Again the room was alive with low voices, questions and accusations, assertions and denials. The iron heel of the staff struck the stones. The priest looked from face to face and said, ‘As the heir has renounced his claim, and it was witnessed and here affirmed, so be it.’
The High Priest of Ishap motioned for another priest to bring him the cushion upon which rested the ancient crown of the Isles. ‘Now is the hour and here is the place. We are here to witness the coronation of His Majesty, Henry, fifth of that name, as our true king. Are there any here who challenge his right?’ Several lords looked dour, but all those who would have been violently opposed were either dead or in chains. He spoke to Hal. ‘Will you, Henry, take up this burden and be our king?’
Hal stood speechless. For a long moment he tried to understand what was happening. The Duke of Bas-Tyra whispered, ‘Say yes, Hal, before we start another civil war!’
Hal looked at Martin who was nodding encouragingly, then to Brendan who seemed caught halfway between shock and elation; Hal then saw an emphatic ‘yes’ mouthed by Lady Bethany. Behind them, almost in the shadows, stood Jim Dasher speaking quietly with Ty Hawkins, and both gave him a quick nod. Hal took a deep breath and swallowed hard, then said, ‘I will be your king.’
There was a lull and then the room was filled with voices – a few at first, then rising quickly as even those who had been in opposition to Edward realized that a great danger had been averted and that peace was restored.
A priest of Sung approached and motioned to two others who took Hal’s red mantle from his shoulders, replacing it with the purple mantle of kingship. The simple, ancient gold circlet was placed on Hal’s brow.
The priest intoned, ‘Now is the hour and here is the place. Do you, Henry conDoin, son of Henry, of the line of kings, swear to defend and protect the Kingdom of the Isles, faithfully serving her people, to provide for their welfare, weal and prosperity?’
‘I, Henry, do so swear and avow.’
The high priest led Henry to the throne, where he sat down. Then the priest knelt and took Henry’s hand in his, kissing his ducal signet, which would be replaced with a king’s, and then rose. An ancient sword, traditionally held to have once belonged to Dannis, the first conDoin King, was brought out and placed across Henry’s knees.
‘Now it is past the hour of our choosing,’ said the old priest. ‘I hereby proclaim Henry, fifth of that name, our right, true, and undisputed king!’
The crowd responded with ‘Hail Henry! Long live the king!’
The priests of Ishap began a chant and the wax seal was broken, and all in the Congress came and bowed before their new monarch. Hal was so overcome he barely had enough wit to motion Martin and Brendan to come stand beside him. When, at last, Prince Edward was carried up, Hal left the throne and came to him, extending his ring-hand so Edward wouldn’t have to attempt to mount the dais to the throne.
‘Why?’ asked Hal.
Edward smiled. ‘As I said, I hope you forgive me. Why? Because it was the only choice, my king. An ancient and honourable line is again reborn and takes its rightful place ruling our land. I could never have sons, but if I had, I could not be more proud nor love them more than you, my king.’ Tears ran down Edward’s face as he said, ‘I am your most loyal servant.’
‘You will stay with me,’ said Hal, his own eyes welling with tears, ‘and for years to come I will count on your wisdom.’
The Duke of Bas-Tyra came to stand next to Hal. ‘Majesty, before the gala begins tonight, we have some less pleasant duties. There are some nobles residing in less hospitable quarters here in the palace, notably Chadwick of Ran.’
Hal said, ‘Keep him comfortable, and when Oliver’s ransom arrives, toss Chadwick in as a gift. He can go live with Oliver in Maladon. He’s banished from the Kingdom on pain of death. The others we’ll review tomorrow. I’ll hear their pleas one at a time. Those that swear fealty may retain their rank and holdings. Those that will not are free to follow Oliver and Chadwick east.’
Bas-Tyra nodded. ‘We’ll talk on this more in the morning, majesty. A few of them really need to be hanged.’ He bowed and departed.
Seemingly out of nowhere, servants appeared and old Duke James of Rillanon followed them. ‘That turned out better than I hoped,’ he said. Bowing, he said, ‘Majesty. Go rest and get ready. You will find tonight’s gala is but the first of many to come over the years, and they can be as tedious as a high mass on a holy day.’
