Fire And Ice (Book 1) (49 page)

             
“Not exactly,” Katelyn told her and quietly explained the situation, making sure no one was listening. 

             
Alys looked worried when she finished.  “Will it be all right if Coran does not arrive soon?”

             
“I think it will be all right.  Roland seemed to believe us, and he is an honorable man.  I do not think he liked doing what he did.”

             
Alys let the subject drop.  “So, what do we do now?”

             
“The inspection,” Katelyn informed her friend.

             
After taking charge of the inspections she began giving a number of surprise ones which Martin informed her were appreciated by him and the Knights.  It had been two weeks since the last one in an effort to catch them off guard.  She didn’t.  Some of those disciplined warriors actually smiled when they caught sight of her coming.  No one earned a frown from her that day.  When she finished she turned to their commander and flashed a satisfied smile.  He thanked her as usual and dismissed the men.  As they broke formation they clapped each other on the backs and grinned. 

             
“I fear you have stolen your father’s Knights,” Martin said jokingly. At least she hoped he was joking.  He saw her face and explained.  “I only meant that you have earned their respect and loyalty.”

             
“Of course, Commander,” she assured him.  She knew what he meant despite her thought.  “That is kind of you to say,” she said sounding not so sure about it.

             
“I think you underestimate yourself,” he said seriously.  “And you underestimate what taking time for your men means to them.”  He ducked his head to her and left.              

Katelyn turned her mount and trotted to where Alys waited at the edge of the field.  They crossed the stone bridge, named the Knight’s
Bridge because it led to the Knight’s encampment, and entered the city.  People went about their business on the paved streets.  Lately more people had been coming into the city.  When there was trouble in the world people seemed to congregate in centers of population.  For some reason it made them feel safer. 

             
At the first intersection she stopped and the four guards in her escort stopped as well. 

             
“What is it?” Alys asked her.

             
Katelyn was looking down the street to the left.  “I want to check on something,” she said and urged her horse onto the slightly narrower street.  They came to an intersection with a larger street that ran from the palace to the Bridge of Soros, and then turned into the highway that ran all the way to Delios.  In the center of that intersection was a fifteen foot high statue carved out of white marble.  The circular base was three feet high and at least ten feet in diameter.  The statue rose another dozen feet into the air.  The figure carved was Soros.  He stood straight with one hand at his side and the other on the hilt of his sword.  The chiseled face was looking southwest towards Delios, the ancestral home of the Sundarrions.  The two ladies went around the statue and continued towards the southern part of the island.

             
Katelyn wore a heavy cloak of dark blue against the cool wind that blew in off the water of the harbor and up the straight streets.  A man in a black coat buttoned up to the collar cursed at having to move out of the way of one of her escort’s mounts.  He was about to say more until he saw her face and swallowed the insult.  Other people thought better of it and shuffled to the sides of the street to let her pass. 

             
The circular harbor was about a third full.  The small fleet that Summerhall sported was out protecting its major ports.  They had no idea how far the Ithanians were going to take things.   That they had begun assaulting Midian vessels further south was an indication.  Partly because of that, several traders had volunteered to take their ships out and help patrol the coast.  They were not warships, but they had experience in fighting off pirates and could give warning of an approaching fleet.

             
She walked her horse down towards the docks.  There were few people about with the lack of incoming ships and cargoes to offload.  It was oddly quiet.  Nothing like a major port should be. 

             
A guard in the blue livery of Summerhall watched the traffic going in and out.  She stopped her horse in front of the man.  By the small, single gold bar on his collar she could tell he was a corporal.

             
“Corporal,” she called.

             
The man, who had to be in his twenties turned and froze.  His eyes widened and he put a fist to his chest.  “Your Highness.  What can I do for you?”

             
“Are you familiar with the ships coming in and out of the harbor here?”

             
“Yes, Your Highness.  I grew up around here.  In Summerhall, I mean.  I know all the local traders and most of the ships’ captains.  That’s why I got assigned here.  Easier to stop smuggling and deal with troublemakers when you know the ins and outs and who’s who.”

             
“Then you know Captain Treska?” she asked.

             
He bobbed his head.  “Everyone knows Treska.”

             
“Good.  Can you tell me if he has returned yet?”

             
He scratched his chin.  “No.  I mean he hasn’t come back yet.”  His forehead wrinkled in confusion.  “Strange that, him going off when he did; what with the Ithanians and all the ports being closed.  There has been plenty of talk, but no one knows why.”              

He wasn’t back yet.  She didn’t really expect him to be here but she couldn't help feeling a touch of disappointment.  There was still plenty of time left in the day.  “Will you be on duty all day, Corporal?”

              “Yes, Your Highness.”

             
“Captain Treska is expected back sometime today, or possibly shortly after dark,” she explained.  “He is carrying an important passenger.  Now I know you have to be thorough in checking any off- loading passengers, but this man must be passed through immediately.”

             
He nodded at her every word.  “You can count on me, Your Highness.  Just to be sure I do not make any mistakes, can you tell me his name?”

