Shadowfell: Raven Flight Part 8

aAnswer the question!a barked the Enforcer.

aWhat you said a it is correct, my lord.a A deep, shuddering breath. aBut my daughter a Ana a yes, sheas good with her hands. A good worker. Nothing more, my lord, I swear.a aNothing more. Thatas not what the king heard. Folk are saying your daughter is smirched. Theyare saying no ordinary hand can spin so fine.a aThat is a lie, my lord. Ana comes from a long line of spinners; she learned young. Itas no more than that.a Dubhalas voice was shaking now. With an effort, he looked the official in the eye. aIad stake my life on it, my lord.a The kingas mouth curved in a slow smile, and a sigh went through the crowd. My gut was churning. I wanted to run, to get out, to be gone before I had to see what unfolded. But there could be no running, with folk all around me and guards on the gate. Besides, there was a part of me that held me still, a part that whispered, Bear witness. In times when itas hard to put the cause first, the memory of this will make you strong.

aYou will pit your strength against each other,a the official said. aThree times, added weight each time. Outlast your opponent twice and victory is yours.a He turned toward the crowd, and people obliged with shouts of approval.

aBlack Crow save us,a muttered the young man standing behind me, alook at the size of those things. They wonat last to the count of five.a aShh!a hissed someone else.

aMorr,a the official was saying, ayou understand what is at stake for you here. Dubhal, win this contest and the queen will consider offering this daughter of yours a position at court, where her special skill can be put to appropriate use. Lose, and she will be culled.a Dubhal opened his mouth as if to protest, then closed it without saying a word.

The contest began. They lasted a long timea"far longer than I would have thought possible for any man. It was desperation, maybe, that gave them the strength to go on. Muscles straining, eyes bulging, feet planted square, the two of them stood facing each other with the huge logs up over their heads. The crowd was roaring encouragement: Hold on, lad! Thatas the way! Keep it up, man, you can do it! And abuse: Your daughteras smirched! What does that make you, big lump?

It could not go on forever. Morras legs began to wobble; he s.h.i.+fted his feet, his face scarlet with effort. His whole body was trembling. A moment later the log came down, thudding to the ground and narrowly missing his opponentas feet. Dubhal had won the first round. He bent his knees, set his log carefully down. Pain was written all over his body.

aTheyall do it different next time,a said the young man behind me. aYouare looking a bit pale. Here.a He offered me a flask. aHoney mead; should do the trick.a aThank you, but no. Iam all right.a aFirst time at the Gathering?a The last thing I wanted was to get into a conversation, even with this apparently harmless person. I nodded. aIall be fine.a aTakes a body that way sometimes. Change your mind, just ask.a aThank you.a aThey wonat last so long this time. Arms will cramp up. Just watch.a He was right. Almost before the two contestants had time to draw breath, Enforcers came forward to push great iron rings onto the ends of the logsa"two men to hold the wood, a third to add the extra weight. Surely neither Morr nor Dubhal, strong as they were, would be able to lift the burden at all, let alone hold it high. What would the king do if both faileda"treat both as losers? Subject one manas kin to the Cull and destroy the otheras daughter?

The king raised a hand: the signal to begin. The contenders gripped their impossible burdens, clenching their teeth, and lifted. Morr staggered. Dubhal was steadier. The weighted logs came up to chest height, then with a mighty heave were raised high. The crowd began to count.

But what now? Enforcers had come forward to sweep their staves about, at first only distracting the two burdened men, then, as Morr and Dubhal stood doggedly in place, tapping them on the ankles, the knees, the s.h.i.+ns. Then hitting. Then striking so hard that Morr winced in pain and Dubhal let out an explosive breath, cursing. The counting became a chant, two chants from opposite sides of the crowd. Scou-rie! Scou-rie! And Glen-duie! Glen-duie! Even so might folk have cheered on their village teams at a game of ball, all in a spirit of fun, with the opposing sides sharing a few jugs of ale when the match was over.

But this was the Gathering, and such chants carried their own peril. The nearest guards turned their heads sharply toward the sound, and it soon died. In these games there was only one real player, and that was Keldec.

The staves were working in and out now, teasing the contestants who sweated under their loads, poking them between the legs, prodding them in the small of the back, rapping at their feet. And in an instant it was over, the two of them dropping their burdens at once, the logs cras.h.i.+ng down, making the Enforcers jump back out of the way. Morr and Dubhal collapsed onto the ground, wheezing. If one had released his log before the other, I could not have said which it was. Indeed, I wondered if a moment had come when theyad looked each other in the eye and decided in silence, Enough.

There was a brief consultation: the official, the Enforcers, the king leaning over from his seat to speak with them.

aSecond round goes to Morr,a the official announced.

aConvenient,a murmured someone in the crowd close to me, and was immediately hushed by others. It was indeed convenient; a drawn round would have required the men to lift twice more, most likely impossible, while this result made the third round the decider. The people around me were talking about chains, whips, dogs. It took all my will not to crouch down and cover my eyes. Oh, Tali. What will it be when your turn comes?

For the third round, they used magic. A more powerful magic than I had imagined existed within Keldecas household, for though we knew from Flint that he had canny folk there, I had a.s.sumed their gifts were similar to those I had encountered elsewhere in Alban: keen sight like Talias, acute hearing, a gift for music or handcrafts, or a knack with animals. The most unusual gift I had seen a canny human use was Sulaas: she was able to draw heat into water, which proved useful both for cooking in clay pots and for providing comfortable baths in winter.

