Donnel's Promise (23 page)

‘If rumours are to be believed, and that one is
persistent
.’ He paused. ‘So is the one that says Goltoy’s wife and son were in the city.’

‘Rillon or Osser?’

‘The younger, Rillon. But Osser’s wife and baby as well as Rillon’s sons.’

Croft whistled. ‘That’s some bargaining chip. Should see Lyse and Ciaran out of trouble.’

Risha was less certain. ‘Are you sure he has hostages? Has he made any overtures?’

‘Not that we’ve heard,’ Nolan said. ‘But then our news is a day or more old and there are conflicting accounts. Best we don’t take any of it as certain yet.’

‘There’ll be truth where the accounts coincide,’ Fenn said.

‘Which would leave Donnel in possession of Westlaw’s stronghold in the north while Goltoy is caught up
playing
games on his southern border. I’d have liked to have seen his face when word reached him.’

The thought of the man’s rage was not an image Risha cared to dwell on. ‘Would that neither Ciaran nor Lyse saw it.’

‘Goltoy has a temper, but your father has him over a barrel,’ Nolan replied. ‘Donnel can set whatever peace terms he likes.’

‘Donnel won’t be offering terms,’ Muir said. ‘Nor will Goltoy expect them.’

‘What do you mean?’ Nolan asked. ‘He’s in the perfect position.’

‘Aye, for several things. And peace is not likely among
them.’ Muir’s left hand lay on the table. He pressed it flat, spreading his fingers wide.

‘What are you saying, Muir?’

His answer seemed directed to Risha alone. ‘When Cattra died Donnel made a promise to avenge her. He has waited eighteen years to keep it.’ His mouth tightened as he stared at her, his eyes dark with something she could not understand. ‘I doubt he plans to wait longer.’

21

Honour

M
uir went the next day to find horses. The town yielded only one, and that unlikely to manage any great distance.

‘The innkeeper suggested I try Annat. He says there’s a retired smith who breeds horses not far from the village. Do you know the place?’

Fenn stood. ‘It’s up the shore a way. I could take you — be quicker than riding that old nag.’

Annat proved a scattering of cottages along the waterline with the hills rising steeply behind. Muir eyed it dubiously. There was not even a jetty. Fenn moored them to a buoy and Muir and Croft rowed ashore.

‘Rest,’ Fenn told Risha, when she proposed going with them. ‘You look exhausted.’

Muir returned an hour later. ‘He sold us two and hired two others. Two of his lads are riding them back with Croft.’

‘I’d be happy to ride with them,’ Risha said.

‘Easier to sail.’

‘Muir, I’m not a child needing to be pampered.’

He smiled tightly. ‘No, but a young woman who is
hard to protect. There’s no point taking risks unless we have to,’ he added.

‘But it’s all right for Croft to take a risk? Perhaps you should have ridden with him.’

Muir’s nostrils flared as he bit down on whatever answer sprang to his tongue.

Fenn intervened. ‘Risha, can you untie us from the mooring? Easier for you than Muir.’

Which caused Risha to regret her sharp words. She had not considered his ribs.

Fenn steered them out of the small bay and Risha went to sit beside Muir on the foredeck, their backs to the cabin. He glanced at her sidelong.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.’

A smile flickered at the corner of his mouth and was gone. ‘We’re all tired.’

It was true. She sighed. ‘I don’t want to live like this, Muir.’

‘You don’t have to.’

She studied him intently but he said nothing more. In the distance, towards Caledon, the bright sails of a lake trader caught the sun. Close at hand four geese bobbed placidly past. Risha tipped her head back and closed her eyes, the sun soaking into her skin. Even her bones felt tired. Her shoulder touched Muir’s and she leant a little against him, his solid warmth no less soothing than the sun.

They were nearly at Churton when Fenn called them. The sun had skipped through its arc and begun its slow slide to the west. Fenn was shading her face with one hand, the other on the tiller. Risha followed her gaze. The ketch she’d seen earlier had halved the distance that
stood between the two vessels.

‘Trouble?’ Muir asked.

‘Not of the most obvious kind.’

The arm of the lake opened to their left and Fenn tacked around the point, tension evident in her face as she negotiated the shallows. The boat following mirrored their course.

As they berthed Risha jumped to the jetty and looked back toward the ketch. She squinted against the sun. ‘Fenn, it’s Olli!’ Relief bubbled within her.

The boatwoman tossed her a line. ‘It is. I’d know
Curlew
anywhere. What worries me is why.’

They had tied up and were waiting when Olli brought
Curlew
alongside. Fenn caught the line he threw, looping it neatly around a bollard.

‘Trouble?’ she asked.

‘News that’ll mean trouble. Ah, there’s my Lillet.’

