Glen Cook - An Ill Fate Marshalling

The sergeant was a veteran of both the civil and Great Eastern Wars. He understood. „I'll see to it, sir."

„Who has the next watch?"

„Romin, sir."

„That the Marena Dimura fellow?"

„Yes, sir."

„Very good. Carry on, then." Liakopulos returned to his quarters, tormented. Suppose the King was dead? His legal responsibility was clear. He had to inform Vorgreberg, facilitate an orderly transition. But what was his moral responsibility? As the law stood, power would pass to people bitterly opposed to everything Ragnarson, Fiana, and the old Krief had tried to build.

Where did he stand in the equation? Assuming Ragnarson had gone down, and Sir Gjerdrum and Baron Hardle with him, he now controlled the army. He and Credence Abaca. And the army, even weakened by defeat, could be a kingmaker.

He did not want that responsibility. He had come to Kavelin to repay a debt to Ragnarson, not to juggle its crown. „Ye Gods above and below, attend me. If that message be true, make it false. Take this off my shoulders."

Inger couldn't tear her gaze away from the body. Cold sweat covered her. She began shaking. Ladies-in-waiting guided her to a chair well away from the window. Very, very softly, huskily, she said, „That could have been me. If Karl hadn't stepped in front of the window when he did, that could have been me."

Hunsicker ducked away from the window, came to her. He was pale. „The man who loosed that shaft was one hell of an archer, My Lady. It had to come all the way from Fiana's Tower."

„I don't care where it came from, Hunsicker. I don't care if the bowman was skilled or lucky. What I care about is that a man is dead, and it would have been me but for fate's intercession." She strained for control. Her shakes sub­ sided. „I've had enough. They win. Send for Trebilcock."

„But My Lady... ."

„No more arguments. No more stalling. Karl is the last sacrifice to my cousin's ambitions. I want Trebilcock here within the hour, and you not being able to find him won't be an acceptable excuse."

„She gave in," Michael told Derel. „She's in a panic. And just in time. Gales is back. He's in Damhorst, along with another four hundred Itaskians."

„And still no sign of Haas?"

„None. I'm worried for him. But maybe we don't need him to learn what we wanted to know. The Duke of Greyfells is Gales' travelling companion."

„Greyfells? The Greyfells? The King's old enemy?"

„Not the same man, but probably of the same philoso­ phy."

„Then she hasn't just been acting for herself."

„I've doubted that for some time. But actually, I think if she'd had her way she would've been satisfied having Fulk declared crown prince."

„These little tete-a-tetes you and she are having haven't softened you, have they?"

Michael chuckled. „Hardly. But I know a little more about her. She isn't the villain we've tried to tell ourselves."

„Who is? We all like things black or white. Makes it easier on our consciences. How are you going to work this so she don't get wind of Gales?"

„Thought I'd move her to the old Dalthin manor tonight, then north through Anstokin and Volstokin later. We'll need to let Volstokin and Anstokin know she's coming. State trip home to see her family, and such."

„All right. I'll contact their ambassadors. You get her out of the castle. Damn, but I wish the King would get back."

„Better figure it'll take at least another three weeks. Probably longer. It'll depend on how much he fools around over there."

„Three weeks. A month. Can we hang on that long?"

„Credence has everything sewed up. Anybody tries any­ thing, he'll be all over them. And they know it. Cham says the Thing has gotten as still as death. We get Inger to sign away her rights, the worst will be over."

„Well, do it, man."

„Easy, Derel. I'm on your side."

„Nerves. Lack of rest and nerves, Michael."

„Back to let you know as soon as I can."

Inger greeted Trebilcock at the door. He said, „I under­ stand you've finally decided."

„I have. I'm packing now. You convinced me this time."

„How was that? You were still stalling yesterday."

„The arrow, Michael. Don't kid me. Nothing happens without you knowing, without your approval. Not in Vorgreberg."

„Ah, Inger, if you only knew. Hell, you do know. One whole hell of a lot goes on without me knowing. Wouldn't you say? What about an arrow?"

„Come here. Look at this and lie to me." She led him into another room.

A dead man lay on the floor. Michael knelt beside him. „Karl. How the hell?..."

„Through the window. The arrow was meant for me. Karl stepped in the way at the wrong time."

Michael went to the window. He looked out, toward Fiana's Tower. The arrow hadn't been meant for anyone. „I don't know anything about it, Inger. I will say this. The man who killed Karl was a hell of a bowman."

Inger hissed, exasperated. „So Hunsicker told me. I don't care. I do care about my life and the lives of my people. I didn't bring them here to be murdered."

„I'll find out who did it. He'll hang. Rest assured."

Uncertainly, she asked, „What if it was Abaca? You're always warning me about him."

„Assassination isn't his style. If he wanted you dead, he'd trump up some way to declare martial law, then bust in here and hang you before anybody could get in his way. It's something like that that he's been setting up. That's why I wanted you out. No, I don't think Credence did this."

Confused, Inger said, „That little bitch Kristen, then. She hates me because of Fulk."

„Maybe. Whoever, we've got to get you out of here. As soon as it's completely dark I'll take you to an abandoned manor north of the city. My own people will come in and pretend you're still here. As soon as I make the arrange­ ments, we'll send you north, through Anstokin and Volstokin."

„Why north?"

„Because the people trying to kill you won't expect you to go that way. Because Credence won't expect it. I've tried to make it clear I wish you no harm. Don't force me to state my feelings any more openly. That wouldn't be fitting in a servant of your husband."

Inger gave him a confused look. She sat down. „How soon?"

Michael glanced out the window. „Have to let the night settle in. Say two hours?"

„Won't all these people attract attention anyway?"

„They would if they all went. They're not going to. Pick four or five. The rest stay and keep up the pretense."

She gave him a hard look. „You sure you're not trying to get me out where you can... ?"

„Don't be silly. If I wanted you destroyed I could do it right here. Credence would be glad to help."

„Then why leave my people behind?"

„The attention. And, bluntly, as hostages. You mean much to me, Lady, but so does my duty to Kavelin."

Inger's face soured. „Duty. To Kavelin. I wish you knew how sick I am of hearing that."

Michael shrugged. „The King believes in what he's trying to do. Till he changes course, is succeeded, or I quit, my duty is to carry out his wishes."

„I take it you don't always agree with him."

Michael looked out the window, at a bloody sunset. „Not always. But he makes policy. The rest of us execute it."

„Prataxis makes policy. His pipe dreams are where Bragi gets his crazy ideas."

„Sometimes. Sometimes." You're walking a thin line here, Michael, Trebilcock told himself. Be very, very care­ ful.

Dahi Haas knocked on the door of the house in Sedlmayr. No one responded. He kept pounding. After a long time the door opened. Haas slipped inside.

„This must be the place," said the sergeant commanding the squad tracking Haas. He assembled his men. „You three go round back and see if there's another way out. Two of you cover it if there is. The other one come back and tell me." He faced the house, studied, waited.