A Crown Disowned

  "Don't do that!" she said. She moved over beside him. "I think we're safe enough in the shelter of these trees, at least for the time being."

  "But my kinsmen are fighting—"

  "And you are wounded," she said sternly. "Let them defend you. And if all else fails, let me defend you."

  He smiled at that. "Gaurin has told me what a fierce woman he married. I believe him. I saw the Power, you know."

  She smiled in return, but inside her heart was sinking. He was obviously fretful at being excluded from where his duty lay. "Would you like me to go peer out and report to you what is happening?" she said.

  "I would appreciate it." He coughed so violently she was fearful he would start hemorrhaging.

  She gave him ice to suck, and the coughing fit eased. Then she made her way cautiously toward the edge of the little copse of woods. Pushing a springy branch out of the way, she gained an unobstructed view of the spirited skirmish out on the rock-strewn plain leading to the valley.

  Rohan had sent a considerable force to their aid. She recognized Cebastian's guidon, and was glad that Rohan had had the wit to go to the Nordors. Gaurin had foreseen accurately; perhaps at the same time the rescue party had arrived, an

  Ice Dragon had appeared. Now the warriors were intently engaged with it, trying to damage it without being harmed themselves. A pair of war-kats circled the

  Dragon, tenseness apparent in their every move.

  It was Ashen's first sight of an Ice Dragon. She found herself holding her breath as she watched. The terrible, unnatural beast was so big] If it craned its neck it might be able to peek over the walls of Cragden Keep, Certainly several of them would make short work of the walls surrounding Ren- delsham Castle for, unlike Cragden, they were meant for show only and not for real defense.

  The war-kats, one on either side, fearlessly hurled themselves onto the beast's flanks and fastened themselves with teeth and claws. Its skin shivered as the

  Dragon shook itself, but the war-kats were not dislodged. The Dragon rider pulled vigorously on the reins. With a roar that gusted ice crystals into the air the huge beast did not exactly take flight; rather, it flapped its wings and bounced, barely aloft, apparently hoping to catch some of the warriors in its talons. The war-kats leapt to safety as men scattered, depriving the enemy of any easy target. By mere happenstance the Dragon veered toward the copse of woods where Ashen crouched, watching, and the tip of one of the great wings buffeted the trees above her. The trunks, almost as springy as the low branches, were knocked violently askew, rebounding in such a way as to spray the entire area with the snow that had coated their limbs.

  Ashen retreated at once in the unexpected shower to see if her patient had been harmed. Hynnel had barely been touched, and only a few chunks of the heavy, packed snow had fallen on him.

  "I think they are trying to tire the Dragon," she told him.

  "How many men?"

  "I didn't count them. Perhaps fifty."

  "Go back again and see what's happening."

  She nodded. She had not sighted Gaurin when she had been watching before, and could not rest until she knew his whereabouts. By the time she had found another good vantage point, however, the battle was over. As she watched, the Ice Dragon lifted into the air, tucking its feet against its belly. Then it flew back in the direction from which it, presumably, had come. The war-kats squalled a last challenge and then sat down and began to wash.

  Presently she spotted Gaurin leading a squad of men toward the copse and she emerged from that shelter to go to him.

  "Are you all right?" she asked anxiously.

  "Unharmed. The heavy spears our men were armed with were more than the Dragon or its rider wanted to contend with."

  "Do you plan to go after it?"

  "No. It is imperative that we leave here immediately before the rider returns with reinforcements. Cebastian and some of our most trusted men are packing

  Harous's body in ice for transport with us, thence to be sent to Rendelsham."

  "Where it will be given honorable burial," Ashen said bitterly. "Does he deserve it after what he has done?"

  "We cannot do otherwise."

  "And Flavielle?"

  "There is no reason to do any more than pile a cairn of stones over her. We must get Hynnel back to camp where he can be cared for, and this episode has shown me that I cannot tolerate the thought of you in danger. I am of a mind to send you, with the honor guard for Harous, back to Rendelsham."

  "And I am of a mind not to go."

  He smiled then, the creases at the sides of his mouth meeting the crinkles at the corners of his eyes in the way that always made her heart turn over. "Of course you wouldn't. I will think on the matter. But in the meantime you will stay in camp where you are relatively safe and not set foot outside the walls."

  "That I will agree to."

  Once returned to camp, Gaurin and Ashen settled Hynnel in the physicians' tent.

  Then they, with Rohan, whose broken right arm had been properly set and splinted, consulted privately with Lord Royance in Gaurin's quarters before joining the remaining officers in the command tent. There they told him the true circumstances of Harous's ending, sparing nothing.

  "You have done well," Royance told them. "Better that Harous die swiftly and cleanly than face a traitor's trial either here or in Rendelsham. He will return and be laid to rest a hero. It is pretense, yes, but pretense for the ultimate good of the country. Much better that, than his treachery be known to cause dismay throughout the land. Dynasties have fallen for less cause."