What unfolded now told me there was at least one gift among Keldecas folk that might be brought into play in a battle: a gift of fire. The third round began, the contenders crouching to lift their burdens, which now wore a second pair of iron rings. Morr and Dubhal gripped the logs, strained to rise, struggled up to standing. Facing each other once again, they lifted their burdens high.

aOne thing Iall say,a the man behind me murmured, atheyave got b.o.l.l.o.c.ks, the two of them.a aHere comes the fellow with the flame,a muttered a woman.

I saw no flame, only a member of the kingas household, a dark-haired man of middle height dressed in the robe of a councillor, stepping down from the raised seating to walk forward and stand a few paces from the burdened men, both of whom, miraculously, were still fairly steady. The Enforcers stood back; it seemed the staves were not required for this round.

The robed man raised his arms. His left hand pointed toward Dubhal, his right toward Morr.

aHere it comes,a murmured someone. There was no counting now, no shouts of abuse or encouragement. A profound hush lay on the crowd.

The robed man made a pa.s.s with his hands, very like the one I had seen Sula use to heat water at Shadowfell. For a few moments nothing happened. Then smoke began to rise from the two logs, threads at first, growing to small clouds. Morr staggered; Dubhal coughed. Then both shouted at once. Flames were licking the wood, catching at their hands. The logs were afire. It seemed a charm too powerful to be worked by humankind. But the Good Folk would not enter this place of iron, I was sure of it. That man out there was a canny human like me.

I could hear Dubhalas breathing even from so far away, a desperate, agonized gasping. Morr was silent, his teeth clenched in a deathas-head grimace. Call a halt, I willed the official. Make it stop. Around me the crowd watched with appalled fascination.

I had thought Dubhal on the verge of collapse, but it was Morr who fell first, his burden rolling away to lie flaming on the ground. Dubhal did not drop his log straightaway, but held on long enough to be quite sure there was no mistake. Then, sobbing with pain, he let it go. Morr was curled up in agony. Tears ran down Dubhalas face. n.o.body stepped forward to help them, but the robed man made a quick gesture this way, that way, and the fires went out as if doused in cold water.

The king rose to his feet. He was smiling. aDubhal, your effort has pleased me well. I will send my physician to tend to your injuries. A fine, strong man like you might even find himself among our Enforcers one day, who knows?a A pause, then, as he bent to say something to Queen Varda and to listen to her response. aThe queen wishes to meet this talented daughter of yours. Is she here today?a aNo, my lord.a Dubhalas voice was a desperate gasp; his hands were shaking as if palsied. What he needed was cold water, quicklya"where was this physician?

aIndeed.a Suddenly Keldec was chilly. aWhy not?a aMy lord, she is heavy with child and could not travel.a The king bent to consult his wife again. Straightened to look once more at Dubhal. aThe queen does not want a spinner with a squalling babe. Make arrangements for it to go elsewhere; then bring your daughter to court. We are not unreasonable; in recognition of the strength you have shown today, we will wait until our return to Winterfort in the autumn. Be there within ten days of our arrival, or the queen may not be so favorably disposed toward you.a aThank you, my lord king. You are most generous.a aTake him to my physician,a Keldec said. As Dubhal was led away, the kingas gaze found the hapless Morr, who had got up into a crouch, his injured hands held out before him.

aMorr of Glenbuie. Stand up before your king.a He forced himself up.

aAs your chieftainas champion in this contest, you have failed. What have you to say for yourself?a Morr spoke. His voice was faint, and I could hear nothing of it.

aSpeak up!a the king snapped. aLet all those gathered know your shame.a aI did my best, my lord king.a He turned his head to look at his chieftain in the stand. aI did my best, my lord Sconlan. I regret aa He sagged at the knees and fell to the ground, apparently in a dead faint.

Keldec made an impatient gesture. Two Enforcersa"one was Flinta"stepped forward to pick the man up and remove him from the open area. They did not carry him into the fortress, but across to an outbuilding set against the wall, so close to where I was standing that I pulled my shawl up over my mouth and looked down at my feet, willing Flint not to see me. My heart hammered so hard as he went by that it seemed he must surely hear it, but he pa.s.sed without a sideways glance. Not long after, he and his comrade emerged from the building without Morr and went to resume their places near the king.

The games went on. What we had seen was only the start of it. It became plain to me that there were few bouts or contests here that were not devised as punishment for those who had offended the king. The events grew more and more brutal as the day progressed, a sequence of cruelly devised entertainments that saw folk hobbling from the field with terrible injuries, the kind of hurts that would blight the whole of their lives. Craftsmen with fingers gone. Archers blinded. Hors.e.m.e.n crippled. It came to me that Keldec was not only evil, he was deranged. When I could no longer bear to look at the games, I watched him, and I saw how often he bent to seek the queenas opinion, and only decided one way or another after she had whispered in his ear. I saw too that the man who had performed the trick with fire now sat on Queen Vardaas other side, and spoke to her often as if he were a trusted confidant.

There were other kinds of hurt on show, other kinds of atrocity. Taunting, humiliation, mockery. The requirement to insult or damage a loved one publicly in order to avoid a worse punishment. The requirement to stay quiet and compliant as a friend or family member was a.s.saulted.

