Deborah Hale (27 page)

Maura flinched as if he had struck her. What would Rath say if he knew she was a “foul trace” of the hated enemy?

“That is my hope, too.” Rath kneaded his whisker-stubbled chin with one hand. “But what if, in our zeal to drive out the Han, we
become
the very thing we hate?”

A look of uncertainty flickered on Idrygon’s face, but only for a moment. “Surely there is no danger of us becoming like them, Highness.”

“There is more danger than you know.” Rath shook his head slowly. “And if that is the price of victory, it may be too costly to bear.”

“But what has this to do with the woman, Highness?”

“Everything.” Suddenly Rath looked more sure of himself than Maura had seen him in a long time. “If the Han would show no mercy, then we must. I place this woman under royal protection.”

Delyon and Maura each expelled a sigh of relief.

“Sire,” cried Idrygon, “this is madness!”

“Watch yourself.” Rath fixed him with a cold, level stare. “I know and value all you have done to bring us this far. But let us not forget who is king. Assign the woman a trustworthy guard to protect her from harm and to make certain she does not run off bearing tales. Mercy need not be foolhardy.”

“Thank you, Highness!” Delyon made a deep bow. “I will make your orders in this matter known at once.”

Idrygon shot his brother a glare of barely contained rage, then stalked from the tent after him. He did not spare either a look or word for Rath and Maura, perhaps fearing he might stray further into treason.

“Well done,
aira
!” Maura threw her arms around Rath’s neck. “You spoke like a true king!”

“I hope I have made the right decision.” He did not look fully convinced of it. “If this Songrid runs off to the Echtroi with information, I may have the shortest reign of any Umbrian king…not that I would find it a hardship to give up the crown.”

“You can see for yourself.” Maura bent to retrieve her clothes. “I can bring Songrid here to tell you her story. Once you have spoken with her, I know you will agree that—”

“No!” Rath strode to the opposite corner of the tent and knelt before a wondrously carved chest, which he opened. “There is no need for me to speak with her. If you vouch for her, that is enough to satisfy me.”

“As you wish.” Maura shivered as she slipped out of Rath’s warm bulky robe that carried a comforting whiff of his scent.

His abruptness left her vaguely chilled, too. There must be more to his refusal to meet Songrid that he let on—but what?

From the chest, Rath took a cloth pouch like the kind Maura had used to store herbs and other magical matter in the peaceful days when she’d been nothing more than a wizard’s apprentice.

The sight of it gave her an idea. “
Aira,
may I ask one more favor of you?”

“You may
ask
me anything.” Rath measured a small quantity of fine dark powder from the bag into a flask. “Whether I can grant it is another matter, though I will try.”

He called to the tent guard for hot water. This must be a morning ritual, for a small flagon was shoved in through the tent flap at once, wisps of steam rising from it. Rath scooped it up and poured some water into the vial.

“What will happen today?” asked Maura as she wriggled into her shift and gown. “Your men will march toward Aldwood?”

“Aye.” Rath shook up the potion. “Today and tomorrow and the day after. And hope the Han do not catch us before we reach Aldwood. Why?”

“I was thinking…” Maura slung her sash over her shoulder. “I can do nothing about finding the Staff of Velorken until you have gained entrance to Aldwood Castle, one way or another.”

“True.” Rath softly chanted the growth spell then raised the vial to his lips and drained it in one great swig. “Pah, but that is vile stuff! I keep hoping I will grow used to the taste and not mind it so much. But I swear it gets worse every day.”

“Must you still take it?” Forgetting her request, Maura flew to his side. “You have rallied the mainlanders as Idrygon wanted. I fear what effect it may have on you to drink such a potion so often.”

“I’ll be rid of it soon, one way or another.” Rath’s rugged features contorted in pain. “Idrygon says this is no time for the people to lose faith in me.”

“Are you ill,
aira
?” With trembling fingers, Maura reached up to wipe away the fine drops of sweat that sprang out on his brow. “Was there something wrong with the potion?”

He gave a hoarse chuckle through clenched teeth. “Nothing that hasn’t been wrong with it all along. Perhaps you had better go until it is finished working.”

“I will
not
!” A spasm of shame writhed through her. “Was the potion doing this to you even before we left the Islands?”

His eyes squeezed shut and every muscle clenched tight to contain the pain, Rath jerked his head in a nod.

No wonder he’d been so ill tempered!

