Stephen Deas - The King of the Crags

Vale bowed his head. 'If the speaker commands us to fall on our spears, that is what we will do.' One might ask where you will be, Prince, when this war comes. Here with us, defending the heart that holds the nine realms together? Or will you watch from a distance and pick off the survivors? Shall we see if I can guess?

'You do that, Night Watchman. You do that.' Jehal still had a smirk on his face as he turned away again. Vale kept very still, holding back the urge to wipe the smirk away with his fist. At least Jehal didn't turn back a second time.

He put the Viper out of his mind and immersed himself in inspecting the defences. His soldiers had placed over three hundred scorpions on the walls in less than three days and all of them needed to be perfect – he would accept nothing less. He watched as horsemen raced around the palace flying target kites from their saddles. By the end of the day, every scorpion had been fired. Each and every one of them worked. He knew which crews had hit their target with the first shot, which ones had hit it with their second, and which ones had failed and would have to be replaced. They would practise every day now until the council of kings and queens was done and the lords of the realms had dispersed back to their own lands. Long after dark he sat awake in his little room, burning lanterns, poring over rotas and lists, staring at his maps, shuffling crews around, placing his best at the points of the palace most likely to be attacked. Being certain that he was ready.

He was about to admit defeat and accept that some decisions would have to wait until after he'd had some sleep when his door slowly swung open. He glanced up, half expecting to see Jeiros come for another try at changing his mind, but no. The Viper again. Instantly, Vale was on guard.

'I saw the light under your door, so I knew you were still awake.' Jehal pushed past Vale and sat himself down. With casual rudeness he looked at the maps and starting picking through them. 'Trying to decide where and when Jaslyn and Almiri will strike?'

Vale clenched his toes. Why are you here and what will it take to make you go away? 'I am more concerned, Your Highness, that the Red Riders will try to disrupt the council.'

'And condemn their queen to an even more certain death? Why would they do that?'

'They have struck at us once, Your Highness.' The books. That's what he's here for. Prince Lai's books. A shame to let them go, but needs must as the devil drives. He started to look among his shelves.

'Yes, they have, haven't they? Last I heard, Rider Hyrkallan was leading them. I wonder what madness possessed him to burn the palace. He always struck me as a very sensible sort of fellow. Pity about his sense of humour. I wonder sometimes if they do something to their children in the north. Do they cut out some part to make them like that? Queen Shezira was as bad and as for her daughters…' He smiled and shook his head. 'Don't get me started on her daughters.'

Vale pulled three old books down.'I hear rumour that Hyrkallan abandoned the Red Riders some weeks ago and that he has been seen in the north. I am inclined to believe this is true. Their actions made sense to me when Hyrkallan led them. Now I don't understand them at all. They are destroying themselves. They will not last long.'

'An enemy is at his most dangerous when you don't understand his reasons.' Jehal smiled. 'Principles, Night Watchman. Perhaps it is a trick.'

Vale shrugged. 'Here, Your Highness.' He put the three books on the table. 'I will wager you these that when the Red Riders fall you will not find Rider Hyrkallan among them. These are what you came for, are they not?'

Jehal gave him a lazy look. 'No, Night Watchman, no they are not.'

They stared at each other. Vale said nothing. Silence, remember.

For a long time they both watched each other in silence. Finally Jehal spoke: 'Do I have to spell it out for you in simple words?'

'Forgive me, Your Highness, but I am a soldier. We are men of direct action, not guile. We do not deal well with innuendo and insinuation. If not the books, I have no idea what you want from me, Your Highness. Yes, simple words would be best.'

Jehal frowned as if confused. 'Hyram hated me and I had no love for him. I wonder why it should trouble me to see everything fall to ruin.' He sighed and shook his head. 'Are you really so stupid, Night Watchman? No, I don't think you are.'

Vale stood very still. He didn't speak, only waited. The Viper would either go away now or he'd say what he wanted. Then he would go away.

Jehal clucked his tongue. 'In fact, I'd say you are one of the more astute minds on the Speaker's Council, Night Watchman, although I will accept that is somewhat of a barbed compliment. Very well.' He frowned again. 'I am here to ask you for your help.'

'I exist to serve, Your Highness.'

'And therein lies the problem, Night Watchman, because the help I want from you is a small matter of not serving, and it will cost you your head if you are discovered.'

Silent and still. Let him speak and say nothing.

'So. If the council of kings and queens takes Queen Shezira's head, there will be a war. The Red Riders are only a start. Would you agree?'

Vale said nothing. He kept his face blank and still, with the pleasing result that a twitch of irritation flashed around Jehal's lips.

'Simple words. Yes, yes, very well. Shezira has three daughters.

Queen Almiri now sits on the throne of Evenspire and is certainly helping the Red Riders. Zafir will have proof of that soon enough. Soon-to-be-Queen Jaslyn sits on Shezira's throne and she is betrothed to the fool son of King Sirion. Two queens and one king. Three realms and many dragons, and they are already furious with Zafir. And with me, for that matter, but I doubt that is of any consequence here.'

There was that flicker of annoyance again. Or was it something else? Was it…? Vale felt an unexpected thrill blossom inside him. Jehal was nervous. He might even be scared.

Jehal tapped his foot irritably. 'You know all of this. If killing Shezira isn't enough to send the north to war against her then Zafir will demand Almiri's head next. Do you think Almiri's own sisters will abandon her?' He shook his head. 'Queen Shezira sitting on her rightful throne would stop that from happening. She would not allow a war to tear the realms apart, no matter how she'd been wronged. The rest of them…' He shrugged. 'Who knows, eh? So here's a choice for you, Night Watchman. You can sit idly by while the speaker wrecks everything you're sworn to defend. Or you can do something about it.'

The inside of Vale's mouth had gone very dry. He felt lightheaded. Jeiros I could understand, but you? What makes you think I would even countenance such a thing when you are surely thinking of nothing but yourself? And yet I find I am still listening. Why? Why am I not calling my own men to arrest this traitor?

He shook the questions away. 'And exactly what, Prince Jehal, do you suggest I do?' There. Even for asking that question I should have myself hanged.

Jehal wrinkled his nose. 'All I require of you is that you do what the Adamantine Men always do.' He bared his teeth. 'Be vigilant. Don't lose another speaker, Night Watchman. Watch her and watch her well. Perhaps to the exclusion of others.' His grimace finally managed to turn into a grin. 'I think you are quite clever enough to understand me.' He held up his hands as if to cut off Vale's reply. A wasted gesture, since there was none forthcoming. 'Oh, and don't get too excited, Night Watchman. Whatever happens, you can be sure I'll be nowhere near to be touched by it. The worst you can do is kill a few men who want nothing more than for the realms to be at peace.' He nodded curtly and swept back out of the door. Vale stood very still and watched him go.