The Apogian War

Chapter 46

"Could I respect and obey a man who had so far forgotten himself as to try to make me his-He used a cahuengs word Dqrkovan did not know, only that it wa unspeakably obscene. But he was still in rapport with Danilo, so there was no scrap of doubt about his meaning, Darkovan went white. He literally could not speak under the shock of it. "At first I thought he was joking," Danilo said, almost stammering "I do not like such jests-I am a cristoforo-but I gave him some simi lar joke for an answer and thought that was the end of it, for it be meant the jest in seriousness, then I had given him his answer without offense. Then he made himself clearer and grew angry when I answered his foul him no, and swore he could force me to it. I don't know what he did to me, Darkovan, he did something with his mind, so that wherever I was, alone or with others, I felt him touching me, heard his.. whispers, that awful, mocking laugh of his. He pursued me, he seemed to be inside my mind all the time. All the time. I thought he meant to drive me out of my mind! I had thought... a mind gap could not inflict pain.... I can't stand it even to be around anyone who's really unhappy, but he took some awful, hateful kind of pleasure in it." D nilo sobbed suddenly. "I went to him, then, I begged him to let me bel Darkovan, I am no gutter-brat, my family has served the Darkovs honorably for years, but if I were a w***e's foundling and he the king on his throne, he would have had no right to use me so shamefully!" Danilo broke down again and sobbed. "And then... and then he said I knew perfectly well how I could be free of him. He laughed at me, that awful, hideous laugh. And then I had my dagger out, I hardly know how I came to draw it, or what I meant to do with it, kill myself maybe...." Danilo put his hands over his face. "You know the rest," he said through them. Drkovan could hardly draw breath. "Zandru send him scorpion whips Dani, why didn't you lay a charge and claim immunity? He is subject to the laws of Dober too, and a telepath who misuses his laran that way..." Danilo gave a weary little shrug. It said more than words. Darkovan felt wholly numbed by the revelation. How could he ever face Cyan again, knowing this? I knew it wasn't true what they said of you, Darkovan. But you w Dovr too, and Cyan showed you so much favor, and that last night, when you touched me, I was afraid. R

Darkovan looked up, outraged, then realized Danilo had not spoken all. They were deeply in rapport; he felt the other boy's thoughts. He st back down on pright, the log, feeling that his legs were enable to hold him 7 touched you only to quiet you," he said at last. 1 know that now. What good would it do to say I am sorry for that, Darkovan! It was a shameful thing to say." "It is no wonder you cannot believe in honor or decency from my kin. But it is for us to prove it to you. All the more since you are one of Danilo, how long have you had chosen Laman? 1, Lord Darkovan?" "Didn't you know? How long have you been able to read thoughts? That? Why, all my life, it seems. Since I was twelve or so. Is "Don't you know what it means, if you have one of the Dover gifts? You do, you know. Mind gaps aren't uncommon, but you opened up my own gift, even after Lno Faltron failed." With a flood of emotion, he thought, you brought me my heritage. "I think you're what they call a catalyst telepath. That's very rare and a precious gift." He forebore to say it was an Ardais gift. He doubted if Danilo would appreciate that information just now. "Have you told anyone else?" "How could I, when I didn't know myself? I thought everyone could read thoughts." "No, it's rarer than that. It means you too are Comyn, Dani." "Are you saying my parentage is-" Zandru's hells, no! But your family is noble, it may well be that your mother had Dover kinsmen, Dover blood, even generations ago. With full laran, though, it means you yourself are eligible for Dover Council, that you should be trained to use these gifts, sealed to Dover." He saw revulsion on Danilo's face and said quickly, "Think. It means you are Lord Cyan's equal. He can be held accountable for having misused you." Regis blessed the impulse that had brought him here. Alone, his mind burdened with the brooding, hypersensitive nature of the un trained mind gap, under his father's grim displeasure... Danilo might have killed himself after all. "I won't, though," Danilo said aloud. Darkovanrealized they had slid into rapport again. He reached out to touch Danilo, remembered and didn't. To conceal the move he bent and picked up a windfall apple. Danilo got to his feet and began putting on his shirt. Darkovan finished the apple and dropped the core into a pile of mulch. "Dani, I am expected to sleep tonight at my sister's house.

But I give wd: you shall be vindiatol Messwhile, is there anything else 1 Yo, Regie Test Tell my father the disgrace and dishonor were not minet He asked so and spoke no wond of repeosch, but so bem dishonored. I can bear anything be he hall know the full-no" Darkovanbroke off uddenly, 't that why you dand not tell him yourself? He would kill He w that he had, in truth, reached the heart of Danilo's fear. He would challmer Cyan," Danilo said haltingly, "and though be looks strong he is an id man and his heart is far from sound. If he knew the truth wented to tell him everything, but I would rather than ruin himself." "Well, I shall try to dear your name with your father without endas gering him. But for yourself, Dasil We ows you something for the is jay. You ove me nothing, Darkovan. If my name is clean before my king, men, I am content" "Still, the honor of Dover demands we right this injustice. If ther is not at our heart, well, it must be cleansed." At this moment, filled with righteous anger, he was ready to fing himself against a whole y ment of unjust men who abused their powers. If the older men is Dover were corrupt or power mad, and the younger ones idle, the boys would have to set it right! Danilo dropped to one knee. He held out his hands, his voice break ing. There is a life between us. My brother died to shield your father As for me, I ask no more than to give my life in the service of Hast Take my sword and my cath, Lord Darkovan. By the hand I place on your sword, I pledge my life." Startled, deeply moved, Regis drew his sword again, held out the hit to Danilo. Their hands met on the hilt again as Darkovan, stumbling on the ritual words, trying to recall them one by one, said, "Danilo-Feis Syrtis, be from this day paxman and shield-arm to me... and this sword strike me if I be not just lord and shield to you...."He bit hi lip, fighting to remember what came next. Finally he said, "The God witness it, and the holy things at Hali." It seemed there was something else, but at least their intention was clear, he thought. He slid sword back into its sheath, raised Danilo to his feet and shyly kie him on either cheek. He saw tears on Danilo's eyelids and knew that own were not wholly dry. He said, trying to lighten the moment,

"Now you've only had for