A Dragon's Ascension - Ed Greenwood [14]
"A True King at last!" several voices echoed, from behind Duthjack. He whirled around, and found himself facing several carters, a farmhand, and the miller, all crowded together at the door. Gods, but they'd come quietly. Some of them had knives in their hands-but they were raising them, under his gaze, in hasty salute.
"Aye?" Bloodblade asked mildly.
The miller licked his lips. "Well… Lord… we're not much in a fight, but… you'll be needing armsmen, won't ye?"
"And carters, to haul food and ale," one of the carters said.
"Coins are few, these days?" the warlord asked lightly.
The miller spat to one side. "Coins I have in plenty," he said bluntly.
"It's kings, and good law, and feeling safe, that I'm in short supply of. If you'll be a good king for Aglirta, we're for you."
Bloodblade smiled. "Then I'm for you. All who desire to ride with me-and get honest pay for it-come to my camp at Blackhelm Ford this evening." He looked back at Ardurgan, and added, "Come ready to ride, armor and all, Swordcaptain."
Ardurgan grinned and nodded. "By your order, Lord."
"Awww," said the small boy, from down below Bloodblade's belt. "Does this mean you're not gonna fight him? No one's gonna die?"
"I'm afraid not," Bloodblade said solemnly, bending over. "Not here, gods willing."
The boy looked disgusted. "What good's being king, then, if you can't kill people?"
There were embarrassed chuckles from the men standing around, but Bloodblade drew himself up, and asked quietly, "How can the lad know any better, if that's all he's ever seen and heard done? This is why it's time, and past time, for a new King for Aglirta!"
"A new King for Aglirta!" someone cried, and they all joined in. Bloodblade waved to Ardurgan, turned, and strode back to his horse, amid much excited chatter. Many woman stood watching, and they did not look happy.
"Taking our men off to be killed?" one of them cried.
Bloodblade swung himself up, and turned in his saddle. "No. I ride to make peace-and a new King for Aglirta!"
"Huh," one of the women said bitterly. "That's what they've all said."
But as Bloodblade smiled, shrugged, and turned his horse away, cries arose behind him of "A new king!" and "A True King!" and "Bloodblade! For Bloodblade, and victory!"
He grinned, and spurred his mount into a gallop. For Bloodblade and victory… that had a ring to it. He'd use that.
He urged the horse still faster; he needed a lot of warriors yet and had to see a lot of Ardurgans. "What good's being king, then, if you can't kill people?" he murmured aloud. "How right you are, lad. How terribly right you are."
Meanwhile
Over Shaunsel Rise a lone horseman came riding.
His cloak flapped behind him, the road was clear, sun-bright, and nigh deserted, and he'd left his escorting armaragors-full-armored and riding two horses that had been weary when they'd begun, a night ago-far behind.
Flaeros Delcamper laughed aloud at the blue skies above for sheer pleasure. He was saddle deep in adventure once more, the Regent wanted to see him, and minstrels saluted him like one of the great grand bards of old!
"Aha!" he roared aloud. "Delcamper High!"
He'd never dared bellow that battle cry before-not in all his years of being too slender, too weak, and too clumsy with a blade to so much as draw a dagger in defense of the family honor… and strictly speaking, he wasn't in battle now, only galloping hard along the coast road far too fast to ensure his own safety. But there was no one to hear him, and-look, all watching Darsar-he was someone important, by the Three!
This ride to Teln would hasten his journey a good dozen days, or more. He could board one of Malavar Obalar's swift spice-and-silks traders, and sail right up the Silverflow to Flowfoam! Yes! "Delcamper High!" he cried again, and laughed wildly.
"Three Above, what a racket!" a roadside mound of hay snarled, rising suddenly man high and hauling hard on the waxed cord bent around an old fence post at its feet.
"Aye! 'Twill be a pleasure, taking this fine young idiot down!" another pile of hay agreed