"I have it." Ashen had scrambled to her feet and retrieved it The growing firelight shone on the bared blade. Though she did not hold the weapon the way a trained warrior might, still it was clear she knew the dagger's usefulness.
Obern longed to reach for her, to make sure she was unharmed, but this was no girl shaking with fear as he had expected to find. She stood as resolute as any
Sea-Rover. "How are you, my lady?"
"Unharmed, but cold and thirsty. Hungry, too. And—" Her voice broke a little.
"—so very, very glad to see you."
"And I, you. Kather, please go and get our horses. There is warm clothing for you in one of the saddlebags, my lady, and we brought food as well. We would be foolish to try to retrace our steps before morning, so we must stay here for the night. But we will be on guard." Obern turned to Lathrom. "You will understand,
I trust, that we will have to tie you up?"
Lathrom shrugged. "I've given you my word. But go ahead and truss me as you will. It's no more than I would have done if the circumstances had been reversed. You have no cause to trust me overmuch."
"Good. In a way, you might consider it a compliment to you, seeing as how sorely you are overmatched."
Iaobim crossed the man's hands behind him, preparatory to binding him, but Obern stopped him. "Strangely enough, I do think we can take your word. Just tie one arm to the table, and make sure he can't unpick the knots. We wouldn't want you loose during the night, word or no word."
Iaobim grinned; a seafarer knew knotwork, and he was as able as any. In a few moments, he had Lathrom's right arm lashed to one leg of the table in such a way that he couldn't move without dragging it along with him, and the ends of the rope were tied to the opposite leg, out of Lathrom's reach.
Obern inspected Iaobim's handiwork, and nodded approval. "Good. You can still feed yourself. Now, Dordan, go and throw another good length on that fire."
Six
Within an hour, they were warm and well fed. The bodies of the four dead guards had been dragged outside to be placed in the cart for transportation back to
Rendelsham in the morning. The Sea-Rovers all unrolled mats and placed them around the room, guarding the doors even as they slept, having no wish to separate and occupy the rooms upstairs. Now all were snoring, including Lathrom who had no mat, but who seemed not to notice.
Obern sat up quietly. Ashen, her back to him, was sitting close to the fire that was banked for the night, on a rug made of the skin of some huge beast, her legs tucked under her. He arose from his mat and went to kneel beside her. "Are you still afraid?"
She glanced up at him. "No. I just couldn't sleep."
"Well," Obern said, trying to speak lightly, "you are over-stimulated, like a child who has had too many sweets. It isn't every day that one attends a wedding, then gets captured and taken off to the King's hunting lodge."
His attempt at joking was unsuccessful.
"I know," she said. Her body was tense. Her hands were curled into fists. "Why would Florian do this?"
Obern shrugged. "You're a direat to him, Ashen. You may not understand or listen to rumors, but already there is opposition to the King. And you're the late
King's daughter."
"I am who I am. Zazar named me truly—Ashen Deathdaughter. I want nothing except freedom to be what I choose to be!" Ashen's voice was vehement, though she kept her tone low.
"I know you have no part in their plots. If you could be free of this, you would. But it is happening anyway." He wanted so much to take her into his arms and give her comfort. But he knew that trust and need must be hers also, for her to accept it.
There was silence for a while. Ashen picked up a bit of kindling and stirred the ashes. The twig caught fire, and she tossed it into the fireplace. "All I could think of, when they took me, was how I wished you could come and find me. And then you did."
"How could I not?"
"You have always been my friend." She smiled a little. "Even when you were out of your head for a while, seeming to think I would drop you for the underwater ones, back in the Bog."
He smiled in response. "I don't even remember most of what happened, from the time I fell off the cliff until I awoke with you washing the blood off me. I thought I had died and a Seamaid, one of the Sea-ruler's daughters, was tending me."
"Your good sword is still back there, in the ruins of Galinth. And your armor."
"Armor is replaceable," Obern said. "But I admit that I do miss my man-sword. It was Snolli's best, of Rinbell make. It fights for me."
She seemed not to hear. "You tell me that the King is jealous of me. That means
I must have a little power. When we return to the city, I will see what I can do to have your sword returned to you."
"Thank you." There was another silence and he moved closer to her. "Ashen, you know that as long as you are alone and unprotected, you are vulnerable to another such incident as just happened. And I might not be there to rescue you again unless—"
"Unless what?"
"Unless you married me."
She sat up straight then, pulling away from him. "I have told you never to speak that way—"
"I know, but there is news. Snolli, my father—he is the Chieftain of the
Sea-Rovers—told me how things are at New Void. Crops are slow in growing, because of the unseasonable cold, and many have sickened and died. Among them was Neave, my wife."
"Oh, Obern. I am so sorry."
