The Devil's Armour (Gollancz S.F.) (34 page)

‘Where did you get this?’ asked Breck.

Lorn didn’t flinch. ‘It belongs to me. It’s been mine since I took it from King Mor.’

There was a confused murmur among the men. Van looked at Lorn in surprise. ‘King Mor? How’d you get a ring from him, Akan?’ he asked.

‘This is a ring of kingship,’ said Breck. ‘King Mor ruled Norvor when Akeela first took the throne of Liiria. You say you’ve had it since then?’

‘That’s right,’ said Lorn evenly. He could tell Breck had already surmised his identity, and was now wondering if it
were truly possible. ‘Captain, I was with King Mor during the massacre at Hanging Man. I took that ring from him myself.’ He took a breath, stood up straight, and said with all seriousness, ‘I am Lorn.’

‘What?’ erupted Van. Then he started laughing. ‘Akan, what are you doing? This isn’t a joke.’

‘No, it isn’t,’ said Lorn. He looked at the man who had become his friend and gave a wan smile. ‘Van, I never told you because I couldn’t risk it. But I am King Lorn, the one they call the Wicked. I’ve been on the run from Jazana Carr since she took Carlion. Reena is my daughter, Poppy.’

Van went white with disbelief. ‘That’s not possible.’

‘It’s the truth.’ Lorn turned to Breck and said, ‘Jazana Carr wanted my daughter. It wasn’t enough for her to take my city and my whole damn country. I couldn’t let her have Poppy so I fled. I came here to Koth to hide and help you.’

Breck’s eyes narrowed on him, contemplating the possibility. ‘King Lorn the Wicked. News reaches us slowly here, I admit, but we’ve all heard that Lorn is dead.’

‘I live,’ declared Lorn fiercely. ‘That ring is mine rightfully, as is the throne of Norvor. Jazana Carr has agents after me, no doubt. She may know that I’m here, or she may not. Either way, talk of my death is only rumours, I assure you.’

‘Your daughter,’ gasped Van suddenly. ‘She’s blind.’

Lorn nodded. ‘That’s right.’

‘So?’ asked Breck.

Van grimaced. ‘Captain Breck, I once heard it said in Jazana Carr’s camp that Lorn had only one daughter, and that she was blind. No one was really sure if it was true or not, but word had come from Duke Rihards that it was so.’

‘Duke Rihards was a snake,’ said Lorn. ‘He betrayed and destroyed me. But he was also my friend. He knew Poppy. He knew how we suspected she was blind and deaf.’

‘I don’t believe this,’ muttered one of the men who had remained seated. Now he rose to confront Lorn. ‘If you are
King Lorn, then you abandoned your people at Carlion. Would you have us believe that?’

‘Believe it,’ said Lorn darkly, ‘because it’s true. There were traitors everywhere in Carlion at the end. I could trust no one. I wasn’t about to leave my daughter to Jazana Carr.’

‘Akan,’ stammered Van, ‘I mean . . .’ Lost, he shook his head. ‘Tell me this is all some jest. Please, tell me I haven’t been so deceived.’

‘Van, you think King Lorn was a tyrant,’ said Lorn carefully. ‘But I was not. Hate me if you must, but also know the truth.’

Van couldn’t barely speak. ‘You lied to me . . .’

‘I had to,’ Lorn insisted. ‘I couldn’t trust you or anyone else. Not until I reached the library.’

‘Damn you,’ Van hissed. ‘Damn you for making me believe you!’

He began storming away, but Breck called after him, ‘Lieutenant, stay where you are!’

Turning toward him, Van flared, ‘Commander, if this is King Lorn then this is the man responsible for countless deaths in his own country.’

‘Blame Jazana Carr for that,’ sneered Lorn.

‘She wanted to liberate Norvor from you, that much I know,’ said Van.

‘It doesn’t give her the right to come here next,’ said Breck.

‘No, sir, but she was right to fight
you
, King Lorn,’ Van argued. He looked at Lorn helplessly. ‘You are a tyrant, or you were once. I can’t believe I rescued you from those robbers. I should have let them kill you.’

‘I still don’t believe it,’ said the nameless soldier.

‘I
can’t
believe it,’ added Aric Glass.

Murdon looked at Lorn and laughed, ‘You don’t look like much of a king.’

