Tamír drew her own and touched him on the cheek and shoulders. “Before these witnesses, for your years of honest and loyal friendship, and for saving my life more than once, I dub you Lord Kirothieus of Oakmount and Queen’s Mercy, and grant you the steading of your birth, as well as the rents, holdings, and main right of the village of Queen’s Mercy. In addition, you are granted a founding gift of five thousand gold sesters. May you use it wisely, to the honor of your house and Skala. Rise, Lord Kirothieus, and accept your arms.”
Several young women came forward. One held his banner on a standard pole. Two others displayed a tabard. Both showed his new device, laid out by Nikides. The shield was diagonally divided from left to right with the white bar representing legitimate birth. Centered on the bar was a lion skin draped over a stick, to commemorate the first time Ki had risked his life to defend her. She saw him smile at that. The left field was green, with a white tree, for Oakmount. The right was black, with a white tower, for Queen’s Mercy. A silver flame cupped by a crescent moon, honoring the two gods, surmounted the design.
“You have been busy, haven’t you?” Ki muttered, trying to sound put out, but his shining eyes and reddened cheeks said otherwise. He pulled on the tabard and held his sword up before his face. “The house of Oakmount and Queen’s Mercy will ever be your most loyal servants, Majesty.”
Tamír took his hand and turned him to face the assembly. “My people, welcome Lord Kirothieus, my friend and my right hand. Honor him as you honor me.”
A cheer went up and Ki blushed harder. Tamír clapped him on the shoulder and mouthed, “Be careful.”
Ki mounted his horse and fastened his helmet. Jorvai drew his sword and shouted, “For the honor of Skala and the queen!” and his riders took up the cry.
Ki did the same, shouting “For Tamír and Skala!” and a thousand throats behind him took it up.
“I hope you appreciate how jealous I am,” Tamír said, when the shouting died down.
“It’s your own doing.” Jorvai laughed, clapping on his battle-scarred helmet. “Don’t worry. Ki and I will keep each other alive if we can and carry the other’s ashes if we can’t.”
“Good. Go show them this ‘mad boy in a dress’ is not to be trifled with.”
They rode first to the large holding of Duke Zygas, a hard-bitten old lord. He had a large stone keep with strong outlying walls but his wealth lay in his grainfields, which were ripe. He had a few turma of fighters stationed on the road at the outskirts of the holding, but Jorvai and Ki had marched through the night and took them by surprise just after sunrise. Ki led a forward party and quickly dispatched any resistance. Leaving the captains to bring up the foot, Jorvai and the riders rushed on at a gallop to the gates of the keep and sent out a herald under the white banner.
The walls above the earthen moat bristled with archers and gleamed with the reflected light off helms and weapons, but no shaft could be loosed on either side until the herald had spoken and withdrawn.
Zygas’ white-and-black banner with its three horses rose above the barbican. A man leaned over and called down angrily, “Who abuses my rights and hospitality in this manner? I recognize only one banner there. Jorvai of Colath, we have never had bad blood between us. Why are you at my gates as if I were a Plenimaran?”
“The herald speaks for me,” Jorvai called back.
“Your grace, I bear a letter from Tamír Ariani Ghërilain, Queen of Skala,” the herald announced.
“I know no such queen, but I will honor the white banner. Speak your letter.”
“The banners of Lord Jorvai of Colath and Lord Kirothieus of Oakmount and Queen’s Mercy fly at your gates, the liegemen of Tamír Ariani Ghërilain, Queen of Skala by right of blood and birth.
“Be it known, Zygas, son of Morten, Duke of Ellsford and Fire River, that by your obdurate and ignoble disloyalty, you have incurred the displeasure of the Crown. If you do not this day desist from such action and ride at once under safe passage to Atyion to swear fealty to the rightful queen, forswearing all other loyalties, then you shall be declared a traitor and stripped forthwith of all titles, lands, rents, and chattels. If you hold your gates against these, the queen’s chosen lords, your fields will be burned, your livestock taken, your gates broken, and your house razed. You and your heirs will be taken prisoner and carried forthwith to Atyion to face the queen’s justice.
