Hatchling (Tameron and the Dragon) (6 page)

The Guardian summarized the case. "We have a dispute over a child, a woman, and some land. The woman is named Marysalian, and she wed Lord Honnold six or seven years ago. Her family agreed to allow some of their land to go with her. No children were born for about two years. Then young Jarrett visited his cousin for a few months and then departed. There's some argument about what happened during that time, but less than a year later she had a son. Two years after that, she disappeared from the household with the boy, and neither one has been seen since. The rest of her family is also gone. Jarrett is here to claim the woman, the child, and the land given as part of her marriage contract for his own. Lord Honnold disputes that claim, and wants us to help him find his wife and son so he can welcome them back home. You may ask questions if you wish, or offer a judgment on what I've told you so far."

Tameron felt dizzy, mostly from what he could guess hadn't been said. "I would like to hear your statements for myself," he said. He already knew from Council meetings
how
somebody spoke was nearly as important as what they said. Commander Stine had also taught him how to watch an enemy's every movement.

Honnold gave his story first. He seemed more upset at losing the boy than his wife. The older man also accused Jarrett of spiriting both of them away.

"You drove her away!" Jarrett cried.

Lord Honnold gritted his teeth. "I have the right to speak without interruption!"

Tameron listened intently to the rest of the narrative. Had the woman fled? If so, why had she taken the child with her? If she'd been as evil as Honnold painted her, why did he want her back? The man's fists clenched whenever he spoke of her, which didn't bode well either.

When Honnold was done, Tam thanked him, and asked Jarrett to give his side of things. The younger man told a tale of inescapable passion. He'd only wanted to soothe the pain of a beloved woman tormented by a spiteful husband who flaunted another lover in her face. Jarrett's face softened as he spoke of Marysalian, describing the beauty of her face and eyes. Tameron was nearly lulled into swallowing the whole story until he considered what also hadn't been said on this side.

What happened when Marysalian and her son left, if indeed they were still alive? Where was Jarrett then? Why didn't he know where she was already? In fact, why had it taken so long for this case to come here in the first place?

Tam reserved judgment till he
had more answers. He tried to put himself into the state of pure focus he occasionally achieved at sword drill. It helped him hide how nervous he really was.

"The most important witness is not here," he said. "This case has waited too long already, though. Please be patient while I ask you questions. Lord Honnold, did you give your heart to this woman, or only your name? I will send for others from your household if I must." He hoped he was allowed to do so. He might have to, if that was the only way to find out the truth.

The older man bowed his head. "Well, if you must know, I made this marriage for my line and not for me," he said.

"Any bond with any woman would be false for you!" Jarrett cried. "Toran's the only one you really care for."

"It's no crime to love one way and marry another! The Lord Protector himself has done the same, or so they say. Why, nearly any mage can sing the same song!"

Tameron blinked. It began to make sense. Some people preferred their own gender. Yet he'd always thought those with magic had less freedom in that way with the Duty to be considered. But his father? He knew the Protector and Coris Mimn were close, but never considered they might be lovers. That would explain why his father didn't remarry after Lady
Aliana's death. "Why didn't you adopt a child, then?" he asked Honnold. "Perhaps a child of your cousin? Why force yourself to marry if you didn't have to?"

"That's what he wanted, but with her land thrown in as well," Jarrett interrupted.

"Please be quiet. I will have questions for you, too," Tameron said sharply. He wasn't happy with either side. "Lord Honnold, were you cruel to her or the child? I remind you again that other witnesses can be called."

Honnold's face fell. "Aye. I gave her the back of my hand more than I ought, though she taunted me and called me less than a man. She knew how it was with me before the wedding. Toran stood by my side even when I called on her parents. She agreed anyway. Then she betrayed me, the slut, and tried to pass off the fruit of her lust as mine. I told her I'd shut my eyes this once, but then she made eyes at another handsome man! Maybe I did hit her too hard that time. It wasn't the child's fault he
ended up in the way just then, either. I was going to tell her it was over between us the next morning, but she was already gone and the boy with her. I went to her parents' home to talk to them, but they were gone, too. For all I know she's walking the streets of Kelemath selling herself! Toran told me I was a fool to marry when I made up the contract. I wish to the Lord and Lady I'd listened to him!"

Tameron swallowed hard. And he'd had the audacity to think
his
life was hard! "That was years ago. Why are you here now?"

"Jarrett, here, storms onto my place and says if I don't tell him where she is, that he'll skewer me like meat on a spit! He wasn't content with the justice he
heard from the mage in Bogatay, and said he'd take it to the Lord Protector himself. He's got nothing better to do, but I have a holding to run. As for an heir, Jarrett knows he's it when I'm gone except for Toran's fair share. He just wants it all now."

That was possible. Tam whispered to the Guardian, "My lady, may I ask you questions?"

"You'd be a fool if you didn't," she murmured back.

"My lady, has Lord Honnold cared for his land and his wife's land well? Has he paid his Tenth without hurting the people who depend on him?" he asked.

The Guardian nodded. "Yes, he has. In fact, he's also cared for the land of his wife's family since they disappeared."

How convenient. Maybe Honnold had done away with all of them to keep the land for himself. Tameron noticed that Jarrett looked ready to fight.
I have a few questions for you, too
. "Thank you, Lord Honnold," he said in a tone that meant he was done for now. "Ser Jarrett," he continued, doing his best to be polite, "why has this taken so long? How many years has it been since you met your cousin's wife?"

The younger man looked sullen. "Five...maybe six. I left the place with nothing but the clothes on my back, and I couldn't just drag her off to the woods. Her parents didn't like me. So I hired on as a guard for an expedition Outside. It took a long time to get back. I tried to send messages, but I doubt they got through."

