Dragons and Destiny (21 page)

The Commander
of the Watch was however adamant. It was only when Philip sent for
Robain Hallam that matters were resolved.

Behind closed
doors Philip told Robain the truth about Elliot’s identity and the
probable reason for the attack.

“Not robbers,
assassins,” Philip informed him, “and one got away. I need Elliot
out of here.”

“I agree,” said
Robain. “I’ll go speak to Major Bellahouston, see if he can
help.”

* * * * *

Robain

“Tell Baron
Ross that I will clear it with the authorities and that he and his
charges will be able to leave as planned,” Major Bellahouston said,
“but I am worried about the Prince-Heir travelling around our
country with only two protectors. If anything were to happen to him
while he is here in Argyll it would create a diplomatic incident.
We’ll have to do something and sorry Captain, I can see no other
help for it, you’ll have to go with them.”

“Sir,”
remonstrated Robain. “I’ve just received word of my next
posting.”

“I’ll find a
replacement. You’d better start packing, they were intending to
leave the tomorrow? Tell who you must that you’re going on a
temporary assignment. It’s true enough. You are dismissed for now
but I’ll be wanting to talk to you about the finer details before
you go.”

Robain saluted
and headed for the door, wondering how he was going to tell Hilla.
They had been delighted when the news about his next posting had
come through. Robain had been going to take command of a company of
Garda Foot within reasonable travelling distance of Settlement. She
would be disappointed.

“Captain?”

Robain
turned.

“Send a runner
for the Commander of the Watch. I’ll need to instruct him about
what to do with the remaining assassin. You said he was unconscious
when they took him away?”

“Yes sir, but
the Commander said that he was going to interrogate him when he
woke up.”

“He’ll not be
able to if the man is in the slammer here in the barracks,”
returned the Major. “The injured young southerner, he too must come
here. I’ll send our medics to bring him to our infirmary as soon as
he can be moved. Until then there will be a guard with him round
the bell to make sure he says nothing. Less chance of idle talk and
speculation. Now go get packed, say your goodbyes and get yourself
down to the hotel. Your duty starts immediately.”

It is on record
in the Garda Archives that Captain Hallam was detached on an
unspecified assignment that evening, duration time to be
determined.

Orders given,
the Commander of the Watch dealt with, Major Bellahouston now gave
some more thought to the problem. The fact that there was still an
assassin at large was troubling him a great deal.

Insurance, we
need insurance.

He sent for
another to whom he made an unusual request. The request was
accepted.

Only then did
he make his way out of the Academie and go to the administration
buildings to make his report to the Field Marshall.

When Philip,
Elliot, James and Robain left Settlement they left behind a
confused Commander of the Watch, an indignant doctor, a happy
hotelier who had been well paid for his silence, an upset Juvenis
Hilla Talansdochter, a delighted Juvenis Jen Durand and a very
worried Major.

Behind the four
men, out of sight, padded Major Bellahouston’s
insurance
, a
vadeln-pair of the Avuzdel, Danal and Asya.

* * * * *

Elliot and
Robain

“What does
Philip call them?” asked Robain when he was introduced to their
four-hoofed transportation for the first time.

“Plodders,”
answered Elliot, “he says that they’ll go on for miles girth deep
in mud and mire.”

“I can well
believe it,” said Robain, regarding the ugly beasts. “Which one’s
mine?”

“That one,”
said James, pointing to the big black at the end of the line.
“Least that was the one Derek chose. You might as well take
him.”

“Chose?”
queried a disbelieving Robain. The black gelding flicked an ear at
Robain as he approached and stamped a hoof on the cobbles.

Elliot was
fastening his saddlebags. The clinches were stiff and he was
cursing under his breath. He looked anything but a prince of the
blood at that precise moment, wearing as he did the same
nondescript garments as the others, of good quality but plain and
unadorned.

Ordinary
merchants, a casual observer would have said. The four wore swords
but that was not unusual for travellers using the Southern Trade
Route. Philip mounted his own horse, a dappled grey with a box head
and an evil looking eye. The two pack-mares were smaller than the
riding horses, shaggy and sturdy.