“Queen Tamír, in her wisdom, abjures you to seize the hand of mercy extended today and turn your back on all other erroneous alliances. Delivered this day by my hand.”
A lengthy pause followed. Ki craned his neck, trying to make out his opponent’s face, but Zygas had stepped away from the battlements.
“What do you think?” he said quietly to Jorvai as they sat their horses, waiting.
“Erius guested here often, and Zygas fought for him across the sea. I don’t know that he knows any more about Korin than he does Tamír, though.”
They sat there as the sun rose higher and the air grew warm. Sweating in his armor and tabard, Ki listened to the barking of dogs and bleating of sheep from beyond the keep walls. The drawbridge across the moat was pulled up to shield the doors. It was fashioned of thick timbers, and studded with brass bosses the size of bucklers. It would probably take catapults and fire to breach the place, if it came to that.
The shadows cast by his horse’s legs had clocked nearly an hour’s passage before they heard the sound of riders coming around the keep from the left at a gallop. Zygas had a back door somewhere, and had used it to ride out.
He was mounted on a tall bay warhorse, but wore no armor. Instead, he was accompanied by his own herald under a sacred banner. He galloped up to them, head high, and reined in. He nodded to Jorvai, then gave Ki a cold, appraising look. “I don’t know you.”
“Allow me to present Lord Kirothieus. He’s the queen’s man, same as I am,” Jorvai told him. “Well, what do you say? You haven’t gone north, so perhaps you’re having a few doubts?”
“You believe this nonsense about a boy turning into a girl, do you?”
“I saw it with my own eyes, and you’ve never known me for a liar, have you? It happened on the very steps of Atyion castle. Lord Kirothieus has been friend and squire to her since they were both younglings.”
“On my honor, Your Grace, it is true,” Ki said.
Zygas snorted at that. “On the honor of a stripling lord raised by the so-called girl queen, eh?”
“You have only to come to Atyion and see for yourself. Would you call the priest of Afra a liar to his face, as well?” Ki replied evenly. He glanced up at the battlements again. “I don’t see Korin’s banner flying there, only your own. Are you waiting to see them clash, then back the winner?”
“You watch your tongue, you young upstart!”
“He’s right, Zygas,” Jorvai chided. “I never put you down as anything but a solid man, but it seems you’re growing indecisive in your old age.”
The duke glared at them both for a moment, then shook his head. “I’ve waited months for Korin to march and defend his throne, but he sends me nothing but excuses. Instead here you two are. You were always an honest fellow, Jorvai. Can I trust this offer of hers?”
“You can trust her to accept your fealty if you ride today, just as you can trust us to set fire to every field and byre and cottage the moment you say otherwise.”
“Aye, and you’ve brought a force to do it, too, haven’t you?” Zygas sighed. “And if I say that I will go, to see for myself?”
“Not good enough. If you take the right path and offer fealty, I’m to tell you to ride at once under the protection of my own men, and that you must take your wife and children with you. You have a son on his own lands now, as I recall, and a few younger ones still under the roof?”
“She requires hostages, does she?”
“That’s for her to say when you get there. You shouldn’t have waited so long. It’s only her kind heart that’s kept your lands untouched today, but her patience h
as reached its end. Decide now, and let’s get on with it.”
Zygas looked around at the fields and steadings that lay beyond the line of armed riders. In the distance the foot soldiers were coming on fast, raising the dust from the road as they jogged along with weapons ready. “So she really is the princess’ daughter, hidden all this time?”
“That she is. You’ll see Ariani in her. It’s clear as day. The lords of the southlands are flocking to her. Nyanis is with her, and Kyman. You don’t think them fools, do you?”
Zygas rubbed a hand over his grizzled beard and sighed. “No, nor you either. If I do go, will she take my lands?”
“That’s for her to say when she’s seen you,” Jorvai replied. “But it’s sure as the Maker’s rain in spring that she will if you don’t.”
