The Royals

Chapter 42

Not for long." Abadan looked at Maarcus as if his long-time friend

had suddenly sprouted a third ear. He sipped his morning

tea. 'What do you know, Maarcus?"

"The same as every man, woman, and child in The Cliffs. The elfwitch is coming and she is in league with this man!' Maarcus stood and pointed at Henry himself.

'Don't be ridiculous,' the prince said.

'I am no more ridiculous than you are."

'Abadan, get him out of here."

The magician nodded to Harmon, who placed his hand

on Maarcus's elbow. 'It's time we left, sir."

I'm not through." "Please, sir.'

Maarcus gazed at the others, one by one. He pulled himself up. With great dignity, he said, 'I see the way you pity and patronize me. Perhaps I deserve it. Nonetheless, this does not change the fact that Alvaria is a master

of misdirection. She will send her trolls upon you, but not before she has divided us and reduced each of us to cowering fools incapable of defense.' He nodded to Harmon. I'm through."

The room seemed to cool once Maarcus left. The three sat in uncomfortable silence.

'He's right, Henry said. 'He's dead right."

Abadan let that hang like a noose between them before speaking. We need to take care of the soldier who brought you in last night,' he said suddenly. 'He's part of their plan. He'll spread lies dangerous to you and to the Ash Kingdom.'

What do you suggest? Henry asked. 'He must be hushed,' Abadan said.

'What do you suggest?' Henry repeated. "We don't have the forces to guard him."

*What do you suggest?' Henry asked for the third

time.

The magician hesitated. He studied the younger men with him, men who fought a different war from that he

had known with Tomar. 'Kill him,' he said finally. Henry had expected this. He'd never felt more weary in his life. Every muscle taut, he said, "Tell me when.

it's done."

Notti's mother followed him everywhere for hours. At last Elder Jedrek called on her to serve a duty she could not pass along to one of the others. She left him with more goodbye hugs than he'd had altogether in the past ten years.

So much attention would take getting used to. For now, Goatboy was glad of the solitude.

Goatboy watched a squirrel scamper across the ground and up an evergreen to disappear among the upper

AMY STOUT

branches. He stared in wonderment for long minutes after he could discern no movement. This simple sign of life, of a creature doing as the Sisters had meant it to do, restored his own serenity. Whatever the One had asked of him would ultimately have only so much. effect on the world. The Sisters would right the bal ance.

Still he hesitated to step away from the tree. How long had it been since he watched any animal scurry up a tree-trunk? How long had it been since he even ventured. to look above the ground?

Twelve, thirteen years ago his mother had delighted in pointing out the vitality of life all around them. Except what he embraced in order to herd the goats, he barely recalled any of it now. No one taught the lore anymore; Alvaria declared it a squander and waste of the most. deplorable sort, since they lived in one place and knew all they needed of it.

Notti missed the pull of the forest, the welcome indif

ference it offered.

The wood did not exist at the pleasure of elves, how ever much the One wanted them to believe otherwise. It was too big, too vast, too varied and unpredictable. At times too deadly. They might tame a piece of it, might subdue the entirety, but they would never bend it to their will.

The idea strengthened him. Perhaps he had not really been bent to the witch's will either. Perhaps he had merely swayed in the storm winds and could once more straighten and reach to they sky.

Finally, he looked back to the ground. How much more interesting it seemed. Under the packed snow, life waited to bloom again. Not merely goats and elves, but a number of creatures would feed well after the deepsnows melted.

He had been rescued for a purpose. Perhaps he too would thrive come spring.

Abadan moved about the chamber, setting out his usual scrying tools just as he had done every day since Maarcus and Kate had disappeared. Today you join me,' he told Walther.

The dwarf nodded. Whatever you think is best, but shouldn't we tell the physician and the Dragon Prince?" Abadan absent-mindedly shook his head as he studied his bottles and potions. It will only worry the old man that we haven't found anything and it isn't likely to comfort- He stopped in mid-sentence and looked into. Walther's eyes. "What did you call him?"

'The prince.

'No, no you didn't. You called him the "Dragon Prince." Why is that?'

Walther wrinkled his brow in thought. 'Did I? It seems appropriate, doesn't it?'

For other people who don't know him as we do, yes, but not us.' Abadan fell silent, looking at Walther as if the dwarf might uncover a valuable secret even though they had discussed the prince's title only hours ago. Well," he said finally, let's see what we can turn up."

