Kings of the North - Elizabeth Moon [183]
“That was true? I thought it was just a rumor.”
“It was true. The Pargunese king was captured when he landed, and our king went to meet him and had him brought to Chaya. The Pargunese were told that our king had dishonored the princess Elis, and sent her to a brothel.”
“What?!”
Arian explained as best she could, though Forlin, also a Knight of Falk, was outraged that anyone would suggest Falk’s Hall was a brothel. She hurried through the rest: the conference in Chaya, finally convincing the Pargunese king he’d been lied to, manipulated by his brother and his brother’s friends, the hasty plot to get him back to Pargun alive, the message sent to the king’s friends in Pargun, and then the ride north, the confrontation, the traitor and his death.
As she talked, Cuvis served the meal, and they all ate. Despite the tale she told, Arian felt herself relaxing into the familiar setting—a ranger among rangers, eating together at the end of a winter’s day. The tale slowed to that rhythm, until she came to the end.
“And then our king healed the king of Pargun, with magery—”
“Elven?” asked Forlin.
“I don’t know,” Arian said. “What he said was he tried to do what the paladin had done for him.”
“But she’s Girdish, isn’t she? He can’t have used Girdish paladin powers—”
“The dagger the Lady gave him at his coronation was involved,” Arian said. “So I’d think it was elven magic alone except it had a different flavor.”
“He is both magelord and old human on his father’s side,” Forlin said. “I suppose the others could have awakened. After all, the new Duke Verrakai’s powers were.”
“And how is the border with Verrakai now?” Arian asked. She did not want to add to her own story … not that night, at least. “Is it quieter, do you have fewer raiders?”
“It’s been quieter since Midsummer,” Mards said. “Right after our king came, we had a rush of refugees—some injured soldiers, some scared peasants. Then we had a little trouble, some kind of magic users or wizards, but we took care of those—”
“Shot them?” Arian asked.
Cuvis grinned. “They didn’t think blackwood bows could reach that far.”
“Six, altogether,” Forlin said. “I’m guessing Verrakaien or half-bloods. All with Liart’s symbols, when we searched the bodies.” He stretched. “Not much since then, barring a little poaching right at the border. Nothing new in that. Sent ’em back with a lecture. What I hear is the new duke won’t have any Bloodlord nonsense and she’s making it stick.”
“Did you send word to her about the six you killed?”
“No,” Forlin said. “Why ask for trouble? If they’re her relatives—”
“She was told to send them all in for trial—they’re all under attainder.”
“What’s that?” Mards asked. Arian explained what Kieri had told her. The rangers looked shocked. “The entire family?”
“Yes. But this family has been trained to evil a long time, and they even killed their own children to transfer the spirits of elders—”
“Stop.” Forlin held up his hand. “That is not something to talk about in the dark.” His hand trembled. “Arian—if I did not know you for a truthful person—no, I cannot hear this. Not now.”
Arian nodded. “You are right. And I am tired, so let me check my mount and then sleep.”
Morning came with low gray clouds fat with snow.
“How far do you ride today?” Forlin asked, as they drank sib.
“I do not know,” Arian said. “I was going west. Who is on duty at the border?”
“Brek, Taris, and Vorlas have this section, but they are forbidden to cross—we all are. You Squires, though, go where the king wills. If you are on your way to Tsaia, to the court, you would pass Verrakai lands near enough.”
If she were on the way to Vérella, she would be on the road to Harway, and they must know that. Arian looked down. “I will think on it,” she said. “It is true that the duke needs to know some of her relatives have been killed. Did you keep anything that might identify them?”
“We are not looters!” Mards said.
“I didn’t mean that,” Arian said.
“No,” Forlin said, more calmly. “We did not think of needing to identify them, more than that they