Jim Dasher and the Lady Franciezka Sorboz were waiting in the king’s private chambers when the three brothers arrived. Hal didn’t wait for them to bow, but said, ‘Did you put this idea into Edward’s head, Jim?’
Jim smiled. ‘On the contrary, majesty. It was my idea to have Edward take the Crown, name you heir when no one was looking, then abdicate in a few years. His objection to that was health, obviously, but also that it would give the plotters time to reorganize and we might be looking at another war.’ Glancing at Lady Franciezka he said, ‘In retrospect, his idea was better. Assuming you don’t conspire to get yourself killed, majesty, your political enemies will have to wait a very long time to try to seize the Crown.’
Hal realized he was still wearing the traditional circlet and took it off, tossing it on a table, which almost caused a servant to faint in horror. The man scrambled to pick it up and put it back on its velvet cushion.
‘Political enemies?’ said Brendan, in a dry tone. ‘You’ve come up in the world, brother.’
‘He gained them less than an hour ago,’ said Lady Franciezka. ‘And allies,’ she added. ‘Prince Albér of Roldem will act as his father’s envoy to the Isles and will offer you Roldem’s undying friendship before all at the gala tonight.’
‘Welcome news,’ said Martin. ‘From what I’ve seen and been told, we would have stood far less chance of victory without Roldem’s aid.’
Jim nodded. ‘I think we would have prevailed, but not as easily. Roldem’s part in this gave us swifter victory and fewer dead.’
Hal sat and realized everyone else was still standing. ‘Oh, sit down,’ he said with a wave of his hand. ‘This will take some getting used to.’
Jim came over and put his hand on the new king’s shoulder. ‘Sire, it will, but you have years ahead of you, and friends.’
Lord James entered, walking slowly. He bowed as low as health permitted and gladly accepted a chair brought to him by a servant. ‘Now, before anything else, majesty, we need to arrive at some decisions to be announced at the gala tonight.’ He smiled when he saw a tray of cups and a pitcher of wine arrive. He waited until Hal was offered the first and waved it off, then gladly took one. ‘You may wish to change your mind, majesty.’
‘Lord James,’ said the newly crowned king. ‘When we’re alone, call me Hal.’
‘That I will not do, majesty,’ said the old noble. ‘From now on you are more than Henry conDoin of Crydee: you are the Kingdom of the Isles. When the Emperor of Great Kesh speaks to you, it is Kesh speaking to Isles.’ With a wag of his finger and a scolding tone, he added, ‘You cannot afford to forget you are no longer just one man, but the embodiment of a nation.’ The old duke settled back in his chair. ‘Now, where was I? Oh, yes. The first order of business, sire, is that you need to accept my retirement. I’m abdicating my office. I’m too old for any more of this foolishness.’
Hal realized that he was now the sole arbiter of some of the most critical matters of state. ‘I am sorry to hear that, my lord. Your counsel is most welcome.’
James said, ‘Sire, I will not be dying for a few more weeks.’ He shrugged. ‘I may even manage to squeeze out a year or two more. But we need to make changes, and now. As the court is reeling from them already, a few more won’t matter.’
Hal looked at Jim Dasher.
The man of many titles and roles held up his hands. ‘I’m resigning too, majesty, if you’ll permit.’ He saw the look of confusion on Hal’s face and said, ‘My role has not been compromised, but ended. I can no longer
play the part of the minor Kingdom noble who holds office by dint of his grandfather’s rank. After the disaster that was Sir William Alcorn and the assaults on the royal houses in Kesh and Roldem, our entire intelligence apparatus needs rebuilding, from the top down.’
Hal was silent for a moment, then said, ‘I assume you have a suitable replacement in mind?’
‘Very much so, majesty. We’ll speak of this in private later, if you permit.’
‘What of you, then?’ asked Hal.
‘I intend to leave Rillanon and build a home on a tidy little island to the south-west of here.’ He looked at the Lady Franciezka.