Eventually came a break for everyone to take food and drink. There were communal privies out in the camping area, and some folk were going out to use them. I was sorely tempted to follow them and run for the forest. Every instinct urged me to flee this charnel house. But there would be no escape; the river mouth was in full view from the sentry point in the Summerfort tower, and there was no way I could cross without being spotted. One woman heading in the wrong direction would be immediately noticed and brought back to account for herself.

The friendly young man offered me a share of his provisions, and I accepted some bread and cheese, but found I could not eat. After the meal, the official announced that the next event was a fight between two Enforcers. My tight belly relaxed a little. This, surely, would be a straightforward display of strength and skill, a reminder to us all of the power the king held in his fist.

I knew the kingas men were ruthless. They were dedicated to the task. I had seen them as they swept down on Darkwater, bringing death and destruction. I had not seen them pitted one against another like this. Their movements had an economy of style, a fluid control that made their bout a deadly dance. Short sword and knife flashed in the sunlight; it was both beautiful and terrible to behold. How had my brother, fourteen years old, untrained in fighting and armed with a homemade spear, managed to stand up to the kingas men even for an instant?

Both combatants wore the emblem of Seal Troop; they were comrades. Perhaps that was why the bout stretched out so long, with the skill and strength of the fighters making it near impossible for either to prevail. Caught up in the excitement, the people around me shouted, cheered, groaned when one or the other combatant was forced to give ground or release a punis.h.i.+ng hold. But not the watching Enforcers. Iad have thought fighting men might lay wagers on such a contest; at the very least, I would have expected them to be yelling encouragement with the rest. But they were uniformly grim and silent.

It went on and on, and as it progressed, the crowd grew quieter too. Both fighters were flagging; soon, surely, one must make a small error of judgment and lose a weapon or fall to his knees in surrender. Theyad already stayed on their feet and in possession of their weapons for far longer than Iad expected.

The king rose to his feet; the combatants stepped away from each other, breathing hard.

aSet aside your weapons,a Keldec said.

A pair of guards came forward; the fighters handed over their swords and knives. It seemed common sense had prevailed, and the bout would be declared a draw.

aMy people,a the king said, and spread his arms out as if to embrace all of us, aI am sad to tell you that even within the ranks of my own most loyal fighters, acts of disloyalty sometimes occur. This is rare; my Enforcers are the best of the best, warriors unparalleled, a force truly to be feared. I expect of them what I expect of every man, woman, and child in Alban: complete and unswerving loyalty. These men you see before you have erred since last we gathered here. Erred in small ways, perhaps; but small mistakes can lead to more significant blunders. If not unchecked, disobedience will spread its creeping evil like a canker through the community. My people, I do not tolerate dissent in any form. That it can occur within the ranks of my own fighting force is deeply troubling.

aHence this combat you have witnessed today, an even fight between two skilled warriors. Warriors I trust, or trusted.a Keldecas tone was that of a disappointed father, sorrowful and benign. Perhaps, when an Enforcer displeased him, a public humiliation such as this was all the punishment meted out.

aIt pains me to do this,a the king said. aBut justice must be served, and lessons learned. Men!a The two fighters stood shoulder to shoulder, arms by their sides.

aYou will fight to the death. Unarmed. Win this combat and your indiscretion will be overlooked. This time.a The menas self-discipline was exemplary. They might have been responding to a request to provide a demonstration bout for new recruits. They squared off, facing each other at two strides; four Enforcers moved from the ranks of Stag Troop to stand around them, marking the boundaries of the combat area. They fought. I imagined how it would be, knowing you must kill a comrade to save yourself, to prove your unswerving loyalty. Knowing, I supposed, how arbitrary, how unfair this penalty was, for both had shown themselves to be peerless fighters, and surely either could prevail. What if theyad refused to fight? Perhaps the king would have thought of something still crueler, something ingenious, something that might have ended up with both men dead.

It seemed as if this one contest might go on all afternoon, so evenly matched were the two. One would get the other down on the ground, only to have his opponent wriggle from his grasp or surge up in a display of sheer force. One would leap on the otheras back and cling like a barnacle, seeking to choke his adversary, and would be dislodged when the first whirled around in circles until he shook the burden off. The sun moved across the sky; the shadows lengthened. By the fortress gates a fellow with a drum began to hammer out a steady beat, as if to signal change.

At last, at long last, one of the fighters began to flag and, sensing this, the other delivered a series of swift strikes, to the belly, to the lower back, to the face. When his opponent staggered, he moved fast as an attacking wolf, and in a flurry of movement brought the other to the ground, facedown with his arms pinned behind his back. The crowdas cheers were somewhat muted; it had been long, and folk were tired. Besides, Keldec was full of surprises.

aMy lord king.a The victoras voice was remarkably steady. aI am without weapons. Will you allow the use of a knife for a merciful ending?a Please, I begged silently. If this must happen, make a quick end to it. Or change your mind and spare them both. You said their errors were small.

Keldec had watched the entire bout impa.s.sively. Now he consulted his wife again, and I saw her little shake of the head.

aWere you not listening, Buan? No weapons. Make an end of this.a Something odd happened then. When Buan released his hold on the fallen manas arms, the other made no effort to get up and fight until the last. Instead, he rolled onto his back, eyes on Buan, who knelt above him. I could not see what pa.s.sed between them in that last moment, but perhaps it was a recognition that to be finished quickly by a man you trusted was not such a bad death. Buan put his thumbs on the manas neck and pressed down, dispatching him with an efficiency no doubt born of long practice. He stood and faced Keldec. aHail the king!a he cried out, and a great shout arose from the Enforcers stationed around the area, aHail the king!a Enforcers from Seal Troop came with a stretcher and bore the dead man away. With a wave of the hand, Keldec dismissed Buan, who bowed low, retrieved his weapons, and disappeared into a group of his comrades. He would be spared to fight another day.

