The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom

In the land of Ayr two noble families, the Renne and the Wills, fight for political advantage in this sprawling first volume in a new high fantasy series distinguished by intelligent characters and believable politics. The Renn? noblemen set out on a path of treachery, conceiving a plan to murder one of their own at the Westbrook Fair and, by so doing, frame the other family. The Wills plan an equally heinous act; they want to force a spunky young noblewoman to marry a handsome but subjugated prince, in order to produce an heir who'll be their puppet on the throne. Meanwhile, Tam, Fynnol and Baore, three young cousins of supposed peasant background, believing themselves far removed from the politics of the nobles, blithely set out from their sheltered homes in the Vale to make their fortunes. But when they encounter Alaan, a mysterious rogue with a charming demeanor, all their plans go awry. Supernatural forces cause paths and tributaries to mysteriously and unpredictably open, channeling the travelers into unforeseen lands and onto heretofore hidden islands, with hazardous results. Inevitably, all paths lead to the Westbrook Fair. Russell (River Into Darkness) so neatly interweaves the supernatural characters into the story that the magical elements seem an organic part of the history being made. This a perfectly plotted, beautifully written fantasy. Agent, Howard Morhaim. (Feb. 8)Forecast: With rights already sold to Germany and the U.K., for six figures each, as well as a strong blurbs from Stephen Donaldson, Robin Hobb and Janny Wurts, plus a three-city author tour, this novel looks to be on the fantasy fast track.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Sean Russell

THE ONE KINGDOM

Book One of The Swans' War

IN THE MOVING LANDSCAPE ONLY THE MEN WERE STILL. THEY SAT AT the long table atop Summer's Hill as motionless as stones in a running stream. Around them the wind was in flight, more joyous than a swallow, as heedless as a child. It swept down onto the new green oats and raked through the hay, making waves and patterns like sand on a riverbed. Gusts bent and swayed the trees, pulling away the spring leaves and spinning them up into the wind-washed sky. But in the center of this the men remained still. Dease was relieved that he and Samul had prevailed, and the others had agreed to meet here, where the countryside was visible for almost half a league. He didn't want to take the least chance that they would be overheard—it was enough that they had to listen to themselves.” I would say there is not one among the Wills who can even unhorse him, let alone manage what we need," Samul said— Samul, who almost never spoke out in the family assemblies, preferring to seed his ideas in the minds of others so that he might watch quietly. Samul the cunning, Dease thought of him. Beld shifted on his bench.” Toren is so sympathetic to the Wills that I think they should not even want to cause him a bruise, let alone do him harm." Dease noticed that the others looked a little uncomfortable whenever Beldor spoke. No matter what their feelings in this, no one else hated Toren the way that Beld did. Several were Toren's admirers, in many ways.

"I fear we can't trust to others to do it for us," Samul said softly.” I think the earlier plan the best. We let our cousin win the tournament, as he is likely to do anyway, and then do the deed at night so that it looks like revenge. That would be best. It will see our dear cousin removed from the succession and place the blame clearly on the Wills.""It will hardly be clear," Dease said, unwilling to hide his distaste for what they planned, "not that it will matter. Everyone is ready to believe the Wills capable of the worst treachery.""Then that is what we'll do, Cousins," Beld said, sitting back a little on his bench.” I worry only that some might lose their nerve." He looked around the table.” That hard decisions do not come easy to everyone.""You can name me, Beld," Dease said.” We all know of whom you speak. You're hardly subtle.""But subtlety is not what's needed," Beld answered, sitting forward quickly, his temper flaring. Dease could see his cousin's muscles tensing beneath his tunic.” Deeds are what's required, Cousin, and I'm not sure you can stomach that, being such an admirer of Toren's and all."Dease met his cousin's gaze easily, not looking away or even looking particularly intimidated, and very few were not intimidated by Beld. He was a great bear of a man, but even more so, he looked like someone barely in control of a vast and raging anger—which was, in fact, the truth.

