Realm of Light - Deborah Chester [131]
“Very well,” Albain said finally, clearing his throat. “Let us get to the point. The empress has asked me for an army and full support in overthrowing Tirhin’s claim to the throne.”
An angry buzz went through the room, but Albain ignored it. He went on, glaring at Caelan. “My warlords are opposed to civil war. They feel it is in the best interests of the empire as a whole to accept Tirhin’s coup and allow him to be crowned. I will say that I think neither solution ideal.”
Someone, probably Pier, snorted at that last remark.
Albain’s scowl deepened. “The Madruns must be driven out and kept out. We may have to reduce our borders until the army is restructured. There are many problems in many areas. But what is most important is that we do not allow Kostimon’s death to leave us in chaos much longer. Or we will have no empire to squabble about.”
“We’ve been through that,” Pier said impatiently. “We’re all agreed on that point.”
Albain ignored the interruption. His gaze never left Caelan’s. “I have promised my army to the empress—”
“You have not promised mine!” Pier said furiously.
“Nor mine!” cried another man.
Albain held up his hand in an angry demand for silence; then his gaze returned to Caelan. “If you have any claims, make them now.”
“Why should he?” Pier demanded, unable to keep quiet. “This Traulander is no—”
Caelan’s head lifted. “I know Prince Tirhin well,” he said to Albain. “I witnessed his plotting with the Madrun ambassador. I know he bribed and suborned officials and chancellors as well as army officers to look the other way as the barbarians were let across the border. He also—”
“Tirhin is not on trial here,” Pier said.
Caelan turned on him so fiercely the warlord backed up a step. “If you will bend your knee to the man and call him your emperor, you had better try him!”
Silence fell over the room. Caelan scowled at each one of them in turn. “Try him to the depths of his soul before you give him your fealty oath and put him on the throne. Search out whether his allegiance is to the light or to the realm of .shadow, for this world depends on the answer.”
Several of the men frowned thoughtfully, but Pier’s eyes had gone Jiot. “You accuse him of belonging to the shadows?”
Caelan never hesitated. “Yes. As you did, until yesterday.”
Pier flushed scarlet, but his response was lost as the others started talking at once. Albain leaned over and pounded his fist on the table for quiet.
“Caelan,” he said gruffly, “where do you place your allegiance?”
“I follow the empress.”
His blue eyes were as clear and sure as an eagle’s. Elandra looked at him and felt her own sting with tears. Hastily she restrained them. Her emotions clawed in her throat, and for the first time she was grateful for the customs that required her silence. At that moment she would not have trusted herself to speak. She still did not forgive him, but she realized she could not stop loving him either.
“Then enough of this yammering,” Albain said. “You’ve all had your say. Now I will speak.”
“You’ve already told us where your support lies,” Pier interrupted. “That doesn’t mean I—”
“Where is your oath?” Albain shouted. His face turned scarlet, and his single eye glared at the warlord. “Tell me! Where is your oath?”
Pier’s mouth clamped so tight that the muscles bunched in his jaw. He glared back at Albain, resentment like flame in his eyes. “In your service,” he said at last.
“Aye! Renar! Where is your oath?”
The smaller man’s gaze fell. “In your service.”
“And the rest of you?” Albain said, his voice hammering at them. “In my service. My decision stands for all of you. I would prefer you serve me willingly, but by the gods, I’ll force each and every one of you if I must. Well? Will you now break your oaths of fealty to me? Do any of you dare?”
No one spoke; then Pier cleared his throat.
Beside her father, Elandra closed her eyes with dread. She did not want Pier to challenge her father for supremacy of the province. Not now, not when Albain was still not fully recovered.
“Well, Pier?” Albain said