Blade of Fortriu (44 page)
Authors: Juliet Marillier
“Whoa—” Faolan protested
as the harp went over sideways; he managed by instinct to grab it and set it safely on the bench by him before he was hauled bodily to his feet. “What is this? There’s no need to bruise a man—”
as the harp went over sideways; he managed by instinct to grab it and set it safely on the bench by him before he was hauled bodily to his feet. “What is this? There’s no need to bruise a man—”
“Save your words, bard. Lord Alpin wants you. Now.”
“But—” It seemed appropriate to continue protesting, as a mere musician might under the circumstances, while they hustled him into the house again and
up the narrow steps to the family apartments. There could be only one explanation: Deord had been discovered listening and, when confronted, had implicated him. What else could this be?
up the narrow steps to the family apartments. There could be only one explanation: Deord had been discovered listening and, when confronted, had implicated him. What else could this be?
“What do you think you’re—” His words were stopped by a ringing blow across the mouth, delivered by a gauntleted fist. He tasted blood, and was silent. With his jaw on fire, he fought to prepare an explanation:
insist that Deord was lying; no, he could not betray a Breakstone man, even if Deord had done so to him; give them the truth, perhaps, or something close to it, that Bridei had bid him ensure by every means possible that Alpin meant what he said. That Ana had not known he was more than a bard. Alpin wasn’t going to like that, but there was a chance he would believe it.
insist that Deord was lying; no, he could not betray a Breakstone man, even if Deord had done so to him; give them the truth, perhaps, or something close to it, that Bridei had bid him ensure by every means possible that Alpin meant what he said. That Ana had not known he was more than a bard. Alpin wasn’t going to like that, but there was a chance he would believe it.
There were four men in
Alpin’s chamber: the chieftain himself, his adviser Dregard, a gray-clad druid, and another man, pale, unremarkable-looking, dressed in a hooded robe. Faolan could feel the hostility in the room. At a barked command from Alpin, the guards released their captive and retreated; by the inner door one man already stood guard, legs apart, sword and dagger in his belt.
Alpin’s chamber: the chieftain himself, his adviser Dregard, a gray-clad druid, and another man, pale, unremarkable-looking, dressed in a hooded robe. Faolan could feel the hostility in the room. At a barked command from Alpin, the guards released their captive and retreated; by the inner door one man already stood guard, legs apart, sword and dagger in his belt.
Faolan took a step toward the
table where the four were seated. There was a parchment lying there, its corners held by stones. A jug and goblets stood ready on a tray, but nobody was drinking. All eyes were on Faolan. A chill spread through him; the look on these men’s faces did not bode well.
table where the four were seated. There was a parchment lying there, its corners held by stones. A jug and goblets stood ready on a tray, but nobody was drinking. All eyes were on Faolan. A chill spread through him; the look on these men’s faces did not bode well.
“My lord,” he said coolly, clasping his hands lightly behind his back and doing his best to appear untroubled.
“Don’t speak until
you’re spoken to, bard,” snapped Alpin, whose broad features were flushed. “I want an accounting from you, and you’d better take care with it. I’ll have no more lies here.”
you’re spoken to, bard,” snapped Alpin, whose broad features were flushed. “I want an accounting from you, and you’d better take care with it. I’ll have no more lies here.”
“Lies, my lord?”
“Shut your mouth. I don’t like your glib manner. I have a story to tell you and you’ll keep silent until you’ve heard all of it. But perhaps you can guess what it is.”
Faolan said nothing. He had taken one
glance only at the hooded man, a glance that had left him with the disquieting impression that he’d seen the fellow somewhere before. He would not look again.
glance only at the hooded man, a glance that had left him with the disquieting impression that he’d seen the fellow somewhere before. He would not look again.
“Answer me!” Alpin demanded.
“I cannot guess, my lord.”
“Tell him what our guest here told us earlier, Dregard. I’ve no appetite for going over it again. Such duplicity sickens me.”
Dregard cleared his throat. “We’ve reason to believe—”
he began.
he began.
“Just tell it, will you?” Alpin was impatient, his voice tight.
“My lord has been informed that, far from being the lady’s household musician and ignorant in matters of policy and strategy, you are in fact very well versed in both and highly skilled in a number of other areas that have little to do with music,” Dregard said.
“I have certain abilities.” Faolan kept his tone calm. “Lord
Alpin knows already that I can sharpen knives and use them. I think I’ve demonstrated, also, that my talents as a musician are at least passable. I am a bard. The lady told the truth.”