"Yes. She was a good woman. But we were handfasted without knowing much of each other. She did her duty." He paused, for the first time wondering what this ordered mating had really meant to Neave. She had ever been a silent girl.
"Snolli said that she died well. That is high praise with my people. I hope that they will say that about me."
Ashen sat quietly; her fisted hands slowly loosened. But a flush stained her cheeks. Obern dared to close fingers on one of her hands, and held it. The flesh was icy-cold in his grasp. She raised her head.
"Obern, I know that you must have feelings which must be understood. You must think carefully before you decide what it is you really want."
"I had plenty of time, while we were at Count Harous's keep, and later in the city. My feelings have not changed except to grow stronger. If you had given me the least encouragement, I would have set Neave aside, which is another custom of my people, providing for her for the rest of her life, if only I could have you. That she died does not change my feelings, except to feel sorry for her."
"Obern, you must know that I do not love you the way that you seem to love me.
You are the one on whom I know I can rely. My first thought, when they took me, was that I hoped you would find me. But I do not think this is enough."
He had hoped not to bring practical reality into this. But he could see no other way. "This is a union that is good for our peoples,
Ashen. It cements the bond between the Sea-Rovers and Rendel. And, perhaps, someday it might even serve to ease the strain between Rendel and the Bale-Bog."
Ashen blinked, and Obern knew that she had not considered that side of the question. He pressed his advantage.
"I know that you do not love me—not yet, anyway. But do you at least see me as a friend?"
The stain on her cheeks grew deeper. "Yes."
"Then it will be enough. You will see." Gently he drew her to him and kissed her. "Now, sleep. Nothing will disturb you, I swear it. Nothing ever again."
He settled her beside him on the fur rug and covered them both with his cioak.
As the warmth of the fire and of his body crept through her she began slowly to relax. Presently she slept.
Never again, he vowed silently. Never will I allow anything to trouble you,
Ashen, now that you are mine. My beloved.
Next morning, before they started back to Rendelsham, Obern drew Lathrom aside for a private conversation. The two men spoke in earnest for some time. Then
Obern gave
orders that Lathrom should not be tied again and, instead, be given his freedom. His companions raised their eyebrows at this, but made no protest.
The return journey was much more sedate, less filled with drama and danger, than had been the one to the King's hunting lodge. Ashen, now mounted on one of the guards' horses, rode with Obern, Dordan close beside. Lathrom drove the cart where the bodies of the dead guards had been laid, and Kather and Iaobim brought up the rear. They could all hear the buzz of speculation from those townspeople who observed them as they entered the city and rode straight to the castle.
"What do you plan to say to the King?" Ashen said.
"I confess, I have no plan. But do not fear. Thanks to you saving my life, I seem to have gotten a reputation for being lucky, and I will rely on that luck to guide me."
Grooms and guards greeted them, taking charge of the wagon and its contents. The driver, Lathrom, accompanied Ashen and the Sea-Rovers at Obern's insistence.
"You were fair and just in following your orders," Obern said, "and I will try to save you from being executed for failing to carry out your mission."
"If you do, and I live, I will resign from the King's Guard and become your liege man if you will have me."
"Then all the more reason for me to try."
Obern instructed a steward to go and request an audience with the King, the
Dowager, and Lord Royance. In a surprisingly short time, they were escorted into what could only be the Council chamber. Not only Florian and his mother and Lord
Royance awaited, but also Count Harous and two other members of the Council—
Gattor of Bilth, and Wittern, head of the House of Rowan.
The King, seated at the head of the table, looked up. It was hard to read the expression on his face. He motioned to another steward, who began handing around goblets of warmed wine. Another goblet sat close at Florian's hand, and it was plain to see that he had already made good use of it. "I am told that you have returned our dear sister to us," the King said, "from where she was taken away through no instructions of mine. And here she is. Come, warm yourselves and know that we thank you."
Obern took a step forward and bowed. "Our duty to the King, and to the King's sister," he said. He glanced around the table. "And our duty to you all as well."
"You speak fairly," the Dowager said. She sat at the King's right, her hands clasped in front of her so that the Four Great Rings were plainly visible.
"Pray, speak on and tell us the details of this unfortunate incident."
Royance, at his place opposite the King, shifted in his seat. "Yes, please tell us what has happened so that we may reward or punish, as the occasion demands."
"As for punishment, four of the five who took Lady Ashen are dead. And their leader, Sergeant Lathrom, whom I believe to be a true and honorable man, tells me that he was acting under orders he accepted as legitimate, though now he has doubts."
"Legitimate orders. From whom?" Florian scowled.
Obern knew he must tread carefully now, if he hoped to save Lathrom's life. From the moment he had hurled himself at the man and overpowered him, he had formed a liking for Lathrom. That was the way with warriors sometimes, that in vanquishing a worthy enemy one gained a friend. "He tells me that he believed the orders came from you, King Florian. Otherwise, he would not have dared raise a hand against the lady."
