And then something in his surroundings brought an odd kind of pressure to Tavi's senses. He stopped and let out a short, warning hiss of breath. From a full jog, Bernard abruptly dropped to a crouch, and Tavi instinctively followed suit.
Bernard looked silently back at Tavi, cocking an eyebrow in a silent question.
Tavi stayed on all fours and crawled up beside his uncle. He kept his voice to a whisper between panting breaths and said, "Up ahead, in that last
stand of trees by the brook There's usually a covey of quail there, but I saw them heading along the lane "
"You think something spooked them out," Bernard said He murmured, "Cyprus," and flicked his right hand toward the trees beside him in a signal to the lesser of his two furies Tavi looked up and saw a shape glide down from one of the trees-vaguely humanoid and no larger than a child It turned pale green eyes toward Bernard for a moment, crouching down like an animal Leaves and twigs seemed to writhe together to cover whatever shape lay beneath them Cyprus tilted its head to one side, focusing on Bernard, and then made a sound like wind rustling through the leaves and vanished into the brush
Tavi was winded from the run and struggled to slow his breathing "What is it'" he whispered
Bernard's eyes slipped out of focus for a moment before he answered "You were right Well done, boy There's someone hiding near the footbridge They've got a strong fury with them "
"Bandits'?" Tavi whispered
His uncle's eyes narrowed "It's Kord "
Tavi frowned "I thought the other Steadholders were supposed to be arriving later today And why would they be hiding in the trees'"
Bernard grunted, rising "Let's go find out "
Tavi followed his uncle on down the road Bernard walked with quiet purpose toward the causeway, as if he had every intention of traveling past the hidden men Then, without warning, he spun to his left, arrow in hand, drew back the bow and loosed a grey-feathered shaft at a clump of bushes and detritus a few paces from the near side of the small, stone footbridge that crossed a murmuring brook
Tavi heard a scream, and the leaves and bushes thrashed wildly A moment later a boy about Tavi's age emerged from the bushes, one hand clenched upon the seat of his breeches He had a broad, strong build and a face that would be handsome if it had been less petulant Bittan, of Kord-holt, Kord's youngest son "Bloody crows'" the boy howled "Are you insane'"
"Bittan'" called Bernard in obviously feigned surprise "Oh dear I had no idea that was you back there "
From further down the trail, a second young man rose out of hiding- Kord's eldest son, Aric He was leaner than his brother, taller, and several years older He wore his hair pulled back into a tail, and pensive frown lines
had already established themselves between his eyebrows. He watched Bernard warily and called, "Bittan? You all right?"
The boy screamed, furious, "No I'm not all right! I'm shot!"
Tavi peered at the other boy and muttered to his uncle, "You shot him?"
"Just grazed him."
Tavi grinned. "Maybe you hit him in the brain."
Bernard smiled a wolfish smile and said nothing.
From still further back in the brush, leaves crackled and dead wood snapped. A moment later, Steadholder Kord emerged from the bracken. He wasn't terribly tall, but his shoulders seemed too large for him, and his brawny arms looked unnaturally long. Kord wore a patched and faded grey tunic, badly in need of a thorough washing, and heavy gargant-hide leggings. He wore his symbol of office, the heavy chain of a Steadholder around his neck. The chain was smudged and looked greasy, but Tavi supposed that it made a better match for his unkempt greying hair and patchy beard.
Kord moved with an aggressive tension, and his eyes were cold with anger. "What the crows do you think you're doing, Bernard?"
Bernard waved a friendly hand at Kord, but Tavi noted that he held an arrow along with the bow in his other. "Little accident," he said. "I mistook your boy there for some kind of robber lurking by the road to attack travelers."
Kord's eyes narrowed. "Are you accusing me of something?"
"Of course not," Bernard drawled, his smile not touching his eyes. "This is just a misunderstanding. Thank the great furies no one got hurt." He paused for a moment, his smile vanishing before he said, quietly, "I'd hate to have someone get hurt on my land."
Kord snarled, a sound more bestial than human, and rolled forward a furious step. The ground under his feet rumbled and quivered, restless little hummocks rising and falling as though some kind of serpent slithered about just beneath the surface.
Bernard faced Kord without looking away, stirring, or changing his expression.
Kord growled again, and with a visible effort choked back his anger. "One of these days I'm going to get upset with you, Bernard."
"Don't say things like that, Kord," Tavi's uncle replied. "You'll frighten the boy."
Kord's eyes flicked to Tavi, and the boy felt suddenly uneasy under that intense and angry regard.
"He come into any furies yet, or are you finally going to admit what a useless little freak he is'"
The simple comment pierced Tavi like a thorn, and he opened his mouth to make a furious response
Bernard settled his hand on Tavi's shoulder and said, "Don't worry about my nephew " He glanced at Bittan 'After all, you've got other concerns Why don't you head on down to the steadholt' I'm sure Isana is getting something ready for you "
"Think we'll stay here a while," Kord said "Maybe eat a little breakfast "
"Suit yourself," Bernard said, and stared on down the lane Tavi followed close behind them Bernard ignored Kord until they had crossed the footbridge "Oh," Bernard said, looking over his shoulder "I forgot to mention that Warner already came in last night, Kord His sons are on leave from the Legions so that they could visit their father "
"Bring them on," Bittan snapped "We'll tear them apa-"
Kord delivered an openhanded blow to Bittan's face that knocked the boy to the ground "Shut your mouth "
Bittan shook his head, dazed and scowling He didn't answer Kord or look at his father as he stood up
"Go on down," Bernard said "I'm sure we can get everything worked out "
Kord didn't reply He beckoned his sons with a curt gesture and started down the lane They followed him, and Bittan cast a harsh, hateful glare at Tavi as he walked "Freak "
Tavi clenched his hands into fists, but let the comment pass Bernard nodded his approval, and they waited as Kord and his sons headed down the lane to Bernardholt
As they watched, Tavi said, "They were there to attack Warner, weren't they, uncle'"
"It's possible," Bernard said "That's why your aunt asked Warner to come in last night Kord is desperate "
"Why' It's Bittan that's been accused, not him "
"Rape is a realm offense," Bernard answered "Kord is the family head, and he shares responsibility for offenses against the realm If the truthfind shows that there needs to be a trial, and Bittan is judged guilty, Count Gram could remove Kord's claim to Kordholt "
"You think he'd kill to protect it'" Tavi asked
"I think men who lust for power are capable of almost anything " He