coffee House. It's almost rebuilt) andRoo Avery already has stocked it with some food. There's a tunnel off Ofthe sewer under Prince Arutha's Way that leads to a landing by his basement.Lie low there."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
She looked him in the eyes and said, "You're going to cause me moretrouble than you're worth before we're done, Sheriff Puppy, but for nowI am in your debt."
He started to turn away, but she grabbed him and kissed him back.Whispering into his ear, she said, "Stay alive, damn you,""You as well," he whispered. Then he turned and hurried back downthe tunnel. He stopped to revive the man he had knocked unconsciousand was glad he hadn't tried a stunt like walking into Mother's uninvitedwhen the Mockers were at the height of their power; there would havebeen a dozen guards in that tunnel instead of one.The groggy man didn't quite understand what it was Dash was tellinghim, but he pieced together enough of the message to know he had to getto high ground in a hurry.
Dash ran along the major waterway that passed Mother's and reacheda place where the culverts above had broken through. He leaped andgrabbed the jagged edge of a heavy hard-clay pipe that protruded out ofthe wall above his head. He pulled himself up and stood on it, workinghis way along to a break in the wall, barely large enough to permit himentrance. He risked getting stuck as he wiggled through the break to aplace where a large hole appeared above his head. He pulled himself upand stood outside in the bed of the northern watercourse. He lookedaround in the predawn grey and saw no one in sight. He ran toward theeast.
As he reached the end of the aqueduct, he saw Gustaf and his menstanding before the large wooden gate. Two men were already slammingaxes into the supports on either side of the jammed gate.Dash said, "How goes it?"
Gustaf smiled ruefully. "If those supports don't give way before wewant them to and drown us all, this might work.""How much oil did you find?"
".Several casks. I've got some of the lads pouring it into clay jugs likeYou said."
Dash hurried over to the place Gustaf indicated, where two men werePouring sticky, foul-smelling napathaline from small casks into large clayjugs. "Only about a third of the way," said Dash. "And leave the stoppersOff. We want the air to get to it."
The men nodded. As Dash started to return to Gustaf, he said, "AndYou want to be as far away from fire as you can get until you wash thatStuff off. Use lots of soap. Remember, it burns underwater."The two men who were swinging the axes jumped back as one whena loud crack sounded, accompanied by a flexing of the wooden gate. Smalljets of water Spurted through cracks in the wood, and a bit of dirt andgravel washed down the bank. looks like it's going to go under the weight of the water," said Gustaf. "EventuallY, but we can't wait until the next big rain. Did you bringthe rags?
over there,' said Gustaf, pointing to a man standing over a box up on the bank. "Good," said Dash, hurrying over to 'inspect the damage. To one of the men with an ax he said, ,Crack this beam here some more.
The beam was a huge one, a foot on each side, that had been stuckand held the right side of the.sluice gate. Thebetween foundation stones
man set to with his huge ax, smashing into the wood) almost as hard as rock with age. Yet each time he struck, chips flew and the wood splinteredmore. Dash waved his men out of the way and indicated that the rags andwhat was left of the napthaline in the casks should be brought over andthe jars should be taken to the top of the bank The men hurried up the stone bank of the aqueduct. Dash motioned the ax-wielder aside and said,
get up there.
He set two casks down on the stones and picked up the "third. Carefully, he laid out a long run Of the rags, tied it into a knotted cord, and dribbled napthaline on it. He then tucked one end of the rags into a cask and set a third atop the two on the bottom, forming a little pyramid right below where the beam had been chopped by the ax.
Dash hurried to the far end of the rag and pulled a piece of flint from his pocket. Using his knife blade, he struck sparks until one caught on the napthaline-soaked rag.
Dash wasn't entirely sure what to expect
He had heard stories from his grandfather, but had only seen theresults of the use of this oil distillation mixed with powdered limestone and sulfur. With a whoosh the flame sprang up quicklythe rag. Dash ran.He reached the bank of the aqueduct as the flame burnedalong the rag. He stood next to Gustaf and said, "If it burns as hot as it's reputed to burn, it should eat through the rest of that wood quickly.water pressure should shove over the-"
The flame reached the casks They exploded.
The force of the blast was far more than Dash had expected, thinking he was going to get more of a large fire. instead, men were thrown to theground and two were struck by wood splinters.
Gustaf picked himself up off the ground, saying Gods. "whatat was that? ' I
Raymond E. Feist
"I'm not sure," said Dash. "My grandfather told me something abouttoo much air on the stuff, and I guess that's what he meant." "Look!" said one of the constables.
The blast had cut through most of the large beam, which now wasbeing bent back by the gate under the pressure of millions of gallons ofriver water trapped behind it. With a loud groan the entire sluice gatebegan to move as water started to pour through several gaps in the wood.As the force of
the water increased, the wood started to move more rapidly. Creaking and groaning sounds were replaced by a crack, the beamsheared in two, and suddenly the entire gate was swept away before awall of water
Dash sat on the bank, watching the wall of water move down theaqueduct. When it hit the break in the stones that would send water pouring into the lower sewer, he could barely see a pause as the wave swepton past it.
Gustaf said, "Well, that should drown some rats.""We can hope," said Dash, taking the.constable's offered hand andpulling himself to his feet. Thinking of the Mockers, he said, "As long asit isn't our rats that get drowned."
What do you want us to do with these clay jugs, SherifF?" asked oneof the constables.
Dash said, "I was going to have you throw them at what I thoughtwould be a nice little fire down there. Bring them along. I think we canfind a use for them." As the man reached down to grab the jugs, Dashadded, "And handle them gently." He motioned to the water surgingthrough the destroyed sluice.
They hurried back through the city, and as they turned the corner toHigh Street, Dash shouted to Gustaf, "Get some barricades up here." Hethen Pointed back another block and said, "And there. When they break through, I want them turned
before their cavalry hits the market. As soon
as the gate goes, get archers up on the roofs there, there, and there." HePointed to three corners of the intersection.
Gustaf nodded. "I notice you didn't say if they break through.""It's just a question of when, and if help can get here before they do.think we're in for some nasty days ahead."
Gustaf shrugged. "I'm a mercenary, Sheriff. Nasty days are what Iget paid for."
Dash nodded as Gustaf hurried off to carry out his orders and the restOf the constables carried the jugs of napthaline to the gate. He glancedaround the city streets, now deserted as people hid in their houses hopingagainst hope that somehow they would be spared another destructive rampage
such as they had endured the year before. Dash shook his head.Mercenaries, soldiers, and constables might get paid to endure such asthis, but citizens didn't. They were the ones who suffered, and . his timeas Sheriff he had forged a bond with the people of Krondor he couldn'thave imagined before. Now he was starting to understand why his grandfatherhad loved this city so much, both the noble and the base, the exaltedand the low. It was his city. And Dash would be damned to the lowesthell before he'd see another invader take it again.Dash hurried toward the gate when he heard horns. He knew a Keshianherald was approaching under a flag of truce to announce under whatconditions his general would accept the surrender of the city. Dashclimbed the steps in the gatehouse and reached the battlements as theKeshian herald approached, the rising sun peeking over the mountainsbehind him. He was a desert man, and on each side accompanying himrode a Dog Soldier, each holding a banner. One was the Lion Banner ofthe Empire, and the other was a house flag; Dash knew his grandfatherand father would both disapprove his not recognizing it at once.Sergeant Mackey said, "They want to talk."
Dash said, "Well, it would be rude not to listen.lyDash would be tempted to drop a jar of the napthaline on the heraldbefore the man was through, he thought, but each minute that passedbefore the attack bought them a little more time to prepare.The herald rode before the gate and shouted, "In the name of theEmpire of Great Kesh and her great General Asham ibin AI-tuk, open thegates and surrender the cityl"
Dash looked around and saw that every man on the wall was watchinghim He leaned out between two merlons on the wall and shouted back,"By what right have you come to claim a city that is not yours? Heglanced at Mackey and said, "Might as well go through the formalities."we claim these lands as ancient Keshian soil! Who speaks for thecity?
Dashel Jamison, Sheriff of Krondor!
with contempt in every word, the herald shouted, "Where is yourPrince, o jailer of beggars? Hiding under his bed?"'Still sleeping, I think,"said Dash, not wishing to reveal to this "mananything about the poisoning. ,if you care to wait, he may show up latertoday."
"That's all right ', came a voice from behind Dash.Dash turned and saw a pale Patrick standing there, being held erectby a soldier. Patrick had donned his royal armor, golden trimmedbreastplate
and open-faced helm, with a gold-trimmed purple sash of office overhis shoulder. As he passed Dash, Patrick whispered, "Should I lose consciousness,tell them I've left in outrage."
He reached the wall and steadied himself, and Dash could see howdifficult it was for him to stand, even with the strong soldier holding ontohim from behind. Yet Patrick found it within himself to shout out withpower, "I am here, dogs of Kesh. Say what you will!"The herald barely hid his surprise at seeing the Prince of Krondor onthe wall He obviously had believed the poisoner successful. "Most graciousPrince!" said the herald. "My ... master bids you open your gatesand withdraw. He will escort you and your retinue to your nation's borders. 'I
"Just this side of Salador," said Dash quietly.Patrick shouted, "My nation's borders. I am standing on the wall ofthe capital city of the Western Realm!"
"These lands are Ancient Kesh, and are being reclaimed."Dash whispered, "I know we're buying time, but why bother?"Patrick gulped for air and nodded. Then, with his last strong breath,shouted, "Then come you on and do your worst! We reject your claimand scorn your master."
The herald said, "Act not in haste, fair Prince. My master is kind. Heshall make his offer three times. At sundown tonight we return to hearyour second answer. Should you say again nay, we shall come one lasttime, at dawn tomorrow. And that shall be the last of it." The heraldturned and spurred his mount forward.
Dash turned to see Patrick barely conscious, still being held up by thesoldier. "Bravely done, fair Prince," Dash said without sarcasm. To thesoldier he said, "Take him back to his quarters and see he rests."Turning to Mackey, Dash said, "Get the men down from the walland fed. Keep a few to watch, but the Keshians will probably be as goodas their word and not attack us until dawn tomorrow." He sat down andsuddenly felt bone-tired. "At least now we know when their spies insidethe city will attack." Looking at the old sergeant, he said, "They'll try toopen the gate tonight."
The dragon sped through the sky while in the east the sun rose abovethe hills. The mystic energy along the coast was a map for them to follow.Tomas's arts, the lingering heritage of the Valheru, allowed them all toride upon Ryana's back without falling.
"You know," said Nakor, speaking loudly to overcome the wind noiseas he sat behind Miranda at the base of the dragon's neck, "as much as
Raymond . Feist
being an engine of death, this display is set to lure us to some sort ofconfrontation."
Pug, who sat directly behind Tomas, said, "I expect as mu&""There," said Tomas, pointing down and to the left.Below them stretched the coastline, a southwest-facing shoreline fromQuester's View to Ylith. The harbor of Ylith showed a frenzy of ships,most of them hauling anchor and sailing out of the port.Nakor said, "Those ships' captains didn't like what they saw last nightand are catching the morning tide out."
"Ryana," said Tomas, "down there."
He indicated the eastern gate of the city, outside of which a greatbuilding had been erected, and it was that building that was the source ofthe energy which had flowed down the coast, fueling), the evil magic thathad animated the corpses.
As the dragon landed, armed men ran in all directions, uncertain ofwhat to do. "Let me go first," said Tomas.
Pug said, "Let's not shed any blood until we have to."Miranda said, "We will have to."
Pug said, "But until then. . ." He gestured toward the ground justbefore Ryana touched down. They all could see a ripple, as if water hadbeen troubled by a stone, causing the earth to undulate. A deep rumblingcould be heard and dust shot into the air following the course of thequickly expanding circle. As they touched down, the circle was now largeenough to easily encompass the dragon. The soil below their feet wasmotionless.
But where the expanding circle's wave struck, it was as if an earthquakeraged, for each advancing soldier who stepped upon the ripple wasthrown down to the ground, then mercilessly tossed into the air severaltimes.
Many turned and fled, leaving only the bravest of the invaders toconfront the dragon and her riders.
Then Ryana bellowed and their ears rang, and she shot a blast of fireinto the heavens, and the rest of the soldiers fled. No sane man would
face a great golden dragon.
As the four of them dismounted, Miranda said, "Thank you. That
should buy us some time.gy
Ryana said, "You are welcome." To Tomas she said, ig"en the
danger has passed, I shall leave, but until it has, call me should you needme. I will be nearby." The dragon launched herself into the sky, and witha powerful beat of her wings was gone, speeding to the north,
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Tomas walked purposefully toward the building. Pug, Miranda, andNakor followed.
With the departure of the dragon, some of the bolder warriors near
the city gate ran to intercept the four. Tomas unstrapped his shield fromacross his back in a movement so fluid and natural it looked impossibleto Pug. No mortal man could have duplicated the feat. His sword wasout before the first warrior had closed.
The man was big and carried a large sword in two hands. He ran atTomas shouting an inarticulate battle cry, but Tomas continued to advanceat his normal pace. The man struck a powerful blow downwardand Tomas moved his shield slightly, causing the blade to skid off thesurface. The man saw sparks explode from the contact, but no mark sulliedthe surface of the shield. Tomas swung lightly, as if flicking a fly from hisshoulder, and the man died before he hit the ground.Two men behind him hesitated. One then shouted and charged whilethe other showed fear, and turned and ran. The one who charged diedlike the man before, and Tomas again looked as if he were disposing ofannoying pests, not battle-hardened warriors.
Tomas reached the building, a thing of black stones and wooden facades.It squatted, a terrible black sore on the landscape; there was nothingabout it pleasing to the eye or harmonious in any fashion. It reeked ofevil.
Tomas walked to the large black wooden doors and paused. He drewback his right fist and struck the rightmost door. The door exploded inward,as if there had been no hinges.
As they walked in, Nakor looked at the shattered iron hinges and said,"Impressive. "
Miranda said, "Remind me never to get him mad.""He's not mad," said Nakor. "Just determined. If he was mad, he'dPull the walls down."
The building was a giant square, with two rows of seats set hardagainst the walls. There were two doors: the one through which they hadentered and another opposite.