Philip’s sword
was a quality one, with the slight curve on the blade that told of
southern make. Robain glanced at Elliot’s; his was the same and
like Philip’s decorated at the hilt. Northern swords were never
decorated, nor was the blade curved - except for those carried by
the Vada.

There were
three basic types of northern sword. The sword the infantry
soldiers carried were short and wide bladed, designed for short
stabbing strokes. Vadeln of the Vada carried the sabre, the metal
hilt having a cantle shaped pommel, with a back strap, knuckle-bow
and three curved quillons. The curved blade was double edged. The
other weapon was the long-sword, the officer and cavalryman’s sword
and it was this that Robain carried.

The little
cavalcade headed west.

The road led
straight out of Settlement. In these peaceful days no walls circled
the town. Argyll’s one time enemy, Murdoch, was now a valuable
trade ally.

Robain led the
way, Elliot followed then came Philip leading the spare riding
mount. James was ‘tail-end-charlie’. He held the pack-mares on a
loose rope. Pack-mares were bred for their complaisant nature and
were not noted for their intelligence.

Robain glanced
behind and Elliot grinned. This was adventure with a capital
‘A’.

One time more
Robain glanced back. He would not see Hilla until Elliot was safely
on his way home. Perhaps then he would get some leave. He was in
love and with each bell he was travelling further away from Hilla -
all for an endangered young princeling and the continued friendship
between their countries. Robain felt disgruntled about the whole
situation.

It was during
their second night’s stop that Robain learned that it wasn’t only
he who was making a personal sacrifice to accompany Elliot on his
tour of the north. Philip Ross had left four children and a dearly
loved wife at home.

“Luckily she is
a sensible person,” Philip told Robain with whom he was sharing the
small inn-chamber, the Baron having bowed to pressure from Elliot
and James and allowed them to be together. “She has to be. I go
where the Crown-Prince sends me.”

“So why is it
you here and not with your own prince. Doesn’t your young prince
have his own guards?”

“Too
inexperienced,” answered Philip.

“So you drew
the short straw?”

“He’s not a bad
lad,” said Philip, “irresponsible sometimes, spoilt, but that’s his
upbringing, not him. The Crown-Prince knows this. The main reason
for this trip is not to show him the countries of his neighbours
although I’ll grant you that that’s important but it’s to toughen
him up, make him ready to take on the role of Crown-Prince when his
grandfather dies. He’ll be a better king because of this, as long
as we can keep him alive.”

“Who would
succeed if something were to happen to Elliot?”

“His sister
Susan.”

“Did
she
send the assassins?” asked Robain, picturing a power-hungry
princess who would do anything to gain her brother’s throne.

“I suspect
Prince-Duke Xavier, the Crown-Prince’s younger brother. Princess
Susan’s betrothed is related to him through his wife.”

“So what did
your wife say when you told her you were going on this trip?”

“She wasn’t
happy but she accepted it. It was a royal command.”

“Hilla wasn’t
nearly as understanding as your wife. Remember her at dinner, the
girl who spent most of the time talking to Elliot? We had come to
an understanding, the Garda is pretty accommodating and posts
married couples near to each other.”

“Our women do
not fight,” Philip said. “But surely she realised you had to
go?”

“Oh she
realised it all right but that didn’t stop her being annoyed. She
made her annoyance very clear. The making up was nice.”

“So our wives
and girlfriends have forgiven us and await our return with
anticipation. James’s too.”

“James is
married? He doesn’t look old enough.”

“He’s
seventeen. He was married not long before we set out.”

“I don’t
imagine he was happy about this either.”

“You have to
understand something about us. Elliot asked him to come with him.
It’s as simple as that. You don’t refuse a personal request from
your future king. Also, James is perhaps the closest person Elliot
has to a real friend. James realises this and if he doesn’t then
his uncle certainly does. He’s Elliot’s future brother-in-law too.
His younger sister is Elliot’s; you call it fiancée here do you
not? They were formally betrothed before we left the palace.”