The scrying bowl was dark. The magician waved a hand and Walther brought a lamp closer to see. Abadan prepared to add the serviceberry drop by drop when suddenly the fluid cleared.

Abadan looked at Walther, but something in the dwarf's mind batted away the magician.

The scene was of a young magician receiving his

confirmation divination. The man kneeled while a blind woman robed in white placed her hand on his head. 'You will advise kings and princes, achieving great

things ... And succeeding in all that you set out to do.' The young man smiled and tried to rise, but she pushed

down on his head. He winced and settled again. But her voice rang throughout the small chamber, echoing as if it were a large cavern. "But,' she repeated, more quietly now, "you will be overcome in the end. One stronger than you will rise in your place."

The man's shoulders slumped and the rest of him

seemed to follow until the seer's hands pulled him up.

'Rise for the naming, rise and know that you have a great future ahead of you." 'Except,' the boy's lips seemed to form. 'Except..!

The rest died there. "I name you "Abadan"."

When the dwarf came out of his trance, he found the magician staring at him, eyes full of tears. He brushed them away angrily. 'I can see we won't make any progress

today. You may go." Walther rose silently, leaving his master alone to consider his downfall.

Revered Mother and Revered Sisters, Masha and Dita, gave the Novice the job of tending the man. Mother and her two Daughters explained it to her as she sat in the courtyard idly trying to remember what had brought her out here.

'He'll need someone to tend him,' Mother announced. 'Someone gentle and careful," Masha said.

'Like me?' Ginni asked in her ten-year-old's voice. She was very flattered to be given such a big responsibility. Revered Mother Caronn nodded. 'Like you. But mind you, there are risks in dealing with a man. You must take precautions. First, do not listen to what he says. His words

are peppered with language unfit for a young lady. We have therefore gagged him. You will never remove this gag. She stopped and stared at Ginni. 'Understood?" The girl nodded. I understand."

'Good. Next. Do not speak or sing in his presence. You are much too sweet for his coarse ears and likely to drive him mad should he hear your voice.' Again she paused until Ginni indicated her obedience.

'Finally, never let him touch you. We have bound his hands to ease his temptation. However, he is a man who no doubt has seduced more than one lovely girl. A union with you would be more dreadful than I can bring myself to describe.' And yet she did in terms that the Novice couldn't digest. As she spoke, Revered Mother's face contorted into utter disgust and a shudder shook through her.

The Novice felt a sympathetic spasm. "But-' 'No, buts!' shouted the Mother.

'I only wanted to ask-' 'You must obey without question. Her expression did

not allow for argument. Novice looked down at the floor. Yes, Revered.

Mother."

All seemed well and good until later that day when the cook gave her a tray and told her it was for the man. She took the food where she was directed. He sat in a chair, hands tied and mouth gagged as the

Mother promised. His eyes went wide when he saw her and a smile seemed to stretch around the kerchief.

She returned his smile and offered him the tray. He could not take it with the bound hands, of course.

She stood over him, holding the food. What was she to do with it? At no point could she envision him eating with the gag in place. She could feed him and leave his hands

secured. She could let him eat with his mouth like a pig at the trough, but that seemed a violation somehow. Or at the least, it was an indignity a Revered Novice should

not force on anyone. She could both untie and ungag him and let him feed

himself properly.

She put the tray on a table next to him and slumped into a nearby chair. Was the goal to feed the man or to scrutinize a young novice? She had tried to ask questions and been staved off. This had to be a test of her loyalty.

She stood suddenly. I'm sorry,' she mouthed without voicing the words, then fled from the room.

The Novice ran down the hall and slammed the door to her bedchamber. She had to keep as much distance between herself and the man as she could manage. He I would shame her. Revered Mother said so.

But Revered Mother had given her the task of tending him.

The Novice blushed. She was behaving like a fool child. She sat on the room's only chair and chewed her lip.

She snatched up the brush from the dressing-table and began stroking her hair. Revered Sister Masha said she was vain to lavish so much care on her hair. Probably so. Still, the motion calmed her enough to think.

Why did the man seem even the least bit familiar? The Novice knew no men. She'd always been here.

Hadn't she?

The door opened and she leaped up from her chair. 'Revered Mother, I... She broke into sobs. 'I tried. I did. I failed you.'

Revered Mother Caronn smiled and the Novice knew she'd been forgiven. 'Not to worry, child. You've done very well, very well indeed.'

She hugged the Novice and let her cry until there were no tears left.

By 'uh Sis'ers! Tom mumbled around his gag, after

Ginni slammed the door closed behind her.