Guy was helped
again to his feet and regarded the scene about him. Goblins, trolls,
and Dark Brothers, and an occasional giant, were staggering
northward, but no one was yet giving chase. The soldiers of the
Kingdom and the Tsurani simply watched the spectacle of the city, for
now a dome of impossible green light glowed over Sethanon, a green so
bright it was visible in the sunlight of a clear autumn day, and so
beautiful it filled all who watched with a wonder of overpowering
intensity. A song of awesome joy sounded within the hearts of all who
saw the dome, felt rather than heard. At every hand, men wept openly
as they regarded something of sublime perfection, filling them with a
joy beyond description. The green dome seemed to flicker, but that
might have been the result of the dust passing in clouds around it.
Guy watched, unable to take his eye from it. Even the goblins and
trolls who staggered past were changed, as if drained of any desire
to fight.
Guy sighed and
felt the joy within begin to lessen, and was visited with the
certainty that never again in his life would he know such a perfect
moment of joy, such a wondrous rapture. Armand de Sevigny came
hurrying toward his old ally, Martin and a dwarf a short way behind.
“Guy!” he said, taking the place of one of the Tsurani,
holding his former commander and friend upright as he hugged him
fiercely. Both men rocked back and forth with arms around each other,
laughing and weeping.
Quietly du
Bas-Tyra said, “Somehow we’ve won.”
Armand nodded,
then said, “Arutha?”
Guy shook his
head sadly. “Nothing could have survived inside that. Nothing.”
Martin and
Dolgan arrived at the head of a band of dwarven warriors. The King of
the Dwarves of the West came to stand next to Guy and Armand. He
spoke quietly. “Tis a thing of terrible and infinite beauty.”
Now the dome of light seemed to take on the appearance of a giant
gem, as if composed of hexagonal facets. Each facet shone brightly
but dimmed at a different rate, giving the dome the appearance of
sparkling. The feelings of perfection were dimming, as was the
surging joy, but still a calm wonder could be felt by all who looked
upon it.
Martin tore his
eyes from the sight and said, “Arutha?”
Guy said, “He
vanished in there with three men who came by dragon-back. The elf
knows their names.”
As the vision
before them pulsed, Guy forced his attention back to mundane
concerns. “Gods, what a mess. Martin, you’d better have
some men chase those Dark Brothers home, before they can re-form and
come back.”
Dolgan quietly
removed a pipe from his belt pouch. “My lads are already seeing
to that, but they won’t mind company. Though somehow I don’t
think the moredhel and their servants will need much urging. Truth
is, I doubt any here today have much itch for fighting left.”
Then, outlined
against the glowing green sphere, through the dust, came the
silhouettes of six men, half-walking, half-limping. Martin and the
others were silent as the six came nearer, each rendered almost
featureless by a thick mantle of dust. Then when they were halfway
between the city gates and the onlookers, Martin shouted, “Arutha!”
At once men were
hurrying forward, to give aid to Arutha and his companions. Each had
a pair of soldiers offering to help them walk, but Arutha only halted
and embraced his brother. Martin put his arm about his brother’s
shoulder, crying in open relief at seeing him alive again. After a
long moment they separated and turned to regard the glowing dome over
the city.
A sudden renewal
of the sensation of harmony with all life and love washed over them,
a wondrous feeling of sublime perfection. Then it vanished.
The green lights
of the dome winked out of existence, and the dust began to settle.
Macros spoke in
a hoarse croak. “It’s finally over.”
Lyam moved
through the camp, inspecting the ragged remains of those who fought
at Highcastle and Sethanon. Arutha walked at his side, still sore and
battered from the struggle. The King said, “This tale is
astonishing. I can believe it only because proof lies before my
eyes.”
Arutha said, “I
lived it and can scarcely believe what I saw.”
Lyam glanced
about. “Still, from everything you’ve said, we’re
lucky to be seeing anything at all. I guess we have much to be
thankful for.” He sighed. “You know, when we were boys,
I’d have sworn being King would be a grand thing.” He
looked thoughtfully at Arutha. “Just as I would have sworn that
I was as smart as you and Martin.” With a rueful smile he said,
“The proof that I’m not was that I didn’t follow
Martin’s example and renounce the crown.