  He brushed his hand across his eyes and Gaurin knew the old gentleman, despite his resolute words, had been profoundly shaken by what had happened. Royance must have harbored a hope, however faint, that Harous's loyalties had remained true.

  Then Royance took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, putting all his private feelings aside. "Rohan, do any of the men you sent to Gaurin's aid know aught of what he has just told me?"

  "No, sir. Gaurin gave me no instruction on the matter but I knew that telling them would not be wise. On the way back to camp I had time to construct a plausible story. Actually, I embellished the truth just a little."

  "Tell us these embellishments so that we will not destroy the pretense unawares."

  Gaurin also was interested, for he had relied on Rohan's good sense and discretion out of instinct, not by plan. Ce-bastian had not volunteered any details of the story Rohan had taken back with him and Gaurin had not asked. It was, however, obvious to him that the brave young knight had no idea of the true state of affairs.

  "As far as Cebastian knows," Rohan related, "the marshal ventured out alone, as he had done before, to survey the battleground, perhaps to learn where we had made mistakes so we would not repeat them. Knowing his danger, we went after him, to escort him back safely. We found him in combat with Flavielle, and her lieutenant, Farod. She distracted him, and Farod, the one the Nordors fought later, bested Harous. Then Hynnel was injured, striking her down in turn. We were nearly killed ourselves. The lieutenant fled to retrieve his mount. Hynnel,

  Gaurin, and Ashen would surely have perished when Farod returned, had they not sent me back for aid." He smiled. "When you think about it, this tale is not that far off the mark."

  "If you wanted to develop it, you have some natural talent as a liar, you scamp," Royance said wryly. "Very clever. The tale will hold up if there is not too close scrutiny of it."

  Rohan had the grace to blush. "All I did, really, was bring Flavielle's lieutenant into it earlier than he actually was."

  Despite the gravity of the situation, Gaurin was amused. He had not thought

  Rohan to have had such a quick wit.

  Ashen spoke up. "You are without question the ranking noble here, Lord Royance.

  As such, I have something to ask of you."

  He turned to her courteously. "It is granted, of course, but first I must tell you this. You are in a unique position, my dear. You are not a r
uler, as the

  Dowager Ysa continues to be, but you were the one with the wit and courage to act on vital information on a matter that affected the country's safety where she did not. I perceive you may well have a great deal more to offer us."

  "Not I so much as my Protector, Zazar," Ashen replied. "We need her here. I need her here. And I petition that I be allowed to send Rohan in one of his swiftest ships to fetch her."

  "How say you?" Royance asked the young knight.

  Rohan glanced down at his arm ruefully. "I'm out of the fight for good this time," he said. "Even with Granddam Zaz's potions this won't heal by the time the war's over, I warrant. So I am available to run messenger service. I will go, and gladly."

  "Good," Royance said. He arose from Gaurin's camp chair and the others likewise stood. "Now let us join the other officers before they begin to wonder what we are doing in secret. That is how rumors are born and rumors are the last thing we need to contend with just now."

  "I will leave you to it, for my responsibility calls me to the infirmary tent,"

  Ashen said.

  "Go with our gratitude," Royance replied. He took her hand and kissed her fingers. "I take this liberty with your permission, of course, Gaurin."

  "I, too, am very proud of my lady," he said.

  Then they left his cramped quarters and each went to his or her duties.

  When Royance, Gaurin, and Rohan arrived at the command tent, Royance took

  Harous's former place at the head of the table while the other men found their own seats. Royance wasted no time in trivialities.

  "We need to settle several matters, all pressing," he said without preamble.

  "First is selecting an honor guard for Count Harous's body to escort him back to

  Rendelsham. Though we can ill afford to have any of our officers or men absent, nevertheless we must send a full complement. Chevin, as Harous's lieutenant, will lead them."

  The young noble bowed his head in assent.

  "Pick whom you will to accompany you, but not more than a dozen. Rohan will not be among them, for I have assigned him another errand. There must be a military funeral with full honors. Let the Dowager make the preparations, only impress upon her that your swift return here is vital for everyone's safety." Then

  Royance looked at each of the men in the tent, piercing them with his hawklike gaze. "The next matter. Who will be our new Lord High Marshal?"

  Steuart glanced up from the dagger he had been toying with. "I propose that you assume this office, sir," he said. "Who else but Royance of Grattenbor is as well qualified?"

  Royance shook his snowy head. "Alas, I fear that what so many have told me is correct. My fighting days are over."

  Lathrom spoke up. "There would be no need for you to take the field, sir. Leave that to younger warriors. You carry with you a lifetime of experience. Please, sir. Guide us now."

  "It is well thought on," Gaurin said, pleased to know that his private preferences were those of his fellow officers as well.