Breck tossed the ring over to him. ‘Take a look at this, then. It’s genuine. It bears the crest of Norvor. Unless he stole it from someone else, this really could be Lorn.’

‘What a fool I am,’ said Van hatefully. ‘I saved your life. After helping Jazana Carr defeat you!’

‘Because she paid you!’ railed Lorn.

‘And because I really thought I was doing some good. That’s why I came here with you! To do some good for once!’

‘Well, now is your chance then, isn’t it? I brought you here so we could both do some good.’

‘Why
did
you come here, King Lorn?’ asked Breck suddenly. ‘You said your intent all along was to come here to the library. Explain yourself.’

‘It’s obvious. I want my country back. I want Jazana Carr dead. I want her army defeated. I want all those things, but if I can’t have them I intend to die fighting her.’

‘And you can help us?’ This time it was Murdon who spoke. The soldier handed the ring back to Lorn. ‘What can you offer besides your services with a weapon?’

Lorn took the ring, kissed it, then slipped it onto his finger. It was the first time he’d worn the ring since leaving Carlion, and just feeling it against his skin made him feel like a king again. He said to Murdon, ‘I can offer you knowledge. I know more about Jazana Carr than anyone here. I fought her for sixteen years, remember. I know her tactics and how devious she can be.’ He smiled confidently. ‘Captain Breck, you need me.’

Breck’s expression was inscrutable. He looked at Van, who was quietly smouldering, then back at Lorn. ‘I need every able-bodied man I can get,’ he admitted. ‘Especially one with knowledge of the Diamond Queen.’

‘I can help too,’ snapped Van.

‘I know you can, but will you?’ asked Breck sharply. ‘Lorn the Wicked has vengeance in his belly. That’s good; I can use it. But what do you have, Vanlandinghale? I put it to you – will you be loyal? Or will you keep whining about hardships?’

‘I was deceived,’ said Van, looking straight at Lorn.

‘So?’ barked Breck. ‘We were all deceived. I was deceived
into thinking King Akeela was a good man. You think I want to have my family living here, preparing to die? And you – you deceived people who trusted you into thinking you were a Royal Charger.’

‘I am a Royal Charger!’ cried Van. With a threatening step toward Breck he added, ‘How about I prove it to you?’

Breck laughed. ‘Good! That’s the kind of fire you’ll need. Because Jazana Carr isn’t like you. She’s not a mercenary who’s out for money. She’s playing for all the cards this time.’

‘That is so,’ echoed Lorn. ‘You should listen to him, Van. Demons drive Jazana Carr. She’s insatiable. You may go on thinking me a tyrant; I can’t change that. But this is your country at stake now.’

‘You don’t have to convince me,’ said Van. ‘I’m here, aren’t I? I’ll fight Jazana Carr with you, Lorn.’ Amazingly, a hint of acceptance crossed his face. ‘Now we’ll both have a chance to prove ourselves.’

Lorn smirked. For some reason, he still liked the arrogant Vanlandinghale. There would be no real truce with Van tonight, but maybe in time. He turned back to Breck. ‘I expect no special treatment,’ he said. ‘I’m not asking for anything but the chance to help you defeat Jazana Carr. I’ll tell you everything I can about her. I’ll pick up a sword and fight. And if I get close enough, I’ll cut out her heart and eat it.’

Breck smiled. ‘Let’s pray to the Fate that you get your chance, Lorn the Wicked. But it won’t be tonight. Right now we all need rest, and I have a wife waiting for me. Murdon, take them somewhere and make them comfortable. If they’re hungry give them food.’

‘Commander, my daughter . . .’

‘Your daughter is being cared for,’ said Murdon. ‘I’ll take you to her.’

‘We’ll talk in the morning, Lorn,’ Breck added. ‘Lieutenant Vanlandinghale, you’ll be reporting to Murdon. He’ll tell you everything you need to know.’

Van gave a reluctant nod. ‘I understand, sir.’

Breck sighed and rolled his head around his shoulders until the muscles in his neck popped. ‘Dismissed, all of you.’

The men seated at the long table rose and began filing from the chamber, following Breck toward the door. Aric Glass, however, stayed behind, as did Murdon.

‘There’s room in my barracks,’ volunteered Aric. ‘They can both quarter with me.’

‘Just Van,’ said Murdon. ‘He’s a soldier. He needs to be around other Chargers again.’

