Through Wolf's Eyes (66 page)

"Word has come to the Watchful Eye," Zorana said, her
voice low and breathy with excitement, "that Generals Yuci and Grimsel
have sent a letter to Queen Gustin—with copies to her representatives
here—having to do with their discovery of something about Bright Bay of
which the Stonehold government seems to strongly disapprove. They have
demanded that Queen Gustin the Fourth come meet with them immediately.
They say that if she does not the alliance between Stonehold and Bright
Bay otherwise will be forever broken and war declared between their
nations."

Baron Archer cocked an eyebrow, but for all the
steadiness with which he stuffed his pipe neither Elise nor Zorana was
fooled. He was as surprised as anyone by the recent change in events.
Silence merely provided him with the opportunity to calculate what
these changes would mean to Hawk Haven.

Seeing that her father wasn't going to give his sister the satisfaction of a reply, Elise asked her aunt:

"How can they make such demands, Aunt Zorana?
Certainly foreign generals aren't in a position to order a queen
about—especially in her own land!"

Zorana looked quite serious. "Foreign generals can
try, Elise, if their army provides much of the strength of that queen's
army. Never forget, Bright Bay is powerful on the sea—a rival for
Waterland most say—but for a long time now her army has depended on
Stonehold for both troops and officers. The withdrawal of their troops
from among hers is a reminder to them of that dependence."

"An unwise dependence, I've always thought," commented
Ivon
Archer, "but it was an arrangement that enabled Bright Bay to fully
exploit her own rich naval resources. Stonehold has seafront, but no
ports deep enough for large ships, so her people benefitted, too.
Still, I've often wondered how much time would pass before Bright Bay
became a vassal state of Stonehold in fact if not in name."

"Then," Elise pressed, "can Stonehold dictate to Queen Gustin?"

"The question," her father replied, "is not
can
they—that's just what they have done. The question is whether or not
Queen Gustin will permit herself to be given orders by them and what
her decision will mean for the rest of us."

Later, arriving at the Kestrel encampment, Elise
wasn't surprised to learn that news of this new development had reached
the earl's retainers before her. After exhausting speculation on how
this new event might affect the negotiations between Hawk Haven and
Bright Bay, Derian, Firekeeper, and Elise shifted to their more
immediate problem, planning the next step in their private campaign
against Lady Melina's sorcery.

Elise was showing them the sketches she had made of the necklace when Valet came out toward their makeshift conference center.

"Derian," he called from a polite distance, "a
messenger has just arrived from King Tedric. You are requested to meet
with His Majesty and other of his counselors at the Watchful Eye at
your soonest convenience."

"Ladies," Derian said, looking both proud and nervous, "will you excuse me?"

"Of course," Elise replied, as Firekeeper nodded.
"Enjoy yourself. We'll take these sketches into Hope. If there is to be
trouble, then all the more reason for having Sapphire freed of her
mother's control."

And you, as well,
Derian thought, but he said nothing.

A
FTER HURRIEDLY CHANGING
into clean shirt and breeches, Derian strode toward the Watchful Eye.
He noticed the occasional puzzled glance flicked his way and heard one
man say to another:

"I know he's the newest counselor, but where's the heir?"

Derian smiled quietly to himself. Let them stay a bit
confused. He was beginning to understand that governing was not unlike
horse trading—you held the advantage best when even your friends were a
bit off balance.

Earl Kestrel, already present at the fort, greeted
Derian with the courtesy, but not the condescension, of patron to
dependent. He gestured to a seat beside him.

"Is all well in our camp?"

"Yes, sir."

At that moment, the king's secretary rapped for silence and they all stood as King Tedric entered the room.

He can't have had much sleep since last night,
Derian thought.
Doc and the other medicos must be furious.

King Tedric, however, didn't look as if he needed
anyone's coddling. Standing before his chair, leaning slightly against
the table in an attitude that seemed belligerent rather than weak, he
began the meeting.

