„Prataxis. Mundwiller. What about them? Can't they get anything organized?"
„They're dead, sir. At least, Mundwiller was dead when I left. They were ambushed in the street. We got Prataxis back inside the palace, but Doctor Wachtel said he wouldn't live long."
„What about the regular garrison?" Liakopulos de manded, stepping out of the house. „What are they doing?"
„Colonel Abaca ordered them back into barracks after his announcement, sir."
Michael said, „Bring the Queen, General. Let's get in there and try to do something."
„It's probably too late."
„Probably."
Inger stepped out of the house. She had changed dramati cally. Her manner had become regal. She told her men to get their horses.
Michael smiled. „Your Majesty."
She looked at him strangely. „You've never called me that before."
„You never earned it, in my estimation. I think you're ready for it now. Let's mount up."
„One more thing, sir," Mark said. „A message. Prataxis had it. Gave it to me. Said for your eyes only." He handed it across.
Michael held the letter close, strained to make out what it said. „I hope this satisfies you, Inger."
„Michael?"
„The letter is from my agent in Sedlmayr. I sent Christen and the King's children down there right before the big championship match. Anyway, Itaskians raided the house and killed everyone in it."
Inger shuddered. „What? How could they? I ... I'd never allow anything like that. All my people are here, anyway."
„All your people." Michael scowled into the gathering darkness, battling his anger. „But not your cousin's. I neglected to tell you before, for obvious reasons, that Gales is back. Along with your cousin the Duke."
Inger didn't respond till everyone was mounted. „That's Dane's style. Damn him. The filthy... Michael, believe me, I never wanted anything like that."
„Maybe not. But it's the sort of thing you should expect from your cousin."
„There'll be an accounting. Let's ride."
The Duke and his force were thirty miles from the capital, taking their evening meal in an encampment on the estate of a Nordmen ally. Representatives of the Estates were gathering at the castle nearby. There would be a council of war.
„You look glum, Gales," the Duke observed. „Sir Mortin says you've been down since you found out Haas tracked you home."
„Your Lordship?"
„I don't want my best man unhappy. Is there anything I can do?"
Go back home, Gales thought. Leave these people alone. „No, My Lord. I'm just a little under the weather, I think. It'll work itself out."
The Duke chuckled. „You don't approve of what we're doing, do you?"
„No. But I'm a soldier. It's not my place to approve or disapprove."
The Duke nodded amiably. His hunters had returned from Sedlmayr. He was in a good mood. Inger's brat had no more competition for the throne. Inger would be the power behind the boy, and he would pull her strings. „Mortin. In this meeting tonight, pick out the ones we'll need to be rid of first."
Mortin started to reply. He stared over the Duke's shoulder. His eyes got big. Gales stared too. The Duke spun. „Norath! What the hell are you doing here?"
A huge man stepped into the light. Behind him two tall, muscular bodyguards looked on with eyes like chips of ice. „Our mutual friend asked me to drop in." Norath's voice was high and squeaky, completely at odds with his physical size. Gales tittered nervously.
„I wish he wouldn't keep trying to take things over."
„He doesn't see the alliance as on only when it's conve nient for you. And he has a special interest in this country. He told me to make sure you don't screw it up, the way your family usually does."
Sir Mortin rose, snatched up a sword. One of Norath's bodyguards struck the blade from the knight's hand. Red of face, the Duke said, „Take it easy. We're supposed to be friends."
„No," Norath said. „Not friends, Dane. Allies. There's a meeting tonight. I'll attend as one of your party. You'll tell no one who I am."
„Whatever you say. But why are you here really? I thought you were tied up in Hammad al Nakir."
„The opportunities here are greater." He settled near the fire. One of his bodyguards took the best meat off the roasting spit and gave it to him.
The Duke fumed quietly, schemes of vengeance shaping in his mind. He wouldn't endure humiliation from anyone.
Gales watched from outside the center of activity, wres tling his conscience for the thousandth time. Could he remain in service to a man who dealt with Magden Norath's like? He had his debt, true, but didn't he also have a higher moral responsibility? Wasn't his debt, in fact, more to Inger than to Dane's family?
Shortly after Norath appeared a messenger arrived saying that the commander of the Vorgreberg garrison had an nounced that the King was dead. Chaos ruled the city.
„Perfect," the Duke said. „We can restore order and be hailed as saviors."
The messenger added, „There's also a strong rumor saying Ragnarson's cronies have murdered the Queen and her son. The people think there's no one to take over."
„I will."
„Legally, fool. Legally."
Gales chuckled. The Duke's scheme was so much dust if Inger was dead. All those years for nothing. Couldn't happen to a more deserving soul. But his humor lasted only a moment. Inger was too dear a price for Dane's embarrass ment.
General Liakopulos led the way round west of Vorgreberg, to the barracks of the King's Own, which lay outside the city wall. He found the troops demoralized and confused. He instructed their commander to assemble them.
„Men," he said, „you've heard that the King is dead. You've heard the Queen was murdered. I give the lie to the latter right now. Her Majesty the Queen."
Inger stepped forward. Liakopulos had torchbearers illu minate her, so there would be no doubt. „There's been a battle in the east. The King was involved. We did lose it, and badly. But as yet we have no direct evidence that the King was killed. All we have are rumors started by people who want to profit from confusion and despair. It's just more of the same thing that goes on every day in Vorgreberg. Don't take it seriously. Don't sit around like men con demned. We're soldiers. Our job is to maintain order. It's time we got on with that."
He spoke a while longer, trying to restore morale. He did not scruple against lying. When he finished he turned the troops over to their captains, who prepared to move into the city.
„Major, they seem a little weak, number wise. What happened?"
„Desertions. We lost close to seventy men. All the Marena Dimura scouts. Most of the lads of Nordmen background. The Wessons stood up better."
„They were always a more solid lot. All right. We're going to split the force into two companies. One will accompany the Queen to the palace. The other will follow me to the Vorgreberger barracks. We'll get them stirring, then start clearing the streets."
The Major looked out his window. An orange glow illuminated the underbelly of the clouds. „It may be too big a job for the tools at hand. General."
„We'll try anyway, Major. That's our job. Don't relay your doubts to your men."
„Of course not, sir. If you'll excuse me? Your Majesty?"
„One moment," Michael said, speaking for the first time. „Where's Colonel Abaca?"
„I haven't heard anything since he ordered us into bar racks."
„1 see. Thank you."
Passing through the city's unguarded, deserted, open western gate, Michael told Inger, „That damned Credence wanted this. Guess he figured he wouldn't leave you much to take over. Damn. He was a good man, too."