“Why did you not tell me, you great
lalump
?” she demanded, though she knew the answer.

He hadn’t wanted to worry her, of course, over something she could not help. Perhaps he had not wanted to let her see him in a moment of weakness.

She grabbed the flagon of hot water. “Let me make you a brew to ease the pain, at least.”

Rath shook his head. He’d sprouted almost a foot taller and had filled out until his robe strained at the seams.

“Any other potion,” he gasped out the words, “would hinder…the power…of this one.”

Maura cursed under her breath, torn between wanting to cradle this huge, fierce-looking man in her arms and a fierce urge to cram a dose of the bitter potion down Lord Idrygon’s throat. Let him taste the agony he had forced upon Rath every day for weeks on end!

“There,” grunted Rath at last. “The worst is over.” He leaned forward, legs bent under the weight of his enlarged frame. “What was it you wanted again? Something about Aldwood?”

It took Maura a moment to collect herself after what she had just witnessed. “Oh, yes. I was thinking, I would be no help to you today, and Windleford is so nearby. With a swift horse, I could make a quick visit to Sorsha, then return by nightfall. Windleford is not still held by the Han, is it?”

“No.” Rath lumbered over to the bedroll, sank down upon it and began pulling on his oversize clothes and armor. “Our scouts report the garrison pulled out several days ago, heading for the coast. We did not know what to make of it at the time, now it seems clear they’ve gone to meet up with the fleet from Dun Derhan.”

Maura opened her mouth to take back her request. She had
just returned to Rath after a long, difficult separation. How could she leave him again so soon? In spite of his great size and power, it was clear he needed her as much as ever.

Before she could speak, Rath glanced up at her, his jaw still tensed from the pain. “I think it’s a fine idea for you to visit Sorsha! I only wish I could go with you. Once this is all over, perhaps?”

“I will wait until we can go together and celebrate the liberation with Sorsha and Newlyn.” Maura tried to sound certain of victory.

“Go now,” said Rath. “A day’s march is tiresome. It would do me good to think of you visiting with Sorsha, rather than plodding along on horseback, shepherding the army eastward.”

The prospect did not sound very appealing, especially as the weather had grown cool. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Mind?” He gave a scoffing chuckle. “I insist you go, but on two conditions.”

Maura moved toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, resting her chin on the crown of his head. “What might those be?”

“That you take a good escort with you, in case any stray Han are lingering in the area.”

“Agreed.” Though she had overcome the worst of her timidity since the night she’d left Windleford, she would never be reckless. “What else?”

Rath reached up to caress her face, his massive hand awkward yet strangely tender. “That you be back to me by the time this potion wears off tonight.”

“Pity the fool who tries to stop me!”

A while later, Maura emerged from Rath’s tent and began making her way through the ranks. “Your pardon. I’m looking for a man called Anulf. I have an assignment for him from the king.”

Before she could locate anyone who knew this Anulf fellow, Maura caught sight of Idrygon marching about giving orders.
When he noticed her, she expected him to glare or scowl. But he strode toward her with a look of such good humor she wondered what had come over him. Once his temper cooled, had he realized he’d been too harsh and hasty in dealing with Songrid?

“Highness.” He bowed. “A private word with you if I may?”

“Gladly, my lord. There is a matter I would like to bring to your attention.” Perhaps Idrygon did not know the painful price Rath paid for taking the growth potion. He had successfully hidden it from
her,
after all.

She and Idrygon made their way to a spot where they would not be overheard by the men breaking camp.

Conscious of how precious time was to them all, Maura wasted none in sharing her concern about Rath and the growth potion. She was careful not to lay blame on Idrygon for the situation, assuming it would come as much of a shock to him as it had to her.

But his face betrayed no hint of surprise. “The pain passes, Highness, with no lasting damage. A small price, surely, for what it has gained us?”

“A small price?”
cried Maura. Idrygon was lucky she did not have a weapon in her hand. “Perhaps if you were the one to pay it, you would think differently.”

“Do you think I have not made sacrifices for our cause?” demanded Idrygon. “None of this would have been possible without the preparations I made over the years.” His voice fell to a menacing hiss. “Yet all the credit goes to some unlettered outlaw posing as a legend! What is a few moments’ discomfort a day compared with that?”

“Discomfort? Why, you vainglorious—” By a massive effort of will, Maura turned to walk away before she said things that would cause a breach the Umbrian alliance could ill afford.

