The Swans' War 1 - The One Kingdom (32 page)

Immediately she closed the door, turning back to the young man who had drawn closer now, two paces distant.” Perhaps a glass of wine and a chat would not be untoward," she said, trying to smile.” Is that my father outside?" he asked.” It seems likely," she said, her voice small.

"What have you done that he seeks you?""I spoke the truth. I am fleeing an evil man. I've done nothing immoral or dishonorable. I swear." He looked into her eyes a moment, then nodded.” If it is a dream, what harm can there be in letting you escape?" "None, I should think." "Where will you go?" "Down the servants stair." "And then?" She shook her head.” There is a boat at the dock." He nodded.” Let me look out into the hall." "You give your word?" she whispered. "I'll not betray you," he said. On impulse, Elise kissed him on the cheek and stepped aside, feeling her heart pounding. Lord Carl opened the door and stepped out. In an instant he pushed the door wide.” Quickly," he whispered, taking her arm. They almost leapt across the hall and into the servants stair, which was unlit, and they bore no candle. "My dream is turning very dark," he said, as he felt his way down, leading Elise by the hand.

"Our faith is tested in darkness," she said, "but we must not falter.""You talk just like a woman in a dream," he said.

Elise did not answer, for she missed a step and stumbled, recovering with aid from her savior.” Not so quickly," she said.” Let's arrive at the bottom intact." There was a sudden noise in the stairwell above, and light cascaded down, splashing from step to step.

"Run," her companion whispered.

The light illuminated the way and they flew down, barely touching foot to tread. From above them the sound of boots thundered in the well. In a moment they were in another hallway, lit by candles in sconces. They fled hand in hand, already out of breath, and as they turned a corner they ran headlong into a band of men-at-arms.

"Ah, just in time," Carl said quickly, stepping aside.” There is some confusion in the hallway outside my rooms." He waved the men on, but no one moved.” Lord Carl?" one of the men ventured.” It is this woman that is the cause of the confusion." "I can hardly credit that—" But it was too late. The men who had chased them down the stair rounded the corner then, and all ways were blocked. Elise did not think wit could save them now. If only she were a woman in a dream, and could disappear. A moment later an imposing man appeared, the others giving way to him. He was like enough to Carl to be his father, and in tow he had Gartnn between two burly men.” What goes on here? Carl?" They were still holding hands, Elise realized, and relaxed her grip, but Carl did not do the same. He kept her hand within his own.” I don't know, Father. We were merely having a tour of the castle when these men assaulted us." "That is the woman, your grace," a servant said.” I saw her in the house of Lord Menwyn Wills. Daughter of Lord Carral, your grace, I am sure." Lord A'denne gazed at her solemnly.” Are you the daughter of Lord Carral Wills?" he asked. Elise did not know what to answer, and even if she did, the power of speech seemed to have fled.” She certainly is not," Gartnn spoke up.” I did not ask you, minstrel," Lord A'denne said darkly.” I ... I am not, sir," Elise managed, thinking her denial sounded particularly unconvincing. The lord continued to gaze at her a moment more.” No, I don't think you are either." "But, your grace!" the servant spluttered. The nobleman turned and cuffed the servant across the head.” You've caused trouble enough!" he said sternly.” Making false accusations against my guests. Causing me to ride most of a day for nothing. You will apologize immediately."The man cowered now, hanging his head.” Certainly. I apologize most humbly. Most humbly.""And not a word more of this or you will be the new stable boy." The lord turned back to Elise and shook his head.” And your name, my dear?""Angeline. Angeline A'drent."

"A noble name," the lord said, performing a graceful bow.

Gartnn had given her the name. Many minstrels took noble names; and there actually were highborn minstrels, though few of these were women. But even so, it was a custom that a player claiming a noble name was treated, if not as a noble, then with a certain deference. Very few could carry it off, though, and those who couldn't play the part were quickly the butt of jokes. Elise, however, would have no difficulty "carrying it off.""You are a gracious lord," Elise said, curtseying.” Your son said you were renowned for your fairness, and now I see he did not exaggerate, as sons sometimes will.""No, he is not prone to exaggeration." The lord turned to the guards detaining Gartnn.” Free him. Please accept my apologies, good minstrel." He turned back to Elise.” Would you join me a moment?" He gestured down the hallway.

Elise nodded her assent, and squeezing Lord Carl's hand once, she followed, paying no attention to any they left behind, as a noble woman should.

Lord A'denne opened a door into a large study lined with books and allowed her to precede him in. He gestured to a chair, and Elise lowered herself into it. She still carried the bag she had quickly packed for her escape. And after slipping on the roof must look a sight.