“Nothing
but messes. I’ve got Hazara-Khan prowling about, engaging in
chitchat with half the nobles in the Kingdom, and no doubt picking up
state secrets like they were seashells on the beach. Now the rift is
reopened, I need to communicate with the Emperor and see if I can
arrange for a prisoner exchange. Except we don’t have any,
having made them all free men, so Kasumi and Hokanu tell me we’ll
probably have to buy the captives back, which means raising taxes.
And I’ve got a hundred or more dragons, some not seen on this
world in many ages, flying in every direction, who may land wherever
they will - when they get hungry. Then there’s the problem of
an entire city being ruined -”
Arutha said,
“Consider the alternative.”
“But if
that isn’t enough, you handed me du Bas-Tyra to deal with and,
from what you said, he’s a hero in the bargain. Half the lords
of the Kingdom want me to find a tree and hang him, and the other
half are ready to hang me if he tells them to do so.” He
regarded his brother with a sceptical eye. “I think I should
have taken a hint when Martin renounced, and dropped the crown on
you. Give me a decent pension and I still might.” Arutha’s
expression turned dark and cloudy at even a hint he would have more
responsibility. Lyam looked about as Martin shouted greeting.
“Anyway,” he said to Arutha, “I think I know what
I’ll do about the last.” Lyam waved to Martin, who
hurried over. “Did you find her?”
The Duke of
Crydee grinned. “Yes, she was with a group of auxiliaries from
Tyr-Sog that marched a half-day behind me all the way here, the ones
who came along with Kasumi’s LaMutians and Dolgan’s
dwarves.”
Lyam had been
touring the site of the battle for a day and a half with Arutha,
since he had arrived. His army had been the last to reach the
battlefield, for winds from Rillanon to Salador had been
unfavourable. With a jerk of his thumb over his shoulder, he
indicated where the nobles of the Kingdom had gathered, near his
pavilion. “Well,” he said, “they’re all dying
to know what we do now.”
“Have you
decided?” asked Arutha of Martin. The Prince had stayed in
council all night with Lyam, Pug, Tomas, Macros, and Laurie - while
Martin had combed the camp looking for Briana - discussing the
disposition of many matters, now that the threat from Murmandamus was
averted.
Martin looked
positively jubilant. “Yes, we’re to be married as soon as
possible. If there’s a priest of any order left among the city
refugees, then tomorrow.”
Lyam said, “I
think you’ll have to stem your passion long enough for some
sort of state wedding.” Martin’s expression began to
cloud over. Lyam burst into laughter. “Hell, now you look just
like he does!” and pointed at Arutha. The King was suddenly
overcome with a deep affection for his brothers and threw his arms
about their necks. Hugging them fiercely, he spoke in a voice thick
with emotion. “I’m so proud of you both. I know Father
would be.” For a long moment the three of them stood with their
arms about each other. Brightening his tone, Lyam said, “Come,
let us restore some order to our Kingdom. Then we can celebrate. Damn
me, but if we don’t have a reason, no one ever has.” He
gave both a playful shove and, with all three laughing, herded them
toward his pavilion.
Pug watched as
Lyam entered with his brothers. Macros leaned upon his staff beside
Kulgan, with the other magicians from Stardock and the Assembly
clustered behind. Katala hung on to her husband, as if unwilling to
let him go, while William and Gamina clung to his robe. He tousled
the girl’s hair, pleased to discover he had inherited a
daughter in the time he’d been gone.
Off to one side,
Kasumi spoke quietly with his younger brother. For the first time in
three years they were together. Hokanu and the soldiers most loyal to
the Emperor had been those sent to aid the Black Robes of the
Assembly when they had come. Both brothers of the Shinzawai had been
interviewed by Lyam earlier that day, for, as he had said, the return
of the rift between worlds had created some difficulties.
Laurie and Baru
joined Martin, who kept his arm around Briana’s waist. The
redheaded warrior called Shigga leaned upon his spear behind them,
quietly observing the proceedings, despite his inability to
understand what was being said. They had arrived with Briana, as had
other survivors of Armengar, marching with the army under Vandros of
Yabon. Most of the Armengarian soldiers were out with the dwarves,
chasing the host of Murmandamus back north. Next to them Dolgan and
Galain watched, the dwarf seeming to have aged not one day. The only
indication of his rise to the throne of the western dwarves was the
Hammer of Tholin, which hung at his belt. Otherwise he looked exactly
as Pug remembered him from the time they had braved the mines under
the Grey Tower Mountains. He spied Pug from across the tent and gave
him a smile and wave.
