"We must submit," said Baron Haulk.
Efraim said, "If the Kaiark Jochaim indeed acceded to Rianlle's demands, he must have been subjected to these same pressures. I hope that our humiliation serves a good purpose." He rose to his feet. "Rianlle arrives here tomorrow. I hope that all of you will be on hand, to lend the occasion dignity."
"We will be here."
Chapter 13
An hour before arrival of the Kaiark Rianlle, the eiodarks gathered on the terrace of Benbuphar Strang. Through psychological processes perhaps differing from case to case many attitudes had hardened, and where, before, shameful misgivings had been converted into defiance. Where before all the eiodarks had resigned themselves to submission, now it seemed as if all had been inspired to obduracy.
"Rianlle challenged your memory?" cried out Baron Balthazar. "With reason, you admit. He cannot challenge mine. If the Fwai-chi declare the existence of this covenant and if the archives at least hint of its existence, then I distinctly recall the Kaiark Jochaim discussing this same covenant."
"I as well!" declared Baron Hectre. "He dare not challenge us."
Efraim laughed sadly. "He will dare; why not? You are powerless to damage him."
"This shall be our strategy," said Baron Balthazar. "We will deny his demands with fortitude. If he invests the Dwan Jar with his troops, we shall harass them and destroy his work. If Rianlle wafts his sails down into our vale, we shall plunge down from Alode Cliff and rip their wings."
Baron Simic shook his fists into the air. "It shall not be so easy for Rianlle after all!"
"Very well," said Efraim. "If this is how you feel, I am with you. Remember, we shall be firm but not pugnacious; we shall mention self-defense only if he threatens. I am glad that, like myself, you find submission intolerable. And there, I believe, around Shanajra, comes Rianlle and his party."
The aircar landed; Rianlle alighted, followed by the Kraike Dervas, the Lissolet Maerio, and four Eccord eiodarks. The heralds quickstepped forth, producing ceremonial fanfares. Rianlle and his party marched to the steps leading up to the terrace; Efraim and the Scharde eiodarks descended to greet them.
Formalities were exchanged, then Rianlle, throwing back his handsome head, stated: "Today the Kaiarks of Scharrode and Eccord meet to certify an era of warm regard between their realms. It pleases me, therefore, to state that I will look favorably upon the possibility of trisme between yourself and the Lissolet Maerio."
Efraim bowed his head. "This is a most gracious offer, Force, and nothing could accord more to my own inclinations. But you are fatigued from the journey; I must allow you to refresh yourself. In two hours we shall meet in the Grand Parlor."
"Excellent. I may assume that you have found no further objections to my little scheme?"
"You may be sure, Your Force, that good relations between our two realms, on the basis of equity and cooperation, are the foundation of Scharde policy."
Rianlle's face darkened. "Can you not respond to the point? Do you or do you not intend to cede the Dwan Jar?"
"Your Force, let us not transact our important business upon the front steps.
When you have rested an hour or two, I will clarify the Scharde point of view."
Rianlle bowed, swung about. Under-chamberlains conducted him and members of his party to the chambers which had been prepared for them.
Maerio stood by a tall arched window looking out across the valley. She rubbed her hand on the stone sill, thrilling at the coarse contact. How would it be to live here at Benbuphar Strang, among these tall shadowy chambers, surrounded by echoes? Many strange events had occurred here, some of which made dreary listening; nowhere in all the Realms, so it was said, could be found a castle so riddled with mirk-ways. Efraim had changed; as to this there was no denying. He seemed more mature, and he seemed to obey the Rhune conventions tentatively, without conviction. Perhaps this was all to the good. Her mother, Dervas, had once been as gay and as artless as herself, but Rianlle (whom she supposed to be her father) had insisted that the Kraike of Eccord must exemplify the Rhune Code, and Dervas was impelled to orthodoxy for the good of the realm. Maerio wondered about Efraim. He hardly seemed the sort to insist on orthodoxy. In fact, from her own experience she knew better!
A slight sound behind her; she whirled about. A panel in the wainscoting had slid aside and there stood Efraim.
He crossed the room and stood smiling down into her face. "Forgive me for startling you. I wanted to see you secretly and alone, and I knew no other way."
Maerio looked toward the door. "Let me shoot the bolt; we must not be discovered."
"True." Efraim bolted the door and returned to Maerio. "I have been thinking of you; I cannot get you out of my mind."
"I have been thinking of you too, especially since I learned that the Kaiark planned to join us in trisme."
"That is what I must tell you. As much as I long for such a trisme, it will never occur, because the eiodarks intend to fight rather than give up the Dwan Jar."
Maerio nodded slowly. "I knew this would happen... I don't want to go in trisme anywhere else. What shall I do?"
"For now nothing. I can only make plans for war."
"You might be killed!"
"I hope not. Give me time to think. Would you run away with me, away from the Realms?"
Maerio asked breathlessly, "Where would we go?"
"I don't know. We would not be privileged as we are now; we might be forced to toil."
"I will go with you."
Efraim took her hands. She shivered and closed her eyes. "Efraim, please! You will lose your memory again."
"I don't think so." He kissed her forehead. She gasped and drew back.
"I feel so strange! Everyone will recognize my agitation!"
"I must go now. When you have composed yourself, come down to the Grand Parlor."
Efraim returned through the mirk-way to his chambers, and arrayed himself in formal garments.
A knock at the door. Efraim looked at the clock. Rianlle so soon?
He opened the door to find Becharab, the new First Chamberlain. "Yes, Becharab?"
"Your Force, before the castle stand several natives. They wish to speak with Your Force. I told them you are resting, but they are insistent."
Efraim ran past Becharab, across the reception hall and foyer, to the haughty astonishment of Singhalissa who stood conversing with one of the eiodarks from Eccord.
Before the terrace stood four Fwai-chi - ancient brown-red bucks, all tatters and shags. A pair of footmen, making fastidious faces, attempted to shoo them away. The Fwai-chi, discouraged, were starting to sidle off when Efraim appeared.
He ran down the steps, motioned the footmen aside. "I am Kaiark Efraim. You wished to see me?"
"Yes," said one, and Efraim thought to recognize the old buck he had met up on Whispering Ridge: "You claim that you remember no covenant in regard to the Dwan Jar."
"That is true. The Kaiark of Eccord who wants the Dwan Jar is here now."
"He must not have it; he is a man who demands much. If he were to control the Dwan Jar, he would demand more, and we would be forced to glut his avarice." The Fwai-chi produced a dusty vial containing half a gill of dark liquid. "Your memory is locked and there are no keys to the locks. Drink this liquid." Efraim took the vial and examined it curiously.