The Riddle - Alison Croggon [24]
“I received him politely. I listened politely. I told him that I was aware that we live in dangerous times, and that we must take heed of such that threatens us. I said I would consult with the Bards and Chamber, and then would let Norloch know of our response.” She paused. “He gave us a week. And he said again that if our fealty was withheld, we would suffer grave consequences.”
“I say, then,” said Arnamil, thumping the table with his huge fist, “that in a week we send back his damned edict, torn into little pieces.” Most of the table cheered. “We don’t need Norloch.” He sat down truculently.
Now Elenxi stood. “I suggest, for the meantime, another way,” he said. “If we can avoid a war with Norloch, I think we should. Let them force the issue. If Norloch seeks to betray the covenant between Annar and the Seven Kingdoms in this way, then let Norloch break it. Not us.”
“What do you suggest, then?” Owan, who had hitherto sat silently throughout the noisy meeting, twisted around to look up at the old warrior.
“I suggest we offer Norloch our fealty.” There was an angry rumble. “We offer them our fealty, I say, under our unwavering allegiance to the Light. That covenant guarantees our freedom and our independence. If Norloch doesn’t like it, Norloch has to say on what terms our fealty is unsatisfactory. This will take a little time, since we have broken no promises. Meanwhile, we send emissaries to other Schools in the Seven Kingdoms and seek to know their own answers to this outrage. I think their minds will be like to ours. Will Annar seriously declare war on all of the Seven Kingdoms? And, in the meantime, we look to our fortifications.” Elenxi glared around the table from under his bushy eyebrows and sat down.
After a short silence, Arnamil started chuckling. “They always said you were a fox, Elenxi. I like it.”
“This is the course I and the full First Circle advise,” said Nerili, standing again. “Are we all agreed?” Everyone in the room, even Cadvan and Maerad, who were not really supposed to vote, put up their hands. Nerili nodded. “Good, then. We will pursue this policy until we find out whether Norloch’s words have real steel or are only empty threats. Norloch would be a dire enemy, doubt it not; but it would be no small thing to invade Thorold. We will all keep in close consultation. Elenxi and Arnamil can confer on the strength of our defenses, and improve them, if need be.”
“They’d have to kill every man, woman, and child to defeat Thorold,” growled one of the Chamber.
“Now, there is one more thing. I need to introduce to you Cadvan of Lirigon and Maerad of Pellinor.” Cadvan stood up, and Maerad, taken by surprise, scrambled up after him. “Most of you know Cadvan well. He has spent much time here. Maerad only some of you will know; she has been Cadvan’s student, and is now a full Bard. They are, Igan told me, dangerous members of this rebellion in Norloch, and they are outlawed. They are now sought over all Annar.”
The council turned to look at them with lively curiosity.
“I want you all to know that I cannot and do not believe that either of these Bards have any truck with the Dark. Igan tells me that anyone who hands these criminals to Norloch will earn great favor with the citadel, but those who harbor them from justice will feel the full force of its displeasure. He is unaware as yet, of course, that they are here in Thorold. I warned my people to keep silent when the emissary came, and I know also that they were asked after, both within the town and the School. To my knowledge, they can prove nothing, but we cannot be sure of that. They may already know that these Bards have sought refuge here.
“I ask you now whether we, as Thoroldians, will hand them over to Norloch, as is ordered. Or do we suffer this risk — to grant haven to Cadvan of Lirigon and Maerad of Pellinor, and risk its punishment?”
The table erupted again. The mood against Norloch was so ugly that Nerili had no need of persuasive argument: to be declared rebels by Enkir was itself