The young woman called a greeting as she ran flushcheeked down the jetty. Olli embraced her.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘In good time,’ Olli said, eyes assessing the town. By the boatshed at the head of the jetty two men had paused to watch. ‘They’ll be wondering what’s going on with all this coming and going,’ Olli said.

‘They will,’ Fenn agreed. ‘Where’s Nolan?’ she asked Lillet.

‘Coming. We’d gone for a walk — I saw
Curlew
from the hill.’ Lillet tucked her arm through her father’s.

‘Perhaps we’d better give their tongues a direction to wag in.’

Nolan had reached the jetty. With a nod to the two townsmen he began walking towards them.

‘Here he is,’ Olli boomed. ‘The man who plans to win my daughter away from me.’

Nolan’s stride faltered. The men he’d passed had given up all pretence of disinterest.

Olli met him midway along the jetty and stood nose to nose. ‘Best I hear what you have to say before this goes any further.’

Nolan’s eyes darted between them. Lillet had gone beet-red beneath her tan. Olli clapped an arm around

Nolan’s shoulders. ‘You needn’t look so worried, lad! Is there anywhere a man can get a drink in this town?’

He continued his voluble charade for the innkeeper’s benefit, despite Lillet’s efforts to quiet him. That Olli was enjoying himself was apparent, just as that Nolan was not.

Their meal done, Lillet proposed a walk, pushing her father ahead of her.

‘I might stay with the boats,’ Risha said.

‘I’m with you on that,’ Fenn agreed.

Nolan looked entirely discomforted. Fenn cast him a thin smile. When they reached
Lakebird
, he hesitated. ‘Risha, might I have a word?’

Fenn spoke without looking back. ‘Cabin’s free. I’ll be busy awhile on deck.’

He ushered Risha below, waving her to a bench and sitting opposite. He cleared his throat. ‘I’m not sure how Olli gained the impression I was courting Lillet. I wanted to assure you there’s been no impropriety.’

‘I wouldn’t have assumed any — though a very little might not hurt.’ She smiled at his startled expression. ‘Olli’s intention was to give the locals something to distract them from speculation.’

‘Ah.’ He looked relieved. ‘I see.’ He sat forward, his
hands in loose fists on his knees. ‘Because I would not … that is …’

‘You could do worse,’ Risha said. ‘Lillet is a capable young woman, and kind with it.’

‘I—’

‘Minna seemed to think it time that you settled.’

His mouth opened and closed.

‘You must have noticed how fond of you Lillet has grown.’

There was a pause before he answered. ‘These things are not always obvious to the object of affection.’ A muscle jumped in his cheek as he stood. ‘Thank you for clarifying matters.’

Fenn came below soon after he left. ‘Everything all right?’

‘I think I might have upset Nolan.’

Fenn’s eyebrows rose. ‘Him as well?’

Risha frowned.

‘What did you say?’

‘I told him Lillet was fond of him.’

‘Ah.’

‘He might have thought it none of my business.’

‘I doubt it was that, but it’s probably better said. Lillet certainly doesn’t make any secret of it. Perhaps he needed a nudge.’ She bent to stow a rope in a locker.

‘Has Olli said yet why he’s here?’

‘Not yet. But he wouldn’t have sailed half the length of CaledonWater if he didn’t think it important.’

Though larger than
Lakebird
’s, the cabin on
Curlew
was still uncomfortably cramped. Risha found herself squeezed on a bench between Fenn and Lillet, with
Nolan and Olli sitting opposite. Muir leant against the wall while Croft, newly returned, was perched halfway up the steps where he might keep a casual watch.

Olli set his elbows on the table, fingers interlocked. ‘The rumours are confirmed: Donnel took Westlaw’s city, and holds it. He has Goltoy’s wife, daughters-in-law and grandchildren as hostages.’

‘But not his sons?’

‘That’s not certain. And we have a more immediate concern before us.’ He paused. The silence in the cabin was stretched taut as a drum skin. ‘Goltoy has called an emergency session of the Sitting.’

Muir’s eyes narrowed. ‘The Sitting is little more than a farce.’

‘I don’t argue with that,’ Olli said, ‘but birds have been sent nonetheless. They’ll sit in Caledon in ten days’ time.’

‘For what purpose?’ Risha asked.

Nolan answered. ‘It can only be to move against Donnel.’

Muir shifted stiffly. ‘A year ago Goltoy tried to have Donnel ousted for usurping Fratton’s sovereign rights. Twice before he has tried on grounds of contempt.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Risha said. ‘How can Donnel be ousted?’

‘The agreement that binds the five duchies allows that aggression by one duchy against another must be answered in a full session of the Sitting,’ Olli said. ‘If the accused party fails to offer evidence to justify their actions or fails to attend—’ he glanced sidelong at Muir — ‘there is provision for them to be expelled.’