I wondered what the loser had done to deserve death at the hands of a friend. It was a brutal code to live by; a man might almost wish to be enthralled into obedience, since that would mean he was incapable of offending the king. I prayed that somehow Flintas unauthorized trip back to the isles had not been reported to the king. Let him not be dragged out there before my eyes to face the same harsh discipline. And what lay in store for Tali?

The day was not yet ended. Folk were hauled up and punished for saying one word out of place, for setting one foot over a border, for speaking up to defend the good name of a wife or child or elder. I felt sick, sad, furiously angry. If the G.o.ds still looked down on Alban, they must be hiding their faces now.

When the rebellion comes, I thought, when our great battle is won, we will restore the Gathering to what it should be. But we will not forget what it was allowed to become; folk need to remember, so this can never happen again. I tried to imagine Reganas final plan in action: a great force of men-at-arms and ordinary people, of Good Folk and rebels, surging forward over this flimsy barrier to take on the kingas army in open combat. I tried to think of myself there in the middle of it, using my gift to make things happen. But my eyes were full of horrors, and I could not see it. Even if Regan won his battle and the king was deposed, how could the damage wrought in Alban be set right in one generation, or in two, or even in three? Every man and woman who stood here and watched this unfold without protest, every single person who failed to speak up against what they must surely know to be wrong, was as guilty as Keldec himself. The stain of it was on us all.

It was late afternoon; in the viewing area most folk were sitting down, weary from the long day, perhaps antic.i.p.ating the roast meat and ale the king had promised. When the horn sounded again, n.o.body seemed especially excited. But when the king himself stood up to speak, all eyes turned to him.

aOwen Swift-Sword!a Keldec called. aStep forward.a A man walked out from the ranks of Stag Troop to stand facing the king, and a jolt went through me. It was Flint, his face bare of the Enforcer mask. He dropped gracefully to one knee and bowed his head. Beside me, folk craned their necks to see.

The king waited. Four Enforcers advanced, one from each corner of the open area, to stand around Flint at a short distance. He remained kneeling, head down. What was this, a public execution? A battle of one against four? Cold fingers closed around my heart.

aLook at me!a The king spoke with crisp clarity. aYou are called before this a.s.sembly to answer an accusation of disloyalty. You are a kingas man, a troop leader, a trusted servant of your monarch. You have given years of fine service; you have acted with courage and discipline. You have lent your king the strength of your arm and the comfort of your wise words. In the face of doubt and distrust, I have spoken up for you; in the face of twisted words and whispers in the dark, I have believed in you.a There was an intimacy in the kingas voice, as if he saw Flint as a true friend, almost a brother; he sounded utterly sincere. And then, in the blink of an eye, the tone changed. aIf you have betrayed the trust I placed in you, if you have thrown back in my face the precious gift of friends.h.i.+p, you will pay the heaviest of prices. What have you to say for yourself? Speak now!a Flint lifted his head; he looked the king in the eye. His face was chalk-pale. aI am loyal to the kingdom of Alban,a he said. His voice was soft, but the crowd was quiet too, captured by the intensity of this exchange. aI challenge any man to provide material evidence that this is not so. I repudiate the accusations made against me; there is no proof. My lord king, I throw myself on your mercy, knowing a king of Alban does not lightly make the choice to punish one who has been among his staunchest supporters. If you believe that I have done you wrong, if you give credence to the testimony of those who have accused me, then I accept that. You are the king. I accept whatever penalty it pleases you to impose on me.a For just a moment Keldecas self-control seemed to falter; he appeared moved by Flintas words, which had been delivered with powerful simplicity. Then Queen Varda got up and murmured in her husbandas ear, and he nodded. When he turned back to face Flint, he was calm and a.s.sured once again.

aI am minded to be magnanimous,a he said. aNonetheless, a penalty must be paid, and be seen to be paid.a He glanced to his left, toward the entry to the Summerfort tower. aBring out the prisoner!a No. No, let this not be. There must be many prisoners. There was no reason for it to be her, no reason for my heart to be pounding like a marching drum, no reason to panic, noa"it was Tali. She came in with her head held high, her dark eyes blazing with defiance, and an Enforcer on either side. Her wrists were bound in front of her. Shead been hurt; I saw it in the way she walked. She had a black eye and a bruise on her cheek. Theyad taken away the modest clothing shead been wearing. Now she was in a kind of s.h.i.+ft, long and coa.r.s.e, with rents in it that seemed deliberately placed to reveal her body to the onlookers, for the pale curve of one breast showed through a tear in the bodice, and a rip in the skirt revealed a good part of her thigh. The tattooed ravens still flew, swift and straight, around her neck; the spirals and twists on her arms were fully revealed by the sleeveless garment. Her hair had lost its usual spring; it lay in sweat-soaked strands as if it had already given up.