"You are all," he said without formality, "aware of
the changed situation between Stonehold and Bright Bay. In the
interests of forestalling rumors, I have summoned you here. My
secretary is going to read you several documents, the contents of which
I expressly wish to be shared with the men and women in your various
households and commands. At a time such as this, rumor and
misinformation are our greatest enemies. Farand, please begin."

He sank into his chair and Lady Farand Briarcott, a
pinch-nosed woman with snowy hair piled high on her head and a voice
that could command troops—and had indeed done so— rose, paper in hand:

"This first missive," Lady Farand announced, "comes
from the First Equal of Stonehold. It is also signed by the Second
Equal and the members of the advisory cabinet.

" 'To King Tedric I, Monarch of Hawk Haven, Knight of the Eight-Rayed Star . . .'"

"Skip that unzoranic nonsense and read the text," the king snapped.

Lady Farand gave a curt nod, ran her finger down the outer margin, and recommenced:

"Through our loyal generals, Yuci and
Grimsel, information has come to our ears that gives us to realize that
the support we have granted to the nation of Bright Bay was done while
that nation deliberately maintained a foul and most unreasonable
deception.

"We have written to Queen Gustin the Fourth
requesting a meeting with herself. Until she grants this meeting and
the results of said meeting are satisfactory to our needs, we will
withdraw the military support which to this time we have granted Bright
Bay.

"If subsequent to our meeting with Queen
Gustin the Fourth, Bright Bay persists in her foolish and dangerous
practices, we will have no choice but to declare war upon her.
Moreover, in light of these discoveries, we hereby warn you as ruler of
Hawk Haven that any efforts to support, succor, or in anyway ally with
Bright Bay will cause us to view you in an unfriendly light.

"We have confided some measure of our
concern on these matters to the countries of New Kelvin and Waterland,
noting that we believe that the government of Hawk Haven is well aware
of the deception practiced by Bright Bay and that its refusal to share
that information constitutes an unfriendly act uncomely between allies.

"Note that if you remain neutral toward Bright Bay so we will remain toward you and your people."

Derian hardly heard as the secretary read off a long
list of the titles and names belonging to the distinguished
signatories. As soon as Lady Farand finished, voices were raised, some
nearly shouting frantic questions. King Tedric banged for silence.

"Listen to the rest of the correspondence," he demanded. "You may find some of your questions answered therein."

Lady Farand unfolded a shorter missive stating, "This one is from the Plutarchs of Waterland:

"To King Tedric . . .

"Recent discoveries of foul secrets held by
the Crown of Bright Bay lead us to encourage you to stay away from
entanglements, whether civil or military, with that nation:

"Waterland has always found it profitable to
support your kingdom's continued freedom from Bright Bay's
encroachment, especially upon the seas where our vessels could offer
our aid and protection. However, if you continue to treat with Bright
Bay without insisting on the destruction of their foul hoard, we shall
view you as one with them, no matter how separate your boundaries. Your
ships shall be to us as their ships: our rightful prey.

"We trust that a man of your great years and well-respected wisdom thinks as we do in this matter. Signed . . ."

The missive from New Kelvin, Hawk Haven's other ally,
was much the same, though in this case the threat was to withdraw the
economic support and favored nation trading status which Hawk Haven had
hereto enjoyed.

Derian was already quite confused and anxious when
Farand Briarcott unrolled the final missive, a personal letter to King
Tedric from Allister Seagleam.

"Uncle Tedric,

"By now you must have heard the accusations
of deception and foul play being heaped upon Bright Bay by Stonehold. I
hardly know what to say. If there is any deep secret, I know nothing of
it. I came here as I told you, in sincere hopes of building a bridge
between our nations—in hopes of fulfilling the charge laid upon me at
my birth.

"Now I must wait until Queen Gustin the
Fourth decides how to answer these demands. In the meantime, my family
is held not quite prisoner in our residence by guards supplied by our
own people and
supported by those members
of Queen Gustin's court who do not wish to risk that any small action
of mine might be interpreted by Stonehold's spies as an excuse for war.
As we are no longer free to come and go, I fear I can no longer attend
our planned conferences. I deeply regret this.

"In hopes of resolution of this strange situation, I am, your nephew, Allister Seagleam."

