Limits of Power
Authors: Elizabeth Moon
“Y
ou killed her!” That first voice, instantly joined by others, rose in a furious screech of accusation. “You killed her! You killed her!”
The angry voices penetrated Kieri's grief and exhaustion, and he looked back over his shoulder to see at least a dozen elves, some with swords drawn, his uncle Amrothlin among them. Behind them, more Squires pushed into the room.
“I did not,” he said. “I triedâ”
“She's dead! You're alive; you must haveâ!”
“I tried to save her,” Kieri said. “I could not.”
Former Marine E
LIZABETH
M
OON
is the author of many novels, including
Echoes of Betrayal, Kings of the North, Oath of Fealty,
the Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy,
Victory Conditions, Command Decision, Engaging the Enemy, Marque and Reprisal, Trading in Danger,
the Nebula Award winner
The Speed of Dark,
and
Remnant Population,
a Hugo Award finalist. After earning a degree in history from Rice University, Moon went on to obtain a degree in biology from the University of Texas, Austin. She lives in Florence, Texas.
Y
E
LIZABETH
M
OON
The Serrano Legacy
Hunting Party
Sporting Chance
Winning Colours
Once a Hero
Rules of Engagement
Change of Command
Against the Odds
The Serrano Legacy: Omnibus One
The Serrano Connection: Omnibus Two
The Serrano Succession: Omnibus Three
The Legacy of Gird
Surrender None
Liar's Oath
A Legacy of Honour: The Legacy of Gird Omnibus
The Deed of Paksenarrion
Sheepfarmer's Daughter
Divided Allegiance
Oath of Gold
The Deed of Paksenarrion Omnibus
Paladin's Legacy
Oath of Fealty
Kings of the North
Limits of Power
Remnant Population
Speed of Dark
The Vatta's War Series
Trading in Danger
Moving Target
Engaging the Enemy
Command Decision
Victory Conditions
with Anne McCaffrey
Sassinak (The Planet Pirates Volume 2)
Generation Warriors (The Planet Pirates Volume 3)
COPYRIGHT
Published by Hachette Digital
ISBN: 9780748133796
All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 Elizabeth Moon
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.
The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
Hachette Digital
Little, Brown Book Group
100 Victoria Embankment
London, EC4Y 0DY
For David Stevens, Music Director, Austin Haller, Organist, and the Parish Choirs of St. David's Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas
Table of Contents
Extract Form an Feast of Souls
Fox Company
(formerly Kieri Phelan's mercenary company)
Jandelir Arcolin, commander
, Count of the North Marches
Burek
, junior captain of first cohort
Selfer
, captain of second cohort
Cracolnya
, captain of third (mixed/archery) cohort
Stammel
, veteran sergeant of the Company, now blind
Tsaia
Mikeli Vostan Kieriel Mahieran
, king of Tsaia
Camwyn
, his younger brother
Sonder Amrothlin Mahieran
, Duke Mahieran, king's uncle
Selis Jostin Marrakai
, Duke Marrakai
Gwennothlin
, his daughter and Duke Verrakai's squire
Aris
, his son and Prince Camwyn's friend
Galyan Selis Serrostin
, Duke Serrostin
Daryan
, his youngest son and Duke Verrakai's squire
Dorrin Verrakai
, Duke Verrakai, formerly a senior captain in Phelan's company, now Constable for kingdom
Beclan
, Kirgan Verrakai, formerly Beclan Mahieran
Oktar
, Marshal-Judicar of Tsaia
Seklis
, High Marshal of Gird
Lyonya
Kieri Phelan
, king of Lyonya, former mercenary commander and duke in Tsaia, half-elven grandson of the Lady of the Ladysforest
Arian
, Kieri's wife, queen of Lyonya, half-elven
Aliam Halveric
, commands Halveric Company, Kieri Phelan's mentor and friend
Estil Halveric
, his wife
elves
Amrothlin
, the Lady's son and Kieri's uncle
Elven ruler of the Lordsforest
Fintha
Arianya
, Marshal-General of Gird
Marshal Cedlin
, Fin Panir
Marshal Sofan
, Crossways
Aarenis
Arvid Semminson
, former thief-enforcer, now Girdish convert
Marshal Porfur
, Ifoss
Marshal Steralt
, Valdaire
Jeddrin
, Count of Andressat
Filis Andressat
, Andressat's third son
Visla Vaskronin
, Duke of Immer (formerly, Alured the Black)
Samdal
, Chancellor and Regent, Horngard
Kuakkgani
Ashwind
, itinerant Kuakgan, Tsaia
Elmholt
, grovemaster Kuakgan, Tsaia
Larchwind
, itinerant Kuakgan, Lyonya
Pearwind
, itinerant Kuakgan, Lyonya
Gnomes
Dattur
,
kteknik
gnome and Arvid's companion/servant
Aldonfulk Prince
Chaya, in Lyonya
“Y
ou killed her!” That first voice, instantly joined by others, rose in a furious screech of accusation. “
You
killed her! You killed
her
!”
The angry voices penetrated Kieri's grief and exhaustion, and he looked back over his shoulder to see at least a dozen elves, some with swords drawn, his uncle Amrothlin among them. Behind them, more Squires pushed into the room.
“I did not,” he said. “I triedâ”
“She's dead! You're alive; you must haveâ!”
“I tried to
save
her,” Kieri said. “I could not.” He stood up then, automatically collecting his weapons as he rose.
“Let me see that!” Amrothlin strode forward, pointing at Kieri's sword. “If it has her blood on itâ”
“Of course it does,” Kieri said. “You saw: my sword lay in her blood, there on the floor.” He had knelt in her blood, he realized, and his hands were stained. No wonder Amrothlin suspected him, though the blood that spattered his clothes had come from others.
Amrothlin reached out his hand. “Let me smell it. I know her scent; I will know another's scent, if indeed another's blood is there. Give it to me.”
“No,” Arian said before Kieri could answer, blocking Amrothlin with her arm. “You will not disarm the king,” she said. “Not after what has happened.”
“You!” Amrothlin glared at her. “You half-bred troublemaker, child of one who should never have sired children on mortalsâ”
“
Daughter
of one who gave his life to save the Lady,” Arian said. Kieri saw the glitter of both tears and anger in her eyes. “There he lies, and you would insult him?”
“And you know you cannot hold this sword,” Kieri said, forcing a calm tone through the anger he felt. How dare Amrothlin insult Arianâand where had he been all this time? Was he the traitor? “You remember: it's sealed to me. Smell if you wish, but do not touch it.”
Amrothlin glared at them all, then fixed his gaze on Arian. “What should I think when I find three mortals around my Lady's body with swords drawn and her blood run out like water from a cracked jug? I see no other foe here. It is you, I say, and thisâthis so-called king.”
Kieri glanced past Amrothlin. The ring of elves stood tense; behind them were Squires who hesitated to push them aside, and behind those the hooded figures of two Kuakkgani. He met Amrothlin's angry gaze once more.
“I am the king,” he said, keeping his voice as steady as he could. “I am the king, and my mother was your sister, and this Lady was my grandmother. So we are kin, whether you like it or not. If you can indeed detect identity by the smell of the blood, then you will smell another immortal's blood on thisâand on the queen's sword and Duke Verrakai's as well.”
“Do you dare accuse an elf?” Amrothlin asked. He still trembled like a candle flame, but his voice had calmed.