Honnold looked smug, so Tam thought that was likely true. "Did you appeal to the mage in Bogatay?" he asked.

"He's in my cousin's left pocket! Oh, I went through the motions, but what do you think he said? Why should he lose a position where he can collect from all sides? Besides, Honnold didn't mind keeping his lover with him. What gives him the right to tell his wife what to do? You've got to find her! She might not even be alive!"

Tameron didn't know what to do, or whom to believe. He asked the Guardian to provide truthspell for the next few questions. She agreed, and prepared two bowls of water. Then she had Honnold and Jarrett place their hands in one basin each, and warned them that the liquid would change color whenever they told a lie.

Tam took a deep breath. "Lord Honnold, did you kill your wife?" Honnold denied it. The water stayed clear. "Lord Honnold, do you plan to harm her if she returns?"

The older man started to speak, then changed his tale as the water began turning black. "Yes. She must be punished. How dare she take my son from me!"

Jarrett looked angry. "It is better we know now," the Guardian said.

Tameron continued asking questions. "Did you hire anybody to hurt Marysalian, the boy, or any members of her family?" Honnold denied it truthfully. "Is there anyone who believes he'll gain your favor if he disposes of them?"

Honnold sighed. "Toran's urged me to hunt them down several times, but I've always told him no."

"What about your pet mage?" Jarrett said angrily.

"I stay out of his way and he stays out of mine," Honnold said. The water began to darken. "All right, maybe he does favor me. He favors anyone with gold." The liquid cleared.

Tam shook inside, and hoped no one could see it. No wonder Jarrett had been so insistent on seeing the Guardian. Mages were supposed to seek justice, not their own personal gain. Still, something didn't ring true in the younger man's story. "Why did it take so long for you to seek her out?" he asked.

"I couldn't help it," Jarrett said. His own bowl changed color. He stared down at it and frowned. "I didn't think he'd really hurt her. She said he didn't care what she did as long as she gave him a child."

That was more like the truth, Tameron saw. He asked both of them if they knew where Marysalian or her family might be. They both claimed to have no idea, and the water in both bowls stayed clear. Tam didn't know what to do then. He took a deep breath. "We have several problems here. Where are Marysalian, her son, and the rest of her family? Are they alive? Who is the father of her child? Jarrett, you left without a thought for her. Did you have to be gone so long? Did either of you men set aside a jewel for the boy?" The father of any children saw to their welfare by providing a gem or other item of value to start them off in life once they were grown. That was true of any family.

Both men hung their heads. Tameron tried to figure out what else was wrong. He turned towards the Guardian. "My lady, I thought a new mage spent a year in a village, and then returned to the Wizards' College. How many did Jarrett talk to? If there were more than one, were they all greedy? Or did they have other reasons for ruling against him?"

"Some larger towns have a mage there permanently," she said. "Bogatay is just big enough. The one who's there now has often petitioned me for some other duty."

Tam wished he didn't have to ask for magical help, but he knew he'd better he
become used to it. "My lady, is there some way to find out if the woman and her family are still alive?"

"Yes, but it'll take time unless we can get something that belongs to her. Otherwise, I'll have to trace the emotional connection between either man and her. I expect that will be quite difficult." Jarrett had the grace to blush, though Honnold clenched his fists once more.

Tameron was afraid of acting too soon, but this had gone on for long enough. "I will now make a temporary judgment till all the facts are known," he said.

"You have that right," the Guardian added.

He couldn't tell if she approved or not, but he had to do something! Lord Honnold might be profiting by the wickedness of those around him, even though his own hands appeared to be clean.

Tam cleared his throat and stood. "We have a disputed woman, a disputed child, and disputed land," he
said, glad he'd remembered some of the rules of rhetoric Scholar Tayn had taught him. "Marysalian must be found, alive or dead, as well as her son and the rest of her family. She belongs to herself. She will decide where she will live and with whom. The same goes for the land that went with her at her marriage. It is hers. The land her parents own must go back to them if they live, or to their heirs if they are dead. Until we know, all that land must be separated from Lord Honnold's own holdings. Someone must find out how much of his wealth came from that land, because it might have to be returned. Since he's paid his Tenth on all his produce, no matter where it came from, there shouldn't be any further taxes. This also holds true for Marysalian and her kin, for they should not have to pay for what they didn't receive. My lady, I would appreciate your assistance in making these determinations."

She dipped her head in agreement.

"What if they're never found?" Honnold asked. His face was deathly pale.

"You may never control that land again," Tameron said. "You may lose even more if evil has been done in your name or to gain your goodwill."

"If Marysalian is well, will she go back to her husband?" Jarrett asked.

"Only if she wants to," Tam said. "Responsibility for the child is divided evenly between you both, unless one of you wishes to give up his claim. Jarrett, can you provide this without depending on your cousin's wealth?"

The younger man lifted his chin. "Yes. I traded for myself when I was Outside, and when I returned, I was wounded subduing a thief. After I recovered, I was allowed to keep his goods for my own, at least the ones nobody recognized. I don't care what you do with the land, if only she's all right!" The water darkened a little, but not much.

Tameron hoped the two were someday reunited, though he felt a little sorry for Honnold. Some mages complained about their Duty for the same reason the older man had ruined his marriage.

Both men dried their hands and left when the Guardian dismissed them. Tam sat down. "My lady," he asked, "was Lord Honnold right--I mean, is it true about my father and Coris Mimn being like he said they were?"

"Yes. He wanted to keep it from you till you were older. My brother cared as deeply for your mother as he could for any woman, but never as much as he does for Mimn. He didn't want to influence you one way or another until you
became certain what you wanted for yourself." She sniffed. "Not that I've ever seen it make much difference!"