Alpin knows already that I can sharpen knives and use them. I think I’ve demonstrated, also, that my talents as a musician are at least passable. I am a bard. The lady told the truth.”
“Our friend here tells us you travel rather widely; perhaps more widely than any other member of Bridei’s court.”
Now the chill was around his heart. He did not let his alarm show in his eyes. “It’s in the nature
of a bard’s profession to do so,” he said. “I’ve worked for a number of patrons over the years, both within Fortriu and beyond.”
of a bard’s profession to do so,” he said. “I’ve worked for a number of patrons over the years, both within Fortriu and beyond.”
“And now you work for the lady.” Alpin rose to his feet, folded his arms and fixed Faolan with a penetrating stare.
“Yes, my lord. Of course, after the wedding, I will—”
“Be silent! Let me tell you this tale. It concerns a young man who seemed to be one thing and
was in fact quite another. A fellow whose bardic talents provided a convenient excuse for entry to the halls of kings and princes, chieftains and druids. A man who was handsomely paid by the patron he worked for, whether that was the young king of Fortriu or a lovely lady who liked music and was a hostage at White Hill.”
was in fact quite another. A fellow whose bardic talents provided a convenient excuse for entry to the halls of kings and princes, chieftains and druids. A man who was handsomely paid by the patron he worked for, whether that was the young king of Fortriu or a lovely lady who liked music and was a hostage at White Hill.”
Faolan stood silent. Not Deord, then; this had come from that hooded man,
the same, he assumed, that Dovard had said was a Gael. A spy. A man like himself with a talent for being unobtrusive. Perhaps only one of his own kind had the ability to expose another. He calculated how to answer.
the same, he assumed, that Dovard had said was a Gael. A spy. A man like himself with a talent for being unobtrusive. Perhaps only one of his own kind had the ability to expose another. He calculated how to answer.
“Is this the man you spoke of?” Alpin was looking at the hooded man now, his tone sharp. “Take a good look, and answer carefully. Much depends on it.”
From under the hood, wary dark
eyes scrutinized Faolan. The man nodded.
eyes scrutinized Faolan. The man nodded.
“So, you are Gael, musician, and spy,” Alpin said, with no sign of surprise. “Bridei sends you here with a set of instructions. So far, so good. No harm done, you say, perhaps you lied a little, but the lady is here, the treaty is ready to be signed”—Alpin motioned to the parchment—“and then you can be on your way. You’ve done your job, I’ve got my bride,
Bridei has his agreement, and no harm done at all.”
Bridei has his agreement, and no harm done at all.”
There was a silence of anticipation in the chamber; Faolan cleared his throat but did not attempt to speak.
“Perhaps you’ve gathered a little information while you’ve been enjoying my hospitality,” Alpin said. “Troops, armaments, plans … Any self-respecting informant could not fail to seize that opportunity.”
Faolan maintained his bland expression;
it was a skill he had perfected long ago.
it was a skill he had perfected long ago.
“However, there’s another part to this tale,” Alpin went on. There was a still intensity in his stance now that suggested a wildcat about to pounce. “You were seen at Dunadd, barely a season ago. I’d been thinking you reminded me of someone; it took my friend here to point out who it was. There’s a certain nobleman of the clan Uí Néill who bears more
than a passing resemblance to yourself. This man,” nodding toward the hooded Gael, “observed the two of you in covert conference on more than one occasion. Close enough to be that of blood kin, the likeness is: cousins, maybe, or uncle and nephew. I would conclude you’ve been there more than a few times, and taken away some handsome payments for the information you brought them; information only a
man close to King Bridei would be likely to have. Being kin to the Uí Néill makes you kin to the king of Dalriada, bard. It makes you Bridei’s sworn enemy. Taking silver from the lords of the Uí Néill makes you a traitor.”
than a passing resemblance to yourself. This man,” nodding toward the hooded Gael, “observed the two of you in covert conference on more than one occasion. Close enough to be that of blood kin, the likeness is: cousins, maybe, or uncle and nephew. I would conclude you’ve been there more than a few times, and taken away some handsome payments for the information you brought them; information only a
man close to King Bridei would be likely to have. Being kin to the Uí Néill makes you kin to the king of Dalriada, bard. It makes you Bridei’s sworn enemy. Taking silver from the lords of the Uí Néill makes you a traitor.”