In the center of the room a square pit yawned at them, and from deepwithin a red glow could be seen. Above it hung a metal platform."Gods!" said Miranda. "What a stench."
"Look," said Nakor, indicating the floor.
Before each seat, on the floor, lay a body. They were warriors, menWith scars upon their cheeks, and each was openmouthed, their eyes wide,as if they had died screaming in horror.
s '
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Raymond I? Feist
Nakor hurried over to the pit and looked in. He stepped back. ' Somethingis down there." '
Pug looked up at the platform and said, 'That appears to be a waydown."
Indicating the dried blood and gore on it, Miranda said, "And nowthe way up."
Tomas said, "Whatever caused that necromancy last night is downthere. "
Nakor said, "NO, it is a tool. like all those dead fools.""Where is Fadawah?" asked Miranda.
in the city, I think," said Nakor. "Probably in the Baron's citadel."A strange keening sound echoed from deep within the pit. The hairson Pug's neck stood up. "We can't leave this here."Nakor said, "We can always come back."
Miranda said, "Good. Let's leave this place."
She walked to the closed door, opposite the one through which theyhad entered, and threw it wide.
As soon as she did, they saw the soldiers arrayed on the other side,their shields in a wall, their bows poised, and cavalry behind them.In the moment it took for the scene to register, they heard the ordergiven and the bowmen fired.
Dash swore. "We've got twelve, eighteen hours to ferret out the restof the infiltrators or risk a breach."
Thomas Calhern, a squire in Duke Rufio's court, had recoveredenough from the poison to serve; Dash had named him an acting Captain.tt"at matter?" he asked. "Gods, man, you saw the army outside thegate.
Dash said, "Never been in a battle before?"
"No," said the young man, about the same age as Dash."If the walls are intact, those outside must bring ten men against thewall for every one we have on top of it. We should be able to hold themfor a few days, perhaps a week, and if my brother is as clever as I knowhim to be, a force from Port Vykor should arrive within days."But if some band of Keshian thugs gets a portal opened, and the
Keshians get inside the walls, this battle is over before it starts. "They were sitting in the Prince's conference room, and Dash turnedto Mackey. "Send a message to the lads at New Market Jail: I want theconstables sniffing around the streets."
"That takes care of the streets," said Mackey- "But what about below
them?'~
Dash said, "I'll take care of that part."
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Dash slipped through a door and a dagger was suddenly at his throat."Put that away," he hissed.
"Sheriff Puppy," said a happy-sounding Trina. "I would have beenvery upset had I killed you."
"Not as much as I," said Dash. "How is he?"
She nodded toward the corner. A score of thieves were huddled in afar corner of the cellar. Dash smelled coffee and food. "Raided thekitchen, have we?"
Trina said, "It's a coffeehouse. We were hungry. There was food upthere. What did you think?"
Dash shook his head. "I don't know what I'm thinking these days."Trina walked with him over to where the old man lay upon a lowbed, one that had been used as a stretcher to bear him to Barret's. Shewhispered, "He's not doing well."
Dash knelt beside the old man, who looked at him but didn't sayanything. The old man held up his hand and Dash took it. "Uncle," hesaid softly.
The old man gently squeezed, then let go. His one eye closed.She leaned over, and after a moment said, "He's sleeping again.Sometimes he speaks, other times he can't."
Dash stood up and they went to a relatively uncrowded corner of thebasement, between stacks of crates. "How much time?" asked Dash."A few days, maybe less. When he was recovering from his burns thepriest said only a great wish or the gift of a God would save him. He'sknown this day was coming since then."
Dash looked at this odd woman who had come to captivate his attention. "How many of you are left?"
She started to make a quip, then said, "I don't know. There are maybeanother two hundred scattered through the city. Why?""Pass the word; we can use every sword we can find. The Keshianswill sell you all into slavery, you know that.""If they can find us," said Trina.
"If they take the city and hold it more than a week, they'll find you.""Maybe."
"Well, anyone who shows up with a sword and fights, I'll see they'rePardoned for their crimes."
"Guaranteed?" she asked.
"You have my word on it."
"I'll pass the word," she said.
"I've got more pressing matters now. The Keshians have given usuntil dawn tomorrow to surrender, else they'll attack. We assume thatmeans they're going to try to open one of the gates between now andthen. "
"And you want us to watch the gates and let you know?""Something like that." He stepped closer to her, looking deep intoher eyes. "You've got to slow them down."
She laughed. "You mean defend the gates until you get there."He smiled. "Something like that," he repeated.'I can't ask my brothers and sisters to do that. We're not warriors.Sure, we have some bashers among the Mockers, but most of us don'tknow which end of a sword is which."
"Then you better learn," said Dash.
"I can't ask them."
"No, but you can order them," said Dash slowly.She said nothing.
Dash said, "I know the old man has been unable to run things for awhile. I'll bet my inheritance you're the current Daymaster."She remained silent.
"I won't ask anything from you without fair trade.""What do you propose?"
"Hold the gate, whichever they attack. Defend it until I can get aflying company there, and I will pardon everyone.""A general amnesty?gl
"The same deal I made originally with the old man.""Not enough."
"What more do you want?" asked Dash.
She pointed around the room. "Do you know how we came to be,the Mockers of Krondor?"
Dash said, "I've heard stories since I was a boy from my grandfatherabout the Mockers."
"But did he ever tell you how the guild came to be?""No," Dash admitted.
"The first leader of the guild was called the Square Man. He was afence who settled disputes between different gangs in the city. We werekilling ourselves more than the citizens. We were stealing from one anotheras much as from the citizens. And we were getting hung for it."The Square Man fixed that. He started making truces between gangsand getting things organized.
"He made a place for us called Mother's and he paid bribes andbought some of us out of jail and off the gallows."The Upright Man took over before your grandfather was born. He
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consolidated the Square Man's power and made the guild the place it waswhen Jimmy the Hand was running roofs.
"A few Of us enjoy the dodgy path, Dash. Some Of us like breakingheads and there's no excuse for us. But most Of us just got dealt a badhand. Most of us have nowhere else to go."
Dash looked around the cellar. Men and women of all ages gatheredthere, and Dash remembered the stories his grandfather had told him ofthe beggar gangs, the urchins running the streets, the girls working thetaverns, and the rest of them.
"If we get amnesty, we're back on the streets the next day, and mostof us are breaking laws and we're right back where we started. There wasonly one Jimmy the Hand who had a prince reach down and raise himup to the heights."
Trina gripped Dash's arm. She said, "Don't you see? If Your grandfatherhadn't saved the Prince that one night long ago, he would havelived out his life with these people. It might have been him lying on thatbed over there instead of his brother. And you might be over there withthe other young men, thinking of how to survive the coming war, find ameal, and keep out of the Sheriffs clutches instead of being the Sheriff."You're only a noble by a quirk of fate, Dash."She looked into his eyes, then she kissed him, long and hard. "You'vegot to make a promise, Dash. Make a promise and I'll do whatever youask. ' I
"What is the promise?"
you've got to save them. All of them."
"Save them?"
"You've got to,,see they are fed and clothed and warm and dry, andout of harm's way.
Dash said, "oh, Trina, why don't you ask me to move the city?"She kissed him again. "I've never felt anything for any man like I feelfor You," she whispered. "Maybe I'm finally acting the lovestruck girlafter all these years. Maybe in my foolish dreams I see myself living inComfort as the wife of a noble. Maybe tomorrow I'll be dead."But if we fight for Krondor, then you must save us all. That's the
deal, not some meaningless amnesty. You must take care of the Mockers.That's the promise.$$
He looked at her for a long time, studying every detail of her face, asif memorizing it. Finally he said, "I promise."She looked at him and a tear formed in each eye. As they ran down
her face, she said, "The deal is done. What do you want us to do?,,Dash told her and they spent another moment together. Then he torehimself away from her, the hardest thing he had ever had to do in his life,and he left Barret's, knowing that his life would never be the same. beIn his heart, Dash knew that he had made a promise that wouldimpossible to keep. Or, if he kept it, he would be betraying his )duty tohis office.
He tried to tell himself that the expediency of the moment requiredthis, that saving the city came first, and that should Krondor fall and theyall die, the promise was nothing anyway. But deep inside, Dash knewthat he would never look at himself or any oath he gave the same way.
Twenty-Six
G'S ARM SHOT forward.
A rippling energy wave exploded forward, a wall of moving forcesthat distorted the air as it passed. Bowmen who had just released theirarrows saw them shattered by it an instant before the wall struck them.As if a giant child's arm had swept aside a table full of toys, thesoldiers were thrown back. Horsemen died as their mounts were seeminglypicked up and tossed back a dozen feet, landing upon their riders. Horsesscreamed in terror, and those that managed to land on their feet buckedand kicked as they fled.
Pug, Tomas, Miranda, and Nakor walked through the avenue clearedby Pug's magic, past men who lay groaning upon the ground. One morehearty warrior rose to his feet, his sword in hand, and lunged toward them.Tomas's sword snaked out of his white scabbard silently and took theman's life before he had taken a step.
They walked to the gates of Ylith.
A guard on the gate had witnessed the assault and had franticallyordered the gates closed. Men were pushing furiously on the gates asTomas reached them. They swung ponderously toward him but hereached out, placing his shield against the left gate and his sword againstthe right and with one massive push, the gates swung inward, knockingdozens of men aside.
Nakor said, "I wish he'd left Elvandar earlier."Pug nodded. "But a vow is a vow. He couldn't see the threat to hishome until now."
Miranda said, "Having power doesn't free one from being shortsighted.""
Not shortsighted," said Pug. "Just a different appreciation of theSituation. "
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Raymond E. Feist
,,Where to now?" asked Miranda.
'if I remember the layout of Ylith," said Nakor, "straight down thisstreet to the High Road, turn right, and we walk straight up to the citadel."Archers on the wan loosed a barrage of arrows, and Pug erected aprotective barrier. 'Ignore those," he said to Tomas. "We have weightiermatters to address."
Tomas smiled at his boyhood friend. "Agreed."
They walked calmly through the city Of Ylith, and the depredation ofthe occupation was visible on every side. Some buildings had been rebuilt,,but others still lay abandoned, their doors off their hinges and windowsshattered, looking like nothing so much as empty faces.Men ran from the sight of the four people encompassed by a sphereof flickering blue energy. From nearby alleys and streets, archers peeredout and fired arrows at them; they bounced harmlessly off the magic shell.They reached the corner where they needed to turn and found anothercompany of archers waiting. Dozens of arrows struck the barrier andbounced off, and when Tomas reached a position a dozen feet before thefirst rank of archers, they broke and ran.
Nakor said, "These men are not dangerous to us as long as we payattention to them, but
OUS.))
"Do you know this as a fact," asked Tomas, "or are you conjecturing?""
Conjecturing," said Nakor.
"But you suspect something," said Miranda.
"what?" asked Pug.
"Nothing I care to
somewhere ahead is someone who is very danger
talk about yet," said Nakor. "But yes, I have a
suspicion."
"I've learned over the years to take those seriously," said Pug. "Whatdo you suggest?"
They were nearing a large intersection where soldiers were rollingwagons across the street in a barricade. Nakor said, "Only to be careful."Arrows rained down upon them, and even knowing the defense wasin place, Miranda and Nakor flinched. "This is irritating," said Nakor.Pug said, "I agree. And as you observed, it could be dangerous if Ilet my concentration slip." He said, "Stop a moment."They did and Pug raised his hand. He pointed up in the air, andoutside the protective sphere, directly over the tip of his finger, a spark ofwhite light appeared. Pug twirled his finger a moment, and the tiny white
hot point of light spun. "Protect your eyes!" Pug warned.
Abruptly the scene became a harsh contrast in white and black, as the
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point of light erupted to the brilliance of the sun at noon, then brighter.The pulse of light lasted only for a moment, but the effect was literallyblinding.
Pug and his companions opened their eyes to see men crying in panicand terror, some reaching around, while others fell to their knees, theirhands to their eyes.
"I'm blind!" was repeated on all sides by panic-stricken men. Tomaswalked through a gap between two wagons, the defense of the city forgottenby men made blind. "How long will it last?" asked Miranda."No more than a day for some, hours for others," said Pug. "But thisparticular group will not be any further trouble to us."They made their way around the last of the barriers and moved upthe street toward the citadel. The remaining soldiers who had retainedtheir sight ran at the vision of the four powerful beings walking purposefullydown the street.
A panic-stricken sentry had called for the drawbridge to be raised, andas they came within a hundred yards of the bridge, they saw it starting torise. Tomas broke into an effortless run, his sword drawn, and Pug realizedhe had left the containment of the defensive shell. Pug let it lapse,for while it didn't take a considerable level of concentration to maintain,it required energy he might need later.
Tomas leaped atop the rising bridge as it reached a height of six feetabove the road. With a quick swing of his sword he severed the massiveiron chain on the right, links the size of a man's head shearing with anexplosion of sparks and a deafening clang.
Then he severed the left chain and the bridge crashed back into place.The soldiers inside the citadel cut the restraining ropes on the winch thatraised the portcullis, and the heavy iron gate slid down before them, theiron points slamming into the stones with a loud crash. "I can raise it andYou can all slip under," said Tomas.
Miranda said, "No, let me." She waved her hands in a series of gesturesand raised her right palm, then extended her right arm toward thegate. A ball of scintillating white-and-silver light formed around her hand,then flew off, like a ball lazily tossed by a child, arching gracefully toStrike the center of the portcullis. The energy ran along the bars, sparkingand sizzling, and the iron in the gate began to smoke. Then it heated up,turning first red, then white-hot. Even standing yards away, they couldfeel the scorching heat of the metal as it began to melt and crumble beforethem. The men in the gatehouse above the portcullis began to shout andflee the structure, due to the tremendous heat rising from the burning gate.Where the molten metal struck the wood of the gate, it flamed andsmoke rose. in minutes a hole more than adequate to allow them to passhad been melted through the gate. "Watch where you step, Nakor," saidMiranda.
"You watch, too," said Nakor.
"I'm not the one wearing sandals," she said.
They entered the courtyard and no one was in sight. Whatever fightmay have resided in the garrison was driven from them by the destructionof the portcullis. They crossed the small bailey and entered the keep.A simple tower keep had dominated the harbor at Ylith for years, forthe original rulers had been little more than pirates and traders and theirharbor was everything. But after the Kingdom had annexed Yabon, thenew Baron had decided to build this citadel at the north end of the cityto protect the city from goblins and Brothers of the Dark Path from theNorthlands, raiding down into Yabon. Here, for five generations, the businessof the Barony had been conducted.