She had barely taken a step when Idrygon caught her roughly by the arm. “You are a fine one to sling insults,
Highness.
” The
scorn in his voice cut like a switch. “I had hoped your coming might make your husband more tractable.”

“If by that you mean I persuade him to abdicate leadership of our forces to you—” Maura jerked her arm free of his grasp “—you could not be more mistaken.”

“Spoken like the spawn of a death-mage and a traitor!” Though Idrygon lowered his voice in a vicious whisper, his damning words thundered in Maura’s ears.

The accusation wrapped around her throat and squeezed hard. And when she was certain it could not get any worse, she heard Rath’s voice, coming closer with each word. “Maura, Idrygon, what is the trouble between you?”

A
s she watched Rath bearing down on her and Idrygon, Maura felt as if someone had shoved her over the edge of Raynor’s Rift.

“What’s all this about?” Rath wrapped one of his huge arms around Maura’s shoulders and glared at Idrygon. “If you want to challenge my decision about the Hanish woman, take it up with
me.
I won’t stand for you badgering my wife. Do you mark me?”

Maura braced herself for Idrygon to tell Rath what he had discovered. Meanwhile she cursed herself for confiding in Delyon. She hadn’t expected him to keep her secret forever, but at least until the fate of Umbria was decided and she had a chance to break the news to Rath as gently as she could.

“On the contrary, Highness, I have reconciled myself to the presence of the
Hanish woman.
” Idrygon’s gaze bored into Maura’s as one corner of his lips curled in mocking smirk. She knew he was not talking about Songrid. “Provided she poses no threat to our cause in the critical days to come, but proves herself helpful and agreeable, I see no reason to pursue the matter.”

He addressed himself to Maura. “Do you believe the woman can be persuaded to cooperate, Highness?”

So that was what he wanted. She should have guessed. If his true aim had been to expose her, he would have gone to Rath at once, instead of seeking her out to reveal what he knew. She could buy Idrygon’s silence in exchange for using her influence over Rath on his behalf.

Given only an instant to decide and reply, her mind buzzed with arguments for and against, while her heart felt as if it were being torn in two. Could she betray the promise she had just made Rath to stand by him in any disagreement with Idrygon? But what was the alternative—leave him bereft of her support and counsel altogether?

Besides, she might not approve of Idrygon’s ambition or his methods, but she could not quarrel with his results. Without him, she and Rath could never have hoped to liberate the hated mines at last and purge the Han from great areas of the kingdom.

Maura met Idrygon’s challenging stare. “Whatever her blood, the woman has already proven herself a friend to the Umbrian people. I am certain she would be willing to oblige any reasonable request for help.”

In spite of all the worthy excuses she gave herself for what she was doing, Maura could not escape the feeling she had betrayed Rath and all her beliefs. Could it be her Hanish blood finally making its influence felt?

“Very well, then.” Idrygon’s dark eyes glittered with secret triumph. “If she continues to cooperate, nothing more need be said. If she proves intractable, however, I will be forced to raise the matter again with His Highness.”

“If Maura feels we can trust this woman, that is good enough for me.” Rath seemed unaware of the byplay going on in front of him. “Unless you have clear proof she poses a threat. Now, let us not fret so much about one Hanish woman that we forget the two armies of her countrymen closing in on us.”

“On the contrary, Highness.” Idrygon bowed. “I study to be vigilant of the Han in whatever form I encounter them.”

He looked toward the swarming mass of mainlanders being
marshaled by his trained Vestan soldiers into something like orderly ranks. “I believe we are ready to march, sire. I must mount and lead them out. Will you join me?”

“I will catch up with you shortly.”

Once Idrygon had departed, Rath turned Maura around to face him. “You see what I mean? He is a forceful character with ideas that don’t bend easily.”

Forceful and unscrupulous. Though he had gone, Maura fancied she could feel Idrygon’s hands around her throat. If he believed she might pose a threat to the Umbrian alliance, he should have told Rath at once instead of using her secret to coerce her into helping him get his way.

“The trouble is, he’s right nine times out of ten.” Rath gave a rueful shrug. “That’s what makes it so hard to oppose him the tenth time.”

Maura could only nod in reply. If she tried to speak, she feared the truth would burst out of her.

“Any luck finding Anulf?” asked Rath. “I’ll worry less about you visiting Windleford if I know he and the others are watching out for you.”