Her guards brought her to stand not far from Flint, to one side of the square marked out by his four minders. She glared up at the king. Where another woman might have made pretense of compliance, apologized, groveled to save herself, Talias furious defiance was written on every part of her. Whatever Keldec planned for her, she would go down fighting. Queen Varda said something to a woman sitting behind hera"a sister, a friend, a confidantea"and both of them laughed.

aIam told this young woman is something of a fighter,a the king said levelly. aSkilled to a remarkable level. Strong to what might be considered an uncanny degree. What have you to say for yourself, girl?a She glowered at him, then spat on the ground in front of her. One of her guards stepped forward and delivered a heavy blow to her cheek; she staggered, then straightened her back and lifted her chin.

aNothing to say? No explanation for your ability to account for several men without resorting to any kind of weaponry? No excuse for taking out your anger on a group of peaceable travelers in the middle of the night?a aIf you consider beating and attempted rape peaceable activities, then there is little point in my offering you any explanation.a A horrified gasp from the crowd as she delivered this statement; she had committed the unthinkable offense of insulting the king to his face, in public. I was cold all through. Oh, Tali, you have just ordered your own death. Couldnat you have pretended to be less than you are, just for long enough?

The king had returned his attention to Flint. aOwen Swift-Sword! Three of your comrades took this woman into custody after hearing of her suspect behavior. If she were your captive, what penalty would you impose on her?a Flint had not even glanced at Tali, nor she at him. Only, when shead spoken, I had seen him start, then recover himself. Before he came into the open area, he had not known she was at Summerfort. I was sure of it. And it was clear from the kingas words that Keldec knew nothing of what Tali truly was. That she and Flint found themselves out there together was no more than a cruel twist of fate. aIt is not for me to recommend punishment, my lord king,a Flint said. aThat authority is yours.a aI asked you for an answer.a Keldecas voice had an edge in it now. Members of the royal party sat up straighter. The four Enforcers around Flint set hands to their weapons.

aAs you wish, my lord king. I would put the woman to the test; ascertain whether what has been said of her is true. She could not be recruited to the Enforcers, of course. But if she is indeed a fine fighter, there would be work she could do in your service. Specialized work. Combat skills can be put to many uses.a aPut her to the test. How?a aI would not do so here at the Gathering, my lord king. The potential of a warrior takes some time to a.s.sess. There is a series of tests we use for men seeking to become Enforcers; they are carried out over a full season. Any new fighter coming into your service undergoes that training. There is no reason why a woman should not do the same, provided she is capable.a Another burst of laughter from the queen and her women. It was plain they considered the idea ludicrous. Many within the crowd laughed along with them.

aI see.a I could not read the kingas mood from his face; I had no idea where this was heading. aAnd what then?a aIf she failed, it would be up to you to decide her fate, my lord king. If she met our requirements, there would be many ways in which she could a.s.sist us. Helping train new recruits. Acting as a sparring partner for our men. Perhaps a position as a personal guard for my lady the queen, if I may make so bold as to suggest that.a aThis is nonsense.a Vardaas voice was clear and high, like a blade cutting across Flintas measured words. aA female guard? Ludicrous. The girlas all spit and defiance, with no substance behind it. I declare Queenas Privilege.a I had no idea what she meant, but whatever Queenas Privilege was, her words silenced the crowd. No laughter now; every face was turned toward Keldec.

For a moment he hesitated. Plainly this was not part of his plan, but it seemed the rules of the Gathering meant he must agree. aOf course, my lady. Will you stand and speak to our people?a Queen Varda stood. Although she was a little person, something in her drew every eye.

aHere we have a trusted servant who has betrayed his master,a she said, casting her glance over Flint. aAnd here an upstart country girl with no common sense, a woman who has behaved as no woman should, a person whose abilities tell us she is surely smirched. The solution is obvious. He must demonstrate his loyalty. She must be rendered harmless. Owen Swift-Sword, you are expert in combat. You would not otherwise have risen to be leader of Stag Troop. But you have another skill, do you not? Explain to the kingas subjects the nature of that skill.a My gut twisted; my heart lurched. Oh no. Oh no, not this. Please, not this.

aMy lady, I have on occasion performed an enthrallment at the kingas request.a He sounded calm and courteous; his voice was under expert control.

aOh, come, Owen, you can do better than that. Are you not foremost among the kingas Enthrallers, the most skilled of all, the one they say never makes an error? Iave seen you do it. Over the years of your service you must have provided my lord witha"how manya"ten, twelve of his most loyal retainers? No false modesty, now.a The playful note made me sick; she might have been teasing a suitor.

aTwelve, my lady.a Tali began to struggle between her captors, fighting to free herself. At a nod from the king, one of Flintas minders went in to a.s.sist the two who held her; Tali got in a couple of well-placed kicks before he landed a blow to her lower back that saw her bent double, choking with pain. Her captors forced her upright. Her face was gray.

aTwelve.a The queen might have used the same tone in speaking to a beloved pet as she stroked it. aWell, Owen Swift-Sword, let us make that thirteen. If you would have this young woman join the kingas household, in whatever capacity, her att.i.tude must change. We must be absolutely sure of her loyalty. A girl who spits at the king, who mocks his authority, can only be rendered compliant by enthrallment. On this occasion, that process must be entrusted to the most reliable of our Enthrallers: yourself. This will not only ensure the girlas loyalty; it will allow you to demonstrate yours.a With a sweet smile, Varda resumed her seat.