They walked up a broad set of steps to a daunting set of oak doors.Tomas pushed them open, and they parted with a shattering crack as abar the size of a man's arm behind the doors splintered and broke.Before they crossed the threshold, Nakor said, "Ware this place. It isa seat of power."
Tomas said, "I can feel it. It has an alien feeling, something no Valheruhas encountered."
Pug said, "That's saying something. If a Dragon Lord hasn't encounteredwhat's on the other side of that door. . . " He closed his eyes andsent out his senses. At the portal a ward existed; had they passed throughwithout protection, they would have been incinerated. Pug quickly ascertainedthe nature of the ward and countered it. "It's safe to pass," he said.Sword at the ready and shield before him, Tomas entered the roomfirst. Pug followed with Miranda and Nakor.
As soon as they entered the old baronial great hall, it was as if theyhad stepped into anther world. The hall reeked of death and the floorswere stained with blood. Skulls and bones were scattered around theroom, and a faint haze darkened the air. Torches burned in sconces, theirlight angry and red, as if something had sucked the light out of the flames.Men who were no longer human stood on either side of the great hall.Their eyes were glowing jewels of luminous red, their muscles unnaturallyenlarged and straining at the skin. They all wore facial scars and expressionsof madness. Some twitched and others drooled, and they all hadmystic tattoos covering their upper bodies. Some carried double-bladedaxes and others had swords and buckler shields.They seemed poised to attack, yet appeared to be waiting upon some
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thing. The great vaulted windows of the room had been painted in redand black, passing only the faintest illumination from outside. The runesupon them were alien and repugnant to view.
Nakor glanced from window to window. "These are wrong," he whispered."
what do you mean?" asked Miranda.
"Whoever painted those is trying to do something very ... very bad.But they didn't do it ... correctly. "
"How do you know?" asked Tomas, holding his sword ready andwatching first one side then the other as he advanced slowly up the centerof the room.
"Years of sleeping on the Codex of Wodar-Hospur ... I rememberthings when I need to know them. If I thought about that too much, itmight make me upset."
As they crossed the hall, they confronted a figure on the right-handside of the baronial throne that caused them all to pause. It was clearlynot human. It looked roughly human, though its skin had a pale bluetinge. Upon its back large wings with brilliant white feathers sprouted. Onthe left-hand side of the throne stood a man, dressed in black robes withrunes embroidered upon them. He had a silver collar around his neck.Sitting on the throne was an old warrior, still strong-looking despitehis age. His grey-shot hair was cut short, though he retained the long fallcommon to those who had chosen to serve dark powers. And upon hischeeks the ritual scars clearly showed.
He regarded the four intruders with a wary gaze and said, "One ofyou must be the magician named Pug."
Pug stepped forward and said, "I am Pug."
"I was warned that eventually you would be troubling me.""You are General Fadawah," said Pug.
"King Fadawah!" said the man with an anger that didn't mask hisfear.
Nakor said, "Your claim to that title seems to be at the root of ourdispute. "
Fadawah's eyes drifted to Tomas, and he said, "What is that?"Tomas said, "I am Tomas, Warleader of Elvandar."The being to Fadawah's left smiled. His features were cruel and evil,despite being stunningly beautiful, and twice as terrifying for that beauty:a high brow framed in golden ringlets, a straight regal nose. The mouthwas full, sensual, and the eyes were a pale blue. His body looked powerful,heavily muscled, and there was an aura of danger about him even as heSat motionless.
He spoke and the room rang with despair upon every Word. "The
stepped forward and said, ,Stand aside,
V,aetu!)$ he said. The creature
your Majesty."
Fadawah stood up and moved 'behind the Other nun' who silentlywatched the exchange. the entity was his equal in stature.Crossing to stand before Tomas,
The creature's Voice boomed out in laughter. "Long have I ached to facesone of the Dragon HOst,, he said. Suddenly he lashed out with his bare
the
fist, striking Tomas vs shield. Tomas flew back across the roomy anddozens of guards who had stood motionless erupted into action,Miranda reacted before either Nakor or pug. She spun full circle, her
hand held palm downward, and spoke a word of powera diamond of energy flew from her hand, shrieking through the air to strike the wallbehind one of the warriors. It ricocheted off the wall and struck anotherwarrior in the back. Like the finest blade slicing butter, it cut the man inhalf. Across the room it flew, as Miranda shouted to Tomas, "StaYdo"!"
pug ignored Miranda's destructive energy blade and turned to face themonster. Pug made a single motion, both hands circling like an Openhandedfighting motws. But rather than striking a blow, he pulled bothhands back before his chest and shouted a word. A single blast of energycame from both his hands, invisible but Parting the air like a thousandfists. The winged creature was physically picked up and slammed backinto the throne. Fadawah and the man with the silver collar both jumpedaway, to avoid being struck by the ~g's wing.
Nakor ran forward, as if to attack, but rather than strike with his staff,he cor&onted the being. "What are You?)' he demanded.d Nakor aside, as if he was
Laughing as it stood, the creature pushe
too trivial a being to warrant violence. "I am the One Who Was Called',,Who are you?~ Nakor repeated, sitting on the floor.Leaning over, his beautiful face mere inches from Nakor, he said, "Iam Zaltais of the Eternal Despair."
I You must vanquish him."
Nakor shouted, "Tomas.
With a gesture of his finger, Zaltais seemed to lift Nakor up and propelhim in an arc across the hall, letting the old Isalani gambler slam into thewall. Nakor slumped to the floor.
Tomas lay below the flashing Mystic blade that Miranda had cast, asit rebounded from wall to wall, carving through those warriors still standing.Pug held his hand palm-Out toward Zaltais, and an explosion of energy slammed into the winged being, propelling him backward into thethrone one more time.
The mystic weapon that Miranda had cast faded suddenly, and Tomasleaped to his feet. The dozen remaining warriors surrounded him, and hestruck out with his sword. Possessed by senses beyond human, he movedto avoid every blow. His golden sword, not wielded in battle since theRiftwar, struck out, and each blow took a limb or a head.Miranda ran past the struggle in the middle of the room to see howNakor fared. The ancient gambler lay stunned. Miranda couldn't tell howserious his injuries were.
Pug advanced on Zaltais, who sat with eyes blinking a moment, as ifstunned, then his eyes focused and he grinned. Pug felt only hopelessnesson seeing that smile.
"I underestimated you, Pug of Crydee, Milamber of the Assembly.You are no Macros the Black, but you are a power! Too bad you're notworthy of your mentor's legacy."
Pug faltered a moment, suddenly unsure of his next act. That hesitationcost him as Zaltais flicked his hand and sent coils of black energysnaking toward Pug. They struck, and each time they hit, Pug felt painunlike any he had known; beyond the pain of flesh ripped by cruel fangs,each bite made him doubt his own ability. He hesitated, '^ then fell back."Pug," shouted Miranda, seeing her husband retreating.Tomas swung his golden sword and killed the last of the warriors asNakor started to rouse.
As Pug fell back, Tomas leaped past him, and the golden sword swungdown. Zaltais raised his arm, taking Tomas's blade on a golden bracerupon his wrist. The blade showered golden sparks and Tomas overbalanced,leaving himself open to a blow from the winged creature. Zaltaisleveled a backhand strike with his right fist, slamming into Tomas's face,and the warrior in white-and-gold staggered from the blow.I In thirty years Tomas had never faced a creature of this power. Notsince facing the combined mind of the Valheru had Tomas known suchdoubt. Even the demon Jakan seemed a trivial test compared to this creature.
Tomas fell to the floor and tasted blood on his lips. "What are you?""I?" said Zaltais. "I am an Angel of the Seventh Circle! I am an agentOf the Gods!"
Nakor stood up and said, "Get back! He is not what he seems' He isa creature of lies and misdirection!" Nakor shook off Miranda's hand asshe tried to steady him. The old man hurried over to the bloody bodiesthat littered the floor, and said, "These are dead because this thing convinced
them their only hope was to do as he bid and he treated themthusly. He will deceive and mislead, and raise doubts that will strike tothe root of your being. If you listen to him, he will eventually convinceyou to serve him."
Tomas rose up, the blood from his lip dripping onto his breastplate,where it ran off, without stain. "I will never serve this creature," he said."First he'll make you doubt your ability. Then he will make you doubtyour purpose. Then he'll make you doubt your place in the universe. Thenhe'll convince you where that place is!"
The self-proclaimed Angel from Hell said, "You talk too much, oldman!" He withdrew the black coils that had struck Pug and pointed hishand at Nakor. A blinding flash of white-hot energy flared, and Nakorleaped aside as it shot across the hall. It shot out the doorway as Mirandaalso leaped aside.
Tomas jumped to his feet, drawing back his sword, and struck downat the crown of the creature's head. Zaltais pulled away, so the tip of theblade struck him in the face. He reeled back, screaming in rage and pain.A red gash cut him from crown to chin. As if the muscles below his skinwere pushing outward, the crack down his face widened, then split, runningdown his throat to his chest and stomach, and he shrieked, an inhumansound.
It was a keening sound, and it made Pug's teeth ache as if they werebeing ground together. Pug saw the red gash splitting Zaltais from crownto groin. Like a pea pod being cracked open, Zaltais's skin and wings fellaway.
The thing that emerged from within that shell looked like a giantpraying mantis, with a black chitinous exterior, and large diaphanouswings.
"That is no more its true shape than the last"' shouted Nakor from,his position on the floor. "You cannot kill it. You can only hold it. Youmust confine it and return it to that pit outside.""And that you will never do," said the thing that was now Zaltais. Itbuzzed an angry sound and the wings blurred as it launched itself from'
the dais. Tomas lashed out again with his sword and sheared through oneof the wings.
Zaltais slammed hard into the stones and Nakor stood up, movingback as Miranda came forward incanting a spell. Pug also was attemptinga spell.
Nakor hurried around the confrontation now in the center of theroom. He didn't want to get in the way. He looked over to where GeneralFadawah stood, his own sword at the ready as if he sought to join in the
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fight on the side of his infernal servant. The other man crouched downbeside the throne and Nakor approached them, his staff ready if he neededto defend himself.
Miranda and Pug's spells were completed within seconds of one an
other. Crimson bands materialized around the insect and clamped downhard upon it. It chittered in rage and pain. Then Pug's spell manifested,a nimbus of white light which caused Zaltais to go limp. It crashed to thestones.
"Quickly!" shouted Nakor. "Take it back to the pit and cast it in.Then seal the pit."
"How?" asked Miranda.
"Any way you can think of." Turning to face Fadawah and his companion,Nakor said, "I'll take care of these two."
Tomas picked up the imprisoned creature, while Pug cast a backwardglance at Nakor. Miranda said, "Go, now!"
Nakor advanced on Fadawah, his staff before him, while the Generalstood poised with his sword. "I don't need demons from hell to best anold fool like you," sneered the leader of the invading army. "I was killingbetter men than you when I was a boy."
"No doubt," said Nakor, "but you'll find that for my obvious shortcoMMings,I'm still very difficult to kill." He glanced at the man besideFadawah. "Ask your companion there; he knows.""what?" asked Fadawah, glancing to his left at Kahil.That slight distraction was all Nakor needed. Lightning-swift, his staffshot forward, the butt striking Fadawah's sword hand with a knucklecrushingblow. The sword fell from fingers gone numb and the Generalfell back, knocking over Kahil.
Fadawah tried to pull out a belt dagger with his left hand, but Nakorsmashed it with his staff, and the General cried out in pain, as he nowheld out two useless hands.
Nakor's staff shot out a third time, and the General's kneecap shattered.He fell, crying in agony as Nakor said, "For too many crimes tomeasure, beyond what the Emerald Queen and the demon Jakan forcedYou to do, you have earned death. I shall be merciful and spare you thesuffering you deserve." Suddenly the staff shot forward again, strikingthe now helpless Fadawah in the center of his forehead. Nakor heardthe man's skull crack. The self-styled King of the Bitter Sea's eyes rolledup into his head and he died.
Nakor moved around Fadawah's body and knelt next to the man whocrouched next to the throne. He was a thin man, his cheekbones the mostProminent feature of his face. "Hello, my love," said Nakor."You recognize me?" he whispered.
"Always," said Nakor. "Who are you in this body?""I am Kahil, Captain of Intelligence."
"The power behind the throne, eh?" said Nakor. "So this is)whereyou went when the demon took your place?"
"No, before," said Kahil. "I sensed something wrong with that bodywhen I wore the Emerald Crown. My powers were being subverted ...in any event, Kahil had been with Fadawah before and was trusted. Hewas clever, but he was greedy. It took little for me to take over this body.For a while the Emerald Queen was nearly mindless, but no one seemedto notice. Then that damned demon showed up and ate it." Kahilshrugged. "I was the only one who could see through the illusion andknew a demon ruled in my place. I bided my time, knowing eventually Iwould have a chance to rule again."
"There have been things working beyond your most ambitiousdreams. Do you now realize what a dangerous game you played?"Weakly, the man said, "Yes, Nakor." Then a light came into his eyesand he said, "But I can't help myself."
Nakor stood and helped Kahil to his feet. "What of Fadawah?""Mad. His mind was totally gone. I thought to build a weapon, anengine of magic that would create an army of the dead-there were somany of them lying aroundand it did that, but it also brought Zaltaisout of the pit. I did not expect that. Fadawah could control it, at least fora while, and I could not. I was, I believe the expression is, 'caught betweena rock and a hard place.' I was ready to dispose of Fadawah once theKingdom was defeated and I held all of Yabon, but with Zaltais around,I couldn't quite get to that point."
"You always failed to anticipate consequences, Jorma.""Kahil, please."
"How do you like being a man this time?"
"It's occasionally useful. But I miss my last body. It was by far themost beautiful." Looking at Nakor, the being who had once been Nakor'swife, the Lady Clovis, and the Emerald Queen said, "You've used thatbody for a very long time now."
"I like it," said Nakor. "It was the one I was born with. I just changemy name every once in awhile." He pointed to the door through whichhis companions left. "Did you see your daughter?"That was Miranda?" said Kahil. "My gods!"