She smiled. ‘My role is also at an end, your majesty. I will also be retiring and moving to … a new home.’
Hal laughed. ‘Well, I expect if we lose your services—’ He saw Duke Lord James shake his head slightly and mouth the word ‘we’.
Still laughing, Hal said, ‘We expect if we lose your services, it’s a good thing you’re both off on an island somewhere where you can do little damage.’ He looked at Lord James. ‘My lord, who then to replace you in Rillanon?’
‘Earl Montgomery,’ said James. ‘He’s an able administrator, one of your very distant cousins, and while he’s no one’s idea of a genius, he’s very clever in his own way. Find someone to replace him as earl of the city and you’ll do well.’
‘I’ll follow your advice … we’ll follow your advice,’ said Hal. ‘Damn, that’s going to take some getting used to.’
‘Krondor,’ said James. ‘You need a strong hand in Krondor.’
Without hesitation, Hal said, ‘Martin. There can be no other. He’s as strong and smart and honourable a man as a brother could wish for, and he will be our rock in the west. He will also be next in line for the throne until I wed and have a son.’
Brendan grinned as Martin looked surprised. Brendan said, ‘I expect this means Countess Marriann will get over Beth not marrying a duke.’ He turned and saw Hal staring at him. ‘What?’ His grin faded. ‘I mean, what, your majesty?’
‘You are my new Earl of Rillanon.’
‘Why, majesty? There are many others …’
Hal held up his hand. ‘We need to keep you close. You were enough trouble being a duke’s brat. The king’s brother? I need you on a short leash. Besides, underneath that boyish manner and carefree attitude, you hide a practical mind and solid resolve. I’ll need both.’
Brendan didn’t look pleased, but the others smiled. Jim Dasher said, ‘I have a list of names, majesty, of people who deserve some special acknowledgement for their roles in the recent war. We’ll go over it later, but there are a few empty offices to fill and these names should be given special consideration.’ While others had rested after returning from the battle at the Fields of Albalyn, Jim had read reports long into the night and had made copious notes and a list of recommendations for Hal. A Captain du Gale of Silden, and a Sergeant Cribbs from Salador, as well as others Jim had met in his travels during the war or read about in reports, would discover that their names were on that list. Du Gale didn’t know it yet, but he was about to become the new Duke of Salador and Cribbs would be the Knight-Marshal of the city. Both had been summoned to Rillanon and now waited in quarters in the city to be called to the palace.
Hal said, ‘Make sure the Earl of LaMut’s name is there, as well. He’s a unique man.’
‘It will be done, majesty.’
Lord James said, ‘Let us depart with his majesty’s permission, and let the lad rest.’
Hal waved permission and pointed to his brothers. ‘Stay.’
The others filed out and at the last, Hal waved Jim Dasher over. ‘Another name: Tyrone Hawkins.’
Martin said, ‘I haven’t seen Ty since we got here, save for the ceremony when he was hiding in the corner with you.’
Jim smiled. ‘His name is the first on the list, majesty.’
‘Your replacement?’ asked Hal. Jim nodded. ‘Of course.’ Hal laughed. ‘I would never have guessed.’
‘That was the idea, majesty,’ said Jim. ‘I’ve groomed him for years. If you had guessed, I didn’t train him well enough.’
‘Does his father know?’
Jim shook his head. ‘I think Tal suspects, but he doesn’t know. Both Hawkinses are good men, but they are servants of the Conclave as much as of the Kingdoms of the Isles and Roldem. Ty will put the Crown’s needs foremost. Tal’s loyalties are more divided: the Conclave saved his life as a boy.’
‘So where is Ty now?’
‘In my quarters, finishing some reports I couldn’t get to, and adding his own recommendations to that list, but he’ll be dressed and ready in time for you to name him Baron of the King’s Court at tonight’s gala in reward for his services to the Crown. More rank than that will draw notice, but because he’s not landed, he can move around easily at need.’
‘You’ve been planning this for a while?’
‘It’s the nature of the craft, majesty,’ grinned Jim Dasher. ‘Ty is picking out his successor and will start the process of grooming him very soon. It’s a necessity.’ He leaned over so that only Hal could hear. ‘When the time is right, Ty will tell you all you need to know. And there will be things that only you and he can know, majesty.’
