Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (50 page)

“
Thank you. We
’
ll do that.
”

Jordy beckoned to Tob. Thena and her son went out the door first, followed by Loras.

The goldsmith paused in the doorway.
“
I
’
ll be going home,
”
he said.
“
How long will you be in Edian?
”

“
Another day. Two at most.
”

“
See me before you leave. I might know a few useful people in the villages and towns you
’
ll be visiting.
”

Bellon closed the shop behind them. He motioned Jordy and Tob toward a handsome house next door. Loras said his farewells and went off down the street in the opposite direction.

Jordy exhaled a long, tired sigh in the darkness. He hadn
’
t accomplished what he
’
d set out to accomplish on this visit. He wasn
’
t completely sure how circumstances had come to shift the way they had. Aye, well, he wouldn
’
t take back a word. If they
’
d begun something, so be it. For better or worse, they
’
d just have to see it through to the end.

* * *

“
Any land, any group of people, needs one ruler, one ultimate authority who takes final responsibility for all decisions made.
”
Sene clasped his hands behind his back and refused to flinch under the pressure of Feather
’
s skeptical gaze. Jenil had taken care of the girl
’
s physical and emotional well-being during her years in Garden Vale, but Feather had a great deal to learn about how to be a member of the ruling family of an entire kingdom. Since the Spring Festival, Sene had made an effort to spend time with her every day. Sometimes they walked to Raisal, or rode to a nearby village, and Sene introduced her to Redmothers and community leaders. Other times they stayed home, where Feather could learn the day-to-day details of the life she would one day share with his children.

“
In Sitrine,
”
Sene continued,
“
the responsibilities of the throne will go to Jeyn rather than Chasa. However, there is a great deal of hard work that comes before any decision
—
work which should be shared. That
’
s been part of the problem in Dherrica for years.
”

Feather cocked her head.
“
What has?
”

“
One person holding too much power. Farren started it, when he diminished the size of his court and eliminated his council entirely. Dea only made matters worse by banishing Bronle
’
s wizard. Hion has his faults, but at least he
’
s training Damon to rule, and he keeps up his council meetings.
”

“
Greenmother Jenil doesn
’
t have a very high opinion of that council.
”

“
Compare conditions in Rhenlan with those in Dherrica. A weak council is better than none at all.
”

A breeze played idly with the flowers set on a stand near the window. Other than that spot of color, Sene
’
s audience room had very little in the way of decoration. One entire wall and the adjacent corner were filled with a map table. The other walls, except for the space needed for windows and doors, were covered with book shelves. Once every few ninedays, Sene used the room to hear disputes referred to him by law readers. He liked the convenience of having his references near to hand, but he suspected that his reputation for wisdom occasionally suffered in the eyes of his Keeper subjects, who didn
’
t need books and weren
’
t always generous about allowing that other people did.

Through the house door, propped open to catch the cross breeze, Sene heard the rap of boot heels on the corridor
’
s tiled floor. Feather exclaimed,
“
Not another one! And don
’
t tell me that listening to your arbitrations is an opportunity to broaden my education, because I am never going to be a ruler of Sitrine. And that
’
s that.
”

“
Define
‘
ruler.
’
No, never mind. We
’
ll discuss it later.
”
Boot heels
—
not the softer, formal footwear of a law reader
—
implied one of his guards or a traveling messenger. Sene hid a smile. He would point out that detail to her later
—
educationally, of course.

The man who entered was not a member of Sene
’
s guard.

“
Ivey!
”
Feather exclaimed.

“
Your Majesty,
”
the minstrel said to Sene.
“
Dektrieb told me I
’
d find you here. Hello, Feather.
”

“
Welcome, my friend.
”
Sene gestured Ivey into the room.
“
You bring me news of the wide world?
”

“
Quite a lot, actually.
”

Sene took a seat at the table as Ivey began his report. Feather made no move to leave, which pleased Sene. The sooner she understood the complicated issues involved in ruling Sitrine, the sooner she would be ready to marry Chasa. Afternoon faded to twilight, then to full dark. The minstrel had not been exaggerating. He had a great deal of news indeed. Sene had drawn paper, pen, and ink from a drawer and made notes as Ivey spoke. He looked them over now. Unrest in Edian, the sorry state of the Brownmother house at Soza, the guard attack on Broadford, and Jenil
’
s choice of a Keeper family to shelter Vray.