Nakor grinned. "The other was her husband."
"Do I have grandchildren?"
"Not yet." Nakor lost his smile. "You know, you've gone so far down
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an evil road I barely remember what it was you once were. A vain girl,
but no worse than some. But you have spent far too much time with dark
powers. You do not even know what it was you did, do you? You haveno idea who really controls your destiny."
"I control my destiny!"
"Oh, you vain woman. You are no more than a pitiful tool of a powerfar more than you can begin to imagine. He gained your soul so long agothat you can never be saved. You can only go to him for whatever tormenthe has in store for a failed minion. You know what I have to do?""I know what you must try to do," said Kahil, stepping back."Your vanity almost brought this world to ruination. Your lust forexternal youth and beauty caused you to destroy nations. You cannot beallowed to continue."
"So at last you will attempt to kill me? It will take more than a tapto this head to rid this universe of me."
"No, I will kill you."
Kahil started to incant a spell, but before he could finish it, Nakorstruck him in the face with the butt of his staff. The former EmeraldQueen, now in a man's body, staggered backward, his concentration brokenand his spell incomplete. Nakor leveled his staff and a burst of whitelight shone on Kahil. He froze, transfixed, and from his mouth a mournfulsound emerged. It grew weaker by the second as the body faded, becomingpale, then translucent, then transparent. When it vanished from view, thesound ceased, and Kahil was absent from the room. Sadly Nakor said, "I
should have done that a century ago, but then I didn't know how."He indulged himself a moment to reflect on everything, then he turnedand hurried to overtake the others. Until Zaltais was returned to the pitand it sealed after him, the struggle was not over.
Miranda waved her hand and a brilliant shower of sparks explodedfrom her palm and sprayed a dozen soldiers hanging back near the gates
to the city. As they began to be stung, they turned and ran."Not very dangerous," she said, "but dramatic." She looked back to
see Tomas struggling with all his considerable strength to hold Zaltais onhis shoulder, while Pug could do almost nothing but hang back.As they cleared the city gates, the building which covered the pit inview, Zaltais overbalanced Tomas and flipped over his shoulder, landinghard upon the ground. The creature thrashed around, and Miranda said,"My spell is failing!"
Suddenly the crimson bands shattered, flung in all directions, thePieces fading from sight. The insectlike creature bounded upright and
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lashed out with a razor-sharp forearm. Tomas took the blow on his swordand the sound of the clash was steel upon steel.Bright orange light bathed Zaltais as it pulled back to strike again."It's casting a spell!" Miranda shouted.
Pug incanted a word of power, which should have given him theability to sense the monster's magic. Instead he felt a blinding stab of painin his head and he fell to his knees.
Pug's hands went to his head and tears ran down his face as he struggledto make himself breathe. The images and sensations that flooded hismind were so alien as to cause nothing but pain. The spell he had utilizedwas designed to sense out the nature of the spell being used, and to counteractit if possible, but even the emanations of the Dread Lord that appearedunder Sethanon, and of the Demon Kings, Jakan and Maarg, werecomparatively familiar compared to what he was experiencing now. Pugfell to his knees, his eyes squeezed shut and his fists at his temples.Miranda took a more direct approach and simply tried to bum thecreature, sending forth her most powerful spell of flames, a white-hot burstof energy that burned bright enough to blind anyone who looked at theflame.
Zaltais writhed in the center of the flame, his own magic forgotten, acreature trapped in the heart of a star.
Tomas circled the burning creature, and went to where Pug knelt,helping his friend to his feet.
Suddenly the fire vanished as Nakor came hurrying up to them."Quick! Carry it to the pit!"
The monster was swollen and cooking in its own juices, the carapacecracked in several places. Tomas grabbed one of the forearms and trieddragging it. He made slow progress, but Zaltais was hauled through thelarge doors of the building and toward the pit.Then, with a loud crack, the chitinous outer shell broke, and insidethe body they could see something writhing. The shell parted and somethingakin to a giant white worm began to wiggle out.Miranda said, "I don't have the strength to burn it again.Nakor said "You don't need to burn it. Get it into the pit!"Tomas charged the creature as it was halfway out of the smokinginsect shell. He bashed it as hard as he could with his shield, and Zaltaiswas knocked backward, dragging the insect carcass with him, its lowersection still embedded in the shell.
The thing shrieked, a sound which cut through the skull like a knife,causing Tornas to falter, but he overcame the sound and smashed the
creature again, knocking it back once more, now only a dozen feet fromthe yawning opening of the pit.
Zaltais frantically snapped his tail, trying to rid himself of the insectcorpse. Tomas kicked the thorax section and it spun the creature around,
the insect body sliding toward the pit.
Pug wiped his hand across his eyes, his ringing head now clearing,and he uttered a simple spell that threw a punch of air, but one whichcould crush a man's ribs. The creature was knocked backward and suddenlywas overbalancing.
As they watched, arms began to extrude from the worm's upper segment,frantically waving.
Nakor said, "Enough of this!" He ran forward, his staff cocked overhis shoulder, and he struck the thing across the upper body as hard as hecould.
With a scream that threatened to shatter their ears, Zaltais fell intothe pit.
Miranda was knocked to her knees, as was Pug again. Tomas had touse all his willpower to remain upright, and Nakor gripped his staff as ifit was the only thing keeping him alive.
Then the sound was gone. Nakor said, "We must seal this pit!""How?" asked Pug. "I've never seen anything like this.""Yes, you have," said Nakor. "You're just not recognizing it!"Pug took a deep breath and used what little energy he had left toassess the pit. "It's a rift!" he said at last."Yes," said Nakor, "but not the sort you know.""How did you know?" asked Miranda.
"I'll explain it all later," said Nakor, "but you must close it."A faint breeze stirred, and Miranda said, "Did you feel that?""Yes," said Tomas. "And I don't usually feel the wind inside a build"
There's something trying to come through!" shouted Nakor.Pug said, "I need help!"
"What do we do?" asked Miranda.
"Give me whatever strength you can!" shouted Pug. He closed hiseyes and let his mind enter the rift. He sensed the energies and was againassaulted by an overwhelming sense of alien wrongness. Yet there was aPattern, and as alien as it was, once he apprehended it, he was able tostudy it, and with study, the structure began to emerge. "I have it!" hesaid at last.
He let his mind call up the knowledge he had gained as a Great OneOn Kelewan, as he had studied rifts and their nature. The nature of therift was that Pug could either use more power to close it than it took toopen it, or he could subvert the power used to keep it open. He chose thelatter course, as his energy was too depleted to attempt the former. Besides,he felt that even at his best, that choice might prove beyond hispowers. He sent a cord of energy that snaked out and engaged the sourceof the rift.
Suddenly a presence appeared on the other side of the rift. It wasmassive and powerful beyond anything he had thought possible, and itwas nothing but a distillation of hatred and evil so pure it defied humanunderstanding. A part of Pug's mind recoiled and wanted nothing morethan to fall to the floor and whimper, as Fadawah had done. But Pug'smental discipline came to the fore and he held his ground against thishorror of the mind.
Whatever it was, it quested. It knew Pug was somewhere close by,but not quite where. Pug felt a sense of urgency rise up inside as he soughtto unweave the matrix of power that held open the rift, for he knew thatshould this being find him, he would be lost forever.A faint surge of power came to Pug and he knew that Miranda hadsucceeded in joining her power to his. He felt a sense of reassurance fromher when she touched him, and the part of his mind able to perceive hersent forth its thanks.
The questing consciousness on the other side of the rift was becomingmore aware of Pug as each second passed. Pug had his own spell ready.He opened his eyes and for a moment it was if he was seeing twoimages at once. Before him stood Tomas, sword at the ready, with Mirandaand Nakor beside him. Overlaying that image was one of a tornsection of space and time, through which a great terror was peering in hisdirection. More than anything else, Pug was struck by the image of a vasteye peering through a keyhole.
Pug yanked back his own line of power, disrupting the supportingmatrix of energy. He sensed a terrible rage from the other side of the rift."Get out!" he shouted, and as he turned to run he realized he couldbarely move. Tomas threw his shield over his back and put his left arm,around Pug, nearly picking him up.
They ran from the building as Ryana landed. "I called her," saidTomas. The ground began to shake as they climbed aboard the dragon.As she launched herself into the sky, a terrible crack of thunder came from'within the building.
The dragon beat her wings and gained altitude, and Pug turned towatch the scene below. A great wind was being drawn to the building and
I
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the building began to shudder and shake. A crack of timber heralded theroof shattering, collapsing into the building.
Miranda said, "Everything's being sucked into the rift!"Pug said, "I hope not everything."
Nakor said, "It will balance out, but there will be a very big hole inthe ground to fill when it's done."
A thunderous rumble sounded, and as Nakor predicted, a huge holein the ground appeared and the rest of the building fell into it. A giantcloud of dust shot heavenward, and more ground fell into the hole. Thenthe rumbling stopped.
"It is over?" asked Miranda.
Pug closed his eyes and rested his head upon Tomas's back. "It willnever be over," he said.
A ragged boy ducked under the outstretched arms of a guard whoshouted, "Hey!"
"I gotta talk ta the Sheriff." he shouted as he dodged by.Dash turned to see the youngster scampering up the stairs. He stoodon the rampart over the city gates, watching the Keshians deploy in thepredawn darkness. "What do you want?" he demanded."Trina says to tell you, the South Palace Gate! Now!Instantly Dash knew he had overlooked other agents \*inside the palace.The South Palace Gate was the entrance used by tradesmen making deliveriesdirectly to the palace. It opened on the large marshaling yard usedto train Calis's Crimson Eagles; it also provided direct access to the oneportion of the palace that was unprotected by walls and gates. Should theKeshians get through that entrance to the city, they would not only be inthe city, they would also be in the palace. And most of the city's defenderswould be in the wrong place.
Dash shouted to Gustaf, "South Palace Gate!"
Gustaf had a flying company, a company ready to run to any pointin the line and reinforce, and they were off as soon as Dash shouted thelocation.
Turning to an officer nearby, Dash said, "Keep things here undercontrol. Until their agents report the gate open, they'll go through thecharade of asking for surrender one more time."Dash hurried down the stairs and chased after Gustaf and his men.he ran through the streets until he could hear the sound of fighting."Where is the palace guard?" he demanded.
Gustaf said, "They were ordered up to support the main gate.""Who gave that order?" asked Dash.
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Raymond E. I?eist
"I thought you did," replied the constable.
"When we find out who gave that order, we'll have found our poisoner.
Dash and his constables raced through the street to the north-mostentrance to the palace and found the gate unattended. He motioned forthe men to run to the left, around the stables, and into the marshalingyard from the north. At the far end of the marshaling yard he saw a brawltaking place in front of the south gate. He had ridden wagons throughthat gate when working for Roo Avery what seemed like years before, ina different life, but never before had the marshaling yard seemed so vast.As he reached a point halfway across the open stretch of ground hesaw the struggle was nearly decided. Old men, boys, and a few men offighting age stood toe-to-toe with armed mercenaries, trained killers whowere dispatching them with cold-blooded efficiency.Standing before the huge bar that kept the gate closed was Trina, asword in one hand and a dagger in another. A bleeding man at her feettold Dash that he had already paid the price of trying to get by the determinedwoman.
The mercenaries at the gate were quickly disposing of the thieves, andDash tried to will himself to be faster. He was twenty yards away whenhe saw a burly man with a beard strike down a young thief-barely morethan a boy-then turn to join his companion facing Trina.The first man before her struck an overhand blow, which she blockedhigh, leaving her guard open. The burly man stepped under and drovethe point of his sword into her stomach.
"No!" Dash cried as he ran right into the two men without slackeningspeed. He carried both of them away and down in a heap. He struck outwith his sword, killing the bigger man as he lay on the ground, then rolledover to come to his feet facing the first man who had struck at Trina.The man made a combination attack, feigning a head blow, then turninghis wrist to slash at Dash's side. Dash nimbly stepped back, thenforward, while the man's sword point was moving past him and, beforehe could reverse his blade's direction, Dash killed the man with a stabbingblow to the throat.
The constables overwhelmed the attackers at the gate as the thievesbegan to carry away their wounded. The Keshian agents fought to thelast, but eventually they were all killed or disarmed.Dash looked around, and when he saw everything was under control,he ran over to where Trina lay. The gate was still closed.He knelt and cradled her in his arms and saw her skin was pallidd and
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clammy. Blood flowed copiously from her stomach and Dash knew her
life was draining away. He shouted, "Get a healer!"A constable ran off while Dash cradled Trina in his arms. He tried tostaunch the flow of blood by pressing on the wound, but the pain wasalmost unbearable to Trina.
She looked up at him and weakly said, "I love you, Sheriff Puppy."His tears fell unhindered. "You crazy good-for-nothing," he said, "Itold you to stay alive!"
He gathered her to him and she moaned, then whispered, "You promised. "
Dash was still holding the dead woman when the priest reached thegate. Gustaf put his hands on Dash's shoulders, moved him back, andsaid, "We have work to do, Sheriff."
Dash looked upward and saw the sky was brightening. He knew circumstancesdemanded he put aside his personal grief and the numbingsense of loss he felt. Soon the Keshian herald would approach the gateand make his final demand for surrender-for when the Keshian armysaw the southern gate wasn't open, they would know their only optionwas to attack, and they would come.
Twenty-seven
T HE HORSES PANTED.
Riders urged them on and prayed their mounts would hold out forone more day. Jimmy had put them on a punishing regimen, from dawnto dusk, with the shortest breaks possible. The horses were all exhibitingthe results of the forced march, ribs beginning to show where not so manydays before they had been sleek and comfortably fat.Six horses had come up lame, and those riders had been forced todrop out, walking their animals back to Port Vykor or following after,hoping there would be a Kingdom army waiting when they at last gotthere. Two animals had been so badly injured they had been put down.The troop was within minutes of being in sight of Krondor, andJimmy prayed again that he was wrong in his surmise, and they wouldfind the city peacefully going about its business. He would gladly acceptthe years of jests and taunts he would endure as a result should that bethe case, but he knew in the pit of his stomach he was about to runheadlong into a fight.
