A Time of Exile - Katharine Kerr [123]
“And even if they do win, what next?” Wersyn said. “There’s two great gwerbrets in Eldidd and only one throne. Ye gods, it gives me a headache, thinking about them turning on each other once the first war is won.”
“Well, we’ve got to start thinking about this kind of thing, Da,” Ganedd said. “We’re going to vote on the loan tomorrow.”
“True enough, but you’d better vote the way I tell you when the time comes.”
They were in their luxurious inn chamber, waiting for two of Wersyn’s old friends to join him for another private discussion. Among flagons of Bardek wine a small cold supper was laid out on a linen-covered table.
“If I’m voting the way you say, can I go down to the tavern room tonight? No need for me to listen, is there, if you’re going to make up my mind for me.”
“You nasty little cub.” Wersyn said it without real rancor. “Just don’t come in staggering drunk until my guests have gone. Ye gods! Sometimes I wonder where I got a son like you. Wanting to go to sea! Drinking! Humph!”
Since they were staying in an expensive inn, the tavern room was big and clean, with glass lanterns hanging every few feet along the whitewashed walls, but all the serving girls were respectable and watched over by a paternal tavernman who seemed determined to keep them that way. Down in one corner, out of the way near the kitchen door, Ganedd found Maer, drinking ale alone and doing his best to behave himself.
“Aren’t you going to discuss grave affairs of state with your da and his friends?”
“I’m not. They won’t listen to me, and it drives me half mad. This scheme is daft, Maer. They keep talking about how many riders the rebels can raise when what they need to be talking about is ships.”
“Huh? What have ships got to do with it?”
“Not you, too! Look, as the king marches south from Dun Deverry to Cerrmor, what does he find along the way? Loyal vassals, that’s what, with nice fat demesnes that support big warbands. Then when he gets to Cerrmor, what does he find?”
“Ships.” Maer sat up straight and began thinking. “Ships to deliver all those men to Abernaudd and Aberwyn in about half the time they could ride.”
“Right. And the rebels don’t have a third of the galleys they need to stop him.”
“Hum.” Maer thoughtfully chewed on his lower lip. “Too bad you can’t go for a marine officer, Ganno, on one of his grace’s galleys. You’ve got the mind for it.”
“That’s a splendid idea, you know, and one I never thought of. I wonder … but we won’t be in Aberwyn much longer this trip, so I can’t go ask his grace. What do you say we go see what kind of lasses work in the taverns closer to the docks? I nipped some of Da’s coin from his pouch when he wasn’t looking.”
“Did you now? Well, if you don’t mind me helping you spend it, I’m on.”
It was well into the third watch when Ganedd came stumbling up the stairs of the inn. As he let himself into their chambers, he tripped, falling onto his hands and knees with a curse and a clatter. Just as he was picking himself up, Wersyn came out of the bedchamber with a candle lantern in his hand. Ganedd grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself and forced out a weak smile.
“I can smell the mead from way over here,” Wersyn announced. “And a good bit more than