“
This carter,
”
Sene said.
“
Do you trust him?
”

Ivey looked surprised.
“
Jordy? Yes, of course.
”

“
From what you say, he has little use for Shapers. What would he say if he knew that you served me?
”

“
He would call me a fool.
”
Ivey leaned back in his chair with a smile.
“
He says what he thinks. He
’
s an honest man, Your Majesty.
”

“
Honest men don
’
t like being deceived.
”

“
True. He
’
ll be furious. But there
’
s no sense worrying about that until it happens. Right now, I need your advice about another Dherrican entirely.
”

“
Very well. Palle, or Pirse?
”

“
Both, actually.
”

“
I was under the impression that the prince spends his winters hunting Abstainer bands and his summers killing dragons.
”

“
Aye. Quite successful he is, too. The villagers honor him for it. Palle, on the other hand, never stirs from Bronle. His troops guard the important trade routes between Dherrica and Rhenlan, make a show of patrolling the border, and are quick and efficient when it comes to the collection of taxes and tribute.
”

“
Nothing wrong with any of that.
”

“
Except for the way certain merchants are given all the best trade, and certain goods are available in some villages but not others, and certain Shaper families receive favors from the king while others do not.
”

“
Choices must be made.
”
Sene glanced at Feather.
“
The art of arbitration.
”

“
Palle renders judgment based on who is the highest bidder. Those who can buy his favor are pleased with the system. Those who cannot have no voice with which to complain. Rather neat, don
’
t you agree?
”

Sene studied the young man
’
s bitter expression.
“
None of this changes the fact that, with Dea and Emlie dead, and Pirse declared Abstainer, Palle is the lawful king.
”

“
Pirse is no more an Abstainer than I am. He did not kill the queen. Half of Dherrica knows it, and the rest have their suspicions.
”

“
Can he prove that? Can you?
”

“
Stones, no.
”

“
He can
’
t challenge his uncle
’
s accusation in front of the law readers without some evidence to support his version of what happened.
”

Ivey snorted.
“
He doesn
’
t know what really happened. He also can
’
t enter Bronle. Some of the guards might deliver him to the law reader for judgment
—
but would rather please Palle than serve the law.
”

“
Then the impasse continues.
”

“
Not necessarily.
”
Ivey sat forward.
“
It occurred to me that Pirse could challenge his uncle
’
s right to the throne without ever placing himself in his uncle
’
s power.
”

“
How?
”

“
By fathering a child
—
a direct descendent to take Dea
’
s place.
”

Sene twirled his pen between his fingers. Feather, who had not spoken since the minstrel began his tale, identified the most practical flaw in Ivey
’
s plan.
“
Has Palle claimed blood debt against the prince?
”

“
Formally, no,
”
Ivey admitted.
“
But isn
’
t it implied? Pirse is accused of murder, of stealing the life of Palle
’
s sister. By law, Palle has every right to claim new life for old.
”

“
By declaring Pirse Abstainer, his life forfeit, he made his claim clear,
”
Sene said.
“
He wants Pirse to pay the debt with his own life.
”

“
Ah, but that
’
s my point. Palle can lay the claim, but it is up to whoever judges the case to decide the method of payment.
”

“
But, you said Palle has not claimed blood debt,
”
Feather argued.

“
With good reason, if Ivey is correct,
”
Sene said.
“
The last thing he needs is for Pirse to father and raise a child to succeed Dea as ruler of Dherrica. Not only would such a response to the blood debt claim save Pirse
’
s life, it would also relegate Palle to the role of regent, at best. Not even that, if the mother
’
s family claims the regency for her.
”

“
Can Pirse answer a challenge before it
’
s presented?
”

Sene nodded slowly.
“
In the case of a member of a ruling house, like Pirse, claims are settled by a council of the Children, rather than a single law reader.
”

“
I don
’
t know if it would work,
”
Ivey said.
“
That
’
s why I
’
m asking.
”
He pointed to the booklined shelves.
“
If there
’
s a precedent anywhere in there, Sire, to get Palle off the throne, all of Dherrica would be grateful.
”

“
I can
’
t guarantee anything. But I also can
’
t see Pirse remaining a fugitive for the rest of his life. Have you discussed this with the prince?
”