‘What about me?’ asked Lorn.

‘You come with me. There are other people you can stay with.’

Before Murdon could lead him away Lorn paused and said to Van, ‘I’ll see you in the morning, after I speak with Breck. I’ll tell you what happens, keep you informed.’

The offer got only a nod from Van, who followed Aric out of the room.

‘I’d like to see my daughter,’ said Lorn as Murdon headed for the door.

‘That’s where I’m taking you.’

‘That man Garthel you sent to me – will I be boarding with him?’

‘We keep the citizens away from the soldiers. That’s where you’ll be sleeping.’

‘That’s what I guessed.’ To Lorn it really didn’t matter. He had meant what he’d said to Breck – he wasn’t looking for luxury. He only wanted the chance to battle Jazana Carr. And, if possible, to keep Poppy safe.

Concern for his daughter sped Lorn’s pace as he followed Murdon out of the chamber. He was not sure how quickly word would spread of his identity, and he was too weary to argue with anyone else. In the morning he would deal with Vanlandinghale and try to convince him of his worthiness. Tonight, though, he wanted only to sleep and keep up the pretence that had kept him anonymous so long. He was
grateful that the halls of the library were mostly empty now. At last, the soldiers and citizens calling the place home had retired to bed. Lorn took the time to study the library as they walked, noting its stout construction. The architects of the library had unwittingly built Koth a fortress, a formidable perch from which to defend the city. There was a good chance that they could hold off Jazana Carr’s forces here and hold Koth indefinitely. Given time, maybe they could rally other Liirian cities to their defence. The odds were terrible, but from here they just might be able to turn the tide against the Diamond Queen.

But those were concerns for the morrow, and Lorn decided not to keep himself awake with them. In the morning he would strategise with Breck, and for that he needed rest. He was glad when Murdon finally led him up one of the library’s towers, supposing he would discover his sleeping quarters there. As he stepped out into a new hall of brick and torchlight, an air of peace and silence seized him. Murdon walked more quietly here and led the former king to a room at the end of the hall. Murdon paused a few paces from the threshold. There was no door to the room, just a rounded arch of stone. Lorn could see candlelight emanating from inside. A woman’s voice spoke softly, but he could not make out the words.

‘In there,’ whispered Murdon. ‘Your daughter.’

It didn’t occur to Lorn to ask if this was where he’d be sleeping. Knowing Poppy was inside he went to the room with a hasty goodnight, leaving Murdon and entering the soft-lit chamber. Cautiously he peered inside, spying the walls filled with books and the floor lined with chairs of different sizes, some so small they were obviously for children. Blankets and pillows draped much of the furniture, all of which was smoothly worn with overuse. A single window graced the room. Cut into the farthest wall, it let in soft moonlight. The white light struck the face of a young woman in a chair near the window, cradling Poppy in her arms and whispering to her, oblivious to Lorn’s presence.
There was a book in her hand, propped up while she held Poppy. Her eyes were wide and dramatic as she read from the book. As though she could hear the story being told, Poppy’s expression was serene. Lorn stopped breathing for a moment. The simple beauty of the sight was like a hammer-blow. The woman’s honey-coloured hair reminded him of Rinka, his dead wife. Mesmerised, Lorn watched the young woman. The smoothness of her skin and the poetry of her voice enraptured him. She was young, perhaps eighteen, perhaps a little older. Was this Garthel’s daughter? Had she nursed Poppy? Lorn looked around the room and realised there was no bed, just chairs and books and blankets. Not wanting to frighten the woman, he softly cleared his throat.

She looked up and smiled at him. Her green eyes gleamed from across the room.

‘Akan?’

Lorn nodded. ‘Yes,’ he replied. He took a step closer. Poppy’s eyes drooped with sleepiness.

‘She’s tired,’ remarked the woman. ‘Such a good girl. A good eater.’

‘You fed her?’ Lorn asked. It was the first time he noticed the towel beside the woman’s chair.

‘My father asked me to,’ said the woman. ‘He brought Reena to me, told me you were meeting with Breck.’

‘I thank you, madam,’ Lorn said. He went close enough to see Poppy’s face, but not so close that the woman felt compelled to hand the child over. Seeing his daughter so at peace heartened him. ‘Your father, Garthel . . . he told me not to worry about her. I see now that he was right. You have a way with her.’