aIt shall be as the queen wishes,a Keldec said, his eyes still on Flint. aYou will perform this enthrallment now, here, before the eyes of my people. Do this well, provide us with good entertainment, and both your offense and this womanas will be set aside.a Flint had dropped his gaze; he was apparently examining the ground at his feet. aYou are aware, my lord king,a he said, athat an enthrallment is usually carried out overnight; it is necessary for the a subject a to be in a heavy sleep before the charm is worked. And better if he or she is left to wake from that sleep naturally.a aCome now, Owen.a The king was affable; if he had not been well pleased by his wifeas intervention, he was not going to reveal that in public. aWe have seen you do this before, and do it most effectively. We have the means to make a person sleep and wake as required.a He glanced up at the sky. aTime is pa.s.sing. Tell your comrades what you need and let us get on with this.a Sick to the core, I watched as they prepared the area. My mind sought frantically for solutionsa"perhaps both Tali and Flint could fake the enthrallment, perhaps she could pretend to be changed, pretend to be loyal and become a second spy at court, perhaps I could provide a distraction, allow them to run for it. No. We were surrounded by guards, right under the eyes of the king. I must not expose myself to view; to rush out there was to become another victim of this sorry day and lose Regan his most powerful weapon. And how could Flint fake this? The charm must be sung aloud. Once he had done that, with his hands on Talias head, there would be no reversing it. There must be other Enthrallers here, folk who would know if he erred, folk who would not need to block their ears while the magic was worked. There was no way out. I must stand here as the man I loved destroyed my friend before my eyes. Flintas strength of purpose would see him go through with this foul act rather than reveal his true allegiance. Talias iron will would keep her from showing by so much as a single glance that she knew him; it would keep her from offering a bargain, her knowledge of his double life in exchange for her release. Likely there was no bargaining with Keldec anyway; if Flint refused to do this, his life would be forfeit, and the task of enthralling the rebellious girl would be given to one of the others, who might botch the job.

I was not as strong as they were. I was not even strong enough to keep the tears from falling as I watched them. She was so full of life, so brave, so much herself. She was doing her best to stand straight, though it must be costing her dear after that last blow; she was trying to hold her head high. Donat turn around, I willed her. Donat see me, though the fading light made it near impossible that she would distinguish my face in the crowd even if she did turn my way. And at the same time I thought, Look at me one last time, Tali. Let me see the courage in your face and the light in your eyes. Show me the fighting spirit of Ravensburn.

They brought out a pallet, which they raised up on benches so the crowd could see. They fetched a pair of flaming torches, which they set in iron holders. These were not yet necessary for light, but perhaps they enhanced the spectacle. Here was a black robe, which Flint put on over his plain attire. Here was a warm blanket, which he placed, folded, on the pallet. Now a pillow. Last, a flask and a small goblet. The Enforcer who held these items was the man I had seen in a dream, talking to Flint atop the guard tower. Perhaps a friend; perhaps a betrayer. What was happening here made a mockery of right and wrong; it set everything in confusion.

Cry out! my heart told me as they tipped back Talias head and forced a draft down her throat. Cry out shame! There he was, grave and still, waiting at the head of the pallet until she collapsed in her captorsa arms and was lifted up to lie there, as still as an enchanted princess in an old tale. Her dark head on the pillow, the brave necklace of raven flight, her arms ringed with the patterns of her ancient clan. They took off her boots. The guards stepped back, and Flint moved to lay the blanket over her, as gently as if he were tucking a beloved child in bed. Now Tali was covered to the neck, her modesty restored. Her p.r.o.ne form looked surprisingly small.

Flint spoke to the other Enforcers and they moved back a little, leaving Enthraller and victim alone in the circle of torchlight. Perhaps the preparations had taken longer than I imagined, for now the sky had a reddish tinge. The air was perceptibly cooler. I s.h.i.+vered, lifting my hand to wipe away the treacherous tears. Bear witness. You must bear witness as you did once before. I was back in the cottage at Corbieas Wood, the cottage that had long been home and refuge, place of wisdom and peace. Standing hidden, watching through a c.h.i.n.k in the wall as they forced the draft down my grandmotheras throat. Watching as they changed her forever.

aCold, are you? Here, wrap this around your neck.a The young man offered me a woolen scarf, and I took it rather than risk words. aWhatas this, tears? Have you never seen an enthrallment before?a I shook my head. Out there, Flint had laid his hands along the sides of Talias head.

aItas not so frightening,a the man said quietly. aThe fellow will sing a bit, and the woman will sleep. Then theyall wake her up again and sheall have lost her argumentative ways. A remarkable thing. No need to be upset about it.a And, as an afterthought, aThey say this fellow, Owen Swift-Sword, is the best of them all. In a way heas doing the la.s.s a favor.a I nodded. He pa.s.sed me a handkerchief; I took it and mopped my cheeks. Grandmother before enthrallment had been a strong, wise old woman. The charm had done her no favors; it had been botched. She had survived only to endure a life-in-death.

aHe wonat make any mistakes,a the farmer said, his eyes on Flint, who stood still as stone, eyes closed, hands gentle against Talias face. He had not yet started to sing the charm.

I realized, suddenly, the implication of the manas words. Of course Flint wouldnat get this wrong; he never did. Tali would not wake as a witless, shambling mockery of herself. She would not be like Grandmother or that poor man-child Garret whom Iad encountered last autumn. No, the enthrallment would work the way the king wanted it to, and Tali would become as faultlessly loyal to Keldec as she had been to the cause of freedom. The first thing she would do when she woke was expose Flint as a spy. The second thing she would do was identify me as a rebel and as a Caller. The third thing would be to tell what she knew about Shadowfell. The cause was doomed.