He went to a sideboard and found a decanter of wine, which she accepted with a nod. Passing her a glass, Lord A'denn^ took a seat opposite.

"Do you think you can actually escape the Prince of Innes and his counselor?" he asked. For a second she did not respond.” Whatever do you mean?" she said.” You need not continue the farce. I've no intention of returning you. You see, if you marry Prince Michael I will be forced into a war I don't wish to enter." He tasted his wine.” And yet, if it is learned that I let you slip away—or worse, that I knew you for who you were and aided you on your way... Well, the Prince has long wanted to try his army in the field, and what forces I can muster cannot hope to stand against them. So you see, I should return you, yet I won't. If I'm to take such risks, then at least you might reward them by trusting me. It's all I ask." Elise stared into his eyes for a moment.” You have a remarkable son, I think," she said evenly.” Perhaps I should marry him and then I wouldn't have to be concerned about other suitors." Lord A'denne smiled.” He is remarkable and you would be a good match, but I would eventually have to pay for so insulting the Prince of Innes, which I'm not prepared to do. But, of course, you jest. Were you serious, I couldn't refuse." Elise merely shrugged and sipped her wine.” Now that we've established that you are not the Lady Elise Wills, daughter of the famous Lord Carral—how fares he, by the way?" "Well, thank you." "I'm glad to hear it. Now that we have established that you are not that lady, how might I aid you? Certainly I owe you something for the distress you've suffered this night." "I don't know that there is anything you can do, though it's kind of you to offer. May I ask my companion Gartnn? If there is any boon we might ask, he would know." "You may indeed." The lord gazed at her as though there were something about her he could not quite fathom.” Why would the Lady Elise choose to flee, do you think?" Elise shrugged.” Perhaps she will not be a broodmare for the Prince of Innes and his counselor. Perhaps she sees an alliance leading to war, and there has been enough war.""I think her a wise and courageous woman. If she were serious about marrying my son I would almost be willing to take the risk.""But then the war you hope to avoid would come to you. I think it would be an unwise union, though a happy one, perhaps." She set her wine on a small table.” May I speak with my companion?"He nodded his consent, and Lady Elise rose, thinking that it had turned out like a dream after all: like a story, with wise compassionate lords, handsome sons, and escapes over rooftops.

She expected to wake at any moment.

The sky pearled toward light as they untied their lines. They had interrupted Elffen's tryst, for which she hadn't forgiven them, and still sulked ominously. Along the riverbank, the gray forms of the daylit world began to emerge. And the river lay like mercury: inert, viscous, impenetrable.

Carl accompanied them to the dock.” I shall never again have so fair a dream," he said.

"Oh, I think you shall have many dreams, and fairer," Elise answered, trying to make the moment light for reasons she didn't understand.

"If ever you pass by again, I want you to know, my window is always open."Elise laughed. She looked over to the boat to find both Gartnn and Elffen watching. They looked quickly away.

/ am protected by my family no longer, she reminded herself, stood up on the tips of her toes, and kissed Carl softly. For a moment more her hands lingered within his, and then she was crossing to the boat, a blush warming her cheek.

Gartnn pushed them off, taking up the oars.” I wish you would both stop smiling so," Gartnn growled.” We are in grave danger, you realize. If we are caught... Well, it will not be you, Lady Elise, who pays the price."Elise felt her smile evaporate.

You don't know, Gartnn, she thought. You don't know what price I would pay.

THE APPARITION THEY HAD SEEN PASS THROUGH THE EYE OF THE Wynnd did not appear again that day, though they watched the river almost constantly. Fynnol kept returning to the subject again and again, seemingly unaware of the others' reluctance to speak of it. Even Baore seemed to shy away from the subject, but then the big man liked to dwell in a solid, familiar world. Not one where phantoms swam just beneath the surface. They stood their usual watches as darkness fell, but this night Fynnol and Baore were not just on the lookout for men-at-arms who might still be pursuing them. Tarn thought they all looked in need of more rest when they set out in the morning. The leisurely pace of the river soon lulled Baore and Fynnol to sleep, but, as always, Cynddl watched the banks, ever intent and curious. And he has come looking for the stories of long-dead sorcerers, Tarn thought. He wondered if it were true that Cynddl didn't know why his people had sent him. In the late morning the Fael whispered Tarn's name and then stretched out a hand, pointing at the bank. And there Tarn saw a hart, its pelt white as cloud. The beast raised its head from drinking and regarded the boat and its occupants regally.