Jim turned to Martin. ‘I don’t envy you, highness. Reports are starting to trickle in. The west is in shambles. Something on an unimaginable scale has occurred east of your old home. When I know more, I will of course make a full report. But you may discover Yabon and Crydee are not what they were before.’
Brendan said, ‘We really should send someone home to look at what’s going on, Hal.’
‘We will,’ said the king. ‘Now, is there anything else I need to know before I try to get some rest?’
‘Just a hundred other appointments, a few state marriages to arrange, and some execution warrants to sign, but they can wait until later.’
Jim bowed and as he turned to the door, Hal said, ‘Lady Franciezka? Are you to wed?’
Jim smiled and it was as genuine an expression of pleasure as Hal had ever seen from him. ‘I don’t think I have a choice, do I?’ He bowed and left the room.
A knock came at the door and Brendan looked from face to face, then said, ‘All right, I’ll get it.’ Martin and Hal both laughed.
Brendan opened the door and his mother came into the room and embraced him. The Duchess Carolyn could barely contain her tears of joy. Ignoring rank and formality, she hugged her boys as she found them, Martin after Brendan.
Hal embraced her and said, ‘Mother, why didn’t you come straight away?’
‘I was told you were involved with matters of state … your majesty.’
‘You never need to wait when you need to see me, Mother.’
Brendan stuck his head out of the door and called, ‘More wine for the king!’ not bothering to notice which servant hurried off. He closed it and smiled, saying, ‘This business of being the king’s brother has some advantages.’
The gala was festive, as the Master of Ceremonies had spent months planning it, due to the long delay in crowning a new king. Hal endured the obeisance of everyone who attended, spending hours watching people he barely knew kneel before him and pledge their love and devotion.
When at last the formal part of the evening was over, he rose and read from a proclamation prepared by Jim, pardoning a few nobles he scarcely knew, pronouncing an end to further enmity and promising to be a wise and just ruler.
Prince Albér of Roldem had been presented earlier as envoy of his father, King Carole, and he spoke for a moment to Martin, who nodded and mounted the three steps of the dais and whispered, ‘Hal, Albér just said the oddest thing.’
‘What?’ said King Henry, the fifth of that name.
‘He said his mother said to tell you, “Ask again.”’
Hal sat back, and tried his best to keep from grinning like a fool.
• EPILOGUE •
Crydee
THE STORM HAD PASSED.
r /> The man in the black robes and slouch hat leaned on his staff and watched as the boy moved nimbly among the rocks, stopping to scoop up crabs, rockclaws, and other shellfish that had been swept into the tide pools by the storm that had passed earlier in the day. He was a smallish boy with black hair and sun-tanned skin, dressed in homespun shorts and a tunic.
The man walked toward the boy slowly, so as not to startle him by coming out of the trees unexpectedly. The boy popped a particularly large crab into his sack and looked up. Seeing the stranger, he smiled and nodded. The boy had dark eyes and ordinary features, though his manner made him appear engaging. ‘Hello!’ he shouted brightly.
The man in black smiled in return, brushing his long white hair aside. ‘Fetching in dinner?’
‘That I am, sir. The storm always drives an abundance into the pools and today is my day to fetch out as much as I can carry, so we can have a hot chowder tonight.’ The boy’s manner was bright and easy and he seemed genuinely cheerful.
‘I wandered in the woods during the storm,’ said the tall man as he leaned on his old walking stick. ‘Where exactly am I?’
The boy laughed, a joyous noise. ‘You are in Crydee, sir. How can you not know?’
The man smiled. ‘I expected I was in Crydee, but where in Crydee?’
‘Oh,’ said the boy. ‘A few miles to the south of the town and the keep. I’ll walk there with you.’
‘That would be welcome.’
They started up the path leading to the road and the tall man said, ‘I am called Magnus.’
The boy cocked his head for a moment. ‘That is an unusual name, sir, if you don’t mind me saying. I am named Phillip.’