Lyam held up his
hand. “Many things have been told to us since our arrival,
wondrous tales of bravery and heroism, narratives of duty and
sacrifice. With the upheaval here, some issues become resolved. We
have spoken with many of you, taking good counsel, and now we have
some proclamations to make. In the first, though the people of the
city of Armengar are foreign to our nation, they are brethren to our
people of Yabon. We welcome them back as brothers returned and offer
them a place alongside their kin. They may count themselves as
citizens of the Kingdom. If any wish to return to the north, to
settle again in that land, we shall aid them in whatever way we may,
but we hope they will stay.
“And we
also offer deep thanks to King Dolgan and his followers for their
timely aid. I also wish to thank Galain the elf for his willingness
to help our brother. And let it be known that our lords the Prince of
Krondor and the Dukes of Crydee and Salador have served their Kingdom
beyond any measure and the crown is in their debt. No king could ever
demand of his subjects what they so freely gave.” Then, in a
precedent-making display, Lyam led a cheer for Arutha, Laurie, and
Martin. The pavilion rang with the cheers of the assembled nobles.
“Now let Earl Kasumi of LaMut and his brother, Hokanu of the
Shinzawai, approach.”
When the two
Tsurani had come before him, Lyam said, “Kasumi, first of all
relay to your brother, and through him to the Emperor and his
soldiers, our undying gratitude for their generous and valiant
efforts in saving this nation from grave peril.” Kasumi began
to translate for his brother.
Pug felt a hand
upon his shoulder and turned to find Macros inclining his head. Pug
kissed Katala and whispered, “I’ll be back shortly.”
Katala nodded
and held on to her children, knowing that for once her husband was
not just saying that. She watched while Macros took Tomas and Pug
away a short distance.
Lyam said, “Now
that the way has been opened, we shall permit those of the garrison
of LaMut who wish to return to their homeland to do so, freeing them
of vassalage to us.”
Kasumi bowed his
head. “My liege, I am pleased to inform you that most of the
men have elected to remain, saying that while your generosity
overwhelms them, they are now men of the Kingdom, with wives,
families, and ties. I shall also remain.”
“We are
pleased, Kasumi. We are very pleased.”
The two withdrew
and Lyam said, “Now let Armand de Sevigny, Baldwin de la
Troville, and Anthony du Masigny come forward.”
The three men
came and bowed. Lyam said, “Kneel,” and the three men
bent knees before their King.
“Anthony
du Masigny, you are herewith granted again your titles and lands in
the Barony of Calry, taken from you when you were sent to the north,
and add to them the title and lands once held by Baldwin de la
Troville. We are pleased with your service. Baldwin de la Troville,
we have need of you. As we have given your office of Squire of
Marlsbourough to du Masigny, we have another for you. Will you accept
the post of commander of our outpost at Highcastle?”
De la Troville
said, “Yes, sire, though if it pleases the crown I’d like
to winter in the south, now and again.”
From the crowd a
laugh answered, as Lyam said, “Granted, for we shall also grant
you the titles formerly held by Armand de Sevigny. Rise, Baldwin,
Baron of Highcastle and Gyldenholt.” He looked at Armand de
Sevigny and said, “We have plans for you, my friend. Let the
former Duke of Bas-Tyra be brought forth.” Guards in the
colours of the King came with Guy du Bas-Tyra, half escorting him,
half carrying him from within the King’s pavilion, where he had
been convalescing with Amos Trask. When Guy halted next to the
kneeling Armand, the King said, “Guy du Bas-Tyra, you have been
branded traitor and banished, not to return to our nation upon pain
of death. We understand you had little choice in the matter of your
return.” He cast a glance at Arutha who smiled ruefully. “We
hereby rescind the order of banishment. Now, there is a matter of
title. We are giving the office of Duke of Bas-Tyra to the man our
brother Arutha has judged most fit for it. Armand de Sevigny, we
hereby grant unto you the office of Lord of the Duchy of Bas-Tyra,
with all rights and obligations pertaining thereunto. Rise, Duke
Armand de Sevigny.”