‘How could such an accusation apply to the aid Donnel gave to Fratton?’

‘It could not,’ Muir said. ‘Goltoy was needling Donnel.’

Olli ignored him. ‘Without Fratton’s support the move failed. However, Goltoy’s bid to add a sixth seat to the Sitting was successful. Elion’s vote will change the balance of power.’

‘Without a unanimous vote, the amendment isn’t valid,’ Muir countered.

‘Donnel cannot simply ignore the Sitting and assume that in his absence it is powerless,’ Olli said sharply. ‘In the event of a split decision, the sixth seat will be a problem. While Donnel chooses not to attend, it gives the balance of votes to Goltoy.’

‘Even without Elion’s seat, the situation has changed. Unless Donnel attends, Goltoy will have a majority,’ Fenn said.

‘Donnel hasn’t attended the Sitting since Goltoy placed his puppets in Caledon and Fratton and the duchies refused to move against him,’ Muir said coldly. ‘He will not give up his hold in the north to do so now.’

Risha’s gaze shifted from one face to another. ‘If the vote went against LeMarc, what then?’

‘If Donnel is deemed in breach of the Accord, it would allow Goltoy legitimate right of reprisal.’ Olli paused. ‘LeMarc would burn.’

Anger flared in Risha’s chest. ‘LeMarc has already burned, and at Goltoy’s instigation! Do you forget that two years ago Somoran’s soldiers raided the north and Westlaw’s navy besieged the citadel? How can Goltoy not be answerable for those crimes, yet Donnel be accountable for taking revenge?’

‘Donnel did not place the matter before the Sitting. If he had—’

‘If he had, the votes of Goltoy’s puppets would have counted against him. He would have lost.’ Muir’s tone was clipped.

‘And he may yet. The vote will be held. Caledon will side with Westlaw, and Havre—’

‘Who holds Havre’s vote?’

Fenn’s hand closed over Risha’s clenched fist. ‘You do, Arishara — though your right, as Havre’s heir, has yet to be invoked.’

‘And would require ratification by a majority of the Council,’ Olli added. ‘Normally a formality. Goltoy doubtless intends forcing Lyse to cede your vote to Vormer, or to cast it as he decrees.’

Risha’s anger hardened. ‘Goltoy and Vormer will not make easy bedfellows.’

No one disagreed. She looked around the small cabin. Muir’s arms were folded tight across his chest. Nolan looked thoughtful. ‘Who will cast the vote for the new seat?’

‘The scholars were requested to elect a member from among their number. Their candidate will be formally
instated
if they gain the support of a majority of the Sitting.’

Muir stood up. ‘It is academic. The Sitting has no power.’

‘The Sitting is designed to keep the peace,’ Olli said. ‘It was established for that purpose by Arishara’s
great-grandsire
, the Steward of Elgard.’

‘And yet it will bring about the opposite.’ A vision of flames and blood flickered in Risha’s head.

Olli’s smile was tight. ‘The steward could not foresee every eventuality. The expulsion clause aims to protect each duchy’s sovereignty in the event of a rogue leader.’

‘Donnel is not—’

Risha raised a hand. ‘Wait, Muir. Let me understand. Olli is saying that unless Donnel attends, he will be deposed. But would his heir not then have the right to take up the seat?’

‘If a majority of the Council supported it. In that event the duchy is protected against immediate reprisals.’

‘You think he’ll use Lyse to gain control of LeMarc as well as Havre?’ Nolan asked.

‘He might intend to try, but there is another option,’ Risha said. She looked at Muir. ‘You’re sure Donnel won’t attend?’

He nodded.

‘And Goltoy will have the support to depose my father.’

‘With or without the scholar’s seat,’ Nolan said.

‘His bid for control will still fail.’

‘How so?’ Muir asked, eyes narrowed.

‘I will attend and claim Donnel’s place.’

There was a moment of stillness. Nolan was first to raise objections. ‘If we had an army to back you — but we do not.’

‘That aside,’ Olli said, ‘you can only claim LeMarc’s vote once your father is deposed. You would have to denounce him.’

‘Risha, the risk is too great,’ Fenn joined the debate. ‘You would be placing yourself in Goltoy’s hands. It would be impossible to keep you safe once he knows you’re in Caledon.’

‘What of Lyse?’ Muir’s question was the first to cause her pause.

She met his cool gaze. ‘We would insist on her release.’

‘It would not happen.’

‘Why not?’

‘Goltoy is not a man given to concessions. And you would be placing him in a position where he would have nothing left to lose.’

He meant that it would cost Lyse’s life. She felt queasy. Muir had not taken his eyes from her face. He was right, and she knew it. ‘I need some air.’