I had to get out. I had to get away. If I could make it up into the woods and find Sage, if I could run as far as Brollachan Bridge before they tracked me down, perhaps I could use the Good Folk to get a warning to Regan. One of Sageas clan, in bird form, could fly to Shadowfell in the morning, tell the rebels it was all up, bid them scatter across Alban and go to ground. I must get out now, quickly, before the enthrallment was completed. Before the new Tali woke. But the crowd had moved in close, blocking any way out. To push through would be to attract immediate attention. I was trapped.

Flint was singing the charm. It might have been a lullaby, so quiet and gentle was it, falling on the ears like soothing balm. Insidious. Evil. An ancient art, devised for healing the wounded mind and spirit, turned to a tool of power, a blade that would reach into a personas mind and twist their very being to the kingas will. Wrong. Oh, so wrong. And yet so beautiful to hear. Many people in the crowd had stopped their ears or covered those of their children. There was an Enforcer stationed not far away, but his gaze was not on us. Caught by Flintas voice, he stared at the blanketed form of Tali and the somber one of the Enthraller. Willing away her very self. Willing away all that had made her so magnificent. Farewell, Tali. Farewell, bright spirit.

Perhaps it was over quite soon. It felt long. I became dizzy and had to lean on the wattle fence to stay upright. My tears had dried up. I was numb; my mind was refusing to accept what was coming. Maybe she wouldnat see me. She couldnat know I was here, would have a.s.sumed, surely, that Iad have fled to the woods as soon as I could once she was taken. She would accuse Flint first anyway. That would grab everyoneas attention. I must seize that moment to slip through the crowd and out the gates, then head up to the forest before it was too dark to find a way. Perhaps, by some miracle, I could get across the river without being spotted. None of it seemed real. Perhaps I would wake soon to find myself in the mountains with Tali sleeping beside me, and this would be only another dream.

The charm was finished. Flint stood silent for some time, still cradling Talias head. Then he removed his hands and took a step back. I felt, rather than heard, the crowdas indrawn breath.

Flint glanced over at the Enforcer who had been helping him and gave a nod. This man advanced toward the pallet; another Enforcer came in on the other side. One lifted Tali to a sitting position, tipped back her head, stuck his fingers in her mouth to hold it open. The other produced a tiny bottle, from which he dripped what seemed a very small amount of something onto Talias tongue. She was lowered gently to the pillow; the blanket was drawn up again. As a loyal warrior of Keldec, she would no longer be beaten and reviled, but treated with respect.

Again we waited. The torches flared in the breeze, sending sparks high into a sky in which the rose of sunset mingled with the gray-blue of a summer dusk. I had to reach the cover of the forest before it was too dark to find my way. Theread be no returning to Shadowfell now; the best I could hope for was to get a message to the rebels before the kingas men got there. It would be life on the road again, fleeing from one small settlement to the next, half a step ahead of the Enforcers. Oh, G.o.ds, let Sage or some of her clan be up there in the woods tonight. Let me not be entirely alone.

Tali stirred. A ripple of excitement ran through the crowd. She moaned, lifting her head, rubbing her eyes. She sat up.

There was a moment, no longer than a single indrawn breath, when I thought she would leap to her feet, herself once more, defiant and strong. Then she tried to stand, and her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground beside the pallet. A sound came from her, a terrible, wrenching wail that had no words in it, only blind animal terror. One of the Enforcers came up to her, an imposing figure in his high boots and black clothing. He reached down to help her to her feet, but she shrank away, curling in on herself, pressing close to the bench that supported the pallet. A babbling spilled from her, mindless, meaningless, its only message utter panic.

I fought back a wave of nausea. Gone. She was gone. The peerless Enthraller, the man whose skill had never before let him down, had made a mistake. The charm had gone wrong, and Tali would never be herself again. Nor would she ever be a servant of Keldec; that wreck of a woman would not be training new recruits or standing guard at court. Flint had destroyed her. Didnat they say it was the strongest, the most defiant, the most courageous who were hardest to turn? A vile thought came to me. Could this have been deliberate? Had Flint taken this path so Tali would not become subject to Keldecas will? Would he ruin a friendas mind if the alternative was her betraying the cause?

aBlack Crow save us,a muttered the young farmer. aI thought they said this fellow had never lost one.a aFirst time for everything,a put in someone else. aLook at her! Like a helpless infant. See, sheas wet herself.a Two Enforcers had hauled Tali upright; there was a dark patch on her s.h.i.+ft and a puddle at her feet. She fought them, not with the harnessed force of earlier, but wildly, like a frustrated child. Neither of them hit back now; they only held her.

Flint had neither moved nor spoken. The torchlight played on his grave features as he looked up at the king. The crowd was alive with murmuring, whispering, conjecture; above that came the sounds of Talias terror.

I was twelve years old again, back in my grandmotheras house, watching from my hiding place as she woke from a long sleep, after the Enthraller charmed her. The confusion in her eyesa"why were these men here, leaning over her bed? The pathetic criesa"her words were all fled, she could remember nothing. The smell as she lost control of her bowels. Knowing I could not come out to help, could not comfort her until the kingas men had left the house. Knowing the wise woman I had so loved was gone, gone forever. And later, knowing that the pitiful remnant there before me, shuddering, weeping, unable to help herself, had no one to turn to except me.