Ki could see the man warring with himself. At last Zygas said, “I’m to take my little girls, as well? How will I protect them on the road, with no escort of my own? I won’t have them abused.”
“Tamír would kill anyone who touched them, and so would I,” Ki told him. “I have women among my warriors. I’ll send some of them as your escort. They won’t let anyone touch your girls.”
Zygas took one more look around at the armed fighters massed at his gate. “Very well, but my curse will be on all of you and your queen if this is a trick.”
“Tamír wants nothing from you but your loyalty,” Ki assured him.
Zygas gave them a resigned bow. “If this queen of yours is as merciful as you paint her, then perhaps she’s worth backing, rightful or not.”
He rode off the way he’d come and Ki let out a pent-up breath. “That wasn’t so hard.”
Jorvai chuckled darkly and pointed back at their forces. “That’s a persuasive argument. So, you’ve seen how it’s done. I hope you find Lady Alna as amenable.”
Unfortunately, she was not. Ki and his company marched three days through sweltering heat, only to find the village deserted, the fields harvested, and the noblewoman ready and waiting.
She was a widow of middling years, with long yellow hair and a proud, hard face. She rode out, as Zygas had, but listened with thinly veiled impatience as the herald read out his missive.
“Lies or necromancy? Which is it, my lord?” she sneered, clearly less than impressed by Ki. “I have a thousand men-at-arms behind my walls and my grain is safe there, too. King Korin has sent assurances that my lands will be expanded and my title protected under his banner. What do I have from your queen, but threats?”
“You were summoned more than once and given every chance to align yourself with the true queen,” Ki replied, keeping his temper in check.
She sniffed at that. “True queen! Ariani had no daughters.”
“She did and you have heard the tale of her changing, I’m sure.”
“Then it’s necromancy. Are we to bow down to an overlord backed by dark magic like the Plenimarans do?”
“It wasn’t dark magic …” Ki began, but she cut him off angrily.
“Half my kin were wizards, free wizards of Skala, boy, and powerful ones. They could not do such magic as you describe.”
Ki wasn’t about to tell her that a hill witch had done the deed. “You have your choice,” he told her. “Go to Atyion with your children now, under safe conduct, or I will not hesitate to carry out my orders.”
“Won’t you?” Alna took a long look at him. “No, I don’t suppose you will. So be It. I was loyal to King Erius and I will not forsake his son.” With that she wheeled her horse and rode back to her own gates. Under the rules of parley he had no choice but to watch as they closed heavily after her.
Ki turned to find Lynx and Grannia watching him expectantly. “Grannia, you burn the village. Lynx, bring up the sappers and fire carriers. Show no mercy to anyone carrying a weapon. Those are your orders.”
Chapter 28
Tamír’s heart leaped at the sight of every herald.
At last the first came in, bearing greetings and apologies from Duke Zygas, now on his way to swear allegiance. He’d been the one most likely to hold out and she took it as a good omen. He and his family arrived a few days later by cart. Tamír received him sternly, but he was so fearful for his children and so earnest in his oath that she gladly upheld his title.
A few days later Jorvai’s second herald brought word of another bloodless victory. Lord Erian had come out to surrender the moment Jorvai’s force appeared over the horizon, apparently not knowing if it was to Korin or Tamír he was surrendering. Jorvai’s letter was disdainful. “ ‘Keep this one well under your thumb. It’s the cowardly dog that most often bites.’ ”
But still no word from Ki. The nights were long, knowing the room next door was empty, and Brother had returned to trouble her dreams again.
At last, on the last day of Shemin, a herald arrived with word that Ki had been victorious and was close behind.
He arrived just after nightfall with his cavalry and came straight to the great hall, flanked by Grannia and Lynx. All three looked tired and grim, and their tabards still carried the dark stains of battle.
“Welcome back,” she said, trying to maintain her dignity before the court when all she really wanted was to jump off the dais and hug Ki. “What do you have to report?”
“Majesty, Lord Ynis surrendered and is on his way to you. Lady Alna refused.” Ki nodded to Lynx.