“I understand a
little,” Robain replied.

“Always helps,”
pronounced Philip cheerfully. “And what can’t be cured must be
endured.” He slapped Robain on the back, “now we’d better go see
what these young rascals are up to. The smells from the kitchens
are aggravating my taste buds.”

“Plain and
wholesome.”

“Plain and
plenty of it is all I ask.”

Over dinner
Robain sat silent, ate and listened to the chatter. He realised
that James was a happy go lucky lad little used to deep thinking.
His chatter was full of the farms and villages they passed. Elliot
was more inclined to make observations.

After
expressing his disappointment at not yet seeing even one of the
Vada; he made one or two very astute observations about the
differences between the inhabitants of their respective
countries.

“The people are
so different Captain Hallam,” he said, “it’s amazing.”

“In what way?”
encouraged Robain.

“They’re so
open and friendly, not at all …” Elliot struggled for the
words.

“Cowed?”
suggested Robain.

Elliot didn’t
take offence, he considered Robain’s answer. “Partly, but there’s
more to it than that and it’s something for the life of me I can’t
put my finger on.”

“Perhaps it is
something to do with the way in which they live,” suggested Robain.
“This is a very prosperous part of Argyll; plenty of water, good
arable land. The people here have plenty to be thankful for.
Further inland, in the uplands life is not so easy, the land is not
so rich and in the highlands and in the mountains it is harder
still.”

“But what about
the people?” asked Elliot. “Are they the same?”

“Yes, I think
so,” answered Robain after some consideration.

“But why is
that?” pressed Elliot. “Surely they should be more unhappy?”

“That’s a
difficult one,” said Robain, “but if I do have to give an answer it
would be because they are more free than your people. Argyll is a
democracy and every adult, male and female, has a vote although not
all exercise the right.”

“I see,” said
Elliot deep in thought. He fell silent, leaving James to resume his
idle chatter.

The next day
Elliot rode at Robain’s side.

“Where are you
from, Captain?”

“I was born on
the Island of Hallam in the Great Eastern Sea.”

Elliot looked
surprised. “The Islands? How did you come to be an Officer in the
Garda then? Are you a younger son who does not have an
inheritance?”

“I’m the oldest
son,” Robain answered, “but me and my brothers, I have two, decided
to make our lives here on the mainland. The farm is still there, it
belongs to the three of us now that our parents are dead. We’ve got
a good manager and the farm provides us with income to supplement
our respective salaries.” Not for worlds did Robain want to tell
Elliot why he, Liam and Ansell had left the island or of his vow to
find his mother and sisters.

“Will you ever
go back?”

“Perhaps for a
visit,” replied Robain, “but my life is here and I would not wish
to return for good.”

“Where is
Hallam exactly?”

“A long way
away, north-west.”

“Is it a big
island?”

“Big enough.
There are about a hundred or so farms of varying sizes. Ours is one
of the biggest.”

“Good
farmland?”

“Not as good as
here but pretty good,” answered Robain, gazing into the distance,
remembering happy days, before the pirates had come and destroyed
everything. He decided to change the subject.

“There’s a
Supply Station coming up tomorrow,” he said, “how about we make a
stop and have a look around?”

Elliot promptly
forgot all about the Island of Hallam.

He plied Robain
with so many questions about the Lind that the captain began to
wish that he had never mentioned it and it took Philip to calm him
down with the threat of riding past unless he shut up.

* * * * *

“Are you sure
they’ll let us in?”

It was
afternoon and they were approaching the Supply Station. It was
located amongst trees two miles inland of the Southern Trade
Route.

“All travellers
are welcome,” answered Robain, “to water their horses, to feed,
even a place to sleep if necessary.”

“The Lind, will
they be there?”

“There’s always
a few,” Robain replied with a sigh of patience. “The managers are
always vadeln-paired and are a separate section within the Vada.
Often an older pairing will retire to a Supply Station. This one
isn’t one of the large ones. They don’t have a permanent Holad
here. The bigger stations all have them. Express vadeln often stay
overnight too but we’re unlikely to see any so early in the
day.”