King Keldec rose to his feet. The crowd quieted. Flint had failed; perhaps he would die regardless. Perhaps I would lose both of them before this dark day ended.

aTwelve out of thirteen is, I suppose, still a fair record,a Keldec said with a little smile. He spoke above Talias wailing. aAnd there is no doubt you have provided us with entertainment, if not exactly the kind we antic.i.p.ated. You must sharpen your skills before next time, Owen. Had this been a man, a potential recruit to our Enforcers, I would view your error with less leniency.a aYes, my lord king.a As calm as if this were an ordinary day; as if Tali were not crouched there at his feet, sniveling like a beaten child.

aSince this was done under Queenas Privilege, it is for my lady to have the final word,a said the king. aIt is late; my people are weary and in need of some supper and sleep. Tomorrow is a new day, full of fresh diversions for all. My lady, will you speak?a She stood, regal in her crimson gown. aThank you, my lord king. People of Alban: we know the power of enthrallment, how it can turn a wandering mind back to the path of patriotism and loyalty. Sometimes, as with this woman you see before you, an individual is too warped, too blind, too set in her ways to be healed by the charm, even when fortunate enough to be in the hands of an expert such as Owen Swift-Sword. Disobedience brought this woman here; disobedience, defiance, a blatant disregard for the kingas law. It is entirely appropriate that our attempt to help her has resulted in the pathetic spectacle you see before you.a A wordless roar burst from Tali, who was thras.h.i.+ng around in her captorsa grasp. One of the guards put a hand over her mouth, then cursed as she bit him.

aTake her away!a Varda commanded. aThe girl is not fit for this company, or indeed for any company at all. The sight of her offends me. Dispose of her. Take her right away. Now!a A brief consultation between the Enforcers. Then Flint and the man Iad seen in the dream hauled Tali up, each taking one arm, and dragged her away, heading for the same place where they had taken the unfortunate loser of the log-lifting contest. Close to where I stood; too close. I hunched myself down. Dispose of her. What did that mean?

On the far side of the open area, the official was calling for quiet. Enforcers were already taking away the pallet and the benches on which it had stood. The trumpets sounded a new fanfare, and a pair of oxen came out through the fortress gates, pulling a cart laden with joints of roast meat and barrels that likely contained ale. As the eyes of the folk around me moved to this new diversion, Flint glanced over and saw me. He started in shock, then rearranged his expression to that of the kingas man, remote, impa.s.sive. A practiced dissembler. He gave the very slightest jerk of his head toward the open gates to the encampment. Then they moved on, the two men heading out with Tali between them. This was the opportunity, the one chance. Too late for her, but not for Shadowfell.

aSorry, need to be sick, excuse mea"a Quickly, while everyone was looking at tonightas promised supper and exclaiming over Keldecas generosity. Quickly, before the king began another address to his loyal people. I pushed my way through, bag over my shoulder, staff in hand, heedless of whose feet I stepped on. aSorrya"going to be sicka"a aMy loyal people!a I was out, beyond easy view of crowd or guards, an instant before Keldecas voice rang out again in what must surely be the final speech of the day. There they were, not far beyond the open gates and apparently heading across the encampment toward the river. Theyad gone right past that outbuilding where several of todayas losers had been taken. I ran after them, not sure what I could safely say with that other Enforcer present. What did the queen expect them to do, take Tali up into the woods and make an end of her? Abandon her when quite clearly she could not look after herself? They turned, saw me, and halted.

aCaaah aa Tali struggled in the menas grip, trying to say something. Her tone was loud and flat. A half-wit. That was what people would call her from now on. If she lived among ordinary folk, she would be shunned, ridiculed, ostracized. aGaaah aa aItas all right, Luda,a I said, fighting to keep my voice calm as I walked over to the three of them. I took off my shawl and reached to wrap it around her shoulders, over the inadequate s.h.i.+ft. My hands were shaking; my heart was drumming. aIall look after you.a Then, to Flint, aI am this womanas friend. I was her traveling companion until she was seized. My name is Calla, and I will take her home.a aAnd where is home?a asked the second Enforcer.

aWest, then south by Hiddenwater,a I said. That way lay Talias ancestral territory of Ravensburn, so it was not quite a lie.

aOut of sight first, Rohan,a Flint murmured, drawing Tali toward the river again. aThatas what the queen ordered. We want to be up there, under the trees, before folk start streaming out here again.a And to me, aGive me that, itall be quicker if youare not carrying anything.a He took my bag and slung it over his shoulder.

Crossing the river was awkward. Here, where the Rush spilled into Deepwater, there were three separate channels. Tali was frightened; it took both men to guide her over, while I made my own way, using my staff for support. The river bottom was all sliding stones, and although the water came only to my knees, the flow was swift. I saw Flint looking at me, a little frown on his face. Trying to convey something with his eyes, perhaps an apology. There should have been some other way, I thought grimly, though I knew this was unfair. For him, for Tali, there was no way but the cause. Flint had put his position at court, so critical to Reganas strategy, ahead of Talias survival. I knew that if he had consulted her on the matter, she would have expected no less. Andra had stayed silent in the woods while her brother died. It was a rebelas choice. You valued your comrades, you respected them, you fought alongside them. And sometimes you sacrificed them for the greater good. Right now, it was hard to accept that. It was hard to walk with Flint and not to judge him.