Dash crested a rise and saw a baggage train before him. Most of the
baggage handlers were boys, but a few guards stood ready to defend theKeshian supplies. Dash shouted, "Don't kill the boys." and then pulledhis sword. The baggage boys scattered, but the Keshian Dog Soldiersguarding the baggage train stood firm, and the battle was on.
Dash raced along the walls as the Keshians began their assault. TheKeshian herald had been polite in his contempt, a quality Dash wouldhave found more admirable had he not been in a nearly murderous rageover Trina's death. It had taken all the self-control he could manage tonot grab a bow and take the herald out of his saddle when he came forthe third time, demanding the surrender of the city.Patrick was back in his castle, under guard against another attack byagents of Kesh. Dash put aside the sinking feeling in his stomach that, ifthey should somehow survive the assault on the city, it would be a searchof tedious proportions to uncover all the agents of Kesh.Trumpets sounded and war horns blew, and the Keshian infantrymarched forward. In files of ten men, they carried ladders. Dash couldhardly believe they'd assault first with scaling ladders, without heavy machinesor a turtle to protect the men. Then a hundred bowmen rode intoview, and Dash called out, "Get ready to duck!"A horn sounded and the men with the ladders broke into a run, whilethe horse archers spurred their mounts forward, between them. Thehorsemen unleashed a barrage of arrows, and Dash hoped all his menhad heard the warning to duck. A clattering of arrows against stones andshields and the absence of more than a few oaths and screams told himmost had understood. Then his own bowmen rose up and delivered a
withering fire down on those below the wall. Dash crouched down behinda merlon and said, "Pass the word: target those with the ladders. Worryabout the archers later."
The soldiers on both sides passed the word, and Krondorian archersjumped up and fired at the ladder-bearers. They ducked as another roundof arrows flew at the walls. Dash duck-walked to the rear. of the rampartand called down to one of his constables, "Keep the patrols active. Theymay still be trying to get in through the sewers."The constable ran off and Dash returned to his place on the wall. Apalace guardsman ran over and said, "We found the spy, sir.tv"Who was it?"
"Another clerk. Man name of Ammes. He just walked into the squadroom and told us you'd ordered every man to the gate.""Where is he?"
"Dead," said the guardsman. "He was one of those trying to seizethe South Palace Gate, and he died during the fighting."Dash nodded, making a mental note to make sure no palace servantor functionary stayed in place without a thorough investigation. The period
when the Prince had resided in Darkmoor and Dash had overseenthe transition from Duko's rule to Patrick's return had been too lax. Malarl~and other agents had easily insinuated themselves into the palace.Which also meant Kesh had plans for this offensive long before thetruce at Darkmoor last year.
Dash kept his rage bottled up, his frustration and anger at Trina'sdeath and the assault on the city. He vowed that should Keshians comeover the wall, he would personally kill more of the enemy than any mandefending the city.
And should the city endure, he would see that his promise to Trinawas not made in vain.
They landed in a clearing a few miles from the city. Pug staggered ashe got off the dragon's back and sat down on the grass.Miranda sat next to her husband and said, "Are you all right?"Pug said, "My mind is still swimming."
Tomas said, "'where to next?"
"Many places," said Nakor. "And not all of us together." To Tomashe said, "Why don't you have your friend fly you home to your wife?There is still much work to be done, but you can return home knowingyou've saved Elvandar and its inhabitants from problems for the nearfuture."
"I would like to hear a few things first," said Tomas."Yes," said Miranda. "What was that creature?""I have no knowledge of anything like him," said Tomas. "And thememories I inherited from Ashen-Shugar are extensive.""That's because no Valheru ever encountered anything like Zaltais,"said Nakor, sitting on the grass next to Pug. "Mostly because he was nota creature. "
"Not a creature?" asked Miranda. "Could you attempt to just explainwithout the usual convolution?"
Nakor smiled. "Right now you remind me of your mother, the goodparts. Y ~
"There were good parts?" said Miranda with thinly veiled contempt.In the most wistful tone anyone had ever heard from him, Nakor said,"Yes, there were, once, a very long time ago.""What about Zaltais?" asked Pug.
"Fadawah was lured to practicing dark magic by his advisor, Kahil,"Nakor said. "I think Kahil has been behind everything that went on inNovindus from the start. He was a dupe, a tool of the Pantathians, whosomehow managed a degree of freedom, and he used that to create aposition for himself, one where he could manipulate others ... P' He hesitated,then continued, "The same way Jorma became Lady Clovis aridcontrolled the Overlord and Dahakon years ago. Kahil was at Fadawah'sside from the start. He avoided destruction and continued to advise and... well, I suspect he convinced Fadawah to turn to the very powers thatdestroyed the Emerald Queen and the Demon King. He served that power
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we do not speak of, and like most of the Nameless One's minions, he didnot even know who he served ... he was just driven."
"Zaltais?" prodded Miranda. "What did you mean when you said hewasn't a creature?"
"He was not of this reality, more so than the demons or even thedread. He was a thing from the Seventh Circle of Hell.""But what was he?" asked Pug.
"He was a thought, probably a dream."
"A thought?" asked Tomas.
Pug said, "And when I looked into the rift?"
"You saw the mind of a God."
"I don't understand," said Pug.
Nakor patted him on the shoulder. "You will in a few hundred years.For now, consider that a God slept and as he slept he dreamed, and inthat dream he fancied some tiny creature spoke his name and in doing sobecame his tool. In that dream that tool created havoc and called to himand he sent his Angel of Despair to answer the call. And the Angel servedthe tool. "
"Why couldn't Zaltais be killed?" asked Miranda.Nakor smiled. "You can't kill a dream, Miranda. Even an evil dream.You can only send it back to where it came from."Tomas touched his lip. "That dream seemed concrete enough to me.""oh," said Nakor, "a God's dream is reality."
Pug said, "We should go."
"Where?" asked Miranda. "Back to the island?"
"No," said Nakor. "We should tell the Prince the leadership of theenemy is dead."
"Krondor, then," said Pug.
"One thing, though," said Miranda.
"What?" asked Nakor.
",You mentioned some time ago that the demon Jakan replacedMother at the head of that army, but you never said anything about whathappened to her."
Nakor said, "Your mother is dead."
"Are you certain?" asked Miranda.
Nakor nodded. "Very certain."
Pug stood up, still feeling shaky. Tomas said, "Ryana will bear meback to Elvandar."
Pug embraced his old friend and said, "Again, we say good-bye."And we'll meet again," answered Tomas.
"Fare you well, old friend," said Pug.
Raymond E. ~cist
"And you three as well," said Tomas.
He climbed aboard the dragon's back and she leaped into the sky.Two beats of her wings and she banked off to the west and started on thejourney back to Elvandar.
Pug said, "Are you up to getting us all to Krondor?"Miranda said, "I can manage." She took them both by the hands andclosed her eyes, and reality swam around them.They appeared in the great hall of the Prince's palace in Krondor asthe war horns sounded the call for the reserves to come to the main gate.
Gustaf said, "If you can't slip inside the gate and unlock it-""Kick it down," finished Dash.
They heard the rumble as the ram was rolled down the road towardthe main gate. The road into the city from the east was a long inclinefrom a series of rolling hills, and the ram was a huge one, fashioned fromfive trees lashed together by heavy ropes. Horsemen rode on either sidewith guide ropes, and as they reached the last stretch of road before thegate, they released the ropes and veered off.
The ram picked up speed and the rumbling grew louder as the ramclosed to within fifty yards of the gate. As it bore down, Dash reflexivelygripped the stones of the wall as he anticipated the impact.Then someone shoved between Gustaf and Dash and stuck his handover the wall. A sheet of light extended from the man's hand, and Dashturned to see his great-grandfather standing next to him. "Enough!" Pugshouted, his anger clearly evident on his face as the ram exploded into athousand flaming splinters.
Whatever the Keshians expected, this display of magic wasn't it. Theirattack, timed to coincide with the ram smashing the gate, faltered as menon horseback were suddenly greeted by the sight of a very high wall surmountedby archers instead of an open gate for them to charge through.They pulled up and milled around in confusion, as the defenders or'the wall unleashed a barrage of arrows. Pug shouted, "No!" and with awave of his hands sent out a curtain of heat that turned the arrows intoflaming cinders that fell far short of their mark. Turning to Dash, he said,"I don't see any other officers. Are you in charge here?"Dash said, "For the moment."
"Then order your men to stop shooting."
Dash did so, and the Keshians retreated to their lines unharmed. Pugsaid, "Send a herald to the Keshian commander. Tell him I want to meetwith the commander of that army in the Prince's palace in one hour'stime."
"In the palace?" asked Dash.
"Yes, when he gets here, open the gate and let him in.,,"What if he won't come?"
Pug turned his back, motioned to Nakor and Miranda on the rear ofthe gatehouse, and said, "He'll come, or I'll destroy his army.,,
"But what do I tell him?,, asked Dash.
"Tell him the war is over."
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A pale and weak-looking Patrick stood before his throne as GeneralII Asharn ibin AI-tuk marched into the throne room, flanked by a guard anda servant. He bowed perfunctorily. "I am here, Highness."Patrick said, "I did not call this meeting."
Pug stepped forward and said, "I did."
"And you are?" asked the General.
"I am called Pug."
The General raised an eyebrow in recognition. "The magician at Stardock. '
'The same.
"Why have you summoned me?"
"TO tell you to take your army and go home."
The General said, "If you think that display outside the gate will turnmy attention-')
A guard ran in and said, "Highness, fighting has erupted!"the General said, "I am under a flag of truce!"
Patrick asked the guard, "Where is the fighting?""Outside the wall! It appears as if cavalry from both the north andsouth has attacked the Keshians.
Patrick said, "General, those are units not presently under my command.They are obviously riding to relieve Krondor and do not know ofthe truce. You are free to rejoin your men."
The General bowed and turned to leave, but Pug said, "No!"
"What?" asked both the Prince and the General simultaneously.Pug said, "This will end now!"
He vanished from sight.
Nakor, who had been standing in the corner near Miranda, said, "For
a tired he ages to get around, doesn't he?""Yes, he does," Miranda agreed with a faint smile.Pug appeared over the heart of the battlefield and saw that baggage,.,,,
Wagons were afire at the rear of the Keshian position and that a coof horse was attacking along the coast road from fl~ -I. I\_Tpan
V-Cshians between two attacking columns. no caitc ngPug hovered a hundred feet above the battle and clapped his handstogether, and a peal of thunder struck those below, knocking some of theriders directly underneath him out of their saddles.Men looked up and saw a man floating in the air, and from the t mana brilliant light erupted, a golden glow that was as bright as the sun. Hisvoice carried to every man as if he were standing next to them: "Thisends now!"
With a wave of his hand he sent a force through the air, a ripplewhich visibly distorted the air. The wave hit horses and knocked themdown, throwing more men to the ground.
Men turned and ran.
Jimmy sat firm on a bucking, frantic horse, trying to bring the animalunder control. After two more kicks, the animal set out at a run, andJimmy let it, turning it and then bringing it to a halt. He turned the animalaround and saw more animals running in every direction as Keshiansraced back toward their burning wagons.
Then he glanced up to where Pug hung in the air and again camePug's voice: "This ends now."
Then Pug vanished.
Nakor said, "Well, at least you got them to stop fighting for a while."The three of them sat in an abandoned room in the palace, after the Princehad retired and the Keshian General returned to his army.iti will get them to stop for good," said Pug.'$or what?" asked Miranda.
Pug said, "I'm sick of killing. I'm sick of destruction. But more thananything, I'm sick of the mindless stupidity I see on every side of me."Pug thought of the losses to war he had endured, from his childhood friendRoland and Lord Borric to Owen Greylock, a man he had not knownwell, but one whom he had found himself liking from their winter togetherat Darkmoor. "Too many good men. And too many innocents. It can'tgo on. If I have to ... I don't know, put up a wall between both armies,I'll do it."
Nakor said, "You'll think of something. When the Prince and theGeneral have time to calm down, you can tell them what you want. yv"When are you meeting again?" asked Miranda.
,'Tomorrow at noon."
"Good," said Nakor. "That gives me time to see if what I think hashappened has happened."
"You're being cryptic again," said Miranda.
Nakor smiled. "Come along and see. We'll get something to eat.
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
He led them out of the room, then out of the palace, past guards who
stood an uneasy watch knowing they might have to return to the wallsand a terrible fight at a moment's notice.
As they left the palace, they saw horsemen riding into the marshalingyard through the southern gate. At their head Pug saw his other great-grandsonand waved.
Jimmy rode over and said, "I saw that display, Pug." He grinned andPug's heart squeezed slightly when for a second he saw Gamina's smileechoed in it. "You saved a lot of my men's lives. Thank you."Pug said, "I'm pleased you were among those who benefited.""Is Dash ... ?"
"He's inside, alive, and until Patrick regains his strength, in commandof the city."
Jimmy laughed. "Somehow I don't think he enjoys that very much.""Go see him," said Pug. "We're going to Nakor's temple and will beback in the morning. We have a general meeting at noon to end thisnonsense. "
Jimmy said, "I will be more than pleased to see that. Duko's a marvel,and he's managed to keep the South under control, despite this Keshianadventure, but we're sorely tested along both borders, and I haven't anyidea how things go in the North."
"That war is finished, too."
Jimmy said, "I am relieved to hear that, Great-grandfather. I will seeyou in the morning."
Nakor said, "Let's go. I want to see what's happened."
They hurried through a city cautiously returning to normal activitiesas people ventured out of their houses. With so few people about, theyreached the Temple Quarter of the city quickly.No one was visible outside the tent, but once they stepped through,they saw a crowd sitting on the floor. In the center of the room the womanAleta sat on the floor, rather than floating in the air, and the light abouther was gone. So was the illaspectedd darkness which had hovered in theair beneath her.
Dominic hurried over and said, "Nakor! I am glad to see you.""When did this happen?" asked Nakor.
"A few hours ago. One moment she was floating in the air, and thenext the blackness below her vanished, as if it had been sucked downthrough a hole, and she gently floated back to the ground, opened hereyes, and began speaking."
,I,'
Pug and the others turned their attention to what the woman wassaying, and instantly Nakor said, "Her voice, it's different."Pug had no knowledge of what the young woman had sounded likebefore, but he knew it could be nothing like what he heard now, for hervoice was magical. It was soft, and yet easy to hear if one but took amoment to listen: a musical voice.