"I do admire him," Dease said simply.” In many ways he is the best of us, and not just on the tournament field."Beld banged his fists on the table.” But Toren will give us over to the Wills! He thinks that they can be won over by charm and words, that they will be convinced to give up their feud of nine generations. He will gift them the Isle of Battle, which is no different than giving them the wealth to raise an army. Toren thinks that all we have to do is renounce our claim to the throne—as simple as that—and they will do the same, and all will be well with the world." He looked around at the others quickly.” Give up our claim! I've heard him say it myself. Do he know what the Wills would do to us if they were ever to ascend the throne? They would not forget the past. They would not forgive. Toren will see the Renné name eradicated from Ayr, that's what Toren's... statecraft will accomplish. But it isn't our name that I want to see forgotten. No, I for one have had enough of his conciliation. I—" "Enough, Beld!" Dease interrupted.” We've all heard you rant before. Spare us, this day." Beld lunged up from the bench, but Arden and Samul grabbed his massive arms, and he let them pull him back onto the bench.” Enough of this," Samul said, his voice, as always, firm and reasonable.” Don't bait him, Dease; we can't afford division now." "Yes, I know, but let's not try to justify what we do as noble, Samul. It is the most vile treachery. We are about to murder our own cousin, and though I admit it's necessary to our preservation, still I can't pretend it is anything but what it is. You all know I've tried to reason with Toren, I've spent countless hours in this vain pursuit, and I sometimes think he came nearer to convincing me, than me to him." He splayed a large hand on the table, looking down at it sadly.” But I'm sure now that he will not be convinced to give up this folly. So we must either follow him to disaster or resort to treachery. For the future of our family, I choose treachery, but I have no doubt that I am a blackguard—a murderer and a traitor. And if we are discovered, don't imagine that our family will think otherwise, for they would rather honorable ruin than this ignominy that we have chosen." The stillness returned, as the wind raged around them, swaying the branches of the tree overhead so that shadow and sunlight chased each other madly across the table and over the grim faces of the gathered men.” Are you with us, yea or nay, Dease?" Samul asked at last. Dease looked up, a little surprised by the question.” I'm with you, yea and nay, Cousin, but I'm with you."Samul stared down at the table before him.” Then," he said softly, "we have only to decide who will do it and how.""I'll gladly take this infamy on myself, Cousins," Beld said, trying, but failing, to hide his satisfaction.

"No," Dease said firmly.” This is not an act born of hatred. I will do this thing"—he took a breath—"for I love him best."Beld began to protest, but Samul silenced him.” Then you will both go. Dease will do the deed, and Beld will witness. And we will all pledge ourselves to silence or to hang together, if that is what comes—but it will be as though each of us had committed the act himself. Do you agree?"No movement, and then each man nodded his head in turn, some more reluctantly than others. Silence settled around them again.

"How do you propose to do it, Cousin?" Arden asked quietly. He was the youngest of them, barely more than twenty, and spoke his mind the least, though Dease knew that he was not the least thoughtful.

Dease looked up from the table, the sorrow of the death already etched on his face.” During the archery trials at the Westbrook Tournament I will steal arrows from the Wills...." He paused to take a sudden breath.” And I will use them to shoot Toren through the heart. He will die quickly." No one made comment, but they sat with the weight of what they would do and what they had become pressing down on them.

A gust of wind moved the branches overhead so that the leaves hissed. A dark bird clung determinedly to its perch, protesting the disturbance.

"Once," Arden began, his voice filled with affection and sadness, "Toren unseated me at the tournament in Waye, and afterward—""Don't begin that!" Dease said, turning on his cousin.” Don't even think of beginning that! You have no right. None of us has any right."When the men went to untether their horses, the wind, which had not paused to draw breath all morning, sighed once and died away. So the cousins rode down the hill into a newly still world, where the only sounds were their horses passing, for the men spoke not at all.