             
“Lord Coran of Tyelin, and” she remembered Treska’s latest description of him, “he might be dressed as a Karand.”

             
The Corporal mouthed the name Coran.  “I will see to it, Your Highness.”

             
“Thank you, Corporal.  She left him ducking his head at her.

             
She still found it amazing how so many people could be so overwhelmed by royalty.  Of course, she was born that way and was used to it. 

             
They rode by a more direct route back towards the palace.  They came across one of the city’s main squares where dozens of people were gathered to hear a man reciting a tale.  He was tall and thin, and wore colorful clothes of every color.  On a horse she had no trouble seeing from the back of the crowd.  He was in front of a round pool centered by a fountain.

             
The bard had his arm out like he was holding a sword with the point downward.  “Yield you Voltian Dog!” he cried in a vibrant voice, “or die.”

             
She continued to listen and was amazed by it.  The Voltian dog was apparently supposed to be Torvilin, and the bard was now Coran.  The story was inspiring, but greatly embellished.   When the man finished his tale the audience clapped loudly and hooted their appreciation.  She shared an amused look with Alys. 

             
The bard bowed regally to his fans and waved a hand.  “Tonight I will be performing at the Queen’s Inn.”  His voice carried across the square.  He bowed a second time.

             
Katelyn raise her voice to carry above the crowd.  “Master Bard!”

             
The crowd turned their heads at the same time the bard went hastily to one knee.  The people followed his example.  “Please rise,” she commanded.  They did after a moment’s hesitation.  “Master Bard.  Since you are performing at the Queen’s Inn tonight I wonder if you would be willing to perform for the King tomorrow night?”

             
The exaltation on his face was palpable.  “I would be honored, Your Highness.”

             
She inclined her head slightly in agreement of a deal, then heeled her mount around the crowd and back towards the palace.

              Katelyn watched over the well-lit courtyard below from the balcony set high up in front of the palace.  The moon was bright tonight and so were the stars that decorated the black sky.  Her anxiety grew as the day wore on, hoping that the next time she turned around he would be there. 

             
Margery came just before dark to try and convince her to join the family for dinner, but she declined.  She wasn’t feeling very hungry.  Alys declined as well keeping true to her word to stay with her for the entire day.  That was over an hour gone.  She debated with herself again whether she should give up for the night and go inside.  Once again she didn’t move, but kept her gaze on the closed gates below.              

“I was planning on going riding tomorrow,” Alys stated.  She had
on a heavy cloak, a simple brown one she had thrown on before coming outside.  “Do you want to come?  Devon is going with me.”

             
“I wish I could, but not tomorrow.  I have to meet with Roland after lunch and it will probably last the rest of the day.”  They usually did.  “Maybe the next day.”  She took her eyes off the gate long enough to glance at her brown haired friend.  “You have been spending a lot of time with Devon lately.”

             
Alys did her best to hide the blush that came to her cheeks in the darkness.  “It was your idea for me to use a sword,” she replied defensively. 

             
“And the riding?”

             
“He is only there for protection,” came the reasonable response.

             
“Of course,” she said and decided to let her friend off the hook by dropping the subject.  She saw two of the guards standing together in casual conversation near the gate.

             
“What is that?” Alys asked.  She was looking up at the stars.

             
Katelyn surveyed the sky and saw nothing.  “What was what?”

             
“I thought I saw something.  It was flying.”

             
“Maybe it was a bat,” she suggested.

             
“I think it was bigger than that.”

             
“An owl?”

             
“Maybe,” Alys sounded doubtful.  She continued to scan the darkness.

             
“Well, it is gone now,” Katelyn told her.  “It must have been an owl.”

               Points of light could be seen shining through the windows of shadowy buildings all across the island city as the ship’s lines were tied off.  Compared to the rest of the city the harbor was dark and strangely quiet.  The plank was run out from the ship to the dock and Coran met the Captain at the top with Shirri. She had her pack slung over one shoulder while surreptitiously glancing towards the city.

             
“Thank you, Captain,” Coran said.  His head was bare but he was still wearing the Karandi robes.  He couldn’t wait to change out of them.  “Who knows how long I would have been stuck there if you had not come along.”

             
“Don’t thank me.  I was just doing a job.” 

             
Coran held out a hand and Treska took it.  “Fare you well, Captain.”

             
“And you, My Lord.”  He inclined his head to Shirri as she took a step onto the plank.

             
The two of them crossed over to the dock and up towards the city.  From here they could see only a few people about.  Most would be finishing their dinners, and the early risers would be readying themselves for bed.  They did encounter two uniformed men where the docks ended and the buildings began.  One of them with the markings of a corporal came to greet them.

             
“Lord Coran?” he asked tentatively.

             
Coran was surprised at the man’s familiarity with him.  He didn’t remember meeting the Corporal before.  “Yes,” he replied carefully.

             
“Good,” the corporal said with some relief.  “Her Highness has been expecting you.  She has been here twice today asking if you had arrived.  You must let me escort you to the palace.”  He noticed Shirri at his side.  “Is she with you?”

             
“She is.  That is not a problem, is it?”