"What's she saying. " asked Miranda.
"She's been talking about the nature of good since she awoke," saidDominic. He looked at Nakor. "When you first began this temple, andwhen you told us what you would do, I was skeptical, but knew we hadto try. But what we see before us now is absolute proof the power of Ishapneeded to be shared with the Order of Arch-Indar, for there, before us,sits a living Avatar of the Goddess."
Nakor laughed. "Nothing so grand as that. Come." He led themthrough the seated crowd and came to stand before the young woman.She ignored him and continued talking. Nakor knelt and looked into hereyes. "Is she repeating herself?" he asked.
Dominic said, "why, yes, I believe so."
"Has anyone written down what she's said?"
Sho Pi was sitting to one side and said, "I have had two acolytesrecording her words, Master Nakor. This is the beginning of her thirditeration of the same lesson she taught."
"Good, because I'll bet she's getting hungry and tired." He put hishand on her shoulder and she faltered in her speech.She blinked and her eyes seemed to change focus, and she looked atNakor and said, "What?" Her voice was different, what one might expectof a mortal woman of her age, without the magic that had made it soothingand wonderful a moment earlier.
"You've been asleep," said Nakor. "why don't you get something toeat? We'll talk later."
The girl got up and said, "oh, I'm stiff. I must have been sitting likethat a while."
Nakor said, "A couple of weeks, actually."
"Weeks!" Aleta said. "You can't be serious."
"I'll explain everything to you later. Now go get some food and thena long nap.) ~
After she left, Dominic said, "If she's not an avatar, what is she?"Nakor grinned. "She is a dream." He looked at Pug and Miranda,and said, "A wonderful dream."
Miranda said, "But Nakor, she's still here. Zaltais is gone."Nakor nodded. "He was a thing of the mind from that other world,projected into this. Aleta is a normal woman, but something reachedacross worlds to touch her and used her to hold back that blackness.""What was that blackness?" asked Dominic.
"A very bad dream. I'll explain over dinner. Let's find something tocat. I p
Dominic said, "Very well. We have food in the kitchen."As they were walking, Nakor said, "By the way, we have to changea few things around here."
"What?" asked Dominic.
"To begin with, you must notify the Ishapians you are no longer amember of their order."
'What?'
Nakor put his arm around Dominic's shoulder and said, "You lookvery young, but I know you're an old man like me, Dominic. Pug toldme the story of the time you and he went to the Tsurani homeworld. Iknow you've seen lots of things.
"Sho Pi over there is a perfect choice to teach the young monks howto be monks, but you are the one who must teach Aleta.""Teach her what?" asked Dominic.
"How to be High Priestess of the Order of Arch-Indar, of course.""High Priestess? That girl?"
"That girl?" repeated Nakor. "She was an Avatar of the Goddess amoment ago, wasn't she?"
Miranda laughed, and Pug put his arm around her shoulders. It wasthe first time in a long while he had felt like laughing.
Erik said, "We can only assume Subai got through to the magician.By all reports they simply stopped fighting everywhere about the time allthe corpses fell over."
Earl Richard said, "Thank the Gods for that."
"I wish we still had cavalry," Erik said reflectively. "I have a hunchwe could get men up to Ylith without much trouble.""Well, order up a unit on foot and see how far they get."Erik smiled. "I already have. And I'm sending Akee and his Hadatithrough the hills toward Yabon."
Richard said, "Do you think we'll ever know what happened, truly?"Erik shook his head. "Probably not. I've been in battles where I stilldon't know what happened. We'll probably read more reports on this fightthan we want to, and I'll write a few of them myself, but truth to tell, Ihave no idea what really occurred.
"One minute we were struggling to beat back an army of dead men
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and crazed killers, and the next the dead men an fell over and the killerswere walking around slack-jawed and apparently without minds. I'venever heard of a fight going from hopeless to easy in a second p before. "The very tired young Captain said, "But to tell you the truth, I don'treally care now that the fighting's stopped."
"You're a remarkable young man, Erik von Darkmoor. I'll mentionthat in my report to the King."
"Thanks, but there are a lot of men out there deserving of praise morethan I." He sighed and looked out the tent door. "And many of themwon't be going home."
"What should we do now?" asked Earl Richard.
"Without cavalry, I'm inclined to sit tight until we get word of thesituation down in Krondor. But my instinct tells me we need to advancenorthward as fast as we can. Fadawah may have fled or been killed, butthat doesn't mean some other petty captain won't try to grab power and,fashion a modest little Kingdom for himself. And as far as we know,Yabon City is still under siege."
Earl Richard said, "I'm tired of sitting around, myself. Give the orderto advance."
Erik smiled and stood up. "My lord," he said with a bow. He wentoutside and found Jadow Shati near the Crimson Eagles' campsite. "Breakcamp!" he ordered. "And ready to march!"
"You heard the man!" said the former sergeant. "I want every manready to march in an hour!"
Jadow turned and grinned at his old companion, and Erik found oncemore he couldn't resist that man's smile; he grinned in return.
Patrick showed every sign of being on the way to a full recovery. Hiscolor had returned to normal and he sat firmly upon his throne.The Keshian General Asham ibin AI-tuk again stood before thethrone, looking even less pleased than the last time he had appeared. Nowhe faced a Kingdom army reinforced by cavalry units from Port Vykorand from the North.
Pug walked in.
Patrick said, "You demanded we be here at noon, Pug. What haveyou to say to us?"
Pug looked at Patrick, then at the General, and said, "This war isover. General, you will refresh your soldiers outside one more day, thenat first light tomorrow you will return to the South. You will return beyondthe original borders south of Land's End. You will carry orders toall Keshian units to cease their attacks on Land's End and you will relayondoin
SHAP,DS OF A BROKEN CROWN
the following message to your Emperor: should Kesh come north again,uninvited, no man crossing the border under arms will survive."The General stood ashen-faced and shaking with rage, but he nodded.Patrick beamed. His smile was one of victory. "Dare to linger, Keshian,and my magician will destroy your army where it stands."
Pug turned. "Your magician?" Pug advanced upon the young Princeand walked up the stairs to stand before him. "I am not your magician,Patrick. I loved your grandfather and counted him among the greatestmen I've known, and I treasured the love of your great-grandfather Borric,who gave me the name c, but you don't own my soul. There areforces loose in the universe so far beyond your petty dreams of power andwealth they are a flood to a drip of water. It is those forces who commandmy attention. I just refuse to sit idly by any longer and see innocentwomen and children slaughtered and brave men die because rulers are toofoolish to see they have abundance."
Turning to the General, Pug said, "You may also tell your Emperorthat should any Kingdom soldier move south uninvited, every man underarms who crosses the border will be destroyed.""What?" said Patrick standing. "You dare threaten the Kingdom?""I make no threats," said Pug. "I am telling you that you will not bepermitted any retribution against Kesh. You will both return to your respectivesides of the border and act like civilized neighbors." ' "You are a Duke of the Kingdom, a member of the royal family byadoption, and a sworn vassal to the crown! If I tell you to destroy thatarmy outside the gate, you will do so!"
Pug's anger rose up and he stared the taller young man in the eyes."I shall not. No power you possess can compel me to act against my will.If you want those Keshians outside the walls dead, take a sword and goout and try to kill them."
Patrick's rage erupted. "You traitor!"
Pug put his hand on Patrick's chest and shoved him back into thethrone. Guards throughout the hall put hands on the hilts of swords toProtect their Prince. Miranda stepped forward, hand upraised, and said,"I wouldn't!"
Nakor stood at her side, and held up his staff. "The boy is all right."Pug leaned over, almost nose to nose with Patrick, and said, "Youwho have never drawn a sword in a battle more serious than chasing somegoblins around in the north call me 'traitor?' I have saved your Kingdom,YOU fool. I did not save it for you anymore than I saved the Empire forthat man's"-his finger shot out, pointing at the Keshian General-"master
. I did it because of the countless souls that would have been lost hadI not."
Looking first at Patrick then the General, Pug said, "Take word toyour father, and your master, that Stardock is free. Any attempt to forceKingdom or Empire rule on that entity will bring my intervention. Theyhave my word on that and I shall enforce their independence." Pug turnedand stepped away from the throne. "I care not who sits on your father'sthrone, Patrick. You gather together the shards of your broken crown andrebuild your nation. I care not for your titles and rank. I am done withyour Kingdom." He put his arms out and Miranda and Nakor came tostand on either side. "I renounce my title as Duke of the Kingdom. Iforeswear my oath as subject to the crown. I have larger concerns thanyour vanities and national agendas. I am here to protect this world, notjust one part of it.
"Let it be known that Pug of Crydee is no more. I am now merelythe Black Sorcerer. My island is no longer a hospitable place for the uninvited.Anyone sailing within sight of it is at peril, and anyone settingfoot upon it without my leave will be destroyed!"Then with a thunderous crash and a thick cloud of black smoke, hevanished with his companions.
Dash said, "Great-grandfather certainly twisted Patrick's smalls,didn't he?"
Jimmy said, "I've had more pleasant afternoons."They had just retired from a council with the Prince. The withdrawalof the Keshian troops was discussed as well as what exactly Patrick wouldreport to his father. It had lasted long past dinner and into the night.They were walking toward Jimmy's quarters for a quiet moment alonebefore retiring for the night. "Did you talk to Francie?" asked Dash.Jimmy said, "No. I saw her a brief second but didn't get a chance toreally speak with her."
"She's afraid that once she's married to Patrick you'll just stop talkingto her. She doesn't want to lose your friendship."Jimmy said, "That won't happen. One thing about this war, it taughtme what really is important and what just seems important."Dash said, "I know."
There was a note in his voice Jimmy had never heard before. "What
is it?"
Dash said, "Just some people I cared about didn't get through this."Jimmy stopped. "Someone special to you?"
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
Dash turned and said, "I don't want to talk about it today. I'll tellyou all about it someday, just not today."
Jimmy said, "Very well." He was silent a minute as they continuedto walk along the hallways. "I think I learned something myself, andmaybe it's important, too."
tcl~t?)~
"Francie is ... someone special. But I think I feel the need for somethingand she is the person I elected to cast in the role of the person tofulfill that need."
"Grandfather and Grandmother?"
"Yes, what they had. I think that seeing how they felt, especially afterseeing how cool Mother and Father always were to each other, it makesme want to have what Grandmother and Grandfather had.""Few gain that."
They reached the door to Jimmy's room and opened it.Three people were sitting inside. "Come in and close that door," saidPug.
Jimmy and Dash entered and Dash closed the door.Pug said, "I could not leave without speaking to you two. You arethe last of my line."
Trying to lift the mood, Jimmy said, "Please don't put it that way."Miranda laughed.
Dash said, "And we do have relatives in the East."Pug laughed. "There is so much of your grandfather in you two." Helooked at Dash. "Upon occasion you look like him when he was a boy."He looked at Jimmy. "And sometimes you look so much like my Gaminait haunts me."
He opened his arms and Jimmy and Dash came and hugged him inturn. "I shall not return to the Kingdom unless it is for a reason far moreimportant than the whims of kings," said Pug. "But you two are myblood, and you and your children will always be welcome on my island."Dash said, "You have influence with the King. Do you have to makethis sort of break?"
Pug said, "I knew King Lyam as a boy in Crydee. I knew Aruthabetter, but both knew my heart. The King knew me from his father."Nakor said, "Borric knows me well, and my words might carry someweight, but what Pug is being diplomatic m avoiding is that, short of anunexpected disaster, Patrick will someday be King.""We are avoiding an argument of momentous proportion later byhaving it now," said Pug. "The Kingdom is in shambles. Patrick is forced
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by circumstances to yield to my demands. If this confrontation occurredyears from now, how many innocents would die as I enforced my will?""And what would that make him?" said Miranda. "Only a differenttyrant than those men of whom we just disposed."Dash said, "You cut yourself off from so much."Pug said, "I have seen worlds and traveled through time, my boy. Ihave so much more to see. This Kingdom of the Isles is but one of manyplaces that are now dear to me."
Nakor said, "And if need be, we'll be back."
Dash said, "Well, we have a lot of work to do, and if you want myopinion, you're doing the right thing."
Pug smiled. "Thank you for that."
Jimmy said, "I can't say I agree with Dash, but I know that it is yourchoice and I wish you well." He smiled at Miranda. "Shall I call youGreat-grandmother?"
"Not if you value your life," said Miranda with a smile.Dash said, "I shall think of you a lot."
Jimmy said, "As shall I."
Pug stood. "Be well," he said, holding out his hands to Nakor andMiranda, and they vanished.
Dash sat down on Jimmy's bed, leaning back against his down pillow."I think I'm going to sleep for a week."
"Then make it next week, Sheriff," said Jimmy. "We have a lot ofwork to do in the morning and one hell of a mess to unravel." He glancedover and saw his brother was already asleep. For a moment he consideredwaking him, then he shrugged, left, and went next door to sleep in Dash'sbed.
Twenty-Eight
Gathis BOWED.
"I am pleased to see you all return and looking well," he said.Pug, Miranda, and Nakor had just materialized near the fountain thatwas the centerpiece of the garden of Pug's estate on Sorcerer's Island.Pug said, "We are equally pleased to see you. How fare things here?"Gathis smiled his toothy goblinlike grirl "Very well. If you wouldindulge me, there is something I think you should see before you rest. Itshould only take a few moments."
Pug nodded and Gathis led him out through the building and acrossthe meadow toward the hidden cave that was the shrine to the lost Godof Magic. The cave stood open to view.
"what is this?" asked Pug.
"You observed, I think, Master Pug," said Gathis, "that eventuallythe appropriate person would find this shrine."Miranda said, "And that person has arrived?"
"Not as we thought," said Gathis.
Pug entered the cave, with the others behind him, and looked at thestatue that had once resembled Macros the Black. He faltered as he sawhis own features upon the statue. "What?"
Miranda stepped around beside her husband and she saw her featuresupon the statue. "I see myself."
Nakor said, "Watch a moment."
The face on the statue shifted and they saw the features of Robertd'Lyes. Then they saw the features of other students on the island."What does this mean?" asked Miranda.