“Not…yet.” She forced the words out. “I was looking for him when I met up with Idrygon.”

“Could you fetch Snake along with you, too?” asked Rath.

He’d told her how the beggar boy had crossed the mountains to bring word that she and Delyon had been captured. Though she wished Rath had been spared the worry, Maura was touched by what Snake had tried to do for her. It gave her hope that, if they could somehow defeat the Han, the ills that plagued her people might still be remedied.

“I tried to send him back to Boyd Tanner in Prum, but he wouldn’t have any of it.” Rath stared toward the columns of men on the march. “The young fool says he wants to fight the Han, but I cannot stand the thought of him coming to harm…or of turning a lad his age into a killer.”

Maura guessed what he was thinking. “I’ll try to leave him
with Sorsha and Newlyn. I reckon they could use his help around Hoghill.”

More than ever, she longed to see Sorsha—to confide in her oldest friend and ask for her practical, caring advice.

“We’d better be quick about it before they all march away on us.” Beckoning the nearest Vestan officer, Rath ordered him to find Anulf and Snake and arrange Maura’s escort to Windleford.

Then he lifted her off the ground and wrapped her in a surprisingly gentle embrace. “Give Sorsha and Newlyn my greetings. Let them see I took better care of you than they expected when we left Hoghill in the spring.”

Maura threw her arms around his neck and squeezed with all her might. “No one could have taken better care of me,
aira
! Do you reckon Idrygon would be scandalized if I kissed you now, in plain sight of your troops?”

When might she get another chance to kiss him? After their sudden separation when she’d been whisked away from the Islands, Maura had vowed to miss no opportunity to show Rath how much she loved him.

“Scandalized?” A deep chuckle rumbled through Rath’s massive chest as he angled his lips toward hers. “I reckon he might be, but I don’t care. This is one of those tenth times when clever Lord Idrygon would be dead wrong!”

“I can’t get over it, mistress…that is…Highness,” said Anulf a while later as he rode by Maura’s side toward Windleford, with young Snake perched behind him. Three men had fanned out ahead to watch for trouble, while two more brought up the rear. “The last time I saw you, I wasn’t certain you’d last another hour, let alone weeks and months.”

For a moment Maura wasn’t sure what he meant. Then it dawned on her. “At the mine, you mean? It was a very near thing. I almost didn’t survive.”

“I never saw the beat of it.” Anulf shook his head. “A slip of
a lass standing her ground against a death-mage and turning his power back on him. The air was fairly crackling with it. Why, the hairs on my arms stood straight up.”

Snake stared at Maura with wide eyes.

“From that day on,” said Anulf, “I never doubted but you was the Destined Queen, like Wolf claimed. So when I heard tell the Waiting King was on the march, I had to come join him. When the other lads from Beastmount got wind of it, naught would do but they must all come with me.”

Maura’s throat tightened. “You honor us with your service.”

Anulf’s face reddened. “If it ain’t too forward to ask, Highness, whatever became of old Wolf? Last I saw, he was heading down the river with you in an ore barge. Half the reason me and the others joined the king’s army was hoping we’d find him here. But we’ve seen no sign of him.”

“Were you not told?” Maura wished she could share the truth with Rath’s comrades, but she dared not antagonize Idrygon. “Your friend is very much alive. I saw and spoke with him not long ago.”

She flashed Snake a look that bid him keep quiet about what he might know or guess.

“Did you?” cried Anulf. “It does me good to hear news of him. What is he up to that keeps him away from your lord’s army? We could use a few more like him.”

“He is doing his part for the liberation of Umbria, of that you may be sure,” said Maura. “He is…carrying out a very important mission for the king.”

It would do Rath good to see his old mates again. Especially now, with the pressure mounting. Was there some way she could arrange it without Idrygon being the wiser? Maura was mulling the problem over when one of the advance party came galloping back toward them.

He reined to a halt in front of Maura and Anulf. “The village is just beyond those trees, Highness. There’s a crowd of folk holding the bridge. They don’t look like Han—just villagers
with hay forks and flails. Should we turn back or try to fight our way across?”

“No fighting,” said Maura. “There has been too much blood shed in this land for too long. Bad enough we must battle the Han—I will not see Umbrians fighting one another.”

“Go around then, my lady?” asked Anulf. “Look for a spot to ford the river?”

