„I never saw much good in him."
„You looked at him as Marena Dimura, not as a man. Till today he was a perfect soldier. But for Bragi."
Inger didn't respond.
„Bragi was the glue that held everything together," Mi chael mused. „Even the Estates respected him. His is going to be a hard act to follow."
„Don't try to sell me anything, Michael."
Shouts came from the head of the column. A squadron whooped off after a band of looters. They were rounded up, tied neck to neck, and forced to march alongside. The number of prisoners grew steadily, though Michael insisted the column keep to the quieter parts of town.
„They should be cut down where they're found," Inger complained.
„Part of the problem is Credence's savagery earlier," Michael countered. „There's a place for savagery, but not when you're trying to smooth troubled waters. If we butch ered anybody now we'd just get more angry people. You can't intimidate a mob. It grows faster than you can cut it apart. When you're dealing with a more limited, planned thing, like the riots a while back, then savagery can have some value."
He glanced over. Inger wasn't really listening. Since departing the manor she had retreated ever farther into herself. She was realizing how much had settled onto her shoulders.
There was a mob at the palace gate. Nordmen agitators were trying to get them to break in. The Guard was showing admirable restraint by not firing on them. Inger snapped, „Wait! Let me try first," as the company commander began dispersing for a charge.
„Your Majesty... ."
„They think I'm dead. Seeing me may calm them down."
Michael nodded. „I was right. You do have courage when it counts. Let her, Captain. Fiana used to do this sort of thing and people loved her for it." Something touched his cheek coolly. He held out a hand. Sprinkles. He looked at the fire-bellied clouds over the Quarter. They seemed lower and fatter. „It may rain. Wouldn't that be lovely?"
Inger looked at him strangely. „I'm scared to death, Michael. I wasn't born without fear the way you were."
Michael felt for more raindrops and replied, „That's courage, Your Majesty. Courage is what makes you go ahead, despite your fear, and do what needs to be done. Ah. Comes the cold wind. Lovely indeed."
Inger smiled weakly. „That's supportive. A little oblique, but supportive."
„I'll go with you. Captain, how about half a dozen men, just to stay close?"
„Very well." The captain called names. Inger started forward. Michael nudged his mount, caught up, smiling into the teeth of the rising wind. The six men hurried after him.
There was enough light round the gate, from torches in the mob and lights on the wall, for Inger to be recognized. Word spread quickly. Rioters quieted, gawked. Agitators gulped and fled into the shadows. People backed out of Inger's path. A few dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. Someone atop the wall had the presence of mind to sound trumpets and add to the impact.
The mob began dispersing as the gate opened and twenty Guardsmen came forth. They began departing even faster when Michael took out a scrap of paper and nib of charcoal and pretended to be noting names. It was one moment when his reputation was a positive. As they passed beneath the wall, Trebilcock said, „They'll spread the word. Things will start calming down. If a good storm breaks, so much the better. They'll go home to get out of the rain." Distant thunder punctuated his final remark.
„I hope so, Michael. I saw enough getting here to last me a lifetime."
„Get used to it if you're going to be Queen. These things happen. I've never figured out why. It's like Vorgreberg has a fever it has to purge every so often."
A Guardsman rushed up to Michael. „Captain Trebilcock. Doctor Wachtel would like to see you immedi ately."
„About Prataxis?"
„Yes sir."
„How is he?"
„Still breathing, sir, but that's about all."
„I'll be right there. Captain, you know what to do. Inger, you want to start taking charge?"
„What about Fulk? Michael, it worries me, leaving him out there with only two women to watch him."
Michael smiled gently. „You might send some of your people to collect him, Your Majesty. If you'll excuse me?"
„Of course." Inger dismounted and marched across the courtyard, toward the great audience chamber. The regal hauteur came over her. Michael heard her give orders to the nearest Guardsmen. He smiled again.
„She'll do," he murmured. „She'll do. Now, if we could do something about her cousin... ." He hurried inside, toward Wachtel's quarters.
Prataxis was conscious when he arrived. A weak smile flickered across the old scholar's lips. „Took you long enough," he whispered. „Is she all right?"
„Fine. And taking charge. We've got the troops moving again. Looks like there'll be rain to help." Michael glanced across Prataxis, his question unspoken. Wachtel shook his head.
„I'm on my last legs, Michael," Prataxis said. „I never thought it would come to this when I came here. Who attacks dons of the Rebsamen?" He tried to chuckle. It came out a pathetic gurgle. „Stay with her, Michael. Guide her. Your organization is almost a shadow government. Use it. For Kavelin's sake."
Michael sighed. „Don't put that on me, Derel."
„Was all your work in vain? Have you spent so many years building just to walk away? You can lighten the winds of change and soften the coming night. Don't walk away. But be careful. There will be dreadful people near her."
„All right," Michael said. „All right." He didn't mean it at the moment. He was just saying what a dying man wanted to hear. But even then, way back in his mind, there was a part of him which still believed in the dream.
„Thank you, Michael. Now I feel I won't have died entirely in vain."
„Die? Who's going to die? You'll be up and around in a few days."
„Don't be a fool, Michael. I'd be dead now if I hadn't been determined to see you before I go."
Yes, Michael thought. He could see Derel's reserves going as he talked. He didn't have long.
„Michael, do one more thing for me."
„Name it."
„In my quarters. In the big cedar chest at the foot of my bed. All my notes and manuscripts. All the drawings I did with Varthlokkur... they're more precious than gold, Mi chael. Get them back to the Rebsamen." A pleading note had entered Prataxis's voice. He was begging that his life's work be preserved.
How could Michael deny him? „You've got it." And this promise he meant to keep. „They'll be gone before dawn."
„Thank you, Michael. You're a good friend. Doctor, I'm finished now."
Wachtel gestured toward the door. „He'd rather it hap pened privately."
Michael nodded, began retreating.
Prataxis went before Michael got out, a last, soft, „Gods save the King," drifting over his dry lips.
Michael walked alone for a long time, thinking. Prataxis had been his last friend here. He was alone in a hostile land now, surrounded by the growing might of people who hated him. He wouldn't survive long if he stayed and tried to fight the good fight.
He wasn't afraid. Death held no terrors for him. But he was lonely, and loneliness was a foe he did not know how to defeat.
Eventually he went down to Prataxis's quarters and prepared the man's manuscripts for shipment.
It was there, deep in the night, with lightning stalking the heavens and a hard rain driving into the streets, that Inger's messenger found him. „The Queen would like you to join her in the audience chamber, Captain. Planning session, she said."