"It means," said Nakor, "that all of you are servants of magic andthat there is no one person who shall be the god's agent on Midkemia.
Raymond E.\*Feist
Rather, many people will work on behalf of returning the lost God ofMagic to his place in this universe."
Pug studied the statue as other faces appeared, magicians known tohim and those he had never met. After a few minutes Pug saw his ownface again. Pug said, "Let's return to the house."As they walked toward the house, Pug said, "Nakor, I didn't see yourface upon the statue."
Nakor grinned and shrugged. "I know there is no magic."Pug laughed. "It is an all or nothing proposition, Nakor. Either everythingis magic or nothing is magic."
Nakor shrugged. "I find either proposition equally probable, but aestheticallyI prefer the concept that there is no magic. Just power and theability to utilize it."
Miranda said, "This borders on the type of long debate you two enjoyover wine, and I am very hungry."
Gathis said, "Food and wine wait you in your study, Master Pug.""Join us," said Pug to his servant.
When they returned to the house, they found a sumptuous table setfor them. Miranda took a plate and began piling on fruit and cheeses. Pugtook a large flagon of wine and filled goblets."Gathis," said Pug, "you are the keeper of that shrine. What is youropinion on what we've seen?"
"It is as Master Nakor has observed: no longer will one individual actas an agent on behalf of the lost God of Magic. Perhaps the powers havelearned the error of depending too much on one individual. It says thatthose who practice the arts will aid the return of magic."Nakor shrugged. "It means that whatever power seeks to return, theGod of Magic has deduced that assigning all that responsibility to oneindividual is risky. Macros, for all his power, made mistakes."Pug said, "I appreciate that fact, having already made quite a fewmyself. "
Miranda said, "Now that you are no longer a Duke of the Kingdomwhat are your plans?"
"I still have many thousands of Saaur to relocate to the Ethel Du-ath.Eventually I will have to return to Shila and destroy whatever demonsmay linger there, then be about the business of reseeding enough life onthat world so that in a few centuries the Saaur may return." He smiled."Then there's the matter of the students here. They need to be taught,and learned from as well. And there's the problem of finding and destroyingNalar's agents wherever they may be hiding. Other than that, I thinkI may take up fishing."
SHARDS OF A BROKEN CROWN
UP. p I
"Tens of thousands died during the Riftwar, and more than twice thatnumber during this latest war, this Serpentwar. These catastrophic eventsmust never be allowed to be duplicated again."
"How are we to insure they don't?" asked Miranda.Pug said, "That I need to think on. And it's something we all needto be involved with. I think I may have some ideas I'll share with youand the others living on this island. The first thing we must be certain ofis that there can be no manipulation of those who serve on our behalf.Those are the tactics of our enemy, and as one who was subjected to suchmanipulation by your father, my love, I find the idea of continuing thatpractice distasteful. This is why this island must become our bastion, andthose who serve here must do so willingly and with as much knowledgeas it is safe for them to possess.
,,What of Stardock?" asked Miranda.
Pug said, "Stardock was begun with good intentions, but I made toomany errors. I thought I would give the students more of a voice in theorganization of the Academy, and to be frank, I was a product of theTsurani Assembly. It's been enough years since then that I think I recognizethose errors.
"Stardock will continue and be an asset to us; before-I built the communitythere, magicians were often persecuted by those fearful of theirtalents. 'Witches' were hunted down and their pitiful woodland hutsburned to the ground, or 'wizards' were walled up in caves to die ofstarvation and thirst, unless they became powerful enough to keep peopleaway through fear, or they had patrons who were noble or rich. At leastnow those have a haven if they care to make their way to Stardock."And we may find recruits to our cause among those who study atStardock for a time and leave, seeking something else.""How do we insure we don't make the same mistakes?" asked Miranda."
There are many things we will do differently; I will be the finalauthority here. I may seek your wisdom and that of others, but in criticalmatters I will decide. I erred in dififidng that was ignoble and arbitrary atStardock, and now I know it is the opposite. Without a vision, we becomea debating society and a place where habit quickly becomes 'tradition.'Tradition often becomes an excuse for repression, bigotry, or reactionary"My Blue Riders will keep them from being too tradition-bound.""My friend," said Pug, "your Blue Riders will become another traNakor laughed. "Fishing teaches patience. That's why I never took itdition. And those who survive the fight of the those traditionalists who are now calling themselves 'The Hand of Korsh' and 'The Wand of Watoom'will become just as fixed in their ways. Even Korsh and Watoomwould be appalled to see what their followers have created.""Maybe I should go back there," offered Nakor, half in jest."Maybe not," replied Pug. "Stardock will endure, and there will betimes we will be grateful it does."
Looking around the room, Pug said, "We here are embarking on along fight. There are powers moving through the universe, vast terriblepowers that we have only glimpsed. The two great wars we have so farendured are but the opening moves in a game of chess."Miranda said, "What are the Gods on our side doing about all this?"Nakor said, "They are helping you."
"How?" asked Miranda.
"In ways obvious and subtle," said Nakor.
Pug said, "During the Chaos Wars, the very nature of things changed,and since then the Gods have acted through agents and minions. We arewho we are because the gods have chosen us to be their agents.""Even Gods need to learn," said Nakor. "Your father's relationshipwith Sarig was not particularly effective, from the God's point of view, sorather than repeat that mistake, he's elected to try a different tactic."Miranda said, "There seems a great degree of futility in what weattempt."
"Perhaps," offered Nakor, "but we have seen wonderful things. Thecreation of the Temple of Arch-Indar is no mean feat. It will be a tiny,inconsequential sect for centuries, and most who encounter it will notthink it equal in importance to the long-established worship of Astalon,Dala, Sung, and the other lesser Gods, but the fact that enough purity ofthe Goddess exists in the universe to serve us in balking Nalar's attemptsto again create havoc on our world is a miracle. There may not be anothersuch manifestation for centuries, yet we know one may come.""What of you?" asked Pug. "What are your plans?""My work here is done, for a while," said Nakor."Where will you go?" asked Miranda.
"Here and there ... I will seek out Nalar's minions and send youword should I encounter them. And every so often I will encounter likelycandidates for your community and send them to you. And from time totime I will return to eat your food and drink your wine and see what'snew and interesting here."
"You will always be welcome, Nakor."
Miranda said, ""o do you serve, Nakor?"
I
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Nakor grinned. "Myself. All of us. Everything." He shrugged. "I don'tknow. Perhaps someday I will, but for now I am content to wander, learnthings, and help out where I may."
"Well," said Pug, reaching for another cup of wine, "stay a whilelonger while I bring about the creation of my new council here, and giveme the benefit of your wisdom."
Nakor said, "If you think it wisdom, then you do need my advice."Miranda laughed.
Trumpets sounded and drums beat as the Prince and his fiancee departedthe throne room. After six weeks of relative peace since Pug hadended the war, the crown judged it time to make the formal announcement.Patrick had just finished informing the court that he and Francinewould depart at the end of the month to return to Rillanon for the royalwedding. The nobles and influential commoners in the room cheered andwaited to disperse until Patrick escorted Francine out of the hall.Jimmy approached Erik von Darkmoor and said, "Captain, I justwanted to tell you how impressed I am by what I read of your actions inYabon."
Erik shrugged. "After what Pug, Nakor, and the others did, we hadlittle serious opposition."
"Those forced marches, though, must have been punishing.""They were," said Erik, "but mostly on our feet, since we had nohorses. We had very little problem securing any area we entered, and oncewe freed prisoners in Ylith and Zun we had enough men to leave behindand act as jailers. By the time we reached LaMut, we were hunting bandits,nothing more. Now that General Nordan has agreed to lead thosewho want to leave-and a few who don't-back to Novindus, and therest are being sent down to serve with Duko, things are getting relativelyquiet."
.Jimmy said, "Still, it was an impressive three weeks.""I just wish we had more ships," said Erik. "This business of havingto do business with the Quegans to get the invaders back across the seahas me feeling itchy each time I see a Quegan ship anchor off of Fishtown.y$
"Blame your old friend," said Jimmy, pointing at Roo, who stoodwith his wife talking to a minor noble.
"Roo always could smell an opportunity. I just wish I knew how hegot the Quegans to make the deal. They're usually impossible to dealwith.
Jimmy shrugged. "Probably just found something they really wantedand agreed to get it for them; that's usually how you do business.""I'll leave business to Roo. Being the Captain of the Crimson Eaglesis enough for me."
I'm surprised you didn't accept the promotion," said Jimmy.'I'm happy where I am. Being Captain of the Prince's HouseholdGuard is a lot more ceremony than real soldiering.""But it's one step from there to being Swordmaster for a Duke or the-Marshal's position here in Krondor."
Erik smiled. "I'm happy. I like running the Crimson Eagles, and Ithink the Kingdom needs an army independent of the other nobles. Wemight have had a different war had we had Kingdom garrisons in Sarth,Ylith, and Zun.
"You may be right, but the Dukes will resist the idea of garrisons intheir Duchies they don't control."
"I'll think about that when I return to Krondor," said Erik. "Rightnow I'm going to Ravensburg and to my wife. It's been months and Iwonder if she remembers what I look like.'
Jimmy said, "You're not easy to forget, Captain. Few men come aslarge as you."
Erik laughed and said, "What of you?"
'I am the King's servant. I'll return with Patrick to Rillaon and Hismajesty will tell me where I serve next. I suspect I'll be back in Krondorquickly enough. With Rudolfo dead and Brian unable to walk since thepoisoning, we'll need a new Duke in Krondor quickly. Duke Carl survivedup in Yabon, but between those two Duchies we have enough work tokeep a score of nobles occupied for a century."I'll probably be given a title, and too few resources for too muchwork. That's usually the way it works."
Erik smiled and patted Jimmy on the shoulder. "Well do I know that,
Roo and Karli joined them and were warmly greeted by both men.Erik said, "When the Keshians were marching across your estate, howdid you avoid being captured like the others in your area?"Roo laughed. "We were sleeping in an outbuilding while we're rebuildingthe estate house. When the cavalry showed up, they went insidethe big house, and we snuck off into the woods. I have a tidy little caveset up to lie low in. I stocked it first thing after I returned. Too manYarmies running around here in the West for my taste."Erik said, "We're trying to solve that problem, Roo." Karli hid hersmile behind her hand.
Roo said, "I haven't seen your brother around, Jimmy."
"Dash is off somewhere. With everyone heading off to the wedding,he's being left behind in charge for a while.""I'm sure he's distressed at missing the wedding," said Karli.Jimmy smiled. "Probably not as much as he is at the work to be doneputting this city back together again."
Roo said, "I know. Someone broke into the basement at Barret's andtook every scrap of food and all the coffee! How can I open a coffeehousewithout coffee?"
"I guess you'll have to buy more," said Erik. He playfully squeezedhis friend's shoulder. "You always manage to find a way to make a deal,my friend."
Roo smiled. "I have to work a little harder since Jimmy's grandfatheris no longer around, but then I'm getting to keep the money I make ratherthan pay taxes."
Jimmy said, "I could speak to the Prince about that if you'd like."Roo put up his hands in mock surrender, "No, that's fine. I'll pickmy own time to bring up the matter of the crown's debt to the Bitter SeaCompany. Let's get the West back in order before we start that long andboring wrangle."
Karli said, "There's your brother, Jimmy. Who's that he's talking to?"Jimmy turned and saw Dash entering the room deep in conversationwith another man. "He's a court functionary, named Talwin. I'm still abit vague on what he does for Patrick, but I've seen him around over thelast few years. He's being named Castle Reeve while everyone else is goingto Rillanon for the wedding. I'm sure he and Dash have a great deal todiscuss. "
"You can't have it both ways, Dash," said Talwin. "You're eithertaking care of your duty or you're not."
Dash looked at the head of Royal Intelligence and said, "Look, we'regoing to be stuck together for over a month while the wedding is goingon, so why don't we agree to work together. You take care of the businessof the Principality and the castle itself, and I'll take care of the city.""Because you're unreliable," said Talwin.
Dash's face flushed in anger. "Explain yourself.""Twice in the last week I know you have arranged to get minor offenders released without trial."
"They were hungry people!" said Dash, raising his voice enough thata few lingering members of the court turned to look. Dash lowered hisvoice. "We've got enough trouble dealing with the prisoners we have.I'mnot going to throw a child who stole bread into a cell with murderers."Then he laughed. "And I'm damn well not going to toss him in withthose damned Jikanji cannibals we inherited from Fadawah."Talwin laughed. "Very well, I'll concede there may be some sense toyour decisions. But since the fighting's stopped, I've noticed that a greatdeal of street crime is returning to Krondor, and you're far less vigilantthan before."
"I'm tired," said Dash. Then he said, "Yes, that's exactly it." Hesmiled. "You just made me see something important. Thank you.""For what?"
"For seeing something I've been ignoring for weeks." He patted Talwinon the arm. "I'll have my resignation on your desk tomorrow.""What?"
"I don't want to be Sheriff of Krondor any longer," said Dash. "Findsomeone else to do the job for you, Talwin."
He turned and walked across the hall to where his brother stood withErik, Roo, and Karli. After he exchanged greetings, he said, "Roo, I coulduse employment."
Jimmy said "What?"
"I've resigned as Sheriff."
"Why?" Jimmy persisted.
"We'll talk about that later," answered Dash. To Roo he said, "Couldyou use some help?"
"Someone of your talents, certainly," said Roo. "But the last time Iemployed you, it ended up costing me a great deal of money."Dash grinned. "Well, then I was really working for my grandfather.This time I'd be working for myself."
"Meaning?"
"I think I would rather seek my own fortune than continue to tradeon my nobility and work for the crown. I think that with the Bitter SeaCompany I can find a position from which I can someday start runningmy own business concerns."
"We can certainly talk about it," said Roo. "Come to Barret's tomorrowand we'll discuss the matter." He took Karli's arm. "Now, if youwill excuse us, we need to be on our way home."They left and Erik promised to drop by on his way to Ravensberg.He turned to Dash and said, "Are you certain about this resignation? TheKing might insist you stay."
"Not if I resign my offices," said Dash.
Erik said, "I'll leave you two alone to discuss this. I'm off to Ravensburgto see my wife and family."
Jimmy grabbed his younger brother by the arm and steered him to a
window, away from the others who lingered after court. "Are you mad?Resign your hereditary offices?"
