Sean Russell - The Shadow Roads

“We aren’t men-at-arms,” Tam said. “We’re just travelers, toofar from home.” He bowed to Lady Beatrice and Lord Toren. “This is a generousgift.”

“Hardly a beginning,” Lady Beatrice said. “You will each sitwith me for a time and tell me what more we might do for you. And PrinceMichael has something in mind for you as well. He said he traveled far with youand assures me that your part in all of this was great.”

She let go of Tam’s hands and took the hands of each inturn, kissing them on both cheeks. “You I remember,” she said to Baore. “Youwere a giant then, and your stature has only increased. Thank you.”

Her smile turned almost mischievous when she stood beforeFynnol. “When last we met you were a highwayman, and now look what’s become ofyou!”

“After what I’ve seen, ma’am, I shall be most happy toreturn to my former trade.”

“Stealing kisses, wasn’t it?” Lady Beatrice laughed. “Well,I remove my former ban. You may steal all the kisses you can bear. And you mayhave a place in my hall for all the rest of your days, if you wish. Your witwould be welcome.”

“I thank you, Lady Beatrice, though I fear I’ve lost my wit.I feel nothing but a terrible sorrow, and loss.”

“So we all feel, good Fynnol, but that will pass in time,and our laughter will return. I have not seen a winter yet that spring did notfollow.”

She came next to Cynddl. “Ruadan? Of the magic pipes, Ithink.”

Cynddl gave a small bow of acknowledgment.

Lady Beatrice kissed his cheeks. “But it is not you who capturedthe heart of a lady, I’m told?”

Cynddl glanced at Tam.

Lady Beatrice pretended not to notice. “You are honoredamong your people,” she said. “And we would be honored to have you ply your artbeneath our roof. There is a great story to tell, now, and I’ve only heardparts of it.”

“It will take me some time to find, then order it all, butwhen I do, Lady Beatrice, I shall be most happy to come to Castle Renne andtell the tale of the Swans’ War.”

“I look forward to it.”

More gifts were brought then. Mail and helms from TorenRenne, shields and swords from Fondor. Lord Kel sent them saddles and tack,all of the finest craftsmanship. Ladies gave them bolts of fabric and clothingfit for noblemen. Such riches were never seen in the Vale-not all in one place,anyway-and the Vale-men were overwhelmed.

Minstrels played, and a table was set beneath the branchesso that the travelers could rest and eat and slake their thirst. The lateafternoon wore on to evening, and the sun plunged into the western hills,turning the sky into a pool of red. There was a murmur among the Renne by theriver, where boats were still landing and departing, and then a ghostly formappeared in the last light. Tam jumped up from the table, as everyone stared.

“Elise?” he said.

“Tam,” she answered, her voice so soft he could barely hear.Without seeming to notice the others, she came and buried her face against theValeman, her hands gently on his chest. She seemed small and fragile to him ashe took her in his arms, and she was cold as a winter stream.

“Are you … healed?” Tam asked.

“As much as I can be,” she said. And then she pulled gentlyaway. “I have something I must do.” She turned to the others, her eyes, likemoons, unsettling everyone. “Alaan … if you would go with me.”

Alaan nodded immediately, not even asking where or why. Theywere on horses in a moment and riding off. Tam stood watching them go, unableto hide his distress, then he realized that Baore stood beside him, lookingjust as unhappy. The big Valeman put a hand on Tam’s shoulder and tried tosmile at him. For a moment the two friends regarded each other and turned backto the table. There was no animosity in the look Baore had given him, just a senseof loss and sadness. Tam wondered if Baore understood that Wyrr had given hisdaughter this gift-that men would serve her out of love-but that it came with aprice: she loved none in return. The heart didn’t care much for truth, Tamthought. Baore might harbor hopes despite what he knew.

“What will the Renne do now that the war is over?” Fynnolasked, trying to pick up the thread of the conversation.

“The war is never over here,” Kel growled. “We have beenfighting the Wills for generations-”

“And it is time we stopped,” Toren interrupted. He hadn’tsaid much their entire visit, and Tam suspected he was in pain.

“You tried to put an end to it, cousin,” Kel said, “butthere was a war anyway. There is a lesson there.”

“Yes, and the lesson is that Menwyn was not the man weshould have been dealing with, nor was the late Prince of Innes. Lord Carraland Prince Michael are men of great integrity.”

“I think you’re right,” Fondor said quietly, “but what oftheir sons? Their grandsons? This feud has skipped a generation before, but itis like a fire in the forest that goes underground. It smolders there, sometimesfor years, then springs up again. We might have peace during our lifetimes,but the feud will not go away. It never has.”

“It is but an echo of an ancient feud,” Cynddl said, “goingback to a struggle between sorcerers who were born before the mountainsformed. It’s a story one can find in some form or other the entire length ofthe Wynnd.”

Toren’s jaw stiffened. “I won’t accept that this is someaffliction of the Wynnd Valley-a pestilence that abides in the soil. We have tomake an end to it.”

“And how do you propose to make a lasting peace?” Fondorasked.

“It is all a matter of what we are willing to give up,”Toren said.

Dease woke just after dusk, and went unsteadily out of histent, into the cooling air of evening. A faint wash of color still hung in thewestern sky, and the brighter stars appeared overhead. Dease tried to shake offthe sleep that clung to him, his mind fuzzy and his temper foul. He had washedand changed out of his smoking clothes, eaten a little, and fallen asleep. Thewhole journey on the river seemed like a nightmare to him now. He rememberedthe monster in the chamber. How could that have been real? But it was. Deasehad seen too much that was strange and would be unbelievable to anyone who didnot see it themselves. It made him feel a little mad-like Toren’s father,afraid of the darkness because of the visions he saw.

“Dease?” His cousin emerged from the shadow of a tree.

“Fondor! Are you well?”

“Unharmed, but for a mass of bruises. Hardly worth a mention.”He looked off across the river to the still-burning pyre. Dark smoke twisted up,then bent south like a dark river among the stars.

“The casualties were many?” Dease asked.

“Yes, though we lost few among our own family. Menwyn Willswas killed, and Vast seems to have escaped. I don’t know how. Many among thedead were burned beyond recognition, but Vast’s armor was distinctive.”

“We’ll find him soon enough.”

“Yes, I suppose.” Fondor still stared at the fire. “Dease,when Samul thought he was being taken to his execution he asked for you. Whenhe learned that you had gone off he told me that you were part of the plot tokill Toren. He said that you had realized it was Arden in the window, andwouldn’t shoot, which was when Beld knocked you senseless, then killed Arden,believing it was Toren.”

Dease took a deep breath.

“Don’t say anything,” Fondor interrupted. “I have only onequestion for you. Are you a threat to Toren or any other Renne?”

Dease closed his eyes. He wanted to weep though he didn’t understandwhy. “No,” he said with difficulty. “I’m not.”

“Not even if Toren seeks peace with the Wills?”

“He has my blessing to do whatever he thinks is right. Iwill not oppose him in word or deed.” Dease did feel tears on his cheeks then.