Lynx took a leather sack from under his cloak and opened it. Ki reached in and pulled out a woman’s head by its bloodstained blond hair.
Tamír did not flinch at the sight of those slack lips and dull, milky eyes, but the sight saddened her. “Mount it on the battlements above the gate, near Solari’s remains, with a sign giving her name and crime. Did you kill her, Ki?”
“No, Majesty, she died by her own hand on the fourth day of the siege. She killed her two daughters and her son as well, or had them killed. We found them lying together in her chamber.”
Tamír had no doubt that Ki would have done it himself if it had been necessary, but she was secretly relieved that he hadn’t had to. In any case, Alna had spared her the trouble of an execution.
“Let the heralds carry the news to every town and holding,” she ordered. “Have the town criers spread the word. I have been merciful to those who gave me their loyalty. The traitor was not spared. Lord Kirothieus, you have my thanks, and the gratitude of the land. I hereby grant you all the lands of Lady Alna, in honor of your first victory under your own banner.”
She smiled to herself as Ki bowed again. There could be no murmuring about that. Such were the spoils of war.
Instead, it was Ki who complained, as soon as they sat together at the feast that night.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he grumbled. “You’ve already saddled me with enough land and rents, as well as a title.”
“And now you have men-at-arms and riders of your own to draw on, the next time I need you,” Tamír replied happily. “No more taunts of ‘grass knight’ for you, my lord.”
Ki folded his arms, acknowledging defeat. “Just so long as you let me fight again, I suppose I can bear up under the strain.”
“Tell us about your first command!” Una urged. “And you, too, Lynx. How do you like being Ki’s captain?”
“It’s Ki’s story to tell,” Lynx demurred modestly, but Tamír caught sight of his squire standing by the kitchen doorway, talking excitedly to Lorin and Hylia.
“I’ll make him tell his part, don’t worry.” Ki laughed. “He and Captain Grannia did me proud.”
“Maybe, but you were in the forefront, every step,” Lynx pointed out.
Tamír studied Ki’s face as he went through the details. The keep had been a strong one, and prepared for a siege. Ki outlined the fight, using bits of bread and dishes to illustrate. He was modest in the telling, giving away much of the credit. He grew grim, though, when he finally came to the moment they’d found Alna and her kin.
“It was just as well,” Grannia put in from her place at the lower table
. “More honor in that than being hanged for a traitor.”
“I wouldn’t have harmed her children,” Tamír said sadly.
As Ki and the Companions accompanied her back to her room that night, she thought the looks he got from the various courtiers they met along the way were more respectful than they had been before. All the same, she was mindful of prying eyes as she invited him into her chamber.
They looked at each other for a moment. The weeks apart only seemed to have strengthened the awkwardness between them. Tamír sighed and gave him a hug, and he returned it, but it was brief and they quickly moved to the gaming table by the window.
“So, you’re a blooded commander now,” she said, toying with a carved pawn. “How does it feel?”
Ki smiled as he ran a finger over the lines on the board. “I didn’t like fighting without you there, but otherwise?” He grinned at her, eyes warm again. “Thank you.”
“I’m sorry about Alna.”
Ki nodded sadly. “It wasn’t a very pretty sight. The children’s throats were cut. I wonder if the keep will be haunted now?”
“Probably, with those kinds of deaths.”
“Well, I don’t mean to live there. You’re not going to force me, are you?”
“No, I want you here,” she said, then cursed herself for blushing. “But now that you’re back, with no fighting to do, won’t you be bored?”
Ki took out his bag of bakshi stones. Rattling them in challenge, he said, “There are other kinds of fighting we can do here. And now I have gold of my own to wager.”
They played half a dozen games, not really caring who won or lost, and when they were done he rose to go. Fidgeting nervously with the stone bag, he said, “I meant what I said, about it not feeling right to be fighting without you.” He leaned down and gave her a hasty kiss on the cheek. Before she recovered, he was gone.
She sat for some time, fingers pressed to her cheek where his lips had touched, wondering what to think of it and trying not to give in to false hope.
Chapter 29