But Aisling knew that the clan deaths had been Kirion’s doing and surely at the Duke’s command. Hadn’t Shastro honestly known or was he rehearsing his speech to the council? Or could Hadrann have been right? Was Shastro becoming confused amongst all his lies and plots? She went in search of Keelan and her friend to discuss it.
Shastro had swept through the long corridors to Kirion’s tower. Once there he ignored the guards who dared not halt their duke and burst unceremoniously through the door. Kirion had been at work and was not pleased with the abrupt entrance of his duke, but he had to keep the fool happy. He listened, and once he’d heard it all, it was Kirion who wasn’t happy. Gods, the man was indeed losing his mind. He set out to delicately remind the duke that far from the witches being involved in the clan’s troubles it had been the duke who caused them or, rather, Kirion, at his duke’s command.
Shastro looked blank briefly then rallied. “Oh, yes, I know that but I mean that I shall give this as a possible explanation to the council.” He nodded to himself several times. “It makes good sense, does it not. They and the clan will believe it.” He beamed at his sorcerer. “Then I can attack Estcarp. They’ll all be behind me against the witches.”
Kirion stifled a moan. Dear gods, the man was obsessed. He bowed. “Let us first convince the council, my Lord Duke. Then with Verlaine and Kars rulerships cleared, we can make approaches to the clan. It may take a little while. Not all have your insight and understanding.” He watched as Shastro preened.
Not that it was a bad idea, Kirion thought. The Coast Clan was likely to accept it, at least enough of them to make peace between the clan and the throne almost a certainty. But Shastro could not be allowed to attack Estcarp with the full army of Karsten. Such an attack would have meant disaster. Apart from that, Kirion had no wish to find himself playing lone Karsten hero against the might of the massed witches of Estcarp. It had been the three times Horning that had started Karsten’s woes. It had lost the country most of its heal-ers, the effective ones anyhow. It had caused riots, started feuds and hatreds that in some places still continued. It had led to that stupid assault on Estcarp and its incredible defense, which had lost Karsten an army. Many of those in it would not have been missed, but it had weakened the country and divided it for too many years. Estcarp was bad luck. A prudent man left the witches alone, except that Shastro wasn’t prudent. He intended to thrust a stick into an ant’s nest and stir vigorously. Being Shastro he’d then be surprised and furious when the ants rushed out to bite.
Kirion considered. Let them get this council done, then the clan’s ruffled feathers smoothed down. He could see that both events were slowed. Give Shastro time to lose the edge of his fears; time for him to work on the duke and suggest caution in this matter. Maybe, too, Kirion could plant evidence suggesting it had been witches still in hiding here who were causing strife. He might use that to obtain a few more of the part-bloods for his own purposes.
His “bandits’” quiet little raids along the northern border had already netted him a sample or two from Estcarp, none with true power but all of the Old Blood. He’d gained something from each person taken. After the council and the clan matter he’d find a way of keeping the duke quiet awhile. If he did that the fool might let this attack idea rest. If not then they could make a few minor forays against Estcarp’s outermost defenses. Kirion could make them sound far more than they were.
Shastro was tugging at his arm. “Well, Kirion. Don’t you think we should show them we weren’t fooled?”
“Of course, my Lord Duke.” How the man loved that title, Kirion mused. You could see his chest expand every time it was used. “But first the council. You must not allow enemies to distract you; that might be their fell purpose. To prevent you from clarifying the succession of keep and Kars or from making peace with the clan.”
“Of course, of course. They shall not succeed. I’ll have the council convened as soon as possible, all the most learned judges. I myself shall address them on the subject. While I have them assembled, there are a few other matters I shall discuss. I must have a list written down so that I remember every point I wish to make.”
Resisting the desire to tell him to run away and play with his quills then, Kirion agreed. He only hoped Shastro’s speech would be effective.
To his mild surprise it was. The duke used Aisling’s arguments with force, and the council saw the sense in them that Shastro had seen earlier. He received a standing ovation; the laws passed in record time and with no dissent. Envoys went almost immediately to discuss some of the implications with the Coast Clan.
But shortly before they left a man arrived at the court to speak to the Aranskeep heir. Hadrann listened, dismissed the man, and sent his valet for Aisling and Keelan.
“Let’s take a ride. It’s a lovely day.”
Keelan stared out to where the late fall rain hammered sullenly on streaming roofs. He looked at Hadrann wondering if he were drunk, then caught the warning in his friend’s glare.
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say that.” Keelan grinned. “But I’d like to get out into fresh air. We could take my carriage. We could even visit old Geavon for a couple of days.”
Aisling nodded. “That would be pleasant. It won’t take more than an hour to pack. Geavon has most items we would need. Wind Dancer can come if he likes.”
Two hours later they clattered downstairs, laughing, talking about the need for fresh air, and generally letting those about them know what they planned. Wind Dancer was curled along Aisling’s shoulders. With the horses harnessed, Keelan’s man driving, Had-rann’s six hired guards and their captain riding after the carriage, and the city left behind, the three were free to talk in safety.
Strangely Hadrann had chosen to circle and drive to the north-east once they were clear of the main Kars gate. Aisling and Keelan trusted him and said nothing even when they headed in that direction. Wind Dancer did not care anyway; he was comfortable in Ais-ling’s lap and content to nap. It seemed Geavon’s keep was not their objective. Keelan and Aisling would have to wait to see what was. If they stayed on this road they would eventually reach the turnoff to Jam’s Trevalyn keep, a good place to talk privately.
Here, where the Turning had wrung out mountains, magic was altered. Used from farther away to probe toward them, it would be blurred. Kirion would know that. Aisling looked out of the window. Her hands moved in slow passes as she laid wards about the carriage. Kirion could scry all he wished. He’d see and hear little but three people chatting about the weather, the council, and the hope of clan peace. And if that seeing and hearing was blurred or vanished at times, well, Kirion knew that all this area was something of a blind spot for scrying. She turned to look at the two waiting.
“We’re safe. Now, Rann, what did you have to tell us?”
“A message came from Hilarion. Escore has made a large advance in driving evil from the land. One of the Estcarp witches died, but in doing so she has empowered the Light. The Darkness falls back. There is increasing traffic between the two lands. Estcarp is also strengthened, and increasingly they resent Karsten’s attacks on them. Hilarion has read runes and omens. With many settlers from Estcarp in Escore there comes great danger. If Karsten is foolish enough to attack Estcarp openly with a strong force the runes say that both lands may combine.”
Aisling stared down at the plank floor of their carriage considering that. Then she raised her head to meet Hadrann’s gaze. “I fear he could be right. Many of the new settlers in Escore come from Estcarp. Many of those were families of the Old Blood driven from Karsten and never to find a true home again. If Karsten attacks across Estcarp’s border, such people not only would wish to assist Estcarp but also in the back of their minds hope to return. If Karsten were very badly beaten they might be safe to return and take up their ancestral holdings once more.”