"I may be mad, big brother, but I'm serious. I will have a resignationon Talwin's desk in the morning for him to pass along to Patrick. Unlessthe King repeals the Great Freedom, no man can be compelled to holdoffice against his will I don't need a title. I can do fine living by my ownWits.
Jimmy looked appalled. "What about everything we've done? Whatabout Grandfather and Father? Are their deaths for nothing?"Dash grew angry. "Don't throw those deaths in my face, Jimmy. Theydied for what they believed in, and my choosing to go another way doesn'tdiminish their sacrifice. I am just tired of living their vision of what Ishould be. no I should be."
Jimmy said, "why don't you come to Rillanon with me? I'll get Patrickto name another Sheriff in your place. We'll go to the wedding, thenwe'll take ship to Roldem and visit Mother. A week or two with her andyou'll be aching to get back to your criminals."Dash laughed. "No doubt. No, you go. Kiss Mother and Aunt Magdaand the others for me. Tell Mother I'll come to visit someday; I knowshe'll never set foot on Kingdom soil again."
"She might if I'm crowned King," said Jimmy.
"Maybe for that," agreed Dash, and they both laughed.Jimmy put his arm around his younger brother's shoulder. "Are yougoing to be all right?"
"Eventually," said Dash. "Right now I just want to get started on alife of my making. I want to use my wits for something other than gettingpeople killed."
Remembering the wild charge at the Keshians' rear elements, thefighting outside the wall before Pug appeared, Jimmy said, "I can't seemuch wrong with that. It's just. . .
'What?"
"It's just that we're our father's sons."
"I know. This isn't easy, but once I made up my mind, I knew it wasthe right thing. We have duties to each other that are more important thanour duties to a flag or a king. Can you honestly say you can work onPatrick's behalf without question?"
Jimmy said, "I would never work for Patrick the man; it's the crownfor which I labor."
Dash lightly poked his brother's chest. "And that, dear brother, is thedifference between us. I saw common men and women die to protect thiscity, and what reward is there for them?"
"They get to keep their liberty!" said Jimmy. "You know what Keshianrule would bring to Krondor: slavery, press gangs, children being saidto brothels. "
"Are we so noble then?"
"We have problems, certainly, but we have just laws."Dash said, "I've been administering those laws for a while now,Jimmy. I'm not so sure sending a ten-year-old boy to the labor gang forstealing food is just."
"That's just an extreme case," said Jimmy.
"I wish that were so."
Jimmy said, "I have to go. We have been invited to dine with Francineand Patrick. Are you coming?"
"No," said Dash. "I'll send a note with my regrets. I have a lot ofthings to do before the morning if I'm going to turn my office over tosomeone else."
Jimmy said, "I wish you'd at least wait until Patrick returns fromRillanon. Maybe by then you'll have changed your mind. It's not too late,you know."
Dash was silent for a while, then he said, "If I do, that will give memore time to get my affairs in order. Very well, I'll wait until the Princeand Princess return from Rillanon and then I'll resign my offices."Jimmy grinned. "I'll talk you out of it."
"I'm still not coming to supper. I'll see you in the morning before youleave. "
They embraced and Dash left the great hall, heading out the mainentrance and through the courtyard, toward the New Market Jail.
In the darkest hours of the night, before the sky to the east began tolighten, a single man hid in the shadows near the docks. He kept lookingback, as if fearing he was being followed, and at last he ducked into adoorway, waiting to see if anyone was behind him.Long minutes passed then he stepped out of the door, only to beslammed back against it with a dagger held to his throat. "Going somewhere,Reese?"
The thiefs eyes widened. "Sheriff. I wasn't on the dodge, honest. Iwas just heading back to my hole to sleep the day.""I need information, and you're going to give it to me," said Dash."Sure, whatever you want."
"Who's the new Daymaster now that Trina's dead?""If I told you, it would be my life," said Reese."If you don't, it will be your life. I don't mean hauling you to NewMarket for a trumped-up trial and a hanging, I mean cutting your throat
right now."
"It doesn't matter," said Reese. "There isn't one. There's barely whatyou'd call the Mockers since the Upright Man and Trina died.""Who's the Nightmaster?"
"He died during the war. There's no leadership anymore. EvenMother's ain't safe no more. Someone's setting up a new gang near Fishtown,for boosting goods unloaded off ships. And there's some basherssetting themselves up down near the old docks. Times ain't what theyused to be, Dash."
"Tell me where to find the gangs in Fishtown and down by thedocks. "
Reese told him what he knew, then Dash said, "Here's what you needto know. Things are changing in Krondor and we're going to be the onesmaking the changes."
"We?" asked Reese.
"You and me."
I get caught working for the Sheriff, I'm a dead man," said Reese."Oh, before we're done, you'll wish it was that simple. You're a brightone, Reese-you were smart enough,to hook up with Talwin and me andget out of the work gang."
"Well, I saw my chance and I took it."
"Who's another really smart lad or lass, someone who works wellwith the children?"
"Jenny's got a level head and the beggars and pickpockets like her.""Good. I want you and Jenny to meet me by the old landing belowthe north wall reservoir, an hour after sundown tomorrow." He let go ofthe man's shirt and put away his dagger.
"What if I just don't turn up?"
"Then I'll find you and kill you," said Dash. "An hour after sundown.Just the two of you."
Reese said, "I'll bring her." He ran off into the dark.
Dash looked around to make sure he was unobserved, then went the
other way.
Jimmy rose to depart, and Francine said, "Jimmy, may I have a wordwith you?"
Jimmy smiled. "Anytime, Francie."
She came over and said, "If we still had a garden here, perhaps wecould go for a walk."
"A turn around the marshaling yard?"
She laughed. "That will have to do."
She turned to her father and Patrick, and said, "We won't be long."They went down the long corridor from the Prince's great hall to thebalcony overlooking the marshaling yard. The evening air was warm andthe air held a hint of blooms.
"When we return, I shall see the garden is restored as soon as possible. "
Jimmy said, "That will be nice."
"Are you returning to Krondor in time for Midsummer's Festival?"Francie asked.
"Probably not. I shall sail to Roldem to visit Mother. With Fatherdead, she'll never return to the Kingdom."
Francine sighed. "They never grew to love one another?"Jimmy shook his head. "I think at best they enjoyed things about oneanother. She admired Father's skills as a diplomat; Roldem's a nation ofcourtiers. He was a very fine dancer, did you know?"'I remember seeing him at a celebration in the King's court. He cuta very dashing figure. I had a crush on him as a child.""He was a very fine father," said Jimmy, suddenly missing him agreat deal. "He always liked Mother's ability to organize. If there was oneguest for dinner or a hundred, she always had everything right by the timethe event began. He used to joke that she'd have made a better Duke than
he.
"But they never grew close?"
"NO," said Jimmy sadly. "I know Mother had lovers, though she wasalways very discreet about it. I don't know about Father. He alwaysseemed so occupied with whatever Grandfather set him to. He probablywas too busy to really care."
"He cared about you and Dash."
Jimmy nodded. "I know he did. He was always generous in his affectionswith us."
She put her hand on his arm. "I don't know what I'm going to do,Jimmy. I like Patrick well enough; the three of us have always beenfriends. I used to think I was going to marry you, back when we werechildren."
He smiled. "I know. I used to find it irritating, then I found it pleasing.She leaned over and kissed him, lightly but lingeringly. Then she said,'You're my dear friend. I don't know if I'll become like your mother andPatrick, or if I'll turn my life over to raising a future King of Isles.
I may take up gardening, and if I decide to have a string of lovers, I'llmake you the first one, but most of all, I'm going to need good friends."Everyone I know is now trying to be my friend, and I know thatwhat they see is the future Queen of the Isles. You and Dash and a few
of our good friends back in Rillanon are all I have."Jimmy nodded. "I understand, Francie I'll always be your goodfriend. "
She took his arm in hers and snuggled into his shoulder. "Thank you,Jimmy. Now, let's go back and rejoin the Prince."Jimmy knew at that point that he also would eventually marry forreasons of state. He said a silent prayer to any God who would listen thatthe woman fate had in store for him was the match of the one holdingonto his arm at this moment. And prayed she would also prove as gooda friend as Francine.
Two nights later thieves drifted into Mother's. Many looked aroundfor boltholes, for by general consensus Mother's wasn't safe anymore.Still, a few lookouts hung outside, keeping an eye out for the,.Prince'smen.
Reese stood up on a table and,said, "Is everyone here?"From the back of the room, someone shouted, "Everyone who's cominglyp
That brought some guarded chuckles from a few, but no one felt easyenough to really enjoy the weak humor.
Reese said, "We've got new rules."
"Rules!" shouted a large man in a corner. "Whose rules?""Mockers' Rules!" shouted a young woman entering from a far door.She was solidly built, and plain of features, but she was known for beingone of the smarter thieves in the guild. Her name was Jenny."who says there's a Mockers to make rules for?" asked another man."The Upright Man!" shouted Reese. "He says."
"The Upright Man's dead!" said a man from the back of the largeroom. "Everyone knows that."
From deep within the shadows behind Reese, a deep voice said, "TheUpright Man's died before, and always returns.""Who's that?" said the beefy man in the corner."One who knows you, John Tuppin. You run the bashers."The man looked pale at the dark figure knowing his name.A thin man in the rear said, "Everyone knows Tuppin. He's too bigto miss!"
Others laughed, but a few glanced around, worried expressions ontheir faces.
From the shadows the voice said, "I know you, too, Rat. You're thebest point lookout in the Mockers. I know you all."I know every thief, cutpurse, dodger and basher, every toffsman andwhore who calls Mother's home. And you know me.""It's the Upright Man," whispered someone.
"You can claim to be whoever you want," said John Tuppin, "butclaiming and being ain't the same. I could claim to be the Bloody Dukeof Krondor, but that don't make it so."
From out of the shadows the voice said, "The Fishtown gang was runtoday."
Suddenly people throughout the room were talking. Reese picked upa large wooden club and slammed it against the wall. "Shut up!"Silence fell, and the voice from the darkness said, "Tomorrow theSheriff will run the Old Dock bashers. No one works the streets of Krondorwithout my permission."
"If those bashers get run tomorrow," said Tuppin, "I'll believe you'rewho you say you are."
"I will too," shouted the man called Rat.
"Pass the word," said the voice. "The Keshian renegades who selldrugs out of the caravansary will be run. The swine who grab kids to sellto the Durban slavers will be run. Anyone not doing business with theMockers will be run."
A few in the room cheered.
"Reese is Nightmaster, and Jenny is Daymaster. You have a problem,you bring it to them."
More cheers, then Reese said, "Get out there! Pass the word, theUpright Man is back!"
The thieves dispersed until only three people remained at Mothers.Dash stepped out of the shadows. "You did well. Tell Tuppin andRat they did well, too."
"It's a hard sell, " said Reese. "You're going to have to bust a lot ofheads before they get it."
"I've a couple of months before the Prince installs a newSheriff," said Dash. "Between now and then we'll get organized."The girl said, "I don't get one thing. My are you taking on this job?You're the son of the Duke of Krondor! You're never going to be as richon the dodgy path as you could be on the straight. If we get caught, weo time in prison, or the work gang. If you get caught, you get hung fortreason. Why are you doing this?"
Dash said, "A promise." Jenny seemed about to ask another question,but Dash cut her off. "You have a lot of work to do and so do I. Youneed to get someone into the palace and close to Talwin. You need to get
him followed, and that won't be easy. We have to find his contacts andidentify his agents. He's going to be the worst threat to the Mockers we'llface."
"I have just the girl," said Jenny. "Young, innocent looking, can washand sew, and will cut your heart out for a copper piece.""I've got a man I can get into the kitchen," said Reese."I'll get them inside," said Dash. "Now, go."
They left and Dash ducked out the back way. He waited, and whenhe was satisfied no one had seen him depart the thieves' headquarters, heknew that his life would never be truly his own.He knew he'd earn riches as a merchant, and marry some wellthought-of young woman, one whom he would probably love, and fatherchildren. It would be, to outward appearances, a good life. Publicly hewould be a man of importance, one worthy of envy. But he also knew hewould live in two worlds, and that most of his life would not be his own.More than his duty to the crown, given to him at birth:without hisconsent by his father and grandfather, this duty to a ragged bunch ofthieves and thugs was far more binding upon him, for it was a duty heelected, one chosen as a matter of honor, and he knew he would neverfail in that duty short of death.
Dash set out through the sewers that would be a second home to himfor the rest of his life.
PUG STOOD.
The students who joined him, Miranda, Nakor, and Gathis lookedaround the cave curiously. Two torches burned, cutting the gloom.Pug said, "We come together tonight to ratify a vow each of you hasalready given to me in private. Others will come to join us over the years,and a few of you will leave, but this group will endure."We meet in a conclave, for no one outside this group may know weexist. We must linger in the shadows, hidden from the sight of those wholive in the world of light.
Pug looked from face to face, and said, "Each of you will act on behalfof people who will never know you exist, who might even fear you oroppose you if they knew of you, out of ignorance or because they aremisled.
"Death will be the reward for many who choose this path."Pug pointed to the mouth of the cave. "Out there are men who havetaken a path that leads into the darkness. Some are allies, others are ignorantof one another; some are unaware of who they truly serve, andothers willingly embrace the evil we face. They will all seek to destroy us."Some of you will leave us, seeking to find our enemies. Others willbe looking for new students to send here for training. Others will remainhere, to teach and organize.
"The school at Villa Beata will continue as it was, and those who findus, without us seeking them, as many of you have done, will be welcomedhere as before. Again I repeat, no one outside of this group may knowwe exist.
"We will deal in dreams and nightmares, in a war few out there canimagine. We are brothers and sisters in this calling, and we must be obedient
to the needs of this conclave. No one of us can be above that need.If our lives are the price, so be it."
No one in the room spoke.
Pug said, "We are the Conclave of the Shadows and we oppose themadness of the Nameless One and his agents.
"We have endured the Riftwar and we have survived the Serpentwar.We now prepare for the next struggle, one that few Will know of, one thatwill be fought where few can see. It will be a war in the shadows."Pug put out his hand and Miranda took it. He nodded to Nakor andGathis, and led his followers out of the cave, down the path to their home.