Lady Farand's reseating herself seemed a signal for
the hubbub to erupt once again. King Tedric let the confused babble go
on for a few moments, then recognized a senior army commander:

"Your Majesty," the man said, "what is this? Do you know of any dark secret?"

"In answer to your first question," King Tedric said,
" 'this' is a warning to us from our three neighboring countries that
if we meddle in any way, peaceful or not, in the affairs of Bright Bay,
we will find ourselves viewed as enemies as well.

"As to your second question: How could I know what dark secrets Bright Bay conceals? I have never been there."

While Derian was admiring the fashion in which the
king had avoided a direct answer to the latter question, Ivon Archer
was recognized:

"Your Majesty, I recommend that we prepare to attack
Bright Bay as soon as Queen Gustin arrives to negotiate with Stonehold.
If we take her, we have her kingdom. War between our peoples would be
ended. If there is something in Bright Bay's treasury—this 'foul
secret' alluded to—we will then be in a position to turn it over to
Stonehold. All wars will be ended."

"I agree with that," said Rolfston Redbriar, not to
be outdone. "Everyone knows that Bright Bay's power is on the seas, not
on the land. Since Stonehold has withdrawn her troops, we could defeat
Bright Bay's remaining force handily. We already have a base of
operations set up here at the Watchful Eye. Stonehold does not.
Moreover, we have the Barren River between ourselves and Bright Bay.
Stonehold,
even if it brings in reinforcements,
will share ground with those it seeks to conquer. The very countryside
will rise against them. We are secure in our own lands. Our supply
lines need cross no enemy territory."

There was more clamor along similar lines. Derian
could practically feel the blood-lust rising and wondered if Stone-hold
had anticipated this reaction on the part of Hawk Haven. Gripping the
edge of the table hard, he listened and said nothing, feeling more than
ever a mere carter's son. At last King Tedric banged his gavel on the
table and said, his tones dry and ironic:

"So I am to understand that most of you are in favor
of taking advantage of this situation to invade Bright Bay, never mind
that our own navy would be forfeit to Waterland, never mind that New
Kelvin has promised economic repercussions and could quite possibly
offer more than that if it felt threatened."

No one moved for a moment; then Prince Newell asked to be recognized.

"As one who has recently served with our navy," said the prince, "I would like to offer my opinion on Waterland's threat."

"Speak," King Tedric said.

"Our navy," the prince said, a feverish light in his
eyes, "could be warned of what we intend to do. Our ships could
temporarily withdraw into secure waters, leaving Water-land's fleet to
futilely sweep a vacant sea. When the reunification of Bright Bay with
Hawk Haven is completed, our newly augmented navy will be large enough
to deal fairly with Waterland's."

Derian saw many of the soldiers nod and smile in
approval of Prince Newell's vision. Hawk Haven's weakness upon the seas
had long been a sore point among the military, but a nation with only
one major harbor and no offshore holdings could not expect to compete
with nations like Bright Bay and Waterland, overblessed as they were
with ports.

"Thank you, Prince Newell," King Tedric said. "If we
do move against Bright Bay, certainly we will take your advice and warn
the navy in advance."

Derian thought that the prince looked a bit deflated,
even a bit miffed, to hear his dream of naval domination reduced to
such a simple point. King Tedric didn't allow the prince time to
retort. Instead he asked his assembled counselors:

"You all seem to believe that we could easily conquer
Bright Bay. Tell me, though, is creating three enemies where before we
had none—for we are at peace with Bright Bay never you forget—is that a
fair trade?"

"Peace," spat an old soldier, his exposed skin fairly
seamed with scars, "peace that erupts in border raids and banditry, not
to mention privateering upon the seas! Call that peace if you wish. I
call it war."

"Peace," said young Purcel Archer, his voice light in
contrast. "I wish I thought we were at peace. However, if we truly
believed what we had with Bright Bay was peace why did Your Majesty
need such a large and heavily armed escort just to meet with your
foreign-born nephew? Doesn't that speak of a tension greater than that
of peace?"