Lynn Flewelling - The Bone Doll's Twin

Ki let his cloak fall and knelt at Tharin’s feet. “I’ve dishonored Tobin and myself,” he managed at last, fighting back tears of shame. “I struck another squire. At the stables. Just now.”

Tharin’s pale eyes fixed on him in a most unnerving way. “Which one?”

“Mago.”

“Why?”

“He’s been saying things to me.”

“Insults?”

“Yes.”

“Were there witnesses?”

“Just Arius.”

Tharin let out a snort of disgust. “The arrogant little fool. Well, out with it. What did he say that you couldn’t walk away from?”

Ki bristled. “I did walk away from a lot! Ever since we came here they’ve called me grass knight and bastard and a horse thief’s son. And I walked away every time. But this time they got me alone in the stables and they—They—” He cringed inwardly at the thought of repeating what they’d said about Tharin. “They insulted Tobin. And Duke Rhius. And you. They said filthy lies and I lost my temper and punched Mago. Then I ran here.” He hung his head, wishing he could die and be done with it. “What am I going to do, Tharin?”

“You’re going to take your punishment tomorrow like any other squire. But right now I want to hear what they said that made you angry enough to do such a thing. And why being called those other things didn’t. Let’s start with that, shall we?”

Tharin pulled Ki up by the shoulders and sat him on the bed, then poured him a small cup of wine. Ki downed it and shivered as it burned his belly. “I don’t know. Maybe because I knew most of what he said about my kin and me is true. I am a grass knight, but Tobin doesn’t care and neither do you or Porion, so I don’t mind it so much. And I know I’m no bastard. And that about my father? I don’t know. Maybe he is a horse thief, but Tobin doesn’t care about that, either, so long as I’m not one…. And I’m not! So I can stand any of that.”

“Then what was it you couldn’t stand?”

Ki clutched the cup in both hands. “Mago said that Lord Orun told him you and Duke Rhius—That you—” He couldn’t say it.

“That we were bedmates when we were young? Lovers?”

Ki stared miserably down into the red depths of his cup. “He said he thought Tobin and I did it, too. But that’s not the way he put it—what you said.”

Tharin sighed, but Ki could tell he was angry. “I don’t suppose it was.”

“Tobin and I don’t!”

“I didn’t imagine you did. But it is common enough among young warriors, and lots of other folk besides. I could tell Mago a thing or two about his own father that would shut him up for you. With some it’s something that passes. Others stay with men all their lives. For Rhius, it passed.”

He reached out and chucked Ki under the chin, making him look him in the eye. “I’d have told you myself if you’d asked me. There’s no dishonor in it between friends, Ki, or half of Ero would be shamed, and some of the other Companions too, from what I’ve seen.”

This revelation left Ki speechless.

“So they teased you all this time, and this is what broke you?”

Ki nodded.

“They poked around until they found the sore spot to goad you with. Well, here you are. What interests me the most is that Mago said he had this from Lord Orun, Tobin’s own guardian. I think perhaps that was more than Orun wanted said.”

“But why would he say it at all?”

“Use your brains, boy. Who wanted Moriel as Tobin’s squire? Who hasn’t had use for you since the day he laid eyes on you? Who got his nose put out of joint when Porion put Moriel out of the Companions in favor of you?”

“Orun.”

“Whom Tobin just happens to be dining with right now, I believe?”

Ki dropped the cup and jumped to his feet. “Oh gods! He can dismiss me? I’ve done it, haven’t I? Old Slack Guts is going to send me away!”

“He can’t dismiss you, not directly. But perhaps he thinks that Tobin won’t be able to discipline you as he must, and that will reflect badly on both of you. Perhaps that’s what he’s hoping to put in his next report to the king.”

“But why? Why does Orun give a damn who Tobin’s squire is?”

“Who’s closer to Tobin than you? Who would be of more use to Orun if he wanted Tobin spied on than the prince’s own squire?”

“You think Orun means to harm him?”

“No, I think he means to control him. And who do you think controls Orun?”

“The king?” Ki whispered.

“Yes. You’re too young for this, Ki, but since they’ve gone after you, you need to know. It’s all a great gaming board we’re on, and the stake over on the side is Atyion and all the other lands and riches that Tobin holds. You and me? We’re guard stones around Tobin, and we’re in their way.”

“But Tobin’s loyal to the king. All he wants is to go and fight for him. Why can’t Erius just leave him alone?”

“That’s what I don’t quite understand myself. But it’s not for us to solve that, only to stand by him. And to do that, you’re going to have to convince Tobin to flog you properly tomorrow. And you’re going to have to tell him what Mago said.”

“No.” Ki set his jaw. “I know what you’ve told me is the true way of it, but I don’t ever want Tobin knowing that a squire was talking about him and his kin that way.”

“But you’re going to have to, Ki. You’ll have to go before Porion to be judged, and he’s going to ask.”

“But that means saying it out in front of everyone. Then they’ll all know what he said, right?”

“Probably.”

“I won’t do that, Tharin. I just won’t! Some of the others already make fun of him behind his back on account of me, and for seeing ghosts. I don’t know what Tobin would do if this all came out, too. He isn’t like the rest of us. You know that.” Ki was trembling again. “And I don’t want him to be, either. I like him just the way he is. So let me do this my way now and I promise you I won’t give Lord Orun anything more to write to the king. I’ll say it was for the insults to my father and take my flogging and that’ll be the end of it. To make me out a liar, Mago would have to tell what he really said, and I don’t think he’s going to do that. Not in front of Porion.”

He stood tensely as Tharin considered this, ready to argue all night if he had to.

But Tharin nodded. “All right then. But be careful, my boy. Some mistakes you can back out of; I think you can with this one. But others you can’t. Honor, Ki, always honor. I want you safe. Both of you.”

Ki clasped his hand gratefully. “I won’t forget again. I swear it.”

Actors came in after the feast was finished, but the play was a romance of some sort, incomprehensible to Tobin. He was dozing with his chin on his hand, trying to ignore the ache in his side, when a messenger entered and whispered in Orun’s ear.

Orun clucked his tongue, then leaned over to Tobin. “Dear me, there seems to have been some unpleasantness involving that squire of yours!”

Those closest to them turned to stare. Korin had heard, and Caliel, too.

Tobin stood and made a hasty bow. “With your permission, Lord Orun, may I be excused?”

“If you must. I shouldn’t bother myself if I were you.”

“I’d like to, all the same.”

Tobin felt every eye in the room on his back as he hurried out. His side hurt worse than ever.

Baldus was waiting for him at the Palace gate and burst into tears as soon as he saw him. “Hurry, Prince Tobin! Master Porion and the others are already in the Companion’s hall. Ki hit Mago!”

“O gods! Why?” Tobin asked in alarm as they strode down the corridor.

“I don’t know, but I hope he knocked his teeth out!” the boy exclaimed tearfully. “He’s always been mean to the pages.”