"See the spread of antlers!" Cynddl whispered.

"All the beasts of legend seem to live along the river," Tarn said softly. He reached forward to rouse Baore, but the motion caused the beast to start, and it gazed only an instant more and then was gone up the bank and into the shadows of the trees. For a moment Tam followed its flight, the unnatural white appearing here and there in the dark-forested hillside.

Cynddl looked to him and smiled.” Men who say they've seen the white hart are branded liars, so perhaps we shouldn't admit to it, but we'll always know what we saw, Tam. Black swans and white hart. If you were a man of old you might think these were omens and take them for your coat of arms."Tam stared off at the bank as though the hart might appear again.” In the Vale they say if you can take the skin and antlers of a white hart, men of the lowland will pay you a fortune for them.""That's true," Cynddl said.” Do you wish you'd drawn an arrow?"Tam shook his head.” No. The life of such a creature was not meant to profit me. But it is a good thing Fynnol slept. He might not've felt the same way."Later that day they drew the boat up at a sharp elbow in the river, and climbed a high, steep bank. It was one of Cynddl's mysterious way points—a place where a sorcerer once dwelt and where his story perhaps still echoed. After what he had found at Cooling Keep, Cynddl had not planned to stop here, but once within sight he couldn't resist a brief visit.

"There was a city, here?" Fynnol said, looking around at the underwood and trees. His mood had changed a little since they had seen the swimmer in the gorge. When he re-

alized the others would not speculate as to its nature, he had become uncommonly pensive.” I don't know if it would be a city, Fynnol, but certainly the race that lived in the Greensprings built a place of dwelling here. On my map it's marked as Aullioc, which in the Fael language means 'Overlook.'" He gestured to the views both up and down the river. Tam found himself staring down the sparkling south-running stream. He could almost imagine strange craft plying these waters, bearing the lost race of the Greensprings: maidens fair as summer nights and chieftains wearing the skin of the white hart over their shoulders, antlers decorating their helms. As he stared at the glittering waters, a dark silhouette appeared from the shadow of the bank—a man standing in a small boat, a pole in hand. For a moment Tam was so surprised that he didn't speak, and then the shape was lost in the shimmering ribbon of river. He glanced at the others, but all of them were looking elsewhere and none had seen. Perhaps it had been only a fallen tree, afloat with a branch pointing skyward. It was so far off....” I think we should dig here," Fynnol said, "and see what we find. If this was once a village, then something should lie beneath the surface." "You'd dig very deep before you'd find anything here, Fynnol," Cynddl said.” Men haven't lived here in many, many centuries." Tam found a seat of moss, his back against the bole of an oak, and stared off down the river, which seemed much more distant than reason told him it could be. Cynddl went quietly off into the wood—listening for the voices that only he heard. Baore had brought his shod staff, as though expecting wild beasts, and he and Fynnol went off into the wood to explore, Fynnol waving his bow and promising to bring back dinner. Tam sat for a time, staring at the gleaming river, and then he nodded and fell into a dream. A river of silver coins spread before him, glittering in the sunlight. Tarn stood high upon a hill, dazzled by the sight, the distant tinkling of silver like leaves fluttering in the wind.

And then he awoke, and found himself lying on the moss, looking up at the leaves moving in the breeze, sunlight dancing across his arms and face.

Someone cleared his throat and Tarn propped himself up, expecting to find Cynddl or one of the others. But instead a stranger stood a few feet away, a staff in one hand and a bag over his shoulder.

"Ah, you return to this world," the man said, offering a smile like sunlight through the leaves.

"And who are you?" Tarn said, surprise turning his question into an accusation.

"I am Theason Hollyoak," the man said, making something of a bow.

"Did I see you on the river"—Tarn motioned south— "standing in a boat?""Yes. That was Theason. He chanced to look back and saw silhouettes moving on the hilltop." He bent his thin neck forward a little and narrowed his eyes to gaze at Tarn.” I am looking for three young men from the Vale and a Fael story finder."Tam scrambled up, brushing dead leaves and detritus from his clothes.” You need look no further. I'm Tamlyn Loell. Tam, my friends call me.""Then I will call you Tamlyn, for I know you not," the stranger said, and did not seem to be jesting.

