Death of the Dragon - Ed Greenwood [97]
Orvendel expressed his thanks without meeting Tanalasta's eyes, then turned to follow the others… and found himself staring at his brother's broad chest.
"Princess Tanalasta asked you to stay behind." Korvarr pushed the boy back to his bench. "Or did you forget?"
"No, no… I…" Unable to meet his brother's eyes, Orvendel spun toward Tanalasta. "I don't know what I'm doing here."
"I think you do," said Tanalasta. "And please stop lying. There is nothing I hate more than a man who makes a fool of me."
28
"I grow tired of running," the King of Cormyr growled as the familiar howling began again, down a hillside to their right. Alusair waved a wordless hand-signal to the nearest bowmen to stand and fire.
It was goblins this time, streaming down the slope in a torrent, waving their blades and yammering for blood. Human blood.
"Is it time to turn and fight?" Alusair replied, turning in her saddle to give her father a dangerous look that added the words "I would" to her words as loudly as if she'd shouted it.
"You would, aye," Azoun returned, spurring his horse forward, "thinking only of yourself. If I turn and take a stand I risk all our lives, the crown, and the stability of the kingdom. With all these nobles foaming for the throne like stallions given a chance at a ready mare, and all our farmers and commoners between here and the sea, if we fall who's to stop these vermin from pillaging all Cormyr?"
"Gods, with all those cares it's a wonder that horse can carry you!" Alusair snapped back. "You're right. I did mean to risk only myself and the blades who ride with me. The rabble of nobles you so dismiss as eager traitors, remember? What loss to the realm if they fall?"
Azoun leaned over in his saddle until their faces almost met, and muttered, "If I lose my Alusair, I lose my hope for Cormyr's future-and the best general in the realm. And yes, I am measuring you against Ilnbright, Taroaster, and me. You're the best of us, and more than that you're the one commoners and Purple Dragons alike look up to, with love."
Alusair went white, and almost snarled, "They love you, too, father!"
Azoun nodded, but replied, "A different love. I am the 'now,' with all the feuds and disputes and annoyances they know. You are the future that shines ahead. You they'll follow to death with hearts full of hope. Me, they'll go down with grimly, doing their duty."
Alusair bent her head over her saddle for a moment, then looked up and met her father's eyes squarely.
"I never thought I'd hear a man be so honest," she almost whispered. "I am honored beyond belief that the man is my father and that he gives such honesty to me." Then her eyes caught a movement to the south, her head snapped in that direction, her face changed, and she added, "Rider-messenger, come to meet us."
She raised her hand to make another signal, but Swordlord Glammerhand was already sending two kadrathen of Purple Dragons through the ranks of the bowmen to cut down the last of the goblins and sounding the horn that would bring the bowmen back to a steady march.
The envoy proved to be no excited young soldier or war wizard cloaked in his own importance, but one of the veteran King's Messengers from the palace. He was a sleek man, Bayruce by name, known well to both king and princess.
He bowed his head formally as he brought his horse to a weary walk, and said, "From Queen Filfaeril, glad greeting and good news. The crown princess prevails at court, and our loyal nobles whelm many swords in good array, north to meet with you and fight for you. Such is the whole of my message."
Azoun inclined his head in formal thanks and asked, "So, Bayruce, if we were but two carters in a tavern over tankards and I asked you, 'Pray, how many of our nobles be loyal to the crown enough to whelm swords for war?' how would you answer?"
The messenger did not bother to hide his smile. "Majesty, I cannot say."