The silence left after the death of the wind was like the world in mourning. Even the birds gave up their songs. Dease rode along a lane shaded by plane trees, enduring his sorrow. Like the countryside after the wind's death, he felt emptied, hollow. Silence invaded him. Silence and bitterness. Out of his sadness and remorse came feelings of anger and resentment toward his cousin. Why was Toren forcing them to this? Could he not have listened to reason? Could he not have heeded the warnings—for Dease had tried to warn him. Unfortunately, Toren did not believe that anyone's opinions had more validity than his own—a family weakness. Beld suffered the same problem, and he had not half the intellect of Toren. It was difficult for Dease to admit that he agreed with Beldor this time, though Beld's opinions were mere reactions, not arrived at by careful consideration— perhaps there had been no thought at all. Dease realized that more than anything he wished that their problem could be solved by Beld's death. That death he would not feel such sorrow over. The idea that Beld would accompany him—no doubt to savor the death of the cousin he hated—did not sit well with Dease. He wondered if Beld could suffer an accident on the tilt field that summer. It wasn't impossible. But, no; one murder was enough, even though Beld was more deserving of it than Toren—at least in some ways. Dease shut his eyes and tried to clear these thoughts from his brain. When he opened them he looked around and saw something moving across a field.

It was Arden's head bobbing just above the green oats. His young cousin was trotting along beyond the field, trying to outpace him, no doubt. Planning to intercept him.

He will want to talk, Dease realized, and then hoped the others would not see them. It could not help but look suspicious. Why had Arden not ridden off with him in the first place? Everyone would have thought that innocent enough.

This is what conies of being a conspirator, he realized: you live in fear of suspicion.

At the corner of the next field Arden caught him, his face red in the sun, his look a bit embarrassed. Dease was certain that the decision they had made did not seem real to Arden yet. It was all just talk, as most things were with young men.

"Cousin," Arden said as he reined his horse in, and then nothing. Silent like the world around them.” May I ride with you awhile?"Dease nodded and the two fell in side by side, riding down the long row of trees, from shadow to light to shadow again.

"You're not happy with the decision," Dease said at last.

"No one is happy.... No one but Beld, that is." He played with his mare's mane.” I still hope that Toren can be convinced to change his mind. There is time. The Westbrook Fair is some months off." He looked up at Dease, clearly an appeal.” He won't listen to me, but don't you give up, Dease. Toren might be brought to his senses yet."Dease nodded, though it was not in agreement.” I will try, but I fear my constant badgering has begun to antagonize him."They rode on through the still day, each of them lost in thought. Dease looked at his cousin. He had grown into a fair young man, or at least that was what the women thought. Blond and blue-eyed like so many Renné , with skin fair as a child's. Arden was strongly built, like his father—or so he would be when he reached his full weight. Dease had not seen Arden on the tilt field in some time, but he was hearing reports that his young cousin would do the Renné proud this season.

Suddenly Arden raised his head.” I have one concern, Dease." He said this so earnestly that Dease found himself leaning over to hear what would be said next.” What if Beldor's interest in this is not so simple as it seems? We all know he hates Toren—that is not in question—but after Toren is dead the succession falls to Kel. And after Kel only you stand between Beldor and the throne. And if the feud begins again ..." "There is no throne," Dease reminded him. Arden looked at him oddly, as though trying to plumb his thoughts.” Perhaps, but who does Beldor hate most next to Toren?" Dease nodded. It was no secret. Beld hated him. Hated him for their difference. Beld, the man of action, could not bear Dease's thoughtfulness. His love of music and art were offensive to a man of arms. Such interests weakened a man. He had heard Beld say it. And the fact that Dease always triumphed over Beld on the tilt field drove his cousin to fury.” Everyone has had this same thought, Arden. Beld knew I wouldn't let him do this thing. I wonder if he wanted to be seen to offer. Who would suspect the man offering to commit the murder of treachery? But, in fact, we all do. I've never turned my back to Cousin Beld." "Samul and I have our eye on him, Cousin," Arden said.” If some accident befalls you after Toren is gone, we've made a pact. We shall not let Beldor come into the succession. We will not." Hearing this, Dease closed his eyes. His sorrow kicked inside him. Such was the choice they'd made this afternoon upon Summer's Hill.