He was slight of form and the height of Fynnol, perhaps. His thin hair was pulled back into a tail. Tam thought the man should be a minstrel, for he had delicate hands and fine bones. Not the heft and muscle of a man who wandered the wildlands. His face was serious and long, with three parallel scars running from above one eye down to the chin opposite. Seeing where Tarn's gaze went Theason waved a hand at his face.” A mountain lion took exception to Theason's curiosity in her cubs," he said, "though it was perfectly innocent curiosity, I assure you." He touched a long finger to his scar.” I have teeth marks in my shoulder that set these scratches off rather finely. Like marks of punctuation scrawled over my skin. Thank the river for bloodwood and widow's bloom." There was an awkward silence for a moment—at least Tam felt awkward. Theason didn't seem to notice.” I have just woken," Tam said, "and my brain is all wool and dust balls. Did you say you looked for us?" The man nodded.” I am a friend and messenger of Eber son of Eiresit—" But just then the voice of Fynnol came through the trees, followed by Cynddl's laughter. In a moment the two appeared, Fynnol holding up a brace of hare. They paused in surprise.” This is Theason. He's been seeking us." Tam introduced his cousin and Cynddl, and the odd silence fell again.” You began to tell me of Eber," Tam prompted.” Oh, yes," the stranger said, blinking as though he looked into the sun.” When you left Speaking Stone, Eber had a visitor," he said very quietly, and looked at each of them in turn.” A nagar appeared upon his island." "A what?" Fynnol asked.” I've heard that word," Cynddl said.” A spirit, you mean? Or a ghost?" "No, not really," the man answered.” No one can say what they are, but Eber believes they are the remnants of a people long dead. The people who made their kingdoms in the north. They were strong in magic, if that is the proper word. And the strongest did not die but merely faded, dissipated, perhaps. At times they take form, coalesce; around a place or an object. Sometimes around a person or an animal. At times they can be quite substantial—almost as you or I. At others they are fainter than moonlight or like a mist on the river.” Eber saw one upon his island, after you left—a fair woman, searching among tree and stone. Even into his house, she came, and went silently from room to room. To his horror, she found his son and spoke with him, but harmed him not. It was then that she went down to the shore where you had made your camp. There she searched again. Not finding what she sought, she went into the waters and the speaking river swallowed her up." The man looked at each of them in turn.” I see you are not surprised by this.""We saw something in the water at the Eye of the Wynnd," Fynnol said.” It appeared to be a woman, but we couldn't be sure."Theason nodded solemnly.” That will be the nagar Eber saw," he said.” He sent me to tell you: hurry south. Do not tarry. The sooner you leave the wildlands the sooner you will be free of this creature, for they're seldom seen below the Greensprings. I would add my own warning: you would be foolish to ignore the counsel of Eber son of Eiresit. He dwells in the heart of the ancient kingdoms and knows more of the lost people than any other. And he fears the nagar.""But why should we fear it?" Fynnol said.” Cynddl and Tarn believe it healed my cousin Baore when he lay dying of a wound gone septic." Fynnol glanced at Tam.” You've not been as secretive as you think," he said, "whispering among yourselves at night."Theason sat down upon a hummock, as though tired from his efforts to find them. For a moment he was very still.” Tell Theason how it healed your cousin.""I saw it," Tam said after a moment, "as Baore lay suffering from a wound—""But how was he wounded?" Theason asked. Tam glanced to Cynddl and then shrugged.” If you're in no hurry, it's a long story."Theason settled himself on his hummock.” I will hear it," he said.

And so Tam told their story from the chance meeting of Alaan at Telanon Bridge, down to the sighting of the nagar at the Eye. He left out only Cynddl's true purpose for traveling the river and the things he'd found—everything else he told, and he was not sure why. There was something about Theason—a kind of innocence, not unlike fiber's—that made Tam trust him. When he was done Theason lifted the strap of the bag over his head and sat it at his feet, rummaging inside. He found a thin, gray stick of some shrub and split it, gouging out the dry, brown core with his fingernail. This he put in his mouth and began to chew thoughtfully.” Theason," he began, softly, "hasn't the knowledge to advise you in this, but it is the worst news you give me. Your kinsman is in greater danger than you know. Better to face any number of men-at-arms than be indebted to a nagar. Better death, some would say. Among the people of the wild-lands the nagar is the thing most feared." "But why?" Fynnol said.” The nagar, Fynnol Loell, are creatures of story and myth," Theason said.” None have been seen in many generations, and if anyone but Eber had told me one had appeared I would not have believed it.” There are many stories and songs of the nagar. Theason can't tell you which are true and which are fancy, but here is one I offer for your judgment." He split his stick further, digging out the soft core and laying it on his tongue.” A man named Tannl dwelt by the River Wynnd, though in those days it was called the Wyrr—'the strange.' Tannl lived in a house of log and stone that he had built with his own hands. Here he and his wife settled, far from the villages of men.” The long winter set in and snow fell in unusual abundance that first year, but the river flowed swiftly there and did not freeze. The first full moon of winter rose crimson in the east, and then the next was white as frost: Tannl's wife was with child. Their joy pressed back the cold and loneliness they felt in that far-off place.” One night, in the calm and silence of the snows, they heard, far off, high voices crying. And as they listened these cruel voices drew near: wolves, driven down from the skirts of the mountains by the harsh winter.