Maura shook her head. “It would take us too far out of our way. I promised we would rejoin the army by nightfall.”

She thought for a moment, imagining herself still living in Langbard’s little cottage on the edge of the village while the events of the past weeks played out. “If the garrison has left, the villagers may fear an attack by outlaws. Let me go and talk to them, show them we mean no harm.”

“Are you sure, my lady?” Anulf looked doubtful. “If any ill befalls you on our watch, we might be sorry we weren’t back in the mines.”

“No harm will come to me. This is the village where I grew up. Just keep your men back until I have had a chance to speak with someone in charge.”

Urging her mare forward, she called, “And while we are here, don’t anyone call me
Highness
!”

She rode ahead, following the track through a bit of woodland. Her heart seemed to swell and grow heavy in her chest as she caught sight of Windleford Bridge for the first time in many months. During all the years she’d lived here, the village had never felt quite like home. But returning to it for the first time after a long absence, a warm sense of familiarity and belonging enfolded her.

Waving back two of the advance party, she slowed her mare to a walk and held her hands out to show that she came unarmed.

When she drew near enough that she could recognize several of the men guarding the bridge, she called out, “Master Starbow, how is business at your shop these days? Master Howen, did young Noll’s hand heal from the burn of that pain spike?”

“Well, I’ll be blessed!” The shopkeeper dropped the staff he’d been holding in a rather menacing posture. “Is that Mistress Woodbury who used to live with old Langbard?”

“It is.” Maura pulled the hood back from her hair. “I’ve come to visit my friend Sorsha Swinley for the day, if you will give leave for me and my friends to pass. Has it been long since the garrison departed?”

“Five days, lass.” Master Starbow stooped to retrieve his fallen staff. “At first everyone was so glad to be rid of them, we were beside ourselves. Then we got to thinking how the Han always kept order, at least. Before they pulled out, there was rumors going ’round of an outlaw uprising. Some of us reckoned that might be worse than what we had before.”

“There
is
an uprising,” said Maura, “led by the Waiting King as the legends have foretold. The Hitherland and the Long Vale are free of the Hanish yoke and the mines have been liberated. If this rebellion succeeds, you
will
be better off. When the cost of order is freedom, is that not too dear a price?”

Her question seemed to puzzle the villagers, for they grew quiet and thoughtful, muttering to one another. Then Noll Howen’s father spoke up. “If you’ve only come for a visit, why have you brought all them men with you?”

Maura glanced back to see Anulf and the others clustered along the edge of the wood. One held a bow, ready to fire if she were attacked.

“Those men mean you no harm. They have only come to protect me on my visit. These are uncertain times and I feared there might be Han still lurking hereabouts. Now that you’ve assured me I will be safe in Windleford, I can bid my escort wait here until I return. If I do that, will you let me pass?”

The bridge defenders whispered among themselves and quickly came back with their answer, which the shopkeeper delivered. “You may come ahead, lass, and welcome home. If that young nephew of Langbard’s is among your escort, you could bring him along, too.”

For an instant, Maura puzzled what he meant, then she recalled Rath posing as Simple Ralf from Tarsh. “He…is not with me today, but he will be pleased to hear you remember him with trust. Give me a moment to tell my friends what I mean to do, then I will return.”

Anulf shook his head when Maura informed him. “No, you don’t, my lady. The river may keep trouble at bay on this side of town, but who’s to know what might strike from out of the north? If aught happened while you were over there, and us cooling our heels on this side of the river, I’d have a Wolf hunting me the length of the kingdom.”

Before she could protest, he handed his weapon and Snake off to one of the others then rode toward the bridge with his arms in the air.

After a brief exchange he returned, looking much better pleased. “They’re willing to let four of us across with the lady provided the rest stay here and give no trouble.” He nodded at the largest of his companions. “Odger, Tobryn, you and the lad are with us. The rest of you keep your eyes open and stay out of trouble till we get back.”

As she rode across the bridge into Windleford, Maura called her thanks to Master Starbow and the others.

“This way.” She pointed down a wide street that would take them through the village and out to Hoghill.

They rode slowly to avoid children and chickens scurrying about. An echo of her old dread seized Maura when they passed the garrison compound. Though the buildings were deserted, the place did not look as if any of the villagers had gone near it. Likely they feared the Han would return.

Maura’s hand tightened around the reins. She must make certain that did not happen.