The word hung in the air like the sound of a whiplash. That it was a lie made it hurt no less. Crazily, the thought uppermost in Faolan’s mind was that the hooded man deserved
congratulations; he wouldn’t have believed the most able spy in the world could have discovered this. He had covered his tracks meticulously.
congratulations; he wouldn’t have believed the most able spy in the world could have discovered this. He had covered his tracks meticulously.
“Ah,” said Alpin with a savage grin, “at last you have nothing to say for yourself.”
“Not so, my lord.” From some deep reserve of strength came the courteous words, the cool tone. “I had already severed the bonds of kinship before I left my home shore,
years ago. I possess no allegiances of blood. If this man has led you to believe otherwise he was mistaken.”
years ago. I possess no allegiances of blood. If this man has led you to believe otherwise he was mistaken.”
“You deny that you were at the court of Dalriada in spring? My friend here is a reliable source of information. He has never played me false before.”
“Then your lordship is indeed fortunate,” Faolan said. “Carrying false intelligence is part of any informant’s job. It’s how cleverly he
uses it that marks his talent for the profession.”
uses it that marks his talent for the profession.”
There was a little silence.
“May I ask a question?” Faolan ventured.
They looked at him.
“Why is this man present?” He nodded toward the gray-clad druid, who was listening calmly, his head turning toward one or another speaker, his old eyes bright with interest.
“As an impartial witness,” Dregard said. “You should be glad of his presence,
bard, for it means a true account of this meeting can be conveyed elsewhere without any cause for one to accuse another of twisting the facts.”
bard, for it means a true account of this meeting can be conveyed elsewhere without any cause for one to accuse another of twisting the facts.”
“Conveyed elsewhere. What do you mean by that?”
“Where would we start?” Alpin spread his hands as if to take in the whole world. “With Bridei, perhaps?”
Think, Faolan ordered himself. How to make this an opportunity; how to seize control so he had a
chance of getting her away. How to find out exactly what this was all about, and employ it to his own end. This was like balancing on a wire. He must pick a course with delicacy; he must use all the expertise he had, for Alpin was enraged, his eyes were like a fighting boar’s; it was something else that had sparked this anger, surely, something they were not discussing here. “Of course,” Faolan said
to the chieftain, “every leader worth his salt has a skilled informant at hand in these times of turmoil. Yours has me at a disadvantage, my lord. Interesting that he, too, is a Gael.”
chance of getting her away. How to find out exactly what this was all about, and employ it to his own end. This was like balancing on a wire. He must pick a course with delicacy; he must use all the expertise he had, for Alpin was enraged, his eyes were like a fighting boar’s; it was something else that had sparked this anger, surely, something they were not discussing here. “Of course,” Faolan said
to the chieftain, “every leader worth his salt has a skilled informant at hand in these times of turmoil. Yours has me at a disadvantage, my lord. Interesting that he, too, is a Gael.”
“Ah,” Dregard seized on this, “so you do know him.”
“Even silence can speak to those of us who know how to interpret it.”
The druid nodded at Faolan’s speech; he seemed to appreciate the sentiment.
“Tell me,”
Alpin said, seating himself once more, “why is it a man who has relinquished ties of kinship is so greedy for silver that he must accept payment from two masters at once? I’ll wager there’s a poor old mother tucked away somewhere, an impecunious sister or two in need of a dowry. Or have you conveniently rid yourself of them as well?”
Alpin said, seating himself once more, “why is it a man who has relinquished ties of kinship is so greedy for silver that he must accept payment from two masters at once? I’ll wager there’s a poor old mother tucked away somewhere, an impecunious sister or two in need of a dowry. Or have you conveniently rid yourself of them as well?”
A red fury welled up in Faolan and he could not stop himself
from surging forward. A moment later he was on the floor, his head ringing from a blow, his ribs aching from a boot thrust as two of the Briar Wood men stood over him. The pain was nothing beside the awareness that, in all the years since he walked away from his home and kin, he had never before lost control thus. He could not afford another error. More lives than his own hung in the balance here.
from surging forward. A moment later he was on the floor, his head ringing from a blow, his ribs aching from a boot thrust as two of the Briar Wood men stood over him. The pain was nothing beside the awareness that, in all the years since he walked away from his home and kin, he had never before lost control thus. He could not afford another error. More lives than his own hung in the balance here.