"Soon the voices were all about them, howling eerily, and wolves began tearing at the doors and shutters. All night this went on, Tannl and his wife huddled by the fire, he with axe at hand for fear the doors would be breached. When light came the wolves fell silent and withdrew into the forest. Tannl ventured forth to fill a bucket with snow so that they might drink, but all about the house the wolves had fouled the snow, and Tannl was forced to go to the river. As he bent over the flowing water the wolves leapt out from among the trees, snarling and howling, some going to the house and others to Tannl.

"He had only his axe to defend himself and in a moment was driven into the winter river. The cold poured into him and he sank down into the icy green waters. Here he floated, his life leaching out, carried away on the current. But then he realized a face stared at him—a woman's face, sad and pale. In the sounds of the river running among stones he heard a voice and it said to him, 'Your wife and unborn child are doomed, and you are drifting now toward death, but I will save you all if you will do my bidding.'' 'Yes,' he said. 'Save us and I will do whatever you ask.' The nagar nodded and took hold of his hair, dragging him out of the river onto a narrow ledge of ice formed along the bank. In a moment the wolves found him and came bounding down onto the ice. But where they put their paws the ice broke away and they floundered into the swift-flowing river, and were swept to their deaths.

"Tannl saw the wolves tearing at the door to his home, and from within heard the screams of his wife. He rose up, caked in ice like a candle dripping wax, but as he clambered onto the bank, a scream split the air. A great, white eagle, the ghost king of legend, dropped out of the sky and dug its talons into the chieftain of the wolves, carrying him up into the sky. The rest of the pack fled in terror.

"So Tannl was delivered and heard the howls of the wolves no more. In the early autumn the child was born, but before its time—a baby girl tiny and frail, too weak even to nurse. It lay on its mother's breast, suffering to breathe, the life seeping out of it by the hour. Finally Tannl's wife fell asleep, too exhausted by her ordeal to stay awake. Tannl took the dying babe and wrapped it in a blanket, then, clutching it close to his breast, went out into the night.” He walked to the bank of the river, where he stood in the shallows and whispered, 'You said you would save my child, but here she lies, near to death.' The surface broke and the creature that had saved him rose, walking up into the shallows, its eyes like moons, flesh white as fish skin. 'I will save her,' the nagar said, 'but she is mine now. That is the price of your deliverance.' Tannl could not bear to give up the child, but the nagar reached out and, turning back the folds of the blanket, lifted the barely breathing child. She went back into the river, disappearing into the green depths, the child cradled in arms white as snow.” Tannl wept then, for a time, on the bank of the cruel Wyrr. Then he went back to his woodpile and built a pyre. He wrapped sticks in the blanket he had used for the child, and tucked this deep within the pyre. He woke his wife and told her their daughter had died as she slept, and took her out to the pyre. She fell on her knees and wept, begging to see the child once more, to hold it close once before he lit the flame. But Tannl fired the wood, and the flames soon consumed the blankets and what was hidden beneath.” For years after, his sad wife would say that she saw a small girl peering at her, sometimes from the river, sometimes from among the branches of trees. Finally Tannl took his wife away, though she did not want to leave the place, as though she could sense that her daughter lived, somehow. But they went south, back to the inhabited lands, and lived out their days, childless and haunted by sorrow." Theason looked at the companions seated before him. "The stories of the nagar are always thus—bargains that go awry, promises broken. The nagar have purposes of their own and no loyalty to living men. Did the nagar speak with your kinsmen?"Fynnol looked at the others quickly, then shook his head.” Not that we know. In truth, we don't believe Baore knows that she came to him that night at all. But he's been haunted by nightmares and has slept poorly ever since."Theason rocked back and forth a little where he sat, like a child.” Perhaps it's better that he knows nothing more. Get south of the wildlands, that is your best course.""If the river will carry us there," Fynnol said.” Who knows where the Wynnd will take us next?"Theason opened his bag again, taking out a small sack of nuts. This he offered to the others, and then took some himself.” The Wynnd will always bear you south, though you might find yourself upon some other branch for a time. In the end all branches lead to the sea.""You've found yourself on the hidden river, then?" Tarn said.