  "I will speak for Admiral-General Snolli and add my voice to that of the others in voting aye," Rohan announced. "I have no doubt that when General Tusser returns he will also agree."

  Around the table, the junior officers nodded. Cebastian, Steuart, Reges of

  Lerkland, Jabez of Mimon, Gidon of Bilth, Vinod of Vacaster, and Nikolos of

  Grattenbor, who was Lord Royance's deputy, all thumped the table with the flat of their hands in approval.

  Chevin, Harous's lieutenant, was the last. Harous's death had hit him hard, more so than the other officeis. He arose from his chair. "Sir, with the death of my lord, I have lost my will for command. When I return from the sad errand you have assigned me, I ask leave to be excused from my duties as an officer and be allowed to join the common soldiers, there to fight in the front ranks and perhaps to die."

  "Denied," Royance said. "You will remain a part of the staff of officers, and do your duty as you have been trained."

  Chevin sat down again, but he did not raise his head.

  "Lord Royance, you must have Lord Harous's badge of office," Gaurin said. "He left it behind when he—when he departed the camp. I will get it."

  He entered the living-quarters area of the command tent, gratified that the meeting, so far, had gone exactly as he wished. It was only natural that Royance would become their new marshal. In anticipation, he had found a moment to give private orders to Jervin, Royance's steward, to see that the rent in the far wall be repaired and the room made habitable once more.

  Jervin waited within. "All is ready, sir," he said.

  "This will suit Lord Royance well," Gaurin said, looking around. Everything was, indeed, neat and tidy. Royance was well served. "Where have you put Harous's personal belongings? We will send them back to Rendelsham, of course, but there is something I need for Royance, a badge of office. It is a medallion on a chain."

  "Here, sir." Jervin indicated a small chest on a table nearby. Gaurin recognized it as the one that had originally been kept in the main section of the tent. "I gathered everything of that sort, put it inside, and brought it here."

  Gaurin lifted the lid, not surprised to discover several items including what had to be the Diadem of Concealment and the rod that emitted Dragon's Breath in the chest. He laid the rod aside, picked up the medallion, and returned to where the officers were waiting.

  "Sir, please allow me the honor," he said.

  Royance nodded, and Gaurin ceremoniously put the chain over the old noble's head, arranging it on his shoulders.

  "I have something else for Lord Royance," Rohan said.

  Royance raised one snowy eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

  "Sir, I was granted a pair of war-kats. Like me, one of them has an injured paw.

  She is out of the action, and her mate will not fight without her. Please, allow me to place them in your care at least while I am gone on my errand. I can think of no one I would rather have in charge of them."

  The old gentleman smiled. "It's been a long time since I have had the privilege of having the company of war-kats," he said. "I will be honored."

  "Thank you."

  "There is another pair of war-kats to be reassigned," Gaurin said. "Hynnel lies in the infirmary and until he can fight again I propose that they go to you as well."

  Royance quirked one snowy eyebrow. "I am like to be covered with war-kats at this rate," he said. The officers seated around the table laughed, not entirely out of politeness. "Perhaps Lathrom deserves them more. But, as with all war-kats, they will go where they will and not always where we would have them."

  Rohan turned to Gaurin. "Now that that's settled, I also have a boon to ask of you."

  "If it is in my power to grant, I will do so."

  "Please do me the honor of keeping my sword and using it in place of the one that was broken. It is said of a Rinbell sword that it will fight for its wielder, if the cause be just. It was my father's."

  "The honor is mine," Gaurin said. "I think it fought for me once, and will again. I thank you."

  Rohan turned to Royance. "Now, with your permission, sir, I will depart on the errand you have assigned me, but before I leave, I will bring Keltin and Bitta to you. Bitta's the one with the injured paw."

  He arose, bowed, and left the tent. Gaurin judged that the time was right to bring his special project before the officers.

  "I have been thinking," he said, and recounted the tale of how the trees had flexed and bent under the buffeting of the wings of the Ice Dragon. "When we were fighting the beast it reminded me of an idea I had earlier for a weapon to use against them. Now that we know what we are facing we need to build catapults, of course." He hoped no one would remember that Harous had opposed this project. "What I am proposing now is something new. If we could set two of these young and springy trees in a stationary platform, like the arms of a bow, we might bend them back with a windlass. Then we could set another tree, its branches trimmed and the point sharpened—" r />
  He saw looks of interest and comprehension dawning on the faces of some of the young warriors. Even Chevin came out of his despondency and Royance nodded thoughtfully.

  "With this machine," the new Lord High Marshal said, "you could pierce a Dragon from a good, safe distance."

  "That would be my hope," Gaurin replied. "And we could always fall back on catapults to throw great stones at them."

  A few others had not received this idea positively. Steuart arose to speak for them. "It seems to me," he said, "that this might be beyond the customs of war.

  Would not this weapon be entirely too powerful?"

  "Perhaps," Royance answered, "in another sort of warfare. But look you, young