“I touched a nerve,” Alpin said, sounding genuinely surprised. “The best spies aren’t supposed to have those. Perhaps you’re losing your edge, Gael. Get up, and wipe off that blood, it’s getting in your eye. We can’t have our bard spoiling his pretty face, not with the wedding tomorrow. Now give me one good reason why I shouldn’t chain you up like a dog and send a messenger to Bridei’s court right
now telling him the spotless bride he dispatched to me was accompanied by a stinking turncoat in the pay of both Fortriu and Dalriada? Why shouldn’t I do that? I’m signing an agreement to support this king, after all, there it is before you all written down, just waiting for my mark and the lady’s.”
now telling him the spotless bride he dispatched to me was accompanied by a stinking turncoat in the pay of both Fortriu and Dalriada? Why shouldn’t I do that? I’m signing an agreement to support this king, after all, there it is before you all written down, just waiting for my mark and the lady’s.”
Alpin was starting to enjoy himself, Faolan thought, angry or not. He must be supremely confident
of his authority if he could use this argument while a Gaelic spy sat by him at his council table.
of his authority if he could use this argument while a Gaelic spy sat by him at his council table.
“I see where you’re looking,” the chieftain of Briar Wood said, curling his lip. “I remind you that there is not one Gael among us tonight, but two. And one of them is a servant of two masters. Don’t I owe it to Bridei to warn him you’re a danger and should be stopped?”
Somewhere in Faolan’s head
a hammer was banging on an anvil. His vision blurred; the candle flames danced. “I have an answer, my lord. It is an answer best suited to private conversation, just you and I in confidence.”
a hammer was banging on an anvil. His vision blurred; the candle flames danced. “I have an answer, my lord. It is an answer best suited to private conversation, just you and I in confidence.”
“Hah!” Alpin’s brows shot up in disbelief, and Dregard laughed aloud. “I don’t think so, my fine friend. Those dancing fingers of yours are quick enough with a knife to make that most unwise.”
“Have your
men bind me if you prefer. Retain one guard here if you must, as long as he can be trusted to keep his mouth shut; you may not want any of your men to hear what I have to say. I won’t speak before the Gael, nor this druid, nor your councillor there.”
men bind me if you prefer. Retain one guard here if you must, as long as he can be trusted to keep his mouth shut; you may not want any of your men to hear what I have to say. I won’t speak before the Gael, nor this druid, nor your councillor there.”
“It’s not for you to start dictating terms—” Dregard protested.
“Lord Alpin is nothing if not astute,” Faolan said quietly. “Like any leader of
ability, he understands the importance of timing. And of exploiting opportunity when it offers itself. Tie up my wrists and ankles. I am not so prodigious in my talents that I can fly across the chamber and attack a man with my teeth.” He had seen the spark in Alpin’s eye, the awareness that something was on offer that perhaps he could not afford to let pass.
ability, he understands the importance of timing. And of exploiting opportunity when it offers itself. Tie up my wrists and ankles. I am not so prodigious in my talents that I can fly across the chamber and attack a man with my teeth.” He had seen the spark in Alpin’s eye, the awareness that something was on offer that perhaps he could not afford to let pass.
“The druid stays,” Alpin said. “He’s
my safeguard where the lady is concerned. The rest of you leave us. Yes, you too, Mordec, after you’ve bound this fellow securely. Goban, stand outside the door and don’t let anyone in.”
my safeguard where the lady is concerned. The rest of you leave us. Yes, you too, Mordec, after you’ve bound this fellow securely. Goban, stand outside the door and don’t let anyone in.”
Dregard, muttering, ushered the hooded man out as two of the warriors tied Faolan’s arms behind his back, somewhat more tightly than was required, and twisted a length of rope around his ankles. He attempted
a joke about hoping they’d be able to get the knot undone and was rewarded with an eye-watering blow to the kneecap. The door closed behind them. At the table the druid sat calmly, his demeanor one of polite attention.
a joke about hoping they’d be able to get the knot undone and was rewarded with an eye-watering blow to the kneecap. The door closed behind them. At the table the druid sat calmly, his demeanor one of polite attention.
“Get on with it,” Alpin said. “I don’t expect a confession; I think we both know what my informant has told me is correct in its main material, and that as a result you are in
quite an awkward position. Does Ana know? Is she complicit in your treachery?”
quite an awkward position. Does Ana know? Is she complicit in your treachery?”
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