David Coe - Bonds of Vengeance

“You must mind your studies, Your Highness,” he said, sounding a bit desperate. “Your uncle will be displeased if this continues. With both of us.”

Kalyi nodded even as she hurried to the door. “I will, I promise.”

She was in the corridor before he could answer, running toward the nearest tower. During the colder turns she would have followed the corridors in a wide turn to the cloister tower. With the return of the warmer winds, however, she could cross the inner courtyard, which is what she chose to do this day. Entering the base of the cloister tower, she started up the winding stairs.

After taking only a few steps, however, she heard men’s voices coming from just above her, echoing off the curved walls. At first she thought the men were descending the stairs, but she quickly realized that they weren’t moving at all. She should have kept climbing-their conversation was none of her concern. But then she caught just a fragment of their discussion.

“. . More soldiers by the end of the turn.”

And for reasons she couldn’t have explained, she slowed her ascent. After another moment, she stopped entirely and listened.

“How long will it take before all the houses have met the new quotas?”

“That I don’t know. It could take as much as half the year. But when they’ve done so, we’ll have more than doubled the size of our force.”

“What of the challenge from Dantrielle?”

“I don’t imagine it will cause the regent much trouble. Dantrielle is but one house among many, and not even the strongest.”

“She could have allies.”

Both voices sounded familiar, though Kalyi couldn’t place them at first.

“The regent seems to believe she’ll stand alone.”

“The regent is wrong. The last I heard, Tebeo was speaking with Orvinti. If he can convince Brall to stand with him, that might bring Tounstrel, Bistari, and Noltierre to his cause as well.”

The other man whistled softly through his teeth. “Taken together, they would make a formidable opponent.”

“More than the royal army could overcome?”

“Perhaps, Archminister. Perhaps.”

Pronjed, of course. And the other voice belonged to Tradden Grontalle, Solkara’s master of arms.

“If this proves to be the case, what will you counsel the regent to do?” the archminister asked.

“I’d have to give that some thought. As you know, the king had long sought a full military alliance with the empire. It had been, in his mind, Aneira’s only hope for waging a successful war against Eibithar. We’re so close to realizing his dream, I’d be reluctant to abandon this opportunity.”

“But?”

“But if opposition to such an alliance includes the houses you mentioned, we may have no choice. Against such a force, the Supremacy itself might be at risk. Surely the alliance isn’t worth that.”

“That’s not the answer I wished to hear, Tradden.”

“Forgive me, Archminister. I’m being as honest with you as I can be. Indeed, I’m not entirely certain that the regent would approve of this conversation were he to know of it.”

“Leave that to me.”

“Archminister?”

“Let me think on this a moment.”

A long silence ensued. Kalyi didn’t dare move, fearing that she might be punished for listening to a conversation between two adults that was clearly none of her affair. But she had stopped with her feet on different steps, and her bottom leg was beginning to tire. And she couldn’t help but think that she had a right to hear what they were saying, even if they wouldn’t have thought so. She was queen. This was her realm, her castle, her army. The war of which they spoke would be fought in her name, regardless of who led the soldiers into battle.

“You said that if all the houses meet their quotas, it will more than double the size of Solkara’s army. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, Archminister.”

“If we add only the men from Rassor, Mertesse, and Kett to the army we have now, would that force be enough to stand against the other houses?”

“It would be a close thing. Too close. Mertesse is still weakened from the failed siege at Kentigern. And if the other houses band together, Kett may well stand with them.”

“But our army would be greater than theirs, even without Kett.”

“Greater, yes. But you must understand, Archminister, the point is not to prevail in a civil war but to prevent one. If the renegade houses believe that they can engage House Solkara in a war without being crushed they’ll do so, and so accomplish their aim, which is to keep us from the alliance with Braedon. We must find a way to allay their concerns about this war. We might even-”

“Enough.” The archminister barely raised his voice enough for Kalyi to hear, but Tradden fell silent immediately.

“The regent listens to you, does he not?”

“Yes,” the armsman answered, his voice abruptly sounding odd.

“If you tell him that we can defeat the renegade houses, even if Kett is with them, he’ll believe you, won’t he?”

“Yes, he will.”

“Good. Then that is what you’ll do. You now believe-”

She didn’t think he’d hear her, not while he was speaking. But when she tried to move her leg, she scraped her foot on the stone stair. Not for long, not loudly. But still it was enough for the archminister to notice.

“Who’s there?” he called softly.

Kalyi said nothing. But then she heard him say, “Remain here,” to the armsman, and take a step down the stairs.

She pressed herself against the stone wall of the stairs, holding her breath and closing her eyes, as if that might help her blend into the shadows.

Pronjed took another step.

Kalyi opened her eyes again and retreated down the stairs as carefully and silently as she could. She had in mind to leave the tower entirely, but it occurred to her at the last moment that as she went through the doorway, she would cast a shadow. And the truth was, she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to hear the rest of Pronjed’s conversation with Tradden. So instead of leaving, she slipped around to the base of the stairs and hid in the small space there, holding herself as still as possible. The archminister took another step down the stairway, and yet another. But after what seemed an eternity, he ascended the steps again.

“You now believe that we can prevail against Dantrielle and his allies,” he began again. It was harder for Kalyi to hear now. The distance was greater, and her heart was pounding so loudly in her chest that she feared it would give her away. But she strained her ears, listening to every word.

“It will take all the men the remaining dukes can spare,” the Qirsi went on, “and the entire royal army. But Solkara can defeat them. Can you say that?”

“We can defeat them,” the master of arms repeated dully.

“Good. You need to tell this to the regent. You need to make him see that traitors like Tebeo are not to be tolerated.”

“Yes.”

“The alliance with Braedon will make Aneira the greatest power among the six. Next to the empire, ours will be the preeminent realm in the Forelands. We mustn’t allow the renegade houses to destroy this opportunity. Can you remember that?”

“Yes, I’ll remember.”

“And you’ll tell the regent.”

“Yes.

“When do you meet with him next?”

“In the morning, with the ringing of the bells.”

“Good. In a moment, I’ll speak to you of another matter, and you’ll respond as you would at any other time. You’ll remember nothing of what we’ve just discussed.” There was a pause. Kalyi heard feet scuffling on the steps above her and once more she feared that the archminister was approaching.

A moment later, however, she heard Pronjed’s voice again.