Fire - Kristin Cashore [35]
‘And Gentian?’
‘We’re not certain. Our best guess is ten thousand or so, all living in caves below the Winged River near his estate.’
‘Numbers aside,’ the spymaster said, ‘everyone has archers and spies. Your archer could be working for anyone. If you’ll leave the arrow and bolt with us we may be able to eliminate some possibilities or at least determine where his gear comes from. But I’ll be honest with you: I wouldn’t hold out too much hope. You haven’t given us much to go on.’
‘The man who was killed in your cages,’ Roen said. ‘The one you call the poacher. He gave you no hint of his purpose? Even you, Fire?’
‘His mind was blank,’ Fire said. ‘No evil intent, no honourable intent. He had the feel of a simpleton, someone’s tool.’
‘And the man in the king’s rooms yesterday,’ Roen said. ‘Did he have that feel?’
‘No. He may certainly have been working for someone else, but his mind was consumed with purpose, and with guilt. He thought for himself.’
‘Nash said his belongings were disturbed,’ Roen said, ‘but nothing was taken. We wonder if the man was looking for a number of letters that I happened to be carrying on my own person in Nash’s absence - and good thing, too. A spy - but whose? Fire, you would recognise the man if he crossed your path again?’
‘I would. I don’t believe he’s in the castle now. Perhaps he left under cover of the Third.’
‘We wasted a day,’ the spymaster said. ‘We could have used you yesterday to find him and question him.’
And then Fire was reminded that even when Archer wouldn’t look her in the face he was her friend, for he said crisply, ‘Lady Fire was in need of rest yesterday, and anyway, she is not a tool for your use.’
Roen tapped her fingernails on the table, not attending, following her own thoughts. ‘Every man is an enemy,’ she said grimly. ‘Mydogg, Gentian, the black market, Pikkia. They’ve got people sneaking around trying to learn Brigan’s plans for the troops, steal our allies from us, figure out a good place and time to do away with Nash or Brigan or one of the twins, or even me.’ She shook her head. ‘And in the meantime, we’re trying to learn their numbers and their allies and their allies’ numbers. Their plans for attack. We’re trying to steal their spies and convert them to our side. No doubt they’re doing the same with our spies. The rocks only know whom among our own people we should trust. One of these days a messenger will come through my gates to tell me my sons are dead.’
She spoke unemotionally; she wasn’t trying to elicit comfort or contradiction, she was only stating fact. ‘We do need you, Fire,’ she added. ‘And don’t look all panicked like that. Not to change people’s thoughts. Only to take advantage of the greater sense of people that you have.’
No doubt Roen meant her words. But with the kingdom in this unstable state the lesser expectation would grow to include the greater, sooner rather than later. Fire’s head began to throb harder than she thought she could bear. She glanced at Archer, who responded by avoiding her eyes, frowning at the table, and changing the subject abruptly.
‘Can you spare me any more soldiers, Lady Queen?’
‘I suppose I can’t deny you my soldiers when yesterday Fire saved their lives,’ Roen said. ‘Brigan has helped by leaving me ten dozen men from the Third. You may take eight of the soldiers from my original guard who went to Grey Haven.’
‘I would prefer eight of the ten dozen from the Third,’ Archer said.
‘They’re all in the King’s Army,’ Roen said, ‘all trained by Brigan’s people, all equally competent, and the men who went to Grey Haven already have a natural allegiance to your lady, Archer.’
Allegiance wasn’t quite the word for it. The soldiers who’d gone to Grey Haven seemed to regard Fire now with something akin to worship; which was, of course, why