There was a stir at the table, and a moment of almost palpable shock.
"But," Obern continued, "later he came to doubt this. Now he believes that the person who instructed him merely pretended that these were your orders, so as to discredit you in the eyes of your enemies."
Florian turned his frowning gaze on Lathrom. "Is this correct, Sergeant?"
Lathrom went down on one knee, his head bowed. "Yes, my King," he said, his deep voice rumbling in his throat. "Obern speaks truly. I do not say this to save my own life, but because this is what I now believe."
"This giver of orders. Does he have a name?"
"I saw no one," Lathrom said. "The orders came in the form of a note that passed through many hands before it came into mine." He took a folded piece of paper out of his doublet and handed it to Obern, who in turn gave it to the King.
Florian merely glanced at it and tossed it onto the table. Gattor, however, picked it up and read it aloud. " 'Take Lady Ashen to hunting lodge at earliest opportunity. King's orders.' " His eyebrows rose though his habitual sleepy expression remained unchanged. "This lends a certain credence to the fellow's story."
Florian laughed, a braying sound that made the Dowager wince. "If I had truly given such an instruction, I can assure you there would have been no evidence later. Therefore, I choose to believe you, Sergeant. Get up, get up. Your life is spared. But I will find out who was at the bottom of this plot, and he won't be so lucky."
Gratefully Lathrom got to his feet, and as he passed by Obern, he murmured,
"Your luck seems to rub off." He grinned. "The men were talking."
Obern nodded. Then he bowed again to the King. "Your Majesty is both merciful and just. I think Lord Royance made some mention of a reward."
"Oh, yes, yes, of course. How much do you want? I'll have the coin brought at once."
"The wealth I desire cannot be measured in coin," Obern said. "I petition most humbly for the hand of Lady Ashen in marriage."
At that, the people around the Council table reacted in various ways—the Dowager startled but not disapproving; Lord Gattor looking even more sleepy; Count
Harous frowning; Lord Wittern looking surprised; the King saying, "No!" Only
Lord Royance hid a smile behind his hand.
"I am of high but not royal birth," Obern said. "Further, I represent a people who can be strong allies to Rendel. What could be more natural than to cement this alliance with a marriage between this lady and myself?"
"What, indeed," said the Dowager. She turned and favored her son with the kind of level stare that, had it been turned on any other, would have reduced the recipient to a bundle of shaken nerves. "And you dare disapprove?"
"I spoke hastily," the King said. "After all, a member of the royal family, and a Sea-Rover—"
"Who, I must remind you, very likely saved your sister's life," Obern said. He had to raise his voice to command attention. "Can you possibly imagine that the enemy who ordered her capture had her ultimate safety in mind?"
"Young Obern speaks truly," Royance said. "But I think we should hear from the lady. After all, she does not strike me as one who would go meekly submitting to her fate, whatever it might be." He bowed to Ashen. "How say you, lady?"
Ashen stepped forward. "I had thought not to marry until I found one who caught my heart. Now I understand that this is most likely a childish dream. I know that marriage will protect not only me, but also my brother, the King, from another such incident intended to bring dishonor upon him and even upon me. I have learned that marriage with Obern seals many friendships important to the country. Obern is my friend, whom I respect.
Therefore, for all these reasons I will marry him if my brother and those members of the Council here present agree."
Though, strictly speaking, the Dowager had no real vote in Council matters, she spoke up first. "It is a solution of which I approve. And so should you all."
Gattor nodded at once, closely followed by Wittern. Royance gave his approval by saying, "Aye" in a firm voice. The Dowager stared at Harous. Reluctantly, as if the movement hurt and after a long silence, he nodded. Then the Dowager turned to her son.
"You see how it stands We could go ahead without your approval now, but it will go better if you agree."
Florian made an impatient gesture. "Oh, very well. I'll even let the wedding take place here in the castle. Only not too soon after my own."
"Done," Royance said. He turned to Ashen and Obern, who now held her hand tightly. "Four seven-days from now. That will give us all time to prepare. And may I have the honor of being the first to kiss the prospective br
ide?"
The time flew by for Ashen. She had thought herself busy before, with the King's wedding, and herself only a minor participant. This, though much smaller in scale, occupied almost her every waking moment with this detail and that needing her attention. If she had not been able to slip away for an hour or so each day to the quiet of the hidden library, she felt she surely would have gone mad.
Ayfare's delight in having her mistress returned to her unharmed was almost swamped as well, for she found herself in charge of what didn't need Ashen's personal approval.
Ashen thought at first to wear blue, the Ash color, but delicacy forbade that she wear the dress Harous had given her when first he had brought her out of the